Kaizo and Yumi stepped into Principal Ayame’s office—and froze.

  Sitting at the principal’s desk, swinging her legs nervously, was Miyu Kohana, now dressed in a crisp, custom Hoshikawa High uniform. Her usual black?and?purple aesthetic had been softened into formal navy?and?black. She looked sheepish, but brightened the moment she saw them.

  Miyu (small smile, hands folded): “Uh… h?hi.”

  Before they could even process that—

  ???: “Hey. It’s been a while, huh?”

  They turned left.

  Kaizo blinked a few times in disbelief.

  Kagari Akari.

  The Sun Empress herself. It was one thing for Miyu to transfer here, because Kaizo told her she could, but Kagari was a whole different animal.

  Now wearing a custom Hoshikawa uniform stitched in her personal flame palette—white and volcanic gold, with heatwave patterns rippling down her sleeves. Her crimson hair was loose and wild, with her red eyes fiery with passion.

  Kagari (smirking, leaning back): “I decided this school needed a little more… me.”

  Kaizo (expression blank, staring at us): [“Well, I’ll be damned… Fucking hell…”]

  Even Infinity stirred inside the bag.

  Infinity (muffled): “Okay… yeah, I wasn’t expecting this either.”

  Yumi stood frozen, mouth slightly open—caught somewhere between confusion, admiration, and the realization that her social life was about to get extremely complicated.

  Kaizo cracked his neck slowly.

  Kaizo (deadpan): “This is about to be some bullshit.”

  The tension broke when Ayame entered, closing the door behind her.

  Ayame (striding to her desk): “Good. You’re all here.”

  Kaizo and Yumi took their seats. Kagari lounged off to the side, arms crossed. Miyu tried to shrink into her chair.

  Ayame (sitting, hands folded): “Let’s get straight to it.”

  She gestured toward Miyu and Kagari.

  Ayame (matter?of?fact): “Both of these young ladies applied during the transfer window. And thanks to their… credentials—and some sneaky maneuvers by yours truly—the process was instant and verified during our little ‘break.’”

  The four of them nodded in understanding.

  Ayame (adding on): “I plan on bring in more Horizon users than just you guys to help increase the influence of this school-”

  Kaizo (interrupting): “So something like Nick Fury when he formed the Avengers?”

  Everyone stared at him.

  Kaizo (realizing): “My bad.”

  He tends to forget that most people won’t understand his references.

  Yumi nudged him under the table as Ayame continued.

  Ayame: “Anyway, like I was saying, I’ve wanted Hoshikawa High to become more than a normal public school. With the Horizon craze rising, influence matters. If we play this right, you four can put us on the map and boost our chances at some juicy endorsements.”

  She looked at Kaizo.

  Ayame (smirking): “Especially you and Kagari. You both competed in the Apex Circuit. Kagari’s been a household name for years, but your name—” (tapping her desk) “—is only just starting to spread.”

  Yumi glanced at Kaizo proudly.

  Ayame turned to Kagari.

  Ayame: “Though I’ll admit… I’m still not sure why you chose to come here. You left St. Mary Academy—one of the most prestigious schools in the system. And before that, St. Divinity under

  Mei Kanehara herself. That’s… not a small move.”

  Everyone looked at Kagari.

  Kagari smiled politely, tilting her head.

  Kagari (soft, suspiciously casual): “...I just needed a change. Hoshikawa seemed pretty fun.”

  Kaizo blinked twice.

  Kaizo (turning to the audience): [“Yeah, fuck no. Roll a flashback. I don’t believe her.”]

  FLASHBACK – ST. MARY ACADEMY – DAYS AFTER APEX CIRCUIT

  The marble?walled office gleamed under cold white lights. Principal Shirogane stood behind her desk, arms crossed, disappointment carved into her expression.

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  Kagari stood across from her, hands in her pockets, tournament coat still singed at the edges.

  She stared out the window, jaw tight.

  Shirogane (stern, pacing): “You had one job, Kagari… We put our faith in you. The media had expectations. You had expectations. And what did you do? You let that physical psycho run you over — and now your contract is gone.”

  Kagari (eyes narrowing): “...Are you trying to gaslight me into guilt?tripping myself?”

