2: Megumi Kato

In the early morning classroom, sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, slicing the air into blocks of light and shadow. Students gathered in small groups, their chatter filled with the essence of youth.

Lin Luo walked into the classroom, his gaze habitually drifting toward that corner by the window—a spot seemingly forgotten by both the sunlight and the surrounding bustle.

Kato Megumi was sitting there quietly, as usual. She wore her well-fitted uniform with proper posture, her features delicate and cute. Yet, strangely, even as she sat right there, her classmates' gazes would naturally slide past her, as if she were merely part of the background, a stationary object in the classroom.

Lin Luo walked straight over and naturally took the empty seat beside her.

"Morning, Kato."

Kato Megumi looked up, her clear, calm eyes meeting his, a faint but genuine smile appearing on her face. "Good morning, Mr. Lin Luo."

Her voice was peaceful, without much fluctuation, yet it possessed a unique texture.

"Any plans for the weekend?" Lin Luo asked casually while taking his textbooks out of his bag, as if performing a routine they had shared countless times. He could feel that when he took the initiative to speak with her, a subtle "thin film" seemed to break, and her "presence" in this space would briefly become clear.

"Hmm... I'll probably stay home and read. Or help my mom with some shopping," Kato Megumi replied after a moment's thought, then asked back, "What about you, Mr. Lin Luo?"

"Me? I'll probably check out a nearby bookstore, or maybe head to that newly opened game center to try it out," Lin Luo said, his gaze inadvertently scanning her. In his Spiritual Perception, Kato Megumi's existence was very peculiar—it wasn't invisibility, but rather a kind of "fusion" that was far too harmonious with her surroundings, as if she were born with the ability to lower her own information entropy, causing others to unconsciously ignore her. This was a talent nearly akin to "The Way follows nature," rather than any kind of curse.

"A game center..." Kato Megumi tilted her head slightly. "That sounds quite lively."

"Yeah, if you're interested, maybe we could go together?" Lin Luo extended the invitation with a natural tone, as if just mentioning it in passing. He knew that for Kato Megumi, such invitations were likely few and far between.

A microscopic flash of surprise crossed Kato Megumi's eyes before they returned to their usual calm. She nodded gently. "Hmm... as long as I'm not forgotten at home."

She spoke in a declarative sentence with a hint of self-deprecation, but without much sadness, as if she had long ago accepted this reality.

Lin Luo laughed. "Don't worry, I remember where you live. If you don't show up, I'll go ring your doorbell."

Those words seemed to touch something. Kato Megumi was slightly startled and looked up at him. In those eyes that were always as calm as still water, something seemed to light up slightly, like a small pebble dropped into a quiet lake, rippling out a circle of faint waves.

"...Okay," she lowered her head and responded softly, the curve of her lips softening slightly.

For Kato Megumi, who was always gently "ignored" by the world, someone who could always "see" her and was willing to stop for her was a miracle in itself.

The quiet little world between Lin Luo and Kato Megumi did not last long.

The classroom door was pulled open with a sharp clatter.

An invisible, piercing aura instantly swept through the space. The originally noisy classroom fell silent as if a mute button had been pressed. Every student's gaze was involuntarily drawn toward the doorway.

A woman stood there.

She was dressed in an impeccably tailored, dark professional suit that outlined her tall and elegant silhouette. Her cherry-colored long hair was tied behind her head like an ice waterfall, revealing a refined face that was cold as frost. Her eyes were a sharp ice-blue, and wherever her gaze landed, the air seemed to freeze into ice shards.

Kirisu Mafuyu. The World History teacher and the Class Advisor for Lin Luo's class. Known for her flawless abilities, her harsh and almost inhuman style, and her icy temperament that was enough to freeze all passion, she was secretly and reverently called the "ice queen" by students and colleagues alike.

She walked toward the podium with steps that seemed precisely measured, her high heels making a crisp and oppressive sound against the floor. She placed her lesson plans gently on the podium with elegant movements that nevertheless carried an unquestionable authority.

"I'm taking up some of your morning assembly time," her voice was clear and melodious but devoid of warmth, like the clashing of ice crystals. "Regarding the recent World History reports, the chaotic logic and lack of evidence in some of your submissions are regrettable."

Her words were like a scalpel, precisely cutting through the wishful thinking of those who had tried to muddle through, and a chorus of guilty gasps immediately filled the classroom.

"In light of this, to consolidate your understanding of the key historical nodes of the 'Great Fusion Period'," Kirisu Mafuyu's gaze calmly swept the room, causing every student who met her eyes to instinctively straighten their backs, "there will be a unit test next week, covering chapters three through five of the textbook."

"Ehh—?!"

After a brief silence, low, uncontrollable groans of despair echoed from every corner of the classroom. The academic underachievers looked utterly devastated, and even some of the better students showed pained expressions. After all, the difficulty of the "ice queen's" tests was notoriously harsh.

