"Claire..." a familiar female voice echoed.
Claire jolted awake, cold sweat trickling down her forehead as if she had just remembered something crucial. Her eyes widened, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her arms stretched out on either side as she lay still, processing the sudden wake-up call. The voice resonated in her mind, familiar yet distant, like a memory long forgotten. Blinking several times, she struggled to gather herself.
Slowly, she sat up in bed, yawning as her body protested the early hour. Her arms stretched above her head before she lazily lowered them. Absentmindedly, her lips parted, and she ran her tongue over them, tasting the dryness. Still groggy, she blinked, trying to shake off the last vestiges of sleep.
She glanced toward the balcony. The sky remained dark, with stars faintly twinkling, barely visible. A soft chill still lingered in the air despite the closed doors and windows, and the faint sound of crickets could still be heard outside. It was around 5:20 a.m., the dawn just beginning to break.
Claire climbed down from the top bunk, stretching once more before running her fingers through her tangled hair, attempting to smooth it out. She applied the light makeup Rose had recommended, then dressed in her uniform. With a final glance in the mirror, she slowly opened the door, careful not to disturb anyone, and slipped outside to catch some fresh air before breakfast.
As she stepped out, she noticed something unusual—Kazuki's bed was empty. He hadn't been in their room since the night before, which was odd for someone their age to wake up this early. She recalled seeing him near the campus gates the previous night, and her brow furrowed. Something about it felt suspicious, but she tried to shake it off.
"Weird," she thought to herself.
She tried to ignore the thoughts swirling in her mind, avoiding the direction Kazuki had gone. Claire had been wrestling with her growing guilt and shyness around him, but something in the back of her mind kept drawing her thoughts back to him. She sighed and shook her head, trying to dismiss it. Closing the door behind her quietly, she tiptoed down the hallway, careful not to disturb the still-sleeping students.
Arriving at the elevator, she noticed it was empty—unsurprisingly, given the early hour. She took it down to the first floor, where the cafeteria was located.
The cafeteria was nearly empty, with only a few teachers quietly eating while scribbling notes. The air smelled of freshly cooked food, making her stomach rumble. Claire approached the counter, where a middle-aged woman with long black hair and a white apron greeted her warmly.
"Good morning! I bet you're here for breakfast, huh?" the woman said with a polite smile.
"Uh, yes, actually..." Claire mumbled in response, her voice shy and low.
"Alright then!" The woman's upbeat demeanor made Claire blush. She watched as the woman expertly filled a plate with fluffy tamagoyaki, grilled fish, miso soup, and a side of rice as well as a glass of water. The aroma was mouthwatering.
The woman placed the tray in front of Claire with a bright smile. Claire instinctively reached for her wallet, but the woman waved her hand.
"Oh no, sweetie, it's free. You don't have to pay," she said kindly, noticing Claire's embarrassment.
"Oh... r-really?" Claire asked quietly, twiddling her fingers.
"Yep! All meals are included here at the academy. I'm pretty sure they mentioned that during orientation," the woman explained with a chuckle.
"R-right," Claire mumbled, bowing apologetically.
"No worries, dear. Not everyone reads all the details. Enjoy your meal!" The woman waved it off.
"T-thank you," Claire replied, bowing again before taking the tray and turning away, still flustered. The woman smiled softly, turning back to her duties as Claire exited the cafeteria.
She stepped outside, finding a quiet bench as the sun began to rise. The cool autumn breeze played with her hair as she settled down with her breakfast. She picked up a piece of tamagoyaki, savoring the slightly sweet flavor as it melted on her tongue. Her eyes wandered across the well-manicured hedges and the stone pathways of the campus. The warmth of the rising sun blended with the crisp air, creating a serene atmosphere that felt familiar.
As she nibbled on her food, memories from her childhood surfaced. The sight before her brought back fragments of long-forgotten moments, and for a brief second, she closed her eyes, letting the peaceful feeling wash over her.
