Axiom made it to class a few minutes early.
The hallway was quieter here, the part of the building where the animation and design programs were held always felt different from the rest of the campus. Posters covered the walls, sketches pinned to boards, characters half-finished, colors splashed everywhere like someone had spilled imagination and never cleaned it up.
This was the part of the school he liked the most.
This was the part that felt like him.
He pushed the classroom door open.
Inside, the lights were already on.
Rows of computers filled the room, each with a drawing tablet beside the keyboard. The faint hum of machines running filled the silence, mixed with the soft clicking of someone already logged in and working.
At the front of the room, the teacher stood behind the desk.
Middle-aged.
Messy black hair.
Slight stubble like he hadn't bothered shaving in a day or two.
One hand holding an extra-large Tim Hortons coffee, the other scrolling on his phone.
He looked up slowly as Axiom walked in.
"…Morning."
Axiom nodded.
"Morning."
The teacher took a sip of coffee.
"You're early."
Axiom shrugged.
"Class before this got canceled."
The teacher nodded like that made perfect sense and went back to his phone.
Axiom walked further into the room—
—and then he saw her.
He stopped for half a second without meaning to.
Beth.
She was already sitting at one of the computers near the middle of the room, her chair turned slightly toward the screen, one hand resting near the keyboard, the other holding a pencil she wasn't even using.
The morning light from the tall windows fell across her like it had chosen her on purpose.
Her hair was the first thing anyone noticed.
Long, rich copper-red, the kind of color that seemed to glow when the light touched it. It flowed down her back in soft waves, strands catching the sunlight like threads of fire woven through silk. A few loose locks framed her face, curling slightly near her cheeks as if they refused to stay in place.
Her eyes were a deep green, bright but calm, the kind of green that made people think of forests after rain. Behind her round glasses, they looked even sharper, focused on the screen but alive with quiet curiosity.
She wore a white knitted sweater, the fabric soft and slightly loose around her arms, but fitting just enough to show the natural shape of her figure. The texture of the sweater caught the light, the woven patterns running down the sleeves and across her chest, making the whole thing look warm and comfortable, like something out of an old storybook.
Below it, a red plaid skirt rested at her waist, the pattern neat and classic, the kind of outfit that made her look both studious and effortlessly pretty at the same time.
Not flashy.
Not loud.
Just… beautiful in a way that made people look twice without knowing why.
Her lips were dark, almost black, giving her a slightly gothic edge that contrasted with the softness of everything else about her.
She looked like the kind of girl who lived in libraries.
The kind who read old books for fun.
The kind who could talk about fantasy worlds like they were real places.
The kind of girl Axiom always liked.
The kind of girl he never had the courage to talk to.
He had noticed her since his first week in college.
Every class.
Every time he walked in.
Every time their eyes met for half a second before he looked away like an idiot.
Old him.
Old Axiom.
The one who avoided everything.
He took a slow breath.
Yesterday, he fought back.
Yesterday, he awakened.
Yesterday, he stopped running.
His heart started beating faster.
"…Just sit down…"
He walked forward.
Past the empty computers.
Past the safe seats he always took.
And stopped beside her.
The seat next to Beth.
He hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Then sat down.
His bag touched the floor softly.
He logged into the computer without saying anything, typing his student ID with steady fingers even though his mind was screaming.
Stay calm.
Stay normal.
Don't stare.
Don't mess this up.
The screen loaded.
He clicked the animation software.
He could feel it.
She was looking at him.
He didn't turn.
Didn't look.
But his senses were sharp now.
He could hear the small shift of her chair.
Could feel her gaze.
She knew.
Of course she knew.
He had never sat beside her before.
Not once.
Every other time he avoided this seat like it was cursed.
Her eyes stayed on him for a few seconds longer.
Curious.
Confused.
A little suspicious.
Finally—
He spoke.
Without looking.
"…Everything okay?"
A small pause.
"…Is there something on my face?"
Beth blinked.
She hadn't expected him to talk first.
Her lips parted slightly, then she looked away for a second before answering.
"…No."
A short pause.
Then she looked back at him again, tilting her head slightly.
"…You just never sit here."
Her voice was soft, but there was a little edge to it.
Not mean.
Just… teasing.
Axiom smirked faintly without looking at her.
"…Maybe I felt like being brave today."
Beth raised an eyebrow.
"…Brave?"
He finally turned his head slightly, just enough to meet her eyes.
