Chapter 1
The morning sun shone over a quiet province.
Birds chirped from the trees, the breeze moved gently through the curtains of nearby houses, and students hurried along the streets, their uniforms fluttering as they made their way toward school.
It was the beginning of a new academic year.
For most students, the first day of high school was an opportunity to make new friends, meet new teachers, and create memories that would last for years.
For Yumi Takanagi, it was an opportunity to make new friends and start her journey as highschool girl.
"Yumi! You're going to be late!"
A woman's voice echoed from downstairs.
"I'm coming!"
Yumi stood in front of her bedroom mirror, fixing her school ribbon. She examined her reflection, adjusted the ribbon once, then twice.
Satisfied, she picked up her bag.
She took three steps toward the door before stopping.
Her phone.
She turned around, grabbed it from the desk, and hurried downstairs.
"Did you eat breakfast?" the woman asked.
"Yes."
"What did you eat?"
Yumi paused.
"...Breakfast?"
The woman stared at her.
"Yumi."
"Right. ....The breakfast" she uttered
"You haven't touched the bread I prepared."
Yumi looked at the table.
There it was.
Untouched.
She glanced at the woman, then at the bread.
"...I was saving it."
"For what?"
"Later." she smile with unserious face.
The woman sighed.
"Just take it with you."
Yumi picked it up and put it in her bag.
"Okay. I'm leaving!"
"Have a good first day!"
"Yeah!"
She opened the door, stepped outside, and began walking.
A few moments later, she returned.
The woman looked at her.
"What now?"
Yumi stood at the entrance, holding her bag.
"...Which direction is the school again?"
The woman closed her eyes.
It was going to be a long year.
.............................
8:15 AM — Class 1-A
The school building was larger than Yumi had expected.
Students filled the hallways, chatting excitedly about their summer vacations. Some were already gathering in groups, while others nervously searched for their assigned classrooms.
Yumi stood in front of a classroom door.
Class 1-A.
She checked the paper in her hand.
Then the door.
Then the paper again.
"This should be it."
She slid the door open.
Several students turned toward her.
The conversations inside quieted for a moment before gradually returning to normal.
Yumi stepped inside and looked around.
There were a few empty seats.
One near the front.
Another in the middle.
And one beside the window.
She chose the one beside the window.
It seemed like a reasonable decision.
She placed her bag beside the desk and sat down.
Outside, the courtyard was already busy. Students crossed the pathways, some carrying books while others chatted beneath the trees.
A bird landed on one of the branches.
Yumi watched it.
Another bird appeared.
Then the first one flew away.
She frowned slightly.
Was that its friend?
She continued watching.
A few seconds passed.
Then a few more.
By the time the teacher entered the classroom, Yumi had completely forgotten she was supposed to be paying attention.
"Good morning, everyone."
A man in his early forties entered, carrying a stack of papers.
"I'm your homeroom teacher, Mr. Hayashi. I hope everyone is ready for a productive school year."
The students greeted him.
Mr. Hayashi placed his papers on the desk.
"Before we begin, I'd like everyone to introduce themselves. Let's start with the students near the front."
One by one, the students stood up.
They introduced themselves, mentioning their hobbies, interests, and sometimes their middle school experiences.
Some were confident.
Others were visibly nervous.
The teacher continued down the seating arrangement.
"Next..."
He checked the attendance sheet.
"Miss Takanagi"
No response.
Mr. Hayashi looked toward the window.
The girl sitting there was still watching the courtyard.
"Yumi Takanagi?"
Nothing.
He waited.
"Yumi Takanagi."
Still nothing.
A few students glanced in her direction.
The teacher adjusted his glasses.
"YUMI TAKANAGI!"
"Huh?!"
Yumi nearly knocked her chair backward.
She turned toward the front, looking confused.
"Yes?"
Mr. Hayashi stared at her.
"...I've called your name three times."
"Oh."
Yumi looked around.
Several students were watching her.
She glanced at the teacher again.
"Sorry. sir."
Mr. Hayashi sighed.
"Please introduce yourself."
"Right."
Yumi stood up.
She looked at the classroom.
For a moment, she couldn't think of anything to say.
"My name is Yumi Takanagi. I'm sixteen years old, and I recently moved here with my parents."
She paused.
"I like reading sometimes. I also like watching movies."
Another pause.
"I like... hmmm THABK YOU!"
She bowed and sat down.
The introduction had taken less than fifteen seconds.
A few students chuckled.
Yumi looked around.
Was there something funny about that?
She glanced down at her uniform.
Nothing unusual.
She checked her ribbon.
Still there.
She looked at the teacher.
Mr. Hayashi was already moving to the next student.
Well, that was quick.
She returned her attention to the window.
Near the back of the classroom, a boy leaned against his chair.
His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his sharp eyes followed Yumi for a moment before he looked away.
His name was Renji Kurose.
He had watched the entire incident.
The girl had been staring outside, completely oblivious to the teacher calling her name.
Then she'd nearly fallen out of her chair when he finally shouted.
Renji rested his cheek against his hand.
What an airhead.
He looked toward the front.