Amidst this oppressive mourning, Lin Luo slightly raised an eyebrow. He could clearly perceive that Teacher Kirisu radiated an extremely "pure" aura—not out of malice, but a coldness derived from an extreme pursuit of order, rules, and perfection. This kind of extremity was, in itself, very close to the "Way."

As for Kato Megumi sitting beside him, the moment Teacher Kirisu entered the room, her already thin presence seemed to passively drop another level, almost completely merging into the background. It wasn't until the announcement of the test caused a commotion that she let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief, seemingly eased by the shift in collective attention.

Kirisu Mafuyu seemed completely indifferent to the students' reactions. Her gaze, like a precision instrument, scanned the classroom. Finally, whether intentionally or not, it paused for a fraction of a second in Lin Luo's direction.

In that look, there seemed to be a very faint scrutiny, as well as... a hint of indiscernible inquiry?

"That is all."

Without another word, she finished her announcement decisively, picked up her lesson plans, and left the classroom once more with her trademark cold and elegant stride, leaving behind a room full of students gloomy over next week's test.

The icy pressure dissipated, and the classroom returned to its noisy state, though this time the noise was tinged with distress.

Lin Luo withdrew his gaze and looked at Kato Megumi beside him, chuckling softly, "Looks like we'll be busy next week."

Kato Megumi nodded gently and said calmly, "Yes, we'll have to review properly."

The morning classes passed slowly amidst chalk dust and the teachers' steady lectures. To Lin Luo, this knowledge wasn't difficult, but returning to a mundane classroom after immersing himself in cultivation gave him a different perspective. He could clearly feel that his memory and comprehension had improved along with the nourishment of his spiritual energy; the key points of knowledge seemed easier to capture and imprint in his mind.

The lunch bell finally rang, and the classroom instantly became lively.

"Kato, shall we go to the Forest Garden by the courtyard for lunch?" Lin Luo invited the quietly waiting girl as he packed his stationery. The environment there was serene, much better suited for... well, better suited for her than the noisy classroom or cafeteria.

Kato Megumi seemed a bit surprised, but she soon nodded. "Sure."

Lin Luo had intended to just grab a yakisoba bread from the school store, but he saw Kato Megumi take an elegant, double-layered bento box from her bag.

"If you don't mind, Mr. Lin Luo, I prepared a bit too much for my bento today," she said in her usual flat tone, gently opening the lid.

In an instant, a bento with harmonious colors and exquisite arrangement was presented before Lin Luo. Tender yellow tamagoyaki, bright green broccoli, meatballs glazed in sauce, and rice balls pressed into the shapes of little bunnies—every detail showed the care of the maker.

"This..." Lin Luo was a bit surprised; this certainly didn't look like she had "accidentally made too much." "This is incredible, Kato. It looks even better than what they sell in shops."

"It's just a very ordinary bento," Kato Megumi turned her head away slightly, her tone still steady, but the tips of her ears seemed to flush with a very faint red.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony!" Lin Luo accepted with a smile, then stood up. "In return, I'll handle the drinks."

He walked quickly to a nearby vending machine and returned with two bottles of warm oolong tea, handing one to Kato Megumi. "A small token of my thanks."

"Thank you," Kato Megumi took the tea, cradling it in both hands and feeling its warmth.

The two sat down under a gazebo. Tasting the delicious bento and enjoying the midday peace, Kato Megumi looked at Lin Luo, who was acting quite naturally, and asked softly, "Mr. Lin Luo, why do I feel like you don't focus particularly hard in class, yet your grades are always so good? I'm a bit envious."

Hearing this, a slightly proud smile appeared on Lin Luo's face. He obviously couldn't say that cultivation had boosted his brainpower, so he half-jokingly and half-seriously raised his chin slightly. "Well, maybe it's just talent? Or perhaps I have a unique set of highly efficient study methods."

Seeing the hint of curiosity and envy in Kato Megumi's clear eyes, his heart stirred. For someone like him, a Dragon Country native whose mental capacity far exceeded ordinary people due to cultivation, the "World History" curriculum here in the Neon Province, based on a Dragon Country perspective, was truly not difficult at all.

"This bit of knowledge is nothing to me," he said with an easy tone and a hint of natural confidence. "How about this? If you don't mind, we can go to the library after school today, and I'll help you sort out the general framework first."

He paused, his gaze falling on the exquisite, now-empty bento box, and continued half-jokingly, "As for the reward... if you think my teaching is okay, could you take care of my lunches for the rest of the week until the test?"

A breeze blew past, bringing the rustling sound of leaves. Kato Megumi looked at the boy before her who could always "see" her and was now using such a brazen way to propose an exchange. A glimmer seemed to flow in the depths of her calm eyes.

She didn't answer immediately, only tilting her head slightly as if seriously considering the feasibility of this "transaction." After a moment, she nodded gently, her voice a bit softer than usual, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

"...Okay, it's a deal, Teacher Lin Luo."