"Yeah."
A small smile.
"…This seat looked dangerous."
For a second, she just stared at him.
Then she let out a small laugh.
"…You're weird."
Axiom shrugged.
"I've been told."
She looked at him a little longer than before.
Her expression softer now.
Curious.
Interested.
A little amused.
"…You're different today."
Axiom's heart skipped once.
He leaned back in his chair slightly.
"…Am I?"
Beth crossed her arms, pretending to look at the screen again.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"…You didn't look away."
Beth kept looking at him for a few seconds after he spoke.
"…You're different today."
Axiom leaned back slightly in his chair, pretending to focus on the screen.
"…Am I?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
A short pause.
Then she said it.
"You didn't look away."
He blinked once, then turned his head toward her slowly.
"…What?"
Beth tilted her head, her green eyes narrowing slightly behind her glasses, studying him like she was trying to figure out a puzzle she'd been stuck on for weeks.
"You always look away."
Another pause.
"Whenever we make eye contact."
Axiom froze for a fraction of a second.
She noticed that?
Beth continued, her voice softer now, but with that little feisty edge she always had.
"At first I thought you were just shy."
She looked down at the desk for a moment, tapping the pencil lightly against her notebook.
"But when it kept happening…"
Her lips pressed together slightly.
"…I started thinking you just didn't like me."
That hit harder than he expected.
He didn't show it.
His face stayed calm.
But inside, his chest tightened.
Didn't like her?
That was the exact opposite of the truth.
He thought she was one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen.
Not just pretty.
Beautiful in a way that made him nervous for no reason.
Beautiful in a way that made him feel like he didn't belong in the same space as her.
He had avoided her because of that.
Because every time their eyes met, his brain stopped working.
Because he didn't trust himself not to act like an idiot.
But now…
He wasn't the same as yesterday.
He turned his chair slightly.
Fully facing her this time.
Beth looked up, surprised he moved that close.
For the first time since he met her—
He didn't look away.
He looked straight into her eyes.
Deep green.
Clear.
Bright.
He held her gaze calmly.
"I'm sorry you felt that way."
His voice was steady.
Real.
She blinked, caught off guard by how serious he sounded.
"…Then why did you do it?"
Axiom hesitated for a second.
Not because he didn't know what to say.
Because he knew exactly what to say.
And old him would never say it.
He took a slow breath.
His Dama moved slightly without him noticing.
A faint pulse.
Soft.
Natural.
His emotions flowed with it.
Not strong enough to be seen.
But strong enough to be felt.
He spoke quietly.
"Truthfully…"
His eyes didn't leave hers.
"…I looked away because I couldn't handle how beautiful you are."
The moment the words left his mouth—
His aura shifted.
Just a little.
A gentle pulse of Dama moved outward from him, carried by his feelings.
Honest.
Unfiltered.
No fear.
No hesitation.
And Beth felt it.
Not as power.
Not as energy.
Just… weight.
Like the words had more truth in them than they should.
Like he really meant it.
Like he wasn't joking.
Like he wasn't flirting.
Like he was just… saying what he actually felt.
Her face turned red instantly.
Not a little.
A lot.
Her eyes widened, then she looked away fast, pushing her glasses up even though they hadn't moved.
"I—"
She coughed.
"…W-What kind of line is that?"
Her cheeks were burning.
She crossed her arms, trying to look annoyed.
"You can't just say stuff like that out of nowhere."
Axiom blinked.
"…It wasn't a line."
She turned back to him quickly.
"That makes it worse!"
He smirked slightly.
"…You asked."
She opened her mouth, then closed it again, clearly not ready for that answer.
Her face was still red.
Her fingers tightened around her pencil.
"Tch…"
She turned toward the screen again, pretending to focus.
"…You're weird today."
Axiom shrugged.
"…Maybe I was weird before."
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"…Yeah."
Small pause.
"…You were."
Another pause.
Then, quieter—
"…But this is… better."
Axiom didn't answer right away.
He just looked at the screen, acting normal, even though inside his heart was beating way faster than it should have been.
He could still feel his Dama moving slightly.
Reacting to his emotions.
He quickly pulled it back in.
Hide.
Veil.
Control.
Professor Leo's voice echoed in his head.
Never let your aura show too much.
Especially when you don't mean to.
He exhaled slowly.
Calm again.
Beside him, Beth was still pretending to work.
But every few seconds…
She glanced at him again.
And this time—
He didn't look away.
