The walk to school was fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes of Jake talking.
"Listen, I'm just saying," Jake was mid-sentence, walking backward in front of them, hands animated, "if you'd waited half a second before forcing that manifestation—"
"I didn't force it," Raxian said flatly.
"You did."
"Didn't."
"You absolutely—"
"Jake," Tess cut in calmly, adjusting the strap of her backpack.
Apron gone.
Just pink and black — cropped jacket, layered necklaces, black cargo pants. She wore pink like armor, not decoration.
Jake grinned. "Fine. Tactical miscalculation."
Marcus walked beside them, hands in his pockets, expression relaxed like none of this mattered. He always looked like he had somewhere better to be.
Bruce trailed slightly behind, sipping something from a takeaway cup, already resigned to Monday.
Logan walked near the edge of the group, gaze distant. He didn't participate. He rarely needed to.
The city shifted subtly as they moved farther from the center — less neon, fewer billboard flashes, quieter streets. The school sat in a calmer district, trees lining the walkway, buildings lower and more traditional.
Still, EGO was everywhere.
Wrist watches glowing faintly.
Students comparing rank badges.
A teacher at the gate arguing about last night's patch notes with another staff member.
Status symbol.
Always.
They stepped through the school gates.
The whispers were immediate.
Jake slowed.
"…Why is it loud?"
It wasn't loud in volume, it was loud in energy.
Clusters of students stood in the courtyard, phones out, screens glowing.
"Did you see—"
"Yeah, that's her—"
"No way she's actually here—"
Jake's curiosity activated instantly.
"Oh, hold on."
He veered off before anyone could stop him.
Raxian exhaled through his nose.
Marcus smirked. "This should be good."
Tess frowned slightly, already suspicious.
Jake returned less than a minute later.
He stopped a few feet from the group.
Blink.
"Huh."
He looked at Raxian.
Slow smile spreading.
"Oh that's cruel."
Raxian didn't react.
"What?" Bruce asked.
Jake folded his arms dramatically.
"So."
Beat.
"You lose your promos."
Raxian's jaw tightened.
"And today?" Jake continued, clearly enjoying himself. "We welcome a prodigy."
Marcus straightened slightly.
"You're joking."
Jake shook his head.
"Transfer. Today."
Tess was already pulling her phone out.
"Name."
Jake looked delighted.
"Sable Holloway."
The name hit heavier than it should have.
Tess's fingers moved quickly across the screen, logging into the school portal.
A pause.
Refresh.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…She's on the updated roster."
Bruce leaned in.
"Actually?"
"Same class," Tess confirmed.
Marcus let out a low whistle.
"That's convenient."
Jake clapped Raxian once on the shoulder.
"Bro. You lose to Smurferina on Sunday and now you get to sit next to a protigy on Monday."
Raxian didn't respond.
He turned toward the lockers instead.
Opened his.
Closed it.
A little harder than necessary.
The metal echoed down the hallway.
The whispers were louder now.
Someone down the corridor said, "That's her."
And the hallway shifted, a subtle vacuum of attention.
Footsteps.
Measured.
Unhurried.
Raxian didn't look up immediately.
He didn't need to.
He could feel it.
Jake leaned closer, voice low and gleeful.
"…try me?"
Raxian's fingers curled briefly at his sides.
Promo night.
Objective chamber.
Spear through golden flare.
The locker door reflected a faint silhouette behind him.
He shut the locker again.
This time controlled.
And finally looked up.
The hallway parted before she even reached it.
Like people instinctively gave her space without knowing why.
Her steps were unhurried.
Boots steady against the tile floor.
Dark skirt, loosened green tie, sleeves rolled just enough. Beanie low over her hair. Backpack slung casually over one shoulder like she'd walked this corridor a hundred times before.
She was aware of the looks.
Of the whispers.
Of the phones half-lowered.
She paid them no mind.
Locker numbers.
She checked the printed schedule once.
Then scanned the row.
Stopped.
Jake was leaning against the locker beside Raxian's, one foot braced against the metal, posture relaxed.
He straightened the moment he saw her approach.
Marcus muttered under his breath, "Here we go."
Tess folded her arms.
Bruce took a slow sip of coffee.
Logan was already turning the page of his book.
She stopped in front of the locker.
Jake didn't move.
"Morning," he said smoothly.
She glanced at him.
Not impressed, just… measuring.
"Move."
Jake blinked once.
"…Excuse me?"
"That's my locker."
He stepped aside slowly, but didn't leave.
"New here?" he asked, leaning back in casually. "I could show you around."
She slipped her key into the lock.
"I doubt that."
Marcus covered a laugh with a cough.
Jake's grin tightened slightly.
"You're Sable, right?"
The lock clicked open.
She pulled the door out and started placing a notebook inside.
Jake leaned closer.
"Transfer mid-year is bold. Especially here."
No reaction.
He tried again.
"You play?"
That got the faintest pause.
She closed the locker.
Looked at him directly.
Green eyes steady.
"Yes."
"Rank?"
There it was.
The hallway stilled slightly.
She adjusted the strap of her backpack.
"Move."
Jake stepped back automatically this time.
She walked past him without another word, controlled dismissal.
Jake turned slowly toward the group.
"…What the hell?"
Bruce snorted into his cup.
Tess raised an eyebrow. "Charming."
Marcus grinned. "Shy, I think."
Jake pointed at him. "Exactly. Shy."
Raxian had already started walking down the hallway.
Logan fell into step beside him without comment.
Jake jogged to catch up.
"Hey— hey, wait up."
He threw his arm around Raxian's shoulders again.
"She's just shy."
Raxian didn't look at him.
"She told you to move."
"That's mysterious."
"That's dismissive."
Jake waved it off. "You wouldn't understand."
Raxian shot him a look.
"Try me."
The words hung there for half a second longer than comfortable.
Jake didn't catch it.
Logan did.
Logan glanced sideways at Raxian, expression unreadable.
Behind them, Tess, Marcus, and Bruce watched Jake's confidence slowly reconstruct itself in real time.
Marcus shook his head.
"Man got speedrun rejected."
Tess smirked slightly.
"Impressive."
Jake straightened, chin up.
"Relax. I'll warm her up."
Bruce nearly choked.
Raxian pulled free of Jake's arm.
"She's not your side quest."
Jake blinked.
"…Side quest?"
Logan finally spoke, quiet but precise.
"Don't."
Jake looked between them.
"What?"
Raxian didn't answer.
He just kept walking.
And somewhere ahead in the hallway—
Sable didn't look back once.