The sun had climbed high over Astra, painting the campus in bright light and long shadows. Nova-1 gathered in the courtyard, backpacks slung over shoulders, eyes still buzzing from combat class and lunch.
Crowe stood at the front, calm as ever, arms folded. His gaze swept over the students. The faint pulsing of the Shadow Field made everyone move just a little slower, a little more aware.
"Follow me," he said.
We fell in line behind him as he led us through the sprawling campus. White towers gleamed, training fields stretched as far as the eye could see, and strange experimental quirk devices hummed in the distance.
Finally, we arrived at a large dormitory. The doors were black steel, engraved with the Astra crest. Crowe gestured.
"Nova-1 dormitories. Each student will be assigned a roommate. Each pairing is carefully considered for compatibility, potential synergy, and mutual growth."
A murmur went through the class.
Crowe's eyes landed on me briefly. I froze, heart thumping. He tilted his head slightly and moved on.
We filed inside. The dorm hallway smelled faintly of clean floors and polish. Lockers lined the walls, and the air buzzed with low quirk energy from nearby students.
"Check the lists," Crowe said, pointing to a wall display. "Find your room. Move your belongings efficiently. Respect the dorm rules. Lights out at 22:00. Curfew enforced."
I scanned the board quickly. Room 304… and the roommate listed was… Taiyashè.
I blinked. He blinked.
"You're joking," Taiyashè said, grinning.
I shrugged. "Guess we're stuck with each other."
He bumped my shoulder. "Not that I'm complaining."
I laughed. "Yeah… me neither."
We grabbed our bags and headed down the hall. The dorm rooms were compact but comfortable — two beds, a shared desk, small shelves, and a window that looked out over the training fields.
Taiyashè dropped his bag on his bed. "So, this is it. Our new base of operations."
I set mine down beside him. "Looks… fine."
He glanced at me. "Ren, you're unusually quiet. Something on your mind?"
I shook my head. "Just… thinking about Crowe. And everything that's happened today."
Taiyashè smirked. "Yeah, I know that look. You're thinking about fire, Shadow Fields, and maybe your secret superhero powers."
I frowned. "It's nothing."
But deep down, I felt it — the faint hum of the other thing. The hidden power, still waiting, still pulsing just beneath the surface.
Taiyashè flopped onto his bed dramatically. "Well, whatever happens, I'm glad we're roommates. We've got this, Ren. Nova-1 won't know what hit them."
I smiled faintly. "Yeah. We'll see."
Outside, the campus stretched wide. The sun shone, the wind whispered across the training fields, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was already watching.
And with Taiyashè beside me, for the first time, I felt… maybe ready.