I'm doing abstract animation

After all, she was only a fourteen-year-old girl, and she had lost her parents at the age of just starting junior high school. It would be a lie to say that she wasn't confused, and the fact that she couldn't sleep night after night was the best proof of that.

'Hehe, maybe it's because I miss my older brother so much...'

She turned to look at Baek Eun-kyu, who was still pouting, and smiled even more brightly.

Although your brother is excellent, my brother is the best brother in the world!

Shirogane Gui: "?"

What's wrong with this person? Why is he suddenly smiling at me?

Because Hikigaya Komachi had spent her time in the hospital, she was not familiar with Hikigaya Komachi.

As for why Komachi Hikigaya knows so much about Kei Shirogane... well, it's just that in any school, information about anyone who's famous isn't exactly a secret.

"Alright, students, it's time to go home now. If you don't leave, your families will worry about you!"

Aizen gently interrupted the students surrounding him with a warm smile, then gave an apologetic one: "Besides, I have an appointment today, so I won't keep you any longer."

"You have a date, are you lovers?"

Aizen chuckled and shook his head: "No, it might be someone of the same kind!"

similar?

Hikigaya Komachi frowned. That title...

"Hey, I thought you were rushing off on a date, teacher!"

The students below made sounds of their gossip failing; clearly, no one took his nickname to heart.

Aizen smiled and said nothing more, then walked straight out of the classroom.

After he left, the students in the classroom lost their source of enjoyment and began to go home in twos and threes.

Just as Komachi Hikigaya was preparing to pack up her desk and go home.

"Isn't that hypocritical?"

A slightly disgruntled voice reached her ears.

Looking up, one could see Shirogane Kei, who had been in a low mood since the beginning.

Hikigaya Komachi was speechless: "Does Shirogane-kun have such a big problem with Aizen-sensei?"

"Yeah, I don't like him."

To Komachi's surprise, Shirogane Kei nodded in agreement, which greatly astonished her. What had Aizen-sensei done to make the girl in front of her so disgusted, even to the point of loathing her?

"Aizen-sensei, he's only been here for less than a week, right? Did you know him before?"

Aroused by her curiosity, Komachi Hikigaya slowed down her movements.

"...I don't know him." Bai Yingui was silent for a while before denying that they had known each other before.

Hikigaya Komachi: "So, did you see him do anything?"

After a brief silence, Baek Eung-kyu shook his head again.

Hikigaya Komachi: "..."

To be honest, she didn't quite understand. Since you didn't know the other person before and had never seen them do anything outrageous, why do you hate them so much?

Seemingly noticing Komachi's speechlessness, Kei Shirogane explained softly, "Don't you think his smile is fake? And it looks so hypocritical."

Hikigaya Komachi: "..."

She rolled her eyes and said irritably, "I don't know if Aizen-sensei is hypocritical or not, but I do know that I prefer to greet someone who is smiling rather than someone who is crying."

hypocritical?

Who in this world isn't hypocritical?

What's wrong with a smile? Even a fake smile is better than a real gloomy face. Just like her, even though she's burdened with a heavy heart and can't let go of her troubles, she always puts on a smiling face in front of her brother.

She also understood that her brother was suffering just as much, especially after learning that he had been in a coma for more than half a year. She couldn't imagine the kind of pressure her brother had endured to keep going until now...

Even so, every time she saw her brother, he would only use his clumsy acting skills to smile and say it was nothing, it's all in the past...

So, there's nothing wrong with being a little hypocritical and keeping a smile.

Shirogane Kei's words hit her right where it hurt, causing her to become dissatisfied with the silver-haired beauty in front of her.

"...It seems we're not on the same wavelength."

Hikigaya Komachi's reaction was naturally noticed by Shirogane Kei, who shook her head in disappointment: "I saw you turn around to look at me just now, and I thought you, like me, had doubts about that new teacher..."

Who would suspect someone for no reason, especially someone they've never even crossed paths with?

Hikigaya Komachi didn't answer, she just kept tidying up her textbooks.

"I'm going to follow that guy right now. He's definitely hiding something!" Bai Yingui didn't mind that she ignored him. Instead, he said to her with a serious face, "If I don't come to school tomorrow, it means that guy attacked me. Remember to call the police, okay?"

Crazy!

Do you realize that your stalking behavior is enough to make me call the police in advance?

Komachi Hikigaya's lips twitched. Even with her mature mind, she was quite shocked by the sight of this second-year middle school girl... Wait, second-year middle school girl...

Is this guy a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur)?

Looking at Baek Eun-kyu with narrowed eyes, the other looked like he was about to save the world... and believe it or not, there was actually a possibility!

After all, "chuunibyou" doesn't just refer to Ruri Gokou's kind of chuunibyou. It's just that her kind is the most familiar to the public, but it's not very common. On the contrary, most students who are still in school have some degree of chuunibyou, like Yukino Yukinoshita, which can also be considered a kind of chuunibyou.

The pursuit of absolute correctness, the desire to help others, and even the creation of a ridiculously named "Service Club"—all of these can be categorized as chuunibyou (middle school syndrome), purely a case of having too much free time. If you were to study with us for a semester, we'd cure every ailment of yours.

Ahem, that's too far off topic...

Bai Yingui walked out of the classroom with an air of utter desolation.

"Tsk..."

Although she was extremely unwilling, she felt she had to do something about her classmate following her teacher, otherwise she wouldn't be Komachi Hikigaya.

She certainly didn't want to see her classmate arrested for stalking someone on tomorrow's morning news...

