They pushed through the academy's main entrance, and Shoichi had to duck as a chunk of stone flew past his head.
"Watch it!" someone yelled from the courtyard.
A crash echoed across the grounds, dust and pebbles scattering as two students clashed, one wreathed in flames, the other encased in ice. The ice user slammed their fist into the ground, frost spreading in jagged lines, while the fire user vaulted backward, leaving scorch marks on the grass.
Kayuro barely glanced at them, lips curling in mild disappointment. "Sloppy footwork. That fire guy's gonna eat dirt in about three seconds."
As if on cue, the ice user swept their opponent's legs out from under them.
They walked past the sparring students, weaving through groups clustered near the entrance. Shoichi kept his head on a swivel, half-expecting another projectile to come flying at him. This place was insane. Back in Tokyo, the most dangerous thing at school was dodging a stray volleyball in gym class.
Kayuro suddenly nudged him, grinning. "You're probably Subsonic by now, right?"
Shoichi blinked. "...What?"
"Subsonic. You know, like ten to ninety-nine percent of sonic speed?" Kayuro said it so casually, like he was asking if Shoichi had done his homework. The grin didn't waver. No trace of joking.
"I—what?!" Shoichi yelped, stopping in his tracks. "Are you insane? I can't—there's no way I'm—"
Kayuro's grin widened. "Dude, relax. You've been training with me for years. You're definitely hitting Subsonic by now."
"I am not Subsonic!" Shoichi said, voice cracking slightly. "I'm just—I'm normal! Regular! Human!"
Kayuro squinted at him, then shrugged. "Alright, man. If you wanna mess with me, go ahead." He clapped Shoichi on the shoulder and kept walking.
Is he really Subsonic though? Kayuro wondered, glancing back. He's been weird all morning. Maybe he actually forgot?
Shoichi stood there, heart pounding. Subsonic. He thinks I'm Subsonic. What the hell kind of world is this?
The classroom was on the third floor, spacious and filled with natural light from tall arched windows. Rows of wooden desks, polished and sstorm, faced a large chalkboard at the front. Bookshelves lined one wall, packed with thick tomes and scrolls. A faint hum of magic seemed to permeate the air, like static before a storm.
Kayuro led them to the fifth row, claiming seats near the window. Shoichi slid into the chair by the glass and immediately looked outside.
The battlegrounds stretched below, divided into sections by shimmering barriers. In one ring, a student raised both hands, and the entire field began to shift, earth rising, stone pillars erupting from the ground like a forest of rock. Their opponent was a blur, moving so fast Shoichi's eyes couldn't track them, leaving afterimages as they dodged and struck.
That's... that's not human.
"So, what're you thinking?" Kayuro said, leaning back in his chair. "Warrior's Magic? Pure Mage?"
A guy with sandy blond hair and sharp gray eyes, Oberen, Shoichi's brain suppliedx turned around from the row ahead, resting his arms on the back of his chair. "Kayuro's definitely going Warrior's Magic. Dude's been itching to punch things and blow them up since last year."
Kayuro grinned. "Damn right."
Shoichi glanced between them. "Wait, what are Classifications again?"
Both of them stared at him.
Deadpan. Completely deadpan.
"...Dude," Oberen said slowly.
"He's been like this all morning," Kayuro muttered, waving a hand dismissively. "I think he hit his head or something."
Oberen's expression shifted to amused concern, and he reached into his bag, pulling out a folded paper. "Alright, Shoichi. Here." He passed it over with a knowing smile. "Even though I know you're messing with us."
Shoichi took the paper, unfolding it carefully.
CLASSIFICATIONS - HIGH SCHOOL OF LASLAND
MAGE
Focus: Magic manipulation and spellcasting
Tiers: V1 Mage → V2 Mage → V3 Mage → V4 Mage (strongest)
Specializations: Elemental Manipulation (Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Lightning, Ice), Levitation, Barriers, Telekinesis, Mind Reading, Enchantment, Spatial Magic, Summoning
Notes: Mages require high magical aptitude and mental discipline. V4 Mages can level cities.
DARK MAGIC
Focus: Shadow and darkness manipulation Amplified, counter-magic
Notes: Dark Magic is the natural counter to standard Magic. Users often feared and misunderstood. Amplifies shadow-based techniques and nullification abilities. Rare classification.
WARRIOR
Focus: Physical combat and weaponry mastery
Tiers: Brute → Fighter → Elite Fighter → Disaster Fighter (strongest, can destroy mountains)
Specializations: Swordsmanship, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Polearms, Axes, Dual Wielding, Archery
Notes: Warriors enhance their bodies with internal energy. Elite Fighters can move faster than sound. Disaster Fighters are walking catastrophes.
SPY
Focus: Infiltration, intelligence gathering, assassination
Tiers: Informer → Asset → Infiltrator → Spymaster (strongest)
Notes: Spies are feared for their stealth and lethality. Often wear black or brown. Spymasters can infiltrate heavily guarded locations undetected and eliminate targets without a trace.
HARVESTER
Focus: Agriculture, resource management, minor healing
Notes: Harvesters maintain food supplies and plantations. Highly respected. Basic healing knowledge makes them valuable in any community.
MEDIC
Focus: Healing magic and medical treatment
Notes: Medics specialize in restorative magic. Universally loved and protected. Can heal catastrophic injuries given time and energy.
HYBRID CLASSES:
Warrior's Magic - Magic/Dark Magic + Warrior
Combines spellcasting with close combat. Versatile and deadly.
Magical Spy - Magic/Dark Magic + Spy
Stealth enhanced by magic. Perfect for covert operations.
Fighting Spy - Warrior + Spy
Physical prowess combined with espionage skills. Rare and highly effective.