  Shirogane (snaps, voice rising): “I’m saying you betrayed the confidence we invested in you. And Ayame won’t let this slide. That upcoming meeting is going to be a nightmare now.”

  Kagari smiled faintly — but it wasn’t because what Principal Shirogane said was amusing.

  Kagari (annoyed, quiet): “So this is all about you in the long run.”

  A long, heavy pause.

  Kagari (turning away): “I’m glad you feel your reputation is in jeopardy. Don’t call for me the rest of the day.”

  Shirogane stiffened.

  Kagari (slamming the door behind her): “Good talk.”

  LATER — PRIVATE LOUNGE

  Kagari sat alone on a high?end leather couch, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The room was dim, lit only by the warm gold of the afternoon sun.

  All the pressure.

  All the brand deals.

  All the eyes.

  It was supposed to be glamorous.

  Kagari (exhaling): “She did warn me it wouldn’t be easy…”

  FLASHBACK IN A FLASHBACK

  First?year Kagari stood at the gates of St. Divinity Academy. Mei Kanehara — the Golden Goddess — smiled at her with warmth… and a strange, quiet sadness.

  Mei (gentle, cryptic): “Be careful what you wish for, Kagari… even the brightest lights can burn a star.”

  Back then, Kagari had only scoffed.

  Now, she closed her eyes.

  She couldn’t go back to Mei.

  She didn’t want to be under the Golden Goddess again.

  But she was tired.

  Tired of the lifestyle.

  Tired of the weight.

  Tired of pretending she was built for this.

  Then an image flickered across her mind—

  Kaizo.

  Grinning like an idiot.

  Walking into every challenge like it was nothing.

  Saying dumb things with absolute confidence.

  Kagari (soft whisper): “...Hoshikawa.”

  Maybe… just maybe…

  Before the media could react, she filed the transfer request.

  Ayame’s coffee cup nearly launched through her kitchen window when she saw it.

  And just like that… the gears in Kagari’s head began to turn.

  END FLASHBACK – BACK TO PRESENT

  Kagari shrugs. “Like I said. I just needed a change. Simpler things. Cooler people. Stuff like that.”

  Miyu nods quietly, finally smiling.

  Yumi claps her hands together. “Well, I think that’s awesome!”

  Ayame beamed. “We’re lucky to have all of you.”

  Everyone nods, excitement building as the future of Hoshikawa starts to glow.

  Everyone… except Kaizo.

  He glances sideways at Kagari. He knows the real reason.

  The way she crumbles under expectations. The constant pressure and attitude that gets to her head. Tired of the bright lights that followed her, she needed an escape from it all, it seemed.

  He doesn’t say a word about it.

  Instead, he smiles faintly, looking at her like he already considers her a friend.

  Kaizo (to himself): “She’s not as invincible as she looks…”

  Infinity: “It’s gonna be one fun time, isn’t it?”

  Kaizo (grinning): “Damn right.”

  As the conversation dies down and the energy in the room settles, Ayame suddenly leans forward, folding her fingers on the desk.

  Ayame: “Now then… how does one increase their influence?”

  The room goes quiet. Kaizo raises a brow.

  Ayame (turning to him): “When’s your next Luminary match in the Private Tournament Challenge, by the way?”

  Before Kaizo can answer, his phone dings.

  He casually checks it, and then tilts the screen toward her.

  [NOTICE]: Top 10 Challenge Match Confirmed

  Kaizo Nekodaira (Rank #10) vs Airi Koyama (Rank #9)

  Undisclosed Location

  This Saturday

  Ayame (grinning): “Perfect timing.” - (standing up) - “That gives you exactly five days. Which means: you four better keep up with your studies while you’re at it.”

  Kagari (immediately raises her hand): “Wait—I have to do school work again now?”

  Ayame (deadpan): “Yes.”

  Kagari (a little offended): “When I ran St. Mary’s student cabinet, I never had to do anything academic. They just… gave me the top scores to match my popularity.”

  Ayame (thinking to herself): “Personally, that sounds like ‘a you problem’ and I don’t really care…”

  Yumi (genuinely shocked): “They what?”

  Kagari (sighs): “I haven’t touched homework since I left St. Divinity.”

  Kaizo (leaving, closing the door): “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to be a normal kid again.”

  Kagari (calling after him): “That sounds horrible!”