During class, whenever he was bored, he would always look out the window at the birds soaring in the sky. Their fluttering wings and the blue expanse complemented each other beautifully.
It wasn't that he disrespected the teacher; it was just that most of the knowledge taught at the high school level was only useful for answering questions. For some, it was the foundation for the future, but for him, it was equivalent to the very first line of the preface on the first page of a book.
Similarly, his skipping class wasn't because he disliked classes, but simply a "sudden whim."
The school teachers were used to this nominal student being absent three out of five days. One moment he was attending a seminar in another country, the next he was holed up at home writing academic papers. It would probably be normal if a helicopter suddenly landed on the school grounds to pick him up.
After all, he was a "genius" and an "eccentric."
He didn't quite agree with the term "genius." Many people considered him an all-rounder, but he had simply given up on things he wasn't good at and focused wholeheartedly on developing what he was skilled in.
Ultimately, the things he excelled at just happened to be those generally recognized by the public, which was why he was called an all-around genius.
"Ding-a-ling-a-ling..."
The class ended.
He packed his bag, didn't greet anyone, and ignored the teacher still lecturing on the podium, walking out of the classroom. The others didn't pay him any mind either.
No one could strike up a conversation with him, even though he was actually open to anyone, unless they disturbed his nap.
"Ah, Senior..."
Right outside the door, he bumped into the pink-haired girl they had shared sushi with by the river the last time. She was walking down the corridor carrying a stack of books.
The pink-haired girl was a senior, one grade above him, and was somewhat well-known in the school. However, since he rarely stayed at school, he didn't follow the gossip and hadn't recognized the girl the previous time.
"Heh heh, is the fiancé boy in this class?" The pink-haired girl clearly recognized him too; his image of wearing glasses and having messy hair was probably quite distinct.
Her term "fiancé boy" was obviously teasing him about his thoughtless comment, "I'm going to marry you," from last time.
"Where are you moving the books to, Senior?" He didn't hide his attempt to be helpful, reaching out to take the books from her hands, but she dodged him with a nimble side-step.
She laughed: "Forget it. I can handle a few books. If boys do everything, then what's the point of girls existing?"
"Well, don't most people today think that a girl just needs to be pretty and marry into a good family?" He shrugged. "But that idea is too stereotypical. Physiologically, a female's body structure might not be as strong as a male's, but men don't necessarily dominate every field either."
"Fiancé boy has very progressive ideas. Truly befitting someone in research," the girl walked to the right, clutching the books. He naturally walked beside her, and they chatted as they walked.
It seemed she had inquired about him after their last meeting.
"Huh? Then you probably have some misconceptions about researchers. Don't let my reasonableness, handsomeness, and great cooking skills fool you. Actually, many researchers are even more stubborn than some old men... no, they're already old enough themselves, and their thinking is as stubborn as the roots of a centuries-old tree," he couldn't help but complain. "It's bad enough they stick to the textbook, but they also forbid others from making groundbreaking discoveries and progress, using authoritative official jargon to label others as heresy. How is that different from the religious courts of the Middle Ages?"
The girl asked curiously: "Has fiancé boy been suppressed by others too?"
"How could that be? I don't want to get involved in their messy affairs. Sitting in a high position, huffing and puffing, they look like they're about to start an inquisition. I'll just disrupt their version of 'tradition.' I'll make some money, buy a building in a second-tier city, and be a landlord. Wouldn't that be nice?"
The girl was amused by his passive, devil-may-care words. But thinking carefully, he actually had a good plan for his life. This could be considered a kind of positive attitude.
"I thought someone famous since their youth like you would be a scientist with profound views on the future of humanity and the world's direction, and your speech isn't flowery at all. You don't sound like someone who would speak up in front of many top academic figures."
"Speaking that way is too tiring. For some, it might be a habit, but for others, it's purely for show. As for views on the future of humanity and the world's direction... I'm just an eighteen-year-old guy who has never been in a relationship. Why would it be my turn to express an opinion?" He curled his lip disdainfully, dismissing those vague pronouncements.
"Then what if a world-ending human crisis happened one day? Would you step forward?"
The girl's words made him pause, but he quickly shook his head with a smile: "The end of the world, huh... I really dislike people putting too many expectations on me. If something like that really happened, I'd probably pray for a savior's arrival, just like other ordinary people."
"You're quite honest. I thought you would try to flatter me with some grand, righteous declaration." The girl's eyes were practically squinted shut with laughter.
"I wish I could, but if it really happened someday, and my performance didn't meet your expectations, wouldn't I be out of luck with you for life..." he said languidly, giving a casual smile.
Saving the world is not his job...
Chatting with the girl he liked, doing his own things, and watching the cold yet lively world might be enough.
Yes, after all... he had no grand ambitions.
"Boom!"
A startling thunderclap descended from the sky.
Half the academy was instantly reduced to ashes by the sound of the lightning. The sky, clear just a second ago, was filled with dark, purplish-black lightning.
He stared blankly at the corridor that had instantly turned into ruins. Tiny electric sparks danced among the rubble. If he and she had taken one step further, they might have been reduced to black char.
The air vibrated. He lifted his head.
A purple figure hovered above the ruins of Chiyu Academy.
Deep purple eyes looked down at the buildings disappearing into the pool of lightning below.
The figure's defiance of scientific logic by floating mid-air, along with the devastating lightning unleashed with every slight movement, made him harbor an incredible, "stereotypical" thought for the very first time.
"What... is that?"
At this moment, he had no idea this was merely the prelude to the apocalypse.
He would not have thought that he would spend the rest of his life fighting "that thing," nor would he have imagined that the destiny of him, the girl, and humanity was already set in stone at this moment.
Humanity would need a savior when the apocalypse arrived.
Even if that person did not want to be the savior.