Next Morning at School
Ash and Rei sat quietly in class, the chatter of students buzzing around them. The door slid open.
A girl with neat black hair stepped inside and walked straight toward Rei, holding something in her hand.
"Hey, Rei," she said, holding out a lunch box. "You forgot this at home again."
Ash blinked, confused. "Wait… who's this girl?"
Rei sighed, avoiding eye contact. "She's my fiancée. We live together. I don't like it either."
Misaki crossed her arms with a soft sigh. "It's a family-arranged marriage," she muttered, then pushed the lunch box into his hands. "Here. Don't skip lunch again."
Ash chuckled. "Man, Rei, I didn't know you were already a married man. What's next? Kids?"
Rei glared at him. "Shut up, Ash."
Ash leaned back, smirking. "Can't wait for the wedding. I'll be the best man."
Misaki blushed slightly but said nothing, turning to leave the classroom.
The morning sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, casting long shadows over desks filled with restless students.
Ash leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head. Rei sat beside him, quietly flipping through a textbook, trying to ignore the faint buzz of student conversations.
Suddenly, the classroom door slid open with a crisp click of heels on the floor.
"Alright, everyone, settle down."
The class instantly straightened as Kaoru-sensei stepped in, her commanding presence quieting the room. Dressed sharply as always, with a clipboard tucked under her arm, she walked up to the podium with purpose.
A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Today, you're all leaving the classroom."
Gasps echoed across the room.
"Wait, what?"
"Where are we going?"
"Is it a special lesson?"
Kaoru-sensei nodded.
"We're heading to the guild. You'll be observing professional heroes today—and not just watching. This is your first practical Hero Approach Evaluation."
Murmurs broke out again, louder this time.
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"Hero approach…?"
Rei sighed. "It's a test. We're being graded on how we interact with and learn from the pros."
Kaoru-sensei tapped her clipboard.
"Exactly. Pay close attention. This isn't a tour—it's a test of how well you absorb real-world tactics, discipline, and communication. Consider this your first step toward becoming actual heroes."
Ash groaned, rubbing his temple. "Great. Can't wait to be lectured by some overhyped hero."
Rei gave him a side-eye. "Don't start."
From behind them, Misaki crossed her arms, her gaze unimpressed.
"Try not to embarrass the class for once, Ash."
He smirked over his shoulder.
"No promises."
Kaoru-sensei flipped to the next page on her clipboard.
"We leave in ten minutes. Bring only what's necessary. And Kurogane…"
Ash blinked.
"Hm?"
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"Try not to scare any of the heroes this time."
A few students chuckled, though more looked at Ash warily.
Ash tilted his head with a grin.
"I'll consider it… if they don't bore me."
Kaoru-sensei rolled her eyes and turned to the board.
"Dismissed to prepare."
Guild Grounds – Midday
The students from Class A to D were gathered at the Hero Guild entrance. Buzzing with anticipation, they stared up at the towering stone building where legends were made.
Misaki strolled confidently toward Rei and Ash, a graceful girl walking beside her. The girl's raven-black hair fell in silky waves, her eyes sharp but gentle—a contrast that caught Ash's attention immediately.
Misaki smiled.
"This is my friend—Koharu Shiranui."
Ash raised a brow. "You always bring mysterious-looking people with cool names. What's next, a ninja?"
Koharu chuckled softly. "Only in spirit."
Rei nodded politely. "Nice to meet you."
Ash smirked. "So, Koharu—can you fight? Or are you one of those elegant types who only watches from the sidelines?"
Koharu met his gaze, unblinking. "I fight. But I don't waste energy on teasing boys."
Ash blinked. "Damn. She's sharp."
Misaki giggled. "Told you."
Shibuya – Midnight Sun Hero Guild
The city buzzed behind them, alive with the chaos of Shibuya's streets, but inside the towering marble structure of the Midnight Sun Hero Guild, silence carried weight. Students from Classes A to D stood in orderly rows, their gazes sweeping across the grand hall lined with statues of legendary heroes—silent guardians of a glorious past.
Ash glanced around, a spark of awe flickering in his eyes.
He stretched his arms behind his head and let out a breath.
"Finally," he said with a grin. "The day we step into the guild... the real journey begins."
Rei nodded beside him, his face unreadable, calm as ever.
Misaki, her usual brightness undimmed by the formal setting, flashed a smile. "Let's not mess up, yeah? Guild records are forever."
Koharu stood a little apart from the group, arms folded, her gaze sharp. "This place holds history... and expectations."
Ash chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Then let's give them a story worth remembering."
Just as the students began murmuring among themselves, the heavy double doors at the far end of the hall creaked open.
Footsteps echoed.
A man stepped through—tall, broad-shouldered, draped in a long, dark coat trimmed with silver. A scar crossed his right eye, and his presence alone seemed to command silence. His name was known even among the youngest aspiring heroes.
Kaien Arclight.
The Midnight Sun Guild's Ace.
A legendary S-Class hero.
The murmurs stopped. Every student straightened.
Kaien's gaze swept across the room, cold and sharp like steel.