There weren't many students in the animation class.
There never were.
Most people picked easier electives, something they could pass without thinking too much. Animation required patience, creativity, and a lot more time than most students wanted to spend staring at a screen.
Today there were only four people in the room when Axiom sat down.
Him.
Beth.
And two other students sitting near the back, both half asleep already.
A few minutes later the door opened again.
Three more students walked in.
Two guys, one girl.
They took seats near the front without saying much.
The girl was pretty, in the way most people noticed right away, neat hair, clear skin, confident posture… but when Axiom glanced back at Beth for a second, the difference was obvious.
Beth didn't try to look pretty.
She just was.
The teacher finished his coffee, crushed the cup slightly in his hand, then clapped once.
"Alright, that's everyone."
He walked to the front computer and turned the monitor so the class could see.
"Today we're working in Blender."
A few students groaned quietly.
The teacher smirked.
"Yeah, yeah. You wanna animate, you gotta suffer first."
He clicked a few buttons, opening the program.
"Simple exercise today."
He created a basic stick figure on the screen.
"We're going to animate movement."
He dragged the model slightly.
"Take something simple… like this."
He clicked again.
"And turn it into something fluid."
He moved the figure step by step, showing how the pose changed frame by frame.
"Walking, running, jumping, fighting, whatever."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Just make it move naturally."
He pointed at the class.
"Try it."
Everyone turned to their computers.
The room filled with the sound of keyboards clicking and tablets tapping.
Axiom opened Blender automatically, his fingers moving without thinking.
He had done this at home a hundred times.
More than that.
He loved this stuff.
Animation wasn't just a class for him.
It was the reason he chose this program.
He started with a stick figure.
Basic model.
Then he began adjusting the frames.
One step.
Second step.
Running.
His hands moved fast now, almost instinctively.
He added motion curves.
Adjusted the timing.
Smoothed the frames.
The stick figure started running across the screen, the movement clean and natural.
Axiom smirked slightly.
"…Still got it."
Then he added another stick figure.
Why not.
He adjusted the pose.
First punch.
Second dodge.
Kick.
Spin.
Block.
The two stick figures started fighting.
Not just moving.
Fighting.
Fluid.
Fast.
Almost like a real anime scene, just without the detail.
He zoomed in slightly, fixing the timing of the impact.
"…There…"
Beside him, Beth frowned at her screen.
Her stick figure moved like it was made of wood.
Too stiff.
Too slow.
She tried adjusting the frame again.
Still wrong.
"…Why is this not working…"
She sighed and leaned back slightly.
Then she glanced to the side.
Just for a second.
Her eyes landed on Axiom's screen.
She froze.
Two stick figures were fighting.
Not basic.
Not stiff.
Full motion.
Fast punches.
Dodges.
Clean movement.
Her eyes widened.
"…Wait—"
She leaned closer without thinking.
"…What the—"
Axiom noticed her movement and looked over.
She was staring at his screen like she forgot how blinking worked.
"…What?" he asked.
She pointed at the monitor.
"How did you do that?"
Axiom blinked.
"…Do what?"
"That."
She scooted her chair closer.
"You have two of them fighting."
Her eyes were wide behind her glasses.
"That's not what he showed us."
Axiom scratched the back of his head.
"…I practiced at home a lot."
She looked at him like she didn't believe that was the whole story.
"…Can you show me?"
He smiled a little.
"…Sure."
He rolled his chair closer to her computer.
Her screen still showed the stiff stick figure.
He reached for the mouse, stopping for a second.
"…Can I?"
She nodded quickly.
"Yes, please."
He leaned slightly toward her screen, his arm resting lightly on the desk as he clicked.
"Okay, first… you need to think of movement like weight."
He moved the frame.
"Not just position."
He adjusted the leg.
"If the foot goes here…"
He changed the next frame.
"…the body has to follow."
She leaned closer, watching carefully.
Her shoulder almost touched his.
"And don't move everything at once," he continued.
"Change one thing at a time."
He fixed the timing.
The stick figure started walking smoother.
Beth's eyes lit up.
"…Oh."
He smirked.
"See?"
She nodded quickly.
"…Wait, do that again."
He laughed softly.
"Alright."
He slowed it down, explaining step by step, simpler than the teacher had.
She followed along this time.
Click.
Move.
Frame.
Adjust.
The stick figure walked.
Not perfect.
But smooth.
Beth stared at the screen for a second.
