Jon

My footsteps echoed against the tiled floor of the university corridor. The heavy folder in my hand felt strangely light after weeks of sleepless nights and countless cups of coffee. Today was the day. I took a deep breath, staring at the label on the submission box: "Physics Department – Bachelor Theses." I'd finally made it.

"Jon, can we go now?" Anna's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She stood a few feet away, clutching her manga tightly. Her bright eyes scanned the colorful illustrations on the cover of Fire Force as if she hadn't read it a dozen times before. She had insisted on coming with me today. Staying home alone wasn't an option, she'd said. Not that I minded—she was my little sister, after all.

"Just a minute, Anna. Let me talk to Professor Miller," I said, sliding the folder into the box with a satisfying thunk. She sighed dramatically but nodded, wandering toward the large window overlooking the campus.

As I approached Professor Miller, who was speaking with another student, I caught a glimpse of Anna. She stood before a window, on her toes to see better. Her small figure leaned against the windowsill, her nose almost pressed to the pane as she gazed at the bustling campus below. A soft smile tugged at my lips. She seemed so out of place here among the chaos of deadlines and stressed students, her innocence a stark contrast to the seriousness around her.

Anna

The campus stretched out before me like a living, breathing puzzle. People moved in every direction, their hurried steps and animated conversations a blur of motion and sound. I traced patterns in the glass with my finger, imagining the lines forming a maze.

The world outside felt so big from up here. I clutched my manga tighter, the familiar characters on the cover offering a small sense of comfort. If only I could jump into their world, where problems were solved with fire and bravery. I liked manga since Jon first showed me one—I think it was called Naruto. After that, I always asked Jon or our parents for more. I got some, but right now my favorite is Fire Force, or Jujutsu Kaisen… is it called that? I'm bad with names. Today in class, I even forgot our teacher's name. She's called Miss Smith, but I called her Miss Smite… it was so embarrassing.

Something shiny caught my eye—a sleek black limousine parked near the main building. A group of people stood nearby: two tall men in dark suits, a woman with a clipboard, and an old man with a cane. He moved slowly, every step deliberate, as if the ground beneath him was precious. He looked like a wise sensei or some master of something.

Akihito

Each step reminded me of the years I'd left behind. My cane tapped against the pavement as I approached the limousine. I remembered the time when I was young, when my body felt light. Age truly catches us all. Back then, I was truly a menace to society. My bodyguards flanked me like silent shadows. The university's president trailed beside me, his words a faint hum I barely registered.

The donation ceremony had gone smoothly. A necessary gesture, I supposed, though I found little satisfaction in it. My great-grandson would attend this university soon; it seemed fitting to leave a legacy.

"Sir, the car is ready," my secretary informed me, her voice calm and efficient. I picked her up from an orphanage 10 years ago. In my old age, I wanted to give children a better life. I've taken in a total of 113 children across the country, mostly those so old that nobody else wanted them. It was a welcome side effect that many of them chose to work for the family that had helped them when they were young. I nodded, glancing toward the campus. It was bustling, alive in a way that almost made me nostalgic.

Then, it happened.

Jon

A deafening roar ripped through the air. The ground shook beneath my feet, and a blinding flash of light flooded the hallway. I barely had time to react before the windows shattered, sending shards of glass raining down.

"Anna!" I yelled, spinning toward the window where she'd been standing. Relief washed over me when I saw her crouched beneath the sill, her hands covering her ears.

"Jon, what's happening?" Her voice trembled as I grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. I checked Anna to see if she was injured, but thank God, she wasn't.

Then I noticed something: the temperature was rising.

"We need to get out. Now." Heat radiated through the hallway, intensifying with every passing second. The walls groaned, the building itself seeming to resist whatever force had invaded it.

I held Anna's hand tightly as we navigated the chaos. Students and faculty rushed past us, their faces masks of panic. The exit loomed ahead, sunlight spilling through the open doors. We burst outside, gasping for fresh air.

That's when I saw it. White ash, fine as powder, was falling from the sky. It coated the ground, the cars, and the people fleeing the building. I held out a hand, catching some of it. It felt weightless, like snow—only warmer.

Anna sneezed, her small hand covering her nose and mouth. "Jon, what is this?" she asked, her voice muffled.

"I don't know," I admitted, my eyes scanning the horizon. The plume of smoke from the building twisted and swirled like a living thing. The air was thick with the scent of burning.

Akihito

From the safety of the limousine, I watched the plume of smoke rise from the university building. My secretary was already on her phone, issuing calls to emergency services.

"We should leave, sir," one of my bodyguards urged. But before the driver could start the engine, I noticed movement near the parking lot. People were fleeing the building, their faces masks of panic. Among them, a young man clutching the hand of a small girl.

I raised a hand. "Wait. We will take those people with us."

"But sir, we—"

I threw him a stern look, and he nodded. The doors opened, and the pair, along with three others, climbed into the limousine. The man's face was pale, his breath ragged as he held the girl close. She stared at me with wide, tear-filled eyes.

Anna

The inside of the car smelled like leather and something faintly floral. My hands shook as I clung to Jon. The old man sitting across from us felt like a statue, his face calm despite the chaos outside. His eyes, though, were sharp. Like he already knew what was going on.

"You're safe now," he said, his voice low and steady. "Stay calm."

I wanted to believe him—after all, he seemed like some kind of master or sensei—but the ground outside began to tremble again. Jon stared out the window, his face twisted with confusion.

My body froze as tears rolled down my cheeks. I could taste something metallic in my mouth.

The old man rose from his seat, his movements deliberate as he came to kneel in front of me.

"It will be alright," he said softly. "What is your name?"

"An… Anna," I whispered.

"Anna," he repeated, his tone warm. "Take a breath. In and out. We are in my special car, so we are safe. Don't worry."

Before I could reply, another flash of light engulfed us.