"Oh come on! The environmental hazards on this stage are terrible!" Stella huffed as Al sighed in relief, putting down his controller.

"Yeah, they were kind of a hitch," I admitted, kicking back in my chair.

I'd made a couple of dumb mistakes and gotten bounced around like a basketball by both of them, so it was a bit of an annoying round. But it was still so much fun.

After a hectic opening week and month prior, getting to kick back a bit like this was... nice.

I felt a little spark of anxiety about the coming week in my chest, but I didn't dwell on it.

I deserved this. We all did.

We'd gotten a good chunk of game time in, and the sun was high up in the air. Four or five hours just going through the campaign followed by a free-for-all brawl mode. Stella had fumbled into it at first, but soon, she was pretty competitive with us. And competitive was one way to describe her.

I'd always heard about the people who just seemed to be good at... well, everything. And Stella seemed to fit the bill. She picked up on things quick and seemed to be a fast study.

But again, she was just a first-year student like the rest of us.

I yawned, stretching as I stood up. "I need a walk. Think I'm gonna wander around the campus and find something to eat."

I glanced over at the monitor, which was blinking with the message: 'Player 1 - Victory!' as Al's character was frozen in a pose.

"Nah. Mom left me with an entire fridge full off groceries. I'll whip us something up after we finish up here while you get some air, Sienna," Al grinned, giving me a thumbs up.

Stella watched him, turning away from the screen as I grabbed my wallet and faded sneakers.

"Now I'm curious," Stella mused, brushing back her hair. "You're a walking encyclopedia, you have a sunny personality, and you can cook? Is there anything this boy can't do?"

Al snickered, waving her off. "Oh, please. For one, I'm terribly phobic of yellow and black insects. And I can't coordinate colors worth a damn."

I nodded. "And he's not the greatest dancer."

"She's right. But hey, the ladies like a guy who can put on a show!"

He winked, and we both giggled.

Stella slowly sat up as I tucked my wallet into my sweat pants and gave my eyes a rub.

She stood up, grabbing her small purse and dangling it from her fingers.

"Would it be weird if I joined you for your little walk? I'm all for running the risk of breaking my fingers, but Albert here might take advantage of my absence to keep crushing my butt," Stella smiled, shrugging.

I blinked in surprise. She wanted to hang out with me? Just me?

"Oh, yeah, I mean of course! We've had enough gaming to last a couple of weeks, so my brain needs to cool off. Right, Al?" I beamed, turning to my friend.

Al rubbed the back of his head with a chuckle.

"Yeah. Go ahead, Stella. The wind can do you both some good. Got any food allergies? Any flavor preferences?" He offered, sliding back out his balcony.

She smiled, watching as I made my way to the door.

"Don't worry, I'm fine with whatever you whip up. And no, I don't have any allergies. Surprise me."

"Can do, guys! Take care out there."

And then, Stella and I were on our way.

She paused in the doorway, glancing back at Albert's room as she pressed her lips together.

"Is something up?" I asked, eyeing her curiously.

She sighed. "It's nothing. Just a funny gut feeling, I guess."

She closed the door, and I followed her out, down the narrow stairwell.

We made our way into the grassy courtyard, and Stella flipped her hair back, taking a deep breath. Then, she looked away, rubbing her arm with a thoughtful smile.

She seemed a little off now, and I wasn't sure how to navigate the situation. She'd seemed so open with Albert, but she was more withdrawn and introverted with me.

It was like she didn't trust me or was worried about something.

Maybe I'd say something wrong, or weird her out. Maybe I'd learn more about her secrets and secrets.

But maybe this could be a chance to make a friend.

She'd seemed so friendly and approachable when she was with Al, but being alone together was a different vibe entirely.

Either way, I decided to follow her lead and stay quiet, not wanting to break the silence.

She glanced around, stretching her neck, and frowned.

"Alright. So, mind if I ask you about your life, Sienna?" She offered, smiling as we made our way around a row of trees.

"Oh. Yeah. I mean, what do you want to know? I don't think there's much interesting about me. I grew up following Albert around in a pretty working class neighborhood," I giggled, shrugging. "I had three solid friends, and that was pretty much it. Two of them wound up moving away — there wasn't much opportunity in Pewterstone. And I guess Al and I are here now."

She nodded, a strange look in her eye as she squinted into the distance.

"So, you both came from Pewterstone City? What made you take the tests to come out to Kaleidoscope Academy if I might ask?" She smiled, tilting her head.