The memory was hazy, shrouded in soft, indistinct edges. Gentle winds brushed her skin, a sensation that felt oddly familiar. The faint clink of small, empty toy teacups echoed softly, meeting on a tiny round table. In the background, maids moved quietly, tending to their duties. Young Claire, Rose, and her mother sat together, each holding delicate teacups. Her mother's warm, gentle smile lingered in the memory, though it, too, seemed distant—like something just out of reach.
A faint static buzzed at the edges, distorting the scene, pulling her slowly away. Claire blinked, finding her plate empty, though she didn't recall finishing her meal.
Suddenly, a single tear slid from her left yellow eye, tracing a slow path down her cheek before landing softly on her backhand. The unexpected tear left her momentarily stunned, her mouth slightly agape, eyes wide in shock. Claire stared at it for a brief moment, as if trying to decipher what it meant. But the emotions it stirred were too confusing, too much. All she could do was forget.
She couldn't understand the feeling that gripped her—a quiet, subtle pain, as if a needle had pricked her chest. It wasn't overwhelming, but sharp enough to be felt deeply. And yet, With a quiet sigh, she wiped the tear away with the back of her hand, all she could do was shake off the sensation, trying to forget it had even happened.
As Claire took a sip of water, her cheeks puffed out from the liquid. Suddenly, a jolt of realization hit her, almost causing her to spit out her drink. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, eyes wide as water dribbled slightly from the corners of her lips.
"Oh yeah!" Claire thought, the memory hitting her full force.
She quickly swallowed the water, setting aside both her glass and plate on the bench. With hurried movements, she pulled her phone from her pocket, frantically tapping on the screen. She opened her messaging app, immediately clicking on the top conversation—"Ch1"—among several others below it. The name sat above a familiar chat history, revealing a friendly relationship. Claire noticed the green dot next to the account's profile, a default cyan silhouette.
"hey, how are you doing?" she typed quickly, narrating the words in her head as she sent the message, uncapitalized, lacking punctuation.
"Hello. I'm doing quite good." The response came almost instantly, with direct, formal grammar.
She smiled at the immediate reply, feeling the connection spark between them. Her fingers danced across the screen again.
"have u eaten yet?" she typed. "btw i just ate mine."
"I haven't eaten yet, I think I'll skip mine today," came the response.
"hey dont skip your meals or you'll become unhealthy, capisce?" Claire typed faster, her thoughts filled with concern.
"It's fine. I'll eat two meals' worth of food for lunch," the person reassured her. "But enough about me. How's that academy you enrolled in doing, PB?"
"well it's been complicated..." Claire responded after seeing her chat name, PB.
"What do you mean by that?" they asked.
"eh, some bad things happened but some good too. but hey i made some friends tho..." Claire's smile widened as she typed.
"That's good..." came the simple, direct reply.
The conversation paused. Claire stared blankly at the last message, holding her phone tightly as she wondered if she'd said something wrong. Her thoughts swirled—did she hurt her friend somehow?
"Anyway, I have things to do. You should attend your class soon, don't want to be late," the person messaged after a few minutes of silence. To Claire, the words felt distant, even a bit hurt.
"alright, do your best in yours," she replied, though hesitation lingered in her fingers.
The green dot beside "Ch1" disappeared, signaling they were now offline. Claire lowered her phone, slipping it back into her pocket as thoughts of her friend swirled in her mind. That person had been her friend since childhood, one of the only people besides Rose who had stuck by her side. Yet, with a twinge of discomfort, she realized how much about them she had forgotten—their face, their voice, and who they truly were now.
All she had was their username, "Ch1." She had no idea what it stood for, while her own, "PB," was short for "Phoebe," the third part of her first name. Even though their appearance and identity were a mystery, she knew so much else about them. She knew their favorite foods, their preference for salty over sweet, their love for quiet places, and even their peculiar sense of humor, which always made her laugh despite its oddness.
She knew they were her age, perhaps a year older, thoughtful and practical, sometimes overly direct—but always caring in their own way. And then there was the promise, the one thing she held onto, though its details felt hazy.
She blinked, suddenly aware of the time. Claire picked up her plate and glass, hurrying back to the academy to return them to the cafeteria, still mulling over the mystery of her long-time friend behind the screen.
