The morning began quietly for Arien. She woke early, cleaned her room, washed up, and carefully styled her hair. After getting ready, she decided to leave for the SR class early. Grabbing her katana, she walked out of her dorm, unaware that three girls were watching her from a nearby dorm entrance.
Girl 1: Well, be happy while you can.
Girl 2: Yeah, just a little more.
Girl 3: So how do we trap her?
Girl 1: That's where Sato comes in.
Girl 2: But what if Shiro finds the place?
Girl 1: Well, I don't know why, but someone offered to help stop him from saving her—and promised not to hurt Shiro and keep our identities safe.
Girl 3: Isn't that fishy?
Girl 2: Well, as long as we get what we need.
As Arien walked toward the SR class, a girl suddenly popped out from around a corner, bumping into her.
Arien: Oh, sorry! Are you hurt?
???: N-no. A-are you g-going to the SR c-class?
Arien: Um, yes?
???: Well, the professor said that the c-class will be in another location today.
Arien: Really? Oh, that means standing all day...
???: I'm going that way. W-want to c-come along?
Arien hesitated, glancing back the way she came.
Arien: Well, I'm waiting for someone, so you go ahead.
???: B-but you have to come with me.
Arien: Why?
???: Well…
Just as Arien prepared to reply, another girl appeared silently behind her.
Girl 2: If talking won't work, do this.
With a swift, precise strike, she hit Arien's head, knocking her out on the spot. The entire incident happened so early in the morning that no one was around to witness it. However, from a second-floor window on the opposite side, the silver-haired girl, Mira, watched the scene unfold like a film.
Mira: That's one way to do it.
She turned away from the window and began walking through the academy grounds.
Mira: Well then, what do I do now?
That's when she spotted Shiro.
Some time passed.
Girl 2: What are you telling me to do, then?
Girl 1: I'm asking why you hit her.
Girl 3: Well, it already happened, so get over it.
Girl 1: Look. She's waking up.
Arien slowly opened her eyes. As her senses returned, she stood up, confused. She looked around and saw three girls surrounding her, blocking every side. Further back stood the girl who had tried to trick her, and leaning against the wall was a shadowy figure.
Arien: You three… from the SR class?
Girl 1: Oh, you remember us. Well, for the best—let us introduce ourselves again. I'm Miya Tanaka.
Girl 2: Sasha Petrov.
Girl 3: Lena Kovacs.
Arien showed no fear. Her eyes shifted to the girl standing further away.
Arien: What about her?
Miya: That's Yuki Sato. She doesn't like what we're doing, but she has no other choice, you see.
Arien's hand moved to her katana, which lay on the floor beside her.
Arien: So what do you want?
Suddenly, all three girls drew their katanas and pointed them at Arien.
Sasha: One thing. Stay away from our Shiro.
Arien looked directly at her, unflinching.
Arien: Whose?
In one fluid motion, Arien snatched her katana from the ground, struck the girls' blades aside, and quickly stepped back.
Miya glanced toward the shadowy figure standing in the darkness. The man was dressed in black, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. He gave a slight nod—a signal.
Miya: Your last chance.
Arien tightened her grip on her katana and adjusted her stance, but her form was flawed—her left side was completely open. It was clear she had little real combat experience.
Just as the girls prepared to attack, the door blocking the entrance was cleanly sliced in two—yet it didn't fall. The door had been reinforced by Yuki's Art Style, and she reacted instantly. The three girls froze.
Lena: What happened?
Miya: Something's wrong.
In the next second, the door turned to ash, collapsing like sand. From the other side, a figure emerged.
???: Arien. What are you doing?
It was the first time he had spoken since arriving. As he stepped forward, everyone saw who it was—Shiro.
Lena: Sh-Shiro!
Miya: It's Shiro!
Sasha: Did he really come for her?
Lena: No. I think she did something to him.
Miya ran toward Shiro, her voice trembling.
Miya: Why did you come here, Shiro?
Shiro's eyes scanned the room, ignoring her drawn katana.
Shiro: Where's Arien?
Miya was confused. Arien was standing right in front of him.
Miya: She's not here.
Shiro: Your lie is obvious. I know she's here. Move out of my way.
Miya: But—
Shiro stood tall before her, his gaze cold and commanding.
Shiro: MOVE.
The air grew tense, thick with the pressure of Shiro's presence. With a flick of his wrist, he struck the side of Miya's neck, rendering her unconscious. He caught her and gently laid her on the ground.
Arien stood directly in front of Shiro, yet he seemed unable to see her.
Arien: He can't see me. Why? What happened? Why can I see him, but he can't see me? Is something in between us?
Then it clicked.
Arien: An Artificer item. Yes, an Artificer item! SHIROOO! THERE'S AN ARTIFICER ITEM HERE!
She screamed, and in that same moment, the man in dark clothes moved. He walked at first, then suddenly broke into a sprint toward Shiro. As he closed in, he unsheathed his katana and launched a straightforward attack.
Shiro quickly brought his sheathed katana upward, deflecting the man's blade and redirecting its path with a sharp, precise motion.
The man stopped. He sheath his katana.
Man: How many years has it been? And I finally found where you were hiding all along.