For an early morning, the city was rather quiet.
Not that much people around, only a few stores that had opened...
Well, I knew people were still preparing themselves for the daily routine they were going to do.
With the streets was kind of empty, I decided to walk slowly.
Thanks to it, I didn't have to jostle my way out like I usually did.
Because it was the first day to attend to the academy and that old man said the train would leave at 7, after all, that made me to walk this early.
To be honest, I was wondering about the academy's agenda on the first day.
Perhaps like always? Entrance ceremony then homeroom?
If so, then the old man's words weren't a lie. In typical situation, especially after homeroom, the students were given the chance to roam the school, looking for clubs or just to find the what-so-called "special spot" for some students, or just go back home.
Thinking it through, he just didn't want me to explore the academy in my first day.
"That old man..."
"Please, don't!"
In the midst of complaining my situation, I heard a yelling around the alley.
It took my attention as I stopped and looked at the alley.
I saw no one, but then...
"What did you say?"
Another voice. This one was more like threatening someone.
"Just give us your money!"
"Yeah, give us!"
"No! I'm begging you!"
After hearing that, I was like, "Oh..."
It was just some thugs trying to extort from one person. Surprisingly enough they did it in the morning, for some reason. Whether they doing it for money alone or just for their amusement, I didn't really care.
I began my steps again, pretending I heard nothing.
*Thud*
"Argh!"
A loud sound followed by a scream then something heavy fell to the ground.
In an instant I stopped again. From that sound, I knew things went south.
With a sigh I went into the alley.
The moment I came to the scene, I saw three people were standing in front of a man who sat on the ground in pain.
As expected, one of the thugs punched him.
None of them aware of my presence yet, because I stood still behind the thugs.
The thug who just punched the man, who I guessed as their leader, seemed very satisfied, his two followers were chuckling.
They were enjoying this moment.
"Not for long."
I went closer to them. Since we were in a small place, they could hear my footsteps. It didn't take long before all of them looked at me.
"Huh? Who're you?"
The thugs stared at me like some sort of hunters that just found new prey to hunt.
It didn't make me flinched.
"May I ask what are you guys doing?"
One of them grinned and walked closer to me.
"What's in it to you, anyway?"
I noticed he had hidden intention as he kept walking to me.
His right fist was clenched. He attempted to punch me before he thought I could notice it.
Of course I evaded it then followed with a strong straight punch to his stomach.
That ought to make him rolling on the ground and groaning.
"W-what..."
"You know," I spoke nonchalantly while cracking my fists. "Extorting some people in the morning is actually a bad idea. Then again...Extorting is a bad thing, no matter when and how you do it."
They went furious in an instant.
"You...!"
The other thug ran to me, attempting to punch me.
His movement was slow and obvious that with just one sidestep I dodged his attack.
"H-huh?"
He paused, giving me chance for a counterattack.
"Too slow."
I kicked his left leg to put him at unbalanced state, followed with a strong punch to his chest.
With that, he fell unconscious.
I sensed movement from the last standing thug.
"Eat this!"
Using his left fist, he attempted to hit me at the face.
To make sure he would stay conscious, I landed a knee attack to his stomach. The power I used was minimal but enough to force him sit on the ground and groan in pain.
Turning away my glance to their victim, I was kind of speechless.
Their target was just an ordinary, middle aged worker. Not only that, it seemed the thug hit him not at a visible spot, because I noticed he was pressing his stomach.
'Glad he didn't get a punch by the face...' I thought as I exhaled my breath in relief.
As a punishment to the thugs, I didn't really care about it, but I had to make sure they didn't do it again.
With my cold stare, I told them with serious tone.
"Listen, if you don't want to end up worse than your friend there," I pointed to the unconscious thug, "Make sure this won't happen again in the future. Otherwise..."
I cracked my fist in front of him to make sure I wasn't joking around.
"Do you understand?" I raised my tone.
He just gave a nod with that horrified expression.
"Good. Now go take your friends away from here before I call the police."
Once again, he replied with another nod before he dragged his friends out from the alley.
Frankly speaking, the monsters I fought the other day was tougher than these thugs.
Perhaps it's just me or people like me think like that?
"U-umm..."
I heard a mumble. When I turned to the source of the voice, the man was already bowed to me.
"Thank you for saving me!" he expressed his gratitude.
However I saw his left hand still pressing his stomach.
I didn't know how strong the punch was, but it seemed that attack was quite painful for him.
Even so, he was still bowing his head to me.
It was quite uncomfortable, to be honest.
