Chronicle of a Cursed Reincarnation Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Read chapter 20 of Chronicle of a Cursed Reincarnation by mrjapturk on NovelPedia.

Chapter-20 (Wait what?) By the time I reached the school gate, my lungs felt like they were on fire. “Haaah… haaah…” I bent over slightly, gripping my knees while trying to catch my breath. The tall iron gates of the school stood wide open, students still walking through in small groups. Some chatted casually, some rushed toward their classrooms. Unfortunately for me… the late bell had already rung. “…Great,” I muttered. Inside the building, the hallways were quieter than usual. The echoes of my footsteps bounced off the polished floor as I hurried down the corridor. “Second floor… second floor…” My classroom was near the end of the hallway. Just as I reached the door— I heard my teacher’s voice inside. “Arisha Mikasa?” “Present, ma’am.” Oh no. My heart skipped a beat. Please don’t say my name yet… “Renji Yamamoto? Is he here today?” Too late. I pushed the door open. THUD! “I—I'm here…!” Every single student turned toward me. “Huff… huff…” I leaned against the doorframe, breathing heavily from the sprint. The teacher adjusted her glasses and looked at me carefully. “Renji,” she said calmly. “You're late.” “Sorry…” “That’s unusual for you.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Is something wrong?” I straightened my posture and shook my head quickly. “No, ma’am. I just woke up late today.” A few students quietly snickered. The teacher sighed. “…Alright. Go to your seat.” “Yes, ma’am.” I quickly walked toward the back of the classroom and dropped into my chair. Grrrk—thup. My desk creaked as I leaned back. Finally. I exhaled slowly. “Haaah…” No breakfast. No sleep. And now school. Fantastic start to the day. Sunlight streamed through the large classroom windows, casting warm lines across the rows of wooden desks. The faint smell of chalk lingered in the air while the ceiling fan rotated lazily above us. I rubbed my eyes. “I really hope today is easy…” But of course. That hope lasted about ten seconds. “ATTENTION STUDENTS!” The teacher clapped her hands loudly. “As you already know, this is your final class with me for the year.” Everyone looked up. “So today,” she continued with a faint smile, “we will be doing a surprise class test.” Silence. Then— “WHAT?!” “No way!” “You've got to be kidding!” “Aww man!” Students immediately started complaining. “Please show mercy, ma’am!” “I didn't study!” “This is cruel!” I leaned back quietly in my chair. Heh. Everyone’s panicking. But honestly? This test doesn’t matter. It’s just something teachers do when the school year is about to end. Basically a time killer. Still… The teacher slammed her book on the desk. “STUDENTS! Silence!” The classroom went quiet instantly. “You cannot change my decision,” she said firmly. Then she smiled again. “Don’t worry. The test is simple.” No one believed that. “This will be a team exercise.” She picked up a stack of papers. “Everyone choose a partner. Once you're in pairs, I’ll explain the rules.” The room exploded into movement. Chairs scraping. Students calling out names. “Hey! Pair with me!” “Arata, come here!” “Let’s team up!” I stayed seated. Watching. “…Huh.” Everyone was already pairing up. My friend Yuto walked past my desk. “Hey Renji, haven’t you found someone?” I scratched my cheek awkwardly. “Actually… I was about to ask you.” “Pair up with me?” Yuto froze. Then laughed nervously. “Ahh… sorry, man.” He pointed behind him. “I already teamed up with Arata.” “Oh.” I forced a small smile. “No problem.” “Good luck!” He walked away. I sighed. “Well… guess I’ll have to find someone.” I stood up slowly. Then suddenly— The teacher’s voice rang out again. “Alright, students! Looks like most of you have formed pairs.” She looked around the room dramatically. “Oh my…” Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “Himari?” Everyone turned. Near the window, a girl sat quietly at her desk. “Himari, can’t you find a partner?” The girl looked down nervously. “Ma’am… everyone is already paired.” Her voice was soft. Almost a whisper. The teacher tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hmmm…”