I. The Unstable Gate
The car rolled to a silent stop in front of the Aetherford Dormitory Gate, 6:47 AM. Mist clung to the cobblestones like a secret, and the wrought iron gate loomed tall. The university didn't just look prestigious—it felt like a sanctuary sealed by heavy, watchful magic.
The driver opened the rear door. Himari Tsukihara emerged, her coat a meager shield against the chill. Her posture was impeccably reserved, a royal habit hiding the chaos beneath. Mr. Igarashi, her father's assistant, held out a cream-colored envelope.
Himari (Inner Monologue): Here we go. The performance. Why did Father even bother sending the money if I'm such a negligible problem?
"Please return it to her," Himari said quietly, refusing the envelope. "Tell Mumma to give it to Aika and Rin. I really don't need this."
Igarashi nodded. "Sir asked me to tell you not to get into any more trouble."
She let out a short breath, keeping her composure flawless. "Got the message loud and clear. Tell them I'm behaving. For now."
The car pulled away. The pretense of a smile slipped, replaced by the heavy weight of isolation. The gate stood immune to her Class C Keycard. Her raw frustration—her fear of the consequence of this forced transfer—triggered her unstable magic. She jammed the keycard back in and let a surge of raw, untamed defiance flow into the worn plastic.
The wrought iron didn't creak open; it screamed. The embedded protection runes flashed wildly.
A figure moved instantly, stepping from the shadows of the nearby Aether-Monitor station. Kiro Arashi.
He was impeccably neat, wearing a simple but perfectly tailored light-gray shirt, his dark hair cut sharp and controlled. Clear, thin-rimmed glasses rested on his nose, giving his gaze a cold, calculating intensity. He raised his hand, and the volatile magical energy Himari had unleashed was calmly seized and dissipated. The chaotic discharge was instantly smothered by a wave of cold, crystalline black energy that pulsed from his fingertips.
Kiro: "That was a reckless attempt at a Class B Overcharge on a Class D lock. The Gate's Aether-Matrix almost failed. Do you have any idea how many unregistered students just felt that uncontrolled magic spike? We keep magic quiet here."
Himari (Inner Monologue): You smug, perfectly sculpted ice cube. He's reminding me I failed even the best place. Why do they even bother monitoring a negligible piece like me?
Himari (Outer Dialogue): She met his gaze with perfect, cold formality. "I apologize for the security breach. And you are...?"
Kiro: His eyes narrowed, and he delivered his name like a title. "Kiro Arashi. Dormitory Monitor. The problem isn't the protocol, Himari Tsukihara. The problem is you are proving to be precisely as inconvenient as predicted."
He then looked away, dismissing her entirely.
II. Room 3B and the False Protagonist
Himari headed to the third floor. The air was thick with static magical residue, but she forced herself to ignore it. She pulled a custom-made Aether-Sensor rod from a hidden pocket and ran it over the old wooden desk. The rod blinked, turning to an urgent red.
Himari (Inner Monologue): Found it. The energy Father planted. Now, before the system logs my presence... I need to be fast. Fast!
She was interrupted. Kiro and Raien stepped out of their rooms, drawn by the surge. Kiro's eyes narrowed, sensing the lingering energy spike. He was uninterested in her; he was only interested in the Academy's security.
Raien, however, moved smoothly between Himari and Kiro, his presence immediately softening the tension. He was the perfect picture of sincere, non-judgmental charm.
Raien: "Hey, easy," Raien said, his voice warm and apologetic. "Look, your room is sealed off, and the facilities team won't be here for days to deal with a minor dust and grime report like this. Don't worry, though. I can send my personal aide to clear it out later. How does that sound?"
Himari (Inner Monologue): Minor report? He thinks my mission is a cleaning project. Lass mich allein! (German for 'Leave me alone!') I should say. But I'll take the easy way out.
Himari (Outer Dialogue): She gave a tiny, reserved nod. "That is... exceptionally generous, Mister Raien. Thank you."
III. The Unlikely Ally
She left the room. At the gatekeeper's office, she submitted the room change form.
Minutes later, outside the CVS, Jiro approached her, calm and hooded. He didn't look like an academy elite, but his eyes held an unnerving depth. "You look lost," he said calmly.
Himari put up her wall. "I merely require directions."
Jiro ignored her coldness. "The gatekeeper told me about the power spike," Jiro murmured. "They treat us all like pawns here, especially the transfers. I saw Kiro leave that area looking ready to report a failure."
Himari's breath hitched. Fear—the constant, chilling fear of her father's consequences— tightened her throat.
Jiro continued, his tone softening. "I get it. You're alone, and they're waiting for you to make a mistake. I'll help you find your way back."
They went inside the CVS. She paid him with a quick money exchange, but winced inwardly at the total. Every purchase was a serious drain on the carefully rationed Euros (€) her father had allocated. She chose a cheap, calorie-dense energy bar, avoiding the imported snacks she couldn't afford.
Jiro agreed to help with the dusty room. Himari waited in the hall. When he called her back, the room was mostly clean.
"Dead body's gone. Dust cleared. May it rest in peace," Jiro announced.
Himari pulled a small snack from Cyprus from her bag—a dense, packaged lemon wafer, a rare, irreplaceable luxury she'd packed.
Jiro: "So," he asked, meeting her eyes, "would you like to be my friend? Not a fellow royal, just an ally who understands what it means to be afraid of the people who are supposed to protect you."
Himari (Inner Monologue): He is interfering way too much but i cant say anything is it am i over thinking leave himari don't always think too much he is just a good person He sees the neglect. (But his smile is nice... I haven't smiled in a year.)
She pulled out her phone. He added her quickly. "My room's 3C, by the way. If you ever need anything, just message."
Just then, her phone buzzed. She answered. "Yes, I arrived safely... Thank you, Mr. Igarashi."
Jiro, halfway through the doorway, paused. "Do you know where the university building is?"
Her face froze slightly.
Jiro laughed, a genuine sound. "Okay. I'll come pick you up tomorrow. Don't worry."
she just looked at him with little annoyance btu sad only u ain't need to do that
And with that, he stepped out, leaving her in the quiet room—already trapped between the cold judgment of Kiro, the calculated kindness of Raien, and the unnerving camaraderie of Jiro.