The tension in the cafeteria was thick enough to cut with a blade. Coby stood, arrogance radiating from every inch of him, his eyes locked onto Inazuma.
Coby: "I want a fight."
Faeron stepped forward instinctively, his fists clenched, his fire already flickering.
Faeron: "Then fight me. I'll turn you into roasted chicken."
But Inazuma raised an arm in front of him. His voice was calm, but his gaze burned with unspoken pain.
Inazuma: "No, Faeron. This is my fight."
Coby didn't wait. He lunged with a punch, but Inazuma slipped past it with ease. His body moved with the smoothness of someone who had danced with danger before. Faeron, unable to stand still, hurled a fireball at Coby.
Inazuma: "Faeron, don't—!"
But it was too late. The fire struck Coby… and did nothing.
Faeron (shocked): "He's using fire…?!"
Inazuma (sternly): "He doesn't own fire. He can copy powers. Don't give him your weapons."
Coby smirked, a cruel flicker in his eyes.
Coby: "So you do remember."
He unleashed a barrage of copied fireballs toward them. Inazuma and Faeron dodged gracefully, years of battle instinct guiding them.
Then the door slammed open.
Siadro stormed in, eyes blazing. With a swift motion, he summoned a glowing shield that wrapped around the three students.
Siadro (furious): "Again, Inazuma?!"
Inazuma: "He started it!"
Faeron: "Sir, if you check the surveillance footage, you'll see everything."
Siadro stared at them, then turned and stormed out.
Minutes passed.
He returned, his expression changed… humbled.
Siadro: "Coby… to the principal's office. Now."
In the principal's office, Coby sat silently. Inazuma stood behind him, arms crossed, jaw tight.
Principal Saro: "We owe you an apology. Two full years… wrongly accused."
Inazuma's voice was quiet, almost a whisper.
Inazuma: "Do you know why I left this school?"
Saro said nothing.
Inazuma: "My last year here… I fought in every tournament. I won every match. The academy earned trophies and praise. We were ranked among the best schools in the world. But behind the glory—was silence. Hatred. Isolation. I was envied, feared… not celebrated."
He looked down, fists clenched.
Inazuma: "So I left. I hated this place. I hated my power."
And then…
A voice crackled through the intercom.
Silence fell.
Inazuma's eyes widened.
The microphone was on.
The entire school had heard him.
Whispers rippled through the halls. Students exchanged glances, unsure how to react. Some averted their eyes. Others seemed genuinely struck by what they'd heard.
In the courtyard, Greener approached Inazuma slowly.
Greener: "I… I'm sorry. The mic was on. We all heard what you said. I didn't know you were going through all that. I… I never meant to add to it."
Inazuma (calmly): "It's alright. Everyone makes mistakes."
Then, he paused, blinked—and smirked.
Inazuma: "Wait… did you say everyone heard?"
Faeron's face turned pale.
Faeron: "Wait… did they hear me, too?!"
Greener (laughing): "Nope. Just your roommate the lightning star."
The three chuckled, finally easing the tension.
But it wasn't over.
Siadro stepped onto the central stage with an urgent announcement.
Siadro: "Due to special administrative circumstances… the National School Tournament will take place earlier this year. As such, we will hold an internal selection to decide who will represent Nova Academy."
A wave of murmurs swept the students.
One question now hovered in every mind…
Who will become the Voice of Nova?
And as the sky above rumbled faintly with thunder...
The screen fades to black.
[To be continued.]