As an Ordinary person (Why do I keep attracting Psychopaths?)

Professor Veyne stood at the front of the classroom, his presence as cold and indifferent as ever. His voice, devoid of any emotion, rang out through the classroom.

"Your seniors have left behind records before departing for their one-year excursion. It is no wonder you have not seen them."

A wave of murmurs spread through the students like ripples on water.

"A year-long excursion?"

"So that's why there are no seniors here…"

"What kind of academy makes its students disappear for an entire year?"

Yuna, unlike the rest, barely reacted. She simply nodded, as if this revelation had nothing to do with her.

'Great. No seniors mean fewer people to boss me around. Maybe I can continue blending in and just coast through this academy without any trouble'

Then the projection appeared.

A glowing image of a former Heart class senior burst into existence in the center of the room.

And the second he opened his mouth, the peaceful atmosphere shattered.

[HELLOOOOOO, NEW HEART STUDENTS!]

Half the class jumped in their seats.

One poor soul yelped so loudly that the students around them flinched.

Even Professor Veyne, though his expression was hidden behind his white mask, radiated a distinct aura of displeasure.

The holographic senior in the projection grinned widely, full of life and enthusiasm—so much that it felt physically painful to witness.

[I am one of your glorious predecessors! And I'm here to tell you about the Heart class's long-standing tradition of selecting a class representative!]

The murmurs intensified.

Some students perked up in interest. Others grimaced, already suspecting the worst.

Yuna, however, didn't react at all.

'Class representative? Sounds like a lot of work. Not my problem. Not happening to me. I'll just sit here quietly until it's over'

As an ordinary person where the word 'leader' never get tied to her time, Yuna feels pretty relaxed.

The senior in the projection beamed.

[Every card class has their own method of choosing a leader! And the Heart class? Well, we do things the fairest way possible!]

A wooden box suddenly materialized on the desk at the front of the room.

Inside, countless small folded slips of paper rested ominously.

Yuna still wasn't paying attention.

Her mind had already checked out. She was half-slumped in her chair, barely listening.

But the rest of the class?

Pure chaos.

"Wait—don't we get to vote?!"

"This is absurd! Leadership should be earned, not randomized!"

"This means even someone completely useless could get chosen?!"

Cue the collective panic.

But not everyone was upset.

A few students actually looked excited.

One student in the front row straightened their back.

"This is perfect! If luck is on my side, I'll get chosen and prove myself!"

Another one grinned confidently.

"I'd make a great leader. I hope it's me."

Yuna still didn't react.

'Doesn't matter. It won't be me. I don't stand out. I've spent my whole life blending into the background. The probability is low. It's fine'

Professor Veyne, unbothered by the rising tension, extended the wooden box toward a nervous student in the front row.

"Draw a name."

The student hesitated, swallowed hard, and then slowly reached inside.

The entire class held their breath.

The slip of paper unfolded.

The student cleared their throat.

And then, in a small, hesitant voice—

"Yuna."

Silence.

Yuna blinked.

The students turned toward her in eerie unison.

She blinked again.

"…Huh?"

A beat of absolute disbelief passed.

Then—

Laughter.

"Wait, seriously?!"

"Her?!"

"No offense, but I totally forgot she was in this class."

Yuna's soul left her body.

Her hands slowly, mechanically, came up to rub her temples.

'No. No, no, no. This isn't right. I wasn't even paying attention! This doesn't happen to me! I'm supposed to be a background character!'

The senior in the projection continued with painful cheerfulness.

[Congratulations! You are now responsible for forming student groups within the Heart class and ensuring that everyone consistently raises their card points! If anyone falls behind, it is your duty to motivate them!]

Yuna's entire being collapsed inward.

Professor Veyne, completely unmoved, gave a simple nod.

"The decision is final."

The students who had wanted the role looked betrayed.

"That's it?! No redo?!"

"Can't she reject it?!"

"I swear, fate has a terrible sense of humor…"

'I also think fate has a terrible sense of humor..'

Yuna, still in deep mourning, slumped forward and lightly hit her forehead against the desk.

'I swear, the moment I actively don't want something, the universe forces it upon me'

She exhaled deeply, eyes blank as she slowly sat back up.

