"Good morning. You must be Professor Aarden."

The moment Koro's shoes hit the hard concrete of the sidewalk, his brother in toe, they were greeted by a boy of strawberry blond hair and noticeable purple eyes. A warm and polite smile adorned the teen's features as he gave the duo a slight, courteous bow before gesturing to the main gate of Kunugigaoka Junior High's main building.

Koro nodded, his car keys stuffed in the pocket of his dress pants. He carried his coat over his right arm, his suitcase switching to his other hand as he extended his left hand for a polite handshake. He was a foreigner. Of course, he'd greet the teen as a foreigner would.

"T-That would be me, yes. Professor Sorrel Aarden," he introduced, his voice mild with a slight stutter. He stood straight, almost too straight as nervousness oozed from him. There was a welcoming and appreciative smile on his face. "And, you should be Asano Gakushu? The Student Council President?" he carefully inquired. "The headmaster told me that the student council president would receive us," he explained as he retrieved his hand and switched his briefcase to his left side.

"Exactly, I hope that your trip to Japan was without hurdles and that you've properly settled down," the teen continued, pleasantries rolling off his tongue with frightening ease. His purple eyes left Koro's green ones to look at Byakuran, who disinterestedly stood beside the taller male. "And you must be Chouku Byakuran? The transfer student, yes?" he inquired, the same polite smile adorning his face.

Byakuran leveled his purple eyes to meet Gakushu's at the mention of his name. He observed the strawberry blond with minute boredom, searching his mind for any notable information before dismissing the teen entirely when his investigation proved to be fruitless. He turned his head to the side, clearly ignoring the other's greeting, merely humming in mild acknowledgment.

If Gakushu was offended, he didn't show it. The smile on his face did not stiffen either, deepening on the contrary before he turned to look back at Koro.

"Ah, please forgive us! Ran, Ran didn't mean to ignore you. He's just shy around strangers," Koro swiftly lied, a wry smile on his face as his cheeks tinted themselves in what appeared to be embarrassment.

Gakushu gave the man a mature smile. He gently shook his head as he began to lead the way inside the school grounds. "I understand. It is never easy to be at ease in a brand new environment," he justified, appearing to defend the white head. "I would probably feel overwhelmed as well if I were to transfer during my third year and not long after the beginning of the first term," he reassured, voice jovial as they crossed the gate and grounds before entering the main building.

Koro gave a reassured smile, an impressed look overcoming his features as he gazed at the teen, surprised. "You are very mature, Asano-kun," he praised, amazed.

Gakushu returned the compliment with a smile.

Byakuran, who followed the two, couldn't help but feel both bored and annoyed by his brother's act. He rolled his violet eyes, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to the universe. The trio walked through the lockers to the stairs and began climbing to the fourth floor where the headmaster's office was located.

On his way, Byakuran began to pay attention to his surroundings. The students were very studious for the most part, and there wasn't much gossiping going around. Then again, it might have been because class just began.

"I heard that you haven't taken the placement exam just yet, Chouku-san," Gakushu called out, making Byakuran pull his gaze to look at the strawberry blond. The student council president seemed satisfied with the attention received and continued to engage in small talks. "Have you been reviewing? I hope that you'll do well. I wouldn't want you to begin your new experience on a bad note," he added, voice dropping as if envisioning the worse.

Byakuran blinked. He didn't know much of Kunugigaoka's system, but he guessed that grades like everywhere played an important role. Much like rankings, he supposed, there was a reason why Fuuta de la Stela was both famed and feared for his ranking abilities.

"Not really," he answered.

Gakushu blinked, seemingly surprised by the teen answering him. "Oh, you must be confident then," he praised, quickly regaining his assurance as they reached the third floor and began making their way to the headmaster's office.

Byakuran's eyes met Koro's, and he grinned. "Of course, I've never failed anything before," he confirmed with a nod. "Something like a placement exam should be a breeze," he boasted.

Gakushu seemed speechless in front of Byakuran's confidence, merely nodding in acknowledgment. His purple eyes glinted with mirth, mostly not believing the whitehead's claim. Kunugigaoka was one of the most prestigious middle-schools in Japan. The placement exam was bound to be extremely difficult, especially with the cast system the school adopted. Though he had to admit that if Byakuran indeed breezed through the exam, he'd have to acknowledge his abilities.

