After 3 days– Aisa's Home
The apartment was quiet.
Aisa lay sprawled across her bed, eyes closed, half-asleep. The soft hum of the air conditioner buzzed in the background. Her phone, resting beside her pillow, suddenly lit up and vibrated.
Rrring... Rrring...
She groaned and glanced at the screen through half-lidded eyes.
Celica.
Aisa picked up and answered, her voice groggy. "Hello...?"
"Hey!" Celica's energetic voice filled the line. "You should totally come with us."
Aisa blinked. "What? Come where?"
"We're heading to Hokkaido," Celica said cheerfully. "From Sol's aunt's place. A little trip. You in?"
Aisa sat up slowly, brushing her hair back with one hand. "Hokkaido, huh?"
"So? Wanna join?"
A pause.
Then Aisa smiled softly. "Yeah… I'll come."
Tokyo Central Railway Station – Early Morning
The sky was still painted in soft blues and golds as morning broke. A cool breeze swept through the bustling platform where the group had agreed to meet.
Announcements echoed overhead, the sound of rolling suitcases and chatter mixing with the distant hiss of arriving trains.
Celica was the first to arrive, dragging a pink suitcase, wearing a white hoodie and headphones. She leaned against a pillar, sipping coffee.
Sol showed up next, yawning, with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. His messy hair and wrinkled jacket said I barely slept.
"Yo," he said, giving Celica a nod.
"You're late," she smirked.
"It's not even 6 yet—give me a break."
Aisa arrived in a chauffeur-driven car, stepping out elegantly with sunglasses on and a light trench coat. Heads turned.
"You brought your bodyguards too?" Sol teased.
"They're not coming," Aisa replied coolly. "I'm on vacation."
Yumi, Izumi, and Mio appeared next, chatting and giggling, clearly excited.
Then came Shin, Amelia, and King, arguing about snacks.
And finally…
Ryker walked in silently, hands in pockets, wearing a black coat and looking half-asleep. Hinata trailed behind, clutching a small backpack.
Celica spotted him and grinned. "Ohh, sleepy prince arrives."
Ryker gave a light nod. "Morning."
The group now stood together on the platform. Fourteen students. Each different. Each carrying stories, scars, secrets.
A voice on the speaker announced:
"Train to Hokkaido departing in 10 minutes."
Aria-sensei, suddenly appearing at the back of the group with a bag of snacks, smiled.
"All aboard."
The station buzzed with life as steam hissed from the arriving train. Students gathered with backpacks and chatter, excitement dancing in the air.
Sol looked around, grinning. "Looks like everyone's here."
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"I wouldn't miss a trip like this."
Everyone turned.
"...Sensei?" Sol raised an eyebrow.
Aria-sensei approached with his hands in his coat pockets, wearing a travel bag slung over one shoulder and a calm smirk.
"Why are you here?" Sol asked, crossing his arms. "We didn't invite you."
"I know," Aria said with a shrug. "But I figured a short trip wouldn't hurt. Even teachers need to breathe, you know."
Behind him, another figure appeared—heels clicking on the platform.
"Don't forget me."
It was Ms. Sakamoto, dragging a small pink suitcase behind her.
Ryker sighed under his breath. "This just got complicated."
Celica raised a brow. "You too, Ms. Sakamoto?"
"I heard there'd be hot springs," she said with a wink. "And I couldn't let Aria travel with you all alone. He'd lose his mind."
Aria gave her a sideways glance. "More like, I'd lose my peace."
Yumi giggled. "Looks like it's not just a student trip anymore."
Shin adjusted his glasses, eyeing the teachers. "So, we're bringing the whole academy now?"
Amelia leaned closer to Saki. "This feels more like a school field trip than a vacation."
Saki smiled. "Still… it might be fun."
The train's whistle blew, echoing across the station. The doors opened with a hiss.
"Alright," Sol said, stepping forward. "Let's get on."
One by one, they filed in, laughter and murmurs trailing behind them.
As the train pulled out of the station and toward Hokkaido, none of them realized
The train glided smoothly along the tracks, soft rattling beneath their feet. Inside the carriage, the group had claimed two sections—seats pushed together, bags stacked above, snacks already opened.
