Dan's head rested heavily on the desk, his arms folded beneath him as he tried to steal a few minutes of sleep before the day's monotony began. The muffled sounds of students entering the classroom filtered through his half-conscious mind, but none of it registered as particularly important. That was until the chair next to him squeaked loudly, jolting him out of his light slumber.

Dan blinked groggily and turned his head, only to find Kael sitting beside him, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Morning, Dan," Kael said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of amusement. "Sleep well?"

Dan's eyes narrowed as he straightened up, rubbing his face. "Why are you sitting next to me?" he asked, his tone sharp but laced with confusion.

Kael leaned back in his chair, resting one arm casually on the desk. "I already told you yesterday—I was assigned to this seat. Didn't you hear me?"

Dan let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Yeah, you mentioned it, but I figured you were just messing with me. I didn't think you were serious."

Kael tilted his head, his smirk widening slightly. "Do I strike you as the type who jokes about such things?"

Dan gave him a once-over, then rolled his eyes. "You strike me as the type who enjoys getting under people's skin. Sitting here, out of all the empty seats in this classroom, confirms that."

Kael chuckled softly. "Fair point. But I assure you, it wasn't my decision. The seating plan put me here. Pure coincidence."

Dan arched an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Coincidence? Yeah, sure. And the whole mirror-world dimension thing yesterday was just a coincidence too, right?"

Kael's smirk didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—curiosity, maybe. "Do you always approach everything with such scepticism, Dan?"

Dan shrugged, crossing his arms. "Only when people give me a reason to."

"Good," Kael said, leaning forward slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "A healthy dose of scepticism will serve you well. Especially here."

Dan frowned, glancing around the classroom. The usual pre-class chatter filled the air, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention. Still, Kael's words carried a weight that unsettled him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dan asked, his tone low but firm.

Kael tapped a finger on the desk, his expression unreadable. "This school isn't as simple as it seems. You've noticed that already, haven't you? The rules, the magic restrictions, the competition—it's all part of something bigger. Something most of these students can't even begin to comprehend."

Dan studied him for a moment, his brow furrowing. "And let me guess—you're one of the few who does comprehend it?"

Kael's smirk returned. "I wouldn't say I know everything. But I've seen enough to understand the stakes."

"Right," Dan said dryly. "So now you're just conveniently here to enlighten me about all these stakes,' huh? What's your angle?"

Kael's gaze sharpened, and for the first time, his smirk faded. "My angle is survival. The same as yours. The difference is, I know how to navigate the dangers this school hides. And you?" He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You're still figuring it out."

Dan bristled, sitting up straighter. "I don't need your help, if that's what you're getting at. I'm doing just fine on my own."

Kael's eyes glinted with amusement again. "Of course you are. But let me offer you some friendly advice, Dan. You can't do everything alone. Not here. Not with what's coming."

Dan scoffed. "And what exactly is 'coming,' huh? You've been vague since the moment we met."

Kael's smirk widened again, but there was no humour in it this time. "You'll find out soon enough. Let's just say the mirror world was only the beginning."

Dan scoffed, leaning back in his chair with crossed arms. "The mirror world, huh? Still not over your dramatic entrance, I see." He glanced sideways at Kael, narrowing his eyes. "But there's something I've been meaning to ask. How the hell were you able to use magic? The domain here is supposed to suppress that."

Kael's expression shifted slightly, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful. He rested his elbows on the desk, interlacing his fingers. "Ah, now that's an interesting question. There are two ways to use magic within this domain," he began, his tone casual, as if he were lecturing on a trivial subject.

Dan's curiosity was piqued despite himself. He sat up straighter. "Two ways? Enlighten me."

Kael nodded. "The first method is straightforward but difficult. You generate more mana than the domain can absorb. Essentially, you overpower the suppression field by brute force."

Dan frowned. "Wouldn't that take an absurd amount of mana? Most people would run themselves dry trying that."

