I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

Only the chirping sounds of morning birds can be heard.

I stared at them. To my parents and their eyes, which were puffy and red from all the crying.

My head turned to my mother, her lips were trembling after my father said those words.

"After… Elise's death."

His words rebounded in my mind again and again.

Elise is dead.

The world around me dulled down. I stumbled on my feet, gripping the doorknob for support.

I didn't remember her dying. I always remembered her living, smiling, arguing, teasing, and smiling all the time.

"How…?"

My voice came out raspy, as if it belonged to someone else.

In response to my question, my parents exchanged looks. My mother appeared to be attempting to piece together a response. My father's lips parted, but no words came out first.

"Zane…" he said carefully, almost as if afraid his voice might break me. "Why… why are you asking this?"

I didn't answer.

"We thought… maybe you were in shock too," my mother whispered. "That's why you locked yourself away. You wouldn't talk to anyone. You didn't eat anything. You didn't even go to her funeral."

Her funeral…

My heart sank.

"Just…" I felt an intense pain in my throat. "Tell me what happened."

My father drew a long, slow breath, as if giving up in front of me.

"Seven days ago… Elise was sent on a mission that Nova assigned to her. One of those special assignment ones. She went with her team, which consisted of five members from her class".

He stopped, his jaw tightened as he gritted his teeth.

My mother wiped her eyes before she added,.

"And five days ago, they brought her back. Her… Her b-body."

My father continued, placing his hands on my mother's trembling shoulders.

"They said nothing. No reports. No details. No one would say what happened out there… to her."

"Hic..hic…" My mother teared up again.

My father looked down at his clenched fists. "They just said… they were attacked. But we know that the official records were sealed."

"By Nova," I muttered.

My father nodded. "Yes."

Nova. Nova. Nova…

I chanted the name again and again inside my head, like a cursed prayer. The more I repeated, the more my thoughts twisted.

Right now I didn't think of anything but her.

I found myself making deductions, envisioning all the potential missteps this version of me could have made.

And right now, I would burn anyone who dared to stop me from what I was going to do next.

I took a long, deep breath and tried to calm my mind. I looked at my mother, forcing a small smile to curl on my lips.

"Mom, I'm hungry. Can I have my breakfast first?"

My mom didn't answer. She just… stared at my face, as if she had just seen something terrifying in me.

I didn't know what kind of expression I was making. I didn't feel my own face. But judging by her reaction… it wasn't a pretty one.

"Can I?" I asked again, a little softer this time.

This time, she nodded, tightening her fingers on her apron.

"I-I'll prepare it right away."

"Thank you."

Then I turned to my dad.

"Dad, can I borrow some change? I need to go to the academy."

The train for Nova must've already left. No, there's no point running to the station now. I'd have to book a private ride. And this version of me? This so-called powerless, broken version of me, who, while possessing an authority, let his sister die? He didn't even have a single penny in his pocket.

My father didn't ask any questions. He just pulled out his wallet, counted a few bills, and handed them to me.

After having my breakfast and getting in my Nova uniform, I took a private ride, and in an hour I finally reached Nova Academy.

Standing at the entrance, I saw the time.

It was already 10 in the morning. First period must've already started. So, all the students and professors must be already in the classroom.

That's good.

I wasn't here for classes anyway. I came here to find the truth about Elise.

And I wasn't leaving without answers.

….

Walking inside the corridor, I slowly approached my classroom.

Class 1A.

It was the same class as my real timeline, and as I approached the door, I could faintly hear Miss Monica giving her lecture on Elemental Theory from the outside.

Clank.

I pushed the door open.

The lecture paused, and every eye inside the classroom turned in my direction.

Those gazes didn't bother me much, as my mind was focused on something else.

"Mr. Skylark?" said Miss Monica from the podium, her gaze fixed on me. "You're late for class."

There wasn't any anger or annoyance in her voice, but somehow I felt like, today, she was going to lecture me badly.

"How are you feeling?"

But to my surprise, her voice sounded... worried.

"You don't have to come to class, you can take a rest. I won't cut any of your credit points."

