Part 2
Close to class time, Touma walked slowly down the hallway, still a bit drained after the awkward lunch incident.
Suddenly, he heard hurried footsteps. Turning around, he saw Hina running toward him, her expression oddly excited considering what had happened earlier.
Hina waved a piece of paper cheerfully in her hand as she caught up to him.
—Touma! I was just looking for you. It's almost time for class.
Touma raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden enthusiasm.
—Hina? What's that you're holding?
Hina grinned mischievously, clearly proud of the document.
—This? Hehe, it's our golden ticket to peace and quiet at Seisen!
Touma tilted his head, clearly confused.
—Huh?
Hina sighed dramatically, pretending to be disappointed as she lightly waved the paper in front of her face.
—I was digging around in one of the virtual panels and checked with SEI. Turns out I can create a club—because the previous president graduated last year and no one claimed it afterward...
Touma frowned slightly, skeptical.
—A club? You're going to run a club? What kind of club exactly?
Hina puffed up her chest proudly.
—The Literature Club! Not only will we have a quiet place, but we'll also get a private room where we can hang out together—without certain "annoying individuals" interrupting us! —she added, clearly thinking of Akari, Jake, and Shizuki.
Touma squinted at her suspiciously.
—Literature? Since when are you into that?
Hina glanced away, slightly blushing.
—Well, maybe it's not exactly my passion... but that's not important. It was the only available club that fit my requirements...
Touma raised both eyebrows, amused.
—Requirements? What kind of requirements?
Hina avoided his eyes and muttered quietly.
—A quiet club… empty… where no one bothers us and we can be together.
Touma felt his face warm up slightly and quickly looked away.
—Ah… I see. So that's your plan.
Hina nodded firmly, regaining her usual confidence.
—Exactly. So? What do you think?
Touma sighed softly, though he couldn't help but smile.
—I guess it sounds... acceptable. Not like I could say no anyway.
Hina beamed and quickly held the paper out toward him.
—Exactly! Now, sign here. I need at least two members to officially register the club.
Touma took the paper with playful resignation and slowly signed it.
—You know what, Hina? Sometimes you're kinda scary...
She chuckled lightly and snatched the paper back.
—Thanks for the compliment. Now let's go—we can't be late for class. I have to turn this in afterward to make everything official.
Touma watched as Hina walked excitedly toward the classroom and shook his head slowly while Ellie chimed in through his lens, her voice slightly teasing:
—Touma-sama, I believe you just signed a lifelong contract without realizing it...
—I know, Ellie, I know... but I don't really mind —he muttered with a resigned smile, slowly following Hina toward the "Defense Against Nulvoids" classroom.
The central lecture hall was packed with students from both the Combat and Research Divisions, chatting curiously as they waited.
Touma entered alongside Hina, scanning the room for a comfortable place to sit.
From the back, Jake waved enthusiastically with exaggerated excitement.
—Over here, guys! —he shouted, clearly drawing attention.
Touma sighed in resignation, while Hina rubbed her forehead in anticipation of incoming chaos. As they sat down next to Jake, Akari suddenly popped up beside Touma with her usual, overflowing energy.
—Yaho~! Touma! Hina! Finally, a class together! Isn't it great?
Hina eyed her warily, but Touma just gave a nervous smile.
—I guess that depends on the teacher...
Right at that moment, the automatic doors opened with a soft hiss, revealing the man entering at a sluggish pace. All the chatter in the classroom stopped immediately.
The teacher looked completely disheveled—messy black hair, several days' worth of stubble, and a half-buttoned wrinkled white shirt. His face radiated absolute exhaustion as he trudged slowly toward the desk.
—That's the teacher...? —Jake whispered, clearly skeptical.
—He looks like he hasn't slept in three days —Hina muttered.
—Maybe he's been out fighting real Nulvoids? —Akari tilted her head, curious.
—I think… that's just how he is —Touma said, scratching his cheek, unsure.
The man finally reached the front, dropped a heavy stack of papers onto the desk, and let out a long sigh.
—Good morning or afternoon, whatever... —he began, his voice dragging—. My name is Gen Kirishima, and for some incomprehensible reason, I'm supposed to be your "Defense Against Nulvoids" instructor.
The awkward silence in the room was almost tangible. Gen scratched his head, messing up his hair even more.
—Let me make something clear right off the bat: this class could save your life… or you can ignore everything I say. Honestly, I don't really care either way.
