Next morning, sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Resonance Class, casting warm light across rows of sleek desks arranged in ascending tiers. It was Harmony's first study day at Aria Luna Academy; they quietly took their seats near the middle-back, their bags settling with soft thuds.
A moment later, two familiar figures hurried down the steps—Cherry Blossom, her pink hair bouncing, and Fluffy Cloud, looking half-awake with her trademark sleepy grin.
"As expected," Catherine murmured, watching them approach.
"Morning~!" Cherry beamed brightly as she plopped into the seat beside Evelyn, leaning in like she'd always been part of the group.
"Morning," Fluffy echoed with a lazy stretch before sinking into the seat beside Catherine, already half-drifting again.
Catherine yawned in response. "You're gonna fall asleep before class even starts, aren't you?"
Fluffy gave a sleepy thumbs-up. "That's the plan."
The door creaked open, and Professor Claude, tall and elegant with silver-rimmed glasses, stepped in, setting a thick folder down on the podium.
"Let's begin." she said.
As the professor explained today's topic, Eluera listened attentively, pen poised, while Evelyn took notes in precise handwriting. Meanwhile, Cherry doodled stars and flowers around the page title, humming softly.
Catherine… well, she lasted about ten minutes before her head tilted forward, eyes fluttering shut until her forehead nearly hit the desk. Eluera nudged her shoulder gently.
Catherine jolted upright with a small gasp, blinking wildly. Cherry giggled softly, and Fluffy leaned her head a bit closer to Catherine's ears. "Looks like you need a nap more than me,"
The lesson continued in the background. It wasn't the most exciting morning, but there was something quietly comforting about it—the warmth of friends beside them, and the feeling of settling into their new life.
—
During lunch break, Harmony shared a table beneath a flowering archway in the Sound Garden with Sugarpetal. Laughter bubbled between bites of sandwiches.
Cherry leaned forward with a playful sparkle in her eyes, wiggling her fingers toward Fluffy's plate. "Fluuuuffy~ if you don't finish your sandwich, I'm gonna eat it for you~!"
Fluffy blinked slowly, then let out a sigh, flopping her head onto the table. "Betrayed by my own teammate… how tragic."
Meanwhile, Catherine eyed the dessert tray from the corner of her eye, then casually slid a second pastry onto her napkin. She had almost brought it to her mouth when—
"Catherine." Evelyn's voice cut in, gentle but unmistakably sharp.
Catherine froze, halfway through a bite, eyes flicking up innocently. "…Yes?"
Evelyn tilted her head. "That's your third time."
"Second," Catherine muttered. chewing anyway.
"You had two before we sat down," Evelyn replied, reaching to adjust the cutlery with exaggerated calm.
Catherine glanced away. "No proof."
Cherry leaned in like a gossiping squirrel. "I saw her sneak one pastry from the cafeteria earlier."
"Snitch," Catherine growled with her mouth full.
Fluffy raised her head slightly, "Justice always comes for the greedy," she said, eyes still half-closed. "…Eventually."
—
For a while, Harmony's worries and expectations faded beneath the simple joy of shared time. The garden around them swayed softly, as if humming along to their laughter.
"See?" Cherry grinned, nudging Eluera. "Told you this place isn't so scary with friends around."
But as the lunch hour waned, an unfamiliar stillness crept into the air. It was Catherine who first noticed, glancing toward the stone path that leads to the garden.
"Eluera…" Catherine's voice lowered, following her gaze. "Look."
Across the path, four figures appeared—poised. Clad in their immaculate uniforms, white hair shimmering like silken threads of moonlight, the full formation of Evergarden walked in quiet unity.
At their front stood Celestia, her heterochromatic black-and-white gaze serene yet distant. Beside her stood Victoria, Serenia, and Elysia, mirroring her elegance. The four sisters—their presence, an unspoken symphony of perfection. As they walked, Celestia's heterochromatic gaze turned, meeting Harmony's from across the distance.
For a heartbeat, all the students in the vicinity seemed to freeze.