Then looked at him.
Her face lit up.
"…I did it."
Axiom nodded.
"Yeah, you did."
She smiled.
Not teasing.
Not sarcastic.
Just happy.
"…Thanks."
Small pause.
Then she added quietly—
"…You're actually really good at this."
Axiom shrugged, trying to act normal.
"…It's the one thing I never get tired of."
She looked at him for a second longer than before.
Curious again.
Interested.
"…You really like animation, don't you?"
He nodded.
"…Yeah."
Small smile.
"…I want to make my own anime one day."
Beth blinked.
Then smiled.
"…That's actually really cool."
The classroom stayed quiet except for the sound of keyboards and the occasional frustrated sigh from someone in the back.
Beth was still looking at her screen, replaying the short walking animation she had just made.
The stick figure moved smoothly now, not perfect, but far better than before.
She smiled a little every time it looped.
"…Okay, that actually looks good."
Axiom leaned back in his chair, arms resting on the desk.
"See? You just needed the timing right."
She glanced at him.
"…You make it sound easy."
He shrugged.
"I've done this a lot."
Before she could answer, the teacher stood up from the front desk and stretched.
"Alright, let me see what everyone's got."
A few students groaned quietly.
The teacher ignored them and started walking around the room, stopping at each computer one by one.
Axiom noticed immediately.
His senses were sharper now.
He didn't even need to look to know the teacher was getting closer.
He could hear his footsteps.
Could feel the small vibration through the floor as he walked past the rows of desks.
His eyes flicked to his screen.
The two stick figures were still there.
Still fighting.
Way more advanced than what the teacher asked for.
If he saw this, he'd ask questions.
If he asked questions, people would start looking.
And right now…
Axiom didn't want attention.
Not today.
Not after everything that just happened in the last twenty-four hours.
He moved the mouse quickly.
Deleted the second model.
Removed the extra frames.
Reset the animation.
Back to one stick figure.
Simple walk cycle.
Exactly what the assignment was.
Beth noticed the sudden changes.
She blinked.
"…Wait— why did you delete it?"
He kept his eyes on the screen.
"…Didn't want to get lectured."
She frowned slightly.
"But that was really good."
He smirked faintly.
"…Doesn't mean I need the whole class looking at me."
She looked at him for a second, like she was trying to figure him out again.
"…You're weird."
He nodded.
"I know."
The teacher stopped at the desk behind them.
Looked at the student's screen.
"Too stiff. Fix the hips."
He moved to the next.
"Better."
Then he stepped beside Axiom and Beth.
He leaned forward slightly, holding his coffee in one hand.
"Let's see."
Axiom kept his face calm.
Beth straightened a little in her chair.
The teacher looked at Axiom's screen first.
Stick figure walking.
Clean.
Smooth.
Simple.
He nodded.
"Good."
Then he looked at Beth's.
He watched the animation play once.
Twice.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Better than last week."
Beth smiled a little.
"…Thanks."
The teacher nodded again.
"Good job, both of you."
He took a sip of coffee and walked to the next student.
The moment he left, Beth turned to Axiom.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You totally had something else on there."
Axiom didn't look at her.
"No idea what you're talking about."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"I saw two of them fighting."
He kept his expression neutral.
"…Must've imagined it."
She stared at him.
Then huffed softly and leaned back in her chair.
"…You're hiding something."
Axiom smirked faintly.
"…Or I just don't like showing off."
She crossed her arms.
"…You could at least show off to me."
He blinked.
That caught him off guard.
She realized what she said a second later.
Her face turned slightly red again.
"I mean—"
She pushed her glasses up quickly.
"…Because you helped me."
Axiom smiled a little.
"…Sure."
Small pause.
Then he leaned slightly closer to his screen again.
"…Next time, I'll show you the fight animation."
Beth tried to look serious.
Failed.
A small smile slipped through anyway.
"…Good."
The teacher finished checking the last student's work, then walked back to the front of the room, setting his coffee down beside the keyboard.
"Alright," he said, clapping once."Next step."
A few students groaned again.
He ignored them and opened a new file on the projector screen.
"We're going to add interaction."
He created a simple square.
"This is a chair."
He adjusted the shape.
Then another.
"This is a table."
He dragged the stick figure closer.
"Now we animate sitting."
He rotated the legs frame by frame, bending the joints carefully.
"Sit down… pause… stand up… continue walking."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Basic motion, but harder than it looks."