Shoichi stared at the paper, reading it twice, then a third time.
This is insane. This is completely insane.
Mages who could level cities. Warriors who destroyed mountains. Spies who could kill you without you ever knowing they were there.
And he was supposed to... what? Just pick one?
"You good?" Oberen asked, smirking.
"Yeah," Shoichi lied, folding the paper slowly. "Just, uh... making sure I remembered everything."
Outside the window, the battles continued. One student launched a fireball the size of a car. Another caught it mid-air with a water barrier, steam exploding outward.
This is like real-life anime, Shoichi thought, amazed.
"Why's Ethen late again?" Oberen muttered, glancing at the door. "Third time this week."
Kayuro snorted. "Because he keeps trying to fly to school and keeps failing."
"He'll get better," Oberen said, though he didn't sound convinced.
Shoichi's attention drifted back to the window, and then he saw it.
A figure in green clothes, soaring through the air toward the school. Fast. Too fast.
His eyes widened. "Uh, guys—"
"On it," Kayuro said, grinning. He extended a hand toward the open window.
A shimmer appeared in the air, an invisible barrier, perfectly timed.
The flying figure, Ethen, slammed into it face-first like a bird hitting glass. The air was knocked clean out of his lungs, and he crumpled mid-air.
Oberen leaned out the window, grabbed Ethen by the collar, and hauled him inside like he weighed nothing. He dropped Ethen into the seat beside him and immediately bonked him on the head.
"You're not a good air user," Oberen said flatly.
Ethen wheezed, rubbing his face. He had messy green hair and bright amber eyes that were currently watering from the impact. "I—I can lift carts!"
Kayuro laughed. "That's a kid's thing to do. Literally."
Kid's thing...? Shoichi thought, alarm bells ringing in his head. Kids in this world can lift carts?!
Ethen glared at Kayuro, still catching his breath. "Yeah? Well—well you probably can't even—"
The door opened.
Instantly, the entire class went silent.
The teacher walked in, a tall woman with silver hair tied back in a braid, wearing dark robes lined with gold. Her eyes scanned the room with calm authority, and every student sat up straighter.
"Good morning," she said, her voice carrying effortlessly. "Today, as you all know, you will be choosing your Classifications."
Murmurs of excitement rippled through the class.
She continued, "I will call each of you forward. You will state your chosen Classification, and we will register it officially. After that, you will spar, either with each other or with already-Ranked students, so the faculty can analyze your abilities and assign your initial Rank."
She looked around the room. "Understood?"
"Yes, Teacher Mirelle," the class chorused.
One by one, students stood and declared their choices.
"Mage."
"Warrior."
"Magical Spy."
"Harvester."
Kayuro stood when called. "Warrior's Magic."
Teacher Mirelle nodded, marking it down.
Oberen was next. "Fighting Spy."
Then Ethen. "Magical Spy."
Shoichi's heart rate picked up as his turn approached. He had no idea what to choose. None of this made sense. He didn't know the first thing about magic or combat or—
"Shoichi Inaya."
He stood, mind blank.
Everyone looked at him.
Think. Just pick something. Anything.
His eyes flicked to Kayuro, who gave him an encouraging nod.
"Uh... Warrior's Magic," Shoichi said.it sounds cool. Kayuro picked it. That's... that's good enough, right?
Kayuro's face lit up. The moment Shoichi sat down, Kayuro grabbed him in a bear hug, nearly lifting him out of his seat.
"I knew it!" Kayuro said, grinning ear to ear. "I knew you'd pick Warrior's Magic! That's why I picked it too, man!"
Shoichi wheezed, patting Kayuro's arm. "Can't... breathe..."
Oberen chuckled. "You two are gonna be insufferable."
Once everyone had chosen, Teacher Mirelle addressed the class again. "You have until the end of the day to complete at least one spar. The faculty will observe and determine your Rank. You are dismissed."
The class erupted into chatter as students filed out, energy buzzing.
"Cafeteria first," Kayuro declared as they stepped into the hallway. "Food is good. Fighting is good too, but food first."
"Agreed," Ethen said immediately.
Oberen rolled his eyes but nodded. "Fine. But we're not spending an hour there."
The cafeteria was massive, long tables stretching across a hall that could've seated hundreds. The smell of roasted meat, fresh bread, and spiced vegetables filled the air. Students from all years mingled, some already in their training gear, others still in casual clothes.
They grabbed trays and loaded them with food. Shoichi stared at his phome, some kind of grilled fish, rice mixed with herbs, a thick stew, and fruit. It looked incredible.
They found a table near the corner and dug in.
"So," Ethen said between bites, "who're you guys sparring first?"
"Probably some Silver ranks," Oberen said. "Get a baseline."
Kayuro grinned. "I'm going straight for a Gold."
"You're insane," Ethen muttered.
"Maybe," Kayuro said, unbothered.
Shoichi ate quietly, listening to them banter. His mind kept drifting back to the same thought: How the hell do I get home?
After what felt like both five minutes and an eternity, they finally left the cafeteria.
The training grounds stretched out before them, massive open fields divided by shimmering barriers, with students already clashing inside. Fire met ice. Steel met stone. Magic crackled in the air like lightning before a storm.
Shoichi stood at the edge, watching.
Part of him was excited. This was unreal. Impossible. Magic, warriors, flying, everything he'd ever seen in anime, right in front of him.
But another part, a quieter, gnawing part,vfelt angry.
Why haven't I thought of a way out of this world yet?
He clenched his fists.
Ishould be figuring this out. I should be looking for answers. Not just... going along with it.
"Hey," Kayuro said, nudging him. "You ready?"
Shoichi looked at his friend, this person he'd known for all of one morning, and forced a smile.
"Yeah," he said. "Let's do this."