I sat in an average-sized black car driven by Zane's mom. The faint hum of the engine blended with the soft sound of tires rolling over the pavement. She wore a maroon turtleneck dress that matched the warmth in her voice, her black hair gleaming under the morning sunlight streaming through the windshield.
Outside the window stretched an endless plain—no houses, no buildings—just open land that seemed to lead forever toward one massive structure in the distance.
I was dressed in a white shirt with faint patterns along the collar, a black jacket, and dark green pants. In the backseat sat Kagetsu, his tight black shirt and loose pants making him look ready for battle rather than an exam. His grin stretched from ear to ear, the kind only a kid about to get candy—or in his case, glory—could wear.
Here it was. Tsubasa Academy. The school that forged the strongest heroes in the country.
It was more than a place—it was a symbol of greatness. But not everyone was meant to enter. Only those with extraordinary talent or powerful abilities ever passed the entrance exams. In a world growing more unstable each year, there was no room for mediocrity… no room for failure.
"Hey, Zane, this is it, right?" Zane's mom asked as we neared the massive gates.
Two enormous white marble pillars framed the entrance, gleaming in the sunlight. Wide stairs of polished marble led up to grand double doors. To either side stretched enormous parking lots filled with luxury cars—sleek black sedans, chrome-plated hover models, and even a few vehicles that looked military-grade.
Teenagers my age streamed toward the stairs. Some wore expensive clothes that screamed money. Others had gold chains or wristbands glowing faintly with magic circuitry. One kid even wore sneakers with tiny rocket boosters sputtering at the back.
"Yeah, Mom, you can just drop us off here," I said.
She smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting quiet pride. "Go achieve your dreams."
The car rolled away, leaving behind a faint trail of dust.
Kagetsu and I crossed the lot, the crunch of gravel beneath our shoes fading as we stepped onto the marble staircase. The air was thick with excitement—some kids whispering strategies, others radiating pure arrogance.
When we stepped inside, a massive hall opened before us. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, supported by marble columns that gleamed like mirrors. In the center stood a wide stage, and four massive gates framed the room—two beside the stage and two beyond it.
Above each gate hung colossal screens flashing bold white letters:
Zones 1–3
Zones 3–6
Zones 6–9
Zones 9–12
"What zone did you get?" I whispered to Kagetsu.
He scratched his head, confusion flickering across his face. "Uh… how do you even know which one you got?"
I blinked. "They sent us an email. Check your phone."
"Oh." He pulled out his phone—a black case with a cartoon panda—and scrolled quickly. "Zone 12… What about you?"
"Zone 3," I replied, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over me. "Guess we won't be in the same area."
Even though I'd only known Kagetsu for two months, it felt like years. Maybe it was because Zane's memories had become mine—his emotions, his friendships. It all felt real. Genuine. Deep.
More students poured in, filling the hall like a sea of ambition. Voices blended into a dull roar. I stopped trying to count once it passed a hundred.
"This won't be easy," I murmured, watching a boy summon sparks from his fingertips as if it were nothing.
"When does it start?" Kagetsu asked.
Before I could answer, the lights abruptly dimmed. Gasps rippled through the crowd as a single spotlight flared to life, shining down on the stage. A circular platform rose from the floor with a quiet hiss.
Standing atop it was a man in a sleek gray suit, his dark green hair slicked back neatly, catching the light. He gripped a black microphone in one hand, posture sharp, commanding.
"Welcome to the Tsubasa entrance exams," he said, his deep voice echoing through the chamber like thunder wrapped in velvet.
The hall erupted in cheers.
"That's Principal Gregores," a group of girls whispered nearby, awe in their voices. "He used to be the fourth-ranked hero in the country."
Kagetsu leaned closer and muttered, "Dang, he's a big shot." His grin never faded.
The principal's presence alone silenced the crowd. His gaze swept across us—measured, calm, but sharp enough to make you straighten your posture on instinct.
"Each of you has been assigned a zone," he continued. "In every zone, only four participants will advance. To pass, you must earn thirty points. Points are earned by defeating robots—one point each—or by defeating other participants, worth three points each."
A low murmur ran through the hall. The idea of students fighting one another sent a ripple of excitement—and fear—through the air.
Principal Gregores's tone hardened slightly. "Proceed to your designated zones. Let the entrance exam begin!"
The crowd exploded with cheers as his words echoed off the marble walls.
The four gates rumbled open, revealing enormous elevator platforms big enough to hold hundreds of participants at once. The air buzzed with energy and adrenaline as the students surged forward.
"Okay… time to go to our zones," I muttered.
The moment we stepped forward, the crowd became a flood. Kagetsu was swept away almost instantly, his black shirt vanishing among the swarm of bodies.
"Hey, Kagetsu!" I shouted over the noise. "You better make it!"
"I will!" his voice called back, faint but certain.
And then he was gone.
For a moment, I just stood there, surrounded by strangers, staring up at the marble ceiling that gleamed like a promise. Everything about this felt surreal.
In my old world, I never once dreamed of becoming a hero. I didn't even believe in that kind of idealism. But now—Zane's dreams, his feelings—they had become mine.
And here I was, standing at the gates of Tsubasa Academy, not as the person I once was… but as the person I was becoming.
This wasn't just Zane's dream anymore.
It was mine.