He pointed at the class.
"Your turn."
Everyone went back to their computers.
Axiom opened a new timeline, already knowing what to do.
Beside him, Beth sighed softly.
"…Why do chairs make everything harder…"
He glanced at her screen.
Her stick figure kept clipping through the chair.
The legs bent wrong.
The timing was off.
She tried again.
Still wrong.
"…Okay, this hates me."
Axiom chuckled quietly.
"It doesn't hate you."
She looked at him.
"…You sure?"
He rolled his chair closer again.
"Move the chair first."
He pointed at the screen.
"Don't move the figure yet."
She followed his hand.
"Okay…"
"Now bend the hips first, not the knees."
She adjusted the frame.
The figure lowered.
Still stiff, but better.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Oh."
He nodded.
"Now the knees."
She changed the next frame.
The figure sat.
Not perfect.
But it worked.
She smiled.
"…Okay that actually makes sense now."
He leaned back.
"See?"
She looked at him with that same curious expression again.
"…You explain things better than the teacher."
He laughed quietly.
"Don't let him hear that."
She smirked.
"He already knows."
They worked for a few minutes in silence, both adjusting their animations.
Beth's figure now sat, stood up, and walked again without breaking.
She watched the loop play, satisfied.
"…That's way better."
Axiom nodded.
"Yeah, that looks good."
She glanced at his screen.
"…What are you doing?"
He hesitated for a second.
Then smiled slightly.
"You said I could show off."
Her eyes lit up immediately.
"…Wait, really?"
He clicked play.
His stick figure walked toward a chair.
Sat down smoothly.
Then he added a table.
Placed it in front.
The figure leaned forward slightly.
Like it was studying.
Beth blinked.
"…You added a table?"
He didn't answer.
He kept clicking.
Added another stick figure.
Longer hair.
Glasses.
He positioned it in the seat beside the first one.
Beth froze.
"…Wait…"
The second stick figure sat down.
Turned slightly.
The first one leaned toward it.
Moved its arm.
Frame by frame.
Helping.
Like showing something on the desk.
Axiom pressed play.
The animation looped.
Two stick figures.
Sitting at a desk.
One helping the other with work.
The scene looked almost exactly like them.
Same positions.
Same angle.
Same moment.
Beth stared at the screen without blinking.
"…No way…"
Axiom tried to act casual.
"…Just practicing."
She turned slowly toward him.
Her eyes wide behind her glasses.
"You made… us."
He shrugged.
"…Stick version."
She looked back at the screen again.
Watched the loop.
Then again.
Then again.
Her expression softened.
"…That's actually really cute."
Axiom blinked.
He wasn't expecting that word.
She pointed at the screen.
"That's literally what we're doing right now."
He smirked.
"Yeah."
She looked at him again, smiling now, not teasing, not embarrassed, just honestly impressed.
"You're really good, Axiom."
He looked back at the monitor, trying not to show how much that meant.
"…I told you."
She leaned a little closer to the screen, her shoulder almost touching his again.
"…You're definitely going to make your own anime one day."
Axiom paused for a second.
Then smiled.
"…That's the plan."
Axiom replayed the animation one last time.
Two stick figures.
Sitting at a desk.
One helping the other.
He smiled faintly, then quickly minimized the file.
His senses shifted.
Something felt wrong.
Not inside the classroom.
Outside.
In the hallway.
He froze for half a second, his hand still on the mouse.
Six… no… seven people.
Heavy footsteps.
Loud.
Aggressive.
His Dama reacted before his mind did.
A faint pulse ran through his chest.
Intent.
Bad intent.
Not normal.
Not random.
He knew that feeling.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You've gotta be kidding me…"
Beth noticed his expression.
"…What?"
He didn't answer right away.
He just listened.
Closer now.
He could hear voices.
Low.
Angry.
Then he recognized one of them immediately.
The captain.
Of course.
"…Yeah… figures…"
He quickly deleted the animation again, putting the screen back to the simple walking stick figure just as the teacher started walking toward them.
But Axiom wasn't looking at the screen anymore.
His attention was on the door.
The footsteps stopped outside.
Knock.
The whole class looked up.
The teacher frowned.
"…Come in."
The door opened.
The captain walked in first.
Behind him were six other guys, all from the basketball team.
Big.
Confident.
Loud.
The kind of guys who thought the whole school belonged to them.
The room went silent.
The teacher stood up immediately.