Better stay away from her.
He had no interest in getting involved with someone who couldn't even pay attention during a simple introduction.
As far as he was concerned, that was enough to decide what kind of person she was.
He returned his attention to the teacher.
He didn't know anything about Yumi.
.................
...The Boy Who Slept Through Everything...
There was another student at the back of the classroom who had missed the entire introduction.
Unlike Yumi, he wasn't distracted by the scenery.
He was asleep.
Completely asleep.
His head rested on his folded arms, his messy hair covering part of his forehead.
A small trail of drool had already escaped the corner of his mouth.
His name was Taiga Kanzaki.
Sixteen years old.
A member of the Kanzaki Family,
The Kanzaki Family was known for its extensive military connections, combat resources, and generations of highly trained fighters.
Taiga himself was considered one of its promising young talents.
He had trained in several martial arts since childhood. His physical abilities, reflexes, and fighting instincts were impressive even among people who had spent years training.
He knew exactly how influential his family was.
He knew its history, its connections, and the responsibilities that came with his surname.
He simply didn't think any of that meant he had to stop enjoying his sleep.
At that very moment, he was having a wonderful dream.
Unfortunately, the classroom was about to ruin it.
"HAHAHAHA!"
A burst of laughter filled the room.
Taiga's eyebrows twitched.
Another wave of laughter followed.
His eyes suddenly opened.
"HUH?!"
He lifted his head so quickly that his chair nearly tipped backward.
"WHAT?! WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Several students turned toward him.
Taiga looked around, confused.
He wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
Then he looked at the teacher.
Then at the students.
"...Did I miss something?"
The boy sitting beside him grinned.
"You missed the funniest introduction ever."
"Huh?"
"That girl. She didn't even hear the teacher calling her name."
Taiga looked toward the window.
There sat Yumi, who was now busy arranging her books.
"Ohhh."
He nodded slowly.
"So it wasn't me?"
His seatmate laughed.
"No, idiot."
"Ah. Good."
Taiga smiled, apparently relieved.
He folded his arms on the desk again.
Within seconds, his eyes were closed.
And he was asleep.
Again.
His seatmate stared at him.
"...You're unbelievable."
...............................
... A Rather Unusual Introduction...
The first period continued.
Mr. Hayashi resumed the introductions, occasionally reminding the students to pay attention.
Yumi tried to focus.
She really did.
She listened whenever someone stood up to introduce themselves.
She even wrote down the names of a few classmates.
Unfortunately, her attention had a habit of wandering.
Sometimes it was the movement of the curtains.
Sometimes it was a sound from the hallway.
Sometimes it was simply a thought that appeared in her head and refused to leave.
She was halfway through writing someone's name when a folded piece of paper landed on her desk.
Yumi looked at it.
She glanced toward the student beside her.
A girl with short brown hair smiled.
Yumi unfolded the paper.
Hey! I'm Mika. Nice to meet you!
Yumi looked at her.
Then wrote a reply.
Nice to meet you too.
She passed it back.
Mika read it and smiled.
Yumi returned to her notebook.
That was easy enough.
Maybe making friends wouldn't be as difficult as she had expected.
A few seats away, Renji noticed the exchange.
He glanced at Yumi for a moment.
Then looked away.
She's already making friends?
He clicked his tongue.
Whatever.
At the back of the room, Taiga was still asleep.
His head had shifted to the side.
His mouth was slightly open.
His drool had reached the edge of his notebook.
The student beside him quietly moved his own notebook away.
...............
### .....The First Break....###
The bell finally rang.
Students began packing their things.
Some immediately gathered into groups, while others headed toward the hallway.
Yumi carefully arranged her books inside her bag.
She looked around the classroom.
She recognized a few faces now.
Mika the girl who handed her the letter was talking with another girl near the front.
Renji was standing beside his desk, looking at his phone.
Taiga was still asleep.
Yumi stared at him for a moment.
How is he still sleeping?
She looked at the clock.
Then back at him.
Did he even attend the class?
She decided not to ask.
Instead, she returned to packing her things.
Renji happened to notice her looking in his direction.
Their eyes met.
Yumi gave him a brief nod.
"Hi."
Renji stared at her.
"...What?"
Yumi blinked.
"Nothing."
He put his phone away.
"Then why are you talking to me?"
Yumi considered the question.
"well all i did was greet you."
Renji stared at her for another moment.
Then he walked past her.
Yumi watched him leave.
Strange guy.
She shrugged and returned to her bag.
She didn't particularly care.
At the back of the room, Taiga finally woke up.
He stretched both arms above his head.
"Fuuuaah..."
He looked around.
The classroom was nearly empty.
He blinked.
Then glanced at the clock.
Then at the board.
Then at his notebook.
"Wait."
He slowly turned toward the student beside him.
"Did class end?"
The student stared at him.
"Yes."
Taiga looked at the clock again.
"...Already?"
"You slept through the entire period."
Taiga scratched his head.
"Oh."
He smiled.
"That's pretty impressive."
"THAT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF!"
Taiga laughed loudly.
His laughter echoed through the classroom.
Yumi turned around.