"Haha, I hope that you'll succeed again then," he laughed as they reached the office. Laying his hand on the doorknob, he added: "It would be great to have you as an addition to 3-A."

Byakuran hummed, not really knowing what differentiated 3-A from B, C, D, or E. He supposed that Gakushu was part of this class. Maybe they sent the most brilliant students here, like an advanced class or something.

"Sure," he nodded.

Gakushu chuckled, his eyes flitted to Koro to see if he was ready before knocking on the door. "Chairman, I've brought Professor Aarden and the transfer student," he said. Silence. He waited for another three seconds before knocking again and pushing the door open. "Excuse us," he voiced as he stepped into the office, keeping the door open to allow the blond and whitehead to enter.

Chairman Asano sat at his mahogany desk in silence, his violet eyes overlooking the documents in his hands before he set them down. His eyes crinkled, revealing a smile as his lips stretched into a broad grin. "Thank you, Asano. You may leave," he dismissed with a nod, eyes meeting his son's antagonistic gaze with ease.

"Of course, Chairman," the teen agreed with a bow, the smile on his lips not fading either. "I live to serve," he added as he straightened his spine and turned on his heels. He gave Byakuran and Koro a nod, bidding them farewell, and pulled the door open again.

"If you could come back in an hour or so, Asano, I think that we'll be done by then," Chairman Asano added as he watched his son pause by the door frame. The teen nodded, graced him with another fake smile, and took his leave before closing the door.

They heard his footsteps become quieter until there was nothing but silence and the sound of the wall clock ticking echoing in the room.

"Well," Chairman Asano was the one to break the silence. He stood up before walking up to the duo. "Welcome to Kunugigaoka Junior High," the man greeted, giving the youngest a nod and smile before extending his hand for a handshake to the oldest one. "I am Chairman Asano Gakuho," he presented before leading them to take a seat in front of his desk. Walking around them, he went back to his chair.

"Ah— Yes, Sorrel Aarden," Koro introduced in a hurry as if caught off guard. "And here is Chouku Byakuran, my charge," he said as he motioned to the teen, who nodded by his side.

Chairman Asano spared the teen a glance before humming. "Of course, while we look over the last administrative documents regarding Chouku's admission, I propose that you take the placement exam, Chouku?" he asked, pulling a stack of paper from his first drawer and placing it on the table.

Byakuran gave a nod. He tilted his head as his eyes traveled the slightly thick stack of paper.

Gakuho chuckled. "No need to worry, although you have an hour to complete as many exercises as possible, you are not required to finish everything. It is merely to see where your academic knowledge stands," he patiently explained, perfectly endorsing the role of a competent Chairman.

The whitehead nodded. He picked the stack and began to thumb through it, not really reading the questions but more counting the pages.

"Kunugigaoka pays great attention to nurturing our students' academic progress. Therefore we divide students by academic level to ensure the best and most appropriate teaching methods," he explained, eyes shifting to Koro. It was a way of giving the hitman a comprehensive view of the school system as well. "Depending on your result, we might place you in different classes, class 3-A being the best, and 3-E comprising of students facing more difficulties," he taught.

Koro internally rolled his eyes. "More difficulties" was a beautiful way of formulating reality. Externally, he nodded his head in understanding, green eyes widening in recognition and amazement as he pursed his lips in concentration, careful not to miss a single word.

"Now, as your time is limited, and you may face some psychological pressure, we won't put you in 3-E were you to fail the placement examination," he reassured. "Everyone must be granted a second chance, so, until the first midterms, you would be in 3-D. Your results afterward would determine whether to place you in 3-E or another more appropriate class."

Byakuran hummed, nodding in turn before standing up with the stack of paper. "Can I borrow a pen and some draft?" he asked.

The Chairman smiled, unbothered by the lack of respect and more curious about the supposed mafia-related teen's results. "Of course," he said, handing one of his many pens before pulling some draft paper from the printer by his desk's side. "Here is the chronometer as well."

"Thanks," Byakuran muttered before walking over to the low table and couch on the right of the room. The place specifically designed to welcome several people and share a coffee probably. He sat the stack on the table, divided the pile by subjects, and pressed on the timer.