I gave her a shy smile. "Oh, you know. It was just kind of a dream. Al was always obsessed with the intrigue and conflicts between our heroes, magical knights, and supervillains. He... kind of influenced me a lot when it came to ideals and worldviews."

"So, you two are very close?" Stella murmured, looking up at the clouds.

I sighed. "Yeah, he's been more than a best friend to me. He's like a brother in a way. He had no reason to help the frail little girl getting pelted with sand at school, but he did. He used to get picked on too because he chased off my bullies, so he got himself harassed for it," I smirked.

It wasn't a sweet memory, but it was one that gave me a lot of perspective and strength.

"Neither of us were selected as Knights when we allowed the Guardians to screen us as kids, though. It's pretty wild," I laughed, shaking my head. "It seems like they didn't catch on to him being so observant and resourceful. Or just genuinely pure-hearted."

Her lips curled into a tiny smile, but she didn't respond immediately.

"So, Sienna, your dream is to be a hero? Like a fully-fledged one?" Stella pressed, twirling a lock of hair in her fingers.

I chuckled. I didn't exactly want to reveal the fact that I became a magical girl through an emergency contract, but I could still tell a half-truth. "Yeah, but nothing ever goes as planned, does it? I feel like there's a million different ways to make a difference. I actually came here for the Magical Knight Logistics program, but who knows?"

"Ha! That's fair," Stella laughed, putting a hand to her chest. "Well, you've got a sense of optimism and a can-do attitude that's hard to come by."

She furrowed her brow, touching her chin as she looked at the ground.

"Logistics program, huh? That's a pretty tough one. There's a lot of business and management stuff involved. Filing, bookkeeping, inventory, managing teams and resources. It's a whole side of the job that most people forget about."

I gave her a curious smile. "Wow, you're pretty knowledgeable about it, Stella. Did you come here with any plans? Any passions or ideas?"

She smirked, lowering her eyes. "You know, I didn't think I'd come to Kaleidoscope this year. As much as I rambled about taking up my mother's legacy and being strong and all that jazz, there was a part of me that just didn't want to. It wasn't hesitation. It was..." She frowned, squinting at the sky.

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I nodded, growing somber.

It was a kind of pain that I couldn't describe. Like someone who'd lost a part of themselves, but didn't know how to get it back. I could sympathize with her. Empathize with her, even.

Her mother had died from a debilitating disease as one of the most famous martial artists in the world. My own mother had fallen to depression and alcoholism for years, before she took up her original mantle as a magical girl to trap herself god knows where in a blaze of glory three weeks ago. The wounds were still fresh, and I felt my heart ache a little as I reached out to touch her arm.

"Do you have regrets, Stella?" I asked softly, watching as she twiddled her fingers.

"I don't have regrets. I just have fear. Fear of navigating this world without a true purpose I chose myself. At least, not one that I could openly choose for myself. It's complicated," She whispered, a wave of vulnerability overcoming her expression. "In the last few years, I've been trying to figure out who I am. Who I am, not as Lady Matsudaira, not as the adoptive heir to The Sovereign. But just... me. I guess I still don't know."

She frowned, tilting her head as she looked off into the distance. "It's gonna sound callous or out of touch, since I have a pretty good inkling of where you and Albert came from. But I've only known for a few days, and you for under a day. I hope you can forgive me for being a little guarded, and a little selfish."

I nodded.

I'd never been in her shoes. I couldn't imagine the pressure or the struggle of dealing with all of this and running away from it for so long.

"I'm jealous of you two, you know? You can come from where you did and still be the freest person alive. And in a way, I look at you, Albert, and your genuine passion and interest in making the world a better place, and just feel this... sort of sadness. You don't need me to preach about The Sovereign's mission, or the sacred duty to protect and uphold. But that kind of 'save the world for the sake of it' stuff just genuinely doesn't appeal to me anymore."

I studied her, frowning. "Maybe you should set your own path. Something a little closer to your heart?"

Stella shrugged, running her fingers through her hair. "I came here to try to find exactly that. Chasing my heart brought me here. No regrets. And things have been working out weirdly well. Almost like it's fate."

She giggled to herself. Then she shook her head and sighed, clasping her hands in front of her. "Anyway. Sorry if I scared you or confused you with all that. Let's keep moving?"

She stepped forward, and I followed her, a bit speechless.

She'd offered so much about herself, and I didn't even know where to begin.

But her intentions seemed pure, and I got the sense that her spirit was kind.

She reminded me of Albert in that way, and I let out a soft sigh.

He had a good eye for people, I realized.

