Parallax
Chapter 1: The Graduation Exam
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Shinra groaned and rolled onto his side, pulling the blanket over his head.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
"I swear," he muttered, voice thick with sleep, "one of these days I'm turning that damn rooster into stew."
His snow-white hair stuck out in every direction as he finally sat up, bright blue eyes half-lidded and unfocused. Morning light crept through the window, far too cheerful for how early it felt.
"SHINRA!" a voice shouted from downstairs. "Breakfast has been ready for thirty minutes! Get down here before you're late for the academy Graduation exams!"
The voice came from the shop below — the grocery store his stepfather ran.
"Geez, Dad, I'm coming!"
Shinra dragged himself out of bed, brushed his teeth, and threw on a black sleeveless shirt and white pants. He gave his hair a half-hearted ruffle, gave up immediately, and decided it was good enough.
It always was.
He grabbed a couple of toasted buns on his way through the shop.
"I'm heading out," he said. "See you after the academy."
He didn't wait for a reply.
"Don't get in trouble," Kenji called after him.
Shinra was already out the door.
Shinra strolled toward the academy, hands buried in his pockets, pace lazy and unhurried.
As he passed a narrow alley, his gaze flicked sideways — and stopped.
Someone was standing there.
The assistant academy instructor.
Takami.
Weird.
Why was Takami standing in an alley on the day of the graduation exams?
Shinra kept walking, but the thought lingered.
I'm late as usual, he thought.
Then another followed.
But why is he late?
Takami was always early.
Shinra hesitated for half a second — then shrugged it off and continued on.
Whatever the instructor was doing, it wasn't his problem. Not today.
The academy gates soon came into view.
Younger kids were scattered across the playground, laughing and running around, completely unaware of the tension hanging over the main building.
Most of the older students were already inside.
Especially Class 3C.
Shinra's class.
Today was their graduation exam.
Shinra slid open the door to Class 3C.
The atmosphere inside hit him immediately — tense, heavy, nothing like his carefree entrance with his hands still tucked into his pockets.
At the front of the room stood the instructor, Regna Kusakabe, a stern expression carved into his face. A stack of exam papers was tucked under one arm.
Near the front, a trio of girls each coped in their own way.
Yuri, red-haired and visibly panicked, had her hands clasped together, whispering prayers under her breath. Beside her, Sami, blonde and oddly calm, held up a small mirror, checking her appearance. Shiori stood quietly next to them, fidgeting with her fingers, eyes fixed on the floor.
By the window sat a broody-looking boy with purple hair falling over his eyes. His hands were clasped together, posture rigid, as if he were somewhere far away.
Shiro Nagi.
But the most noticeable difference was in the back middle row.
The class loudmouth — and Shinra's childhood best friend — sat frozen in place. Ren Tsumugi's messy red hair stuck out in every direction, and sweat rolled down his face as if he were about to face execution.
Most of the other students were already seated, their expressions tight with nerves.
Shinra raised a hand lazily.
"Yo," he said with a yawn. "Where do I sit for the Regna-sensei exam?"
Silence.
For a solid second, the classroom was utterly still.
Then snickering broke out.
"Shinra! Over here!" Ren shouted, shooting to his feet. "I saved you a seat! Come sit next to me!"
Shinra had just started toward him when—
"Hold it right there, Shinra."
Regna's voice was strained, irritation barely contained. A vein twitched on his forehead.
"You arrive five minutes late to the graduation exam that decides the rest of your life," he snapped, "looking like you're ordering dumplings. We had to delay the start of the exam for you."
Shinra stopped.
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I was, uh… meditating before coming to the academy."
Ren clamped both hands over his mouth, shoulders shaking as he tried not to laugh.
Regna looked like he had aged ten years.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just… take a seat, Shinra. And try not to fall asleep during the exam."
Shinra relaxed.
"But," Regna added sharply, "you are not sitting next to Ren. No arguments. Take another seat."
Ren's face fell, the earlier nervousness rushing back in full force.
Shinra opened his mouth to protest — then caught the look in Regna's eyes.
He thought better of it.
Shrugging, he turned and took another seat.
Five more minutes passed as Regna distributed the exam papers.
"The theory exam will count as twenty-five percent of your overall score," he said, pacing slowly between the desks. "You need forty percent overall to graduate. You have one hour. No talking. No cheating—"
The door slid open.
Regna stopped mid-sentence.
Takami stepped inside.
