Akitsu Shouga and Kaoru wandered through the expansive grounds of Fiester Academy, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone paths lined with trimmed hedges and elegant lanterns. The academy felt less like a school and more like a city unto itself—grand buildings rising in harmony, their architecture blending authority with refinement.

  “The academy is big,” Akitsu Shouga said, glancing around. “It must have cost a lot to build this entire campus.”

  Behind him, a familiar presence emerged.

  Seraphine Orion floated lazily in the air, her small white fox form shimmering faintly under the sunlight. Her tails swayed as she smiled.

  “Yes, it is, isn’t it?” she said. “I wonder what will happen if you enter a restricted area.”

  She smiled menacingly.

  Kaoru, unaware of Seraphine’s expression, continued speaking.

  “This place is the kingdom’s first ever academy. They spent a lot of money to build it because it was meant to be the kingdom’s best academy for future stars.”

  Akitsu glanced at Seraphine again. The grin she wore sent an uncomfortable chill down his spine.

  “If that’s true,” he said carefully, “why build it in this town? Couldn’t they build it in the capital city?”

  “They could,” Kaoru replied. “However, this town was the first ever town built in the kingdom. This town existed before any other villages or towns were built… That is why the King decided to build it here. Some people even say that this town is the core of the kingdom.”

  “Oh, alright.”

  As they continued forward, Akitsu suddenly noticed someone standing ahead.

  A girl.

  She wore a pristine white uniform adorned with a red sash embroidered with elegant letters:

  STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT

  Her long amber hair flowed down her back, catching the light, and her amber eyes carried sharp authority. A sword rested at her waist, its presence unmistakable.

  “Is that the student council president…?” Akitsu murmured quietly.

  “Shouga-kun, did you say something?” Kaoru asked, not having heard him.

  Behind them—

  “Now the real fun is about to begin!!” Seraphine yelled gleefully.

  “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it, Kaoru,” Akitsu said quickly.

  The girl approached them, her steps firm.

  “What are you doing here??” the student council president demanded.

  “What do you mean?” Akitsu replied calmly. “I’m just looking around. Is there a problem?”

  “This is the women’s residence,” she said coldly. “Any men are strictly forbidden from entering these grounds!”

  “My bad,” Akitsu said politely. “I’m a new student. I don’t know much about the rules of the academy. I’ll be going now.”

  “Wait!”

  Her hand moved to her sword.

  “Since you entered these grounds, I will have to punish you.”

  Steel slid free from its sheath.

  Female students began gathering, drawn by the sudden tension.

  “Are you planning on killing me?” Akitsu asked coldly.

  “You cannot leave these grounds until I say so!” She pointed her sword directly at him.

  “You must be kidding, right?” Akitsu said. “You know that this could kill me. Do you even have permission to do this?”

  “Don’t worry,” she smiled. “I got permission from the headmaster to kill anyone who breaks into the women’s residence.”

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  “Hold on, I’m a new stude—”

  She attacked.

  The blade flashed repeatedly, but Akitsu moved like a shadow—dodging every strike with precise footwork. He closed the distance in a heartbeat and drove his fist into her face.

  She crashed to the ground, sword still clutched in her hand.

  “You’re crazy!!” Akitsu shouted. “Killing a student just because they broke a rule without knowing is absurd!”

  Kaoru stood frozen on the sidelines.

  The gathered girls erupted.

  “Get out of here!”

  “Kill that filthy rodent!”

  “How dare you hit Princess Miyazuki!!”

  “What the hell is wrong with these crazy bitches…?” Akitsu whispered.

  The student council president stood up, fury blazing in her eyes, and charged again.

  Akitsu prepared to dodge—

  —but before he could move, a figure fell from above.

  A sharp metallic clash rang out.

  A white katana struck her blade mid-swing, sending it flying across the courtyard.

  A man landed between them.

  White hair.

  Black blazer.

  Red sash bearing the words:

  DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE PRESIDENT

  Kael Ardent.

  He raised the edge of his katana to the girl’s throat.

  “Ashen Miyazuki!” he roared. “I didn’t expect this kind of behavior from you—a princess from the royal family!”

  The courtyard fell silent.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself, using a student to vent your frustration. That goes for all of you!!! You all are a disgrace to the future generation if you think that this is the proper way to solve problems!!!!”

  Akitsu placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder.

  “Thanks for stopping her… I would have killed her if I needed to,” he said with an innocent smile.

  Kael wasn’t surprised.

  “Let’s go back,” he said calmly. “Class will also start soon, so we should go.”

  “Let’s go, Kaoru.”

  The crowd slowly dispersed.

  Kael turned back and extended his hand to the fallen girl.

  She stared up at him with a frown.

  “Frowning will give you wrinkles,” Kael said casually. “Your beauty will be gone if that happens. Come on, take my hand.”

  She hesitated, then took it.

  He pulled her up.

  “If you do anything like that ever again, I’ll have to rethink our engagement,” he said softly. “So please promise me you won't do anything like that ever again”

  She nodded silently.

  Akitsu and Kaoru walked away.

  Akitsu glanced back once more.

  “I have a bad feeling about her…?”

  “I thought you were going to die!!” Kaoru said softly, wrapping her arms tightly around his arm. “Don’t ever do anything like that!”

  Akitsu chuckled nervously.

  “Sorry for worrying you, Kaoru… But I’m stronger than I look. She wasn’t a match against me.”

  “But still,” Kaoru said, looking up at him, “promise me that you won’t do anything like that ever again??!”

  “I can’t promise that,” Akitsu replied gently. “I might have to fend off a crazy lunatic for you if you were in danger.”

  Kaoru’s expression softened into sadness.

  “…Okay,” she said quietly.

  “Class is about to start,” Akitsu said. “We have to hurry!”

  They headed toward the academic buildings—

  Unaware that from the rooftop of the girls’ dormitory, the headmaster watched them with a smug grin.