Claire meets up with Rose in the academy's hallways, their weapons in hand as instructed. The anticipation hangs heavy in the air. They approach the sliding glass doors to their class, and as they push them open, a massive stadium comes into view, causing both girls to pause.
"Geez..." Rose mumbled, her mouth hanging open in awe, resembling a frozen clothes hanger. Claire's eyes widened too, barely able to contain her surprise.
The stadium was breathtaking. Its architecture blended ancient, traditional designs with modern technology seamlessly. There were cameras, scanners, and several other high-tech gadgets lining the walls, their purposes beyond Claire's understanding. The bleachers, spiraling upward like the tiers of a coliseum, creaked as students shifted and chatted, filling the seats and the space with nervous energy.
"Woah, this school is not messing around," Rose breathed.
Claire's thoughts raced. The arena floor, worn from years of battles, was a wide open space where any kind of combat could take place. The sunlight trickled down through the glass ceiling above, illuminating the stone tiles and casting long shadows across the ground. It reminded her of festivals back home, where townspeople would gather for local competitions. But this was on an entirely different scale.
"This is the class that we're to attend?" Claire murmured in disbelief. It was surreal.
As they walked further, marveling at the size and grandeur of the stadium, Claire's attention was drawn to a figure sitting at the top row of the bleachers. Kazuki. He sat apart from everyone else, his posture straight, arms crossed, and his face as emotionless as ever. There was an unapproachable air about him that sent a shiver through her, but it wasn't just fear—it was something more though she quickly looked away with thoughts lingering in her mind, left to ponder.
"Hey!" Rose's sudden voice snapped her out of the whirlwind.
"Huh?" Claire blinked rapidly.
She glanced towards Rose, her startled gaze softening as she became aware of her surroundings again.
"Uh, Claire? Something the matter?" Rose asked, her voice teetering between worry and confusion. She offered Claire a smile, though it felt forced, the concern evident in her wide eyes.
"Uh..." Claire struggled to find the words, her thoughts still scattered. "There was something about the report I saw last night on my phone..." She mumbled, reaching for the first explanation she could think of.
"You mean the news?" Rose raised an eyebrow, her tone now a blend of skepticism and playful disbelief. "Geez, you get distracted way too much these days! Come on, we're in this stadium, have some spirit at least!"
She suddenly shifted her stance, spreading her arms wide as if to draw Claire's attention to their massive surroundings. The energy in her voice was infectious, high and lively.
"Focus on this!" Rose expressed loudly, slightly pouted.
"Focus on what?" Claire responded, still slightly dazed, her brow furrowing in puzzlement.
"The Stadium! The freaking huge stadium!" Rose yelled with an exaggerated enthusiasm, her eyes practically sparkling as she gestured dramatically at the center of the grand arena.
Claire laughed softly, pressing her lips together to hide her smile. Rose's enthusiasm always seemed contagious, breaking through her darker thoughts. For a moment, Claire allowed herself to enjoy it, even though she still kept a lot to herself.
Rose, now facing the center of the stadium, couldn't contain her excitement. She spread her arms wide and twirled, fists clenched in front of her, her eyes sparkling with energy like cherry blossoms blooming in spring. Her upbeat mood was as radiant as ever, but Claire could sense something more, something deeper—Rose was worried. It wasn't obvious, but Claire knew her too well. She could feel it, faint but present. Rose was picking up on Claire's mood, but for once, she didn't push. She just tried to lift her spirits in her usual, energetic way.
"Yo, you seem in a somewhat good mood today," came a soft voice from nearby.
Startled, Claire turned toward the voice and saw Liene, walking up with a relaxed smile, gently waving as she approached. Beside her, Takumi followed with his usual calm, his gaze briefly meeting Claire's before he offered her a small nod.
"Oh hey, it's you two…" Claire greeted them shyly, her eyes widening for a moment before she managed a tiny smile. Their presence was a welcome distraction from her earlier thoughts.
"Gotcha on the nose there, yellow. Still, I'm pretty surprised he hasn't skinned me alive yet," Liene smirked, giving Takumi a teasing look.
