Chapter 46: Symmetrical

Elise stared at me, apparently unsure whether I was deliberately misunderstanding her or simply didn’t care.

Eventually, she continued.

"Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think you’re beyond help, and I don’t believe that having violent tendencies automatically makes someone a monster."

Her voice softened slightly.

"Look around you, Lorenzo. What do you think Awakeners are trained to do? We spend years learning how to fight, how to kill monsters, and how to survive in a world where hesitation can cost us our lives."

She glanced toward the window.

"Some of the students here will eventually become soldiers, hunters, or members of organizations responsible for protecting entire cities. They’ll face creatures that can slaughter hundreds of people if they’re allowed to escape a Gate."

Her gaze returned to me.

"We’re essentially training people to become weapons for humanity’s survival. It would be hypocritical of me to call you a monster simply because you’re capable of violence."

For a brief moment, her expression became solemn.

"But being capable of killing doesn’t mean you should kill whenever you feel like it. There’s a difference between doing what is necessary to survive and treating another person’s life as though it means nothing."

She paused.

"And that’s the difference I want you to understand."

I looked at her quietly.

Not going to lie, I hadn’t expected that kind of response.

I had assumed Elise would lecture me about academy regulations, threaten me with disciplinary action, and remind me that my family name wouldn’t protect me from the consequences of my actions.

Instead, she was actually trying to explain her concerns without treating me like some irredeemable criminal.

It’s kind of touching that she’s showing me this much concern.

Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to cooperate.

"I appreciate the concern, Senior Elise."

She looked slightly surprised.

"Really?"

"Of course."

I smiled at her.

"But I’m not going to attend therapy."

Her expression immediately fell.

"...Excuse me?"

"I don’t like the idea of some stranger messing around inside my head."

I crossed my arms.

"Who knows what they’ll try to do? Ask me about my childhood? Make me talk about my feelings? Tell me to count to ten whenever I feel angry?"

I shuddered theatrically.

"Sounds horrifying."

Elise stared at me.

For several seconds, she didn’t say anything.

Then she slowly raised one hand and pressed her fingers against her forehead.

’Is he already this messed up in the head?’

The thought was practically written all over her face.

I noticed it immediately.

"Senior Elise, I can see what you’re thinking."

"Good. Then you should also understand why the World Government wants you evaluated."

"That’s rather rude."

"And pointing a gun at someone’s head isn’t?"

"Touché."

Elise let out a long sigh.

"Listen, whether you like it or not, the decision has already been made. The World Government considers this a necessary precaution, and the principal has agreed to cooperate with them."

"So I don’t have a choice?"

"Not unless you want to turn this into a much bigger problem."

I clicked my tongue.

I could already imagine how irritating those sessions would be.

I had no intention of discussing my thoughts with some government-appointed stranger, especially one who might be an SCBD investigator.

For all I knew, the so-called therapist would spend every session trying to uncover my weaknesses, determine whether I posed a threat to the public, and report every little detail to the World Government.

What a pain.

I had enough problems without adding government-sanctioned mind games to the list.

Still, outright refusal might only make them more suspicious.

And if the therapist really was an investigator, refusing to cooperate could give them an excuse to scrutinize me even more closely.

Perhaps I should simply attend the sessions and give them nothing useful.

After all, there was a difference between answering someone’s questions and telling them the truth.

I smiled.

"Fine. I’ll think about it."

Elise narrowed her eyes.

"That doesn’t sound like an agreement."

"It’s the best you’re going to get for now."

"Lorenzo..."

"Senior Elise."

I stood up, straightened my uniform, and offered her a pleasant smile.

"I’d love to continue our little discussion, but I have a lecture to attend. And unlike certain people, I don’t want to be late for my classes."

Elise’s mouth twitched.

I had just used punctuality against her after arriving late to the entrance ceremony myself.

How ironic.

"Get out."

"With pleasure."

I turned toward the door.

However, just before I reached it, my gaze drifted back toward Elise.

And then I noticed it.

Her hair.

A few strands on the left side of her face had fallen forward, while the other side remained neatly tucked behind her ear.

I stopped.

No.

I looked away.

’Don’t do it, Lorenzo.’

