Luck opened the door to his dorm, stepping inside with a sigh as he kicked off his shoes. The room smelt faintly of old paper and a hint of something metallic, probably from the ventilation system. He turned to see Dan lying on his bed, casually flipping through a book. His usual cynical aura was softened by the quiet, and Luck couldn’t help but feel the stark contrast to the intensity of his day.
Dan barely glanced up, his eyes skimming over the pages. “Back already?” he muttered, sounding more annoyed than interested.
Luck gave a nonchalant shrug, closing the door behind him. “Yeah. How was your day?”
Dan let out a frustrated sigh, not bothering to look up from his book. “Guess what? Mrs. Kaira somehow convinced me to join the Volunteer Club. I’m supposed to be doing something for them. She basically cornered me after class and insisted I 'participate' for my own good or whatever.”
Luck raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. “She forced you into it?”
“Pretty much,” Dan muttered, flipping another page with exaggerated care. “I couldn’t get out of it. Apparently, ‘it’ll look good on my record’ and all that crap. So now I have to ‘volunteer’ for some pointless reasons. Who knows what it’ll be? Probably just some show of goodwill for the school’s image.”
Luck tilted his head slightly, considering it. “That’s... ironic. Considering you’re not exactly the ‘let’s help people’ type.”
“Tell me about it,” Dan said, setting the book down on his chest. “But what am I supposed to do? It’s not like I can tell her to shove off. She practically threatened to report me to the administration if I didn’t comply.”
“Sounds like her,” Luck replied flatly. “But if you’re stuck with it, then you might as well make the most of it. You never know. Could turn out to be interesting.”
Dan shot him a look, his expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance. “You’re joking, right? You think I’ll get anything out of this?”
Luck didn’t respond, only giving a small shrug. “I’m just saying. You might learn something, or at least get some free time out of it.”
Dan sighed dramatically. “Yeah, right. I’m probably going to spend my time sorting through random paperwork for some poor lad who doesn't know how to formulate simple sentences. Super thrilling.”
Luck didn’t offer any more advice on the matter. He could already tell Dan wasn’t in the mood for it. Instead, he turned his attention to his phone on the nightstand, picking it up and glancing at the contacts. Dan and Miria. The familiar names stared back at him.
“So, what happened with the Volunteer Club?” Luck asked after a moment, glancing back at Dan, “Anything interesting, or did you just end up doing chores?”
Dan groaned, lying back into his pillow. “Yeah, sorting papers. Some events are coming up that I don’t even care about. Probably will end up cleaning up after some dumb fundraiser or whatever. But that’s what I get for not being able to escape Mrs. Kaira’s clutches.”
Luck’s expression remained unreadable as he set the phone aside. “Sounds like you’re really enjoying yourself,” he said dryly.
Dan shot him a side glance. “Oh, it’s not so bad. At least I don’t have to deal with Miria's ridiculous expectations. Speaking of, how did your study session go?”
Luck’s face betrayed no emotion as he thought back to the group. “We managed... but some people still need a lot of work.”
“Sounds like you’re stuck in the middle of that too,” Dan observed, his voice surprisingly understanding. “Guess it’s not easy being the unofficial tutor.”
“Not exactly what I signed up for,” Luck responded. “But it’s a task I’ve been given. Same as yours with the Volunteer Club.”
Dan let out another long sigh, then gave a mock salute. “Guess we’re both stuck in these absurd roles. You with your study group, me with Mrs. Kaira’s ‘volunteering.’ Let’s hope they don’t pile on anything else for us anytime soon.”
Luck didn’t respond immediately, his gaze drifting to the ceiling, the silence between them filled with the weight of the day’s events. He wasn’t sure which was worse—the looming pressure of keeping up with expectations or the relentless tasks that seemed to come out of nowhere.
He reached over to pick up his phone again, staring at the contacts list for a moment. Dan and Miria. Neither name really meant much to him, except they were... there. Just like everything else in this strange school.
“Maybe you’ll enjoy your next volunteer gig more,” Luck said after a pause, not really expecting a response.
Dan didn’t answer immediately but then gave a small grunt in acknowledgment. “Sure, right after I solve world hunger and save a kitten from a tree.”
Luck gave a slight nod, settling back onto his own bed. He knew the day wasn’t over yet, but at least for now, the tension from the study session and his conversations with Miria and Dan could be put aside—at least for a few hours.
It wasn’t exactly a peaceful feeling, but it was enough for now.
It was already dark, and the clock on the wall ticked past 9 PM. The room was quiet except for the low hum of the outside world filtering through the window. Luck was still lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind wandering, when Dan broke the silence.
“I’m hungry,” Dan said, glancing up from his book. “We should grab something to eat.”
Luck’s eyes flicked over to him, barely raising an eyebrow. “Now? It’s late.”
Dan gave a casual shrug. “Yeah, I’m not going to survive another night on just water and air. The shop’s open, and it’ll only take a minute.”
Luck hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly rolled off the bed. “Fine. But don’t make it take longer than necessary.”
Dan grinned, already on his feet. “Deal.”