She saw the boy laughing with his classmate.
For some reason, he seemed to be enjoying himself more than anyone else.
Taiga noticed her looking.
He raised a hand.
"Hey!"
Yumi pointed at herself.
"Me?"
"Yeah! You're the girl from earlier, right?"
Yumi nodded.
"Yes."
Taiga grinned.
"That was funny!"
As if he saw what happened earlier
Yumi stared at him.
"...Was it?"
"Your reaction! You jumped like someone threw a snake at you!"
"I wasn't that surprised."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Taiga tilted his head.
"Then maybe you just naturally look funny."
Yumi looked at him for a moment.
She slowly turned her attention back to her bag.
Under her breath, she muttered:
"...What a jerk."
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"Nothing."
Taiga narrowed his eyes.
"Are you sure?"
Yumi nodded without looking at him.
"Yeah."
Taiga shrugged.
"Okay!"
He seemed satisfied with that answer.
Then he leaned against the desk.
"By the way, I'm Taiga Kanzaki."
Yumi glanced at him.
"Yumi Takanagi."
"Nice to meet you, Yumi!"
"nice to meet you too."
Taiga smiled.
Then he suddenly looked at her desk.
"Hey, do you have something to eat?"
Yumi stared at him.
"...Why?"
"I'm hungry."
" what's that supposed to do with me."
Yumi frowned
"Offering food to someone you know is hungry shouldn't be difficult. It's basic human empathy and compassion."
Yumi looked at him for a few seconds.
She wasn't sure whether that made sense.
She opened her bag and took out the bread she had brought from home.
Taiga's eyes brightened.
"Is that for me?"
"No."
"Oh."
He looked disappointed.
Yumi stared at the bread.
Then at him.
Why would I give him my food anyway.. and beside what does that mean is he telling me i don't have such such kindness.
"...But I don't really want it."
Taiga immediately smiled.
"Really?!"
"Yeah."
She handed it to him.
Taiga accepted it enthusiastically.
"You're a lifesaver!"
Yumi shrugged.
"Whatever."
Taiga took a bite.
"By the way, do you know where the cafeteria is?"
Yumi paused.
"...No."
Taiga stopped chewing.
" Are you going to Cafeteria aswell?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Ah. Same."
A short silence followed.
Then Taiga grinned.
"Let's get there together."
Yumi looked at him.
"...Wouldn't it be better to ask someone who knows the way?"
Taiga stopped.
He thought about it.
Then smiled.
"That's actually a good idea."
Yumi stared at him
Such a carefree person.
.........
### ....Somewhere Far Away....###
Far from the peaceful province, behind the walls of an enormous estate, an old chamber remained sealed.
The room was quiet.
Its walls were decorated with ancient symbols, and at its center stood a large glass enclosure.
Inside it floated a strange crystal.
Its surface shimmered faintly, giving off a dim light that pulsed at irregular intervals.
Several people stood around the enclosure.
They wore formal clothing, their expressions serious.
An elderly man stood before a large display, studying the figures presented on its screen.
"How much longer?"
A younger man holding a tablet checked the latest readings.
"The remaining mana has decreased again."
The elderly man remained silent.
"How much?" he asked.
"Less than five percent."
The room fell quiet.
Ten years.
It had been ten years since the death of the previous Mana Core holder.
The man had belonged to the Divini Family, a family that had long been respected for maintaining neutrality among the thirteen great families.
When the previous holder died, the Mana Core had separated from him.
But it had not returned to its original state.
A portion of the previous holder's mana remained within it, and until that mana completely disappeared, the Core would remain in its current condition.
The Divini Family had been entrusted with its protection ever since.
For ten years, they had watched over it.
And now, the remaining mana was almost gone.
"The readings have become increasingly unstable," the younger man reported. "At this rate, it won't be long."
The elderly man looked through the glass enclosure.
"Ten years..."
He spoke quietly, almost to himself.
"That is how long we've waited."
The younger man lowered his tablet.
"Should we prepare the announcement?"
The elderly man didn't answer immediately.
He continued staring at the crystal.
Then he turned around.
"Notify the other families."
"All thirteen?"
"All thirteen."
The younger man nodded.
He was about to leave when he hesitated.
"There's one more matter."
The elderly man looked at him.
"The Drago Family?"
A brief silence followed.
The old man's expression changed, though only slightly.
"...Yes."
"Should they receive the same notification?"
The elderly man looked back at the crystal.
"Send it to them."
He paused.
"Do not leave them out."
The younger man bowed and left the chamber.
For a while, the elderly man remained alone.
The crystal pulsed faintly.
Once.
Twice.
He stepped closer.
His eyes narrowed.
"...Soon."
He watched the faint light shimmer beneath the surface.
After ten years, the waiting was almost over.
And when that moment finally arrived, the entire world would have to pay attention.
Because the next person chosen would not simply inherit a title.
They would become the bearer of something that no single family could truly claim.
Something that had shaped the history of all thirteen families.
And something that, once awakened, would change the balance of their world.
The elderly man slowly closed his eyes.
"May this time be different."
End of Chapter 1
