Reborn as an Evolving Space Monster: Harem Of Otherworldly Beauties

"Don't forget that I'm the one who dismisses you, not the bell." The teacher sighed, rubbing her forehead. "We'll pick things back up after the break. Place your tablets under your desks. You can go."

It only took a couple of seconds for everyone to leave. Everyone except one.

"You're not going with the others?"

"I, um… I kind of… Um…" The twelve-year-old student stuttered, rubbing her hands together. "I think I should stay here…" She muttered.

"It would be good for you to be with the other students." The teacher said matter-of-factly.

"Well…" She pressed her lips together. 'I would, but I made a horrible mistake!' The twelve-year-old Roka hid her face with her hands. 'I shouldn't have trusted Nina! Now everyone knows! My… My secret!'

She was in love. Or so she thought.

Burdened by the strange and foreign sensation of having a crush for the first time, Roka felt an overwhelming need to confide in someone. A fair exchange had been agreed upon, but Nina never returned the favor.

'I can't believe I trusted! She seriously…'

Roka's thoughts trailed off as he walked through the door, only minutes after having left.

'Oh, no… She told him… She definitely told him…!'

He rubbed his cheek and walked closer.

"Come outside with me." He told her.

The infatuated Roka thought for a bit before leaving her seat.

"Alright…" She nodded.

The teacher let out a long sigh as the two walked out of the classroom.

"Ahh… To be young again…" He muttered while swiping on his phone. "Oh, another match."

***

"I-Is there something you want to talk to me about?" Roka asked, finally having built up the courage to do so.

The two had been walking together silently.

"Do you want to hold my hand?"

"Um…?"

"Hold my hand."

His hand wrapped around hers before she could say or do anything.

'...'

Could it be?

'Could it be that Nina told him and that he… That he loves me too?'

While her eyes started gleaming, her lips curled upwards into the most innocent smile.

'We're walking together… While holding hands… That's… That's what c-couples do, right?'

Before Roka knew it, the two were standing under the tall tree in the back of the schoolyard.

"So, um… What are we… Doing here?"

"Close your eyes." The boy said as he turned to face her.

"Huh? Why?"

"Just do it." He said, letting go of her hand.

Her gaze lingered on his soft hand for a moment, before doing as she had been told.

"Fine." Roka muttered, closing her eyes. 'Oh, I wonder if he has a gift for me… Wait, it's the girl who's supposed to give a gift to the boy she likes! Right…?'

A couple of seconds passed.

"How much longer do I have to keep them closed?" Roka asked. 'I don't know what this is about, but it's probably a surprise of some kind, right? Why else would someone tell me to close my eyes? Hmm…. I wonder what kind of chocolate flavor he likes. Maybe something like that? Wait. I like him because he is so kind. Yes, since the day I saw him helping that puppy… I really don't want a gift or anything like that. I hope I won't have to accept it… Well, I can't say no to a gift, that would be rude…'

Keeping her eyes closed, Roka's eyebrow twitched.

She could hear footsteps. Nothing weird about it though. They were standing in the school yard.

'I can really hear well when I close my eyes.' Roka noticed. 'I can also see really well even when something is very far away. Hm… I wonder if I'm a genius. Yes, I probably am-'

Suddenly, the sound of muffled chuckles started echoing.

Her facial expression turned into a full frown of confusion.

"Bahahaha! I can't, I can't hold it any longer! Bahahaha!"

Roka opened her eyes, only to find Nina laughing out loud while pointing at her.

"Nina…?"

"How long do you think she would have waited, huh? Bahahaha?"

"Hahaha, probably a couple of days, right?"

"For sure! Standing under the tree like this, everyone knows this is the spot for couples!"

"Huh? But I'm still new to this school. I don't know anything about…" Her retort was quickly drowned out by the laughter.

"I can't believe you really thought this was happening!" Nina was laughing so hard her eyes was starting to tear up. "I told you guys, didn't I?"

"For real! She thought something was about to happen with the most popular guy in school!"

"She even grabbed his hand while they were walking together!"

"No, I didn't! He's the one who-"

"You thought he was going to kiss you, didn't you?" Nina said, piercing through the laughter and interrupting Roka's words.

"Huh?"

"It was so obvious!" Another shouted. "She was waiting for him to kiss her!"

"No, I-"

"I can't get over her face while she waiting for the prince to kiss her!"

"How stupid do you have to believe that he would actually kiss you?"

"Yes, you would have to be like… Super, super, super stupid!"

"The new student definitely is super, super, super stupid!"

