Keith stood frozen at the doorway.
"…Where the hell did they send me?"
The silver-haired girl continued sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of his existence.
Or maybe…
Completely unconcerned.
The afternoon sunlight pouring through the dorm window illuminated her silver hair softly, making it almost glow.
"…Lady Maki Eldridge…"
Keith immediately recognized her. How could he not? The entire academy had practically worshipped her existence since yesterday.
But what truly stunned him wasn't her appearance.
It was…
"…That sleeping posture is terrible."
A noble lady was supposed to sleep elegantly.
Gracefully.
Not like someone who lost a fight against gravity. Her blanket had partially fallen off, one leg hanging carelessly over the side of the bed.
"…She sleeps like Akira after binge-watching anime…"
The thought slipped out naturally.
Keith blinked.
"…Why do I keep comparing people to him today?"
He sighed quietly before setting his bag down carefully.
"Guess this is my dorm now…"
The room itself was surprisingly spacious.
Two beds.
A study desk.
Bookshelves.
Training space.
And a balcony overlooking part of the academy grounds.
"…This doesn't look abandoned at all."
As he unpacked—
CREAK.
The bed above shifted.
"…Mnn…"
Maki slowly opened one eye blue met brown.
Silence.
A long silence.
Then—
"…Who the hell are you?"
Keith stared.
"…That's the first thing you say?"
Maki lazily pushed herself upright, silver hair messy beyond repair.
"…You're in my room."
"Our room," Keith corrected instinctively.
"…Huh?"
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.Keith awkwardly held up the dorm key.
"…I got assigned here."
Maki blinked once.
Twice.
Then immediately fell backward dramatically.
"NOOOOOOO!"
Keith jumped slightly.
"What?!"
She pointed accusingly at the ceiling like fate itself had betrayed her.
"I picked the abandoned dorm specifically to avoid people!"
"…That's kinda rude."
"You weren't supposed to be here!"
"Well, surprise?"
Maki groaned loudly into her pillow.
"…This is suffering."
Keith frowned.
"…You really hate people that much?"
Maki suddenly lifted her head.
"No."
A pause.
"…Just nobles."
"…Fair."
That answer came out of Keith's mouth a little too quickly. Maki slowly turned toward him.
"…You hate nobles too?"
Keith realized his mistake instantly.
"…I mean—not hate…"
"…But?"
"…Some are annoying."
Maki stared at him for another moment.
Then suddenly pointed at him dramatically.
"You."
"…Me?"
"You're the multi-attribute guy."
Keith stiffened.
"…How do you know that?"
"The whole academy knows," Maki replied lazily. "You're famous now."
"…Great."
"And apparently some nobles already hate you."
"…Even better."
Maki snorted slightly.
"…You're funny."
Keith blinked.
"…Thanks?"
She tilted her head while staring at him curiously.
"…You don't act nervous around me."
"Should I?"
"Most people are."
Keith glanced at her sprawled posture again.
"…You kinda killed the intimidation factor."
"…Oi."
"And honestly…"
He paused.
"You don't really act like a noble."
Silence.
Maki's eyes widened slightly.
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're casual."
"Relaxed."
"You say stuff nobles usually wouldn't."
Maki's heartbeat skipped for a second.
"…Crap."
For the first time since arriving she looked genuinely nervous.
"…Did I overdo it?"
Keith noticed immediately.
"…Relax. I'm not judging you."
"…Really?"
"Honestly…"
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"It's refreshing."
Maki stared at him quietly then suddenly smiled, a real smile.
Bright.
Carefree.
Dangerously familiar.
Keith froze slightly.
"…That smile again…"
His chest tightened strangely. Meanwhile
Inside Maki's mind:
…Why does talking to him feel easy? she frowned slightly.
That's weird usually she got tired talking to people quickly especially strangers.
But with him the conversation just flowed naturally. Almost nostalgic.
"So," Maki suddenly said.
"What's your name?"
"Keith Nova."
"…Keith…"
She repeated it slowly. Something about it felt oddly important.
"…I'm Maki."
"I know."
"…Right. Forgot I'm academy-famous now."
"You kinda are."
