"What is wrong with you? Are you insane?" Mia snapped the moment they stepped out of the Academy gates. Her voice echoed sharply across the wide courtyard, drawing curious glances from a few passing students.
Trevor continued walking at a steady pace, his hands tucked casually into his pockets as if he hadn't just gambled away a small fortune. Mia hurried after him, her face flushed with anger.
"Do you even know what it takes to start a group?" she demanded. "Do you have any idea where to begin? And yet you went ahead and made a reckless bet like that!"
"Are you done?" Trevor asked calmly, not even breaking stride.
"How can you just stand there so calmly?" Mia continued, her voice rising with every word. "One thousand future points are on the line! Do you understand how much that is worth? We could lose everything because of your stupidity!"
Alvin, who had been walking quietly beside them, finally stepped in. He placed a gentle hand on Mia's shoulder, trying to calm her down. "Hey, ease up, Mia. The deed has already been done. Yelling at him won't change anything. All we can focus on now is how to successfully form this new group."
Mia spun toward him, eyes blazing. "Of course you'll defend him! He's your friend, so you'll take his side no matter what. But I'm not having any of it." She turned sharply and gestured to her younger brother. "Come on, John. Let's go."
John hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Sis, wait. Maybe this is actually a good thing."
Mia stopped in her tracks, surprised by her brother's words.
"We were probably going to get kicked out of that other group anyway," John continued earnestly. "At least now we can put all our effort into creating something that's truly ours. Think about it—we won't have to follow anyone else's rules or deal with their drama."
Mia stared at her brother. She could easily brush off Alvin's defense of Trevor, but hearing this from John hit differently. Her own flesh and blood was siding with the decision that had made her blood boil just moments ago. After a long, heavy sigh, her shoulders finally slumped in defeat.
"Fine," she muttered reluctantly. "I'll be part of this group. But if this blows up in our faces, I'm blaming all of you."
A small, satisfied smile tugged at Trevor's lips, though he wisely kept quiet.
"So, who exactly do we meet to notify them that we want to create our own group?" Mia asked, still sounding irritated but now more focused.
"The principal," Trevor answered decisively.
Mia raised an eyebrow. "And who is the principal?"
"I don't know," Trevor admitted. "But I believe we should start by asking Deputy Captain Devante. He seems to know how things work around here."
Mia shook her head and let out another deep sigh, but she fell into step with the others as they headed toward the station. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the academy grounds, and a cool breeze carried the distant sounds of training drills from the combat fields.
Meanwhile, back near the Academy entrance, Harvey and Alice stood watching the four friends disappear into the distance. Both wore thoughtful expressions, the weight of what they had just witnessed settling heavily between them.
After several moments of silence, Harvey finally spoke. "Do you really believe they'll be able to create a functional group?"
Alice crossed her arms, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm not entirely sure. But the calmness in that Trevor kid's eyes… it really unsettled me. He didn't look like someone who had just made a foolish mistake. He looked like someone who knew exactly what he was doing."
"So what should we do?" Harvey asked. "Just sit back and let them proceed?"
Alice shook her head slowly. "No. Send Dray to keep an eye on them. Tell him to report back on everything that happens—every meeting, every decision, every step they take. I want to know exactly what they're planning."
Harvey nodded without hesitation and turned to carry out the order, leaving Alice alone with her thoughts.
***
Trevor and his group soon arrived at the bustling station. After explaining their purpose to the receptionist, they waited patiently in the lobby until Deputy Captain Devante finally appeared, walking briskly down the stairs in his crisp uniform.
"What do you guys need?" Devante asked hurriedly. "I'm in the middle of something important right now."
"Sir, we would like to formally inform you of our decision to create our own group," Trevor said respectfully.
Devante stopped short, surprise flickering across his face. "Wait—you guys want to create a group?"
All four of them nodded in unison.
"What about the people we introduced you to?" Devante asked, frowning. "What happened to their group?"
"They did not accept all of us," Trevor explained. "So we've decided to form our own instead."
Devante studied them for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, who am I to complain? If that's what you want, then so be it. Follow the proper channels."
"Yes, sir," Trevor replied. "We just need you to tell us who the principal is so we can make it official."
"Oh, the principal is Captain Emilia," Devante answered casually.
The group froze in shock. Alvin's eyes widened. "She is the principal?"
"Yes, and I'm the Vice Principal," Devante said with a slight smile. "No need to look so surprised. Come on, follow me."
He led them through the station corridors until they reached Captain Emilia's office. After a respectful knock, they were permitted to enter.
"What do you guys want?" Emilia asked coldly, not even bothering to look up from the documents spread across her large desk.
"They want to create a new group," Devante informed her.
"Really?" Emilia finally lifted her head, her piercing gaze landing directly on Trevor. "You're serious about this?"
"Yes, ma'am," Trevor replied firmly, meeting her eyes without flinching.
"Fine," she said, reaching into a drawer and handing over a sleek metallic box. "There is a mission available for you."
The moment Trevor touched the box, a detailed holographic image projected into the air above it, displaying maps, statistics, and mission parameters.
"You will head to Tokyo, Japan," Emilia explained in a flat, businesslike tone. "There is a major mine there that extracts Crominium—an essential material used in manufacturing our holographic watches and advanced gadgets. Strange problems have been occurring at the site recently. Your task is to investigate and resolve whatever is causing the disruptions."
"The full mission details will be provided once you arrive," she continued. "You leave in one week. You may go now." With a dismissive wave of her hand, she returned her attention to her work.
As soon as Trevor and the others left the office, Devante turned to Emilia with visible concern.
"You're really sending them on that mission?" he asked, unable to hide his shock.
"They want to start a group, don't they?" Emilia replied emotionlessly. "Let them prove they have what it takes."
"But they might die out there," Devante protested.
Emilia didn't even glance up. "Then so be it."
Devante stood there for a moment, shaking his head. A deep sense of conflict settled in his chest as he thought about the dangerous path that now lay ahead for Trevor and his newly formed group. With a heavy sigh, he finally turned and left the room, wondering whether he had just witnessed the beginning of something remarkable—or the start of a tragedy.