New sides(corrected)

---Pov Mark--

"Selene someone asked me to deliver this to you."

Looking around, it seemed that this was an event that happened during middle school. One of Selene's friends handed her a piece of paper with something written on it.

"Let's meet during break behind the school, I have something important to tell you, haaaa."

"Looks like Miss Popularity has struck again." -Joked the friend, elbowing Selene.

"Come on it could be something else... though I doubt it."

Shaking her head, Selene got up and headed toward the meeting logo as my mind worked to figure out what was going on.

'Aren't these all the signs of a confession? Nonono, think about it, we lived in a technological world, who would use a letter? It would be too cringe-worthy.'

Trying to find an answer to my questions, Selene arrived at the meeting area, where a boy who looked agitated was waiting.

"Did you happen to write this?" -Selene asked.

"Y-Yes, you should know that when our classes do PE together, I can't take my eyes off you and your smile always manages to fascinate me, s-so I was wondering, would you like to start dating."

'It was really a confession.'

Now that I thought about it, it was quite natural. Selene was cheerful and nice, combined with her looks it was natural that she would attract attention.

I admit that at that moment I felt jealousy growing in me, but it turned into pity for that boy after Selene's words.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think that's possible."

"May I know why?" -The boy said, looking for the reason.

"I don't even know who you are."

The area seemed to freeze. What Selene had said had passed rejection or seeing him only as a friend, it was such a low level that she didn't even notice his existence.

"W-What? I'm the ace of the soccer club, and every time we've seen each other you've said hello!"

"I'm not a big fan of soccer, plus I tend to say hello to everyone. I'm sorry I made you misunderstand."

Seeing her lower her head, I could no longer watch the scene. This confession turned into a slow and painful execution.

Watching him leave without a soul, I felt a kind of fraternity with him; after all, I don't think I would have been so different if I had been rejected in such a way.

When Selene returned to the classroom, she was immediately flanked by her friend who seemed to quiver with curiosity.

"So? Did the captain manage to score?"

"Do you know him?"

"Who doesn't know him! He's among the top prettiest boys in the school, but wait, Selene, don't tell me you seriously told him you didn't know him?"

"Isn't it obvious? Why should I hang out with someone I don't even know?"

'That's cruelty.' -Pity toward that boy was growing inside me.

"A piece of advice from a friend. In the future try to adjust your level of honesty, otherwise, the number of depressed people in this world will increase."

"Okay?"

After the friend's advice and Selene's confused response, classes continued quietly until the bell rang marking the end of the day.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Selene headed for the bathroom to rinse her hands, but shortly afterward trouble seemed to arrive. Three girls entered the bathroom, closing the door, and from their expressions, they did not look very happy.

"Oi, are you the bitch who made Nathan depressed?"

'This little...'

Unlike my angry mood, Selene opted for a calmer one and turned toward what looked like the leader of the trio.

"By Nathan do you mean the captain of the soccer team?"

"Look how she's playing dumb, do you think you're superior to us?"

"She doesn't seem to know her place."

"Don't tell me you are doing all this because you are jealous." -Selene said wordlessly.

'slap!

"I don't recall saying you could talk."

The girl standing forward slapped her face and just when she wanted to see how miserable Selene would be, but the situation went in a direction that left me speechless.

"It hurt, but this will hurt more."

'crack!

Mercilessly Selene gave a hook to the girl's nose from which there was an unpleasant sound and blood began to flow.

"AAAAAH! My nose!"

The girl fell to her knees in pain as she held her nose, while my brain struggled to follow what was happening.

"Now you should lift your head and keep your nostrils tightly closed for a few minutes and head to the nearest hospital to get checked out. If you want, I recommend the one where my father works."

I couldn't see her expression, but I could tell from the tone of her voice that she was smiling, although I think it was simply frightening to others.

"You are crazy! We'll let the principal know what you did right away!"

One of the girls went to help her friend while shouting toward Selene, who simply laughed.

"You know, my father and the principal are old friends who still meet. So even if you said something to him, he would just see it as a fight between children, plus my father has various connections because of his job. Who knows, maybe he also knows the bosses your parents work for. Don't you think it would be sad if they suddenly lost their jobs?"