"So these are the new recruits?" he said, his voice deep and composed. "Let's see if any of you are worth the title 'hero.'"
Ash felt a chill, but his grin widened.
Rei's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued.
Misaki whispered, "That's Kaien Arclight… no way."
Even Koharu's posture shifted, tension subtly rising.
Kaien's lips curved into something between a smirk and a warning.
"Welcome to the guild. Your test begins now."
Kaien's eyes scanned the rows of students—until they landed on Rei.
The boy wasn't intimidated like the others.
He simply stood there, calm, unreadable… watching.
Kaien's brow twitched. In his mind, he felt it—not fear, not challenge, but presence.
"This kid… he's powerful."
The atmosphere suddenly shifted.
The pressure in the room thickened as Kaien's aura subtly flared, like a silent storm waiting to break loose.
Ash noticed instantly.
"What's going on, sir?" he asked, eyes darting between Kaien and Rei.
Kaien didn't answer. He raised his hand slowly and pointed straight at Rei.
"You," he said, voice like thunder. "Fight me. Right here. Right now."
Gasps spread like wildfire through the hall.
Misaki's eyes widened. "What? Is he serious?"
Koharu stepped forward instinctively, but stopped—reading the tension, feeling the weight of the moment.
Rei didn't move. His gaze locked with Kaien's.
Ash turned to him, stunned.
"Rei… what did you do?"
Kaien didn't wait for permission.
With a swift motion, he grabbed Rei by the collar and pulled him into the center of the guild's arena. The circular platform, surrounded by faint glowing runes, lit up the moment their feet touched it.
The students fell silent. Even the instructors were watching now.
Kaien cracked his knuckles, fire in his eyes.
"Don't hold back, kid. Use your full power."
Rei remained still, calm as always.
He slid into a defensive stance, one hand low, the other raised just slightly—measured, minimal, focused.
Ash clenched the railing.
"Kaien's serious. He's testing him…"
The air split.
Kaien moved first, his speed astonishing for someone his size. His fist cut through the space between them, aiming straight for Rei's face.
Rei tilted his head, narrowly dodging the blow.
He countered with a swift kick to Kaien's ribs—but Kaien blocked it with a forearm like steel, then retaliated with a spinning elbow.
Rei slid back, boots skidding across the stone floor.
BAM!
They clashed again—fists meeting fists, a brutal ballet of trained combat.
Kaien grinned, satisfied.
"Not bad. Let's raise the tempo."
He jumped back, and suddenly—his hand ignited in a burst of blue flame.
The crowd gasped.
"Magic now?" Misaki whispered.
Kaien didn't wait. He slammed his fist into the ground.
"Blazing Fang!"
A fiery wolf erupted from the arena floor and lunged toward Rei.
Without flinching, Rei whispered:
"Mirror Veil."
A translucent shield of shimmering light unfolded just in time. The flaming wolf struck the barrier—and shattered.
BOOM!
Rei's eyes gleamed faintly.
He extended his palm. "Your turn."
A thin black mist coiled around his arm—his magic finally awakening.
Kaien's grin widened.
"There we go… now the real fight begins."
The arena trembled under the force of their auras.
Rei stepped forward, black mist wrapping around his body like a serpent. His eyes glowed faintly violet, the temperature in the air dropping.
Kaien's flames danced wildly in response, sensing a true fight.
Kaien laughed.
"Finally showing that hidden power of yours."
Rei didn't answer. He raised his hand—and the mist shot forward, condensing into a dozen razor-sharp shards of shadow.
"Piercing Void."
The projectiles spun through the air like black lightning.
Kaien snapped his fingers. A wall of fire erupted in front of him.
BOOM!
The shadow shards pierced through the flames—three made it past, cutting through Kaien's jacket, leaving thin red lines on his arm.
Kaien blinked, surprised.
Ash's jaw dropped.
"Rei just broke through Kaien's Flame Wall…"
Misaki's eyes lit up with nervous excitement.
"Since when could he do that?! He's been hiding this?"
Koharu narrowed her eyes.
"That wasn't beginner-level magic. That was advanced precision control… This isn't just talent. This is experience."
Back in the arena, Kaien cracked his neck, blood dripping down his arm.
"Heh… You're strong, kid. But let's see if you can handle this—"
He raised both hands.
"Blazing Heaven: Crimson Rain!"
The ceiling of the arena flashed red. From above, dozens of flaming spears began to materialize—each one glowing with intense heat.
Rei narrowed his eyes.
The first spear dropped.
"Tch."
He snapped his fingers. A dome of darkness enveloped him, swallowing the light.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!
Spear after spear slammed into the arena, explosions shaking the ground. Smoke filled the platform.
Ash shouted from the stands, trying to see through the smoke.
"Rei!?"
The flames died down. The smoke cleared.
And standing there, untouched, was Rei—his arm raised, the mist swirling around him protectively.
Kaien's smile vanished for the first time.
Rei slowly lowered his hand. His voice calm, but ice-cold:
"You're not the only one with real combat experience."