After a quick read-through that took around five minutes, Byakuran acknowledged that even for him, it was impossible to go through every question, no matter how easy they were. His writing speed was much too slow, and his already large brain capacity still insufficient. This examination was about doing whichever question you wanted, either by going the easy road and doing the easy but guaranteed success exercises or trying the more challenging way with college-level demands.

Of course, Byakuran took the college-level questions.

His brain was the compilation of hundreds of thousands of other him, each with their own experiences and knowledge. He had dominated the world in every possible way before. From creating a ravaging pandemic and its cure to building up a cult to his person or declaring war on the planet, there probably was almost nothing that Byakuran did not know.

His pen effortlessly glided through the paper as he used the draft as an answer sheet. He poured his knowledge and reflection with ease, only choosing the most challenging exercises first before going to the second hardest once done with the first. He did not bother himself with the easy questions, long knowing that he'd breeze through them with even less effort, and continued to solve what was in front of him.

He dismissed essay-like questions, knowing it would be much too long to answer them, and focused on shorter and more straight-to-the-point ones. By the end of his time, once there were five minutes left, Byakuran went to the more straightforward exercises, picking up all the MCQs before solving them. It took him four good minutes to finish them all, and the moment he laid his pen and paper down, the alarm rang, signaling that his time was up.

The Chairman smiled, eyes going to look at Byakuran's stretching and relaxed figure. "Are you done?" he rhetorically asked as the boy turned the clock off. He received the papers, pen, and timer before putting them down. "How was it? Did you have any difficulties?" he probed, picking a red pen as he began to read through the teen's answers. He was pleasantly surprised to see that apart from a few MCQ, all of the other problems chosen were the most complex exercises of his sheet.

Byakuran shrugged as he sat by his brother. "It was okay," he said in a dismissive voice before sending Koro a pointed look. Not a second later, a pack of marshmallows found itself in his arms. He ripped it open and stuffed one in his mouth, savoring the feeling of the treat melting atop his tongue— pure heaven.

Gakuho made a sound of acknowledgment as he corrected the paper. His hand moved around, never stopping, and his face showed some minute emotion as he went over specific questions. Specifically, those related to social sciences, the approach was peculiar, to say the least, extraordinarily clinical and detached, encompassing all and everything. Yet, he couldn't deny the truth of the statements brought by the teen and the strength of his demonstrations.

"You are a brilliant student, Chouku. You must be proud," Chairman Asano praised as he set his pen on the table, having seen enough to make his judgment. "I haven't finished correcting your paper just yet, but I think it is already clear that you would only fit in 3-A," he stated, a grin on his face as he laced his fingers together. "What do you think?"

Byakuran ate another marshmallow, he hummed, his eyes going to look at Koro by his side. His brother's eyes met his. He took another treat from his bag and stuffed the soft sweet in his mouth.

Koro smiled. "I think it's perfect then," he chirped, glee and pride shining in his eyes as he answered in his brother's stead. "And Asano-kun is also part of 3-A, isn't he?" he asked with a slight innocent tilt of his head.

Chairman Asano's eyes thinned as he nodded, the smile not faltering. "Why yes, Asano is both our dear student council president and an important pillar of class 3-A."

"Fantastic!" Koro clapped at the revelation. "I'm so glad Ran won't be left alone. At least he already knows Asano-kun," he admitted, relief tinting his dotting voice.

The strawberry blond hummed, his gaze flitted to Byakuran before he stood up. "Asano should already be here. It's been more than an hour already," he stated with a passing glance at his wristwatch. "He'll guide you through your day Chouku. Since you're in 3-A, he'll chaperone you," the man said with a laugh.

Koro laughed in turn.

Chairman Asano opened the door, and without surprise, Gakushu waited right behind it, his back leaning on the wall. The teen straightened his posture and gave a smile at the sight of the open door.

"I will have your schedule done a printed by the end of the day. I am sure Professor Aarden will be more than happy to get everything for you and relay the information later on," he stated, eyes going to Koro, who gave an approving smile.

Byakuran picked his school bag, slung it over his shoulders, and, of course, kept the marshmallow bag in his arms.

"Asano, Chouku here will be in class 3-A with you," the Chairman informed, his figure towering over his son's. "I'm counting on you."

Gakushu smiled, gently nodding his head. "You can count on me."

Σ(ノ°▽°)ノ

I wanted to give Byakuran a fake identity as well. Something like Byakko Kuran— but Byakko's not really name material so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