Chapter 11 || An Ordinary Morning

Chapter 11: 11 || An Ordinary Morning

The locker room was dark.

Only the pale moonlight slipping through the small circular window high on the wall cast a faint silver glow across the floor.

The room was empty now.

Code had already changed back into his academy uniform.

He quietly shut his locker and picked up his tote bag, placing the straps over his shoulder.

Clack.

The sound echoed through the silent room.

He picked up his shopping bag from the bench, but as he turned, something near the lockers caught his attention.

It reflected the moonlight faintly.

Code walked closer and bent down.

A silver star-shaped hair clip lay on the floor.

His eyes remained on it for a moment.

Then he slipped it into his pocket and walked out.

...

Code walked through the dormitory hallway, passing one door after another until he reached his own.

Room 9.

But before he could open it, he noticed a girl standing outside one of the rooms farther down the hallway.

She was dressed in a maid’s uniform, her back against the wall and her arms folded as she stared up at the ceiling.

Even from a distance, Code recognized her.

Aria.

Aria looked ahead and noticed him staring.

Their eyes met for a moment.

Code then turned his attention to his door.

He placed his card on the door.

Beep.

The door unlocked.

He stepped inside and closed it behind him.

Aria’s gaze lingered on the door for a moment.

Then she turned back toward the room she had been waiting in front of.

A number was written at the top of the door.

20.

She lowered her gaze and tapped the screen of her watch.

The screen lit up.

8:40 p.m.

Aria looked at the door once more.

Then she sighed and walked away.

Her footsteps echoed softly through the silent hallway.

...

Code’s room had some similarities to Lyra’s, though the arrangement was different.

A single bed sat against one side of the room, with a small window above it covered by white curtains.

A wooden table and a rotatable chair stood opposite the bed, close to the wall.

His shopping bag rested on the table, while his tote bag lay on the floor beside it.

Code, meanwhile, was sprawled across his bed, his black socks still on his feet.

He stared blankly at the ceiling.

Then—

Beep.

He lazily raised his phone above his face.

[5000 bronze coins have been added to your account]

’The academy has given us our allowance. Making it a total of 7000 bronze coins for this month.’

He spread his arms across the bed, still holding his phone in one hand, and continued staring at the ceiling.

’Code 12’s information will be useful towards those who wish to ascend to the fourth floor and become Servitors. They’ll probably start saving up.’

He closed his eyes.

’I’m not particularly interested in ascending, so saving up isn’t in my schedule. Just be a Grent and go through my daily life without troubles. That much is enough for me.’

He sighed.

’It’s good the money came in. I’m going to get more Fitz Blast tomorrow.’

Beep.

Code opened his eyes and raised his phone above his face again.

[Sweet dreams, Code] — Crimson Petal.

Code stared at the message with a cold expression.

’Crimson Petal’s becoming a problem.’

He let his phone fall onto the bed, then reached into his pocket and brought out the silver star-shaped hair clip.

He turned it over in his hand for a while.

Then he closed his fingers around it.

After a moment, he slowly sat up and walked toward the table.

He placed the clip on the table.

’Time to shower.’

...

The next morning—

The sun cast a warm glow in the Grents class.

The classroom wasn’t completely full yet.

A few students had already arrived while many seats still remained empty.

The room buzzed softly with scattered conversations.

In the fourth row, Meira sat at her desk with Yua, Neela, and Kira gathered around her.

Sena, meanwhile, was sitting on top of the desk.

They chatted about yesterday’s part-time jobs.

"Well mine just made me carry boxes," Sena complained dramatically.

"At one point I thought my arms were going to fall off."

Yua laughed softly. "At least you didn’t almost burn the kettle like Meira, who tried preparing tea."

"It wasn’t my fault!" Meira protested immediately. "That kettle looked weird!"

"You should have just told her you didn’t know how to prepare tea." Neela said flatly.

"Of course I did. She enjoyed seeing me fail every time."

