Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Room A-26, casting dramatic beams across the polished floor like spotlights on a movie set. Ren Hoshino and Yuri Hanasaki stepped inside, the heavy door clicking shut behind them with a sense of finality.
"This is our room — A-26," Ren said, flashing a confident smile as he dropped onto the wooden bench.
Yuri smiled softly, though a hint of nervousness danced in her eyes. "Right… This room is quite peaceful. What do you think — will we really become real Resonants?" she asked, voice trembling slightly.
Ren looked up at her, his expression steady and reassuring. "Of course we will. We're going to become the strongest Resonants. No need to think negative — we've got this."
Suddenly, the door opened again. A portly male teacher entered, his footsteps heavy and deliberate. "You both are Ren Hoshino and Yuri Hanasaki, right?" he asked, his deep voice filling the room.
Yuri nodded energetically. "Yes, that's us!" she replied sweetly.
The teacher smiled, walking closer while his gaze lingered. "I didn't know beautiful girls also wanted to become Resonants," he said, opening his register with slow deliberation.
Ren looked straight at him, tone direct and unflinching. "What's your motive for coming here?"
The teacher glanced down at him. "I'm here to ask about the size and metal of your Ketsuryū-Shinki," he said seriously.
Ren leaned back, smiling with quiet confidence. "Ketsuryū-Shinki — the blade used by Resonants. I want mine forged from Tungsten Carbide."
The teacher turned to Yuri. "And you?"
Yuri tilted her head cutely. "What about a normal tamahagane?" she asked, looking a bit confused.
The teacher nodded and began to leave when Ren added calmly, "And keep the higher binder percentage — almost twelve percent cobalt."
The teacher gave another nod before exiting the room.
Yuri looked at Ren, clearly impressed. "You know so many things about the Ketsuryū-Shinki…"
Ren smiled, an energetic spark lighting his eyes. "Don't worry, it's normal. I chose Tungsten Carbide because it's incredibly strong, but it can be brittle and break easily. Higher binder percentage helps a lot. I'll also need to adjust my combat style depending on the battle."
Yuri smiled happily, her expression softening. "I'm really glad that you're my partner," she said sweetly.
On the other side of the hall, Kael sat on a bench, his gaze shamelessly locked onto Yukie's massive chest.
"Stop staring, idiot," Yukie snapped aggressively, crossing her arms tightly under her breasts, which only accentuated their impressive size.
Kael smiled and finally looked away. "Why did you choose tamahagane for your Ketsuryū-Shinki?" he asked, genuinely confused.
Yukie tilted her head. "What? Isn't that what katanas are made from?" she asked, sitting down beside him.
Kael sighed heavily. "It's okay… maybe you don't know everything," he said calmly.
A short while later, all five remaining pairs gathered in the grand central hall. Several stern teachers stood waiting, the atmosphere thick with serious cinematic tension — like the quiet moment before an epic battle scene.
"All of you are here for the Resonants Entrance Exam," one authoritative man declared, his voice booming with weight. "We will check two things: your medical condition — no hidden surgeries or injuries — and test your bodies for Aurora injection."
One of the boys raised his hand respectfully. "What is Aurora?"
Another teacher smiled slightly. "Great question. Aurora is a serum that dramatically enhances your physical strength, making you far superior to any normal human. But we must test every body first. If someone's physiology can't handle it… their body will explode or melt on the spot."
A girl looked visibly scared. "So… you'll check all of us before injecting Aurora? To make sure our bodies can handle it?"
The teacher nodded. "Yes. But there are no guarantees. Even the fear of the side effects can spike your blood pressure or heartbeat during testing. That's why it's entirely your responsibility. Anyone who wants to leave… can do so now."
The students exchanged nervous glances. One entire pairs stood up and quietly walked out of the hall.
"She left with her partner…" Kael muttered to himself.
Ren gulped hard but kept his gaze forward, voice steady and confident. "When does the medical test start?"
The teacher smiled. "It begins in two hours. Until then, you may rest."
As the teachers left the hall, the remaining students broke into anxious chatter.
"That looks dangerous…" Yuri said, looking nervous.
Yukie rolled her eyes. "Don't act like a child. Nothing's going to happen to us. We can do this," she said confidently.
Yuri nodded, then glanced around. "Where did Ren and your partner go?"
Yukie scanned the area. "I don't know," she replied calmly.
Inside the boys' toilet, Ren and Kael stood facing the mirror, raw panic written across their faces.
"Are we going to die single?!" Ren cried violently, tears streaming dramatically down his cheeks.
Kael started banging his head against the wall. "I don't want to die a virgin!" he groaned, voice thick with fear.
Ren slapped his own forehead. "Why the hell did I tell them to start?!" he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, a soft knock echoed on the door.
"Ren? Are you inside?" Yuri asked gently from the other side.
Ren quickly opened the door, switching instantly to an energetic, confident smile. "Hello, ladies! We were just washing our faces to freshen up for the medical tests," he said smoothly.
