My Seatmate is a Master (12) - My Neighbor's a Powerful Character

"Damn, you bitch!"

"Get her for me!"

Shira blocked a punch aimed at her and retaliated with a well-placed strike, taking one of the boys down. "Too weak!"

The situation quickly escalated into a physical altercation, and Shira found herself fighting off five people at once. Her martial arts training allowed her to hold her own, but it was still a challenging and intense battle.

"I don't want to see your faces again bullying others weaker than you! Am I clear?" The bullies sprawled on the ground nodded and pleaded for mercy before Shira allowed them to run away. 

Despite the odds, Shira's determination and fighting skills allowed her to fend off the bullies, ensuring that the girl they had been targeting was safe. By the time the confrontation was over, no one else knew about the incident, as Shira had acted discreetly, protecting her identity.

"Are you okay?"

"Thank you so much..." 

"Let me send you to the infirmary."

As the girl she had rescued thanked her with tears in her eyes, Shira couldn't help but wonder about her own complex emotions and the balance she needed to strike between her hidden identity, her friendship with Kiba, and the need to protect those who needed her help.

After sending the girl she had saved to the infirmary, Shira briefly visited the nurse's office to have her knuckles treated. This time, she no longer wore the mask. The nurse noticed the minor injuries and asked, "What happened, Shira?"

Shira replied with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Just a small accident, nothing to worry about."

The nurse applied first aid and bandaged her knuckles before sending her on her way. As Shira returned to the classroom, she took her seat beside Kiba. She tried her best to act as if nothing had happened, but she couldn't help but feel that her secret was starting to unravel.

She thought, 'What's up with him staring at me like I committed a crime? Will he want to interrogate me?'

Kiba, observant as ever, noticed that Shira was avoiding writing. He thought, 'Is she becoming lazy again? But she performed so well in the previous months. Will all her efforts go down the drain just like this? I should really talk to her. Maybe she has many problems, and they are keeping her distracted.'

Shira suddenly retrieved something from her bag, and that was when Kiba noticed that her right hand was bandaged. 'Has she gotten into an accident when she left earlier? What happened to her hand to be bandaged like this?'

He couldn't contain his concern and leaned over to whisper, "Shira, where have you been? What happened to your hand?"

Before Shira could respond, the lunch break bell rang, providing her with an opportunity to avoid the conversation. She looked at Kiba with an apologetic expression and said, "I'm fine, just some minor injuries."

"Where have you gotten them?" Kiba felt so confused and exhausted that she was not telling him the truth.

"I fell and used the hand accidentally. I gotta go, see you later!" Shira waved with a smile. She swiftly gathered her things and made her way out of the classroom, leaving Kiba worried and distressed.

Shira, for her part, couldn't escape the growing feeling that she made the wrong choice when she started lying to Kiba. 'I shouldn't feel guilty. I'm not even the real Shira to start with... I just hope I can get over with this mission soon!'

Kiba couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. He followed Shira as she entered a private room in the restaurant opposite their school. His sudden appearance surprised her, but he couldn't hold back the questions anymore.

"Shira, why are you avoiding me?" Kiba asked, his eyes filled with concern and pleading.

Shira hesitated for a moment, her own gaze conflicted, but she quickly replied, "Kiba, it's not like that. I'm just really hungry, that's all."

Kiba didn't quite believe her, and his discomfort was evident. He sat down at the table and sighed. "Shira, you've been acting strange lately. We've always been there for each other. What's going on? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Shira shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to keep her secret hidden. She wished she could be more open with Kiba, but the weight of her life as Shira and not Sylynthia was heavy on her shoulders.

"Kiba, it's just... personal stuff. I promise I'll explain everything soon. Just give me a little more time. Let's eat lunch other, okay?"

Kiba nodded, still worried but willing to trust her. "Alright, Shira. Just know that you can talk to me about anything. I'm your friend, and I'm here for you."

