harleyscars Page 2
Page 2
Countless questions swirled in Zhou Ye's mind. He realized that his understanding of the world and the people around him was still far from sufficient.
"The dishes are washed, I'm going home now."
Zhu Nai dried her hands, walked out of the kitchen, and picked up her schoolbag.
"Well, be careful on the road."
Zhou Ye got up and saw him to the door.
"I'll come and call you to school tomorrow morning." Zhu Nai stood at the door, turned around and smiled at him, her violet eyes shimmering with a gentle light under the entryway light.
"Remember to change the dressing on your forehead on time and avoid getting it wet."
"I know, long-winded."
Zhou Ye waved.
Zhu Nai chuckled and turned to leave.
As Zhu Nai's figure disappeared into the night, Zhou Ye's relaxed expression slowly faded, replaced by a solemn look.
He closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a long breath.
This encounter with Zhu Nai further solidified his belief that this world was far from simple. The rumors about the old school building that Zhu Nai had just mentioned were likely a signal. Beneath this seemingly peaceful daily life, turbulent undercurrents were lurking.
He returned to his room and picked up the notebook again. Under the "Future Plans" section, he solemnly wrote down the first item:
1. Verify the true situation of the people around you, especially Himejima Akeno.
Then, after thinking for a moment, he added a second point:
2. Investigate the rumors surrounding the old school building to confirm their authenticity and any potential dangers.
After doing all this, Zhou Ye felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. The mental shock from merging with his past life's memories, coupled with his earlier struggle with Zhu Nai, had taken a heavy toll on his mental energy. The wounds on his forehead and the back of his head were still throbbing.
He walked to the bedside, lay down, and buried his face in the soft pillow. Countless thoughts tangled around him like a jumbled mess, making it difficult for him to fall asleep.
This world is both familiar and strange, full of allure yet fraught with danger. He is like someone suddenly thrown into a raging river, forced to learn to swim quickly or he will be swallowed up.
"The Great Sage Qitian..."
Zhou Ye suddenly remembered the character he played at the comic convention in his past life. He chose to dress as a woman to make money, so why did he get hit by a truck just because he dressed up too well?
Then, Zhou Ye spoke to the room where there was only one person:
"System, system, are you there?"
"Which powerful being sent me here?"
After calling out for several minutes without receiving a response, Zhou Ye had no choice but to give up and accept that he was a transmigrator without a system.
"Who cares about any crossover anime world, or any demons and monsters,"
Zhou Ye turned over, staring at the ceiling, his gaze gradually hardening.
"Now that we're here, we have to find a way to survive."
At least, he couldn't afford to bump into a wall and hit his head like he did just now because he was accidentally using his phone while walking. It would be too embarrassing if word got out. Zhou Ye chuckled self-deprecatingly and closed his eyes.
Tomorrow will be a brand new day. He needs to be well-rested to face the challenges of this "wonderful" world. His first stop might be that old school building, the subject of countless rumors.
As night deepened, the chirping of insects outside the window grew clearer. Zhou Ye's breathing gradually became steady, and his consciousness sank into a long-lost darkness, free from the interference of bizarre and fantastical memories. However, deep within his consciousness...
[Ding, system restarting, charging... low on power...]
[The Multiverse Workshop's gacha system is currently in standby mode... it will need to recharge in three days.]
The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin band of light into the room. Zhou Ye opened his eyes; the hangover-like headache had mostly subsided, with only a slight, dull ache remaining from the wounds on his forehead and the back of his head. He sat up, rubbed his stiff neck, and looked out the window.
A new day begins.
Unlike the bewilderment he felt upon waking yesterday, Zhou Ye's eyes were clear and his mind was sharp. After a night of digestion and reflection, he had begun to accept the fact that he was in a crossover anime world and had integrated his past life's memories. Although the road ahead was still full of unknowns, he was no longer as helpless as he had been yesterday.
He washed up and changed into his clean school uniform. Zhou Ye stood in front of the mirror, looking at his reflection—a reflection that was both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar. The eighteen-year-old boy still had a touch of youthful innocence on his face, but deep within his eyes lay a complexity and sharpness far beyond his years. He reached up and touched the band-aid on his forehead; the careful movements and gentle gaze of Zhu Nai when she changed his dressing yesterday flashed through his mind again.
"Himejima Akeno..."
Zhou Ye murmured the name. His probing during dinner yesterday hadn't yielded much useful information; Zhu Nai's behavior was almost identical to the gentle yet cunning childhood friend he'd known for the past ten years. But the more identical it was, the more Zhou Ye felt it was something more complex. That near-perfect disguise, or rather, that yet-to-be-revealed truth, was all the more intriguing.
Just then, the doorbell rang downstairs, along with Zhu Nai's clear voice:
"Zhou Ye, it's time to go!"
Zhou Ye responded, picked up his schoolbag, and quickly went downstairs.
The door opened, and there stood Himejima Akeno, looking charming and pretty, wearing the same Kuoh Academy uniform as Zhou Ye. The morning light shone on her wine-red hair, as if gilding it with a golden halo. Seeing Zhou Ye come out, she habitually flashed a gentle smile: "Good morning, does your wound still hurt?"
"Good morning, I'm much better," Zhou Ye replied simply, closing the door behind him.
The two walked side by side on the road to school. The streets were quiet in the early morning, and the air was fresh. The surrounding scenery was still familiar—the convenience store by the roadside, the café on the corner—everything was exactly as they remembered.
Did you sleep well last night? You seem to have something on your mind.
Zhu Nai turned her head to look at Zhou Ye's profile and asked casually.
"Maybe I'm just having trouble sleeping in a new bed," Zhou Ye casually offered as an excuse. He couldn't very well say that he was having insomnia because he had suddenly awakened memories of his past life and discovered that the world had changed so drastically.
