The streets near Fiester Academy were unusually silent last night, lit only by the dim glow of gas lamps. The alleys were narrow and uneven, winding like a labyrinth between the academy buildings.

  Ringo moved quickly, trying to get home before curfew. He kept his head down, hands stuffed in his pockets. But luck had abandoned him.

  From the shadows, four upper-class students emerged. Tall, confident, and smirking like predators who had been waiting for their prey, they blocked the alley entirely.

  “Where do you think you’re going, Ringo?” one of them drawled, his voice casual but laced with menace.

  Ringo swallowed. “Just… going home.”

  “Oh, come on,” another sneered, stepping closer. “You know the rules. Every one of us has to confess our greatest mistake from the past year. It’s tradition. You’re not going anywhere until we hear yours.”

  The other three chuckled, circling him.

  “Fine,” the first boy started. “Mine? I… cheated on the history final. Slipped a note under my desk. Should’ve studied harder, but I didn’t. Best mistake ever.”

  The second boy smirked. “Mine? I stole my cousin’s savings to buy a rare blade. Got caught, but I didn’t regret it.”

  The third boy’s grin twisted darkly. “I lied about a duel I lost to get pity from the instructors. Everyone fell for it. Most satisfying mistake ever.”

  All eyes turned to Ringo. His throat felt dry. He opened his mouth.

  “I… I accidentally… broke a vase in the library,” he said quickly, hoping it sounded believable.

  The upper-class boys exchanged a knowing look.

  “Really?” one asked, raising an eyebrow. “You? That’s it?”

  Ringo faltered. “Well… I… maybe that’s all.”

  “Don’t lie to us,” the first boy said flatly, stepping closer. “We can tell. Own up or suffer the consequences.”

  Ringo’s heart pounded. He thought fast.

  “I… I… once tried to rape my little cousin but I was too afraid to do it so I gave up,” he said, voice quivering slightly.

  The four boys burst into laughter.

  “Finally! That’s more like it,” the second boy said, slapping his knee. “We’ll make sure everyone at school knows about your little mishap… unless you do something for us.”

  Ringo froze.

  “One simple thing,” the third boy said. “Give us two silver coins. You won’t want to see the rumors we can spread.”

  Ringo’s cheeks burned, but he nodded quickly. “Okay. Here, take them. Just… please don’t do anything else.”

  The upper-class boys laughed again, sliding the coins into their pockets.

  “All settled,” the first boy said, patting Ringo on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow at school, loser.”

  Ringo scurried away, the alley behind him swallowed in darkness, and the echoes of their laughter trailing after him.

  Fiester Academy – Afternoon

  The stone hallways of Fiester Academy’s academic building were bathed in afternoon light. Tall, arched windows cast long bands of gold across the polished floor. Students moved in small groups, voices blending into a steady hum: laughter, idle chatter, the faint echo of footsteps.

  Akitsu Shouga walked alone through the corridor, hands tucked into the sleeves of his uniform.

  A few days of peace, he thought. That’s new.

  “It’s been a few days since I’ve last seen anything… troublesome,” Akitsu muttered to himself. “Everything’s been going smoothly so far.”

  Behind him, floating lazily in midair, was Seraphine Orion—a small white kitsune spirit, her fur glowing faintly as though kissed by moonlight. Her tails swayed gently as she tilted her head.

  “So what?” she replied, her voice light but sharp. “Are you some kind of magnet that attracts chaos? Shouldn’t you be happy nothing’s happened?”

  Akitsu allowed a faint smile. “Yeah. I am.”

  They continued down the hallway until Seraphine suddenly perked up, ears twitching. She drifted closer to Akitsu’s shoulder and pointed her small paw toward the academy garden visible through the glass doors.

  “Hey. Isn’t that your friend over there?”

  Akitsu followed her gaze.

  In the garden courtyard below, surrounded by trimmed hedges and stone benches, Ringo stood stiffly—his shoulders tense, eyes lowered. Four older students had formed a loose circle around him, their expressions smug, postures casual in the way only bullies could manage.

  Akitsu’s eyes narrowed. “That’s Ringo…” he said quietly. “What kind of trouble did he get dragged into this time?”

  Without hesitation, he turned and headed for the doors.

  The moment Akitsu stepped into the garden, the air shifted. The seniors noticed him immediately.

  “Hey,” Akitsu called out calmly. “What’s going on here?”

  One of the boys scoffed, turning around. “Who the hell are you? This doesn’t concern you. Get lost.”

  Akitsu stopped a few steps away, gaze steady. “And what if I don’t?”

  The second boy cracked his knuckles. “You picking a fight with us?”

  Akitsu tilted his head slightly, voice flat and unhurried. “I don’t know. All I see is a bunch of rats huddled around my friend.”

  The insult hung in the air.

  The first boy snarled and lunged forward, fist swinging.

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  Before anyone could react, Akitsu caught the punch mid-air.

  His grip tightened.

