“Words can’t describe how disappoint I am in you, Reyna.” The Dorm Advisor continued her lecture, pacing around the lobby with several other students watching. “You’re one of the most well-behaved students in your grade, given so many privileges and exceptions due to your parents’ standing, and you’ve gone and thrown it away. For what? A petty rivalry?” She pulled out a piece of paper, waving it around as she shook her head. “The look on my face when I read this notice from the board. Our brightest, most prestigious student being carted off to the detention dormitory.” She gave a heavy sigh, shaking her head again. “Absolutely disgraceful. Did you think you could do as you please just because of your standing here?”

“Ma’am, I-”

“Don’t speak!” Reyna winced from the sudden shout. “You’ve lowered the reputation of not only yourself, but your family and fellow students Reyna-Mei Song! You’ve lost the right to explain yourself!” She folded the sheet of paper, huffing. “Go to your dorm and start packing. Don’t come out for the rest of the day. You should reflect on the trouble you’ve caused everyone.” The Dorm Advisor pointed to the first-floor hallway, glaring at Reyna. With slow steps Reyna walked to her room, her jaw clenched. She kept her face as straight and neutral as she could keep it while biting back the tears. Several of the other Sapphire members whispered and snickered as she passed by. She looked down at the ground to avoid glaring at them, clenching her fists. So unfair… I didn’t do anything wrong…

“Are you okay, Rain?” Just as Reyna was about to enter her dorm room, she saw Hotaru standing at the door, staring at her.

“Y-Yeah…” She paused, fighting back the tears from the lecture. “No, not really. You can come in.”

Hotaru rose her eyes in shock, dipping back a little. “Really?”

Reyna nodded. “Yeah. I… really need someone to talk to.”

Hotaru came in behind Reyna, a worried look on her face before she stared wide-eyed at Reyna’s dorm room. It wasn’t often Reyna let people into her, and for good reason. It a private dorm room for one, something very rare among the entire academy where most dorm rooms held anywhere from four to even nine people per room. On the walls were an array of awards, ribbons, medals, and trophies she won from competitions and tournaments. Her bed was a full size as oppose to the usual twin size beds of normal dorms, with several pillows and personal beddings on it. Above the bed was flag with her family’s company logo, a white star with a blue thunderbolt going through it on a blue background. Next to her bed was a sword propped up in a small display case, a replica of her family sword. It took a lot of convincing and good grades for the school to grant her permission to have it on school property, but it was worth it. The benefit of having parents that were beneficiaries and sponsors of the school. Though now all that work and effort was for naught.

“Wow Rain, this is a nice room. I’m kind of jealous.”

“Thanks,” Reyna gave a smile, blushing. “Hopefully it’ll stay nice until I get back.”

“R-Right…” Hotaru looked down, frowning.

Another reason Reyna didn’t let people in her dorm that often. Most people reacted like Hotaru, surprised, in awe, a bit envious, but that was all. Others… others didn’t take kindly to Reyna’s privileges, and the more fights Reyna could avoid, the better. So she kept most people out. Though with this being her impromptu last day at the Sapphire Dorm, she saw no harm in letting a friend see the last bit of privilege she had before leaving it behind. Her leaving this room would likely have it open up to the public again, and people in her grade would start confirming rumors about her status. Coming back would… probably have its own issues down the road, but she could worry about that later.

“What did I do wrong?” She couldn’t help but speak aloud. “I didn’t even throw the first punch, and I was protecting someone. Is trying to stop a pointless fight so wrong?” Sure, a lot of it came down to stepping into said fight, but it also kept other students safe, at least the ones not able to protect themselves that well. Being a shield to protect others or a sword to strike at evil. That was the goal. That was justice, at least to Reyna.

“I… don’t think so.” Hotaru answered.

Reyna looked at Hotaru, off guard at first, but smiled. At least someone agreed with her.

“Wow, I didn’t think Miss Justice Seeker would get into so much trouble today.” Reyna frowned at the comment, seeing a brown-haired girl and pointed ears poke her head into Reyna’s room.

“Hello Shura,” Reyna frowned, not hiding her disappointment. Shura walked right into Reyna’s room, looking over the place, whistling.

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“Wow, nice place. I guess it pays to have rich parents.”

“What do you want?” Reyna wasn’t in the mood to play games, especially with this elf. Shura gave a playful smile.

“Oh, you know, just wanted to see if you were balling your eyes out,” She said, grinning, making weeping motions with her hands. “You were nearly crying after the advisor was done tearing into you.”

Reyna’s jaw tightened. Of all the- She took a sharp breath, making sure her next words came out as calmly as she could manage. “Did you need something? Or are you here antagonize us?”

Shura shrugged. “Oh, calm down Rain, I’m just seeing how you’re holding up.”

Reyna kept a hardened expression until Shura’s playful expression turned more neutral.

“Elf’s honor, Rain. I’ll knock it off.”

Reyna let out a sigh after that, shaking her head.

“Well I’m fine.”