After quickly tidying herself up, she quickened her pace and chased after him out of the classroom.

As soon as I stepped out of the classroom, I could see Baek Eun-kyu's long, silvery-white hair disappearing at the top of the stairs.

'That direction... is it upstairs?'

Although she was a little puzzled as to why the other person had followed Aizen-sensei all the way upstairs, she quickened her pace to catch up.

Second floor, third floor, fourth floor... She chased him all the way to the rooftop entrance. When Komachi Hikigaya was panting, she finally saw his back.

The door to the rooftop entrance was ajar, and a girl with long silver hair was crouching there, peering through the crack in the door with a sly look.

Hikigaya Komachi: "..."

She's clearly a beautiful girl, so why would she make such an ominous gesture?

She sighed and stepped forward to pat Baek Eung-kyu on the shoulder.

"Shirogane-kun, we..."

"Shh!"

Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Baek Eung-kyu's panicked silence.

"..."

Sometimes, Komachi Hikigaya actually hates her own personality. Although she has changed a lot after the major changes and has learned to be like her brother and not meddle in other people's business, she still can't help but help others when she encounters them.

For example, right now, she really wants to leave. Doesn't this guy have any legal knowledge at all? Okay, even if you're a minor and not afraid, at least you should know how to respect people, right?

What terrible things did Aizen-sensei do to have to offend you like this?!

Looking at Shirogane Kei, who was winking at her and patting him on the shoulder, Hikigaya Komachi couldn't help but sigh.

This guy is hopeless...

Then... he obediently squatted down next to her and peeked at her too.

Well... since we're already here, let's see what happens first... and if there are two of us, we'll have more reasons to explain if we get caught.

That's what Komachi Hikigaya was thinking, but she didn't notice at all that Kei Shirogane beside her had started trembling all over, until she leaned in too...

Her pupils suddenly contracted, and what she saw through the crack in the door completely terrified her... no, not terrified, but shocked.

She had never heard of anyone growing taller than three meters...

P.S.: There will be another chapter later!

A City of Ghosts and Monsters: Chapter Fifty - Blackbeard

Three meters, which doesn't sound very tall at first glance.

But actually, this height is quite high for humans. To put it simply, according to regulations, safety belts must be worn when working at heights exceeding two meters. What does this mean? It means that there is a risk to life when a person falls from a height of more than two meters, and the risk is not small.

Due to its unique geographical location, Japan is prone to earthquakes, so most of the houses here are built relatively low; three meters is much taller than the second floor of a house.

But these are just talking about the concept of three meters. What would it be like if a person were three meters tall?

'This guy is definitely not human!'

When Komachi Hikigaya glimpsed the person opposite Aizen through the crack in the door, that one thought instantly popped into her mind.

Three meters...that's just too exaggerated!

Why is Aizen so popular with the kids in the class? Putting aside his appearance and personality, just his height of 1.86 meters makes him instantly feel safe and secure, which is something that a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) student really appreciates.

But compared to the person opposite him, Aizen, who is 1.86 meters tall, is a bit insignificant.

He was over three meters tall, wearing a black coat, with a rugged appearance, dark skin, and thick, curly black hair tied with a bandage. His gaping mouth revealed that he seemed to have lost a few teeth.

"Hahaha, nice to meet you. I'm Marshall D. Teach, just call me Blackbeard, hahaha..."

The man's voice was extremely loud, so loud that even the two women hiding behind the door had to cover their ears.

A foreigner, and he's called Blackbeard?

Wait, you're a foreigner and your Japanese is this good...?

Regardless of why the title felt strangely familiar, Komachi Hikigaya lowered her voice and asked Kei Shirogane, "Hey, how did this guy even appear?!"

A person who is three meters tall! If he entered a school, it would definitely cause a sensation. So why is there no noise at all?

"I...I don't know either, that...that guy just appeared out of nowhere..."

Bai Yingui's face was filled with fear, and he was speaking incoherently.

What do you mean by "appearing in an instant with a 'Biu'"?

Her eyelids twitched, and Komachi Hikigaya decided to ignore the incompetent and playful person sitting behind her. At this moment, her curiosity was fully piqued.

How did the giant, who was over three meters tall, enter the school and get to the rooftop of the teaching building so quietly?

Why would this giant approach Aizen, a teacher who had only recently started teaching?

Could it be that Shirogane Kei's idea is correct?

Does Aizen-sensei really have some ulterior motive?

All of this piqued Komachi Hikigaya's curiosity, and her face practically screamed "I can't believe it!"

I'm curious.

"Blackbeard, is that it..." Aizen still wore that gentle smile, adjusted his glasses, and asked politely, "So, Mr. Blackbeard, is there something you need from me?"

He didn't seem surprised by Blackbeard's appearance.

"Hahaha, I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll just tell you straight: we're the same kind of people, so join my fleet and let's turn the whole world upside down, hahahaha!"

His voice was loud and his tone was extremely high, as if he were a passionate middle-aged man.

fleet?

What is this ghost?

Not to mention Hikigaya and Komachi, even Aizen couldn't help but have a question mark when he heard this, but he quickly realized that it must refer to the organization, just like the Arrancar he had created before.

"Hehehe, Mr. Blackbeard, could you tell me more about your fleet?"

With a smile, Aizen said unhurriedly, "At least let me know what kind of organization I'm joining, right?"

That makes sense. After all, when you go to recruit talent, you should at least explain the strengths and weaknesses of your team, as well as your purpose, right?