Fight Between Two of Anomaly

The Harbinger turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the lingering scent of ozone and the echoes of a battle fought in the realm between worlds.

***

I stumbled back to the backstage area, my hands trembling after the adrenaline rush of the opening ceremony.

"Great job! Xian Ying You made the crowd go wild!" Luna exclaimed, her face beaming with excitement.

I nodded, a shy smile spreading across my face. "Thanks, It was my first time doing public speaking..."

Luna nodded approvingly. "You were a natural!" she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

Just then, another student approached Luna, his brow furrowed in concern. "Um, Luna, can you tell the sound system crew to lower the music? It's a bit too loud for the audience."

Luna's attention shifted to the new arrival, leaving me to bask in the afterglow of my successful performance.

Only two more speeches to go,

I thought, taking a seat and tapping my foot nervously against the floor.

The official opening of the event, and then the closing remarks.

I pulled out my phone, opening the Unveiled Family group chat.

[Unveiled Family group]

[Vill: Hmm... never seen an ability like that before. Can you give us some more details?]

[Yolan: @Dove She might know, she's the nerd of the group. 🤓]

[Dove: Oh, hush, Yolan.]

[Dove: @Xian, how's the festival going?]

[Aca: He's organizing the festival?]

[Dove: No, his school is hosting it, and I gave a generous donation to the student council.]

I chuckled at their messages.

[Me: My face is plastered everywhere.]

I put my phone away and stood up, my stomach rumbling loudly.

Guess I didn't eat enough for breakfast,

I thought, looking around for a place to grab a snack.

I spotted a stall that was just opening up.

"Hey guys," I said, approaching the group of students behind the counter. "You guys are from...?" I glanced at the sign above the stall. "Class 12-1?"

"That's right," a girl with a friendly smile replied.

I nodded. "What are you selling? Do you mind if I buy something first? I'm starving, haha..."

"We're selling Korean street food! We have tteokbokki, kimbap, corndogs... and we even made some homemade kimchi!" the girl replied enthusiastically.

I scanned the menu, my stomach rumbling in anticipation. "That sounds delicious, I'll take a tteokbokki and a bottle of water, please."

As the girl prepared my order, I noticed her humming a catchy tune and swaying her hips in a way that reminded me of a K-pop dance routine. Her phone was propped up against the wall, displaying a music video featuring a group of impossibly attractive young men with perfectly coiffed hair and synchronized dance moves.

She's really into K-pop.

I realized with a smile. I had never been particularly interested in the genre myself, but I couldn't deny its infectious energy and catchy melodies.

"Here you go, Enjoy!" the girl said, handing me my order with a flourish.

"Thanks," I replied, taking a seat at a nearby table. As I dug into the spicy rice cakes, I couldn't help but overhear the girl's conversation with her classmates.

"Did you guys see the latest Group comeback?" she squealed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's so amazing! I'm totally obsessed!"

Her classmates responded with a chorus of agreement, their voices filled with the same level of enthusiasm.

 I chuckled to myself, amused by their passion. It was clear that K-pop was more than just music to them; it was a lifestyle, a shared obsession that united them.

Just as I was about to head backstage, I felt a sudden impact against my shoulder.

Thud!

I stumbled slightly, my coffee nearly spilling onto my shirt. I looked up to see a young boy, his pale skin and white hair startling against the backdrop of the bustling cafeteria.

An albino kid…

I thought, a flicker of recognition passing through me.

"Ah, sorry," the boy mumbled, not even making eye contact before scurrying away.

Did he just bump into me on purpose? And where did he come from?

I shook my head, dismissing the strange encounter as a mere coincidence. I continued towards the backstage area, the image of the albino boy lingering in my mind.

The backstage area buzzed with activity as student council members scurried about, making final preparations for the opening ceremony. I found a quiet corner to sit and wait for my cue, my thoughts swirling with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

The feeling of being watched lingered, a constant hum in the back of my mind. I scanned the area, but there was no sign of the Harbinger. Perhaps it was observing me from the shadows, as it often did.

"Xian Ying! It's time for the opening ceremony!" Luna's voice cut through the noise, her face flushed with excitement as she rushed towards me.

I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. I followed Luna towards the stage, my heart pounding in my chest. The crowd had gathered in the schoolyard, a sea of eager faces turned expectantly towards the podium.

This is it, Time to step into the spotlight.

I took the microphone, its cool metal a stark contrast to the warmth of my clammy hands. The sea of faces before me shimmered in the bright sunlight, a kaleidoscope of colors and expressions.

"So that was the performance for our grand opening!" I announced, my voice amplified through the speakers, echoing across the schoolyard. "Now we're moving on to the main event: the official opening of the bazaar! Let's hear it for yourselves!"

The crowd erupted in applause, their cheers and whistles washing over me like a wave.

"Before we officially open the bazaar," I continued, my voice gaining confidence with each word, "I'd like to invite our esteemed headmaster to the stage. Headmaster, the time and place are yours!"

My heart pounded in my chest as I scanned the crowd, not knowing if the headmaster was even present. Had I just made a fool of myself?

Step!

The sound of footsteps broke the silence, and I turned to see the headmaster emerge from the crowd, a bemused smile on his face.

< Chapter 052 > Fin.