The homeroom incident passed without further issue, and the morning classes proceeded smoothly. No one interacted with Shoot during class or break. Nakazato and Gohara went to talk to Tanimoto and Ohigashi about the morning's events; Itakura, unnerved by Shoot, left the classroom during break.

“Shuu… Mitsuki-kun. A-are you really… Mitsuki-kun…?”

During the break after the first period, while everyone kept their distance, Kumi was the only one who approached Shoot. Normally, Shoot would have rudely brushed her off or pretended to be asleep, avoiding conversation. But today, excited about his impending revenge, he engaged with her.

“Did my face change that much?”

“W-well… I don’t think your face changed much. It’s… like you’ve gone back to the beginning of the first semester, but you look much more handsome…”

Kumi blushed, avoiding Shoot’s gaze. He didn't even look at her; he didn’t make eye contact.

“It’s more that you’ve grown much taller… I last saw you Friday morning, so you’ve changed this much in just three days?”

“Yeah, well, a growth spurt, I guess. I grew over ten centimeters. Even I was surprised.”

“I… see…”

Shoot still avoided eye contact, but Kumi continued, happy to talk to him after so long.

“And your demeanor is different too. You call yourself ‘ore’ (I, more assertive) now…”

“Ah, yeah, I’ve been through a lot these last three days…”

Silence fell. Just as Kumi was about to ask what had happened, a girl approached Shoot.

“Hey, Mitsuki-kun, you don’t have a girlfriend, right?”

Several groups existed in 2-A: the top male group (Nakazato and Gohara), the top female group (Itakura), and others of various social standings. Shoot was outside them all, a total outcast.

This girl belonged to the group just below Itakura’s. Kumi frowned at the interruption, but the girl ignored her, engaging Shoot directly.

“No, and so?”

“Right! Mitsuki-kun was… you know, because of Nakazato and the others… But you’re so different today! I’m surprised!”

“What do you want? This is annoying.”

“Wh-what…”

“…”

Shoot’s curt response silenced both girls. They were surprised by his coldness. The girl, though slightly embarrassed, continued.

“Want to hang out after school? Karaoke or arcades?”

“…”

The girl, captivated by his new appearance, hoped for a date, perhaps leading to a relationship. Kumi looked on anxiously, but Shoot continued to avoid eye contact, staring straight ahead.

“W-what do you think? Look at me—” “No way, you idiot.” —Eh…?”

Shoot’s cold response cut the girl off. She was stunned.

“You never tried to interact with me before. You laughed when I was being bullied by Nakazato and his gang. You’re only talking to me now because I look better, right?”

“Th-that’s…”

“You’re not even my friend. Just go away.

Who are you again? I forgot your name.”

Shoot’s harsh words, delivered without eye contact, caused the girl to mutter resentfully before leaving the classroom, tears in her eyes.

“Sh-Shoot-kun…”

Kumi looked back and forth between Shoot and the door, bewildered. The other classmates were also confused by Shoot’s transformation.

“You laughed at me, at my suffering… and now you’re trying to be friendly just because I look better.

Such a sudden change of heart. Pathetic. Humans are pathetic.”

Shoot muttered, expressing his thoughts. His classmates had simply watched him suffer; no one tried to help (except Kumi, who failed).

But now, seeing his changed appearance, they swarmed him like ants to honey. This enraged Shoot.

He was also distrustful of women, due to Itakura’s actions. He now viewed female advances as harmful.

“Um… Nakazato said something to you at the end of homeroom. What did he say?”

Kumi, regaining her composure, asked a different question.

“Oh, you saw? Same as always. Meet him at my usual spot at lunchtime. The rooftop, this time.”

Shoot’s curt, emotionless reply caused Kumi to slump, foreseeing trouble.

“Good timing. I have something to do with them too. I hope no one else goes to the rooftop at lunchtime…”

“…What do you have to do with Nakazato…?”

Stretching languidly, Shoot replied. He finally made eye contact with Kumi. After gazing at her (making Kumi’s heart flutter), he smirked—

“I’m going to kill them.”

He said it with chilling malice.

“…Wh-what did you say…?”

Kumi stammered, speechless. Shoot laughed.

“What would you do if I said that?”

He teased.

“Wh-what? Shoot-kun?”

“I was kidding. It was a joke.”

Kumi wanted to press him further, but the bell rang, forcing her back to her seat.

(I don’t think what he said was a joke… He didn’t seem to intend to kill them, but those words sounded sincere…

That indefinable something… anger? Killing intent? That intimidating aura…

Shoot-kun, what happened to you…?)

Kumi trembled slightly, remembering the unsettling pressure.

During the breaks, Shoot stayed outside the classroom, avoiding Kumi and other girls.

At lunchtime, Kumi excused herself from her friends, worried that Shoot might do something dangerous. She looked for him, but his seat was empty.

“He was sitting here just now…”

Shoot, having anticipated this, had used “Spatial Transfer” to leave before the bell.

The upper floors were relatively deserted, making the rooftop an unpopular spot, especially since delinquents like Nakazato used it as a hangout.

The staircase leading to the rooftop was usually deserted. But today, someone approached—

A boy, with a very happy look, lost in thought…

“…” (Smirk)