As Aoto continued to explore the depths of the Back Hallways, he couldn't help but feel a sense of fascination and unease. The further they went, the more the atmosphere shifted. The graffiti became more elaborate, telling stories of hardship, resistance, and survival, while the students who roamed these parts seemed rougher around the edges. Yet, despite the intimidating vibe, Aoto felt oddly connected to this place—perhaps because he was learning that the students here, though rough, were simply products of their environment.

Akia and Kaira walked beside him, with Maite trailing quietly behind, her face still tinged with embarrassment from their earlier encounter. Rika, as usual, hovered nearby, keeping a watchful eye on everything.

Just as Aoto thought the tension had settled, they turned a corner and found themselves face-to-face with two girls who looked strikingly alike. Both had the small, curvy stature characteristic of the Softy Class, but they also bore the distinct black tribal tattoos of the Warrior Class. Their eyes, a bright blue and filled with intensity, were fixed on Aoto like lasers.

The twin girls immediately glared at him, their expressions hard and suspicious. Aoto could tell they weren't pleased by his presence, and their body language screamed hostility.

"What's your deal?" one of the girls, with short, choppy hair, snapped. "You think you can just waltz in here because you're tall? Or is it because you think you're better than us?"

The other twin, with slightly longer hair but the same tattoos snaking up her arms and neck, crossed her arms and joined in, "Yeah, what's with this attitude of yours, acting like you're from Earth? We know you're not really human."

Aoto blinked, completely thrown off by their aggression. "Uh, I am from Earth. I'm just here with Akia and Kaira. I didn't mean to intrude."

The twins looked at each other, their expressions full of disbelief, before turning back to him.

"Earth?" the first twin said, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Yeah, right. Everyone says they're from Earth these days to sound tough. But you don't look any different from the rest of us."

The second twin jabbed a finger at his chest. "What makes you so special, huh? Just because you're taller doesn't mean anything."

Aoto could feel their frustration directed at him, but he didn't understand why. It wasn't like he had done anything to them. He raised his hands in a peaceful gesture, trying to defuse the situation. "Look, I'm not trying to cause any problems. I'm just exploring the school. I didn't even know this place existed until today."

Kaira stepped forward, positioning herself between Aoto and the twins, her posture protective. "Back off, Rina, Mina. He's telling the truth. Aoto really is from Earth."

The twins—Rina and Mina—scowled but didn't immediately back down. "So what if he's from Earth? He still doesn't belong here," Rina muttered, her sharp eyes darting from Kaira to Aoto. "We don't trust outsiders."

Kaira crossed her arms, glaring back at them. "He's not an outsider. He's with us, and we're vouching for him. Or do you want to challenge me and Rika?"

Rina and Mina hesitated, clearly not eager to start a direct confrontation with Kaira or Rika, who stood with a menacing smirk behind them. Still, their irritation didn't fade. They were used to being underestimated for their size, and Aoto's height seemed to trigger that insecurity.

Aoto, sensing the tension rising, decided to try a different approach. "Look, I get it. You probably don't trust me because I'm new and, yeah, maybe I'm taller, but I'm not here to make anyone feel bad or act superior. I'm just... a guy, trying to figure things out, just like everyone else."

The twins seemed to weigh his words, their glares softening just a bit, but the suspicion remained.

"You're not like the other humans we've seen," Mina finally said, still eyeing him warily. "The ones who come here always act like they're better than us."

Rina nodded. "They come in, gawk at us like we're some kind of zoo exhibit, and then leave. We don't need more of that."

Aoto's heart sank a little as he realized where their hostility was coming from. "I'm not like that," he said, his tone sincere. "I know what it feels like to be judged for something you can't control. But I'm not here to look down on anyone."

Rika, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward, her smirk gone. "He's different. You'll see. He's already earned respect from some of us."

The twins exchanged another look, clearly conflicted. Finally, Rina spoke, her voice softer but still guarded. "Alright, fine. We'll see if you're telling the truth, Earth boy. But don't think for a second that just because Kaira and Rika vouch for you, we're gonna go easy on you."

