Classes had begun.
The academy halls were full again.
Students hurried across the courtyards, gossiping, laughing, complaining about homework — everything looked exactly as it always had.
Life had returned to normal.
And yet… for Noel, nothing felt normal at all.
He lay on his bed in the Class S dorms, staring at the ceiling while the morning sunlight crept through the curtains. His room looked the same as always — books stacked like unstable towers, training gear tossed in a corner, a jacket thrown over his chair. But something was missing.
Something loud.
Something inevitable.
Something he had gotten used to, even if he hated admitting it.
The silence.
A soft ripple of shadow stirred beside him.
Noir crawled out of it, stretching her legs before climbing onto Noel's chest like she owned the place. Her fur brushed against his chin as she looked directly into his eyes.