"This is a classroom," he said firmly."We're in the middle of a lesson. You need to leave."
The captain didn't even look at him.
"Relax, sir."
His eyes locked on Axiom.
"I'm not here for you."
He pointed straight at him.
"I'm here for him."
The entire room turned.
All eyes on Axiom.
Beth's eyes widened.
"…Axiom…?"
Axiom slowly stood up from his chair.
Calm.
Too calm.
He turned toward the captain.
A small smirk appeared.
"…Wow."
He crossed his arms slightly.
"Did I really hurt your ego that much?"
The captain's face tightened.
Axiom continued, his voice just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"You came all the way to my classroom… with your whole team…"
He tilted his head.
"…Just to try to take me down?"
A few students in the room whispered.
Axiom smirked a little more.
"Or was it because you got humiliated outside?"
The captain clenched his fists.
"…Watch your mouth."
Axiom shrugged.
"Those two girls were there, right?"
A few students looked at each other.
"Couldn't land one punch on me."
The captain took a step forward.
"Enough."
The teacher moved between them.
"That's it. All of you out. Now."
The captain shoved the desk aside slightly.
"Stay out of this."
The classroom went quiet.
Students started moving away from the desks, backing toward the walls.
No one wanted to be in the middle of this.
Beth grabbed Axiom's arm slightly.
"…There's too many of them…"
He looked at her.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"…Go stand with the others."
Her grip tightened.
"But—"
He shook his head gently.
"It's okay."
A small smile.
"They won't be able to touch me."
She stared at him, unsure if he was joking.
He wasn't.
She slowly stepped back, joining the rest of the class near the wall.
The teacher pulled out his phone.
"I'm calling security."
The captain laughed.
"You better."
Then he looked at the others.
"Get him."
They rushed him at once.
All of them.
Too many to fight normally.
Axiom's heart pounded once.
Then his breathing slowed.
Veil.
Active.
Hide.
Stable.
Focus.
Flow.
Forge.
Everything Professor Leo taught him came back instantly.
The first punch came from the right.
He stepped left.
Missed.
Second from behind.
He ducked.
Third from the front—
He slid over a desk, his hand barely touching the surface as he moved.
The students watching gasped.
"…What the—"
Another guy grabbed for him.
Axiom twisted sideways, his body moving smoothly, his foot pushing off the table, flipping him backward.
He landed lightly.
Not fighting.
Not hitting.
Just moving.
One of the guys swung hard.
Axiom raised his arm slightly.
His Dama focused.
The punch never reached him.
The attacker stumbled back like he hit something solid.
Axiom didn't even touch him.
Another rushed.
Axiom stepped under the table, rolled to the side, stood up behind him.
Someone kicked.
He leaned back, the foot missing his face by inches.
Gasps filled the room.
"…He's not even getting hit…"
"…How is he doing that…"
Beth's hands covered her mouth.
Her eyes wide.
"He's… moving like…"
Even the teacher stopped talking for a second, staring.
The captain got angrier.
"Grab him!"
Two at once.
Three.
Four.
Axiom jumped onto a desk, pushed off, flipped over them, landing behind the chairs.
One tried to tackle him.
Axiom moved his arm slightly.
Focus.
Pulse.
The guy stumbled backward like he hit a wall of air.
Not hard.
Just enough.
No one noticed the Dama.
They just thought he dodged.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Axiom kept moving.
Sliding.
Jumping.
Turning.
Every movement clean.
Every motion controlled.
He didn't throw a single real punch.
Didn't hurt anyone.
Just… untouchable.
And the whole class was watching.
The chaos in the classroom kept going.
Desks pushed aside.
Students pressed against the walls.
The captain, breathing hard, rushed Axiom again.
"You think you're funny!?"
He swung with everything he had.
Axiom stepped to the side calmly.
Just one small shift.
The punch missed completely.
The captain lost his balance, his foot hitting the edge of a desk.
His body twisted the wrong way.
CRACK
He hit the floor hard.
A sharp sound echoed through the room.
The captain screamed.
"Agh—!!"
Everyone froze.
The door burst open at the same moment.
Security rushed in first.
Behind them were two teachers, the vice principal…
…and the superintendent.
Right behind them—
The coach of the men's basketball team.
They all stopped the moment they saw the scene.
The captain on the floor, clutching his arm.
Axiom standing a few feet away.
Breathing steady.
Not even in a fighting stance.
The coach ran forward immediately.