Smiling, as always.
"Sorry I'm late," Takami said easily. "My mother was sick. I had to take her to the hospital."
For a moment, irritation flickered across Regna's face — then it faded.
"It's alright," he said, his tone softening. "How is she doing now?"
"Thank you for asking," Takami replied. "The medics said she's going to be fine."
His smile never wavered.
A quiet murmur passed through the classroom. Most of the students looked relieved, sympathetic.
Shiro didn't react.
He sat by the window, eyes unfocused, as distant as ever.
Shinra frowned.
But… wasn't he in the alley?
The image flashed in his mind — Takami standing there, out of place.
Suspicion stirred, faint but uncomfortable.
Shinra pushed it aside.
Now wasn't the time.
Regna cleared his throat and turned back to the class.
"As I was saying," he said firmly. "No cheating. No talking. You have one hour."
He paused.
"Begin."
Time passed as pens scratched across paper.
Some students wrote frantically, barely pausing to think. Others leaned back in their chairs, expressions easing as they realized the questions weren't as difficult as they had feared.
A few struggled.
But everyone was managing.
Everyone except Ren.
He sat hunched over his desk, staring at the paper as if it had personally betrayed him. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his grip on the pen tightened until his knuckles turned white.
He looked like someone who had just been asked to explain the mysteries of the universe.
That was when Takami stopped beside his desk.
"Is the test too difficult for you, Ren?" Takami asked gently, eyes closed in a familiar, reassuring smile. "Don't worry. What really counts is the practical exam."
He tilted his head slightly.
"That's seventy-five percent of your final grade."
Ren's shoulders loosened a little.
"Still," Regna cut in sharply, not looking up from his own desk, "you are expected to give this exam your full effort."
He glanced at Takami.
"And let's not encourage our students to slack off."
Takami lifted his hands in surrender, smiling innocently. "I was just saying."
"Thanks, Takami-sensei," Ren said, sounding far more optimistic than before.
He returned to his paper, calmer now — though he still left more than a few questions unanswered.
Shinra paused, watching the exchange from his seat.
No one else seemed to mind. The rest of the class quickly returned to their work, the earlier distraction forgotten.
Shinra looked back down at his own exam.
His gaze stopped at the final question.
A note was written beneath it.
(This question is mandatory. Even if you answer every other question correctly, getting this one wrong will result in a zero for the theory portion of the exam.)
The question read:
What does it mean to become a Seer?
And why do you want to become one?
Shinra stared at the final question for a long moment, pen hovering above the paper.
He had heard the term Seer countless times before.
Everyone had.
Those who could mold and use Rei were called Seers. That was the mechanical definition — the one written neatly in academy textbooks.
But that wasn't what the question was asking.
This wasn't about definitions.
It was asking what it meant to him.
Shinra exhaled slowly, then began to write.
Being a Seer is a responsibility.
I want to become a Seer to make my Father proud.
Around the room, other students had paused as well.
Shiro didn't hesitate.
His pen moved across the page without pause.
Being a Seer is a tool for my revenge.
I will become one to grow stronger.
Some students frowned at the question, uncertain. The academy books had taught them what a Seer was, not what one was meant to be.
Ren was the first to voice it.
He raised his hand halfway, awkward and hesitant.
"Uh… Regna-sensei?" he said. "I don't really get the last question. Isn't it obvious? Being a Seer is cool. You get to look cool and kick butt."
A few heads turned.
Regna sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Ren," he said tiredly, "that is not what being a Seer is about."
He gestured toward the exam papers. "Just write your answer. No interruptions."
"Now, now," Takami chimed in lightly, smiling as always. "Poor Ren is just confused. Why don't we give him a few… tips?"
Ren's face lit up. "Yeah! You're the best, Takami-sensei—"
"No."
Regna's voice cut through the room, firm and final.
He turned to Takami. "Please stop encouraging him. You know giving tips to one student is unfair to the others."
A few students noticed the lingering tension between the two instructors.
Shinra included.
No one said anything.
Takami's smile didn't fade. "Regna," he said lightly, "loosen up a bit. You're killing the fun."
Regna's jaw tightened.
"This is an exam," he replied, voice strained. "Not a fun exercise."
Takami only shrugged.
That simple gesture seemed to irritate Regna even more — but after a moment, he exhaled and chose not to push it further.
Several students had paused to watch the exchange.
Shinra among them.
Even Shiro spared the instructors a brief glance before returning to his usual stoic indifference.