"I'm on the brink right now... just barely," Takumi, clearly unimpressed, gritted his teeth and tilted his head down slightly, muttering.
Claire couldn't help but chuckle, her laughter soft but genuine. Rose, on the other hand, looked wide-eyed at Liene and Takumi, her curiosity getting the better of her as she tiptoed closer to Claire, leaning in with exaggerated interest.
"Who's she?" Rose whispered, but not so quietly, covering her mouth with her hand.
Claire chuckled softly. "Remember in Starfield? When we were attacked by that bird?" she explained, glancing briefly at Liene before looking back at Rose. "She, Takumi, Kazuki, and I were all together."
"Ohhh!" Rose's eyes lit up with realization, then she straightened up and eagerly stepped toward Liene, her face bursting with excitement. Liene, already looking somewhat uneasy, flinched slightly as Rose grabbed her hand, shaking it vigorously with an overly-enthusiastic smile.
"NICE! TO! MEET! YOU! I'M ROSE!!!" Rose practically shouted, her entire body bouncing with joy as she introduced herself.
Liene, clearly caught off guard and a little dizzy from the sudden handshake, stammered, "U-uh… Y-yeah, n-nice to m-meet you t-too." Her voice wobbled from the jarring welcome, but she managed a smile, albeit a shaky one.
As the energetic interaction between Rose and Liene continued to escalate, Claire's attention shifted to Takumi, who had been somewhat peeved at Liene earlier. Now, however, his expression was a mixture of awe as he took in the grand stadium, although some lingering annoyance and embarrassment remained as he watched Rose's energetic display. Liene, now dizzy and startled by Rose's overwhelming enthusiasm, stumbled slightly, making Takumi roll his eyes and sigh softly.
He slowly approached Claire, sitting down beside her on the wooden bleacher with a resigned sigh. Claire glanced briefly at him, then forward, taking in the scene.
"Geez, what a pain… I never imagined them interacting like that," Takumi muttered, scratching the back of his head in mild exasperation. "Has Rose always been like this?"
Claire let out a small chuckle, pressing her palms together with her fingers splayed in thought. "Well, sorta. But you'd be surprised if you knew what she was like before."
"Hard to imagine," Takumi responded, a hint of surprise in his calm tone.
Claire simply smiled at his response, a minor wave of nostalgia hitting her. It was true; Rose hadn't always been this bright, but it was probably a story for another time. As Claire's thoughts wandered, Liene continued to be overwhelmed by Rose's sheer energy, still shaking her hand vigorously before finally being released. Liene, dizzy and disoriented, staggered slightly before collapsing onto the floor with her palm on her forehead.
The crowd of students, previously buzzing with chatter, fell silent, eyes drawn to the center of the arena. Claire, Takumi, Rose, and Liene all turned their attention to the center as well, just in time to see an adult man—a middle-aged figure with an air of authority—enter the classroom. He walked with purpose, his presence causing intrigue to ripple through the students, who began whispering among themselves. The man stopped in the center of the stadium, standing tall and scanning the room, commanding attention without even speaking a word.
"Greetings, everyone." The man's voice rang out with confident authority, deep and resonant enough to be heard clearly across the vast stadium. "I see you've all acquainted yourselves well with the space..." His tone carried a sense of assurance as he continued, "Indeed, our classes will take place here, within this very stadium. Though, you're welcome to use this space for various purposes—provided it's during your free time and not during class hours, or, of course, the depths of midnight..."
His presence commanded attention. The man standing before them was tall and heavily built, with brown eyes that seemed to hold a quiet intensity. His olive skin contrasted against his dark brown, spiky hair that jutted out in untamed angles, and his thick mustache and beard gave him a rugged appearance. He wore a tailored grey suit adorned with silver piping and buttons, the fit snug around his shoulders, showing off his muscular frame. His grey pants were tucked into olive-green boots, and brown leather gloves covered his hands. A large battle axe, slung across his back, completed the look, as though he were prepared for combat at any moment.
