Annoying morning!

"Well, looks like we're fated to be together."

"What the fuck are you spewing first thing in the damn fucking morning?"

Desmond doesn't remember this creepy guy being in his dorm room in his past timeline. There was no way he would have forgotten about his perfectly and eminently punchable face.

Hell, he doesn't even remember sleeping in this room at all.

'Is it me or is the whole future changing, I mean, I've encountered things that I wasn't supposed to see but would that make this much change…' He thought while eating his breakfast surrounded by the defenders and the roommates alike.

The canteen was rowdy. Brimming with students everywhere. Walking, laughing, screaming even the long table Desmond was eating on was very rowdy.

The timing on the canteen for the first years was different from the seniors which only amplified the intensity of them enjoying themselves.

'Fuck! I hate this.'

All in all, he might be the only one who is actually hating this.

He took a bite of his sandwich with complete gloominess and utter annoyance.

If someone were to see him right now, they would've thought he must have a bad stomach or something bad must have happened to him.

Arthur was telling jokes and everyone was laughing and all.

[Jealous?]

'Why would I?'

[Cause somebody or some love rival is repeating the same thing that happened in the past life.]

'And what would that be?'

[Stealing all your gurls. Look at him with his perfect blond hair and blue, who does he think he is? Home-Bringers love child or something…?]

There was silence after that. Desmond stopped eating when the words left by the system sank into him.

'… No way, right? There is no fucking way, right?' He looked at the blond. Exact same hair and eye color. 'The resemblance is uncanny.'

[…Shit. Is he…?]

'Hey, n-no way. Home-Bringer wouldn't do something like this, right? Right?'

All the features of Home-Bringer were also on Arthur. But as far as his knowledge goes, Arthur was from a wealthy family, who has a father with…no…mother.

'Wait, I haven't seen his mother's photo at all. They say, she died in childbirth.'

[…Wow, this suddenly took a dark turn.]

'Nah, ain't no way he is his kid. He wasn't even on the frame in the last timeline. So, it is highly unlikely to be that case.'

"Aren't you hungry?" He heard a familiar and graceful voice. He doesn't need to look up to identify the person in question.

"Not much hungry, I guess." He looked at her, straight at her blue eyes.

"Hmmm. Have you started learning for tomorrow's exam?" She asked with a skeptical look. Trying to find if he was about to tell the truth or not.

"Nah, I haven't even collected the materials to study." He took a deep breath.

"I have the materials. If you want, I can send it to you. Give me your number." She took her phone from her dimensional storage ring. She was opening the dial pad when she heard him.

"Sent it to 'The Chiseled Jaw,' he has my number."

She looked straight at him. "Oh... yeah... Sure thing."

"Oh, sweet." At the same moment, Arthur just started to do some goofy facial expressions looking at both of them. Tom had his phone fired up and was focusing on Arthur's goofy expression. Seems like he was filming it.

"The hell are you doing now?" Desmond asked annoyingly.

"Oh, you don't know this trend. It's called 'Sigma male,' face." When he saw Desmond's passive clueless expression, he added. "Tiktogram? Heard about it? You know people in this century use those stuff."

"I don't use social media."

The whole table which was laughing and smiling just stopped on its track.

"…"

"Wh-what?"

"Guys…?"

"You don't use social media? Oh my fucking god, there are teenagers our age who actually doesn't use social media? Wow, just, wow. I'm speechless." Arthur made a gesture of locking zip with his hands on his lips.

'I'm not your age, kid.'

"Is that big of a deal? I don't find it amusing to publicly exhibit my personal life to strangers on the internet. It's not my cup of tea." He shrugged his shoulders.

"A true sigma." Tom raised his glass of juice and made the same vile expression as Arthur did a moment ago.

[…]

"…"

*****

Desmond decided to head towards the library or the 'Archives,' as the elites named it. Of course, he was alone. He had to sneak out of his dorm room due to his new friends and admirers.

As he predicted, Malkis didn't show up for the breakfast. It meant that the Phantom Ghost has completed his debt of an apple.

He hoped Malkis would seek him out but that didn't happen. He was disheartened but decided to wait till night and if he doesn't seek him even after that, then Desmond planned to visit the forest once more.

The archives were huge and by far the best building in the entire academy. Old Kelvin's shop is a close second.

The architect behind this building must have been a genius. This dates back several centuries, even before the academy itself was built.

It was an old palace-like building and they have been preserving this look without making any changes to it, that was an absolutely good decision.

Desmond gave a thumps up for that.

He entered through the huge double door, which was open. Several security machines were installed from the very start of the door itself.

Full body scanners, many security cameras, guards, and many other staffs were inside the archives.

He entered through the body scanner and to the security guard stationed behind it.

He was a strong and bulky man with a funny mustache. He held his hands to Desmond as he was approaching.

"…What?" He confusedly asked. Did something change from the last time?

"I.d. card?" The mustache man asked in a heavy tone.

"Huh… I haven't gotten any. They haven't issued it to the first years."

'wait a damn minute. I.d. card? When did that happen? I don't even remember something like this security last time.'

[Are you sure about it?]

'Yes, I am. I'm damn sure about it.'

"No I.D. No entry." He pointed at the door that Desmond just came from.

[Hey, Des?]

'What?'

[Are you sure your memory is okay?]

'What? Why are you asking such a…' His thoughts trailed off. He thought about all the instances he can remember where he was to use his memory.

[You don't have a memory skill to remember minute details from five years past. This might be one of that instances.]

"Oh, I'll be damned."