The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows that stretched like lazy cats across Kuoh Academy's marble walkways. The air held the warmth of late afternoon, buzzing faintly with ambient mana as Kiyoshi strolled down a path winding through the west gardens, hands in his pockets. Beside him, Celosia walked with soft steps, her gaze drifting between the swaying blossoms and the ethereal butterflies fluttering around a carved spirit tree. Rajieru trailed ahead of them, spinning a copper coin between his fingers, humming a tune that sounded half made-up, half sacred.
"No one tells you how big this place is," Kiyoshi muttered, watching a set of floating mana-lanterns bob overhead.
Rajieru turned around, walking backward now. "No one tells you the flowers here try to flirt with you either."
Kiyoshi blinked. "...What?"
As if on cue, a vine gently tapped his shoulder. Its leaf curled into a heart shape.
"See?" Rajieru grinned.
Celosia stifled a laugh behind her hand, cheeks slightly flushed. "They only respond to spirit-attuned mana. They... like you."
Rajieru leaned in with mock-seriousness. "Kiyoshi, you're pulling flower game now? Bold."
Kiyoshi rolled his eyes but smiled faintly. "Guess that's one more mystery added to the pile."
They wandered deeper through the garden paths, past a reflecting pool that showed not just their reflections, but faint glimmers of who they used to be. A magical ripple shimmered across the surface, and Celosia lingered behind, staring into it.
Kiyoshi noticed. "Hey. You okay?"
She nodded slowly, though her fingers gripped the edge of her sleeve. "It's just... everything's new. And I don't want to fall behind."
"You won't," Kiyoshi said, voice quieter now. "We're all figuring it out."
Rajieru dropped down into the grass without a care, arms behind his head. "Falling behind's overrated anyway. I say we carve our own path. Something weird. Something fun."
Celosia sat beside him. "You say that about everything."
"Exactly."
Kiyoshi chuckled, sitting down with them. For a while, the three just lay there—watching clouds drift past, listening to the faint song of wind-chimes hanging from nearby spirit trees.
It was... peaceful.
Until a shadow blocked their view. Zoltan loomed overhead, arms crossed, expression unreadable as always.
"You three look like you're slacking off."
Rajieru peered up at him. "We are. Wanna join?"
Zoltan's red eyes narrowed, but then he sat—quietly, legs crossed, like a brooding statue. A second shadow joined them.
"Figures I'd find you all lying in the grass," Asami said, hands on her hips, braid swaying as she walked up. "This your idea of training?"
"Spiritual training," Rajieru said, deadpan.
"...You're impossible," she muttered, but sat anyway, glancing at Celosia with a small nod.
Rin showed up not long after, hopping over a hedge with ease. "Oh hey! Picnic?"
"No food," Zoltan said.
"No point," Asami added.
"Then it's a mood picnic," Rin grinned, flopping down between Celosia and Kiyoshi. "I'm into it."
Sanae approached more slowly, holding a large mana crystal and scribbling something into a leather-bound notebook. "You're all gathered in a Class D clump, I see."
"We prefer the term rising stars," Rajieru replied.
"Or misplaced geniuses," Kiyoshi offered.
Sanae actually smiled at that. "Sure. Let's go with that."
The seven of them lounged for a little while longer, the awkwardness melting into quiet comfort. Even Zoltan eased into the silence, watching the shifting sky with something like faint curiosity.
Giyuu arrived last—without a sound. One blink, and he was there.
Rajieru tilted his head. "You move like a shadow."
Giyuu didn't respond right away. Then, quietly: "You're all wasting the sun."
"What does that even mean?" Kiyoshi asked.
"It's poetic," Celosia said softly.
"It's nonsense," Asami countered.
Giyuu stared at the horizon. "The first day always feels like this. Quiet. But it's the kind of quiet that doesn't last."
Sanae looked up from her notes. "What's coming?"
He didn't answer.
Rajieru laughed lightly. "Classic."
Eventually, the group began to drift—some heading back toward the dorms, others splitting off in pairs or alone. Kiyoshi, Celosia, and Rajieru lingered until the sky shifted into twilight. Fireflies blinked along the path as they walked back to D-7, the light casting faint glows along the ivy-covered walls. Back in their common room, Rajieru collapsed dramatically onto a couch, limbs sprawled. Celosia unpacked a few books and small charms onto her shelf, lining them up with care. Kiyoshi stood at the window again, watching the sky darken.
"Today felt... normal," he said.
Rajieru kicked a pillow off the couch. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"No," Kiyoshi said. "It's just... rare."
Celosia's voice was gentle from the corner. "We'll have more days like this."
Rajieru threw an arm over his eyes. "We better. I have too many weird stories to tell and not enough ears to listen."
The room filled with quiet laughter. Outside, the lamps around campus flickered on, casting gentle mana-glows over the walkways. Somewhere in the distance, bells chimed the hour. It was the end of their first full day at Kuoh Academy. Tomorrow, real classes would begin. Real challenges. But for now, in the warmth of their shared space, the trio rested—closer, calmer, and more grounded than the day before.
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