Even Liene, still on the floor and a little dizzy from Rose's enthusiastic hand shake, managed to lift her head, watching the man with both curiosity and fascination. Claire and Takumi, equally intrigued, turned their gaze toward the center, while Rose's excitement spilled over in a low squeal.
The man smiled with a slight chuckle, sensing their intrigue. "Ah, mind my inconsideration," he said, his voice taking on a playful yet deep tone. "I'm sure you're all wondering who I am..."
He paused for effect, his laughter rumbling like distant thunder before he spoke again.
"My name is Darui," he announced, his deep voice full of pride. "And I will be your instructor for this combat class."
With that, the whole stadium fell into a quiet stillness, it was very quiet though some faint whispers can be heard as Claire, Liene, Takumi and Rose wait in anticipation, everyone hanging on his next words.
"Now, I'd like to begin discussing our task for today," Darui's deep, gruff voice echoed through the stadium, grabbing everyone's attention. "For starters, partner yourselves with your given roommates..."
At that, Claire's world seemed to tilt. The words hit Claire like a punch to the stomach. Her eyes widened in shock, and sweat beaded on her forehead.
"MY ROOMMATE?!" Panic began to spiral in her mind.
She quickly scanned the area, watching students happily partner up, forming duos with ease. Everyone seemed so comfortable, so familiar with one another. But not Claire. No, her heart pounded as she glanced over the arena, her mind racing. Her face grew hot as her head dropped between his knees, hands tangled in her hair, curling into a ball of frustration and embarassment.
"Sure, most of the students seem excited to team up, talking like they've known each other forever," Claire's thoughts spiraled. She could feel her face heating up, blood rushing to her cheeks, "B-but… I HAVEN'T EVEN SPOKEN TO MY ROOMMATE!"
But just as her own panic spiraled out of control, driving her mad, sneaking a quick glance towards Kazuki's direction whom seemed to be uncaring the stiuatio nand remained his usual emotionless glance causing her to be frustrated and look away. Somehow, it was drowned out by another voice—one louder and more frantic than her own.
"I DON'T EVEN HAVE A ROOMMATE!" Rose cried out, her eyes wide with panic, unintentionally releasing a gust of cold wind magic around her in her shock.
Liene and Takumi glanced at each other—Liene with a mischievous, teasing glint in her eye, and Takumi with an irritated, almost resigned look. As they exchanged glances, the whole class spiraled into different reactions to the announcement: some were clearly thrilled, others seemed indifferent, and a few were grumbling, clearly unenthused.
"Well, well, well... seems you're stuck with me, boy," Liene said, her tone dripping with mock sweetness as she twirled her fingers playfully in front of Takumi's face.
"So it seems... unfortunately," he sighed, looking away as if to distance himself from the very thought, his voice carrying a hint of dread.
Claire glanced toward Rose, startled as her friend cried out in absolute frustration, bolting down the steps to try and confront the teacher about the unexpected task. But as Rose's panic built up, Claire's own frustration began to spill over too, her body tense as she slumped forward, burying her face into her arms. The anxiety twisted inside her like a knot.
"Darn!" Claire muttered under her breath, almost to herself, but her voice trembling with growing panic. "I can't team up with him!"
"Seems you're in an awfully bad mood..." Liene remarked with a calm, almost smug tone, her eyes glinting with amusement as she smirked.
"Glad you noticed!" Claire retorted loudly, her voice sharp with sarcasm.
Amused, Liene turned her gaze toward Kazuki, who remained in his usual stoic, detached manner—completely unreactive to both the teacher's announcement and the general chaos surrounding him. Claire, feeling the weight of her worries pressing down on her, could feel her heart race even faster just thinking about having to interact with him, let alone partner with him. Liene, noticing Claire's apprehension, looked back at her with curious amusement.
"What's so wrong with him? He's powerful—maybe a bit too powerful..." Liene commented, gesturing with a hand, her tone playfully mocking as she waited for Claire's response.
"Yeah, but you missed a crucial detail!" Claire snapped, voice tinged with both embarrassment and frustration.
"And what's that? That you're shy?" Liene's smile was teasing, clearly getting a kick out of Claire's predicament.
