April 3rd, 2424
The announcement of the second-year matches stirred the academy. While many students spent hours training Nexis or discussing strategies, Ren tried to find balance amidst the expectations. He needed to keep a low profile, but knew that at some point, avoiding the matches would become impossible.
That morning, while reviewing notes in the library, Saki appeared with her usual energy, carrying a bag of fresh bread.
“Yuki, I brought something to eat~!” She placed the package on the table and sat beside him.
“I didn’t know eating was allowed in the library... " Ren said, raising an eyebrow.
“Neither did I, but no one stopped me. Let’s eat before someone notices!”
Ren sighed but accepted the bread she offered. It was warm and soft..? The kind of comfort he rarely felt since he step on this Academy.
“Why do you always do these things?” he asked, breaking the silence as he watched Saki devour hers with enthusiasm.
“Because you look like someone who needs a little push to live~” she shrugged, her mouth full.
He gave a faint smile. It was hard to argue with Saki...
?●¤●?
After class, Saki showed up again, this time with an idea Ren found even more unexpected.
“Let’s go to Shindō! I need to buy a few things and you’re coming with me!”
“Me? Why...?” Ren asked, suspicious.
“Because you’re my friend now. Isn’t that how it works?”
Ren hesitated. The city was a place where he might draw too much attention, but saying no to Saki was nearly impossible.
...
...
...
Downtown Shindō was a burst of lights and movement. Ren felt small amidst the constant flow of people. He tugged at his lavender skirt now and then, trying to shake the feeling that everyone was watching him.
“Relax, no one’s going to bite~” Saki joked, noticing his discomfort.
She took him to a small pastry shop tucked away in a side street. The scent of sugar and fruit filled the air, and Saki seemed more excited than ever.
“This cake is the house specialty!” She placed a slice in front of him, accepting no excuses.
Ren took a timid bite. The sweetness was light, with the perfect tartness from the fruit, and he ended up smiling.
“I knew it!” Saki exclaimed, as if she had just won a prize.
Ren looked at her, trying to understand how someone could be so spontaneous yet so thoughtful. He had never had someone like that by his side—someone who just… existed without expecting anything in return.
?●¤●?
April 4th, 2424
The following days were filled with similar moments. During school breaks, Saki dragged him to different parts of campus. One day, she convinced him to practice basic combat moves in the courtyard.
“Come on, Yuki! It won’t hurt to try~”
“I think I’m a lost cause at this…” he replied, dodging a gust of wind she launched.
“Lost cause? You just dodged it without even trying!”
Ren let out a rare laugh.
?●¤●?
April 5th, 2424
On another day back in Shindō, Saki took him to an open-air market. They passed stalls selling everything from spices to fashion accessories, and Saki insisted on buying him a pair of earrings.
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“They’ll match your style,” she said, holding the small silver pieces.
Ren looked at the earrings, then at Saki. There was something in her smile that made him feel that maybe… trusting her wasn’t a mistake.
As the days went by, he began to realize that, even without meaning to, he was allowing himself to relax around her. Saki had that effect... like she carried a lighter part of the world with her and wanted to share it with whoever was nearby.
“-!”
As Saki gave him a brilliant smile, Ren felt a strange sensation in his stomach. It was like something twisting inside him. Not disgust, but a near-physical nausea. He wanted to pull away from it, but couldn’t. The truth was, he was happy—in a way he no longer knew how to describe.
After being abandoned by his parents and facing discrimination in his homeland for being a man with Nexis, Ren never imagined he would find any comfort in a place like Reijō Academy. And though he was grateful for Saki—for her friendship and her presence—he also knew he was living a lie.
Saki’s smile, so genuine and effortless, only made him feel more guilty. He knew he didn’t deserve it. Didn’t deserve her friendship, the trust she placed in him, or the happiness he felt around her. He had been lying all along. And somehow, that made him feel disgusting, like he was deceiving someone who deserved better.
But he couldn’t pull away. He no longer knew how.
Ren masked his discomfort with a forced smile, trying to appear normal. He didn’t want Saki to notice the storm inside him.
“Shall we head back, Yuki?” Saki asked, unaware of the shift in his mood.
He nodded, trying to hide what he truly felt. Together, they walked back to the academy... but inside Ren, the weight of the lie never left.
?●¤●?
April 6th, 2424
The testing arena was more alive than ever.
Students from all years crowded the stands, and the sound of the crowd mixed with the buzzing of drones filming the arena. Every move was captured from all angles by floating cameras. The smell of popcorn and cheap snacks drifted through the air as students sold food to earn some extra cash.
In the VIP section, the teachers observed everything carefully, watching the arena through large glass windows.
Meanwhile, the excitement among first, second, and third-year students didn’t fade. Some chatted and laughed, while others stared intently at the arena.
Then, a massive hologram appeared above them, covering part of the sky, projected directly from the control tower. The giant screen showed a countdown, while an animation highlighted the second-year event, detailing the participants and the specific rules for the match.
“The second-year match is about to begin!”
