The cafeteria smells like a mixture of fresh bread, fried food, and something metallic — maybe sparks from quirks? Students sit in groups, talking, laughing, showing off small displays of their powers.
Taiyashè drags me toward an empty table near a window. "Come on, Ren. Don't tell me you're still stressed."
I slump into the seat. "I'm… fine. Just thinking about Crowe."
He rolls his eyes. "You're obsessed. Come on — it's lunch. People eat. People talk. You should too."
I glance around. Students are chatting about combat class — who fell, who excelled, who barely made it. A girl a few tables over levitates her tray slightly above the table, balancing it as she laughs with friends. Another student flicks sparks between his fingertips like mini fireworks.
Taiyashè grins. "See? Fun. Normal hero school stuff."
I shrug. "Normal… for everyone else, maybe."
He leans back, studying me. "You're quiet today. What's up?"
I shake my head. "Nothing. Just… thinking."
Taiyashè smirks. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. You're always thinking. That's why I like you, though. Makes things interesting."
We open our lunchboxes. He's got the usual — bread, some protein cubes, fruit. I unpack mine — a simple sandwich and some fruit. Nothing fancy.
"So," he says casually, "what do you think about the other students? Nova-1 is… kind of intense."
I glance around. "Some are flashy. Others… cautious. A few look… dangerous."
He laughs. "You mean like me?"
"Exactly like you," I mutter, smirking slightly.
A group at the next table catches my eye. A boy and girl argue over some technique — fire versus ice. The girl flicks her wrist, sending small threads of ice spinning across the table. The boy jumps back, sparks sizzling in midair. It's harmless, but the small flickers of quirks everywhere are… overwhelming.
Taiyashè notices me staring. "You're zoning out again."
I shake my head. "Just… noticing. Everyone's quirks are so different."
He grins. "That's why Astra's awesome! You never know what's coming next. I'm telling you, we're going to have fun."
I nod, letting a small smile slip. For a moment, it feels almost… normal.
Almost like being a regular student, eating lunch, talking with a friend, and forgetting the chaos that waits just outside the cafeteria walls.
A faint heat tingles in my hands. Fire, flickering lightly, almost on its own. I clench my fists to hide it. Nothing more. Just fire.
Nothing else. Not yet.
Taiyashè nudges me again. "Don't worry, Ren. Whatever comes next, we'll handle it together."
I glance out the window, the sunlight bouncing off the buildings of Astra. Somewhere beyond these walls, challenges are waiting. Tougher than combat class, more dangerous than lunch conversations.
And somewhere deep inside, I feel it: the other thing, the power I barely understand, is still there, quietly waiting.
But for now… lunch. Normal. Peaceful. With a friend I can trust.