"Gross."
Keith laughed unexpectedly,a real laugh.
Not forced.
Not polite.
Maki blinked. Then said.
"…You laugh kinda like Hayato…" not loud enough for Keith to hear but enough to trigger
a reaction.
Keith froze instantly, the room suddenly felt quieter.
"…What?"
Maki immediately panicked internally.
CRAP!
WHY DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD?!
"…Nothing!" She defended quickly.
"That sounded very specific." He pushed further.
"Nope!"
"You literally said a name."
"I say random stuff sometimes."
"…You're suspicious."
"You're annoying."
"You just met me."
"And already regretting it."
Keith chuckled slightly again.
"…You really are weird."
"…Thanks?"
"I don't think that was a compliment."
"It never is."
A comfortable silence settled afterward.
Oddly comfortable like two people who had known each other far longer than a few minutes. Keith sat on the lower bed while Maki remained above.
Then—
"…Hey."
Keith looked up.
"What?"
"…Do you think reincarnation exists?"
Keith's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's random."
"I'm serious."
"…Why ask?"
Maki stared toward the ceiling.
"…No reason."
Lie.
A terrible lie. Keith could tell instantly.
"…I think it does."
Maki's heart skipped.
"…Really?"
"Yeah."
He looked toward the window quietly.
"Sometimes…" He said calmly. "…you meet someone and it feels like you already knew them."
Maki stared silently.
"…That's…" she said slowly
"…kinda poetic."
Keith scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Sorry. That sounded weird."
"No…"
Maki smiled faintly.
"…I liked it."
The atmosphere softened again. Then suddenly—
GRRRRRRLLLLL.
Silence.
Keith slowly looked upward. Maki slowly covered her stomach.
"…Did your stomach just roar at me?"
"…No."
"It literally threatened my bloodline."
"…I skipped lunch."
Keith sighed.
"…Amazing."
"What?"
"You're an Elite-class noble."
"And somehow still irresponsible."
"Talent."
"That's not talent."
Maki pointed dramatically at him.
"Then feed me, roommate."
"…Absolutely not."
"Cruel."
"You have money."
"Too lazy to go outside again."
Keith stared at her for a few seconds, then sighed deeply.
"…Fine."
Maki immediately sat upright.
"…Wait seriously?"
"I have extra bread."
"…I love you."
Keith nearly dropped the bag he was holding.
"…WHAT?!"
Maki burst out laughing.
"Relax, I'm joking!"
Keith's face turned slightly red.
"…You say insane things so casually."
"Your reactions are funny."
"…You're definitely trouble."
Maki grinned proudly.
"Correct."
Later that night after eating and unpacking,
the dorm lights dimmed. Keith lay awake staring at the ceiling. Above him, Maki shifted slightly in bed.
Silence filled the room.
Then quietly—
"…Keith."
"…Yeah?"
"…Do you think people can meet again after losing each other?"
Keith's expression softened.
"…I'd like to believe so."
Maki closed her eyes slowly.
"…Yeah…"
A small smile appeared on her face.
"…Me too."
Neither of them realized it. But for the first time since dying, Akira and Hayato had finally found each other again.
Night settled quietly over Azure Academy.
Moonlight spilled softly through the dorm window, painting silver across the wooden floor.The academy grounds, once loud with students and introductions, had finally grown silent.
Above—
Maki slept peacefully on the top bunk, one arm hanging lazily over the edge.
Below—
Keith shifted slightly in his sleep.
Then—
He dreamed.
Warm sunlight the familiar smell of snacks and cheap instant noodles. A game console controller in his hands. Keith blinked.
"…Wait…"
Across from him sat Akira.
Messy black hair.
Bright eyes.
That stupidly confident grin. Completely alive.
"HA! I win again!" Akira shouted triumphantly, pointing dramatically at the screen. "Bow before greatness, mortal!"
"No way," Hayato groaned. "You're too good at this game."
"Well obviously," Akira said proudly. "You just got absolutely smoked in the presence of Akira-sama."
"Has anyone ever told you how pompous you are sometimes?"
"Nope," Akira replied instantly. "Because you're the only person who experiences Akira Premium™ for free."