"Don't mention it," I replied with my gaze looking away from him. "Anyway, you should tend that injury first before heading to your workplace."
After I said that, I tried to steal a glance. As I hoped, he lifted his head.
"Yes, I will!"
Then he produced something from his pocket and gave it to me.
"Please take this as my gratitude! I know this isn't much, but please take it!"
Seeing no way to decline his offer, I took the item from his hand.
Once again he bowed, and after he said, "Thank you!" he walked away from the area, slowly and writhing in pain.
'I hope he's okay...'
At the same time I diverted my attention to the item he gave me.
It was a coupon. A food coupon, to be exact.
However, I was struck speechless.
'Félicité...'
It was a coupon from my restaurant.
We were holding a promotional event, which also served as an advertisement to make the restaurant known and favorable in the city.
And somehow, I got the free meal coupon from my own restaurant.
"What should I do with this...?"
With a sigh, I put the coupon to my pocket as I began my steps to where I supposed to go.
While hoping this coupon would be useful to someone other than me.
'Then again, how will that happen?'
All of my thoughts got distracted when I saw a girl sitting at a table alone in a café, calmly drinking a cup of something that looked like hot tea.
I remembered correctly the café served some breakfast menu.
She wasn't the girl I met the other night, but she was...charming.
White parka and black pants, with her long, midnight blue hair.
Somehow elegant at the same time, if I had to describe her appearance.
At that time I thought to myself.
'I wonder who she is...'
I walked again.
In a distance that didn't even take five minutes, the station was already in sight.
The Fifth Star, a station which was using monorail that connected this city, Solaris, to an island I just recently knew; Seven Stars Academy.
During my time coming to this city, it was night and I was sleeping in the plane, woke up only when arrived at the airport.
We had been in this city for a week, yet it was only afterward that I learned this station led to the academy.
Which, to be honest, made me irritated at how he kept it a secret from me.
Judging by its name and how much these stations were located around the city, I could guess there were seven of it.
Known for authorized personnel only, it was said only those who had the pass could enter.
I didn't know what kind of pass needed, other than the ID card I got from that old man.
Although there were other six stations located around the city, most of the time I saw only a few people entered these stations.
And like always, there was one officer who stood in front of the gate.
Although before I approached him, I stood still for a moment to observe.
A few teenagers like me entered the station, yet they just greeted the officer so casually and showed nothing like ID card or something.
A part of me was thinking that that old man was lying to me, while another part of me told me that those people had known each other so there was no need for an ID.
Either way, I wouldn't know the truth if I kept standing still.
So I approached the officer, keeping my calm attitude as I got closer.
"Excuse me," I called.
As soon as I called, the officer turned his attention to me.
"Yes?"
I took my ID card from my pocket and showed it to him.
There was only one reaction which was brief came from the officer.
Shocked, shown by the look of his eyes.
I had a feeling it was something he didn't expect.
Unless there were a good reason, I didn't have to be cautious in this moment.
Yet I felt I had to be prepared.
"Alright, step inside. The train is about to arrive."
Beside the normal instruction he gave me, he acted like there was nothing happened.
Considering the look he showed for a mere moment, it was weird.
Even if I asked, he would just give a vague answer.
Without thinking it more, I just nodded and entered the station.
Because it was my first time to step my foot inside the station, I was in awe.
From the inside, it was quite large for a station that served as the railway to the academy, which I guessed most of the time was practically empty. Although the design itself was pretty much could be called ordinary and only had one train lane, this station had its own aura that distinguish itself from general stations.
There were some people here, especially teenagers like me. I assumed they were students and all of them wore their usual clothes, which really meant the academy's rule about the outfit that old man told me was true.
Somehow it just occurred to me.
'It feels like I'm going to university, no matter how you look at it...'
I couldn't help but to sigh. The rule to wear usual outfit was making me confused.
'What kind of academy is this, anyway? And speaking of which, I forgot to ask which class I'm going into. First year? Second year?'
First year seemed more proper for me since I skipped school a year ago, but considering my age and he could fake the documents about me, it was also possible he put me into second year.
Then again, I wouldn't know if I asked the person he wanted me to meet.
Takashi Masato.
"Attention all passengers."
A sudden announcement made me furrowed my brows.
Unexpectedly my gaze met a wall clock near me.
07:00 AM.
"The train will arrive in a few seconds. All passengers, please step back from the yellow line until the train has come to a stop at the platform."
Just in time, the train arrived. A monorail train, using the power of the sunlight which converted into electricity. I knew that much since that old man said some public transportation in this city were using sunlight as its fuel.
