Morning came quietly. For once—no chaos. No pain.
Royoshi stretched lazily in his bed.
"Still alive… nice."
A small win.
He sat up slowly. His body still ached, but it was manageable now.
Bandages remained. Stitches still tight. But he could move. That was enough.
After getting ready, he headed to class.
The hallway buzzed with noise. Voices overlapped. Laughter echoed—normal life.
Royoshi walked through it quietly. Unnoticed.
Just how he preferred it.
He stepped into the classroom. Right on time.
Most seats were already filled. Conversations stopped—just for a second. Then resumed.
Royoshi didn't react. He walked straight to his usual spot—the back corner.
He sat down.
Across the room—Ishara sat in the front row.
For a brief moment—their eyes met.
She didn't look away.
Royoshi blinked. "…She's doing it again."
For once—
He didn't look away immediately.
A second passed. Then two.
Then—Ishara turned back toward the front.
"…Weird."
Before he could think more—the classroom door opened.
The teacher stepped in.
"Settle down."
The room quieted instantly.
"Before we begin—" A pause.
"I will address the recent mission."
The atmosphere shifted.
Students straightened. Some leaned forward.
"Ishara Veyl."
She stood.
"Come forward."
She walked to the front. Calm. Unbothered.
"The situation in the valley escalated beyond expectation."
Murmurs spread lightly.
"But despite that—" A pause.
"One student handled the situation exceptionally."
Silence.
"Ishara Veyl."
Claps erupted across the room. Loud.
Some students looked impressed. Others—jealous.
Royoshi clapped too. Quietly, from the back.
Ishara didn't react to the applause.
Her gaze shifted slightly—toward Royoshi.
Again.
"Yeah, this is definitely intentional."
"She's the strongest one in our class for a reason."
"She carried the whole mission."
"She's insane…"
Whispers spread across the class.
The teacher raised his hand. "Enough."
The whispers died down instantly.
"Ishara Veyl."
A pause.
"Return to your seat."
She turned. Walked back calmly.
Step.
Step.
Step.
But just before she sat—
Her gaze flickered back toward Royoshi.
Again.
Royoshi looked away this time.
"…Yeah, no. I'm not getting involved."
The lessons resumed.
Equations filled the board. Concepts. Explanations.
Normal class.
And slowly—
Royoshi's head tilted.
"…just five minutes…"
He yawned.
Then—silence.
Gone. Asleep—like an owl in the daytime.
Time passed.
The bell rang.
Students stood. Chairs moved. Bags packed. Voices returned.
Then faded.
One by one—everyone left.
Until—silence. Almost.
One remained.
Royoshi.
Still asleep.
Head tilted slightly. Breathing steady.
"…Unbelievable."
Ishara stood near the door. She hadn't left.
She walked back. Slow. Quiet.
Stopped beside his desk.
"Royoshi."
No response.
"…Royoshi."
Nothing again.
A pause.
"…Mmmm… this chicken looks good…"
Ishara froze.
"…I wanna eat it…"
Silence.
"…Just five more minutes… please…"
A very small pause—
Then—
She grabbed his shoulder and shook him.
"Wake up."
Royoshi shot up instantly.
"AHHHHH—!"
His voice echoed across the empty classroom.
He looked around wildly.
"…What—where—?!"
Then—
He saw her.
Ishara.
Standing there.
"Good evening, sleepyhead."
Royoshi blinked.
"…Good even—wait."
A pause.
"WHEN DID I FALL ASLEEP?!"
Ishara crossed her arms.
"You fell asleep during class."
Royoshi froze.
"…Again?"
A pause.
"…Wait—how long?"
Ishara looked at him. "The entire period."
Silence.
Royoshi slowly looked around.
"…No way."
He rubbed his face.
"…I'm finished."
Ishara turned toward the door.
"Come with me."
Royoshi blinked.
"…Huh?"
She glanced back.
"That wasn't a suggestion."
Royoshi stood up quickly.
"Um—yeah—okay."
They walked out together.
The hallway wasn't empty this time. Students lingered. Talking. Watching.
And then—
They noticed.
"…Why is he with Ishara?"
"That's the guy from Class C, right?"
"The weak one?"
Royoshi's expression darkened slightly.
"…Seriously?"
Before it could build—
"Ignore them."
Ishara's voice cut through cleanly. Calm. Sharp.
Royoshi exhaled. "Yeah…"
They walked in silence. Up the stairs. Past the corridors.
Until—
The rooftop.
