April 3rd, 2424

  Ren woke up early, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the dormitory window. He got out of bed, rubbed his eyes, and headed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face in an attempt to shake off the lingering exhaustion. Getting dressed in the Reijō Academy uniform was now a second nature.

  Stepping out of his room, he found Saki already ready, her expression as calm as ever. Without a word, the two made their way to the cafeteria.

  On the way, they overheard lively chatter from a group of first-year students. Some were enthusiastically discussing their ranks, their faces glowing with excitement and nervous anticipation. Most of them were in the E to D range, and Ren couldn’t help but notice the hopeful gleam in their eyes.

  After a quick meal, they left the dormitory and walked down the hall toward their classroom. Upon entering, they found their classmates already settled in, the seating arrangements practically divided into familiar groups.

  Saki made her way to the back of the room, sat down, and immediately pulled out her phone, mindlessly playing some game without a care in the world.

  Ren took his usual seat, only to realize that Yurei was sitting right next to him. She watched him with a small, knowing smile, and before he could react, she spoke in a teasing tone:

  "Morning, angel. Looks like we’re together again, huh? Don’t think I forgot that little displeased look you had after my demonstration, ehehe~"

  A faint flush crept onto Ren’s cheeks, but he quickly composed himself. He wasn’t sure how to respond to her—especially since she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his reaction.

  A few minutes later, the chatter died down as the teacher entered.

  Kaede, a woman with elegantly curled blonde hair and blood-red eyes, commanded attention the moment she stepped in. There was something magnetic about her presence. She swept her gaze over the students and smiled before addressing the class.

  "Good morning, everyone! Today marks the beginning of a new school year, and it’s important that you all familiarize yourselves with the rules. Our primary mission here is to refine your talents and prepare you for the challenges ahead. I expect nothing but the best from each of you~"

  Saki briefly glanced up from her phone but seemed utterly uninterested, her gaze dull and indifferent as Kaede continued listing the classroom regulations.

  Yurei, on the other hand, hadn’t taken her eyes off Ren. She leaned in slightly, whispering just loud enough for him to hear:

  "Don’t tell me you’re scared of me. I don’t bite… unless you ask me to."

  Ren forced a nervous smile, trying to keep the conversation light while pretending he wasn’t fazed.

  "I... I'm just... t-trying to focus. The teacher is saying important things!"

  Yurei chuckled softly, clearly pleased with herself, before leaning back in her chair. Meanwhile, Kaede continued explaining the course structure—her voice smooth and alluring, yet carrying an undeniable authority as the students prepared for the challenges ahead.

  Unintentionally, Ren's gaze drifted toward the front row.

  There, a student sat with flawless posture. Her blonde hair caught the classroom’s light in a way that was almost mesmerizing. It wasn’t the bright, striking gold of Professor Kaede’s, but a softer, more natural shade, cascading in delicate waves that exuded quiet elegance.

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  But it wasn’t her hair that made Ren's breath hitch. It was her eyes.

  A deep emerald green, almost hypnotic, glowing with a calm serenity... yet beneath that tranquility lay something more. A sense of justice, of unwavering resolve. There was an invisible weight behind them, as if every glance she cast had the power to judge and measure everything around her. It wasn’t arrogance, but an unshakable authority in silence.

  Her uniform was perfect, impeccable, with her ribbon neatly adjusted to precise alignment. Every detail was in place, as if she had been designed to follow rules and, at the same time, to lead them.

  But it wasn’t just her appearance that made her stand out. There was something about her aura... serene yet commanding—that made everything else in the room feel insignificant.

  Ren felt something stir inside him, a quiet but undeniable pull. His mind began to wander, and it took conscious effort to tear his gaze away.

  He forced himself to focus on Professor Kaede, but the girl's image lingered in his thoughts—an inescapable presence. His cheeks heated slightly, though he didn’t understand why.

  Even as he tried to concentrate on the lesson, his eyes kept drifting back to her.

  Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he turned to Yurei—who was busy teasing another student.

  "Hey, Yurei... do you know that girl?"

  Ren’s voice came out more tense than he intended, as if he had stumbled upon something more personal than expected.

  Yurei, noticing the direction of his gaze, smirked mischievously. She leaned closer, her eyes gleaming with amusement. The teasing was inevitable, she knew exactly how to make things more interesting.

  "Oh? You’re looking at her?" Yurei asked, her smile widening. She let out an exaggerated sigh. "She is cute, isn’t she? Those big, pretty eyes… almost as cute as yours. Like the little angel you’re trying to be."

  Ren stiffened at the remark, completely thrown off. Yurei giggled, thoroughly entertained by his reaction.

  "Her name’s Haruka Sato. Very polite, very serious… maybe even a little too serious. Not really my type~." Yurei continued, her voice carrying a hint of playful irony. "I bet you’d love to be friends with her, huh?"

  Ren, flustered by Yurei’s knowing gaze, struggled to regain his composure. Yet, despite the teasing, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something about Haruka—something undeniably intriguing—that had already begun to pull him in.

  “I just thought she was… interesting,” Ren replied, trying to hide the confusion churning inside him. He wasn’t sure what exactly he wanted to know about Haruka, only that there was something about her he couldn’t quite explain. Something… familiar.

  Yurei smirked again, clearly amused by the moment. But her teasing wasn’t done yet.

  “Hmmm, curious little angel… Well, if you really want to know more, maybe you should talk to her. I’m sure she won’t be too hard to approach,” she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes before turning her attention to another nearby girl, who instantly looked like a deer in headlights, realizing she was the next target of the prodigy’s playful torment.

  Still unsure what to make of his feelings, Ren forced himself to focus on the lesson again. But his thoughts kept drifting back to Haruka. He couldn’t shake the strange sense that he’d seen her before.

  As Professor Kaede continued her lecture, her voice took on a more captivating tone as she introduced a significant announcement.

  “In three days, we’ll be holding a match in the gymnasium,” Kaede said, pausing dramatically to make sure every student was paying attention.

  “But it won’t be just any match! It’s a long-standing school tradition. Second-year students will take part, showcasing how far they’ve come in mastering their powers and abilities. This event is meant to inspire you. To show you what’s possible when you push past your limits. When you endure.”

  Excited murmurs spread through the class. Faces lit up with curiosity and anticipation. Everyone knew how rare it was to witness upperclassmen in action, especially in such a celebrated event.

  Ren glanced at Saki, who still didn’t seem particularly interested. But to him, the thought of watching such a battle was thrilling. Even though he disliked being at this school, something about the simplicity of combat brought comfort. It reminded him of a happier time… back when he used to train with his father.

  Kaede scanned the room, clearly satisfied with the growing energy among the students.

  “This won’t just be a display of raw strength,” she continued. "It’s a demonstration of everything they’ve learned—discipline, control, and intent. Remember that.What you’ll see in the gym might be the very thing you strive to become one day.”

  She smiled, her crimson eyes shimmering with mystery.

  “Now, let’s continue with the lesson.”

  Ren nodded slightly, still deep in thought. His eyes wandered back to Yurei, who, for once, seemed genuinely interested in Kaede’s words. Though even with her usual smirk, it was clear, she wasn’t excited to watch the fight. She wanted to be in it.

  As Kaede began outlining the rules for the upcoming event, Ren overheard a girl whispering to her seatmate in front of him:

  “Do you think the Ice Monarch is going to take part?”

  The name caught Ren’s attention instantly. His eyes darted forward, though he couldn’t tell who had spoken. Still, the words echoed in his mind.

  Later, in the cafeteria, he heard the name again from a different group of girls.

  “The Ice Queen, huh? I hope she’s in the match. That would be something to see.”

  Ren furrowed his brow, curiosity flaring up again. But before he could dwell on it, Saki distracted him with something else entirely, and with that one more day ends...