The last bell of the day rang, echoing down the hallway. Students immediately spilled out of classrooms, excited chatter filling the air as everyone buzzed about the upcoming festival.
Luca and Marc stepped out of 2B, staying close and keeping an eye out for Aiden or Ryo. But instead, someone called to them.
"Luca! Marc! Wait up!"
It was their homeroom teacher—a tired-looking man with glasses and a stack of papers under his arm.
"You two are the transfer students, right?" he said, flipping through the stack. "Yes… yes, here we are. Your dorm assignments."
He handed them a single envelope.
"One room," the teacher continued. "Two beds. Roommates. School policy says transfers stick together until they stabilize."
Luca tried not to laugh.
Marc didn't try at all.
"Perfect," Marc said, smirking. "We work better as a team anyway."
The teacher nodded. "Good. Dinner is at seven. Curfew at nine. Festival briefing tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
He walked off without another word.
Luca tapped the envelope against his palm. "At least we know where we're sleeping."
Marc pocketed it. "Good. I wasn't tryna bunk with some random dude who snores."
They both laughed as they headed down the hall.
But as they turned a corner, they noticed something strange—clusters of students whispering excitedly.
"Did you see Aiden today? He won the math-off again."
"He wins everything."
"They say Ryo's the brains, Aiden's the heart."
"No couple stands a chance during the festival unless they approve."
Luca and Marc slowed down, eavesdropping from a distance.
A girl whispered, "I heard Aiden predicted today's pop quiz… again."
"Predict?" Marc muttered. "How?"
Another student added, "Ryo always knows people's moods. Like he can read minds or something."
Luca gave Marc a look.
Marc looked back with the same expression:
"That's not normal."
They continued walking until they reached the courtyard from earlier.
That's when something caught Marc's eye.
A girl sat alone beneath the sakura tree—quiet, calm, reading a book. Long dark hair, soft eyes, uniform neat and perfect. But what stood out most was her presence.
She didn't look like part of the background.
She didn't feel like an NPC.
She felt… real.
Marc slowed to a stop.
Luca followed his gaze. "Who's that?"
Marc didn't answer.
Something about her felt magnetic.
As if sensing his stare, the girl looked up—eyes meeting Marc's directly.
Not surprised.
Not shy.
Almost like she'd been waiting for him.
She closed her book softly. "You're Marc, right?"
Marc's pulse kicked. "Uh… yeah."
Luca raised a brow. "How'd you know his name?"
The girl tilted her head slightly. "People talk. New transfers draw attention."
But her tone suggested she knew more than that.
She stood, brushing petals off her skirt. "I'm Aria. Second-year. I transferred last semester."
She stepped closer, eyes studying him like she saw something no one else ever had.
"You don't fit here," Aria said quietly. "Neither of you do."
Luca froze. "What do you mean?"
Aria's expression stayed calm. "This school… this world… it runs on patterns. People repeat themselves. Days blur. Most students act the same no matter what choices you make."
Marc's breath caught.
Luca whispered, "You noticed that too…"
Aria looked directly at Marc.
"But you and your friend? You break the pattern. You're unpredictable."
Marc swallowed. "Is that… bad?"
Aria smiled gently. "Not to me."
Something fluttered in Marc's chest—excitement mixed with danger.
Luca cleared his throat loudly. "Okay Marc, lover boy, we still gotta prep for tomorrow."
Aria looked between them. "Tomorrow is important. Be careful. The festival… changes things."
Before Marc could ask what she meant, she stepped past them and disappeared into the building.
Marc stared after her.
Luca slapped his shoulder lightly. "Bro… she's into you."
Marc tried to hide his smile. "Shut up."
"Naah, don't lie—you're cooked."
"Luca…"
"COOKED."
Marc shoved him. Luca laughed out loud.
For a moment, things felt normal.
Just two brothers messing around.
But then—
"Look who's getting comfortable."
Aiden's voice cut through the courtyard like a knife.
He and Ryo stood by the fountain, watching them with unreadable expressions.
Aiden stepped forward. "I hope you've settled in. Wouldn't want you too distracted before tomorrow."
Luca met his gaze. "You worried?"
Aiden smirked. "Not at all. I just prefer when the competition knows their place."
Marc took a step forward. "We'll see about that."
Ryo smiled politely. "Good luck tomorrow. You'll need it."
Aiden turned his back, tossing one last comment over his shoulder.
"Don't embarrass yourselves."
Luca felt his jaw tighten.
Marc's fists clenched.
Before either could respond, the loudspeakers crackled to life:
"Attention students! The Spring Term Festival trials begin… TOMORROW MORNING!"
Cheers erupted across campus.
Luca and Marc exchanged a look.
Aiden smirked in the distance.
Hana waved excitedly from another hallway.
Aria stood at a window above them, watching quietly.
Marc breathed out. "It's starting."
Luca nodded slowly.
"Yeah, bro."
"Everything starts tomorrow."