9:06 AM - 23rd August 2026 (2126)
(Schelvia City • City's Heart • Asterick Unity Education (A.U.E.) • Fourth Floor • 10-S±)
Outside.
Yoshi stands silently just outside the classroom door, his presence unnoticed as soft murmurs of conversations and the rustling of papers drift from inside. Faint, mechanical lectures hum from the robot instructor, which moves fluidly between the rows of students, guiding their attention back to their studies. The room is a flurry of focused activity, but still, some students quietly chat amongst themselves, their attention never fully drifting from their materials.
Yoshi's dull purple eyes narrow as he peeks through the small window by the door, taking in the sight of his classmates engrossed in their work. He feels a pang of hesitation, then sighs softly, leaning back against the wall of the hallway beside the door.
"... They're so focused already... Should I bother entering the class?"
A quiet groan escapes his lips as he rubs his forehead, irritation creeping in. He can feel the weight of the wasted time for being late, his usual punctuality slipping away. For a moment, he stares up at the ceiling, deep in thought, and that's when he notices something strange-the lights in the hallway begin to shift in color.
His purple eyes blink, adjusting to the new hue, the atmosphere subtly shifting as the lights cast a faint violet glow across the corridor. He glances down the hallway and realizes the entire environment has taken on an eerie, surreal quality. The lights, once their usual white, now bathe everything in a purple tint.
"... Did somebody just hack the school system?" he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. Pushing off from the wall, he steps forward, his footsteps slow and deliberate as he moves down the corridor. Something feels off.
As he walks, he notices the classroom windows are now securely locked, with added protective shutters, and a layer of security that makes it difficult for anyone to enter-or leave.
It's then that a creeping suspicion sinks in.
"... Lockdown? ... That's new. What is this, a practice or something?" His voice is filled with a quiet confusion as he glances around the empty hallway, his gaze darting from side to side. The once lively hallways are now eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of the school's automated systems.
He hesitates, standing still for a moment, as the weight of the situation settles in. The windows are locked down, the shutters secured-this is no practice drill. It's real.
His steps falter as he turns around and retraces his path. The atmosphere continues to feel charged, thick with an unknown tension. The windows, too, have been reinforced with their shutters, and the sense of confinement grows stronger. There's something definitely off about this.
Yoshi approaches the elevator he had used earlier, his finger pressing the button softly, calling for it. He stands there, his eyes lingering on the strange purple lights, still processing the strange turn of events.
Lockdown... lockdown for what?
The question echoes in his mind, his thoughts moving faster than his feet. Was this a safety drill or something more?
Ting.
The elevator rings and the doors slide open with a soft chime. Yoshi's eyes linger a moment longer on the corridor before he steps inside, the doors closing behind him.
"... Are... they trying to capture me?" he mutters, his voice heavy with suspicion.
---
9:29 AM
(Fourth Floor • Elevator)
As the elevator descends, Yoshi leans against the wall, lost in thought. His hand subconsciously reaches up to touch the large, metallic ring around his wrist-the Mech Suit tech that's been with him for years. The ring feels heavier today, somehow.
"... Maybe it's just some-"
His words are cut off by a sudden jolt. The elevator lurches to a halt, making Yoshi stumble slightly, though he quickly regains his balance, gripping the steel rail along the wall. His gaze snaps up to the screen above the elevator doors, which flashes an alarming message:
"Access to Elevator is Forbidden!! All students now need to use the emergency stairs!!"
The screen loops the message in harsh red pixels, and Yoshi's eyes widen, disbelief and a rising sense of unease mixing in his chest. The once predictable, quiet morning, filled with thoughts of his mother and the tranquility of his routine, has devolved into something far more unsettling.
A resigned groan escapes him. How is it that every time he thinks things might calm down, the universe throws another complication his way?
The lights flicker, sending a chill down his spine, and he realizes with growing dread that the elevator is malfunctioning. The lights flicker again, dimming and buzzing, and he feels the unmistakable weight of isolation-the room growing colder as the last remnants of light flicker out.
He lets out a sigh of resignation.
"... Well, at least I have a reasonable excuse to skip class..." He tries to ease his own tension with a quiet murmur, though his clenched fists and the tension in his posture betray the simmering frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Anger, disappointment, and helplessness churn inside him. Why is it always him who ends up in these situations?
---
9:31 AM
(Assembly Point • Asterick Unity Education (A.U.E.) • Ground Floor)
A sharp voice cuts through the growing chaos of students milling about, their panic palpable.
"IS THIS ALL!?"
The voice belongs to a boy with short brown hair, his uniform clearly marking him as part of the Student Council. A tag on his chest reads bluntly: STUDENT COUNCIL.
His eyes scan the crowded assembly area, looking over the sea of anxious faces.