I had already caused enough trouble for one day.

There was no reason to create another incident just because her hair was slightly uneven.

I could ignore it.

I had ignored plenty of imperfections before.

Besides, my first lecture was about to begin.

I should leave.

Now.

I took a step toward the door.

Then another glance at her hair ruined everything.

’Damn it. I can’t stand it.’

I tried to distract myself by thinking about the upcoming lecture, the academy’s curriculum, and even the possibility of finding Sofia after class.

Nothing worked.

The asymmetry continued to bother me.

It was like having a tiny stone in my shoe that I couldn’t remove.

Finally, I gave up.

’I’ll fix it quickly. Then I’ll leave.’

Elise looked at me with confusion as I turned around.

"What are you—"

She never finished her sentence.

In the blink of an eye, I was standing in front of her.

Her face was incredibly close to mine, and before she could react, I raised my hand and gently tucked the loose strands of hair behind her left ear.

There.

Perfect.

I stepped back and examined my handiwork.

"Now, everything is symmetrical."

Indeed, it was.

Both sides of her face were equally visible, and her platinum-blonde hair now framed her features much more evenly.

I nodded in satisfaction.

Much better.

Unfortunately, Elise seemed to have stopped functioning.

She blinked once.

Then twice.

For several seconds, she simply stared at me.

What’s wrong with her?

Then I realized how close I had been standing to her.

Ah.

Perhaps I should have warned her first.

Before I could offer an explanation, she abruptly stood up, her chair scraping against the floor.

"Y-YOU!"

Her face had turned bright red.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?!"

I looked at her innocently.

"Fixing your hair."

"DO YOU THINK THAT’S AN EXCUSE?!"

"Not particularly. I was just explaining what I did."

"You—!"

She clenched her fists.

For a moment, I genuinely wondered whether she was about to attack me.

I wouldn’t have blamed her.

Well, perhaps I would have blamed her a little.

But I could understand why she was upset.

Touching someone without permission was generally considered rude.

Still, I had only been trying to correct an imperfection.

Was that really such a terrible thing?

"Junior Lorenzo," she said through clenched teeth. "Did nobody ever teach you that touching a woman without her permission is unacceptable?"

I considered her question.

In my previous life? No one. I was orphan from start and no dare to say anything to when I become mafia boss.

As for this one? I remembered my mother saying something how to treat women when I was very young.... around 5 or 6?

I don’t know remember her exact words though.

I wish, I could.

"Someone probably did."

"Then why did you do it?!"

"Because your hair was uneven."

Elise stared at me.

"...What?"

"Your hair. One side was tucked behind your ear, while the other wasn’t. It looked asymmetrical."

I gestured toward her face.

"I simply corrected it."

For a moment, she looked as though she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

"You touched me because my hair was asymmetrical?"

"Exactly."

"Are you insane?!"

I tilted my head.

"That’s a rather personal question, Senior Elise."

"THAT’S NOT THE POINT!"

I shrugged.

"Then perhaps you should make your point clearer."

Elise felt her blood pressure rising.

This guy was impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

She had dealt with arrogant nobles, spoiled heirs, and talented students who thought the entire academy revolved around them.

But Lorenzo Riina was in a league of his own.

He could threaten someone’s life without blinking, laugh while being reprimanded, and casually touch a woman’s hair before acting as though he had done her a favor.

And the worst part?

He genuinely seemed unable to understand why she was angry.

Or perhaps he understood perfectly well and simply didn’t care.

Elise wasn’t sure which possibility frightened her more.

"Get out."

Lorenzo smiled.

"I was already leaving."

"NOW!"

"All right, all right."

He raised both hands in mock surrender and walked toward the door.

However, just before stepping outside, he glanced back at her.

"By the way, Senior Elise."

"WHAT NOW?!"

"Your hair looks better this way."

Click.

The door closed.

Silence returned to the student council president’s office.

Elise stood motionless for several seconds, staring at the door through which Lorenzo had disappeared.

Then she slowly raised a hand to her left ear.

Her fingers brushed against the strands of hair he had tucked behind it.

Her face immediately turned red again.

"THAT BASTARD!"

Her furious shout echoed through the corridor.