Kael stepped out behind him, forehead bleeding slightly from the repeated head-banging.
"Where did this blood come from?" Yuri asked, looking concerned.
Kael smiled through the pain and wiped the blood away. "Just fell, that's all — nothing serious," he said, trying to sound confident.
Ren and Kael started walking toward the campus. "We'll be back before the medical tests begin," Ren called back before disappearing around the corner with Kael.
Yukie rolled her eyes. "Those two are very scared," she muttered before leaving.
Yuri tilted her head, still confused. "I don't understand anything…"
A short while later, Ren and Kael sat slumped on the campus benches under the afternoon sun, the weight of impending doom hanging over them like a dark cinematic shadow.
"Maybe… we really are getting ready to die," Ren said, his voice dripping with clear hopelessness.
Suddenly, Yuri came jogging toward them, her massive breasts shaking violently with every hurried step, her breathing slightly labored.
"Guys, the medical check-up has started!" she said, looking breathless.
Both boys froze in shock.
"But it was supposed to take two hours… and only one hour and fifteen minutes have passed!" Kael said, his face pale with fear.
Yuri smiled softly, trying to sound reassuring. "I don't know… they just wanted to do it faster."
Both of them nodded reluctantly and followed her back toward the other students.
"Here we are…" they both announced, voices laced with fear.
A teacher stood between two large doors, his expression calm and authoritative. "Boys, please go right. Girls, please go left."
As the groups split into separate rooms, the boys stepped into theirs and looked around in awe.
"Woah… that's amazing," Kael muttered, genuinely impressed by the high-tech machines and glowing supercomputers lining the walls.
A confident female doctor stepped forward. "My name is Ayame Oshino. Please, every boy, lie down in a different capsule."
The boys obeyed, settling into the sleek, futuristic capsules one by one.
"Now, we are going to scan all of your bodies before injecting the Aurora," Ayame said calmly before activating the scanners.
Bright lights hummed as the machines began their thorough examination.
"That's quite good, but Hiroshi… your hand bone is fractured and your leg bones are weaker than a normal human's. You can't proceed," Ayame stated calmly, examining the data with clinical precision.
Hiroshi stood up quietly and left the room without protest. "It's okay," he said softly before closing the door behind him.
Once the scanning was complete, Ayame looked at the remaining three boys.
"So… get ready for the injection," she said.
She administered the Aurora serum into each of them with steady hands.
"Let's see its effect," Ayame added, sitting down with clear scientific interest.
Almost immediately, Ren's body began heating up intensely. His veins bulged and filled with rushing blood as unbearable pain surged through him.
"What is this happening… it's hurting!" Ren gasped desperately, writhing inside the capsule.
Ayame smiled calmly from her chair. "Control yourself, boy," she said confidently.
On the girls' side, Yuri's body also started heating rapidly, her veins visibly pulsing under her skin.
"That's quite good results," the female doctor noted, examining her carefully.
Yuri's heart began beating faster and faster.
"Doctor, her heart rate is increasing rapidly!" one of the assistants said, concern in her voice.
The doctor smiled. "Keep going. That's the effect of Aurora," she replied confidently.
After nearly an hour, Ayame looked down at Ren's capsule with a heavy sigh.
"Maybe… he won't make it," she muttered.
Suddenly, Ren sat up abruptly. His clothes were singed and burned from the intense heat. With a sleepy, dazed gaze, he looked at all the female doctors.
"Good morning, ladies…" he said casually.
Kael emerged from his own capsule, touching his face in disbelief. "Maybe… we are alive," he whispered.
Ayame smiled. "That's good, because the third boy who was with you in the capsules died just five minutes ago." She pointed toward a dustbin containing a melted, unrecognizable mass.
Ren's eyes widened in shock. "Why did you throw it in the dustbin?!"
Ayame smiled energetically. "He is biodegradable."
On the girls' side, Yuri and Yukie sat in chairs alongside two other girls, still catching their breath.
"All of you are alive. That's good," the doctor said, looking impressed.
Yukie smiled confidently. "So… we are safe now?"
The doctor nodded. "In females, we use a smaller amount of Aurora compared to males. That could be the reason. But now you have unlocked the potential of a Resonants. You can all learn new skills and become truly powerful."
She opened the door for them.
A short while later, all the surviving boys and girls emerged from their respective rooms, looking at each other with a mix of relief and joy.
"We are safe," Ren said, a genuine happy smile breaking across his face.
Yuri nodded softly. "That's great. Now we can become official Resonants," she said sweetly.
Yukie glanced at Kael and rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "I never knew I'd be this happy to see you alive."
Kael grinned energetically. "I'm also glad to see you safe."
Just then, a teacher appeared before the group.
"I am happy that all of you are safe," he announced confidently. "Now you may all go home and prepare. Get ready for your ID cards and your first mission — which will decide your training academy."