The uneasiness between them lingered as they began to enjoy their meal, and Shira knew that, sooner or later, she would have to confront the secrets and emotions that had begun to divide her from Kiba. She thought, 'Should I still confront him when I'm going to leave him someday?'

Back in the classroom, Shira and Kiba tried to resume their daily routines, but the tension that had developed between them was hard to ignore. Fina, who had been studying nearby, couldn't help but notice that something was amiss.

She observed Shira and Kiba with a puzzled expression, sensing the awkwardness that hung in the air. Fina knew that Shira and Kiba had been close friends, but lately, something seemed to be pulling them apart.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Fina decided to approach them during a break between classes. She gently asked, "Is everything okay, you two? You seem a bit... distant today." But felt happy inside.

Kiba exchanged a quick glance with Shira, who tried to force a reassuring smile. "Yeah, everything's fine, Fina. Just some personal stuff we're sorting out."

Fina nodded, not entirely convinced. "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to or help with anything, you can count on me. I'm here for you both."

Kiba appreciated Fina's offer of support but couldn't help feeling the growing distance between him and Shira, while Shira did not take Fina's offer well. Their friendship, once so close, was starting to feel strained as the secrets and complexities of their lives threatened to pull them apart.

Fina couldn't help but feel resentment towards Shira. She watched as Shira effortlessly excelled in her studies, seemed to win Kiba's attention smoothly, and appeared to lead a charmed life.

Fina couldn't shake the feeling of envy and frustration as she compared her own life to Shira's. 'Why can she change her bad records so quickly and dazzle him? Why can she live a life so comfortable and loved by lots of people? What's in her and not in me?'

Fina's envy and resentment festered like a seed in her heart. She wished she could have what Shira had. The unwavering friendship between Shira and Kiba and a life seemingly free of troubles. The more she watched Shira and Kiba, the more her hatred grew, and it began to cloud her judgment and actions.

Fina knew that these feelings were unproductive and unkind, but she couldn't help herself. She was determined to find a way to gain Kiba's attention and to prove that she was just as valuable as Shira.

'Without Shira, Kiba can only be mine!' Her fixation on this goal grew stronger, and it threatened to consume her.

Shira's decision to walk home alone after the class had been prompted by her desire for some time alone to sort through her own thoughts and feelings. However, as she made her way through the familiar streets, an eerie feeling crept over her.

It was as if she was being watched or followed. 'Am I overthinking things? There's clearly no one behind me.'

She couldn't shake the sensation that someone was lurking in the shadows, tailing her every step. Her heart began to race, and she quickened her pace, hoping to escape whatever unseen presence haunted her.

'I can still fight even when my other hand is injured. But I can't risk myself getting more injuries again.' Shira decided to empty her bag and lessen the weight she was carrying. 'I can only outsmart danger and run fast.'

Desperate for answers and reassurance, Shira turned to Lemolemo to gather some information. "Lemolemo, scan the area. I feel like someone is following me."

Lemolemo, ever the vigilant and obedient aide, focused his efforts on analyzing the surroundings. After a thorough scan, he reported back, [Milady, I could not detect any presence in the immediate vicinity. It appears to be safe.]

Shira tried to push aside her unease, but the feeling of being watched lingered. With every step she took, the unsettling notion that someone was hiding in the shadows persisted, leaving her on edge as she continued her solitary walk home.

'I don't know why Lemolemo can't feel it, but there is something wrong around me.'

As Shira continued her walk, just a street away from her house, her path intersected with that of a young man about her age. He was wearing a nondescript hoodie, and his presence seemed to send a chill down her spine. Shira's instincts told her to be cautious.

Once again, she turned to her ever-reliable ally, Lemolemo, for guidance. "Lemolemo, something doesn't feel right. Can you sense any dark aura from that guy?"

Lemolemo's analysis came back negative. [I'm sorry, Milady, but I cannot detect any dark aura or evil intent from him.]

Shira was taken aback by this information.