That's how Solaris city do to keep the whole city alive, based from what I heard. Although this city was still using things like gas, oil and such, apparently sunlight had more role because it acted as the city's main fuel with the outstanding energy storage to store the energy needed.
Once the train fully stopped and slide doors opened, everyone around me began to rush in.
The sight was bizarre for me, probably because knowing there were still space left for many people and there were still time before the train left the station.
It was then I heard a conversation from two male teenagers who were running into the train.
"Come on! It's a matter of time before the train departs!"
"I know!"
"If we don't take this train, the next one will be at 7.20! By then, the opening ceremony has begun!"
"Why does the ceremony at 7.30, anyway..."
"No complaining! If we're late, there'll be punishment waiting!"
"Good thing it's only today we have to be this early..."
After they were in the train, both of them caught their breath.
Maybe they had been running from their place to this station that they looked so tired.
And thanks to them, I could tell why these people were in a hurry.
Entering the train as leisurely as I could, I looked for a rather empty car for me to relax myself. For a somewhat selfish objective, it wasn't easy to find one, even when I had known there were only some people here.
Most of them had already secured their preferable position.
I didn't know how much I had sighed for a day, but I sighed again.
In the end, I ended up in a car which had a few people that could be counted by fingers.
With a rather tired demeanor I stood in the middle of the car, holding a handrail while carefully gazing my surroundings.
Soon after, another announcement was made.
"Attention all passengers. The train is about to leave the station. Please stand clear of the closing doors."
The slide doors closed, and the train departed.
From the conversation I heard, I could guess it would take ten minutes till the train arrive at the academy.
Also, since the academy was on another island, that means the path through the sea.
'The sea, huh...'
Not long after, the train was above the clear blue sea.
For some people, they would be amazed at this sight. Somehow, I didn't.
Perhaps I was kind of tired at everything that had happened and I had seen in a few minutes after I left my house.
Still, I didn't forget my purpose for finding this very spot.
Fortunately, only two people in the car I was in were talking, giving me a chance to relax before arriving at the academy.
I closed my eyes, clearing my mind as I took a deep breath.
My desire wasn't fulfilled, however. I fell asleep, somehow, but...
I could hear some voices, but my vision was pitch black. I didn't know what it was, but perhaps I was dreaming.
And it wasn't a good one.
I couldn't see anything, and it seemed the voices were talking to me. I couldn't tell what those voices were saying, nor whose voices those were.
It became louder and I could feel it was near. The more I heard it, the more I felt it was all quite the same for me. Distorted screams and cries of pain.
I tried to close my ear to no avail, those voices were screaming directly to my ear. It scared me. My body was shaking, sweats ran down from my face.
Suddenly, those voices were gone. I decided to open my ears, but...I heard nothing. Not even my breath.
I tried to speak, but my voice wouldn't come out. Even my body wouldn't move.
Then, I heard it.
A voice of a being I wanted to forget.
The roar of a dragon.
"!"
I opened my eyes in an instant. When I came back to my senses, I took a deep breath multiple times. The fear was taking over me. My body was still shaking. I knew my face went pale for a moment.
Looking around, I was glad no one saw me in that state. If they did, I didn't know how to react.
No matter what, I had to keep my composure. I kept repeating that words while taking my breath slowly, calming myself and stop the shaking in my body.
Countless breath I took, I was glad my body stopped shaking and I could fully control myself again.
During that time, thinking that roar, a roar I supposed to forget, led me to remember that day when I met that dragon.
Also the same day when my comrades died.
Just thinking it made me mad. I was supposed to protect them, but...I didn't. It was them who protected me instead.
Because I was in a bad state that I couldn't help them fight the monsters. Instead, I could only watch and run away.
Then...
My gaze met the island the train was going to.
The academy's island. The main building which located in the middle of the island itself had three floors but very wide. Aside from that, I could see there were other facilities located around the island, like pool, track field, etc.
No doubt the island was enormous.
"Attention all passengers. The train will arrive in a few seconds. All passengers, please step back from the yellow line until the train has come to a stop at the platform."
After the train fully stopped, I left the train. The station on the academy's side had different design than on the city's side. It was an open space station, which served as the center square. Even though there were nothing but some places to sit and relax, there were many people around, more than I could count.
The whole place was looking lively.
But it wasn't something that could amaze me more.
As I walked to the building, which I just said the main building, I couldn't help but in awe.