Hayato blinked.
"…Akira Premium?"
"Yes."
Akira leaned back proudly.
"I don't show most people my true personality."
He shrugged casually, though something quieter hid underneath the words.
"…Lost friends before because of it, they called me childish."
The room softened slightly.
Hayato looked at him carefully.
"…You should talk to people more, the class still finds you funny and fun to be around."
"Yeah but you're the only person who tolerates my madness, wish it was a girl though"
"Akira?."
Akira immediately pointed toward the door.
"ANYWAY!"
"…You changed the subject."
"Correct."
"You did it instantly."
"Who wants to drag out a depressing conversation?" Akira groaned dramatically. "Now c'mon. Football at the park?"
Hayato sighed.
"…You're impossible."
"And yet lovable."
"Debatable."
Akira gasped theatrically.
"You wound me."
Then they laughed.
Easy.
Natural.
Like the world itself had no sharp edges back then. Keith smiled in his sleep.
"…Akira…"
The dream shifted.
A classroom, first year of high school.
Students introducing themselves one by one.
Hayato sat quietly near the window. Back then, he had been nervous.
Reserved.
Unsure.
Then suddenly—
BANG!
The classroom door swung open. A panting boy stood there dramatically.
"Sorry I'm late!" Akira wheezed. "There was heavy traffic, y'know?"
The classroom stared at him, some annoyed,
some amused. One teacher already regretting their career choice.
Meanwhile, Hayato just stared.
…Damn.
That guy's having a rough day. Akira scratched the back of his head awkwardly while walking inside.
"Aw man… this is what I get for binge-watching Dittorians till 3AM…"
The teacher's eye twitched.
"You stayed up watching anime before your first day of school?"
Akira froze.
"…I can explain."
"You cannot."
"You're right."
The class burst into laughter.
And somehow—
That awkward disaster of a boy immediately became impossible to ignore. The dream skipped again.
Lunch break Hayato was sitting alone quietly.
Then—
A shadow appeared above him.
"Yo."
Hayato looked up, Akira stood there holding two juice boxes.
"You looked lonely," he said casually. "…So I bought one for you."
Hayato blinked.
"…Why?"
Akira shrugged.
"No clue."
Then immediately pointed accusingly.
"But now you owe me friendship."
"…That's not how friendship works."
"Too late."
Akira sat beside him anyway.
"Congratulations. You've been adopted."
Keith laughed softly in his sleep.
The warmth slowly faded, the dream darkened slightly.
Now—
Hayato stood with Ayase.
Laughing.
Smiling.
Busy.
Meanwhile—
Far away Akira walked home alone. Still
smiling but quieter, Smaller somehow.
The dream shifted again. Messages unread.
Plans canceled.
Promises delayed.
Then—
That painful memory.
"Can we hang out today?" Akira asked hopefully.
"Sorry, I'm meeting Ayase."
Again.
Again.
Again.
And despite it all Akira still smiled, still joked,
still acted fine. Keith's chest tightened painfully inside the dream.
"…I was awful…"
The dream version of Akira laughed casually.
"When I get a girlfriend, I'll neglect you too."
Back then, it sounded like a joke.
Now—
It sounded lonely.
Dark streets Cold air. Two best friends talking about anime like nothing was wrong. Just like old times.
"…I had no idea…"
Dream-Hayato whispered silently while watching Akira laugh. He was hurting this whole time and I ignored it.
Then—
Blood.
Fear.
The knife.
Akira collapsing Keith's breathing became uneven. Even inside the dream that memory still hurt.
"…Hayato…"
Akira's voice trembled weakly.
"…Are we gonna die…?"
"No…"
Hayato reached toward him desperately.
"No… no, we're okay…"
Lies, they both knew it.
"…If we get reincarnated…"
Akira coughed weakly.
"…let's use a code…"
Then—
Darkness.
Keith reached forward desperately.
"AKIRA!"
Reality Keith suddenly woke up.
"…!"
His breathing was rough, his chest hurt.
Moonlight still filled the room, silence.
Only silence.
He slowly covered his eyes with one arm.
"…Damn it…"
The dream felt too real, too fresh.
