"In you go!" Takumi muttered dryly, his tone apathetic and lazy.
He glanced at the chaotic pile of his belongings: notebooks, pens, comic books, and tools for tinkering with his devices—screwdrivers, wrenches, and an action figure of a cybernetic character he had bought before arriving at the academy. It was around 11 AM on September 11, 958 S.E. The small glass windows above the lockers let in the warm sunlight, though the autumn breeze kept the air cool. The trees outside were turning redder by the day, with leaves falling one by one, and animals either retreating into their habitats or gathering food for the colder months.
Takumi blocked the sun's rays with his wrist as he continued rummaging through his locker, filled with items he had neglected to unpack since moving into the dorms. He gave the action figure a lazy glance, noticing it was slightly tilted, but felt too indifferent to fix it. With a final shove, he crammed his things inside and slammed the locker door shut.
The bang revealed Liene standing on the other side with a half-smug grin, her elbow propped against her own closed locker, knuckles resting on her cheek. Her cyan hair swayed slightly from the force of the door closing, but her expression remained unchanged, still smug and unfazed. Takumi, caught off guard, grimaced as his scowl deepened.
"Yo," Liene greeted softly, raising her hand in a mock wave.
"Oh, it's you..." Takumi sighed, turning towards her with clear annoyance before adding with sarcastic disinterest, "Great."
Liene's eyes widened slightly, her mouth opening in mock surprise at his unenthusiastic response. She almost lost her balance, pouting slightly under his indifferent gaze before gulping, trying to regain her composure.
Liene's cyan hair framed her face as she adjusted her academy uniform—a custom design resembling a kimono, mostly white with streaks of yellow and blue to reflect the academy's colors. The emblem was embroidered on her shoulder, and a cyan sarashi wrapped around her torso. She wore thigh-high brown boots, while her kyoketsu-shoge hung from a sash at her left waist. Around her neck was a large bronze gorget, and a matching bronze bracelet adorned the upper half of her left arm.
Her personality matched her attire—relaxed, easygoing, and often sporting a playful, smug demeanor. She enjoyed teasing others, her soft tone sometimes flirtatious, though it could border on annoying. Despite her composed exterior, she wasn't immune to moments of flustered vulnerability that occasionally broke through her usual teasing confidence.
"Well, you act like you don't want to see me, but surprise, surprise, I'm here," Liene teased gently, her playful gaze returning.
"Lucky me," Takumi muttered, shrugging and tilting his head to the side, clearly irritated by her presence. "So, what brought you all the way over here to annoy me?"
"Oh, just thinking about how you embarrassed yourself in class after showing up late," Liene replied, her voice laced with smug satisfaction.
Takumi straightened his posture with a groan, his expression shifting from indifferent to mildly irritated as the memory resurfaced. He had tried to sneak into class, tiptoeing toward one of the tiered seats. Just as he thought he'd managed to remain unnoticed, a piece of used chalk hit his shoulder. He jolted in surprise, turning slowly to see the teacher, who had clearly spotted him. Without missing a beat, the teacher called him out for his tardiness, still writing on the blackboard and barely glancing at Takumi with unsettling calmness. The teacher's command for him to sit, followed by a warning, drew laughter from the students. The memory made Takumi press his lips together, annoyed. He shot Liene a quick side-eye as she grinned at his discomfort.
"And let's not forget how ridiculous you looked, sleeping through the entire class," Liene added, her grin growing wider.
She shifted her position, propping her cheek on her finger in a playful pose as Takumi recalled the embarrassing moment. He had sprawled across his desk, arms wrapped around his head, snoring loudly and even drooling. The students had started snickering when the teacher, visibly irritated, snapped his fingers, casting a spell that sent a gust of wind straight at Takumi. It lifted him out of his chair, jolting him awake. His eyes snapped open, wide and disoriented, as the students laughed, and the teacher glared at him, clearly fed up.
Now, Liene chuckled, remembering how the spell had knocked Takumi's head into the seat behind him. The incident left the students both amused and nervous, while Takumi spent the rest of the day nursing a dull headache—not just from the impact but from the boredom as well.
Takumi groaned and rubbed his temples, brushing off her teasing with a long yawn. His irritation was evident, but his laziness overshadowed any real response. He gave Liene a tired glance, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.
"Have you even opened your locker?" Takumi asked lazily, glancing at Liene's hand, propped against her cheek.
He noticed her phone clutched in that same hand and several of her belongings scattered around her feet. Liene caught his gaze, and her composure wavered. She nearly dropped her phone as she fumbled, scrambling to catch it with both hands, clearly flustered by his observation. Once she regained her grip, she straightened up, trying to mask her embarrassment, which only deepened Takumi's amusement.