"Exactly," Kael said with a knowing glint in his eyes. "It's not a method just anyone can use. It requires exceptional control and a wellspring of mana far beyond the norm like you and him. But the second method... that's where things get interesting."

Dan raised an eyebrow. "What's the second method?"

Kael leaned in slightly, his voice dropping as if sharing a secret. "The school's domain isn't a single, seamless field. Because of the campus's sheer size, the domain is divided into overlapping sections. Where those sections meet, they interfere with each other. And in those interference zones, magic becomes usable."

Dan blinked, processing the information. "So you're saying you exploited one of those overlap points yesterday? That's how you used magic in front of us."

Kael gave a small, satisfied nod. "Precisely. The mirror room happened to fall in one of those zones. Of course, finding those places isn't easy unless you know where to look."

Dan let out a low whistle. "That's... actually kind of impressive. Annoying, but impressive."

Before Kael could respond, a sudden voice cut through their conversation.

"Wait, who are you?"

Dan and Kael both turned to see a girl a few rows over, staring at Kael with wide eyes. She nudged her friend, who also turned, her brows knitting in confusion.

"Yeah, weren't all the seats full last week? I don't remember seeing him in class before," the second girl added, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Within moments, the entire class seemed to notice Kael's presence, and a ripple of murmurs spread through the room.

"Who's the new guy?"

"Wasn't he at the assembly yesterday?"

"No, I've never seen him before. Did he just transfer in? Oh, I think he is the one on the basketball team, right?"

Kael leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning as he casually surveyed the room. "Ah, it seems my grand debut is causing quite a stir," he said, his voice calm and unbothered.

Dan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because you've got'mysterious weirdo' written all over you."

Kael chuckled softly. "Can't argue with that." Then, louder, he addressed the class. been...morning, everyone. My name is Kael Shadowcre. I'm not exactly new—I've just been... keeping a low profile. It's a pleasure to finally meet you all."

The murmurs grew louder, a mixture of intrigue and suspicion filling the air.

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"Keeping a low profile? What does that even mean?" someone whispered.

"Shadowcre? What kind of name is that?" another muttered.

Dan could feel the tension rising as more students began to whisper and glance toward them. He sighed, leaning closer to Kael. "Great. Now you've turned the whole class into a gossip mill. You really know how to make an entrance, don't you?"

Kael turned to him with an amused expression. "What can I say? I have a way with first impressions."

Just as the chatter threatened to escalate, the classroom door swung open, and Mrs. Kaira stepped in, her sharp gaze immediately silencing the room.

"All right, everyone, quiet down and take your seats. We have a lot to cover today," she said briskly, walking to the front of the class.

Kael's smirk didn't waver as he leaned back in his chair, but Dan noticed the faintest flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. Whatever game Kael was playing, it was only just beginning.

As the day wound down, Dan and Kael found themselves walking side by side, their interactions still guarded but undeniably more comfortable than before. They were both reserved, but there was an unspoken understanding that had slowly formed between them. Though they weren't exactly friends, they weren't strangers anymore either.

Dan turned his head slightly, catching Luck's attention. "Hey, Luck, you want to grab a coffee?" he asked, the words sounding slightly out of place coming from him. Luck raised an eyebrow, considering the offer for a moment.

"Coffee? You?" Luck asked, his tone a little sceptical but also intrigued.

Dan nodded, a hint of the usual cynical sarcasm gone for the moment. "I overheard some girls talking about how good the coffee is here, and apparently, their cake is amazing. It's a rare recommendation, so I figured we could check it out." He glanced over at Luck. "Unless you've already got something better in mind?"

Luck shrugged, unconcerned. "Fine. Lead the way."

As Luck and Dan made their way into the cafe, they stood in line to order. Dan was unusually quiet, his gaze scanning the menu with an air of disinterest, while Luck, as always, had a calm, analytical look, deciding what to get based on his usual preference for simplicity. After a brief exchange with the barista, they both got their coffee and some light snacks, and Luck took the tray of drinks.