Then, after a long moment of contemplation—

She turned toward the wooden box, expression unreadable.

"…Can I at least redraw?"

The classroom erupted into laughter.

Yuna sat at her desk, completely motionless.

Her mind? Empty.

Her soul? Gone.

The classroom was still abuzz with students reacting to the completely unexpected outcome of the representative selection. Some were laughing, some were deeply dissatisfied, and others were simply enjoying the entertainment.

And then there was Celeste.

Her bright light brown eyes sparkled with amusement as she propped her chin on her hands and looked at Yuna with far too much delight.

"So, Yuna," she began, her voice filled with barely contained laughter, "how does it feel to suddenly have power and authority?"

Yuna, who was mentally shutting down, didn't even acknowledge her.

Celeste giggled. "Come on, don't ignore me! You're the big boss now! Everyone's depending on you! What's your first decree, oh wise leader?"

Silence.

Absolute silence from Yuna.

Celeste grinned even wider.

"Oh no," she whispered dramatically. "She's completely broken."

It was true.

Yuna's eyes were blank, her expression stuck in a state of disbelief, as if her entire consciousness had left her body to find peace elsewhere.

Then, with slow, painfully robotic movements, she rose from her seat.

Without a single word, without looking at anyone, she turned on her heel and walked straight out of the classroom.

Celeste burst into laughter.

"Wait, where are you going? You can't run away from your responsibilities, Madam Representative!"

Yuna didn't stop.

She refused to stop.

She desperately needed air.

She walked aimlessly for a while, ignoring everything and everyone, her mind still flat-out refusing to process her new fate.

Then, just as she turned a corner—

She ran into Austin.

Yuna blinked up at him, still half-dead inside.

Austin's piercing blue eyes softened the moment he saw her.

"Yuna," he greeted, his voice gentle, carrying that ever-present warmth whenever he spoke to her. "Are you alright?"

"…No."

Austin's lips curved slightly, as if amused by her immediate honesty.

"What happened?"

Yuna exhaled heavily. "I don't want to talk about it."

Austin, knowing her well enough by now, didn't push her. Instead, he took a step closer, his presence calm and steady, as if to anchor her.

"You are also chosen as the class representative right?"

Austin denied.

Yuna, who had momentarily forgotten her worries, suddenly remembered something.

She frowned.

"Wait… aren't you the main character?"

Austin blinked. "What?"

Yuna continued, deep in thought. "I mean, I thought you'd be the class representative of Spade class. You know, because…"

She trailed off, trying to find the right words.

Because he was the protagonist of the novel she read before transmigrating. Because main characters always get positions of power.

Austin tilted his head slightly.

"No. Enyo was chosen."

"…Who?"

"Alaster's younger sister."

Yuna squinted.

Enyo.

That's

Weird.

Before she could process it any further, students walking past them were already excitedly chatting about the newly chosen class representatives.

"I heard the Diamond class representative is Crown Prince Alaric."

"Not surprising."

"The Club class rep is some guy I don't recognize."

Yuna's ears twitched.

…Huh?

Who was the Club representative?

That wasn't in the novel either. She guess?

She would've remembered something like that. Maybe...

But, before she could think too hard about it, Austin stepped closer to her.

His larger frame loomed slightly over her, and before she knew it—

He reached out, his fingers gently brushing a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

Yuna, completely oblivious, simply accepted the gesture without much thought.

Austin's blue eyes darkened slightly.

Then, without a word, his hand lingered for just a moment before drifting down, brushing the side of her jaw.

Yuna, still mentally shutting down from the events of the day, didn't even notice.

Austin's lips curved slightly.

"You should rest," he murmured. "You look exhausted."

Yuna sighed deeply. "I am exhausted."

She turned away, rubbing her temples.

"I'm going to sleep for the next century."

Austin watched her retreating back, his gaze dark with something unreadable.

And then, Yuna, still in a fog of pure denial, finally reached her dorm.

She slammed her door shut, slumped onto her bed, and curled into a ball.

'Maybe if I fall asleep, I'll wake up and it'll all have been a bad dream'

And with that final thought, Yuna drifted into unconsciousness, successfully running away from reality for at least a few hours.