The next morning, the academy grounds were buzzing. A large group of students had gathered around the notice board. Whispers filled the air as eyes scanned the freshly posted list.
Yamato squeezed through the crowd, his heartbeat quickening. When he finally reached the front, his eyes locked on a name—his.
"Sora…?" he muttered, seeing hers just a few lines below his. His brows lifted in confusion. "But… we lost."
He continued reading. Chella and Ichiha's names were also there, which made sense. They had won their match.
Lumei appeared beside him and gave him a small nudge. "Looks like someone noticed you," he said casually.
At that moment, Master Ozaki stepped in front of the group. His arms were behind his back, his sharp eyes moving over the students like a hawk.
"Those selected will begin training with me at dawn tomorrow," he announced. His voice was deep and commanding. "You've been given a one-month leave from regular school sessions. Use it wisely."
The crowd began to break up, voices buzzing with excitement, confusion, and speculation.
Yamato stood still, trying to understand what had just happened. Lumei patted his shoulder and said, "Let's go see Sora."
Later that day, Yamato and Lumei arrived at Sora's house. She had just been discharged from the academy's treatment ward. Her home was cozy, and the mood inside was peaceful.
They sat in her living room, both quietly eating from the bowls she had prepared. Sora sat across from them on the floor, eyeing them suspiciously.
She narrowed her eyes. "You two think I don't see you stealing extra bites?"
Lumei and Yamato froze mid-chew, their eyes darting to each other.
Without warning, Sora grabbed her slipper, stood up with a smirk, and threw it with surprising speed. It hit Yamato squarely on the forehead.
"Hey!" he shouted, rubbing the spot.