They say every person is born with a Core Trait — a piece of themselves that shapes whatthey can become. Some traits are small, barely noticeable. Others are powerful enough to make nations tremble.
But me? I don't have one.
The courtyard of the Academy stretched before me, full of nervous voices and restless energy. The Academy wasn't ancient or magical like you'd expect from stories
At least, that's what they tell me.
. It was steel gates, security scanners, and government banners. A modern fortress.
This was where the Divisions picked their soldiers. The Divisions weren't myth or legend — they were real, organized branches spread across Japan.
Each with a Captain, each with their own philosophy, each responsible for defending their region when Core Traits spiraled out of control.
Five Divisions. Five Captains. And one chance to belong.
I shifted my weight, standing at the back of the crowd of recruits.
Everyone was showing off — little sparks of aura, tricks with flame, ice, pressure, even a few weird ones I couldn't name.
They laughed, compared, bragged. For them, this exam was just the first step toward glory.
For me, it was survival.
"Hey." A sharp voice cut through the noise. A boy smirked at me, loud enough for others tohear. "Why are you even here? Everyone knows you don't have a Core Trait. Planning to sweep the floors for us or something?"
The laughter came, just as expected.
I clenched my fists in my pockets, biting back the sting. He wasn't wrong. Out of everyone here, I was the only one who had nothing worth showing.
And then—
"Let him be."
The voice was calm, but it carried.
Kuragari.
He stood just a few steps away, posture relaxed but eyes sharp enough to cut glass.
"It's not like he came here to impress you. Mind your own business."
The other recruit froze. The smirk died on his face. Even the laughter thinned, swallowed by the sudden weight in the air. Kuragari's presence was like that — silent, suffocating, undeniable.
He didn't look at me again. He didn't need
I let out a slow breath. For a moment, I wasn't sure whether to feel grateful or ashamed.
The gates opened with a groan, silencing to the crowd. And then they appeared.
The Captains.
Ichinasu (Division 1) — glasses glinting, his sharp gaze dissecting the crowd like specimens on a table.
Renshiro (Division 2) — hands in his pockets, dreadlocks swaying, looking half-asleep.
Nasu (Division 3) — posture stiff, every step measured with military precision.Kinarami (Division 4) — yawning, eyes glued to the glowing screen of his handheld console
.Shizuru (Division 5) — a woman who moved with quiet poise, her silence heavier than any shout. Even without a word, she drew nervous glances.
Whispers rippled through the courtyard.
"They're here…"
"Which one's going to pick me?"
"Not Division 3. Please not Division 3…"
My chest tightened. This was the exam. This was the moment where futures were decided.
For everyone else, a beginning.
For me, standing here with nothing to show… it felt like the end.