"Welcome to Alph's Academy," the man said with a warm smile, his voice calm yet firm.
"Follow me. I'll show you where your dormitories are located. You can call me Dame," he added, turning as his boots clicked softly against the marble path.
The students fell into line behind him. The late afternoon light spilled across the vast courtyard, glinting on the silver emblems that adorned nearby buildings. Each structure towered high and proud, an elegant blend of futuristic design and ancient artistry. The academy's air felt alive—pure and strangely serene, almost humming with unseen energy.
"So straightforward," someone muttered under their breath, drawing a few quiet chuckles from the line.
Their eyes couldn't help but feast on the view as they walked. The paved walkways were lined with luminous trees whose glass-like leaves shimmered when touched by the wind. Fountains danced in the distance, their water sparkling as though threaded with light. Statues of long-forgotten heroes stood guard along the paths, carved in postures of strength and pride.
They walked for over an hour, their awe only deepening with every step. Eventually, Dame led them into an enormous estate filled with rows upon rows of beautifully structured buildings. Each building faced another across broad walkways and open gardens that stretched endlessly, like a city within a city.
As they entered through an arched gate, another officer approached—a woman dressed in the same style of uniform but with an aura of quiet authority. Her long hair was tied neatly, and her stride was precise.
Dame stopped and turned toward the group. "Alright, listen up," he said, his tone steady. "This is Clara, my colleague. She'll be taking the ladies to their dormitory building and helping assign your rooms. As for the guys, you'll follow me."
Clara gave a polite nod, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Ladies, this way please," she said, motioning with one gloved hand.
The students split, the boys following Dame down one path while the girls trailed behind Clara in another direction.
Dante walked quietly among the boys, his eyes drifting from one magnificent structure to another. Everything about the academy felt too perfect, as if it had been crafted from dreams. But beneath that perfection, he couldn't shake a subtle feeling—something unspoken stirring deep within the atmosphere, like a whisper just out of reach.
Eventually, they arrived at a towering dormitory. It loomed high above, a white stone structure that seemed to pierce the sky. A sign engraved in silver at the entrance read:
MALE DORMITORY – BLOCK A
Dame led them through the wide glass doors. The moment they stepped inside, the cool air greeted them. The floors were polished so cleanly that their reflections moved across them as they walked.
Students were dispatched to their rooms floor by floor—the first, then the second, the third, and so on. Laughter and footsteps echoed faintly through the stairwell as they climbed higher.
When they reached the twentieth floor, Dame stopped again and turned toward two of the boys. "Dante. Dabi. You're on this floor," he said, scanning his list.
This part of the building was eerily quiet. The hallway stretched long and empty, the hum of the lights above the only sound.
Their rooms were opposite each other, doors facing across the narrow walkway.
Dante and Dabi exchanged a small grin, clearly pleased.
"Guess we're neighbors," Dabi said, lifting a brow.
"Yeah," Dante replied with a light smile. "Not bad."
They bumped fists—a brief but solid connection—and opened their doors.
---
Dante stepped into his room and paused. It was spacious, far more than he expected. Four beds, four wardrobes, and a single window that bathed the room in pale gold light.
He placed his luggage beside the bed at the far end and sat down, taking a moment to observe. Two boys already occupied two of the beds. One lay stretched out, earphones in, eyes closed. The other sat quietly, staring at the ceiling.
That left one bed untouched. Either its owner hadn't arrived yet—or it was unclaimed.
Before Dante could speak, the boy lying down sat up, swung his legs over the bed, and walked over.
He had bright yellow hair, deep red eyes, and a naturally striking face—sharp, composed, and almost too handsome for comfort. Dressed in a white shirt and black jeans with spotless white sneakers, he carried himself with casual confidence.
"Hey," the boy greeted with a bright grin, extending his hand. "I'm Rio. Nice to meet you."
Dante shook it firmly. "Dante. Nice to meet you too."
At that moment, the other boy stood and walked toward them with mock offense in his tone. "Hey, are you guys planning to leave me out?"
Rio gave him a glance. "You're the one who ignored us," he said flatly, then looked back at Dante with another grin, wider this time. "Anyway, it's good meeting another new student, right?"
Dante chuckled softly. "Yeah, it is."
He turned to the third boy and smiled. "I'm Dante."
The boy smirked. "No need to introduce yourself twice. I already heard. I'm Lee."
"Nice," Dante said with a nod.
Rio clapped his hands together suddenly, eyes glinting. "Alright then, introductions done. How about we stretch our legs a bit? On my way here, I saw a building with Martial Arts Hall written right across the top. Let's go check it out."
"Sure," Dante said.
"Yeah, let's go," Lee added.
The three of them grabbed their room keys and left, their laughter echoing down the hallway.
---
Meanwhile, Dabi had entered his own room just across the hall. He walked straight to the bed on the right, tossing his bag down. As he looked around, he felt three pairs of eyes fixed on him.
Turning slightly, he saw three boys—two lounging on their beds, one sitting near the corner—staring in silence.
"Good afternoon," Dabi greeted calmly.
"Good afternoon," two of them replied, their voices cold and flat. There was no friendliness there—just indifference.
Dabi decided not to push it. He quietly observed the room—plain, functional, nothing fancy.
Moments later, the two cold boys stood up and left without a word, leaving Dabi alone with the one remaining student.
The last boy stood from his chair and approached, folding his arms across his chest. His expression was serious, almost intimidating at first glance.
"I guess we're on the same page," the boy said evenly.
Dabi tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"We're both new here," the boy replied. "And those two did the same thing to me earlier. Cold as ever." He extended a hand. "I'm Smith."
Dabi hesitated, then took it. "Dabi."
Smith nodded, a faint smirk forming. "Nice. So—want to look around? I don't plan on dying of boredom on my first day."
Dabi chuckled. "Yeah, let's explore a bit."
They left together, closing the door behind them.
---
The late afternoon had settled gently over the academy grounds, painting the sky in soft orange hues.
Dante, Rio, and Lee walked down a stone path lined with silver-leaved trees that whispered in the breeze. The campus stretched endlessly—training grounds, towers, and halls scattered across the horizon.
Finally, they stopped before a grand building. Its polished surface gleamed under the fading sunlight, and above the massive entrance, bold letters stood out:
MARTIAL ARTS HALL
"This is it," Rio said, his grin widening as he looked up at the towering structure. "The Martial Art Hall."