"Easy... easy now, people," he tries again, raising his voice to be heard over the tumult. "Let me ask again-this is everyone who attends today, right? No one's left behind?"
His voice, though loud and firm, does little to calm the frenzied crowd. Instead, a few students shout out in frustration.
"What's happening here?!"
"Yeah, man, what's going on!?"
"Man, I'm tired of this stupid drill. We do this every year! It's not like we're going to forget the steps!"
Another student, his voice full of snark, shouts, "I just want to study! Why can't today be just a little less messed up?"
Paul's patience wears thin, and with a sigh, he raises one hand in the air, demanding silence. His expression hardens, and when he speaks again, his voice is full of authority and urgency.
"Listen up!" he barks. "This is NOT a drill! It's a real threat, and it's coming for us! The rest of the Student Council is handling the situation, but we have no clue what we're dealing with yet. What I do know is that it came through the East Gate and is heading toward the City's Heart-right here. So, once again, stay here in the assembly point! Do NOT leave until the situation is resolved. Got it?"
His voice is firm, his tone unmistakably serious.
As the echo of his words fades, the crowd erupts into renewed chaos. Whispers and frantic questions fill the air.
"Passed the East Gate?! And you're telling us now?!"
"What is this thing-a mech?!"
"Must be a corrupted robot!"
One student sneers, crossing his arms. "Yeah, easy for you to say. You're not even in the Student Council. Why should we listen?"
Others hiss in response, the tension growing even thicker.
---
While the students continue to panic, Paul rubs his forehead, clearly frustrated by the lack of cooperation.
Just then, a girl hurries to his side, concern evident in her voice. "Paul, Paul..."
She stops beside him, her glasses glinting in the light as she looks at him anxiously. Paul turns to face her, his expression skeptical.
"What is it now, Wêrïn?"
Wêrïn hesitates before speaking, her voice low, laced with unease. "There's someone still not here... I don't see him."
Paul raises an eyebrow, his stance stiffening as his gaze sharpens. "Who is it? Someone from the junior class?"
She shakes her head. "No, it's not one of the juniors."
"Then who?" he demands, his eyes narrowing with intensity.
"... It's Yoshi-"
"Sorry, who?" Paul interrupts sharply, turning away with a dismissive gesture. He crosses his arms, his expression a mixture of disinterest and disbelief.
"... Yoshi Manami," Wêrïn continues, her voice firm despite the tension in the air. Her gaze meets his, unwavering.
Paul pauses. The name doesn't register immediately, but as she stands before him, resolute, the reality starts to sink in. A flicker of concern appears in his eyes, but it's quickly dismissed.
"Yoshi? Ha!" Paul scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Why should I care about some shrimp of a kid? If he's out there, let him deal with it. He's not worth risking my life."
Without waiting for further explanation, he turns, brushing past her, his disregard for the situation clear. Wêrïn stands still, frustration and anger rising in her chest. She clenches her fists, her face flushed with irritation.
"... It's the Noir... you're talking about, Paul."
Her words are a quiet whisper, but they don't go unnoticed. Some of the nearby students and council members freeze, their expressions shifting to something darker-recognizing the gravity
Meanwhile, Paul, who remained oblivious to the growing tension around him, continued chatting with his fellow student council members, his laughter ringing through the chaotic assembly point.
"Hahahaha... can't you believe it? Wêrïn asking me to save some shrimp boy back at the school! Is she crazy? No way I'm saving a shrimp in exchange for my valuable life!" Paul exclaimed, his voice loud and mocking.
His friends chuckled in agreement, but their laughter was sinister, a stark contrast to the dire situation unfolding around them. They were supposed to be managing the crowd, yet their attitudes showed little concern for the real danger. The students, panicked and frightened, were no match for the smirks and casual demeanor of the student council members who were supposed to be protecting them.
Meanwhile, some students, having overheard Wêrïn's quiet mutter about the 'Noir,' exchanged uneasy glances. They had all heard the rumors about Yoshi Manami-the 'Noir Prince,' as some called him-and his rumored connection to Artoria Vesteria. The way Wêrïn had spoken his name, with such subtle but unmistakable reverence, sent a shiver down their spines. They knew well enough that mocking someone like Yoshi could bring disastrous consequences.
In the midst of the growing murmurs, a quiet sense of dread settled over the assembly point. Paul's dismissive attitude was beginning to turn heads, and whispers of "he's dead" rippled through the crowd.
At that very moment, a faint, almost imperceptible hum echoed in the distance. The doors to the assembly hall rattled briefly, but no one paid it any mind until the air grew still. The hallway lights flickered as if reacting to something unseen, and a cold, almost chilling energy filled the room.
Wêrïn's thoughts raced. It's not just any student they've angered today. It's Yoshi... the 'Noir'... and the consequences could be devastating.