"Don't worry, Stella. You don't have to apologize. I hope you can find that thing. Whatever it is."

She nodded, her lips curling up into a slight smile.

We continued walking, her dangling her purse and me absentmindedly kicking a rock on the path.

For a moment, I felt like we'd established a fragile, intimate connection. That there were secrets on the tip of her tongue, and I wasn't so afraid of what she had to say.

And for the first time, I saw some of her inner walls start to come down.

It wasn't much. But it was a start.

And I couldn't help but wonder what that meant.

The two of us wandered around the campus in relative silence, stopping at little curiosities like a statue of Arcadia Vox and a koi pond. There were all kinds off buildings for training and research, and I couldn't help but just stop to stare at the shimmering seas below as we passed an overlook.

Stella stopped as well, closing her eyes to take in the salty afternoon breeze.

"So, back to Albert. You're really smitten with him, aren't you?" I teased, nudging her.

She opened her eyes, lazily rubbing her eyes in fatigue. Then, she paused as my question hit her.

"Wh-what? No way!" Stella gasped, her eyes bulging as she shook her head. "Yeah, we've spent a lot of time together through orientation, but come on! He's not my type. I promise you that."

"I'm just kidding! Take it easy," I laughed, putting up my hands in surrender.

She sighed, throwing back her head with a smile. "My god, Sienna! You nearly made me swallow my tongue!"

She scowled playfully at me, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Yeah, she was fun.

Not unlike Al at all. She just had a much bigger mask and a lot more to hide.

"Anyway, I think we should circle back around to Al's dorm. He's probably gotten some food cooking by now," I smiled, sticking my hands into my pockets.

She nodded in agreement, her smile lingering as we made our way back towards the main courtyard.

And for a moment, we walked in silence.

Then, she froze in place, blinking a few times as I looked up at her.

She muttered something to herself, staring at Albert's dorm building. Then, she took out her phone and began scrolling through it with her free hand.

"Stella?" I spoke, raising an eyebrow.

She suddenly looked pale, her lips parted in shock.

"Sorry, Sienna. I... think I need to run back and check on something," She whispered, looking troubled.

I nodded, understanding. "Okay. No worries, Stella."

She rubbed her neck, turning away. "Um, I'll see you back at Albert's? Tell him I have an errand to take care of. Shouldn't take all that long."

"Can do!" I agreed.

And then, she took off, running across the yard and out of view.

Weird.

As I watched her disappear into the crowd, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease prick at the back of my neck.

There was something about that reaction. I just didn't know what it was.

I took a breath, shaking off the bad feeling.

Maybe she'd forgotten her jacket or her wallet or something back at the dining hall.

Either way, this was no time to overthink it.

I turned back toward Al's dorm building and walked a couple of steps, only to stop and blink in surprise.

Standing in front of the dorm's entrance was none other than Al's mother. She was in a casual yellow windbreaker, her eyes hidden under a pair of sunglasses and a large hat that looked slightly out of place as she chatted with a tall, well-built man in a suit who looked like he was around sixty or seventy.

"Oh, Sienna. Good afternoon!" She waved, flashing me a smile. "I hoped I'd get to see you today."

"I could say the same to you Mrs. Chang. It's nice to see you again," I replied, returning her smile.

She'd aged gracefully, her dark hair flecked with only a few streaks of white. She was tall and thin, with a firm, energetic stance that you couldn't help but admire.

She'd supposedly been a dancer and gymnast in her youth, and it was easy to see how much work and effort went into maintaining her physique at her age.

Al's mom had influenced me a lot in terms of discipline and drive, but I hadn't spoken to her directly in a while.

I saw the kindness and warmth in her eyes, and it was hard to look away.

"I must say. It is surprising to see you here, Angela," the man in a suit mused, smiling wryly at her.

"It's not often I get to visit my alma mater, that's for sure," She chuckled, giving him a sly smirk.

I opened my mouth in surprise. Mrs. Chang was a graduate of Kaleidoscope Academy? Why hadn't I heard about it before?

The man grinned, his tone turning serious. "But seriously. Your son is enrolled here as a first-year student, huh? Continuing the family legacy."

She nodded, tucking her sunglasses into her jacket.

"In a sense. He's treading down a far different path than I did, and I couldn't be happier for him. He's always been an adventurous type though. So if you're still teaching, he might be as much of a pain as my younger sister was," she mused, putting her hands on her hips.

"Interesting," the man responded, stroking his chin. "I look forward to getting to know him."

