The school bus honked loudly as it rolled through the gates of crestfall Academy. The massive compound buzzed with distant voices, birds chirped on the power lines, and the breeze carried a familiar scent of trimmed grass and cafeteria food.
"Ah... we finally here," Jesse exhaled, pressing her face lightly against the window before the doors hissed open.
"I can't even say I missed this school anymore," Mao grumbled, slinging her tote bag over her shoulder with lazy force.
"Mehh... you're right," Sal added, stretching her arms above her head as the three girls stepped off the bus, the heat of the pavement already clinging to their shoes.
At the other end of the compound, a chaotic crowd of returning students were gathered, half of them shirt-sleeved and already rowdy. The energy was infectious. Shouts and laughter erupted around a makeshift game set up near the dorm gates. A pack of boys and girls stood huddled around their devices, some competitive mobile game underway.
"Aaahh! Raya! There you are again stealing my points!" Miles shouted, his face twisted with mock fury as he threw his hands up."Ha-ha! Loser," Raya smirked, not even looking up as she tapped furiously at her screen. She side-stepped him confidently, head held high, the queen of petty victories.
Around the bus, more students began dragging their luggage down from the overhead compartment. The familiar sound of wheels clacking across the concrete echoed as suitcases rolled and greetings were exchanged with half-hugs and sleepy waves.
Then, slowly, the last figure stepped off the bus.
Rim.
She stood at the edge of the steps for a moment, eyes scanning the buildings before her. The sun cast a faint glow over the school's signboard, and the breeze caught her braids just slightly.
Nothing had changed — and yet everything felt different.
She clutched the handle of her bag tightly, drawing a breath before rolling it behind her. The noise and chaos around her dimmed in her ears. All she saw was the path back into a world she wasn't sure she'd fully returned to.
Near the staircase, Jolanda struggled with her bag, dragging it one step at a time."Gimme that," Blake's voice came from behind. Without waiting for her to argue, he picked it up like it weighed nothing, carrying it ahead of her.
She sighed and followed quietly.
—
*Later in the hallway...*
"It was an accident!" a panicked boy cried out, backed against a wall.
Miles had him by the hair, forcing his head down. "You better be careful next time. Might kill you for real."
"Such a loser," Raya said, arms crossed, her lip curled in disgust.
Just then, Mao arrived with Joel. She didn't even slow her steps.
"Stop it," she commanded, her voice sharp.
Miles let go, rolling his eyes and adjusting his hoodie. "Tch."
"As long as he apologized, if he didn't_tell the homeroom teacher. Don't beat anyone up around here." Mao's tone was firm.
She turned to the boy, Aster, his shirt wrinkled, and his face red.
"You alright?" she asked.
He nodded timidly. She gently took his wrist and walked off with him, Joel silently trailing behind.
"That damn assistant," Miles muttered.
"Let's go," Raya said coolly, spinning on her heel and walking away with him.
--
*Dorm 4 _ Girls' Dorms*
Jesse flung open her locker. "Ken looked more cute after the vacation. Do you agree?"
Sal didn't look up. "Hmm... no?"Jesse laughed. "I guess childhood encounters really block all sorts of emotions toward each other."
Sal reached for an empty box on the top shelf of the locker. "Not like we ever talked."
"Not to talk about Rim. She seemed off. Can you tell?" Jesse asked, glancing sideways.
"I never noticed her from the start," Sal replied bluntly. "Don't think I studied her enough today to see."
"Such nonchalance," Jesse sighed. "Well, seems she lost a lot of weight. Did their company go bankrupt or something? Hmm... nah, that would've hit the news. Hope she's doing okay though."
Sal just hummed again, focusing on arranging her books neatly into the box.
*Dorm 3 _ Boys' Dorms*
Kira was sprawled out on his bed, arms behind his head. Ryan was stuffing books into his locker, and Reth sat cross-legged on the floor, controller in hand.
"Miles is getting on my nerves," Kira grumbled. "Just 'cause he won the basketball competition."
"He's tall too. Lotta advantage there," Reth mumbled without looking up.
"And got a bad chick," Ryan added, letting out a whistle.
Kira sat up suddenly. "He better watch where he puts his shoes."
"Huh?" Reth blinked.
"Some shoes might fit today and get lost tomorrow," Kira muttered before flopping back down.
"His on with his boring parables again".