“Uh-huh,” Shura said, leaning against the wall. “But man, fifth time this week. Do you hate that girl or something?”

Reyna frowned. “She’s just violent and temperamental.”

“Sure, sure…”

Reyna let out another sigh. “Did you want to say anything else?”

“Yeah, heard you were going in the Violaceous Dorm?”

“I am,”

“Good luck. I heard it’s pretty bad.”

“How bad?”

Shura frowned, shivering in mock fear. “Juvie bad. A bunch of thugs and gangs, some underground stuff behind the teachers’ backs, the works.”

“Uuugh…” Reyna sank into her bed, clutching her head. Not only was she going to be forced into a dorm with her enemy, she was going to be with a bunch of bad kids too. She was going to get eaten alive in a place like that. “I’ll… figure something out.”

Shura smirked. “Oh, you will. This might be a chance for Miss Justice Seeker to tame all the evil delinquents at the school.”

Reyna and Hotaru exchanged looks, then looked at Shura. “Am I really like that?”

Shura nodded. “Totally,” She took a battle stance, one leg up, one hand stretched upward, making a gesture as if she was holding a sword. “Begone foul villains, for I, Reyna-Mei Song, will stop your evil deeds!”

Reyna nearly fell out of her bed from the awful impression of her. Hotaru covered her mouth to hide her smile, failing.

“Do I really act like that?!” Reyna looked to Hotaru for a second opinion. Hotaru fidgeted, shaking the smile from her face.

“W-Well… you just get that look in your eye and jump right into a fight, so…”

Reyna pouted, looking away. “I’m not like that…” She muttered. “Also, I don’t hold that stance in a real fight, just in competitions.”

“You are,” Shura countered. “And you do,”

“I’m not!”

“You so are,”

“Look, I just-” Before Reyna could finish, she heard footsteps. Several people in blue uniforms appeared outside of her room. All students in her grade, none looking friendly.

“Can I help you?” Reyna asked.

“We heard that you got in trouble.” One of the girls said. “That you’re going to be leaving the dorm.”

“I did. And I am,” No point in trying to lie about it, it wasn’t like it was a secret.

“Wow, strait-laced little Rain got in trouble for once, and her parents’ money can’t get her out of it.” One of the other girl’s teased. Reyna narrowed her eyes but said nothing. Giving in or shouting back would only give them more ammo.

“Say what you will.” She said, keeping her face stern. “It’s just a punishment, I’ll accept it, endure it, and move on.”

“Wow, so modest too,” The girl said. “Like when you were nearly crying after running to your big, fancy room.”

Reyna scowled for a split-second before returning to a neutral expression, but it was too late, they noticed and they were grinning at the small show of weakness, giggling. Reyna bit her lower lip, her eyes narrowing.

“Um, can you guys please leave,” Hotaru asked. “We’re helping Reyna pack.”

The girls looked at each other, then smirked. “Sure thing. We’ll even help.” One of them, the leader likely, walked into Reyna’s room. She reached out to grab one of the ribbons on the wall.

“Ah!”

Reyna swatted her hand away. Really, she struck it with her lower palm. “Leave my things alone.” She warned. “And leave my room, this isn’t a social gathering.”

Several of the other girls came into the room, surrounding the three. 8 in total. “Or else what?”

Reyna’s blood was boiling. Dealing with Crimson members was hard enough already, but Sapphire members had a real habit of getting petty about things. Especially with her. But… starting a fight was just what they wanted, to see her lash out and prove her punishment was justified and lower her standing further.

“… … …”

She took a breath, turning on her heel and walking toward her closet to grab her clothes and start folding.

“I’ll tell the dorm advisor that you’re disturbing us.” She said calmly. “She’s already mad enough already. I doubt you’d want to catch her now that she’s already in a foul mood.”

The leader of the group glared at Reyna. She only spared the leader a glance before going back to folding. “Hotaru, could you get my ribbons and put them next to my bed?”

“O-Oh, yes!” Hotaru rushed over to the wall, grabbing a handful of ribbons.

“Shura, please help me with the rest of my clothes.”

“Uh, sure…” Shura began to grab and fold clothes next to Reyna. The leader clicked her tongue. She knew the situation, antagonizing them further would only get them in trouble instead of Reyna now that she wasn’t biting their bait.

“Whatever… let’s go guys.” The group left as quick as they came. Hotaru and Shura looked at Reyna, both smiling.

“Wow, and here I thought you’d go nuts on them.”

“I told you, I’m not like that.”

“Right…”

In thirty minutes, they had everything packed. Putting away ribbons and awards, placing her sword in a special suitcase. The awards would be sent home and put into storage. She was already told her new dorm couldn’t hold it all, but at least she could keep the sword.

“Well, wish me luck guys.”

The two nodded.

“Try and survive,” Hotaru said.

“Take out a few delinquents for me!” Shura said.

Reyna rolled her eyes but smiled all the same. A nice bit of peace before the storm was nice. Here was hoping her rest of her time in the detention dorm would be manageable.