Then, he glanced over at me, looking at me carefully. "My name is John Harding. Dean of Student Affairs and Kaleidoscope Academy's Headmaster. Pleasure to meet you, Miss... Sienna."

I bowed slightly, feeling a bit anxious in front of him.

He was the headmaster?

Mrs. Chang introduced me to him, and I couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow.

She'd always been an unassuming small business owner, not someone who the Academy's headmaster should still recognize god knows how many years down the road.

But he just shook his head, a distant look in his eye.

"I'm glad to see you around, Angela. Keep me updated, and let me know if you need assistance with anything."

She nodded. "Will do, old man! Take care."

Then, she put an arm around me, squeezing me tightly. "Sorry to cut our conversation off, Sienna. But I've got some business to attend to, and I don't wanna keep you. Keep shining, my little star!"

I nodded, blinking. "Of course, Mrs. Chang. Goodbye."

As they walked away, I rubbed the back of my head, feeling a little dazed.

There was a lot going on there, but I wasn't sure how much I could really piece together or analyze.

Shaking my head, I made my way inside Albert's dorm building, wondering what could've caused Stella to bolt like that.

As I approached Al's room, I could hear him humming and shuffling around behind the door.

I opened it, grinning as I heard him yelp in surprise.

"Sienna!" He exclaimed, wiping his hands on a green apron. "Hey! Welcome back. Stella around?"

"Sorry, Al. She left in a hurry to deal with something. Not sure what it was, but it was something," I smiled, walking up to him and peering over at a counter covered in food. "She said she'll be here right after."

"Yeah, uh. Mom dropped like a hundred frozen dumplings she hand-wrapped right after you two left, and I kept her talking for a bit. She just joined in and made up a nice plate on the spot. Just as a pre-dinner snack," He nodded, gesturing at the piles of paper-wrapped delicacies.

I breathed in the aroma of meat and veggies, feeling my stomach growl.

I'd nearly forgotten how hungry I was.

"Wow, Al. That looks amazing," I grinned.

"I've got a casserole baking in the oven too. Should be ready to eat in ten or so minutes."

"Oh, well that settles it!" I declared, sitting down at his table. "Anyway, Stella said she'd be here in a jiffy and it'd be a quick run."

He beamed, cleaning up and setting a few plates and utensils down.

"Should we text her? Ask if she needs any help?" He murmured, scratching the back of his head.

I shook my head. "Eh, it seemed like a nothingburger. She —"

A knock on the door interrupted me, and I stood up, blinking in surprise.

"I'll get it," Al chuckled.

I turned around as he ran to the door, and I realized my heart was thumping in my chest.

Something felt off, and I didn't know why.

But maybe it was nothing.

"Hey everyone, sorry about that..." Stella whispered, stepping into the room.

I looked over at her, frowning as I watched her shoulders slump ever so slightly as she stepped up to the table.

She was upset. Maybe even shaken..

"It's been a rollercoaster. Saw someo— something on my phone that gave me a shock. But it's okay now. I swear."

I nodded, still concerned.

Whatever it was, I knew she couldn't talk about it in front of me or Albert.

And that only made me wonder what it could be.

"It's okay, Stella. We've got a feast waiting," Al offered, patting the table with a smile. "Take a seat, and get comfortable! Dinner... Linner's in, um... five minutes or so."

Stella sighed, smiling as she collapsed into a chair, leaning back.

"Thanks, Albert. You're amazing. Thanks to both of you."

Her hand hovered between the fork and chopsticks, and I gave her a sympathetic smile.

"You don't have to be brave all the time, Stella," I whispered, touching her arm as I took a seat next to her. "Just relax."

Her smile suddenly brightened as she locked eyes with mine, and she grabbed a shumai from the table, popping it into her mouth with a wink.

"Mhmm," She nodded, rubbing her lips together. "Sorry! Now I'm ready. Don't mind me. This is just... man! Really delicious."

Al gave her a big fist pump, walking over to his counter to pour us some water.

The tension melted away, and I leaned back in my chair, laughing with a sigh.

Whatever had her worked up didn't matter right now.

We were enjoying this moment. Being together.

A sharp beeping sound filled the room, and Al looked up with a yelp, running towards the oven.

"Casserole time!" He giggled, opening the door.

It all smelled amazing, and I couldn't help but giggle as Stella pouted, reaching for another shumai with her chopsticks this time and biting into it with a sly grin.

Just like me and Al, we were good the way we were.

Life was fun sometimes, and I couldn't let one little curveball take away the joy we were sharing.