Chapter 12: An Unexpected Encounter

The warm sun cast its golden rays upon the lush green campus of the academy, where students laughed and chatted as they went about their daily routines. But amidst the vibrant scene, one student stood out - Suzuya. He sat on the grass, his eyes fixed intently on the ground as he poked at an anthill with a stick. The ants scurried about, some of them meeting their demise under Suzuya's merciless pokes. He giggled to himself, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of passersby. The teachers had grown concerned about Suzuya's behavior. He refused to attend classes, instead spending his days loitering around the campus. His appearance was unkempt, and his actions were erratic. He would often get into fights with other students who dared to tease him, and his anger issues were becoming increasingly evident. Despite his isolation, Suzuya seemed oblivious to the commotion he caused. When questioned about Suzuya's behavior, Big Madam would simply shrug and say, "Suzuya's always been like that." Her vague response only fueled the teachers' curiosity, and they began to suspect that there was more to Suzuya's story than met the eye. As Suzuya continued to play with the ants, a gentle voice interrupted his reverie. "Hello there, young man. My name is Shinohara. What's yours?" Suzuya looked up to see a tall, brown-haired man with piercing green eyes and a warm smile. "I'm Suzuya," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He shook Shinohara's hand, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. Shinohara sat down beside Suzuya, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. "I've seen you around, Suzuya. You seem like a bright boy, but I've noticed you don't really interact with the other students. What's that like for you?" Suzuya's face lit up with a smile, and he launched into a rambling conversation about his love of ants and the joy of watching them scurry about. As they chatted, Shinohara's expression grew increasingly concerned. There was something about Suzuya's demeanor that didn't quite add up. He seemed...off. But Shinohara couldn't quite put his finger on it. As they talked, Aura and Kuriowa, two other teachers, walked by and exchanged a knowing glance. They had also noticed Suzuya's unusual behavior, and they suspected that something was amiss. Aura, with her striking blue hair and kind eyes, smiled warmly at Suzuya. "Hello there, Suzuya. We've seen you around, but you never seem to join in with the other students. Do you have any friends here?" Suzuya shook his head, his eyes downcast. Kuriowa, with his gentle black eyes, placed a hand on Suzuya's shoulder. "We're here to help you, Suzuya. If you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out." Suzuya nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards these kind strangers. Shinohara stood up, his eyes locked on Suzuya's. "Listen, Suzuya, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you. My door is always open, and I'm happy to listen to whatever's on your mind." Suzuya smiled, feeling a sense of comfort in Shinohara's presence. As Shinohara walked away, Suzuya returned to his ant-playing, whistling a happy tune. But Shinohara's parting words lingered in his mind: "I'm here for you, Suzuya. Don't forget that." Little did Suzuya know, Shinohara's offer would soon become a lifeline in his complicated world. Big Madam had told Suzuya that he had to be careful around other people, that they wouldn't understand him and Big Madam's special bond. Suzuya didn't know what that meant, but he knew he had to be careful. He wouldn't tell Shinohara anything that would make Big Madam mad. He just smiled and waved, watching as Shinohara walked away, feeling a sense of gratitude towards this kind stranger. The sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the campus. Suzuya stood up, brushing off his pants. He knew he had to get back to Big Madam soon. She would be worried about him. As he walked back to his room, Suzuya felt a sense of contentment wash over him. He was happy with Big Madam, and he knew she loved him. But as he looked back at Shinohara's retreating figure, he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to life than his isolated world with Big Madam.