The Earth After Rebirth

Kiro was having a fit. He was absolutely freaking out, he had managed to stay out of sight for the whole school. But today was Monday morning, and Isla was nowhere to be seen.

"Calm down, she'll be here, she has to be." Hiro tried to console him.

"Right, because bad things never happen to good people." Kiro snapped, he didn't mean to, everything just got on his nerves.

"Sigh. I'm on your side, you know."

Kiro looked up at him, "yes, I'm sorry."

The news of course had spread through out the campuses. It must've been Isaac and Ursa, because nobody else knew. People treated Kiro harshly at the news, nobody even believed he was innocent. Nikolai and Felix had tried to console him in-game.

He logged in, but didn't do much gaming. Just played with his beasts, busking in the sun, lazying around. Being depressed.

He entered the hall and realised that, there'd be an audience today. That only made the pit in his stomach larger.

'Isn't this just a trial and not a hearing? Why would they do something like this?'

Ursa was there, so was Isaac, and everybody else who was interested in the first year campus drama.

"Quiet down," Mr. Ridley, the vice, started, "we're here today to hear the real story and catch the culprit."

Kiro snorted. 'Man I hate this guy.'

They obviously started with Ursa, she recounted events that were absolutely different from what had actually happened.

She claimed she had meant to give him a nonalcoholic drink, with a sprinkle of crocodile tears, the crowd lapped it up. They believed she made a mistake.

While Kiro didn't exactly remember what happened, he was doubtful that he did all that to her. Half of the things she mentioned, were things he didn't even know existed. Which made him feel sad about how inexperienced he was.

When it was Kiro's turn, there were boos and remarks like, 'go back to the slums, rat.'

Kiro didn't let this get to him, he had already calmed his nerves, so his expression was stoic and uncaring. He didn't show a drop of emotion at their taunts. He recounted everything up until the point he blacked out.

The crowds though didn't let it slide.

"Look at his face!"

"It really lacks regret."

"How can we even be going to school with psychopaths like him!"

Kiro almost laughed. It wasn't as if, they'd have believed him if he cried. Ontop of that, he vowed to never cower in this life, so he wouldn't show regret and shame to something he didn't even do.

"Pretty convenient that you blacked out." Mr. Ridley remarked trying to dismiss him as a liar.

"Well, it is what happened."

"Where is the witness you promised us?"

"I guess she couldn't make it."

"Then we have no choice but to find you guilty."

The dean looked ugly, he didn't like this one bit but his hands were tied. As much as he hated it, this society favoured the rich. There was nothing he could do about that. He'd already lost too much trying.

He tried to buy time nonetheless, "Miss Derengar, are you absolutely sure that this is the man who assaulted you?"

"I'm sure, it's him."

"Well you've heard it dean," Mr. Ridley said walking to the front, facing the crowd with arms wide open. "This boy is guilty. Sentence him. Expel him. He has stained the good name of our academy.

That is a grave sin."

Just then the doors flung open, Isla came in like she was being thrown in. She looked out of breath, she had been running from the station.

"Thank goodness, I finally found the right one. Sorry this witness is late," she said between uneven breaths.

Her entrance was met with whispers. Ursa was frozen in place, she even forgot to continue crying. Isaac's face was drained of its colour.

When Ursa told him what happened, he originally wanted to scrape the plan, but upon remembering the birthday of her father he decided to go along as planned.

He never expected Isla to return this early, just for him.

Isla had heard about this through Saanvi, it turned out she had her phone ID after all she was just being difficult. When she realised how serious the matter was though, she contacted Isla immediately.

Isla recounted her side of the story which coincided with Kiro's. The crowd now was confused.

"So then, why were you there Miss Silva?" Mr. Ridley asked, he was relentless.

Kiro thought he respected high society, but he was now questioning Isla, which solidified the idea that he was bribed.

"Why was I there? Why was she? That's my dorm, Mr. Ridley."

He cleared his throat in embarrassment, "of course young miss." He sat down and never spoke again.

Ursa broke down then and there, she claimed Isaac put her up to it. Isaac denied to ever having a relationship with her. That was a wake up call for her, as she realised she meant nothing to him.

"Well then, you'll be suspended for 2 weeks Ursa Derengar, for purposely giving Mr. Waynworth a drugged alcoholic drink and attempting to assault him and accuse him." The dean declared.

"Excuse me, but that's not enough." Kiro spoke up, he was glad to be exonerated, but wasn't she just getting a slap on the wrist? "If I'd been wrongfully charged, I'd have spent my whole life in prison for something I didn't do. It's not really fair that she walks away, just like that."

"What would you suggest?" the dean asked him calmly.

"Brat, count your blessings. You dare try and dictate how your superiors should be punished?" Mr. Ridley asked proudly.

"I don't care what this society says, nobody here is my superior. You're not better than me just because you have a little money. If you were so high and mighty, why am I here? why is it that I'm studying where, the elite are supposed to?"

The dean let this played out. He was amused. He was quite smitten with this kid, Kiro. He was interesting to him. He didn't if it was the nostalgia, or the fact that he seemed to carry that person's will.

The vice was shaking with anger, so much that he couldn't get a word out.

"Okay, that's quite enough of that. I understand your frustrations, Mr. Waynworth, but with the status quo it cannot be done. You know what to do." He said with a finality.

Kiro pondered his last words. 'I know what to do? What does he mean? Crazy old man.'