"IAN!"
He dropped to his knees beside him.
"Ian! Ian, are you okay!?"
The captain groaned, holding his arm.
"My arm— my arm—"
The coach looked up, furious.
"What happened here!?"
His eyes locked on Axiom instantly.
"You!"
He stood up fast.
"This is your fault!"
Axiom didn't even move.
Before he could answer—
One of the students spoke.
"No, it's not!"
Everyone turned.
Another student stepped forward.
"He didn't touch him!"
The teacher nodded firmly.
"That's true."
"He's been dodging the whole time."
Another student raised his voice.
"They came in here looking for a fight!"
"He didn't hit anyone!"
Beth stepped forward too, her hands shaking slightly but her voice clear.
"He told me to move away because he didn't want anyone to get hurt."
The room filled with voices.
"He didn't do anything!"
"They attacked him!"
"He didn't even punch once!"
The coach looked around, clearly not liking what he was hearing.
The superintendent's expression darkened.
He turned to the coach.
"Is this how your team behaves outside the court?"
The coach froze.
"S-Sir, I—"
The superintendent cut him off.
"This is not the first complaint I've heard about your captain."
His voice became colder.
"You have a match in four days."
"With the top colleges."
He looked down at Ian on the floor.
"Looks like you'll need a new captain."
The coach's face went pale.
"But sir— we can't win without him—"
"Then you should have trained your team better."
Silence filled the room.
The superintendent turned to Axiom.
His expression stern again.
"This situation involved both of you."
Axiom stayed calm.
"I understand."
The superintendent sighed.
"Because of the disturbance, both of you may need to be suspended—"
The classroom door opened again.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Everyone turned.
Professor Leo walked in.
Hands in his pockets.
Calm as always.
He looked around once.
At the broken desks.
At the students.
At Ian on the floor.
Then at Axiom.
"…I see I arrived at the right time."
The superintendent frowned.
"And you are—"
Leo didn't answer.
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a card.
Black.
Gold trim.
He held it up without a word.
The room went silent.
On the card was written:
Leo GoldenstoneAscendant — ★★★★Dama Authority
The superintendent's face changed instantly.
His voice stopped mid-sentence.
His posture straightened.
"…Ascendant…"
Axiom blinked.
So that's the license…
It really is real…
The superintendent cleared his throat.
"…Professor Goldenstone."
His tone was completely different now.
"I wasn't aware you were involved."
Leo lowered the card slowly.
"I am now."
He glanced at Axiom.
Then at Ian.
Then at the coach.
"I've been observing this student."
The room went quiet again.
Leo continued calmly.
"He did not initiate this fight."
"He did not strike anyone."
"He defended himself."
The superintendent nodded quickly.
"…Understood."
Leo crossed his arms.
"As for the captain…"
He looked down at Ian.
"I've heard his name more than once this year."
The superintendent sighed.
"…Yes… so have I."
Leo spoke again.
"Perhaps this is a good time to review his record."
The coach's face went pale.
"S-Sir—"
Leo looked back at the superintendent.
"My recommendation."
"Ian is suspended."
Silence.
Then the superintendent nodded.
"…Agreed."
The coach looked like he'd been punched in the stomach.
"But the match—!"
Leo tilted his head slightly.
"You need a captain, don't you?"
The coach hesitated.
"…Yes…"
Leo looked at Axiom.
Then back at the coach.
"Then use him."
The entire room froze.
The coach blinked.
"…What?"
Leo spoke calmly.
"He's fast."
"He's controlled."
"He keeps his head under pressure."
A small pause.
"Put him on the team."
Axiom's eyes widened.
"…Wait— what?"
The students started whispering.
"No way…"
"Seriously?"
"The anime guy?"
Beth stared at him, shocked.
The coach looked between Leo and Axiom like this had to be a joke.
"You want him… to replace my captain?"
Leo nodded once.
"Yes."
Silence filled the classroom.
All eyes on Axiom.
Even he didn't know what to say.
"…You're kidding… right…?"
For a moment, the entire classroom stayed frozen.
All eyes on Axiom.
Even he didn't know what to say.
"…You're kidding… right…?" he muttered.
Professor Leo didn't react.
Didn't smile.
Didn't explain.
He just looked at him calmly.
That look alone told Axiom everything.
Play along.
Axiom took a slow breath.
Alright…
You've got a plan.
I trust you.
He straightened his posture slightly.