Hina and Touma exchanged uneasy glances.
—But —Gen added suddenly, his tone shifting to something more serious—, if you ever run into a real Nulvoid, you'll wish you had paid even a little bit of attention.
He lazily snapped his fingers.
—SEI, activate standard simulation, Soldier-class.
[Activating Virtual World: Soldier-class Nulvoid deployed.]
In an instant, a realistic hologram of a black Nulvoid appeared at the center of the classroom, exuding a menacing presence. The students reacted with a mix of awe and unease.
—This —Gen continued, completely deadpan— is a Soldier-class Nulvoid. Basic and common, but still potentially lethal if you don't know how to respond.
His eyes slowly scanned the room until they landed on Touma, who felt his blood run cold.
—You. Kid with glasses who clearly wishes he were asleep right now. Get over here.
Touma opened his mouth in disbelief, while Jake tried not to laugh and Akari looked genuinely excited.
—Touma, lucky you! Your time to shine! —she exclaimed enthusiastically.
—Yeah… right... —Touma muttered dryly as he slowly got up, a look of pure resignation on his face.
Hina watched him with concern, whispering:
—Be careful, okay?
As he approached the hologram, Touma felt a strange, inexplicable discomfort in his chest while staring at the dark figure—like something inside him instinctively recognized the threat.
—Ellie… any suggestions? —he whispered uneasily.
Ellie's voice responded instantly through his Astra Lens.
—Stay calm, Touma-sama. It's a basic simulation. I'm here with you. Just follow my instructions.
Touma took a deep breath, mentally bracing himself.
—Alright, begin the simulation —Gen said, settling into his chair in an unbothered, relaxed manner.
The Nulvoid suddenly lunged with surprising speed. Touma reacted just in time thanks to Ellie.
—Dodge to your right now, Touma-sama.
Following her instructions, Touma barely avoided the Nulvoid's strike, drawing surprised reactions from the rest of the class.
Gen gave a faint smile and casually announced:
—SEI, apply Astra Core restriction on the student.
[Astra Core restriction activated.]
Touma suddenly felt something inside him partially shut down.
—What's going on, Ellie? —he asked, alarmed.
—Your Astra Core has been limited. Your minor physical enhancements have been canceled. You'll need to rely on tactical means. There's a training shield to your left.
Touma quickly grabbed the shield, barely managing to block another blow. In the back, Jake looked both surprised and amused, while Hina clenched her fists in worry and Akari bounced excitedly in her seat.
—Go for it, Touma!
Carefully guided by Ellie, Touma used simple tactics: throwing the shield as a distraction and striking the weak points she identified. The Nulvoid finally lost balance and was deactivated shortly after.
The simulation ended smoothly. The entire room went silent.
—That, folks —Gen said in his bored tone— is how someone with no outstanding combat ability survives. Basic intelligence and a bit of tactical help.
—Though I should add, that soldier-class Nulvoid was just for practice... it's nothing compared to the real thing... whatever.
Surprised murmurs filled the room, and Touma took a deep breath, slightly winded.
—Well done, Touma-sama. Though you really should work on your stamina —Ellie whispered playfully.
Touma sighed, defeated by the comment.
—Thanks for the reminder…
As he returned to his seat, Hina let out a relieved sigh, Akari praised him enthusiastically, and Jake clapped him on the back with a laugh.
From his desk, Gen watched with a faint, unreadable smile, speaking softly to himself in a voice no one else could hear.
—Maybe this generation's not a total loss after all... —he murmured wearily.
After saying that, he picked up a worn, battered book from his desk, leaned back in his chair, and placed the book over his face, covering his eyes.
Then, he put his feet up on the desk, clearly intending to nap for the rest of the class.
—Alright, take out your books and read chapter one in silence —he said in a muffled voice from behind the book—. If you have questions, I'll answer them at the end of class… assuming I feel like it.
Touma let out a deep sigh, reluctantly pulling out the thick paper textbook they'd been given at the start of the course.
—This Gen guy is unbelievable... —Touma muttered with dread—. State-of-the-art tech, artificial intelligence, virtual classes... and he makes us use paper books.
He glanced toward the professor, who already seemed fast asleep under the book, and added under his breath:
—This is definitely going to be a long year...
As Hina slowly shook her head in resignation and Jake stifled a laugh, Touma opened the book with a groan, ready to face his new academic life at Seisen...
...which, apparently, was going to be full of more unexpected situations than he could've ever imagined.