They walked toward the back of the cafe, hoping to find a quieter spot. As they passed by a few tables, Luck's eyes briefly caught sight of someone already seated near the desk. It was Sora, lounging comfortably at a table, a cup of coffee in hand, her gaze drifting idly over the pages of a book.

As if sensing their presence, Sora's gaze flicked up, her lips curling into an unmistakable smirk. "Well, well," she drawled, her voice carrying just enough playfulness to be teasing. "Two faces I don't see often in here." The tone was light, but there was an unmistakable edge to it, like she was deliberately poking fun at them.

Dan immediately froze, his eyes widening in mild panic as he recognised her. The casualness of the cafe suddenly felt much more oppressive. He gave a quiet groan under his breath, his expression shifting into one of dread. Oh, shit. It's her. He barely resisted the urge to walk out, but instead, with a resigned sigh, he glanced at Luck. "We should move," he muttered, trying to keep his voice low enough that only Luck could hear.

Luck raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. He gave a subtle nod, and they shifted their direction, moving to the other side of the cafe, trying to find an unoccupied table. They settled into a quiet corner, side by side, hoping to blend into the background. Dan let out a slow exhale, resting his cup of coffee in front of him. "That was a little... unexpected," he muttered under his breath, as if hoping that would be the last they'd see of Sora.

But of course, as if on cue, just moments before they'd sat down, the sound of Sora's voice interrupted the peace of the moment.

"Well, this is cosy," she said, sliding into the chair between Dan and Luck with an ease that almost seemed practiced. Without a second thought, she scooted her chair in closer, squeezing herself into the space between them as if there wasn't already a perfectly good seat across from them. "Mind if I join you two?"

Dan's eyes flicked to the side, his expression one of exasperation. Why did she have to be here, he thought, resisting the urge to groan. He glanced at Luck, who was already turning his attention back to his coffee with an unreadable expression, as if he were resigned to this fate.

Luck's voice was calm, almost mechanical. "I assume you're not taking no for an answer."

Sora grinned widely. "Why would I? It's not like I'm interrupting anything important." She raised her hand in mock innocence, leaning back in her chair comfortably. "You two always look so serious, though. Thought I'd liven up the place a bit." She took a casual sip of her coffee, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Dan let out a quiet sigh, shifting slightly in his seat to make more room for her, though he clearly wasn't thrilled with the sudden company. "If you wanted to liven things up, you could've done it somewhere else."

Sora raised an eyebrow at him, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "Ah, but that would've been too easy. Besides, I can't let you two have all the fun, can I?" She shot them both a playful glance, her eyes flicking from one to the other. "So, what brings you two here? Some kind of secret meeting?"

Dan gave her a flat look, trying to ignore the warmth of embarrassment creeping up his neck. "We're just having coffee. Nothing exciting."

"Mm-hmm, right," Sora teased. "Just a casual chat over coffee... with your backs straight as boards and no room for any kind of comfort. Real casual." She leaned in a little closer, like she was inspecting them, before adding with a mischievous smile, "You two are just a bundle of fun, huh?"

Luck's expression remained unchanged, his eyes flickering toward his cup of coffee. "Would you mind if we just enjoy our drinks in peace?"

Sora raised her hands, feigning innocence. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'll stop. Just making sure you two are still alive over here." She leaned back in her seat again, her playful grin never fading.

Dan, looking somewhat trapped, sighed and took a slow sip of his coffee. "You're impossible."

Sora winked at him. "I know. You'll get used to it."

And just like that, the calm atmosphere of the cafe was broken by her presence. But despite her tendency to invade their space, there was something oddly comforting about the chaos she brought—at least for a few moments—before they could both return to their quiet, somewhat awkward existence.

Sora, always the one to stir the pot when things felt too calm, stretched again, but this time she did so with an exaggerated yawn, stretching her arms high above her head and arching her back slightly as she did. It was like she could sense the tension in the air, and she was determined to add to it, relishing every moment of their discomfort.