"…If the school wants me to do it… I'll do it."
The superintendent nodded immediately.
"Good."
He turned to the coach.
"Officially, starting today, Axiom will take the position of team captain until further notice."
The coach looked like he had swallowed something bitter.
"…Yes, sir."
On the floor, Ian glared up at Axiom, holding his arm.
"You think this is funny…?"
Axiom didn't answer.
He just looked at him calmly.
Ian clenched his teeth, but the pain in his arm stopped him from saying anything else.
The coach stood up and walked toward Axiom.
Up close, he looked even more annoyed.
He stopped right in front of him.
"Tomorrow."
Axiom blinked.
"…Tomorrow?"
The coach nodded.
"Gym. After first period."
"We practice."
A short pause.
"Don't be late."
He crossed his arms.
"You're captain now."
"That means you don't miss training."
He glanced at the superintendent, then back at Axiom.
"You'll be exempt from some classes during practice and game days."
Another pause.
"We don't have time to babysit you."
Axiom nodded slowly.
"…Got it."
The coach turned away.
Security helped Ian up carefully, two guards holding him as he groaned in pain.
The other injured students were helped up as well, some holding their ribs, others rubbing their shoulders.
One by one, they were escorted out.
The classroom slowly returned to normal.
Well…
As normal as it could be after something like that.
The superintendent left.
The coach left.
Security left.
The door closed.
Silence.
Then suddenly—
Everyone started talking at once.
"Dude that was insane."
"You didn't even hit him!"
"How were you moving like that?"
"That flip you did— what was that?"
Even the teacher looked impressed.
He shook his head, laughing.
"I've been teaching here ten years."
"I've never seen anything like that in my class."
Axiom scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed now.
"…I just didn't want to get hit."
Someone in the back laughed.
"Well you definitely didn't."
Beth was still standing beside her desk, looking at him like she was seeing him for the first time.
Not confused.
Not scared.
Just… impressed.
The bell rang.
LOUD.
Everyone jumped slightly.
4:00 PM.
Class over.
The teacher looked around, sighed, then waved his hand.
"You know what?"
He grabbed his coffee again.
"I was gonna give homework."
He looked at the broken desks.
The chairs.
The mess.
"…Not today."
A few students cheered.
"Go home. All of you."
"No homework."
Everyone started packing fast.
Talking loudly.
Phones already out.
By the time they reached the hallway, the story was already spreading.
"You heard what happened?"
"That animation class fight?"
"That guy dodged everything!"
"The basketball captain broke his arm!"
"And the anime guy is the new captain!"
Axiom walked out into the hallway, still trying to process everything.
"…What even is my life right now…"
Beth walked beside him.
Hands behind her back.
Trying not to smile too much.
"So…"
He glanced at her.
She tilted her head slightly, teasing.
"You're the captain of the basketball team now."
She made air quotes.
"After beating up the old captain."
Axiom laughed nervously.
"I didn't even touch him."
She smirked.
"Still counts."
He shook his head.
"…I guess I am."
They walked a few more steps in silence.
Then Axiom spoke again.
"…Hey."
She looked at him.
"Yeah?"
He hesitated for half a second.
Then said it.
"So… when the game happens…"
He scratched the back of his neck.
"…Would you wanna come watch?"
Beth blinked.
Her face turned red almost instantly.
She looked away fast.
"I-I mean…"
She crossed her arms.
"…I guess I could."
Her voice got more defensive.
"If I don't have anything better to do."
Axiom smiled.
Anime fan instincts activated.
Tsundere detected.
Translation: yes.
He nodded.
"…Cool."
She looked at him again for a second, then looked away quickly.
"…Don't get destroyed out there, captain."
He laughed.
"I'll try not to."
They reached the hallway split.
She stopped.
"…I go this way."
He nodded.
"…Yeah. I gotta go talk to someone."
She tilted her head.
"That professor?"
Axiom smirked slightly.
"…Yeah."
She smiled softly.
"…See you tomorrow, captain."
He turned and started walking.
"See you."
As he walked down the hallway, his expression slowly became serious again.
Professor Leo.
Ascendant card.
Basketball captain.
None of that was random.
He reached the office door.
Professor Leo — Scientific Department
He knocked once.
From inside—
"…Come in."
Axiom opened the door.
Stepped inside.
Closed it behind him.
And looked straight at him.
"…Okay."
A short pause.
"…You wanna explain why I'm the captain of the basketball team now?"