The gates of Nova Academy towered before them like the mouth of a giant ready to swallow everything whole.
Ren stood in the middle of the crowd, gaping at the structure. Glass and sword, shaped like a five-pointed star, with a central palace piercing into the shadows. On the frontal wall, the academe's hallmark was engraved — a star, with words beneath it
Pro Tegere.
An ancient language. To cover.
Beside him, Hana gripped the sleeve of his jacket tightly. Not like a nut. Like someone hysterical of being swept down.
" There are so numerous, " she rumored.
Ren jounced.
Thousands of people. Some their age, some youngish, some aged. A many were formerly wearing atomic idol costumes complete with capes and flashy accessories. Others looked casual, like they were heading to a boardwalk.
But they all had one thing in common.
They had powers.
Ren felt the cuff on his left wrist. Warm. Not burning — just present. A quiet memorial that he'd commodity now, too.
" Ren Kaido. "
A voice from before. Low, slightly rough.
Ren turned.
A youthful man stood a many measures down. Beforehand twenties. Black leather jacket, spiky hair sticking up like he'd just been electrocuted, hands in his pockets. He smiled but it did n't reach his eyes.
" Kazuki, " Ren said.
" Good. You flash back me. " Kazuki walked closer and gentled Ren's shoulder. " I work then now. Guest educator. They said they demanded someone to educate advanced combat ways. "
Hana lowered . " You're an educator? "
" I'm surprised too. " Kazuki pulled out a card, flashing the Nova hallmark on the corner. " They said field experience matters further than degrees. Or perhaps they just demanded cheap labor. "
He slipped it back into his fund and glanced at the crowd.
" You two be careful. People then judge by appearances. " He refocused at Ren. " You — the Quirkless sprat who suddenly went viral. Some will want to be your friend. Some will want to be your adversary. "
He broke.
" And some " Kazuki's smile returned. " Just want to watch you fall. "
Hana narrowed her eyes. " And some what? "
" That's it. " He signed. " Anyway, I've got work.However, educator's room, third bottom, If you need me. "
He turned and faded into the crowd.
Hana looked at Ren. " He's weird. "
" He's Kazuki. "
" That's not an answer. "
Ren did n't reply.
Through the Bond Link, he felt the same thing Hana did — heedfulness. But not toward Kazuki.
Toward the people around them.
tales spread.
That's him, right?
The one from the videotape?
The Quirkless idol?
But he does n't have a quip right?
Hana tensed her grip on his sleeve. " Let's find nearly to sit. "
They set up an empty bench near the hedge, down from the thick part of the crowd. From there, they could see the main entrance easily.
" Look, " Hana said, pointing.
A youthful man walked in with long, confident strides. Bright red hair, sleeveless jacket revealing muscular arms.
He was n't alone.
Behind him, a girl with long blue hair walked still, keeping her distance.
The boy stopped.
Turned.
His eyes met Ren's.
Ren felt commodity.
Not the Bond Link.
Heat.
Like a small honey kindling in the air between them.
The boy smiled.
A bloodsucker's smile.
He walked toward them, the blue- haired girl following quietly.
" You're Ren Kaido? " His voice was loud, uncaring of who heard.
" Yes. "
" I'm Ryuji Takeda. " He jerked his thumb toward himself. " Strongest seeker this time. "
Ren said nothing.
Beside him, Hana stayed quiet but through the Bond Link, he felt her vexation.
Ryuji's aspect
dropped to the cuff on Ren's wrist.
" What's that? That's where your power comes from? "
" Secret. "
Ryuji scarfed. " numbers. "
He turned and started to walk down — also stopped after two way.
" You're intriguing, Kaido, " he said without looking back. " But in the arena I wo n't hold back. "
He left.
The blue- haired girl followed, not glancing back indeed formerly.
Hana exhaled. " Arrogant. "
" He's strong, " Ren said.
" So are you. "
" Not yet. "
Hana did n't respond.
But through the Bond Link, he felt it easily.
Not yet but soon.
The written test began at ten.
Ren and Hana were separated — Room 7 and Room 31.
Before parting, Hana seized his hand.
" If I get wedged — "
" I'll help, " Ren said, tapping his tabernacle. Bond Link.
She smiled, also walked down.
Room 7 was a large laboratory filled with rows of divisions.
Ren sat at seat 12.
Seat 13 beside him was empty.
But in the reverse row, someone sat alone.
Ren glanced over.
White hair.
Not argentine. Not faded.
Pure white — like snow.
He wore a black livery, sitting still near the window. He did n't speak. Did n't look around. Just goggled at the empty board.
Ren did n't suppose much of it.
The test papers were handed out.
Section 1 idol History
Ren read the first question.
Who was the first listed idol in the Kai period?
He wrote without vacillation.
His hand moved snappily, words flowing from memory. Everything came from his forefather's books — not just answers, but stories behind them.
The first idol was n't the strongest.
He was just an ordinary person who happed to be in the right place.