Luck, for a brief moment, broke his usual quiet composure. His calm, analytical gaze lifted from his cup, and his expression was unreadable as he glanced over at Sora mid-stretch. It was subtle, but he asked the question that no one expected.

"Why are you acting?" Luck's voice was calm and deliberate, as always, but the words felt like they carried more weight than he intended. "I mean, why do you act indifferent to your sister?"

Dan's eyes widened in pure disbelief, and for a split second, his brain went into overdrive. Nah, this guy just didn't say that, did he? The words rang in his head, and the thought was so absurd that he couldn't help but let out a sharp, inaudible breath of surprise.

Meanwhile, Luck was looking at Sora, his tone still cool as ice. But inside, there was a hint of curiosity that poked through. "You seem close with your friends, but you act... different with your sister. What's the reason for that?"

Dan's mind raced as he took in the exchange. He could feel the tension creeping into his own body. Did Luck seriously just ask that? It was a question that seemed too personal to be thrown out so casually. And in typical Luck fashion, he didn't seem to have any fear of the consequences.

Sora, for her part, was caught off guard. The stretch she had been mid-motion in didn't help matters, and with one last dramatic pull of her arms, the movement lifted her shirt slightly, giving both Dan and Luck an unintentional, full view of her chest. It was the type of accidental moment that seemed to last an eternity, and Dan, in that moment, couldn't help but stare—eyes wide and cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

Sora paused, flabbergasted for a split second, and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she registered what just happened. But, ever the person who thrived on attention, her lips curled into a knowing smile. She wasn't one to let a little embarrassment get in her way. Instead, she chose to embrace it, her grin widening as she settled back into her seat, clearly enjoying the reaction.

"You just had to say that, didn't you?" She mused, her voice carrying a teasing note as she tilted her head slightly. Her gaze flicked to both of them, still processing the unexpected turn of events. "Well, I can't say I'm surprised, but you sure know how to make a girl feel... noticed."

Her tone was light, but there was a shift in her demeanor. She hadn't expected to be asked such a direct question, especially from someone who usually kept to himself so much. But Sora was used to making the best out of any situation, even if it involved teasing others.

She leaned back in her chair, clearly collecting her thoughts as she shifted the topic with ease. "As for the whole thing with my sister, well... let's just say that family dynamics are complicated, alright? Not everything is as it seems." She let the words hang in the air for a moment, then smirked playfully. "But I'm sure you didn't expect me to spill all my secrets just because you asked, right?"

Dan, still processing what had just happened, kept his gaze fixed on his coffee, trying to act like he hadn't just gotten a full view of Sora in that awkward stretch. His face was redder than it had been in a while, and he was doing everything in his power to keep his attention away from Sora. I can't believe this is happening...

But Sora wasn't done. She stretched again—this time with a purpose—sitting up straighter and looking at both of them with a playful gleam in her eye. "Look, maybe I do act indifferent to my sister sometimes, but that doesn't mean we're on bad terms. I just don't need to broadcast my every interaction with her. Not everything has to be for show, you know."

Dan looked over at Luck, who hadn't even flinched through the entire exchange, his usual calm composure seemingly unaffected. But Dan could tell, deep down, that this wasn't just a casual question for Luck. It was one of those rare moments where the quiet, calculating part of him had found an opening to ask something personal.

Sora, meanwhile, still seemed to relish the effect she had on both of them, her confidence only growing as she leaned back in her chair and smiled at them both. "I get that it's probably not something you two were expecting, but it's the truth. Now, stop looking so awkward." Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she added, "And don't worry, I won't make you spill your deepest secrets just yet."

Dan could only mutter under his breath, "Yeah, you're really good at making people uncomfortable."

Sora winked at him. "It's a gift," she said, her tone sweet but laced with an edge of playful sarcasm.

And just like that, the awkwardness hung in the air a little longer as the three of them found their balance again, though it was clear the dynamics had shifted just slightly—and probably wouldn't be the same for a while.