Mina added, "If you really want to be part of this school, you'll have to prove it—just like everyone else."

Aoto nodded, relieved that the tension had dropped, even if only slightly. "I get it. I'll do my best."

With that, the twins backed off, though they kept a watchful eye on him as they walked away, disappearing into another part of the Back Hallways. Aoto let out a long breath, grateful that the encounter hadn't escalated into something worse.

Akia, always the optimistic one, gave him a reassuring smile. "See? It wasn't that bad. They're just... wary of outsiders."

Kaira snorted. "They'll come around. You just have to show them who you really are."

Aoto nodded, though he still felt the weight of the stares from the lingering Warrior Class students around them. This place was full of challenges, and he knew he'd have to navigate it carefully if he wanted to fit in. Still, the fact that Kaira, Rika, Akia, and even Maite were by his side gave him the confidence to keep pushing forward.

"Thanks, guys," Aoto said, feeling a strange mix of nerves and excitement. "Let's keep going. I have a feeling there's a lot more to this place."

With that, they continued through the winding hallways, Aoto's curiosity driving him forward as he prepared for whatever else the Back Hallways—and this strange, vibrant school—had in store for him.

After navigating the twists and turns of the Back Hallways, Aoto, Akia, Kaira, and Rika finally emerged into a different part of the school—the gymnasium and workout center. It was a massive facility, the size of several football fields, and filled with the sounds of clanking weights, footsteps pounding on treadmills, and the occasional grunts of students pushing themselves to their limits.

The air was thick with the scent of sweat and effort, and Aoto couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated as they entered. Students of every Como Class were scattered around the facility, each working out in their own way. The differences in their approaches were striking, as each class brought its own unique style to training.

On one side of the gym, members of the Giant Class were lifting weights so massive that Aoto swore they must have been pulling cars off the ground. The sheer strength on display was incredible, and their muscles bulged with every rep. The ground shook slightly with each of their movements, and the floor beneath them had special reinforcements to accommodate their weight and power.

In contrast, the Softy Class students were occupying the treadmills and lighter weight sections, but they weren't taking it easy by any means. Their short, stocky builds were perfect for high-intensity interval training, and they moved with surprising agility. Some were doing calisthenics, their quick movements fluid and precise, while others were sparring in a more controlled manner, showing off their Warrior Class hybrid abilities in martial arts drills.

The Islander Class had taken over one corner of the gym, where they focused on bodyweight exercises and flexibility training. Their dark skin gleamed with sweat, and their blonde-highlighted hair whipped around as they performed acrobatic movements, flipping and twisting with the grace of gymnasts. Their tattoos, which Aoto now knew were actually birthmarks, seemed to shift and glow with their every move, giving them an almost ethereal appearance as they worked out.

The Nighter Class students were fewer in number, but they occupied the more shadowy parts of the gym, practicing stealth and flexibility drills. Their night vision and underground-dwelling lifestyle made them incredibly nimble and silent, and they seemed almost invisible in the dimmer corners of the building.

As Aoto took all this in, Akia nudged him playfully. "Pretty cool, huh? The gym's one of the best places to see everyone's abilities in action."

He nodded, still a bit overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the facility. "Yeah, this place is huge... and intense."

Kaira smirked as she crossed her arms, eyeing a group of Warrior Class students who were sparring on the mats. "This is where the real warriors are made, Aoto. We push ourselves to the limit here. You'll see."

Rika, ever the sadistic one, leaned in with a grin. "Maybe we should see what you're made of, Earth boy. How about a little sparring?"

Aoto blinked, his heart skipping a beat. "Wait, sparring? I thought we were just here to look around!"

Akia laughed, clearly enjoying his reaction. "Don't worry, Aoto. They're just teasing. You don't have to fight anyone. At least not yet."