"Ahem, well, no, it's just…" Liene stammered, pressing her fist against her mouth in a weak attempt to hide her disarray.
She tapped frantically on her phone, swiping up and down, trying to look busy. Her flustered movements only made the situation worse. Takumi watched, mildly amused, his lazy grin widening as she struggled. Finally, with a sigh, he extended his hand towards her, his expression a mix of boredom and mild pity. Liene's eyes widened. After a moment, she sighed in defeat and handed him her phone.
"Hmm?" Takumi murmured, tilting his head.
"Uh, well…" Liene muttered with a small sigh. "Fine…"
Takumi glanced at her phone, his face calm yet slightly annoyed. He tapped it once with his finger, and the locker door opened instantly. He handed her phone back with a smirk, barely containing his amusement.
He scratched his head, tousling his somewhat messy bronze-orange hair, which fell loosely around his face except for a cowlick that flopped with its weight. His expression remained calm but tired, his brown eyes half-lidded. Takumi's academy uniform—a navy blue jacket, baggy pants streaked with yellow and white, and a brown vest—was worn casually. His brown ankle boots and gloves with the academy emblem on the back completed the look, while his retractable scythe, now transformed into a small rectangular brick, rested on his waist.
Takumi was outgoing, amiable, and energetic but also laid-back. He enjoyed showing off, especially during fights, often prolonging them to appear heroic and grand. He liked cracking jokes, though he wasn't shy about taunting others when annoyed or insulted.
"They explained earlier how the lockers can move to wherever you are and be operated with your phone," Takumi said, scratching his head and stifling a yawn. He shot Liene a teasing look. "Ironic, considering you were the one wide awake and actively listening."
Liene's eyes widened for a moment, but she quickly masked her reaction, stuffing her belongings into the locker with a flustered expression. The locker door clicked shut, automatically locking itself through the app installed on their phones. Earlier, they had been shown how the app could summon the locker anywhere on campus, as well as open and close it with a single tap—just as Takumi had mentioned. Liene glanced at her phone, feeling a bit foolish for forgetting something so simple after paying attention during the demonstration.
"See ya," Takumi said in his usual lazy tone, turning to leave.
"Eh?" Liene blinked, surprised.
She shook her head, trying to shake off her embarrassment, and glanced at Takumi's retreating figure. He waved nonchalantly over his shoulder before slipping his hand into his pocket, his stride unhurried, his head bobbing slightly as if half-asleep. With a soft sigh, Liene found herself trailing behind him, the corners of her mouth twitching upward despite herself.
As Takumi trudged forward, intent on escaping any form of interaction, his exhaustion deepened with every step. His body felt heavier, and his yawns grew louder, each one dragging out as he groaned softly. Just as he thought he might get a moment of peace, he stopped in his tracks, spotting someone blocking his path. He glanced down at the shoes in front of him and then slowly raised his head, his face contorting with disappointment and irritation. His eyes twitched, and his expression hardened, making it clear he'd rather be anywhere else.
Liene, trailing behind him, stopped as well, unaware of the situation but curious about the person now standing before Takumi.
"Sora," Takumi muttered, his voice dripping with disappointment and frustration.
"So, it seems we meet once again, Sato..." Sora said in his usual boastful tone, a confident and mocking grin plastered on his face.
"We're literally in the same class, what are you on about with your shit?" Takumi shot back, clearly annoyed, his lips pressed together in exasperation.
As the seconds passed, Takumi's desire to disappear only intensified. His eyes twitched more frequently, his lips pursed in growing irritation, and he tilted his head slightly to the left, staring blankly at Sora's smug expression. The sight of Sora's self-assured smirk did nothing but deepen Takumi's exhaustion and annoyance.
"Oh yes, I remember you walking into class late and embarrassing yourself," Sora sneered, clearly trying to get a rise out of him.
Takumi sighed, barely interested. "I'd consider that a common thing you can do in school."
He raised his eyebrows, ready to step past Sora, but the latter blocked his way again, arms crossed, still wearing that infuriating smirk. Takumi's frustration grew, and he let out a long sigh, resigned to the fact that Sora wasn't going to leave him alone.
"What do you want, Sora?" Takumi asked, his face expressionless.
"Well, among all things, as your rival..." Sora began dramatically.
"We're not rivals, don't associate me with you," Takumi interjected, his tone flat.
"...Seeing you pass along with me in this academy, I can't help but want to see for myself just how far below me you really are," Sora said with over-the-top confidence, still attempting to mock him.
"Wow, congrats, you passed too? With you being you, I'm honestly surprised. The school probably had an extra spot and decided to throw you in after your usual spoiled ranting." Takumi rolled his eyes.