"…I really was a terrible friend…"
Above him—
The top bunk creaked softly, He looked upward. Maki was still asleep curled slightly now. Her silver hair falling over part of her face.
"
"Don't leave me behind again…"
Keith sat up slightly.
Above him, Maki murmured softly again in her sleep.
"…Don't leave me behind again…"
Keith's heartbeat stopped for a second.
That voice.
That tone.
That loneliness, It felt like a painful reminder
Then—
Maki slowly opened her sleepy eyes halfway.
"…Hm…?"
She blinked downward lazily.
"…Why are you staring at me like a horror novel victim?"
Keith immediately looked away.
"N-Nothing!"
"…You're weird…"
"You were talking in your sleep."
Maki instantly froze.
"…I was WHAT?"
Keith hesitated.
"…You said…"
His voice softened unconsciously.
"…'Don't leave me behind again.'"
Silence, Maki stared at him quietly.
For a brief second something vulnerable crossed her face. Gone almost instantly.
"…Dreams are stupid," she muttered while looking away. Keith slowly leaned back onto his pillow.
"…Yeah…"
But neither of them fell asleep immediately after that. And somewhere deep inside both their hearts old wounds had begun quietly opening again.
The night remained quiet after their strange conversation. Moonlight rested softly across the dorm room, Keith eventually drifted back to sleep.
But above him—
Maki remained awake Her blue eyes stared silently at the ceiling.
"…Dreams are stupid…"
She repeated the words quietly.But the truth was some memories refused to stay buried.
And tonight…
One of them resurfaced Maki slowly closed her eyes and remembered. Four Years Ago
Maki Eldridge.
Age ten.
The forest had been beautiful that day.
Golden sunlight filtered gently through the trees while birds chirped peacefully overhead. Young Maki wandered deeper into the woods beyond the estate grounds carrying a small basket. She had originally gone searching for monsters.
Instead she found flowers.
"…Clara would probably like these…"
Maki smiled softly while carefully gathering them. At the time, despite her strength…
Despite her intelligence, she was still a child.
Still careless.
Still naive.
Still adjusting to this world and because of that she never noticed the eyes watching her from the shadows.
"…Silver hair…"
"…That's definitely her."
"…The Eldridge daughter."
Three men slowly emerged from between the trees.
Mercenaries.
Not ordinary bandits.
Maki immediately felt it. Their mana pressure alone was enough to tell her they were dangerous. Far stronger than the monsters she normally hunted.
Maki slowly stepped backward.
"…Well…"
She forced out an awkward smile.
"…This feels incredibly illegal."
One of the mercenaries laughed.
"She's calmer than expected."
Another man stepped forward coldly.
"Come quietly, little noble."
"And nobody gets hurt."
Maki's fingers twitched instantly. Water gathered around her hand.
"…Yeah…"
"…No."
The men sighed then suddenly—One vanished.
"…?!"
Pain exploded across Maki's stomach.
"GHK—!"
She crashed violently into a tree, the impact shook her entire body. The breath vanished from her lungs instantly.
Too fast.
Way too fast.
At ten years old even with her abilities she lacked real combat experience. Real fear immediately crawled into her chest.
"…Damn…"
She forced herself upright trembling slightly,
the mercenaries approached slowly.Relaxed,
Confident. Like hunters cornering prey.
"No guards around," one muttered.
"Lucky."
"We'll make a fortune."
Maki immediately fired compressed water bullets toward them but another mercenary instantly appeared beside her.
"Too slow."
SLAM!
He smashed her into the ground violently.
"AGH!"
The dirt beneath her cracked. Pain surged through her ribs,before she could recover—
A heavy boot pressed against her back.
Hard.
Painfully hard.
"…Stay still."
One of the men grabbed her silver hair violently, forcing her head upward.
"Pretty little noble…"
"…LET GO OF ME!"
Maki struggled desperately water burst wildly around her but another mercenary slammed his fist into her stomach.
"Ghk—!"
'These guys are tough'
Her concentration shattered instantly.
Then—
Ropes.
Magically reinforced ropes. They tied her wrists tightly behind her back, her ankles too.