Despite their teasing, Aoto felt a strange pull to test himself. The intensity in the gym, the sheer display of power and skill, it was all so different from anything he had seen on Earth. He realized that part of him wanted to see how he measured up—though maybe not against someone like Kaira or Rika just yet.

They moved further into the gym, passing by a section where students were training in mixed martial arts. Two Warrior Class students, one male and one female, were engaged in a fierce grappling match, their muscles straining as they fought for dominance. Sweat poured down their tattooed bodies, and their sharp teeth were bared in concentration.

"Look at them go," Kaira said with a hint of pride. "Warrior Class trains harder than anyone here. We're not just about brute strength—we've got skill, too."

Aoto marveled at the precision of their movements, realizing that the Warrior Class weren't just brawlers. They had a level of discipline and technique that rivaled even professional athletes back on Earth. He could see why they were so respected, even feared.

Just then, a loud crash came from the weightlifting area, followed by a booming laugh. Aoto turned to see one of the Giant Class students, a hulking male with bulging muscles, had dropped a barbell that looked like it weighed more than Aoto's entire body. The guy grinned, clearly proud of his feat, and flexed his arms as his friends cheered him on.

"That's nothing," Kaira muttered. "All brute force, no finesse."

As they continued to explore, they passed a group of students from the Average Class who were practicing with boxing equipment. Though they lacked the unique traits of the other classes, their dedication and discipline were evident. They worked tirelessly, their punches sharp and controlled as they hit the bags with precision.

"This place is like a different world," Aoto murmured, watching everything with wide eyes. "I've never seen anything like it."

Akia smiled, clearly pleased that Aoto was starting to understand. "That's the beauty of Planet Comoros. Everyone here is different, but we all have something that makes us strong. And this gym? It's where those strengths are sharpened."

Just as Aoto was starting to feel a bit more comfortable, a voice boomed from behind him.

"Hey! You, Earth boy!"

Aoto spun around to see a towering figure approaching—another Giant/Warrior Class hybrid, this one even bigger than Maite. The guy looked like he could bench press a car without breaking a sweat, his muscles rippling beneath his tribal tattoos.

"I hear you've been getting a lot of attention," the hybrid said, crossing his arms. "You think just because you're from Earth, you're something special?"

Aoto's mouth went dry, and he could feel the weight of the challenge in the air. Before he could respond, Kaira stepped in front of him, her eyes narrowed.

"He's with us, Zakai. You got a problem with that?"

Zakai grinned, his sharp teeth flashing. "No problem at all, Kaira. I'm just curious if he's got the strength to back up all the hype."

Aoto gulped, realizing he was being sized up once again. This was starting to feel like a recurring theme—everywhere he went, someone was challenging him, testing him, as if being from Earth was both a blessing and a curse.

Kaira glared at Zakai, but before things could escalate, Maite suddenly stepped forward, standing next to Aoto. Her presence alone seemed to take Zakai by surprise. The other students glanced at her warily, knowing that Maite wasn't someone to be trifled with.

"If you're looking for a fight, Zakai, you'll have to go through me first," Maite said, her voice calm but firm.

Zakai raised an eyebrow but backed off slightly, clearly not eager to face Maite in a direct confrontation. "Alright, alright. No need to get all worked up. I'll catch you later, Earth boy."

As Zakai walked away, the tension in the gym seemed to ease. Aoto let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Thanks, Maite," he said, grateful for her intervention.

Maite gave a small nod, her blush from earlier still faintly visible. "No problem."

Akia grinned, clearly amused by the whole situation. "Looks like you're making a name for yourself around here, Aoto."

Aoto chuckled nervously, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Yeah, but maybe I should lay low for a while."

Kaira smirked. "You can try, but I doubt that's going to happen. You're too interesting for your own good."

With that, they continued exploring the gym, but Aoto couldn't shake the feeling that he was now on everyone's radar. Whether he liked it or not, his time on Planet Comoros was shaping up to be far more challenging—and exciting—than he ever imagined.