"Fifteen minutes left," Regna announced sharply, reclaiming control of the room.
The spell broke.
Pens began moving again as the students hurried back to their papers.
Ren, who had only managed to answer a handful of questions, hunched over his desk once more, clearly struggling.
Then—
Brrriiiing—!
The sound cut through the classroom, sharp and final, a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the room moments earlier.
"Alright, everyone," Regna said, his professional tone fully restored. "Leave your papers on your desks and head out for a short break before we begin the practical portion of the exam."
Chairs scraped against the floor as murmurs erupted.
Students filed out one by one.
"Shinra! Wait up!" Ren called out, suddenly energetic again. "Let's go eat at our usual spot!"
Shinra smiled.
"Yeah," he said. "Okay."
Together, they headed out with the rest of the class.
As Shinra and Ren stepped out into the academy yard for lunch break, the oppressive tension that had weighed on everyone during the exam finally began to fade.
Laughter and chatter filled the open space as students unpacked their lunches, voices overlapping in relief.
Ren let out a long breath and stretched his arms over his head.
"Man… I thought my heart was gonna stop there," he said. "That last question messed me up."
Shinra shrugged. "You'll live."
"Barely."
Students scattered across the yard in small groups, some already eating, others talking excitedly about the practical exam to come.
Off to the side, Shiro Nagi walked alone, expression unreadable, gaze fixed straight ahead as he headed toward the far end of the yard.
Ren noticed him and scoffed quietly.
"Tch. That guy never eats with anyone."
Shinra followed his gaze but didn't comment.
Ren hesitated, then noticed Yuri standing a short distance away, adjusting the strap of her bag as she looked around for a place to sit.
He swallowed.
"Uh… hey," Ren said, suddenly straightening. "I'm gonna go ask her."
Before Shinra could respond, Ren was already walking over.
"Y-Yuri," Ren said, stopping a few steps away. "Do you, um… wanna eat lunch together?"
Yuri turned, surprised.
The reputation of 'Loser' of the class wasn't helping.
Then she smiled, small and apologetic.
"Sorry, Ren," she said gently. "I already promised I'd eat with Sami and Shiori today."
She gestured toward where the other two girls were waving her over.
"But… good luck on the practical exam, okay?"
Ren blinked.
"Oh. Yeah—yeah, sure," he said quickly, scratching the back of his neck. "Good luck to you too."
She nodded once more, then turned and headed off to join her friends.
Ren stood there for a second longer than necessary.
Then he exhaled and walked back.
"Well?" Shinra asked.
Ren dropped down beside him, pulling out his lunch.
"Rejected," he said simply.
Then he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hehe… guess that means more for us, right, Shinra?"
Shinra glanced at him.
He didn't say anything.
Instead, he simply nodded. "Yeah. I've got rice balls."
Ren's shoulders relaxed a little.
"So," Shinra added, "usual spot?"
Ren grinned, some of his energy returning.
"Yeah," he said. "You bet."
In the teachers' office, Regna and Takami sat across from one another, grading the exam papers in silence.
They had stopped at Shiro's.
"A bold move," Takami said lightly. "Even with the note warning that a wrong answer would result in failing the entire theory portion… he still wrote that."
A faint twitch lifted the corner of his lips.
Regna sighed, rubbing his temples. He looked tired.
"The note was there to make sure they didn't leave it blank," he said. "There was never a right or wrong answer. It was meant to test their motivation. Their character."
He paused.
"Still… with what happened to him…"
He trailed off.
Takami didn't press.
Regna straightened, his expression firm once more. "In any case, we have papers to finish before the practical exam."
He picked up his pen again. "Let's continue."
As he worked, a quiet smile formed on his face.
"Shiro — twenty out of twenty. Yuri — twenty out of twenty. Shinra — eighteen."
He flipped another page.
"Even Yuji did well," he muttered to himself, the smile widening slightly. "Better than usual."
Then he reached the final paper.
Ren Tsumugi.
Regna's smile faltered.
Takami stepped closer, glancing over the score.
"Four out of twenty…" he murmured. "Poor kid. He must've had a rough time."
He tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Maybe we could be a little… generous? For his spirit, perhaps?"
A beat passed.
Regna didn't look up.
"No," he said flatly. "We do not give favors to individual students."
He set the paper down.
"If he fails, he can try again next year."
End of chapter one.
Author note to readers: How likeable is Ren's character?