The two of them made their way to the shop, walking in companionable silence, the cool night air ruffling their hair as they passed rows of dorm buildings. The shop wasn’t far—just a quick walk across the campus—and within minutes, they were inside, grabbing a handful of snacks. They ended up with a green plastic bag filled with a variety of things—chips, instant noodles, candy, and a few random items that caught Dan’s eye as he went through the aisles.
“Got everything you wanted?” Luck asked dryly as they approached the counter.
Dan nodded, holding up the bulging bag. “Yeah,”
Luck didn’t say much as they paid for the items, the cashier looking at them both with a slight glance before turning back to her register. Once outside, they began the walk back toward the dorms, but Dan, as usual, had other ideas.
“You know, there’s a shortcut through that alley,” Dan said, pointing to a narrow path between two buildings. “It’ll shave about 10 minutes off our walk.”
Luck glanced down the alley, assessing the risk. It was darker and quieter, but it wasn’t exactly a suspicious route, so he gave a slight nod of approval. “Fine. But keep your eyes open.”
The two of them turned the corner into the alley, the sounds of the campus fading as the buildings around them seemed to close in. The alley wasn’t long, but it was a nice shortcut—usually empty, save for the occasional student rushing by. They walked in silence for a while, the only noise coming from their footsteps and the crinkling of the plastic bag.
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As Luck and Dan stepped into the alleyway, the two of them instinctively slowed their pace, unsure of the new faces ahead. They paused just around the corner, staying out of sight, letting their eyes wander back to the group ahead. The dim streetlights cast long shadows across the cobbled pavement, and the air was filled with quiet murmurs as Miria, Celia, Sava, and Sora stood in a loose circle.
It was clear the conversation was private, and though Luck couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity, he didn’t move forward. Instead, they kept their distance, hearing the faint sound of voices, some more urgent than others.
Miria’s voice broke through first, her tone sharper than usual, and there was an edge to it that caught Luck’s attention. “Listen, brother, sister, I’m not the failure I was in the past; I’ve changed,” she said, her words tinged with a rare determination. There was a slight tremor in her usually controlled voice, but she quickly masked it.
Celia, standing a few steps away, spoke next. “Neither am I. I’ve learnt from my mistakes, and I won’t let the past define me.” Her usual coldness in her expression didn’t match the vulnerability in her words, and Dan found it strange.
Dan, sensing the shift in the air, glanced at Luck. The silence stretched on as the two girls continued to talk. There was a certain weight to their words that made Luck uneasy, as though there was something they were struggling with that neither of them had shown before.
Celia’s tone softened just slightly, though it was still firm. "You don't have to keep looking at us like we're some disappointment."
Miria nodded, the intensity in her posture making it clear she meant every word. “I’ll prove it to you.”
As their words hung in the air, the conversation felt heavier than it appeared. They weren't just talking to their siblings—they were talking to themselves, to their pasts, and perhaps to something that had been left unsaid for a long time.
The moments stretched on, and Luck couldn’t help but glance over at Dan, who was clearly trying to understand what was going on. But Luck, ever the observer, was silently processing the words.
He wasn’t exactly sure why Miria and Celia were opening up to Sava and Sora like this, but he understood one thing: there was a lot more beneath the surface. The tension, the raw emotion—they weren’t just standing there for a casual conversation.
“Do you think they’re okay?” Dan asked quietly, though his voice held more curiosity than concern.
Luck didn’t respond immediately; his gaze was still fixed on the group. He was quiet, analysing everything from their posture to the words exchanged. “I think they’re trying to figure it out. In their own way.”
Dan raised an eyebrow. “You’re not a fan of getting involved, are you?”
Luck’s expression remained neutral. “Not particularly,” he said, his voice calm but with a touch of indifference. “But it’s clear there’s something more to them than what we see on the surface.”
As the conversation between the siblings grew quieter, it seemed as though Miria and Celia were slowly peeling back the layers they had long kept hidden from everyone else. The tone of the conversation shifted, but Luck remained silent, his thoughts briefly flickering to the tasks ahead—tasks that would require him to balance everything he had just seen.
Sava’s gaze was cold and calculating as he took in the scene, his tone as sharp and direct as ever. "Changed?" he said, an incredulous scoff escaping him. "After all this time, you still haven’t come to terms with your shortcomings. It’s laughable that you think you’ve actually changed." He took a step closer, his eyes piercing. "What makes you two think you can succeed here? Your pathetic positions in the standings speak for themselves."
Sora, standing beside him with a neutral expression, let out a soft chuckle, the kind that barely masked her contempt. "Honestly, I’m ashamed that you two are even here," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Knowing that my sisters are in 3rd and 4th place... How embarrassing." She gave a dismissive wave of her hand, as if the very idea of it made her feel sick. "You should just withdraw already."
Celia stiffened, but she couldn’t back down. She lifted her chin and tried to match her sister's coldness. "You’re wrong," she said, her voice trembling but determined. "I’ll be in 1st place soon."
Sora’s expression didn’t change; her lips curled into a disinterested smile. "Don’t bother," she said, as if the idea was beneath her. "You’re just wasting your time."