"No!" Claire instantly retorted, her cheeks warming up. "Well... maybe, yes, but that's not the whole point!"
Her voice, which had grown louder with each word as her frustration spilled over, softened suddenly as a wave of self-consciousness washed over her.
Liene tilted her head slightly, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth as she pressed on. "Then what is it?"
The question struck Claire, and she froze for a moment, eyes widening as if all her repressed worries had finally reached a breaking point. Suddenly, she sprang up from her slouched position, arms flinging wide as her pent-up frustration burst free.
"I can barely even talk to him! Let alone team up with him, capisce?!" she practically shouted, voice echoing around them as her thoughts spilled out, leaving her slightly breathless.
As Claire sat, her frustration evident in her heavy breaths, Liene let out a soft chuckle, only causing Claire's cheeks to flush deeper in embarrassment. Her hands quaked slightly as she curled into herself, lips pressed tightly, eyes wide, amplifying Liene's instinct to tease. Gently, Liene patted her on the head, unable to resist.
"There, there. I'm sure it won't be that bad…" she cooed teasingly, her voice soft before chuckling again. "Unless, of course, he just leaves you behind."
"Geez, would you stop teasing her like you do to me?" Takumi cut in with a lazy sigh, grabbing Liene's hand mid-pat. "She doesn't have the capacity like I do to brush off your straight up bullying."
"I can't help it, you know. It's like it's built into me, like I was destined to be like this." Liene shrugged, smiling broadly.
"A habit, is what you mean," Takumi corrected, voice flat.
"Oh, please. You make it sound so boring." She tapped Takumi on the forehead with a playful smirk. "Besides, it's not bullying if it's a friend."
"You mean victim," he shot back, brushing her hand away with a look of faint annoyance.
Liene's eyes widened briefly at his retort, then softened, her smile growing sly as she leaned into her hand, delighted by the opening.
"My, oh my, how rude… is that how you treat your teammate, boy?"
"Not like we have a choice…" Takumi muttered, shifting his gaze toward Kazuki with a curious frown. "Though I do wonder what's up with him."
"Who knows," Liene replied, turning her gaze toward Kazuki, then glancing back at Claire, her own curiosity piqued. A faint smile crept over her face.
"Don't sound so cliché. It's annoying," Takumi muttered with a side-eye.
"Can't help it!" Liene shrugged with a smirk.
As the varied reactions around the stadium gradually settled, Rose hurriedly made her way back up to the others, only to collapse onto her knees, exhausted from the exertion. With disappointment evident on her face, she sighed heavily, gripping her knees as if to steady herself—both physically and mentally worn out.
"So, how'd it go?" Takumi asked, curious.
"It was terrible! Really terrible!" Rose replied immediately, her voice frantic and breathless.
"Alright, alright, geez, slow down…" Takumi responded, extending a hand toward her in an attempt to calm her down.
"I am as slow as I can get!" Rose shot back, still breathless.
"Okay, just tell us what happened…" Takumi said, holding both palms up.
"What do you think?!" Rose exclaimed rhetorically, waving her hands in frustration.
"Eep… Scary…" Liene mumbled quietly to Claire, momentarily flinching as she recalled Rose practically shaking her senseless upon their introduction, though Claire remained unresponsive, lost in her thoughts.
Just then, a sudden clap echoed through the stadium, and a heavy gust of wind followed, blowing over the students. The force snapped Claire from her trance, broke through Takumi's curiosity, interrupted Rose's frantic state, and piqued Liene's interest as her attention turned to the instructor at the center of the arena.
"Alright, that's enough," Darui said confidently, his deep voice resonating through the stadium. "I'm sure you've all had a chance to talk with your partners… except, of course, our lucky student…" He paused, muttering to himself, "Now, who was she again?" then resumed, standing taller, voice brimming with authority. "Nevertheless, we'll begin our task now: an all-out duel right here in this stadium. Any form of combat is allowed, so long as it's non-lethal."
The students rose, reactions varied around the arena, while Claire simply clutched her hands together, feeling the warmth from her palms. For her, this was neither a great opportunity nor a grave mistake; it was a chance to hope for the best—or at least for something close.