Meira frowned."That sly bitch..."

The girls laughed .

Meanwhile.... at the back of the class—

Code was asleep. Completely asleep.

His head rested on his folded arms peacefully like he didn’t have a single concern in the world.

The green-haired boy seated in front of him quietly knitted without paying attention to anyone else.

Then—

The back door slid open.

Aria walked in calmly.

The girls glanced toward her briefly before returning to their conversation.

Aria walked silently toward her seat beside Code.

Then stopped.

She stared at him for a moment, then took her seat and dropped her back by her side.

The back door suddenly opened again.

Caden’s voice entered before he did."I’m telling you he’s missing. I checked his room already."

"Maybe he got here before us," Torin replied.

Ken walked in behind them while Riven followed calmly at the back.

Then all four froze.

Code was sleeping peacefully in his seat.

Caden pointed dramatically." He’s here...?"

Torin folded his arms smugly. "And yet you doubted me."

Caden marched over immediately and grabbed Code’s shoulder.

"Hey, Code."

No response.

"Code!"

Code slowly raised his head.

His eyes still looked half asleep.

Riven smiled a little. "You’re surprisingly punctual."

Ken nodded. "And here we thought you were still sleeping in your room."

Code blinked once. "I woke up early."

Caden stared at him suspiciously. "You woke up early..."

He narrowed his eyes. "...just to come sleep in class?"

"Yes."

Caden’s face twitched.

Torin suddenly smacked the back of his head. "Stop staring at him like that. People are going to misunderstand things."

Caden grabbed his head painfully. "Why do you always hit me?"

Ken folded his arms. "Because violence is the only language you understand."

"That’s not true."

"It is."

At the front, Riven reached his desk.

Yua looked up first. "Good morning, Riven."

Riven smiled warmly. "Morning."

Kira waved too. "Good morning."

"Morning."

Ken clicked his tongue quietly. "He’s really popular..."

Caden looked genuinely heartbroken. "No girl greeted us."

Ken immediately dragged him away by the collar.

"Come sit down already."

Caden allowed himself to be dragged dramatically.

"Will no girl ever greet me good morning? Is this my fate?"

Torin sighed while dropping his bag onto his desk. "That dream is still very far away."

Ken and Caden took their seats.

Caden rested his head on his desk.

Suddenl, the front door opened.

A gentle voice entered the room.

"Good morning, everyone."

The class turned.

Ivy stood at the doorway beside Lily.

Lily lowered her head nervously. "G-Good morning..."

Caden immediately shot up from his seat like lightning.

Tears formed in his eyes. "My dream..."

He pointed emotionally. "...it came true."

He waved aggressively. "Morning, Ivy!"

Ivy looked toward him and smiled softly.

Caden froze.

His cheeks instantly turned red.

Torin grabbed his shoulder and forced him back down.

"She greeted everybody."

Caden looked completely lost in fantasy. "Still..."

He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "...our eyes met."

Ken shook his head lightly. "He’s hopeless."

Ivy and Lily walked toward their seats.

"Morning, Ivy," Neela greeted.

"Morning," Ivy replied sweetly.

At the back of the classroom—

Aria finally spoke without looking at Code.

"You should take your friendship activities somewhere else."

Code slowly turned toward her. "Are you allergic to friendship?"

Aria stared at him blankly. "...Was that supposed to be funny?"

Code looked ahead again. "No."

A small silence followed.

Then Aria sighed softly and opened her bag. "I just find loud people exhausting."

"I see." Code rested his chin on his palm.

"I’ll inform them to reduce their volume for Her Majesty next time."

Aria slowly turned toward him again. "...Don’t call me that."

"Understood."

Aria stared at him for another second before finally giving up and pulling out her book.

The classroom slowly filled with more voices as students continued arriving.

Meanwhile Code’s eyes drifted quietly toward Meira.

Then he noticed it.

She wasn’t wearing her hair clip.