"You know, for someone who's supposed to be all great and strong, you're about as impressive as a dull spoon. You blend in so well with the background, it's almost like you're not even trying." Undeterred, Sora continued with a weak attempt at an insult, his voice brimming with smugness.
"Oh for the love of god, enough with your lame so-called insults! What did you do? Order a starter pack on how to be a terrible insulter because, geez, You're an insult to insults themselves! Don't even try to associate yourself with them." Takumi groaned, completely done with Sora's antics.
Takumi's face remained impassive, his irritation only growing with each of Sora's weak attempts to provoke him, while Sora tried hard to maintain a confident, unfazed expression despite being clearly affected by Takumi's sharp retort. The tension between the two simmered, unspoken but palpable, until it was suddenly broken by a gentle tap on Takumi's left shoulder. Liene had walked forward with soft, measured steps, her presence almost unnoticed until now. Her touch made Takumi glance over, drawing his focus away from Sora, who was startled by the quiet intrusion.
"So who's he? A friend of yours, boy?" Liene asked in a soft, confused tone, her gaze shifting between the two.
"Pass," Takumi replied with his usual lazy tone, lifting his palm upward dismissively.
"I'm Sora, best mage, and I'm his rival," Sora introduced himself with exaggerated confidence, puffing out his chest as if to impress her.
"Not," Takumi corrected immediately, his tone flat.
"Uh huh..." Liene nodded slowly, her eyes darting from Sora to Takumi, trying to process the odd dynamic between them.
Sora stood before them, a smug grin plastered on his face, his attempt at making a grand first impression on Liene falling flat. His spiky brown hair nearly brushed his shoulders, giving him a wild, unkempt look that matched the arrogance gleaming in his bronze eyes. Full of himself and overconfident, Sora often boasted about being Takumi's rival and the best mage in the academy—constantly trying to one-up Takumi, who, much to his frustration, simply didn't care. To Takumi, Sora was nothing more than an annoyance.
Sora's outfit matched his inflated ego: a brown collared shirt under gaudy, unimpressive armor marked with the academy's colors—blue, white, and yellow. It was clear the armor was meant to make him look bold and heroic, but the design lacked inspiration. He wore brown boots and pants over armor-plated leggings, as if the extra layers would make up for his lack of subtlety.
Despite Sora's grandstanding, the students around them continued to walk by, unconcerned, their lives moving forward while Sora desperately tried to make an impression. Takumi, meanwhile, scratched his head casually, entirely unbothered by Sora's presence.
"I see you've found yourself a companion..." Sora said with forced enthusiasm, trying to regain control of the moment.
"Geez, can you not right now? I'm tired..." Takumi replied, his disinterest deepening, making it painfully clear how little he cared for Sora's theatrics.
Takumi let out a brief sigh as he casually diverted to his left, his body slightly bent forward, effortlessly walking past Sora without so much as a glance. His exhaustion fueled his indifference, making it clear he had no intention of engaging further or wasting more time and energy on the confrontation. Liene followed closely behind with gentle steps, causing Sora's confident smirk to falter for a moment. His posture stiffened, and his eyes widened in shock, as if the life and air had been drained from his grand performance by some mana-draining magic. Takumi's disinterest had a similar effect—only on Sora's ego—as his bravado unraveled, leaving him awkwardly frozen in place.
As they walked, Liene's curiosity about their odd relationship grew, especially since Takumi had broken off their conversation before she could even ask. She glanced back at Sora, seemingly paralyzed in shock, before turning her attention back to Takumi, prompting her to tease him.
"So, what's your relationship with this 'rival' of yours, boy?" Liene asked with a soft, teasing tone, her finger tracing circles near her cheek.
"Just some guy from my hometown who somehow thinks I'm his rival…" Takumi replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Fufu, quite an interesting fellow he is," Liene pointed out, stifling a laugh.
Takumi didn't respond, his gaze drifting upward as contemplation filled his mind—not about Sora, but about his hometown. A brief image of a grand house flashed through his thoughts, featuring a sweeping central staircase, ornate chandeliers glittering above, and richly decorated walls. It was blurry and unclear, like a rain-splattered window, with details obscured and distant, leaving only faint impressions that slipped away like mist. But just as quickly as the memory came, it snapped back to the present, causing a minor headache that jolted him briefly. He pressed a hand to his head, trying to ease the discomfort, but Liene noticed and concern filled her eyes.
"Hey, boy, are you okay?" she asked, her tone shifting to one of genuine worry.
"Since when were you all worried about me?" Takumi replied casually, brushing off her concern with his usual lazy demeanor.
"I can still feel worry too..." Liene muttered in return, her voice trailing off, a touch of sincerity lacing her usual teasing tone as she turned her head slightly to the left.