  A sharp twist of the wrist followed, and the senior cried out as his knees buckled.

  “You’re weak,” Akitsu said calmly. “Especially for a senior.”

  The second boy froze. “Huh? What did you say?”

  Akitsu released the twisted arm and stepped forward just enough for his presence to loom.

  “Oh?” he replied coolly. “So now you’re deaf too? Get the hell out of here.”

  The silence was suffocating.

  One by one, the four boys backed away, pride shattered, and fled the garden without another word.

  Akitsu turned to Ringo.

  “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”

  Ringo shook his head quickly. “No… they didn’t. Thank you for saving me, Akitsu-kun.”

  Akitsu nodded. “It’s nothing. Let’s head to class. Lunch break’s almost over.”

  Ringo smiled faintly and followed him back toward the building.

  As they reached the stairs inside the academic wing, Akitsu’s attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere.

  A boy with short blue hair and light blue eyes passed by, laughing with a group of friends. His expression was relaxed—too relaxed.

  Akitsu stopped walking.

  “Ringo,” he said quietly, “go ahead. I need to take a detour.”

  Ringo blinked. “Alright. Don’t be late, Akitsu-kun.”

  Once Ringo disappeared upstairs, Akitsu turned toward the group.

  “…Is that Haruya Takeda?”

  Seraphine hovered closer. “Yeah. Looks like it. That’s the guy Ayaka was searching for.”

  “So that’s him,” Akitsu murmured. “How should we deal with him?”

  Seraphine flicked her tail. “I don’t know—but can you tone down the killing intent you’re leaking?”

  Akitsu frowned. “Huh? That’s not me."

  She sighed. “It’s Tachibana-san. And it’s distracting.”

  Akitsu took a step forward—And stopped.

  Standing before him was Ashen Miyazuki, the student council president. Her long dark hair framed her serious expression, and the black sash of her office crossed her pristine white uniform.

  Beside her stood another woman—strikingly similar in appearance, yet radiating a far more imposing aura.

  The Princess of the Kingdom, Ashen Mizuki.

  Ashen Miyazuki bowed deeply. “Akitsu-san… I would like to apologize for my behavior a few days ago.”

  Akitsu stiffened. “Eh? It’s really not a big deal—”

  His gaze flickered past them. Haruya Takeda was already walking away, disappearing into the halls.

  Ashen Mizuki crossed her arms sharply. “No. She needs to apologize for her rude attitude toward you, Akitsu-kun.”

  “I didn’t expect to meet you here, Your Highness,” Akitsu said politely.

  Ashen Mizuki smirked. “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

  Akitsu scratched his cheek nervously. “Still… there’s no need to force an apology.”

  “I’m doing this because,” Ashen Mizuki snapped, “my stupid little sister is an imbecile who needs discipline. I'll make sure she learns how the real world works.”

  Akitsu swallowed. “…I accept the apology.”

  Ashen Miyazuki sighed in relief—only to glance at her sister in confusion.

  “Sis… you know this guy?”

  “Shut up,” Ashen Mizuki growled.

  Akitsu bowed quickly. “Please excuse me. I have something I need to take care of.”

  “See you later, Akitsu-kun!” the princess waved cheerfully as he left.

  The moment he was gone—

  “Why are you acting so friendly?” Ashen Miyazuki whispered. “Don’t tell me you—”

  Ashen Mizuki grabbed her by the hair. “Say another word and I’ll torture you until your spirit breaks.”

  “I’M SORRY!” Miyazuki cried.

  Meanwhile, Akitsu wandered the halls, irritation creeping into his thoughts.

  “I lost him… Which class is he in?”

  “He looks younger than you,” Seraphine replied. “Probably a lower year.”

  “Yeah… makes sense.”

  Akitsu turned back toward his classroom—Only to find it empty.

  “…Let me guess,” he muttered. “First day of sword training?”

  “Looks like you’re about to get yourself into trouble,” Seraphine teased.

  Akitsu sprinted to the changing room—empty.

  “They started already?!”

  He changed quickly into his light-grey outdoor training uniform, thick wool reinforced with layered fabric, and bolted toward the rear training grounds.

  Down another corridor, Kael Ardent, clad in his black blazer and red disciplinary sash, watched him pass.

  “Looks like someone’s late,” he said calmly.

  The training grounds buzzed with motion—wooden swords clashing, shouts echoing, dust rising underfoot.

  Akitsu spotted Ringo sparring with a man in a black kimono.

  He bowed deeply. “I’m sorry for being late, sir.”

  The instructor studied him quietly.

  “It’s alright,” the man said. “But you will be punished.”

  Akitsu stiffened. “What kind?”

  The instructor turned, grabbed a wooden sword, and tossed it to him.

  “Try to strike me.”

  Akitsu caught it.

  “If you succeed, I’ll let it slide. If not—your punishment will be… memorable.”

  Akitsu exhaled.

  “…Alright,” he said softly. “Why not?”

  The instructor raised his blade.

  And smiled.