Celica and Aisa sat by the window, chatting and sharing candies, while Yumi laughed at something Sol said. Aria-sensei leaned back with a novel in hand, and Ms. Sakamoto was scrolling through her phone, headphones in.
Amelia and Saki took selfies, and Shin sat silently, immersed in a book about tactical formations.
Everything was peaceful.
Until it wasn't.
Three men boarded from the next station—rowdy, drunk, and loud. Their eyes roamed the carriage like scavengers.
"Yo, did you see those girls?" one of them whispered loudly, pointing not-so-subtly.
The tallest of the three smirked, swaggering down the aisle. "Too fine to be traveling alone. Let's have a chat."
They approached Aisa and Celica, who immediately stiffened. Celica subtly moved in front of Aisa.
"Excuse me," the man said with an oily grin, "mind if we join you pretty ladies?"
"We're not interested," Celica replied coldly.
"Oh, come on now, don't be like that," the second man chuckled, placing his hand on the seat.
"I said no," Celica repeated, her voice sharper.
"Hey," the third one said, leaning closer to Aisa, "we're just being friendly."
Aisa flinched.
Before anyone else could react—
A hand gripped the man's wrist.
"Step back."
The carriage turned silent.
It was Ryker.
He hadn't spoken much since the trip began—headphones in, eyes closed, seemingly asleep. But now he stood in the aisle, his eyes sharp and unreadable.
The man jerked his arm. "What the hell—?"
Ryker didn't let go. His grip tightened just enough to make the drunk man wince.
"I said step back," Ryker repeated, colder this time.
The atmosphere shifted. Everyone could feel it—the air had gotten heavier.
Sol stood up as well, calm but ready. "You heard him. Leave them alone."
Even Aria-sensei looked up, watching silently.
The leader of the trio clicked his tongue, trying to play it cool. "Tch, fine. Didn't know these ladies came with attack dogs."
"You're lucky," Ryker murmured, releasing the man's wrist.
The three stumbled away to the next car, muttering insults under their breath.
Once the tension faded, Yumi exhaled. "That was close…"
Celica nodded, still alert. "Thanks, Ryker."
Ryker didn't say anything. He just sat back down, resting his head against the window.
Aisa looked at him, her lips parting slightly as if to speak—but instead, she just smiled softly and turned back to the window.
Outside, the train sped forward toward Hokkaido, carrying stories yet to unfold.
The train screeched gently as it came to a halt at the Hokkaido station. The air was cooler here, crisp with the scent of pines and mountain wind. The group stepped out one by one, stretching, adjusting their bags, and taking in the calm, rural scenery.
"Finally here," Sol said, inhaling deeply. "Smells like home."
A black car was already waiting outside. Inside a warm, cozy countryside home just a short drive away, a middle-aged woman bustled about the kitchen.
"Are you excited?" she asked with a cheerful smile, turning to her daughter who was sitting on the couch scrolling her phone.
The girl, around 17, glanced up from her screen. "Hmm? For what?"
"Sol and his friends are almost here," the auntie said, placing tea on the table. "It's been a while since the house felt this alive."
"Right…" the daughter mumbled, half-listening—until her thumb stopped mid-scroll.
Her eyes widened slightly.
It was a social media photo, just uploaded by a girl tagged @celicahero. The image was from inside the train, a casual candid of the group laughing together. But her gaze didn't care about the background.
It locked onto one person.
Black hair, sharp jawline, cold eyes like midnight skies. He wasn't even looking at the camera—but that made it even better.
Ryker Tensai.
"Who… is he?" she whispered to herself, heart skipping.
"You okay?" her mother asked, noticing her daughter's flushed cheeks.
"Yeah—uh, I'm fine. Just… interested to meet your guests," she said, quickly liking the photo and saving it. "Especially one of them."
A moment later, the car pulled into the driveway.
The auntie rushed outside. "Sol! You've grown so much!"
Sol grinned and hugged her. "Told you I'd visit soon."
Everyone followed him in—Celica, Aisa, Shin, Yumi, Amelia, Saki, Ms. Sakamoto, Aria-sensei… and Ryker.
As Ryker stepped through the door, the auntie's daughter's heart thudded. Their eyes met for a brief second.
He gave a short nod.
She froze.
This trip just got interesting…