The wind greeted them.
Cool. Quiet. Distant from everything below.
Royoshi stepped forward slightly.
"…Yeah. This is better."
Ishara walked past him.
She sat on the bench near the edge.
Royoshi followed her and sat beside her.
Silence.
Then—
"Are you taking the pills I gave you?"
Royoshi nodded.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"…Every day."
Ishara observed him carefully.
"Any changes?"
Royoshi leaned back slightly.
"My Shuryoku feels like it's being stabilized again."
A small pause.
Ishara didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes stayed on him. Analyzing.
"…Stabilized?"
Royoshi nodded slightly.
"Yeah…"
A pause.
"…Like something is holding it back from going out of control."
Silence.
Ishara looked away briefly. Then back at him.
"That's because it is."
Royoshi exhaled quietly.
"…Figured."
The wind passed between them again.
Then—
"Don't stop taking them."
Her tone—
More serious now.
Royoshi raised an eyebrow slightly. "…That important?"
Ishara didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Royoshi replied.
"Thank you."
Ishara's serious composure broke, and she got a little flustered.
"N-no need to thank me."
Royoshi paused. Just for a second.
"…You're acting strange."
Ishara froze. "…I'm not."
Royoshi tilted his head slightly.
"…You are."
Silence.
The wind brushed past again.
Ishara looked away.
"…Forget it."
Royoshi let out a small breath.
"Yeah… probably better."
A pause.
Then—
"Your Shuryoku is still unstable."
Royoshi blinked.
"That came out of nowhere."
Ishara continued anyway.
"You stabilized it for one attack."
A pause.
"But your body can't handle it yet."
Royoshi leaned back.
"…Yeah. I noticed that part."
A small silence.
"Next time—" Ishara's voice lowered slightly. "Don't overburden yourself."
Royoshi turned toward her.
"…What?"
She didn't look at him.
"I mean it."
A pause.
Royoshi watched her. Carefully.
"…You sound like you're worried about me."
Ishara froze.
"…I'm not."
"…You are."
"…I'm not."
"…You are."
A pause.
"…Stop that."
Royoshi let out a quiet chuckle.
"Okay, okay."
Silence settled again. But not heavy this time.
Then—
"You don't have to fight so carelessly."
A pause.
Royoshi blinked. "…What?"
Ishara finally turned toward him. Her eyes steady.
"You fight like you don't care about yourself."
A pause.
The wind passed between them again.
Royoshi looked away. "…Habit."
Ishara frowned slightly.
"That's a bad one."
"…Yeah."
Then—
"I'll fight with you next time."
Royoshi blinked. "…You what?"
Ishara didn't hesitate.
"Next time something like that happens—"
A pause.
"You don't have to handle it alone."
"…That's dangerous, you know."
"I know."
"…You could get hurt."
A small pause.
"So could you."
Silence.
Royoshi didn't reply immediately.
The wind brushed past again.
"…You're serious."
Ishara nodded.
"I am."
Royoshi exhaled quietly.
"…Alright."
A faint smile.
"Then don't try to slow me down, okay?"
Ishara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I won't."
Something shifted. Not tension. Not distance. Something quieter.
Then—
Ishara stood up. "I should go."
Royoshi leaned back.
"Yeah."
She took a few steps—then stopped.
Without turning—
"Don't sleep in class tomorrow."
Royoshi blinked. "…No promises."
"…Try."
"…I'll try."
A very faint smile appeared on her face.
Then—she left.
The door closed.
The rooftop fell silent again.
Royoshi leaned back.
"…Man"
Then—tap.
A hand touched his shoulder.
Royoshi jumped off the bench instantly.
"AHHHHHH—!"
He turned—
"…Oh."
Rikishu.
"…It's just you."
Rikishu sighed.
"You're too easy to scare."
Royoshi frowned.
"Perhaps you should stop appearing like a ghost all the time!"
Rikishu ignored that.
"You're being watched again."
Royoshi's expression changed instantly.
"…By who?"
Rikishu's gaze sharpened. "The Citadel."
He continued. "Not just students—the whole of Upbringers' Citadel."
Royoshi's grip tightened slightly.
"…Figures."
Rikishu stepped closer.
"Rest today."
A pause.
"Tomorrow—"
His voice lowered.
"We stop holding back."
His form flickered, then disappeared.
Silence.
Royoshi looked at the sky.
"…Guess things are about to get serious."
A faint smile formed. Not relaxed anymore. Focused.