Chapter 3 - Deepening Worry

Meanwhile, earlier when break time began, Iesa Hun went out to buy snacks at the canteen.

'I heard it's here.'

She snuck out to the stairs at the side of the first building.

'Even though it's the first day and students are exploring the school, no one is here. The teachers are right! This is a secret spot.'

Opening the door to the emergency stairs, Iesa sat at the first step.

"Finally, some alone time." she swayed happily as she opened her snacks and bit into the sandwich.

"Hmm~~"

Largely different from how she acts in front of others, Iesa looks like the most cheerful girl out there.

"As long as I don't hear thoughts, there are no people near me. This is basically my private area!"

"But I wonder why the emergency exits are a bit far. Maybe once the teachers explained what to do once there's an emergency, this place will be crowded."

She sighed.

"I hope not. I don't want to eat in the toilet again and it's too hot on the rooftop. This place is a bit warm but being in that cold classroom, this is like a sanctuary!"

"Furthermore, I can't hear any stupid, perverted, or creepy thoughts."

She then laughed weirdly as if she was drunk. But then she realized that she had already eaten all of what she bought.

"This is a problem. I don't know if phones are forbidden or not here. Let's wait for the basic instruction. So I'll just stare into nothingness. Still better than hearing all those idiots."

"..."

"Actually, the class president is funny! After all the thoughts that I heard, she's the dirtiest. But it's a lot better than the creepy thoughts of strangers, or the envious remarks of the girls in my room. The mind is the most private of all and people are sometimes, the most honest inside their thoughts."

Iesa Hun talked to herself until break time is over.

Coming back to the classroom, she saw that the person in front of her seemed pissed off.

'It's the... pfft- cocksucker according to the prez.'

Iesa Hun became curious and focused on his thoughts.

'This dork! I stayed there for thirty minutes, waiting for him! And when I came back here, he's just sighing as if tired to see me! Later, I'm going to beat him up and take all of his allowances!'

Nick's thoughts came across Iesa. This made her uncomfortable.

'So there's still bullies here, huh... I thought the school was strict about it. The last year's top bullies and delinquents were kicked out of school... Well, maybe they were kicked out. I don't know, they just suddenly disappeared and I didn't care about it back then.'

After that, their teacher returned and so is the continuation of class. He presented a PowerPoint presentation.

"So here are the rules..."

"I think it is obvious that it is forbidden to bring any weapon..."

"Girls, your skirt must be this long..."

"In times of emergency, this is the route out to safety. Remember it well. However, you will only use this part in times of emergency, do you understand? Since there's no CCTV inside, there have been some couples doing some things I will not further explain."

'Yes, tell them to get out of there! If there's no one there, no one is going to see me there!' Iesa cheerfully thought.

Along with her internal reactions, there are a lot of thoughts she picked up.

'Lucky them, I want a girlfriend.'

'Some things... I wonder what things it is?'

'Tse, we were planning to try that place. Looks like we have to cancel it.'

Iesa just observed the different sides of the class. But there were some unique thoughts like:

'What? Couples are doing that!? We're just seventeen!'

'Maybe I'll beat Teren there!'

Iesa found the first thought unique because it came from Lina, the one she thought had the dirtiest mind.

'Seemed like she just has dirty language but is actually innocent.' Iesa commented with a smirk.

As for the second thought, Iesa's worry increased.

'Teren? From what I observed earlier, it must be this lazy thinker. He's so quiet, even in his thoughts, that I forgot that he's existing.'

'She's looking at me again.' Teren blushed, restraining himself to look at her and make eye contact. That would've been very awkward.

Iesa was about to let it slide when she kept hearing Nick's thoughts.

Nick: 'Hmph! I'm going to practice my boxing skills with this idiot! My goal is to traumatize him!'

Iesa: 'Those are just thoughts, right!? You're not actually going to do it!'

Nick: 'But if he redeemed himself at lunch and treat me. I'll forgive him.'

Iesa: 'Thank goodness! But what if this Teren didn't treat him? Wait, that's normal. Why would you treat your bully? That's just extortion! If he did treat this guy, it's bullying. But he didn't, Teren's fate could be worse!'

This lasted until the first half of school just ended and it's lunch break time.

Iesa took a detour before following Teren as he was brought by Nick.

"I'll forgive you if you treat me with that deluxe meal. I'm getting hungry since you left me here earlier." Nick said with intimidation.

However, Teren remained unflinching.

"Sure"

"I'll keep my eyes on you!" Nick then sat on one chair at an empty table.

'Whew, seemed like Teren will not get beaten up. Ugh! Why do I care about this? Guess, I'll buy my own lunch first.'

Iesa stood behind the line.

'Oh my gosh, it's Iesa.'

'She's still so pretty.'

'I heard that she got first in the entrance exam.'

Thoughts were popping into her ears but she tried to ignore them. While waiting in line, Iesa found that it was Teren's turn at the window.

"One of this, please. That's all."

'That's all? Teren, do you want to get beaten up!?' Iesa thought and was baffled, 'But canteen at lunch break has less crown. I doubt he can't escape Nick's eyes.'

Just as she thought of that, she saw Teren had a serious expression. He swooshed and ran away that only she and the people behind Teren noticed.

'Did that guy just sprint?'

'Weird guy must be hungry as hell.'

'Hm? Where is Teren?'

The last thought was from Nick.

Iesa: 'The bully didn't notice!!!'

Thus, the same thing happened again. Nick came back more pissed and hungrier than ever.

'I'm going to kill him after school!'

Iesa's face darkened.