Safe to say there was a lot of effort to make the whole thing, considering how big the island and the overall facilities were.
In that moment, a girl who I just saw earlier passed by, walking casually to the main building.
A brief moment we traded glances to each other.
She stopped and stared at me with curious look.
Up close, she was stunning.
In a sudden I got questioned by her.
"Is there something you need?"
I shook my head in response. "N-no, there's nothing..."
Hearing my nervous respond she shined a gentle smile.
"Is that so? Then I take my leave."
With that, she walked again. After I made sure she wasn't looking at me, I exhaled my breath.
'So she's a student of this academy too,' I thought to myself as I began to walk again. 'What a world we live in.'
Inside the building, it was getting crowded as time passed. Probably because all of them were in hurry for opening ceremony, not to mention the time was near.
Because of that, I couldn't afford any more time to explore the building. I had to find the faculty office.
Good thing there were some signs directing to the office, making it easier for me to get to my destination.
Once I arrived in front of the office door, I took a deep breath before knocked the door.
But the door suddenly opened before I got the chance to do what I wanted to do, which jolted me behind.
It was a man who opened the door. Slightly taller than me, he wore white shirt covered with slate gray suit. His appearance was kind of cool, actually.
Except the way he stared at me beneath his glasses like I'm a nuisance was kind of annoying.
We were facing each other within three feet away. It was silent, no hint of who would begin to speak in this situation. Our gazes were unfazed by anything, the reason of it was probably both of us were surprised and at loss of words.
The more this situation goes, the more awkward it would become.
"What do you want?"
It seemed he thought of it as well that he asked me first.
With straight pose and calm demeanor, I answered his question.
"I'm looking for someone called Takashi Masato."
He just responded with a sigh and gesture, telling me to come inside the office and follow him. I did as he asked without asking anything. He led me to his desk, located not too far from the entrance.
Everyone other than both of us were too caught up in their own business that they didn't even notice I was there.
To my surprise, when he sat at his desk and kept looking at me with the same look, I found out he's the man I was looking for.
"Are you..."
He gestured once more, this time telling me to stop talking.
"Yes, I'm Takashi Masato."
It wasn't hard to find him, at least. Though I was just lucky to meet him directly.
"What do you need?" he asked, crossing his arms and leant his back to the chair. "And I don't think I have known you."
Recalling that old man words, my best action was to show him my ID card then asked him.
However, the moment I showed him my ID, he showed a rather surprised look.
I didn't know how to react, especially in that moment.
"So..."
That word left his lips as he stood from his seat and glanced back at me with a calm look.
"You're Minato Kashiwazaki."
With a gulp, I gave a nod.
"Well, first things first." He offered a handshake. "Welcome to Seven Stars Academy. You're in class 1-A, and I'm your homeroom teacher. Call me Takashi-sensei, by the way. Nice to meet you."
As I thought, I ended up in first year. Glad he didn't sign me into second year instead.
"Nice to meet you, Takashi-sensei," I replied, accepting his handshake.
"So, since today is your first day here, I have to introduce you to your classmates later. I hope you can get along with them."
Another nod was my reply.
"To be honest, I didn't expect you could enter this academy."
He blurted out, then sighed.
I was curious at his statement.
"What do you mean?"
"Well," he trailed off, seemingly finding the correct words to say. "It's rare for someone like you to be here."
"Someone...like me?"
From his statement, I thought he knew I had special power when that old man signed me up and he was worried about my life in this academy.
But I was wrong. It wasn't just about me.
"Yes," he casually answered. "Normally, we need to check your personal data, then in which guild you are and whether it's official guild or not, then getting approval from guild master."
I fell speechless. I just couldn't believe it.
'Guild? Did I hear that right?'
I could feel sweat running down from my head. I haven't had fully accepted what I just heard, but he continued to speak.
"Since you're not in a guild, it was hard for us to accept your uncle's wish. Then again, I was wondering how you got accepted here, though I heard you got special condition."
"Special condition...?"
"I will tell you later. Anyway, the opening ceremony is about to begin. Head to the gym and look for your seat. Just follow the sign, you'll find it, eventually. After the ceremony ended, come back to this office. I'll escort you to your class."
He sat back on his seat, closing his eyes and exhaled his breath.
I know I had to follow his instructions, but...
I had to clarify. I had to do it. Before I got more confused than ever.
"Takashi-sensei!"
He glanced at me.
"By guilds...You don't mean..."
He nodded.
"Yes. This academy is for Guilders."
There was only one word that left my mouth as I stood frozen in shock.
"...What?"