The dorm room was silent, save for the faint hum of the heater in the corner. Kaoru stepped into the small bathroom, her body aching from the two-day journey back from the grasslands. She let the hot water cascade over her, muscles loosening under the steady stream.
Every step… every day… we made it through.
She thought about the survival camp—the stretches of grasslands, the river, the forest patrols, and the tense rotations at night. Her classmates’ trust, their teamwork, the arguments that almost fractured the group… everything was vivid in her mind.
Kaoru stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel, taking a slow, steadying breath. She looked at herself in the mirror. Tired, dirt-streaked, but alive.
How will they evaluate us? she wondered.
Would they be praised for holding together? For cooperating, surviving, and maintaining morale? Or would the focus be on minor mistakes, the small conflicts, and the raw exhaustion they all endured?
Her eyes drifted to the small table in the corner. A faint memory stirred her attention.
Ashveil.
The drug that had caused chaos within Fiester Academy—the students still in danger, the mysterious deliveries, and the unknown culprit. Even after the survival camp, the issue wasn’t resolved.
Kaoru shook her head and pulled on her uniform: the red blazer, white button-up shirt, and black trousers. She fastened her blazer, smoothed the folds of her shirt, and took one last look in the mirror.
No rest until I check on the situation.
With that thought, she grabbed her satchel and left her dorm room.
The halls of Fiester Academy were quiet in the late evening, empty except for the faint echo of her footsteps. She approached the student council room, knocking lightly.
“Come in,” a familiar voice called from within.
Kaoru pushed the door open and stepped inside. Miyazuki Ashen, the student council president, sat at the large oak desk buried in paperwork. Her silver hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyes lifted to meet Kaoru’s.
“You’re here late,” Miyazuki said, tilting her head. “How was the survival camp?”
Kaoru let out a small breath. “Exhausting… but we managed to hold it together until the last day.”
Miyazuki nodded approvingly. “Good. Strong wills like that will serve the academy well. But… I wonder why you’re here instead of resting in your dorms.”
Kaoru stepped closer. “I wanted to ask about Ashveil. Has there been any progress? Have you found the person responsible for bringing it in?”
Miyazuki leaned back in her chair, her expression serious. “No, nothing concrete. Since we left, no clues have surfaced. But there was a suspicious person spotted on campus the other day.”
Kaoru’s brow furrowed. “Suspicious?”
Miyazuki exhaled slowly. “He was wearing a hooded cloak and a giant skull on his head. In the morning, he walked onto the campus grounds and claimed to be a child of someone called ‘Mother.’ He said the academy would fall sooner or later.”
Kaoru blinked. “A skull… cloak… and he said all that? Sounds… ridiculous.”
Miyazuki smirked faintly. “Exactly. That’s what makes it hard to believe. The way he looked… he was more absurd than threatening. But still, we cannot ignore him completely.”
Kaoru nodded. “I agree. Hard to take seriously, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
Miyazuki’s gaze softened slightly. “Rest when you can. You’ve done enough for today.”
Kaoru inclined her head. “I will. Thank you, President Ashen.”
Later that night, Kaoru returned to her family home, the streets quiet under a blanket of stars. She entered the house, greeted by the familiar aroma of dinner still lingering.
“Kaoru,” her mother, Rikuya, said, concern lining her face. “Why are you back so soon?”
Kaoru smiled faintly. “Tomorrow’s a day off. There won’t be any classes.”
Her father, Renjiro, rubbed the back of his neck. “How… how was the camp?” he asked, voice nervous.
Kaoru’s instincts tingled. Something was off. She tilted her head. “Why are you both acting suspicious?”
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Her parents exchanged a glance. Rikuya shifted uncomfortably, while Renjiro sighed.
“Kaoru,” Renjiro began, “you need to listen very carefully. What we are about to tell you… it might be a shock.”
Kaoru felt her heart skip. “What is it?”
Rikuya stepped forward, her hand trembling slightly. “You’re going to have… a little sibling.”
Kaoru froze, eyes wide. “A… sibling?”
“Yes,” Renjiro said gently. “Your mother is pregnant. Soon, you’ll have someone younger at home.”
For a moment, silence filled the room, broken only by the soft ticking of the clock. Then Kaoru’s lips curved into a bright smile.
“I… I’m going to have a little sibling?” she asked again, voice barely above a whisper. “That’s… that’s amazing!”
Rikuya nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “We wanted to tell you in person, but we weren’t sure how to bring it up.”
Renjiro chuckled softly. “We were just as nervous as you might be.”
Kaoru laughed lightly, the tension from the survival camp and Ashveil fading for a moment. “I’m so happy… I can’t wait to meet them.”
Her mother moved closer, placing a hand on Kaoru’s shoulder. “We’re happy too. But you’ve been through so much with the camp… I hope you can take a night to relax.”
“I will,” Kaoru replied. “It’s been exhausting, but… knowing this, everything feels lighter.”
Renjiro gestured toward the living room. “Sit. Let’s talk. Tell us everything about the camp.”
Kaoru hesitated briefly, then began recounting the journey—the grasslands, the forest, the river, the rotations, the missing teachers, and even the mysterious riders they had seen in the distance.
“Two more days… and then relief,” she said, describing the encounter with the orange-haired rider and his companion.
Her parents listened intently, eyes wide at times, nodding in disbelief, but also with admiration.
“You were alone for five days?” Rikuya asked softly.
Kaoru nodded. “With the class. We had arguments, small fights, even mistrust—but I made sure everyone stayed together.”
“That’s incredible,” Renjiro said, his tone proud. “You’ve grown so much, Kaoru.”
Sora, Takumi, Daisuke, and Jun—Kaoru’s classmates—would never know how closely her parents had observed her growth even from afar, how they worried each night she was out in the wild.
Kaoru continued. “And we learned to work as a team. Even when things seemed hopeless… we had each other. That’s what kept us alive.”
Rikuya reached out and held Kaoru’s hand. “You’re very brave, Kaoru. Your father and I… we worry, but we’re so proud.”
Kaoru smiled, feeling a warmth she hadn’t realized she needed. “Thank you… I couldn’t have done it without them either. My classmates…”
Renjiro leaned back, folding his arms. “I can see you’ve grown into someone responsible… but now, you’ll have to share that responsibility at home soon.”
Kaoru’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll take care of them… my little sibling.”
Rikuya laughed softly. “You’ll be an amazing older sister, Kaoru.”
Kaoru leaned back against the couch, finally allowing herself to relax. Her mind replayed the last week—the survival camp, the missing teachers, Ashveil, the mysterious hooded figure, and now… the joy of family news.
“Kaoru,” Renjiro said, breaking her reverie, “remember… we’ll always be here for you. But… make sure you don’t forget to rest.”
“I won’t,” she promised. “I’ll sleep tonight… I deserve it after everything.”
The three of them spent the remainder of the night talking quietly. Stories from Kaoru’s childhood surfaced, questions about the academy, and her parents’ hopes for the future. Occasionally, Kaoru shared small moments from the survival camp—funny mishaps, small victories, and her classmates’ personalities.
By the time the first hints of dawn appeared outside the window, Kaoru felt a sense of peace she hadn’t felt since before the survival camp began. She was exhausted—but happy.
Her little sibling would arrive soon, the academy awaited her return to normalcy, and the challenges of Ashveil remained—but tonight, for a few hours, Kaoru allowed herself to simply rest, surrounded by family, warmth, and reassurance.
