...Alright, let me set the scene.

This is after the weekend, back in school.

Yesterday i spent the entire day helping Alpha with paperwork so i auto-piloted the entire day

Its only been the first week and Eta and i have started being called 'The miserable duo'.

...Miserable duo...

...

I dont like it.

Please change it.

...Or do i want it changed? everyone is gonna think im some sort of depressed loser right? then all of a sudden im gonna hit the CRAIZEST 180 you've ever seen and do some cool shit saying a badass one liner to finish it off!

...Okay, MAYBE not a badass one liner this time... BUT STILL!

...

Im so fucking done with school... HOW COULD I HAVE EVEN BEEN EXCITED TO COME HERE?

Were currently in class, listening to the teacher ramble about how to incorrectly use magic.

At this point? i fucking gave up.

I dont mean being a side character, dear god heavens no

I mean paying any attention to what this guy is saying.

LIKE-

"Utilizing magic is in no way shape or form, to be mistreated as magic being an extension of ourselves. should you do so, your magic wont keep up with your body and explode."

...

IM SORRY?

HOW DOES THAT EVEN MAKE ANY SENSE?

HUH?

NO WAY THESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS RIGHT?

I look around the class in utter disbelief silently.

Oh. My. God.

They are noting it down.

Oh dear god.

Im gonna puke from the horror.

I turn to Eta and she gives me a similar look of horror.

THE TIREDNESS HAS BEEN SPOOKED OUT OF HER!

WHAT THE HELL MAN?

NO WONDER EVERYONE IS WEAK AS SHIT, WE ARE TAUGHT LIKE APES!

I DIDNT THINK IT WAS THIS BAD!

Oh man... i think im gonna have to personally retrain everyone in the Crimson Knights...

Wait a damn second.

Hmm...

Princess Iris = Alexia's sister...

Alexia's sister = kidnapped...

Kidnapped sister = worried Iris...

Worried Iris = Makes stupid choice.

Oh fuck.

I cant have that can i?

Aghhhhhhhhhh... i was kind of hoping to not have to interact with Alexia much...

But shes also a part of the Crimson Knights so...

Oh man... Claire if only you fucking knew the problems you cause me by being the main character.

if only she wasnt Aurora's host things would be much easier...

Speaking of Aurora... im gonna have to free her before we go to Velgalta.

My plan is to make a scenario where Claire is forced into revealing her true power and allowing Aurora to appear.

Aurora will be kind of like her inner guide of sorts, if that makes sense.

I modified Claire's body when i got good enough at it from curing the Seven Shades, and made it so its way easier to produce blood for her to use along with the fact her blood is now a 100% magic conductor!

...For only her, of course.

It made her stronger to be sure since she can intake more magic on a cellular level.

From where did i get the flesh required?

I cut my arm off.

3 times.

...Some part of me misses the time when saying that would be jaw-dropping.

Anyways, i made sure to do it correctly since any mistake and Claire becomes a blood fountain... not a very pleasant ending i imagine.

"...That Kazoto guy is still in this class? the bell rung 2 hours ago..."

A mob male student says.

"Shhhh... Thats the Shimo's 'born depressed' son, of course he's like that..."

A mob female says before another female mob follows up.

"Oh how admirable that he insisted on coming to the school despite his condition... its truly heartbreaking..."

What the hell?

I look at the 3 Students slowly from the corner of my eye.

...So THATS how they see me?

A depressed kid..?

Also 2 hours? what in the flying fuck?

I look beside me to see Eta gone.

Where the hell?!

Did i space out?

How did 2 hours just fly by thinking about the changes i made?

...I guess i should leave now before they think even worse of me...

I get up and leave the classroom quietly, pretending not to hear the mumbling students.

My reps ruined. im fucked.

How did i flunk already...

Master Cid! please guide me on what the fuck im supposed to do now!?

I make my way to the school courtyard.

One thing is for sure, i have to avoid confessing to Alexia!

Getting rejected by the most sought out girl in the school is mob behavior, not side character behavior!

Also, were gonna be work partners soon so this could make things awkward...

Its the afternoon, clearly nothing wrong should happen right?

Oh shoot! i just jinxed it didnt i..?

...

Nothing? nothing at all?

...

Uhhhh... isnt this the cliche where something comes up and ruins my already bad day?

"Excuse me!"

...Who the fuc-

I turn around to see who it is.

...Oh its just Alexia.

...

...

Wait a fucking minute.

ALEXIA?

THIS WASNT PART OF THE CONTRACT!

