Chapter 8: A New Dawn (Part 4)
The midday sun hung high over the academy, casting long shadows across the sprawling campus. Inside a modest dorm room, Rin stood over her brother, hands on her hips, her voice sharp with impatience. "Big brother, get up! It's afternoon already! You've slept way too long. We're at the academy now, so stop being lazy. Let's go train!"
Kaito groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Please, Rin, just a little longer. I'm beat."
Rin's eyes narrowed. "No way! It's late enough. Get up, or I'm dragging you out!" She tugged at his blanket, but Kaito clung to it, unmoving. After several failed attempts, Rin huffed. "Fine, you big lump. Stay there. I'm going to explore." With that, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
As Rin wandered the academy's vast grounds, her eyes sparkled with awe. "This place is huge," she muttered, passing training fields where students sparred with bursts of elemental power and lecture halls buzzing with lessons. "They're training, studying, everything!" Lost in her thoughts, she accidentally bumped into a group of older boys, their uniforms crisp but their expressions sour.
One of the boys, tall and sneering, spun around. "Who's this clumsy kid crashing into us?" His gaze landed on Rin, and he smirked. "What, you blind, little girl? Didn't see us?"
Rin flushed, bowing her head. "I'm so sorry," she said, stepping aside to leave.
But the boys blocked her path, their leader crossing his arms. "Hold on. You messed up my clothes. Who's paying for this?"
Rin's cheeks burned. "I said sorry," she mumbled, trying to slip past.
The leader grabbed her arm, his voice mocking. "Sorry? You think you can bump into us, ruin our stuff, and just walk away? Look at me, kid."
Rin's patience snapped, her voice low but firm. "I apologized three times. Let go of my arm. This won't end well if you don't."
The boys burst into laughter, the leader grinning. "This tiny kid's threatening us? What're you gonna do, cry?"
Rin's eyes blazed, her temper flaring. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her wind powers, a fierce gust erupting around her. The boys yelped as the wind lifted them off the ground, hurling them several feet away. They landed in a heap, dazed. Rin crossed her arms, her voice dripping with attitude. "I tried being polite, but you wouldn't listen. Maybe now you'll get it."
The boys scrambled to their feet, their faces red with fury. "This little brat thinks she's tough?" the leader spat. They summoned their own powers—flames flickering around one, ice shards forming around another—and charged, aiming to overwhelm her. But Rin was faster. She spun, her wind powers creating a swirling vortex that caught the boys, tossing them in circles before flinging them back again. They crashed to the ground, groaning.
A small crowd of students had gathered, whispering in awe. "That kid's crazy strong," one muttered. "She's just a little girl!"
The boys, now humiliated, stumbled to their feet, fear creeping into their eyes. They bolted, shouting, "We're telling the teacher!" They raced to a stern-faced instructor, panting as they spilled their story. "Teacher, that girl's harassing us! She attacked us, and she's not even from our academy!"
The teacher's face darkened. "Who dares cause trouble in my academy? Show me this girl." He marched toward Rin, the boys trailing smugly behind. They found her standing in the courtyard, looking small but unyielding. The teacher's eyes narrowed. "This child has that kind of power?"
Rin froze, her confidence wavering. What do I say? she thought, glancing around nervously. The teacher's glare pinned her in place, and the boys smirked, sensing victory.
Just then, Rico sprinted into the scene, skidding to a stop beside Rin. "Teacher, wait!" she said, breathless. "She's my friend's team member, just joined. She doesn't know the rules yet. Please, let it slide this once."
The boys protested, their voices whiny. "No way, Teacher! Don't let her off! She'll keep causing trouble!"
Rin shook her head, her voice earnest. "That's not true! They started it. I bumped into them by accident, apologized, but they wouldn't let me go."
The teacher's expression softened slightly, but his tone was firm. "Enough. I'll decide who's at fault. You, girl, explain yourself."
Rico's eyes darted nervously, unsure how to defuse the situation. Before she could speak, a voice rang out from the crowd. "What's going on here?" Yunna jogged up, her backpack bouncing, her face a mix of confusion and concern. Rico quickly filled her in, whispering the details.
Yunna stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Teacher, I'm sorry. She's my team member. She's new and doesn't know how things work here. Please forgive her."
For reasons Rin couldn't grasp, the teacher and the boys flinched at Yunna's presence. The teacher cleared his throat, his sternness faltering. "Fine, fine. She's forgiven. But watch yourself next time." He turned and walked away, the boys scurrying after him, muttering.
Rin blinked, baffled. "What just happened? Why'd they back off like that?"
Yunna grinned, waving it off. "Don't worry about it. Let's go."
Before they could move, Kaito jogged up, slightly out of breath. "Rin, what happened? I heard something."
Rin shrugged, playing it cool. "Nothing, big brother. Just a little mix-up."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Really? Sounded like you were fighting someone in the academy."
Rin's jaw dropped, mock-offended. "What's that supposed to mean? You think I just go around picking fights?"
Kaito backpedaled, scratching his neck awkwardly. "No, no, I didn't mean it like that. Just saying." Changing the subject, he turned to Yunna. "So, did you find your other team members?"
Yunna's face lit up. "Yep! Meet them right here." She gestured to two figures approaching cautiously. "This guy's Tatsu. This girl's Yui. They're awesome."
Kaito studied them, his expression skeptical. "These two? They don't look tough at all. That guy's practically shaking. Looks like a total coward."
Yui's eyes flared with anger, and she lunged forward, fists clenched. "How dare you call him a coward? Say that again!"
Tatsu grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Yui, calm down. It's fine."
Rin sighed, exasperated. "Big brother, why can't you talk to people nicely?"
Kaito shrugged, unfazed. "What? I just said the truth. What's the big deal?"
Yunna stepped in, her voice calm but firm. "Alright, let's cool it. Everyone, let's head to the dorm and talk this out."
The group filed into the dorm room, tension lingering in the air. Yunna pulled out her notebook and pen, settling at a small table. "Yui, Tatsu, sit," she said, her tone businesslike.
Rin and Kaito exchanged glances. "Wait a sec," Rin said, raising an eyebrow. "Is she doing that note-taking thing again?"
For now, the story pauses here. What lies ahead for Yunna's team? Will Rin's fiery spirit cause more trouble, or will she find her place in the academy? Can Yui and Tatsu prove Kaito wrong, and will the team gel in time for the tournament? To find out, wait for the next part.