"Oh, come on." Nina waved. "Don't be so mean."

"Nina…?" Roka muttered.

"She was just so in loooove that she couldn't pass up an opportunity like that! Hahahaha!"

"The new student is in love! The new student is in love!"

"The new student is in love! The new student is in love!" They chanted.

"Seriously though." Nina smirked sadistically. "How could you think that Atlas would like someone like you?"

"I-"

"How could think that Atlas would kiss someone like you? I knew you were stupid, but this is too much. Turns out they're right! You are super, super, super stupid!"

"Super, super, super stupid!"

"Super, super, super stupid!"

"Super, super, super stupid!"

"I am not!" Roka shouted through their chants. "Why are you being so mean? I thought we were friends!"

"Friends?" Nina muttered while turning towards the others, who had momentarily gone silent. As Nina smiled, their laughter echoed louder than ever. "Why would I want to be friends with someone like you? Seriously, you need to have your brain checked by someone."

"Why do you say that? We were having fun last week!"

"Having fun? You were boring me to death." Nina lied, shaking her head. "There's something seriously wrong with you."

"Wrong with me? Why? What's so wrong with me?"

"Everything." Nina answered with a smile. "Everything is wrong with you."

"Everything is wrong with her!"

"Everything is wrong with her!" They chanted.

"Isn't that right, Atlas?" Nina asked, turning in his direction.

Roka hadn't noticed at all that her crush had been standing there. Embarrassed and ashamed that her crush was seeing her being made fun of, Roka immediately felt the need to come up with an excuse.

That excuse never left her mouth.

"I can't believe she grabbed my hand." Atlas said with a facial expression filled with disgust, wiping his hand on his pants. "The fact that you even thought that I would kiss you makes you even more gross than you already are. Grab my hand again, and I'll tell the teachers."

'But I didn't! Why are you lying and taking their side?' Roka shouted.

Except she wasn't shouting.

The laughter, chants, and shouts surrounding her were like waves crashing into her, each wave tasked with drowning her a bit more. Her words and voice couldn't make it through all of that. Her body had unilaterally decided that saying anything further was out of the question. Roka found herself unable to talk or react, forced to remain silent while her crush's words pierced her heart like daggers.

"See, I told you." Nina said while walking towards Atlas.

"It's always so creepy when random girls have a crush on me." He sighed. "It happens way too often. I didn't think that even someone like her would think that they have a chance."

"Yeah." Nina nodded, her lips curling upwards sadistically. "You really need to drive the point home. To make sure she leaves you alone."

"Yes, I suppose you're right." Atlas said before starting to walk in Roka's direction.

She frowned as he stood right in front of her.

"W-What?" Was all she managed to say.

"I will never, ever, ever… Ever, ever, ever kiss you. I will never like you, let alone love you. Do you understand? I will never even look in your direction. You're nothing more a gross, annoying, stupid, idiot, and I hope that I will never see you again."

"Ooooh!"

"Damn!"

Encouraged by the reactions of those around him, Atlas smiled and decided to go further.

"As a matter of fact, it's not even just me. No one will ever like you. It's impossible! You will never be liked or loved! No one will ever kiss you or want to hold your hand! Honestly, it's so pathetic and sad that I think you should just die."

The encouragements and reactions had grown in intensity, until the end.

They exchanged looks while Atlas talked.

"I hope that you jump in front of a truck while you're walking home. I'm saying this for your benefit, of course. Can you imagine the kind of life that's waiting for you?"

H-Hey, isn't he going too far…?

Shut up if you don't want to be next.

"I hope that your seat will be empty tomorrow."

The bell rang moments later, and everyone left.

"Hey, classes have already started, you know? Hurry up and get to your classroom…" The teacher's words trailed off, noticing the tears running down the lonely girl's face. "H-Hey, is something wrong?"

"I-I don't like this school!" The sobbing Roka complained. "Everyone is so mean, I don't want to come back here!"

The teacher scratched her head. She wasn't familiar with this particular student.

"W-Well… That's just how kids are. They were probably just joking around."

Roka tried to wipe her tears and stop crying.

She wasn't a baby anymore. She was a girl. And everyone knows that girls don't cry!

Unfortunately, the more the teacher talked, the harder it was to keep the tears at bay.

"You shouldn't take things so personally, you know? Don't take them to heart. I'm sure they were just joking around. If you let something get to you, then you would be proving their point." The teacher nodded to her own words. "You're a big girl, right? Come on. Wash your face then go back to your classroom."