HEY HEY, ISNT THIS INTERACTION FOR LATER?

"Yes, your highness?"

I activate overdrive and respond curtly.

Alexia seems surprised and puts her hand infront of her mouth slighty.

"Oh? your eyes can change color? its just as Claire said..."

I close my eyes and put on my best salesman smile for her, confidently putting one hand on my hip.

"Yes, its true."

"Can we talk alone? there's something i need to ask you"

...Do not tell me this is about that weirdo Zenon

I will commit a crime, do not test this theory

I open my eyes and sigh before crossing my arms and looking at her tiredly.

"Alright."

She continues with her 'perfect act', closing her eyes and smiling widely before saying

"Please follow me, this way"

She starts moving ahead and i feel a bunch of goosebumps as i follow her, my instinct tells me im fucked big time...

I feel many stares and i can hear distant mumbling, i turned off my hearing enhancement because i know for a fact Alexia can sense it, her intuition is great most of the time and im not one to take random risks.

I just hope the rumors aren't super weird or just plain awful... i mean, what if a rumor about me being a blackmail guru comes out? then what? i cant exactly just go 'no, not really' because as if they would believe me in the first place...

I notice shes taking me behind the school.

...Am i gonna die here?

I havent done anything wrong as i remember...

Suddenly she stops and turns back to me.

I brace myself for impact because this is either ruining my life or ruining my life.

"Kazuto Shimo... can you help me?"

"Help you?"

She nods.

"How come you went to me specifically for help?"

"I know for a fact you dont work with Them, that and you were one of the candidates for recommendation into the Crimson Knights by Claire and my sister."

She says 'them' with incredible disdain while keeping the rest of her tone regular.

...What the hell? i can only assume with them she means the cult so... i guess ill hear her out.

"What do you need my help in then?"

"I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend so the stalkers ease up on my trail."

...Well, i guess there it is...

"How would this affect quite literally anything?"

She shrugs for a second before returning to her original posture.

"It could not but, it never hurts to try"

There has to be a hidden motive here.

"...Alright, next question is why the hell are you asking me? I mean, shouldnt there be some weak noble you can easily control with connections or something? why me?"

"That was the plan until i realized that since this involves Them, not anyone would cut it."

"...And that brings you to me... how?"

She smirks and crosses her arms before she says

"According to my sister, Claire is a person who can surpass her if she stopped training for a single day. For someone like that to recommend someone like the 'Shimo's born depressed son', i think theres more to you and i want to see it for myself."

...Did i already fail in not standing out too much or is Alexia just built different?

She also doesnt seem to outright hate her sister like before where i think she would grimace at each mention of her sister.

...Wait isnt this an opportunity to become Shadow in public again?

I mean, the first actual appearance of Shadow and his debut to the world IS with this incident so maybe...

I sigh and move my palm onto my neck before saying

"your Claires friend right?"

She seems taken aback for a second before saying

"Yes, i like to think were friends."

"Then i guess i can trust you."

I guess this should be the side arc where the side character helps another side character overcome an obstacle while the main character is away

This should also help my reputation change from 'weird depressed loser' to 'princess's weird boyfriend' which is... better... i uh... i guess...

...yeah im not on board with this idea but its what a side character would do so...

"I thought it would take something to convince you like "status" or something"

She said, clearly surprised.

I scoff at her and say

"As if these things even matter to me... also, stop acting as if im some weird scumbag!"

She grins at that comment before grabbing my tie and saying something in her signature tone

"Its me and you now, Pooch"

My face transforms into one of anger, hidden by an obviously fake smile.

"I never agreed on becoming a dog?"

Her grins widens as she lets go of my tie and says

"Dont worry, the sooner we catch the stalkers the faster your dignity returns"

She then started walking away leaving me all alone at the back of the school.

...This is gonna probably suck.

I sigh as i start to go home.


I open the door and announce me entering.

"IM HOME!"

I close and lock the door behind me.

This time, the brown hair comes from under the sofa.

...For some unknown reason

"Master Shadow..."

"...Alright, ill bite. what the hell are you doing under the sofa?"

"Im sleeping..."

"You dont seem very asleep to me right now..."

"Its because of... Master..."

"Of course... You want to go back to sleep?"

She nods.

"Yes... Master Shadow..."

I sigh and sit, taking her from under the sofa and letting her rest her head on my lap.

I slowly close my eyes and prepare for tomorrow, tomorrow is certainly gonna be something.

I can feel Eta falling asleep so now i, too am able to sleep.

...

Tomorrow is a new day.