I blinked at her, stunned.

Why did she sound worried?

And why were some of the eyes in the classroom... looking at me with pity?

Then I heard various murmurs passing between a few groups of students.

"Hey, is he the one?"

"I think so."

"I heard his sister died, but look at him… he doesn't look like someone in grief."

"Oi, he'll hear you, dumbass."

"Huh? Let him hear. It's not like he can do anything."

I ignored most of the rubbish.

But somehow, among those murmurs, I figured out the reason they looked at me with pity.

Looking at Miss Monica and forcing a smile, I said,

"I'm fine. I just wanted to come to the academy today."

Miss Monica went silent for a second before she gestured. "If it's fine with you, then go on, take your seat."

I respectfully bowed my head to her and made my way to the very back, where only one student sat. I took my usual seat.

"…hm?"

But the moment I sat down, I felt the gazes of many fall in my direction again.

"Did he really sit there…?"

"W-wow. He must have gone insane."

To their comment, I got confused.

What were they spouting now?

Then, I turned my head to my right.

"..."

A pair of red eyes stared at me.

Her spotless, small white face framed by red hair—she was sitting just beside me to my right.

It was the same face I saw every morning when I was in class.

Anna Ashborn.

She was my very first friend at Nova.

"Good morning, Anna," I greeted casually, forming a smile on my face.

"Huh?" She got startled. "Oh, umm… Good morning…"

She looked like I had just greeted her for the very first time—

'Shit!'

This was her first time!

I almost forgot I was in another timeline. And in this timeline, Zane wasn't a Rank-1, nor was he friends with any of them.

Glancing at Anna from the side, I saw her utterly stunned.

"Sigh…"

I forgot she was a loner.

"Pftt..." I almost chuckled remembering it.

"You don't mind me sitting here, do you?"

I asked politely, and in response, Anna waved her hands numerous times.

"N-No, it's fine."

Just look at her. She gets all flustered whenever someone she doesn't know well talks to her.

I wanted to tease her, but considering that I was just a regular classmate with her now, I held back.

Focusing back on my class, I looked around, searching for my other friends.

Just a few seats in front, I spotted Aria—she was deeply focused on Miss Monica's lecture, scribbling down notes. And just to her right, I saw Julius, he was at the very front.

"They're all here…" I muttered under my breath.

Good, at least nothing happened to them.

One by one, the classes ended, and finally, the lunch break came.

Anna stood up from beside me, and without even batting an eye, she walked off alone in the direction of the canteen.

I wasn't hungry. But still, I found myself following behind her.

This time was perfect to start looking for answers. And what better place to start than with Anna's brother—Albert Ashborn.

If I recalled correctly, he was the closest person to Elise in my timeline.

So, if I wanted to get to him, I had to go through Anna.

That was the easiest part. The harder part… was talking to her.

She acted cold to everyone—not because she was trying to be rude—but because of the way her eyes looked.

People always misunderstood her.

It was she who told me this.

Walking behind her through the corridor, I kept my pace steady.

She flinched, and then suddenly, she quickened her steps.

I did too.

Then she started running.

So, I ran too.

Then, without warning, she stopped.

And so did I, just barely avoiding bumping into her.

"Do you want something from me?" She asked coldly, turning her head just enough for me to see her narrowed red eyes.

Damn cold.

But I knew her better.

I slowly walked a little closer and answered with a calm tone.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask, would you be willing to join me for lunch?"

A smirk crept over her face. She turned fully to face me and crossed her arms.

"Well, would you look at that. Falling for me already?"

"Pftt…" I laughed under my breath. "No. I just felt bad seeing you eat your lunch alone every day."

She raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you the same?"

Can't argue with that.

"Exactly," I said, smirking. "Which is why this works out even better. So, will you join me?"

She went silent for a second. Thinking, then finally answered.

"…Sure."

See?

She wasn't cold.

You just needed to approach her right. Match her rhythm. And then…

You'll find out just how kind she was.

That is the reason I trusted her with my secrets in the original timeline.