First up, Slasth.
"I wanna own a restaurant."
"And your reason?" Remi asked.
"Huh? I need a reason? …I dunno, I just wanna live comfortably, I guess."
"That sounds so vague…"
"Well, that's everything. I just want money and a simple, easy life. That's not a crime, is it?"
"It's not wrong at all. Okay, next."
Irino's turn.
"I want to be a magic researcher… since I don't think I'm suited for combat."
"Not suited? But senpai, you seemed pretty strong," Remi said.
"I lost all my confidence after getting destroyed by Onishima…"
"S–sorry for asking…"
Ao's turn.
"A mage."
"Okay, my turn then!" Remi said cheerfully.
"Hey—hold on! No one heard my reason yet!"
"It's fine, we can all guess."
"He probably just wants to look cool. Fits him," Slasth muttered.
"Maybe it's because he loves fighting? Most people who choose that path usually do…" Irino added.
"SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!!!"
Ao shouted, trying to hide how red his face had gotten.
"My dream is to become a journalist!" Remi announced proudly.
"I want to shine a spotlight on mages who never get noticed."
"That's… ridiculously dreamy," Ao muttered with a deadpan face.
"The dreamier the better! That's how you stay motivated to work hard!" She puffed her chest out proudly.
"Alright, next topic: the high school we want to get into."
Everyone immediately started writing seriously. Except Ao—his marker froze above the blank board.
The sound of markers scratching around him felt louder than usual.
High school I want to get into, huh… If I write Aspída, they'll laugh for sure. Let's just put some normal local school… That's safer… right?
He began to write another school's name— But then he caught a glimpse of the others.
Their expressions were dead serious. So serious he couldn't believe they'd lie about something like this.
He stopped. Erased everything. And wrote the truth.
What the hell am I doing? I'm aiming for Aspída yet I'm scared of writing its name?!
That's so NOT me!!!
"Everyone done?"
They all answered yes at once.
"Alright, I'll go first," Remi said. "The high school I want is XXXXX High School, general course!"
Irino and Slasth clapped.
Ao awkwardly clapped along.
…Do we have to clap for this?
"Next is Irino."
"I want to enter XXXXX High School, magic course, research branch.
Next is you, Mountideer."
"I'm going to XXXXX High School too, the general course. Your turn."
"Yeah… I'm going to Aspída."
Silence.
A thick, suffocating silence.
"H–hey!! Say something!!!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
"What the hell is so funny!!!??"
"Dude, are you insane!? I expected a magic-related school, but ASPÍDA??" Slasth howled.
"Mr. Onishima—pff—sorry, but… Aspída…?" Irino tried to hold back laughter.
"Hahaha!! Senpai, you're serious!? Aspída, the Aspída!?"
"Don't laugh, damn it!! What's so funny about wanting to go to Aspída!? Even Remi has a dreamy goal!!"
"It's not that…" Remi giggled. "It's just… I've never seen you look so serious before."
"Don't look at me. I'm laughing because it's impossible," Slasth said bluntly.
"Sorry… I kinda agree," Irino added.
"HEY!!!"
Ao shot up from his seat, furious— But stopped when a gentle hand landed on his shoulder.
"Calm down, senpai… No matter how impossible your dream sounds… I'll still cheer for you."
"…What?"
Ao immediately froze, anger evaporating.
"Yeah. I'll support you too, Onishima," Slasth added. "We're rivals, after all."
"And I'll cheer for you as well!" Irino said earnestly.
Ao sank back into his chair. A familiar warmth surged in his chest— the same feeling he had when he'd made peace with his mentor, Muyagura.
What is this…? I've never told anyone about Aspída except my family and Muyagura. Why does it feel like I'm releasing something bottled up…?
"Yeah… Thanks, you guys. For listening to my stupid dream…"
Months passed.
Festivals came and went. Countless events and battles filled the school year.
A nobody like Ao had climbed up to become one of the top fighters in school.
Slasth disbanded his delinquent gang and encouraged his followers to pursue their own dreams.
Irino joined a cram school to chase his dream of becoming a magic researcher.
Remi became a second-year.
**And finally—
Ao's graduation day.**
Remi, the star student of the second year, gave a speech that made half the gym cry.
Ao didn't cry—probably because he fell asleep halfway.
After the ceremony, the third-years walked out with their diplomas, ready for the next chapter of their lives.
Spring's chilly wind swept past Ao's uniform, sending a shiver down his back.
He gazed around the middle school he had spent three long years in.
Memories flushed through him—
Classrooms. Hallways. Behind the building. Good memories. Bad memories.
All blending together.
He stepped outside the school gate—
"Senpai!!!"
A familiar voice shouted from afar.
Remi, Slasth, and Irino waved enthusiastically for him to come over.
"Where did you go!?" Remi yelled.
Ao smirked, wiping nonexistent tears.
"You don't have to shout! I'm coming!"
"Hurry! The sushi place is gonna fill up!!"
"MOVE IT, ONISHIMA!!"
Ao inhaled deeply, then broke into a run—
smiling wider with every step.
The four of them laughed and chatted as they made their way down the busy shopping district, packed with graduates celebrating.
Then— Someone caught Ao's peripheral vision.
Someone he had known for years. Someone he had once been searching for.
Onishima Renzo.
His chest tightened. He whipped around—
No one.
Just a crowd of strangers swirling past.
Just my imagination…?
"Senpai? Are you okay?" Remi tapped his shoulder gently.
"I'm fine… Just a bug," Ao lied, brushing it off as he walked ahead.
But something had changed.
His long climb was finally over. Now a new path lay before him— one he didn't have to walk alone anymore.
**But up above—
someone was watching him.**
On the rooftop of a tall building, a mysterious figure stood in the shadows.
A human silhouette. But his golden eyes glowed unnaturally bright— bright enough to shine even in total darkness.
"At last… I've found you.
Onishima Ao…
It's been a long time."
The figure resembled Renzo.
**Graduation day ended peacefully.
Next stop: the Aspída entrance exam.**
End of Chapter 1 – Middle School
Beginning of Chapter 2 – Aspída Selection