"…No—!"
Maki struggled harder now, panic rising rapidly. The ropes tightened painfully, one of them laughed while lifting her roughly by the arms.
"She's lighter than I expected."
"Should've brought a cage."
Maki's breathing became uneven.
This is bad.
This is REALLY bad.
The mercenary holding her hair forced her to her knees.
"…You nobles really are spoiled."
Another crouched in front of her, gripping her chin cruelly.
"You know how much money your family will pay for you?"
Maki glared at him fearfully.
"…Go to hell."
The mercenary smirked.
"Oh, she's got spirit."
Then—
He slapped her hard across the face. Maki crashed sideways into the dirt.
"…!"
Her vision blurred.
And suddenly—
That feeling returned,that same
helplessness, that same terror, dark streets,
blood, Cold pavement, a knife and
Akira collapsing. Her breathing immediately became erratic.
"…No…"
The memory overlapped with reality.
The pressure.
The fear.
The certainty of death.
"…Run…"
Akira's dying voice echoed inside her mind.
Maki's eyes widened in terror.
No.
No no no no—
I'm not dying again.
NOT AGAIN.
One mercenary pulled out a knife.
"…Should we cut off a finger first?"
"Make negotiations easier."
The others laughed, something inside Maki snapped completely.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Mana exploded outward violently. The ground trembled. The mercenaries froze.
"…What the hell?!"
Silver threads burst wildly from Maki's fingertips for the very first time.
Chaotic.
Unstable.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Sharp enough to slice through stone itself.
Even Maki looked horrified.
"…W-What is this?!"
One mercenary immediately panicked.
"Kill her!"
He lunged forward instantly, then instinct took over, Maki's hand moved. The threads followed.
SHHHKKKK!!!
Silence.
Warm blood splattered across Maki's face.
The mercenary stopped moving. His body slowly separated apart then collapsed heavily into the dirt. Everything became quiet. Too quiet.
Maki stared blankly.
"…Huh…?"
The severed remains twitched slightly before going still.
"…I…"
Her body trembled violently.
"…I killed him…"
The remaining mercenaries stepped backward in horror.
"She's a monster!"
"What the hell IS she?!"
Maki barely heard them anymore, her ears rang loudly, her hands shook uncontrollably.
The blood.
The smell.
The body.
Then suddenly—
Another mercenary attacked desperately.
Maki flinched instinctively. The threads moved again.
SHHHKK!!
Another body fell apart.
"…STOP!!" Maki screamed.
But the threads didn't stop immediately.
They moved wildly through the forest. Trees split apart, Stone sliced open and by the time the final mercenary tried escaping the silver threads had already pierced through his chest. Silence returned once more.
Three bodies, dead because of her. Maki slowly collapsed onto her knees. The ropes around her wrists fell apart.
"…No…"
Her breathing broke apart shakily.
"…No no no…"
Tears formed instantly.
"…I didn't want…"
She stared at her trembling blood-covered hands.
"…I didn't want to kill anyone…"
But despite the horror, despite the guilt,
despite the nausea twisting violently inside her stomach one truth remained. If she hesitated she would have died, Again.
And somehow that terrified her even more.
Curled beside a tree. Still tied partially by torn ropes.
Silent.
Her lips trembled weakly.
"…I killed people…"
She survived that should have been enough
but Maki blamed herself anyway.
For months afterward she remembered their faces.
Their fear.
The feeling of cutting through human flesh.
The warmth of blood against her skin. And worst of all—
A tiny hidden part of herself understood something horrifying, It had been easier than she expected. That realization haunted her more than the blood itself ever could.
Present
Back inside the dorm room Maki slowly opened her eyes, her breathing was shaky.
"…I hate that memory…"
She curled slightly beneath the blanket.
"…Would Hayato still look at me the same way if he knew?"
Below her or at least to her Keith slept peacefully.
Unaware.
Quiet.
Safe.
Maki stared downward silently.
"…You always saw the best in me Hayato…"
Her voice softened painfully.
"…Even when I didn't deserve it…"
She slowly closed her eyes again.
"…So please when we meet again…"
"…don't hate me when you find out…"