"A bed-restricted sleeper?" Zhu Nai chuckled. "You've slept in this bed for ten years, and you're only starting to recognize it now?"
Zhou Ye's lips twitched; this excuse was indeed utterly lame. He coughed lightly, trying to change the subject:
"By the way, about that rumor you mentioned yesterday about the old school building, has there been any new developments?"
"Ok?"
Zhu Nai's smile faded slightly, and a hint of seriousness flashed in her eyes.
"It seems not. However, the student council seems to have started to pay attention to this matter. I heard that Vice President Shinra personally went to check on the old school building yesterday afternoon."
Shinra Tsubaki? Zhou Ye's mind conjured up the image of that long-haired, black-haired girl who always wore the student council uniform, her expression serious and meticulous. She was the student council vice-president, a familiar of Sona Shide, and her class was [Queen]. If Himejima Akeno was a cunning schemer beneath a gentle exterior, then Shinra Tsubaki was loyal beneath a strict exterior.
With the student council involved, is this some kind of staged event to mislead ordinary people?
"Does the student council also believe in those ghost stories?" Zhou Ye asked, feigning surprise.
"Who knows? Maybe it's just to appease the students or check for potential safety hazards," Zhu Nai shrugged and said in a relaxed tone. "However, Tsubaki is always serious about her work. It's better for her to check than to leave it unattended."
Zhou Ye nodded, not pressing further. He had obtained the information he wanted: the old school building was indeed unusual and had already attracted the attention of "relevant people." This further solidified his resolve to investigate. Of course, not now; he needed a suitable opportunity, preferably one that wouldn't attract attention.
The two chatted along the way and soon arrived at Komao Academy.
Kuoh Academy is a stage where supernatural forces from the biblical mythology system intertwine, and it is the main setting for the story of "High School DxD".
Chapter 3 Xia Laofei, Yotsuya Miko
As they entered the school gate, the number of students around them gradually increased. Zhou Ye and Zhu Nai's appearance attracted a lot of attention. After all, one was a well-known beauty on campus, and the other, although usually low-key, was someone who received much attention due to her close relationship with Himejima Zhu Nai.
"Look, it's Himejima-senpai and Zhou Ye-senpai."
"They really do go to school together. They're such good friends."
"What happened to Zhou Ye's forehead? Is he injured?"
A few murmurs arose around them. Zhou Ye was already used to this and simply ignored it. Zhu Nai, on the other hand, maintained her perfect smile, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
The two parted ways in front of the teaching building, each heading towards their own classroom. Zhou Ye's class was Class 2-B.
Logically, 18-year-olds should be in their senior year of high school, but because Zhou Ye participated in a campus competition team building activity a year ago, he had to repeat a year and became a junior in high school.
As Zhou Ye entered the classroom, he found that quite a few students had already arrived. He immediately spotted the familiar figure sitting in the second-to-last row by the window.
Her long, glossy black hair cascaded over her shoulders like silk. She possessed fair skin, delicate features, and a slightly aloof air. Even just sitting quietly reading, she exuded a powerful presence. This was none other than his classmate, the famous light novel author—Kasumigaoka Utaha.
At this moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha was holding a thick, hardcover book, reading intently. As if sensing Zhou Ye's gaze, she slightly raised her eyelids, her eyes meeting Zhou Ye's in mid-air.
Those were deep, sharp black eyes, seemingly able to see into people's hearts. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips, carrying a hint of mockery and scrutiny.
Zhou Ye felt a slight chill. Kasumigaoka Utaha was known for her sharp tongue and keen observation skills. Dealing with her would be far more troublesome than dealing with Akeno.
He casually looked away and walked to his seat. His seat was diagonally behind Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Not long after he sat down, a boy with short, sporty hair in the row in front of him turned around and leaned close to Zhou Ye with a gossipy look on his face, saying:
"Hey, Zhou Ye, what happened to your forehead? It was fine yesterday!"
This is one of Zhou Ye's friends in class, named Tanaka Kenta. He has a cheerful personality and is a typical hot-blooded idiot.
"I accidentally bumped into a wall," Zhou Ye replied succinctly.
"Bump into a wall? Haha, you're such a loser!" Kenta Tanaka mocked without any restraint.
"Were you looking down at your phone again?"
Zhou Ye sighed helplessly and acquiesced. Looking down at one's phone is common for many people; there's nothing shameful about it.
"Speaking of which, have you heard? About the old school building..."
Kenta Tanaka lowered his voice, his expression becoming mysterious.
Sure enough, the rumor had already spread among the students. Zhou Ye understood the situation, but pretended to be hearing it for the first time:
"The old school building? What's the matter?"
"It's haunted! I've heard it's really spooky!" Kenta Tanaka described it vividly, spittle flying from his lips.
"Some say they saw white shadows floating around, others say they heard a woman crying..."
Zhou Ye listened patiently. Although Tanaka Kenta's version had been embellished, the core content was similar to what Zhu Nai had said. It seemed that the old school building did indeed have problems.
Just then, a cool voice interrupted: "Discussing such boring ghost stories so early in the morning is really childish."
The one speaking was Kasumigaoka Utaha. She had put down her book at some point and was glancing at them with her beautiful black eyes, her gaze filled with undisguised disdain.
Kenta Tanaka was taken aback, looking somewhat embarrassed, but he didn't dare to argue with this sharp-tongued queen, so he could only turn away awkwardly.
Zhou Ye, however, was already familiar with Kasumigaoka Utaha's sharp tongue and didn't mind. On the contrary, he felt this was an opportunity to perhaps gain some different information from this perceptive writer.
"Kasumigaoka seems to disdain these kinds of school ghost stories."
Zhou Ye looked at her and said calmly.