Hearing her words, the girls paled. It was not a secret that Selene's father was one of the best doctors in the country, so her threats had a weight behind them that was best not underestimated.

Overcoming them smoothly, Selene walked out of the bathroom. She walked to the infirmary to check her cheek, which she kept massaging when she met me, well, the me of the past.

"Selene? What did you do to your face?"

"...You see, there was this huge mosquito on my face and I think I hit myself a little too hard."

Obviously from the way she spoke stiffly and the made-up story you could tell she was lying, only an idiot would believe it.

"Haaa you should be more careful you know?"

'Dear god!

It was interesting to see the world from Selene's point of view and discover sides I didn't know, like the vengeful one, but it was starting to become torture to see how the me from the past reacted. I was beginning to seriously wonder if besides studying and maintaining some social life, there was something else going on inside my head.

"O-Oh you're right, I'm going to the nurse's office now, see you at home."

"Hmm? What are you saying, of course, I'm going with you."

"Are you worried about me?" -Selene said, trying to tease me.

"We have known each other since we are children it is normal for me to worry about you if you are sick, after all, you are a very important friend to me."

Past-me's words seemed to catch Selene off guard, and she was momentarily silent.

"What are you waiting for? That cheek is pretty red, you'd better put some ice on it."

Seeing that she was not responding to him, he took her hand and quickly led her toward the infirmary.

With Selene's subtle laughter tickling my ears, the outside world began to crumble as my body was slowly carried away, but I didn't mind. I had seen many interesting things, besides...

'Fortunately, I was not a hopeless human case.'

Such a realization made me sigh with relief as my body came out of the dream world.

---Pov General---

Annoyed by the light streaming through the windows, Mark's eyes slowly opened, and although he could not focus properly, he found a face looking at him not far from his face.

"G-Good morning."

Seeing Tiona's red face, it took Mark a few seconds to realize what was going on, and the moment he did, agitation was about to get the better of him causing him to get up in a hurry, but an icy flow from his mind calmed him.

'For once I'm glad the corruption has increased.'

"How long did I sleep?"

Getting up slowly as if nothing was wrong, he squeezed his eyes shut at the discomfort in his body, it felt like he had muscle cramps all over.

"...Almost a day."

Seeing how Mark did not even seem affected by the situation earlier, Tiona seriously wondered what was going on in Mark's mind at that moment.

"I see... so, why were you being my lap pillow?"

"...Riveria's advice." -Tiona said in a thin voice.

"I figured as much. Anyway, in the future try not to do something like that again."

Although he was smiling, his words were harsh. He knew Tiona would not have such an idea, but if he did not show strong denial now, it might create false hopes for her and Mark did not have the passion to play with people's hearts.

"Hehe it was just a little joke, I start to go down where Riveria is."

Tiona tried to change the situation for a joke, but in Mark's eyes, it was useless. He could see how his words had hurt her, but at this Mark could only shake his head.

Leaving the room, he appeared to be in one of the taverns on the 18th floor and going down to the lower floor where there were various tables and chairs, Riveria was sitting while Tiona seemed to have already left.

"Did you sleep well, Mark?"

Riveria asked, sipping something as she looked curiously at Mark. She had seen Tiona leave and although she looked normal, after all the years she had known her, she knew something was wrong.

"I slept well, I just prefer to be alone on the bed." -Mark said, lifting his shoulders.

"Try not to be angry with her, she just followed my words."

"Haaaa, I'm not angry, it's just that it's quite strange to wake up on top of the legs of a woman with whom you don't even have a relationship."

'Especially if you saw your wife's memories as a dream, trust me, it's not a good feeling.' -Obviously he only thought that part.

"Hmm, I'll try to pay more attention to what I recommend. Changing the subject, do you feel like going up again? I've already cast various healing spells, but it depends on how you feel."

"A little sore but I can handle it, plus I think it's time for me to level up."

With a confident smile, Mark was ready to climb the next step that would bring him closer to his goals.