The announcer's voice echoed through the sound system as the arena lights began to flicker, heightening the growing sense of anticipation.
Ren sat among a group of students, his stomach tight with nerves... he still hasn't managed to forget his guil, but specifically his disgust for himself...
As the last visuals on the holographic screen showcased the competitors, Ren closed his eyes for a moment, centering himself.
The announcer’s vibrant voice echoed again through the stadium, sparking a fresh wave of energy through the crowd. The arena lights flared brighter, casting a spotlight of expectation as the screen lit up with an animated portrait of Akane Kagutsuchi! Her posture proud, her gaze unyielding.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Prepare yourselves to witness one of the grandest spectacles of the season! The Second-Year Tournament is about to begin...~ and a rising star shines brighter than ever!”
The announcer’s voice rose in fervor, bordering on reverence as he introduced the first combatant with uncontainable passion.
“Akane Kagutsuchi! The Crimson Princess of House Vermillion! Student Council President! An unstoppable prodigy among prodigies! Akane is more than just a top student!!! She's a symbol of excellence, of strength, of unwavering confidence!”
The holographic screen flashed with clips of Akane dominating previous tournaments apparently she was invited to participate last year even though she was a first year. Her commanding presence was unmistakable, and her distant but reliable smile cemented her as a living legend in the eyes of many.
“She reached S-Rank before even completing her second year! A feat so rare, most wouldn’t even dare dream it! And today, she fights for her pride! And for the honor of House Vermillion! Get ready, because what we’re about to witness is nothing short of a masterclass in power and precision!”
Thunderous applause erupted across the stadium. On screen, Akane struck her signature pose—tall, composed, crimson hair flowing like fire behind her. Her presence seemed to dominate the very air around her.
The announcer, barely pausing to breathe, moved swiftly to the next name.
“And now, prepare yourselves for the Ice Monarch herself!!! The cold, unyielding Yuri Fayitsuki!”
The crowd, still riding the high of Akane’s introduction, suddenly hushed in anticipation. The screen shimmered again, this time revealing Yuri Fayitsuki. Her long, snow-white hair cascaded like silk, catching the light with a soft but deadly shimmer. The very image seemed to chill the space around her, her presence like the calm of a winter storm moments before it breaks.
“Yuri Fayitsuki, scion of the prestigious Fayitsuki bloodline, masters of ice for generations. Her noble lineage is revered not only for its strength, but for its unparalleled control over the element of frost.”
Yuri’s eyes, icy gray and piercing, filled the screen with a quiet intensity. They were like frozen mirrors... emotionless, fearless. She didn’t need words to express her power; her chilling aura spoke volumes. Every movement she made radiated composure, the calm of someone who had already faced countless trials.
“Also S-Ranked—one of the Academy’s most elite! If Akane is fire, Yuri is frost. Where one blazes bright, the other flows silent and still—like a storm that freezes all in its path.”
Among the spectators, Ren watched intently. She had heard of Yuri before, but seeing the Ice Monarch in person was something else entirely. The air itself seemed denser, colder around her.
The announcer’s voice rose again, now laying out the rules of the battle.
“Now, for those unfamiliar with the rules: the match continues until one combatant is thrown from the arena, concedes, or loses consciousness. Do not worry about safety—high-density energy shields are in place to protect all spectators. This battle is completely secure!”
As he spoke, the two combatants stood face to face, eyeing one another in silence, each measuring the other, calculating their next move. Akane’s gaze gleamed with prideful arrogance, and it was she who broke the silence with a soft, mocking chuckle.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Yuri?” Akane said, her voice laced with challenge.
“I’ve missed a fight worth my time. Let’s see how much you’ve actually improved.”
Yuri remained unfazed. Her expression unchanged.. cold and impassive, as always. She didn’t respond with mockery. But something flickered in her eyes—subtle, yet sharp. Her voice was calm, but it carried a quiet, dangerous weight.
“You’re right, Akane,” she replied with a faint sigh.
“It’s been too long since I fought someone of S-Rank. There are only five of us in the Academy... and you’re one of them. That alone makes this worth my time.”
Akane smiled, pleased by the answer. She knew Yuri was no ordinary opponent~ and that this battle was exactly what she craved. But then Yuri stepped forward slightly, her frozen gaze locked on Akane.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, Akane,” Yuri said, her voice dropping to a lethal chill.
“I won’t be holding back. You’ll face me at my full strength.”
With those words, the tension between them crystalized. Akane didn’t flinch, on the contrary, she looked thrilled. Every battle was a chance to push herself further.
Around the platform, massive torches burst into flame one by one, their vibrant blue fire casting a surreal glow over the arena. The heat clashed with the frost in the air—a perfect contrast between the storm and the hell.
The announcer grinned, raising his hand toward the crowd and the two fighters, his voice booming.
“And now... the moment has come! Get ready!”
He roared, his excitement shaking the arena.
“The second-year battle—!!! Begins NOW!”
The stadium exploded in noise. Cheers, screams, and applause thundered through the stands as the crowd surged with anticipation. The tension was at its peak.