But he chose not to run.
That's what made him a idol.
Ren wrote that down.
Not exactly what the question asked.
But he was certain.
In the reverse row, the white- haired boy wrote calmly. No rush. No vacillation.
Section 2 Hero Ethics
A script question.
A dangerous miscreant is escaping. On the way, you see a child about to be hit by a car.However, the miscreant escapes, If you stop to save the child.However, the child dies, If you keep chasing. What do you do?
Ren set.
His pencil did n't move.
He flashed back his forefather.
A quiet autumn on the reverse veranda . His forefather reading a review, spectacles slipping down his nose.
Grandpa, icons have to be strong, right?
His forefather lowered the paper.
No. They've to be stalwart.
stalwart how?
stalwart enough to choose. occasionally the right choice is n't the easiest one.
Ren began writing.
Ren continued writing.
I would stop to save the child.
Not because I'm abandoning my responsibility but because a idol can not lose their humanity. After icing the child is safe, I'll pursue the felonious with everything I have.However, that's a consequence I must accept, If they escape. A idol's duty is n't only to capture villains, but to cover everyone including those who are weak and have no voice.
He set his pencil down.
In the reverse, the white- haired boy had formerly finished. He sat still, gaping out the window.
Break time.
Ren stepped out into the hallway, searching for Hana.
He set up her sitting on the bottom, leaning against the wall. Her face was pale.
" I nearly failed the last part, " she said. " The ethics question. I did n't know what to write. "
" But you answered. "
" You helped. " She looked at him. " Through the Bond Link. Not words just a feeling. Like you were saying, choose what's right, indeed if it's hard. "
Ren sat beside her. " That's the right answer. "
" You do n't know that. "
" I do. "
Hana looked at him for a moment, also smiled vocally. " Do you suppose we passed "
" We'll find out. "
The results were blazoned at two in the autumn.
Thousands gathered in the open field, gaping at a massive screen.
Ren stood among them, Hana beside him. Their hands nearly touched.
The screen lit up.
Names began to scroll — from rank 500 downcast.
Hana tensed her grip. Through the Bond Link, Ren felt her fear.
He transferred back calm.
Fake but enough.
" 300 289 "
HANA SATO – RANK 289.
Hana let out a small laugh. " I made it! "
She hugged Ren without minding who was watching.
Ren hugged her back but his eyes stayed on the screen.
The names kept scrolling.
Rank 15 Yuki Aoyama
Rank 12 Ryuji Takeda
From hence, Ryuji did n't reply but Ren saw the faint smile on his face.
Rank 7 Sora Indigo
Ren lowered .
That name again.
The white- haired boy from Room 7.
He turned toward the edge of the field.
Sora stood alone, piecemeal from the crowd. He looked at the screen, reading his own name — also sluggishly lifted his aspect
.
Their eyes met.
Cold.
Empty.
No expression.
But commodity was there.
commodity that made the hairs on the reverse of Ren's neck stand up.
Rank 1 Ren Kaido – Score 100
Hana screamed louder. " REN! YOU'RE NUMBER ONE! "
The crowd erupted.
All eyes turned toward him.
Ren stood still, unfit to move.
First place.
A perfect score.
Grandpa this is because of you.
In the distance, Ryuji goggled at him with an undecipherable expression. Not wrathfulness. Not covetousness.
commodity closer to respect.
reticent but real.
Yuki stood beside him, still cold and undecipherable.
And Sora —
Was gone.
That night, Ren and Hana sat in a temporary dorm room.
hereafter, endless dorm assignments would be blazoned. But for now, they participated the space with dozens of other campaigners.
Hana was formerly asleep on the top bunk.
Through the Bond Link, Ren felt it easily.
Tired.
But peaceful.
Ren sat on the lower bed, phone in hand.
A communication from Prof. Kei.
Congratulations. First place. Your forefather would be proud. But be careful the coming test will be harder.
Ren replied
Understood.
He opened a cybersurfer and compartmented
Sora Indigo
Nothing.
No records. No academy history. No social media.
Nothing.
Like he did n't live.
Ren closed the phone and leaned back.
The dorm hallway outside was quiet.
But also —
The Bond Link stirred.
Not from Hana.
Ren sat up.
He walked to the window and looked outdoors.
In the dim light of the yard, a figure stood.
White hair.
Black jacket.
Sora Indigo.
He was n't moving.
Just standing there.
Looking straight at Ren's window.
No surge.
No smile.
Just watching.
Ren held his breath.
After a many seconds, Sora turned.
And walked down.
fading into the murk between structures.
The Bond Link transferred a signal from Hana — still asleep.
Ren did n't wake her.
He returned to his bed and closed his eyes.
But sleep did n't come.
His mind replayed Sora's face.
Cold.
Empty.
But not empty.
There was commodity there.
commodity he could n't understand.
hereafter was the physical test.
hereafter, he'd face Sora Indigo in the arena.
And he demanded to find out —
Who he really was.