"I promise," Celia said in a low, almost broken voice, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—a determination not to be crushed by her siblings’ words.
Miria, standing nearby, clenched her fists, her expression darkening. "I know I can make it," she declared, her voice firm, even though a part of her knew how futile it might sound to them. She refused to let them crush her spirit.
Sava turned toward Miria, his sharp eyes narrowing as his lips twisted into an almost imperceptible smile. "You’re an irrational little brat," he said, voice low and filled with disdain.
Before either of the girls could react, Sora acted swiftly, grabbing Celia’s arm and yanking her back, while Sava closed the distance to Miria, gripping her by the shoulders and pushing her into the wall. Miria gasped in surprise as the impact knocked the breath out of her. Her heart raced, and she struggled to free herself, but Sava’s grip was unyielding.
The two sisters gasped as the force of the impact caught them off guard. Pain surged through their bodies, but neither of them dared show weakness.
Sava’s face was close to Miria’s, his voice a sharp whisper that cut through the air. "Do you even understand how much shame you’re bringing to this family’s name?" He asked, the contempt in his voice unmistakable.
Sora leaned in toward Celia, her gaze cold and calculating. "My little sisters in 3rd and 4th place—how truly pathetic," she said, the words like poison. "If you had any sense of dignity, you’d withdraw from this school immediately."
Miria winced as Sava’s hand tightened on her shoulder, his grip becoming even more painful. "Brother, please... just listen," she begged, her voice strained as she looked up at him, trying to make sense of the situation.
Sava’s eyes were dark, his face hard as stone. "You have no right to better yourself," he sneered, a cold smirk twisting his lips. "Neither you nor Celia have the ability to succeed here."
Sora and Sava exchanged a brief, silent look, an understanding passing between them. They raised their hands as though ready to strike, their expressions unreadable as the tension in the alley thickened. They were prepared to bring even more pain if it meant forcing their sisters into submission.
The two girls were pinned against the wall, helpless in the face of their siblings’ cold authority, and the threat of what might come next was hanging heavy in the air.
Without warning, Luck’s hand shot out, grabbing Sava’s wrist mid-motion, twisting it, and pinning it against the wall. The unexpected move caught Sava completely off guard, a sharp grunt escaping him as his grip on Miria faltered. At the same time, Dan surged forward, blocking Sora’s hand that had been mere inches from sinking her long, sharp nails into Celia’s stomach. His expression was calm, but there was a glimmer of anger in his eyes.
“Seriously, you were about to drill those outrageously long nails into her stomach, weren’t you?” Dan said coolly, holding Sora’s hand with effortless strength.
Luck, not one to let Dan steal all the spotlight, turned to face Sava with a sharp look in his eyes. “You better let her go now,” he said, his voice steady and commanding.
Miria’s heart raced, her body still pressed against the wall. Her voice came out low, almost a whisper. "Go away," she muttered, her face flushed with embarrassment and fear. She wasn’t sure why she’d said it, but the words struck Luck, causing him to falter. His grip on Sava loosened slightly, and for a brief moment, his guard dropped.
That was all the opening Sava needed.
With sudden aggression, Sava whipped his arm around, aiming to strike Luck in the face. But Luck was already a step ahead. In one smooth motion, he sidestepped and bent, avoiding the punch with ease. Sava’s irritation deepened as he processed the near miss but didn’t allow himself to show fury. His gaze hardened, but he didn’t react further just yet.
Sora, having seen the opening, leapt into action. She struck quickly with a palm aimed at Dan’s chest, but he was quick to catch her hand. He stopped her dead in her tracks with ease, though Sora was far from frantic. She smoothly spun mid-air, redirecting the force of her movement into a powerful kick aimed at Dan’s side, trying to break his grip on her.
Dan braced himself, his hands covering the side of his face as her foot collided with his forearm. He staggered slightly, but the kick didn’t land as intended. “Not bad,” he muttered, not even fazed by the move.
Meanwhile, Sava closed in on Luck again, launching a quick punch. But Luck had anticipated it, ducking to the side and evading the blow effortlessly. Sava’s eyes narrowed in frustration, though his movements remained sharp, keen to maintain control of the situation.
Sora, seeing the struggle unfold, didn’t hold back. She advanced once more, but this time, her strikes were calculated, both hands coming at Dan in a rapid series of palm strikes. Dan blocked each one, moving with precision to deflect her attacks. He stepped back to avoid her next move, but she kept up the pace, her strikes coming with grace and purpose.
Then, as Sava lunged to grab Luck again, Luck twisted his body just enough to redirect Sava’s arm with an elbow. Sava, thrown off balance, stumbled back a step as Luck made a quick feint to the left, causing Sava to miscalculate and fall into a defensive stance.
Sora, not one to back down, was already moving. She kicked at Dan again, but Dan reacted quickly, catching her foot mid-air. He blocked the blow with his hands, but she used the momentum to flip backward, landing nimbly beside Sava in a calculated move. She didn’t stumble—her positioning was intentional, her movements smooth and deliberate.
Luck’s face remained stoic, his eyes constantly assessing the situation. Sava and Sora had underestimated him and Dan, but now they were adjusting, as was evident in their stances.