Driven to Despair, teleported to Danger

SARAH'S POV:~

SARAH'S POV:

The classroom hummed with the low murmur of conversations, but my attention was fixed on him. He sat by the window, his gaze lost in the distant cityscape. Leon. A brooding figure, always shrouded in an aura of quiet intensity. I'd seen him smile rarely, fleeting moments with his boisterous friend, Luca, being the only exceptions.

I'd initially requested the seat behind him, hoping for a chance to break through his icy shell. The classroom, with its vibrant chatter and the constant hum of activity, felt like a stage, and I, an actress yearning for his attention. But my hopes had been dashed. He remained aloof, lost in his own thoughts, seemingly oblivious to the curious eyes that followed him.

He was a legend in his own right. Academically brilliant, a natural athlete excelling in everything from baseball to chess, and possessing reflexes that bordered on superhuman. It was almost frustrating. He was a walking enigma, a masterpiece crafted with effortless perfection.

I'd tried to initiate conversations, but they were always met with curt, monosyllabic replies. His responses were like ice shards, chipping away at my confidence. I wondered if he even saw me, if I was just another face in the crowd, another fleeting distraction in his internal world.

Why did he only talk to Luca? Luca, the boisterous, mischievous one, the life of every party. They were an odd pair, the brooding loner and the flamboyant social butterfly. People whispered about Luca's connections to the city's more…questionable elements.

I sighed, a wistful ache blooming in my chest. I wanted to know him, the real Leon, the boy hidden beneath the icy exterior. I wanted to understand the shadows that seemed to cling to him. I wanted to help him, to bring some light into the darkness that seemed to consume him.

"Hey Sarah, Good morning," Shizu greeted me with a warm smile.

"Oh, good morning Shizu, how are you?" I replied, my gaze still drawn to Leon.

Shizu, ever perceptive, leaned closer. "If you want to talk to Leon, why don't you just approach him?"

"Because I don't want to talk to him," I denied, my voice a little too defensive.

"Stop lying, my eyes had lingered on you for a while, and you were constantly looking at him," Shizu teased, her eyes twinkling.

"W-wait, was I too obvious?" I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush.

"Of course," Shizu giggled.

As we exchanged whispers, Luca entered the classroom, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

LEON'S POV:~

The fluorescent lights of the classroom hummed, casting long, skeletal shadows that mimicked the emptiness that had become a constant companion. Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest within me. I, Shishio Leon, was a ghost haunting the memories of a life that had ceased to exist.

My father, a titan in the world of real estate, a man whose name was synonymous with success, had been brutally murdered when I was five years old. The memory of that day – the blood, the screams, the shattered remnants of our once-perfect world – remained etched into my mind, an indelible scar. My mother, unable to bear the weight of grief and the crushing weight of our fallen fortunes, had succumbed to despair shortly after.

The subsequent years were a blur of loneliness and despair. Our opulent mansion, a symbol of our prosperity, had been sold off piece by piece, replaced by a modest apartment that echoed with the ghosts of our past. My grandmother, a stoic woman who had weathered many storms, had taken me in, her love a fragile beacon in the encroaching darkness.

And now, even she was gone. Two days ago, the last thread connecting me to the life I once knew had snapped.

Why hadn't I followed her? Why did I cling to this shattered existence? Perhaps it was a perverse sense of duty, a silent vow to avenge my parents. But vengeance, I realized, was a hollow pursuit, a bitter taste of ashes in my mouth. It offered no solace, only a gnawing emptiness that consumed me from within.

The world, once a vibrant tapestry of possibilities, now seemed devoid of color, a monotonous gray. I sought solace in knowledge, immersing myself in a relentless pursuit of self-improvement. I devoured books – "The Art of War," "48 Laws of Power," treatises on psychology, philosophy, and the subtle art of manipulation. I pushed my body to its limits, engaging in grueling physical training: a hundred push-ups, a hundred sit-ups, a hundred squats, followed by a ten-kilometer run, day in and day out. I became a chess prodigy, my mind a razor-sharp instrument, calculating every move with chilling precision. I honed my reflexes to lightning speed, my body a weapon of unparalleled efficiency.

I clung to the belief that through discipline and self-mastery, I could reclaim control, rebuild my life, and perhaps, someday, find a measure of justice. But the truth was, the void within me remained unfilled, a gaping maw that threatened to consume me whole.

"Hey Leon, you seem really sad these days," Luca's voice, a jarring intrusion into my reverie, startled me.

Luca, the son of the renowned businessman, Marco Kazu, a whirlwind of energy and mischief. He was the only one who hadn't abandoned me after my family's fall, a beacon of unwavering loyalty in the sea of indifference.

When my father was alive, our home had been a magnet for the children of the wealthy, drawn by the allure of our family's influence. I had endured their sycophantic smiles and shallow flattery with a detached amusement, my mind preoccupied with my studies and my burgeoning obsession with self-improvement.

But when our fortunes plummeted, those "friends" vanished as quickly as they had appeared. All except Luca. He, the son of a man who could have easily dismissed me as a fallen star, remained steadfast, his loyalty unwavering. At first, I suspected ulterior motives, a touch of pity or perhaps a desire to befriend the fallen son of a wealthy family. But as time passed, I realized that his friendship was genuine, born from a genuine affection that transcended social status and material possessions.

"You already know my circumstances better than anyone," I replied, my voice a mere whisper. "I've given up on life."

Luca scoffed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh come on, buddy, I never thought that a boy like you would give up on life, especially when the best actress of Japan has her eyes set on you."

His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. I glanced at Sarah, who was deep in conversation with Shizu, her profile illuminated by the afternoon sun.

"I didn't get it," I mumbled, confused.

"A hint is enough for the wise," Luca grinned, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

There is only one actress in our class, the pride of our school, who is currently sitting right behind me, in the last row. He probably said that to piss her off. His motive? He has an old habit of teasing people, you can say that it's his innate talent, and he likes to do it a lot.

I didn't wanted to take this matter any further, let's just unhear it.

By the way, our school is not an ordinary school, it is a luxurious school where children of rich families come to study. How did I got here? The principal of this school is a good friend of my father, and maybe he probably owe my father, which is why he said that I can study here without paying any school fees.

luca sat on his seat, which was next to mine.

Before he could utter another word, the classroom door swung open, revealing the imposing figure of Mr. Tanaka, our homeroom teacher. A hush fell over the room as Mr. Tanaka, a man who could quell a riot with a single stern glance, surveyed the class with his hawk-like eyes. The rest of the period passed in a haze, my mind preoccupied with Luca's cryptic remark.

At lunchtime, I observed Luca and Sarah, the girl who sat behind me, making their way towards the rooftop.

From what I know, Iuca isn't interested in girls, at least not right now. Whatever

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day and time to go home, something unexpected happened.

"Hey Leon, wanna go home together?"