Scene 1 – Hero Academy – Main Courtyard
Ryan walked beside Ethan Stormbreak and Ryu Nox through the academy corridors. The sun was shining brightly, and the campus buzzed with students, voices, and vibrant energy.
— "Well, well… if it isn't the aura-less kid," said Kane Jayson, stepping in with a pack of arrogant classmates. "Hey Stormbreak, why are you and Nox hanging out with someone like that? He's only going to drag you down."
Ethan crossed his arms, staring coldly at Kane.
— "I hang out with whoever I want, Kane. And this 'aura-less' kid is my friend. Next time you mock him, not even your crimson reflection will save you from me."
Ryu grinned mockingly.
— "Ooooh! Cosmic burn!"
Ryan, embarrassed, tried to defuse the tension.
— "It's okay, Ethan... not worth it."
Kane, irritated, snapped:
— "Playing bodyguard for the janitor's son now? Did you guys know Ryan's mom is the maid at my house?"
Ethan stepped forward with disgust in his eyes.
— "You're pathetic, Kane. Let's go, guys. Not worth wasting breath on trash."
They left, Kane fuming with rage.
Scene 2 – Classroom
Girls whispered in the back of the room.
— "So, who do you think is the cutest guy in class?" one asked.
— "Kane's a total babe... and Ethan too!"
— "Ryu is dreamy, he's my crush!"
The prettiest of them, Annie, replied:
— "I think Ryan's actually really handsome."
The others stared at her, shocked.
— "The aura-less guy?" one said.
— "Gross…" another muttered.
Ryu nudged Ryan and gestured discreetly toward Annie.
— "Dude, that blonde's been staring at you. Go talk to her!"
— "Annie? No way... She'd never— I'd just get rejected."
Ethan smiled.
— "You already have a 'no.' All you need now is confirmation."
Scene 3 – Lunch Break
Ryan sat alone on a bench, gazing at the sky. A shadow loomed over him—a cold drink pressed to his forehead.
— "Hey there. Everything okay?" It was Annie.
Ryan startled and stammered:
— "W-what the— You scared me... I'm fine. You?"
— "Great. You're Ryan, right?"
— "Yeah... and you're Annie."
They talked for a while. Then Annie asked:
— "I hear people calling you 'aura-less.' Why?"
— "Because I was born without an aura. I can't use powers."
— "Then... why are you here at the academy? Do you actually think you'll pass the Draft?"
Ryan looked up at the sky, breathing deeply.
— "It's not an aura that defines me. Even though I wasn't born a genius, even if I have to work twice as hard… I won't give up. I have a dream. And for that dream, I'll break every limit and turn the impossible into reality. I will become a hero. You can write that down."
Annie smiled, clearly impressed.
— "Noted."
She pulled out her phone.
— "Mind giving me your number?"
Scene 4 – Watching from Afar
Ethan and Ryu watched everything from behind a tree.
— "Well? Did it work?" Ryu whispered.
— "That was smooth, Ryan," Ethan teased. "I've never seen you like that."
— "We just talked and..." Ryan started.
— "And…?" Ryu pushed.
— "She gave me her number."
Both boys yelled like fans after a goal.
Scene 5 – Attack on the Way Home
Later, Annie was walking home alone when three masked men surrounded her.
— "Hand it over, sweetheart."
Ryan stepped between her and the attackers.
— "Give her back what's hers... or you'll regret it."
— "This one's got no aura," laughed one. "Easy pickings!"
The first thug lunged forward. Ryan dodged gracefully and took him down.
The second came at him with a metal rod. Ryan spun and swept his legs.
The third was the toughest. They brawled intensely. Ryan was grabbed but broke free with a sharp move, finishing the fight.
Bleeding from the lip, Ryan turned to Annie.
— "Are you hurt?"
— "No... I'm fine," she replied, stunned.
Scene 6 – Pharmacy and Park
In the pharmacy, Annie patched up Ryan's wounds.
— "You fight really well. Didn't expect that."
— "I've trained since I was a kid... maybe that's why."
Later, in the park under the trees, Annie looked into his eyes.
— "Thank you, Ryan. You saved me."
— "It was nothing."
— "Well… you're my hero now."
Ryan blushed. Annie laughed.
— "Kidding."
He offered to walk her home. When they arrived, Ryan saw the mansion she lived in and thought:
"If she ever had feelings for me... would she accept someone like me?"
But he smiled to himself and muttered:
"She's just a friend."