Akitsu Shouga and Kaoru walked side by side through the wide hallways of Fiester Academy’s academic building. Sunlight poured in through tall, arched windows, casting long bands of light across stone floors engraved with faint magical runes. The symbols pulsed softly, like a slow heartbeat beneath the academy’s skin.

  Students moved everywhere—gathered in lively clusters, drifting alone with nervous expressions, or whispering excitedly as they passed. Laughter echoed, footsteps overlapped, and the air buzzed with the restless energy of beginnings.

  They reached a crossroads where several corridors branched in different directions.

  “Shouga-kun, I have to go this way…” Kaoru said, pointing down one of the halls. “I’ll see you later!!”

  She waved brightly before turning and jogging off, her figure quickly swallowed by the flow of students.

  Akitsu lifted a hand in response, watching until she disappeared, then turned toward the staircase leading upward. He climbed at an unhurried pace, hands in his pockets, until he reached his assigned classroom.

  Classroom 4-C.

  He slid the door open.

  The moment he stepped inside, the noise died.

  Dozens of eyes snapped toward him at once. A hush spread, followed by whispers that crawled across the room like sparks on dry grass.

  “Hey… isn’t that the kid who gave the speech this morning?”

  “That star student?”

  “…He doesn’t look that strong.”

  Akitsu ignored them. He walked calmly to an empty seat near the back, right beside the window, and sat down. Resting his elbow on the desk, he gazed out at the courtyard below, where students moved like pieces on a board.

  Why are they staring at me? he wondered. Did I do something wrong?

  A familiar presence drifted into being behind him.

  Seraphine Orion floated lazily in midair, her small white fox-like body stretched out as if reclining on an invisible couch. Her expression was one of absolute boredom.

  “No, you didn’t,” she said casually. “It’s probably because of the speech you gave at the auditorium this morning.”

  Akitsu’s brow twitched.

  How do you know that? he thought sharply. You weren’t even there.

  “Hey, I was there,” Seraphine replied smugly. “I stayed at the very back so no one would notice me.”

  Akitsu exhaled through his nose and turned his attention back to the window.

  A shadow fell across his desk.

  A boy with neatly combed red hair, matching red eyes, and round glasses stood beside him. He fidgeted nervously, fingers twisting together.

  “Um… excuse me,” the boy said quietly. “Is this seat taken?”

  He gestured to the chair next to Akitsu.

  “I haven’t seen anyone sitting there,” Akitsu replied evenly. “You can sit if you want.”

  The boy’s face lit up as if he’d just been given permission to exist.

  “M-My name is Ringo Akuzaki!” he said eagerly as he sat down. “Do you… want to be friends?”

  “Sure,” Akitsu said. “I’m Akitsu Shouga. I’ll be in your care.”

  “R-Really?!” Ringo’s eyes sparkled. “You actually want to be friends with me?! I thought you’d reject me!”

  “You look like a promising guy,” Akitsu said simply.

  “O–Oh… thank you…” Ringo stammered, cheeks flushing. “I never thought I’d have a friend as cool as you!”

  “What do you mean?” Akitsu asked. “I’m not cool.”

  “But you gave that speech at the auditorium!” Ringo said excitedly. “Only really important people get to go up on stage—and you did it on your first day!”

  Akitsu chuckled softly.

  “Is that so?”

  At that moment, the classroom door slid open.

  A short woman stepped inside, wearing a pink robe that looked slightly too large for her frame. She clutched a stack of books tightly to her chest, shoulders tense, posture stiff with nerves.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  She turned to the board and carefully wrote her name.

  Takumi Hoshino

  She faced the class.

  “Umm… everyone, please sit down?” she said.

  No one listened. Conversations continued. Laughter bounced off the walls.

  “Excuse me, umm…” she tried again, voice trembling. “Could you all please sit and be quiet? The lesson is about to start…”

  A blond-haired boy scoffed loudly.

  “Shut up,” he said, standing. “What kind of teacher are you supposed to be?”

  He walked toward her with a sneer.

  Akitsu slowly rose from his seat.

  He’s choosing the wrong path, Akitsu thought. Arrogance always leads to failure.

  The boy stopped right in front of the teacher.

  “Who are you to talk so high and mighty?” he mocked.

  The room fell silent.

  “Please,” Takumi Hoshino said quietly, “return to your seat.”

  The boy leaned closer.

  “And what if I don’t?”

  In the next instant—

  She grabbed his wrist, twisted it effortlessly, and slammed him into the floor with a bone-rattling crash.

  Gasps exploded across the classroom.

  Takumi Hoshino looked around, her expression suddenly cold—completely devoid of fear.

  “Sit in your seats and shut your mouths,” she said calmly.

  “You’re all nothing but filthy rodents to me. I’ll kill every one of you if I have to.”

  Terror froze the room.

  Chairs scraped loudly as students rushed back into place.

  Akitsu sat back down slowly.

  Looks like everything’s under control, he thought.

  This school year might actually be fun.

  “All right,” Takumi Hoshino said, her tone returning to normal. “Let’s begin. Please open your textbooks to page sixty-nine.”

  After classes ended, Akitsu exited the academic building and spotted Kaoru sitting quietly on a bench nearby.

  He walked over.

  “Kaoru, how was your first day?”

  She looked up and smiled softly. “It was good.”

  “All right,” Akitsu said. “Let’s head home.”

  They walked together toward the academy’s exit.

  As they passed through the gates, Akitsu’s gaze drifted—once again—to the same dark alleyway he had noticed that morning.

  It’s the same alley again…

  Should I check it out? Something feels wrong about it…

  But I can’t leave Kaoru alone. Maybe later.

  “You’re planning to check it out tonight, aren’t you?” Seraphine whispered.

  Akitsu glanced at her, then looked away.

  Kaoru noticed his distraction.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked. “What are you staring at so intently?”

  “It’s nothing,” Akitsu replied. “No need to worry.”

  They continued on as the sun sank below the horizon.

  Later that night, Akitsu entered the mansion’s vast library.

  Towering shelves stretched endlessly, packed with ancient tomes and dust-heavy scrolls. The air smelled of old paper and quiet history.

  He walked slowly between the shelves.

  “Is there any book about powers…?” he muttered.

  “I don’t know,” Seraphine replied lazily. “Maybe try using your eyes?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m doing,” Akitsu said calmly.

  “Oh!” Seraphine suddenly perked up. “That one!!”

  She pointed toward a book resting alone on a shelf—its cover completely blank.

  Akitsu picked it up, frowning.

  “Are you sure this is the right one?”

  “Trust me,” Seraphine said confidently. “It’s always the forgotten books that matter.”

  “…Alright.”

  He carried it to a nearby desk and sat down, Seraphine floating beside him as he prepared to open it.