The atrium slowly began to breathe again.
Students dispersed in loose clusters as the academy HUD panels reignited, Ether-code flowing across translucent screens while new arrivals stepped through the registration corridor.
Mi-cha's attention suddenly snapped toward the far side of the atrium.
"…Wait."
Two figures had just passed beneath the HUD scanner.
The panel pulsed once.
Twice.
[ Registration Confirmed — Welcome to Wysteria Academy ]
A girl with short dark hair stepped through first—Cyber Energy threading cleanly through her movements, glowing faintly along her arms and legs like a system running at perfect sync.
Beside her walked a boy Mi-cha recognized instantly—hands in his pockets, posture relaxed, eyes sharp with familiar confidence.
Her face lit up.
She raised her arm and waved high.
"Soo-ah!! Ji-hoon!!"
Soo-ah took one step—
Then screamed.
"MI-CHAAAAAA?!"
She vanished in a burst of Cyber Energy, reappearing in front of Mi-cha and throwing her arms around her in a crushing hug.
"You're HERE?! You made it too?! I thought you'd end up in some top-tier private division or—!"
Mi-cha laughed, hugging her back. "Soo-ah, breathe!"
"I refuse!"
Ji-hoon walked up behind them, shaking his head with a smile. "She's been like this since the results dropped."
Soo-ah finally pulled back, still buzzing. "Did you see this place? It's insane!"
Muhan's gaze had already shifted.
Ji-hoon noticed.
Their eyes met.
No introduction. No hesitation.
Just recognition.
"…Still alive, Lockhart," Ji-hoon said, a familiar edge in his tone.
Muhan smirked faintly. "Disappointed?"
Ji-hoon stepped forward and extended his hand—not formal, not cautious.
The grip was solid.
Comfortable.
Rival to rival.
"Looks like Wysteria decided to keep us together," Ji-hoon said.
Muhan's grip tightened just a fraction. "Would've been boring otherwise."
They released.
The tension didn't vanish—it settled, sharpened, familiar.
Soo-ah glanced between them and groaned. "Oh no. Not again. Please don't tell me you two are still doing that."
Mi-cha blinked. "Doing what?"
"Trying to outdo each other in literally everything," Soo-ah replied flatly.
Ji-hoon shrugged. "He started it."
Muhan scoffed. "You still count your losses wrong."
Soo-ah pointed at both of them. "If either of you blows up a training sector, I'm not covering for you."
Nearby, Vibe Fasue watched with quiet interest, her eyes catching the subtle resonance between the two boys—not hostile, but sharpened by history.
"Friendly rivalry," she murmured. "Those tend to grow the strongest."
Mi-cha smiled. "That sounds like them."
Nagant cast them a brief glance before turning away, unimpressed.
Dillar observed in silence, white eyes thoughtful.
Jinnah popped up beside Soo-ah, grinning. "Ooooh, rivals? I like this already."
Kamaro sighed. "Of course you do."
Muhan looked at the HUD panel glowing above the atrium entrance.
[ Ether Synchronization Trial — 0600 HOURS ]
Tomorrow would decide many things.
But today—
Old bonds had crossed into new ground.
And this time…
The stage was Wysteria.