"Well, I'm fine, it's nothing, really..." Takumi said, more directly this time, trying to reassure her as he straightened up.
"If you say so, boy…" Liene responded, a slight relief in her tone, though her worry didn't completely fade.
As they continued toward their next class, Liene absentmindedly toyed with the blade of her kyoketsu-shoge, juggling it with her left hand to distract herself from lingering worries. Despite her efforts, she couldn't help but drift into thought. Meanwhile, Takumi remained silent, lost in his own brief, unsettling recollection.
"Geez, I really recalled something so unpleasant…" Takumi thought.
Meanwhile, Around 6 PM, the light outside shimmered and dimmed like the last glow of a fading ember, gradually yielding to the encroaching night along with the lingering traces of rain. Claire, her gaze tired and distant, slowly pushed open the door to her dorm, peeking through the gap to check if her roommate, Kazuki, was inside. Too shy to face him directly, her fear of social interaction and the guilt gnawing at her from their unresolved tension held her back. Once she confirmed he wasn't there, she fully opened the door, though a trace of wariness lingered as she half-expected him to appear. Still, the weight of her exhaustion triumphed over her hesitation after spending hours helping Rose recover from her injuries. Her messy yellow hair fell into her eyes, and she brushed it aside with a tired hand.
"That took way too long..." Claire muttered, her voice tinged with fatigue as she groaned softly.
Outside, the last few drops of rain had ceased, and her yellow eyes blinked a few times in realization as she rubbed them with the back of her hand. She glanced toward the balcony, noticing the sun gradually setting beyond the glass door. The light was fading, and the warm, golden glow of dusk mixed with the cool autumn breeze. Reaching for her diary on the top bunk, she lazily patted the bed from below, too tired to climb up. After a few attempts, her hand found the familiar leather cover, and she pulled the diary down with a small sigh of relief.
Sliding open the glass door, Claire stepped out onto the balcony, standing next to the beige wooden railing. She placed her diary on the rail and rested both hands on it, her eyes fixated on the fading light of the sunset. The dusk was beautiful, casting a soft glow on her face, reflected in her yellow eyes as she became lost in the moment. The warmth of the sun's final rays, combined with the lingering chill of the passing rain, created a comforting contrast. Despite the peace around her, Claire felt the breeze of autumn brushing against her, bringing a faint sense of melancholy. She opened her diary, flipping through pages filled with memories—photos, words, elegant calligraphy mixed with messy doodles—until she reached an empty page. She pulled the pen she'd been using as a bookmark and prepared to write.
Closing her eyes, she let the fading sunlight remain in her mind's eye as she narrated her thoughts to her diary, composing a letter to her mother.
"Hi again, Mom. Day two at the academy! I'm sorry I had to leave you back home... I know you must be missing me, so I thought I'd write down everything here, in the diary you gave me, to tell you about it all when I come back!" She started with a cheerful tone, but soon hesitated, her eyes tightening as she paused. The recent events clouded her thoughts. "Well…" She trailed off, crossing out the word, a tear escaping her closed left eye as she tried to push away the sadder memories. Opening her eyes, she forced herself to sound upbeat. "It wasn't what I expected, honestly. Rose got into some trouble, and I fought a bird... yeah, sounds ridiculous, I know, but it was way cooler than it sounds! Oh, and then there's him..." A brief image of Kazuki flashed in her mind before she quickly shook it away, replacing it with a weak smile. "Anyway, I'm glad I could catch up and write this. The sun's setting now, so I'll stop for today, capisce? Love, Claire…"
She glanced back up at the horizon, smiling softly as the last of the sun's light vanished, replaced by a deepening blue sky dotted with stars. The autumn breeze swept through her yellow hair, brushing it across her face. She raised her hand to her forehead to keep the strands out of her eyes, but something else caught her attention—a dark silhouette below. Her gaze followed its movements, and as she leaned closer, she recognized the figure. Kazuki, glancing briefly to the left, before walking away across the academy grounds. A wave of unease and curiosity crept over her, her mind stirring with questions she had never been able to answer about him.
He was always a mystery to her—his presence, his motives, everything. No matter how much she tried, she could never quite figure him out. Yet, despite her curiosity, she felt an odd obligation to keep her distance, unsure if her guilt or her fear held her back. With a soft sigh, Claire stepped back inside, closing the glass door behind her. She climbed into the top bunk, lying down with her eyes fixed on the ceiling, her thoughts swirling as she clutched the diary to her chest. Guilt weighed heavy on her heart, but her mind was blank, unable to form the words or emotions to explain it, leaving her in a silent, contemplative void. It was completely blank.