The first few days of their new life under the same roof slipped by, each of them settling into their own rooms.
On one morning, Kouga woke to the faint clatter of pans and the smell of something cooking. He stretched, groggy but alert, and began preparing himself for the day.
Then a familiar voice cut through the air."Don't keep sneaking onto my bed every time you get drunk!" Kiana shouted, her words echoing down the hall.
A pained yelp followed. "Ouch!" That was definitely Himeko. Kouga could picture the redhead scratching her head sheepishly. He was glad he kept his door locked—he didn't need to wake up to find a beautiful, half-naked woman snuggled beside him. That would've been a disaster waiting to happen.
A pillow thudded against something, followed by a dry, monotone voice. "Be quiet, Kiana." That was Bronya.
The two continued bickering in the hallway until Mei's calm voice called from downstairs."Breakfast is ready—Miss Himeko, Kiana, Bronya, and Kouga. Let's eat."
"Sure," Kouga answered at the same time as the others, their responses overlapping.
Together, the unlikely group drifted toward the kitchen, the smell of warm food guiding them to the table.
After breakfast, the group gathered at the door. Kiana, practically bouncing with energy, waved a cheerful goodbye to Himeko. Kouga, Mei, and Bronya followed with quieter nods of parting respect.
Thus began their first proper day at St. Freya High.
Kiana had decided very firmly that she, Kouga, and Mei would stick together on the way to class—dragging Bronya along in the process, though the smaller girl didn't protest much. Mei, walking between them, gave Kiana a patient smile while Kouga only sighed at Kiana's insistence.
"C'mon, Kouga-senpai, it's our first day!" Kiana beamed, looping her arm through his. "We're not splitting up. Right, Mei?"
"Yes," Mei said softly, her expression calm but warm. "We should stay together."
Bronya adjusted the Homu plush tucked under her arm. "Bronya does not object. Being in the same class simplifies matters."
Kouga couldn't argue with that. He glanced around at the white stone halls and sunlit courtyards, the mix of academy charm and military discipline woven into the air of St. Freya. This was supposed to be a school, but somehow it felt more like walking into the start of another battlefield.
Still, as he looked at the three girls beside him, he allowed himself a small smile. At least they'd be facing this place together.
And so, the four of them stepped into their classroom—side by side—ready to begin their first day at St. Freya High.
The classroom buzzed with chatter as new students filed into their seats. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, glinting off the polished desks. It was the first official day of the term at St. Freya High, and the atmosphere brimmed with excitement and curiosity.
The door slid open, and Himeko strode in with her usual confident presence. Her heels clicked against the floor as the chatter died down.
"Alright, settle down," she called, standing at the front. "Welcome to St. Freya High. I'll be your homeroom teacher, Major Himeko Murata."
She gestured to the four students standing just behind her. "Before we start, we have a few new transfers joining us today. Step forward and introduce yourselves."
Kiana was the first to move, bouncing a step ahead of the others. "Kiana Kaslana! Future hero of humanity, Valkyrie extraordinaire, and the one who'll graduate top of the class—just watch!" She gave a dramatic salute, grinning ear to ear.
A few students chuckled at her boldness, though more than one rolled their eyes.
Mei followed more gracefully, her tone soft but polite. "Raiden Mei. It's an honor to study here, and I look forward to working with all of you."
Her calm presence earned polite applause, though some of the girls whispered about her striking looks.
Next was Bronya. She stepped forward with the same mechanical precision as her voice. "Bronya Zaychik. Specializing in tactical support and electronic systems. Please treat Bronya fairly."
The short, clipped introduction drew some murmurs—half curious, half baffled—but none dared to laugh.
Finally, Kouga stepped up, feeling the weight of the room's eyes more than the others had. A noticeable hush fell across the class as students registered what they were seeing: a boy.
"…Kouga," he said simply, his tone firm but without flourish.
Confusion rippled through the classroom. A few students whispered to each other, some not bothering to hide their surprise. "Wait—there's a guy here?" "I thought St. Freya was an all-girls academy…"
Himeko smirked slightly, having expected this reaction. She raised her hand to quiet the room.
"I know what you're all thinking," she said, her voice firm. "But let me clear this up before rumors start. St. Freya High is not exclusively for girls. It's true that the vast majority of Valkyrie candidates are female—because women are statistically more resistant to Honkai energy. But there are rare exceptions."
Her eyes flicked to Kouga, then back to the class. "Kouga here is one such exception. He has the aptitude to resist and fight against the Honkai, just like the rest of you. So treat him as you would any other classmate."
A murmur of understanding—and lingering curiosity—passed through the students. Some nodded, others exchanged doubtful looks, but the explanation seemed enough to settle most of them.
"Good," Himeko said, clapping her hands once. "Now that introductions are over, find your seats. We've got a long year ahead of us."
Kiana immediately tugged Kouga and Mei toward seats near the center, Bronya following with her usual quiet composure.
As they sat down, Kouga could still feel the occasional glance from across the room—but he only folded his arms and stared straight ahead. If nothing else, it seemed St. Freya High was going to be interesting.
Later that day, the group was gathered at the training grounds, a wide, open courtyard of stone tiles bordered by tall walls and observation decks. The students were paired off at random for sparring matches, each bout meant to test their skills under the instructors' watchful eyes. By chance—or perhaps by design—Kouga found himself facing Fu Hua.
"Remember," Himeko's commanding voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd. "This is not play. This is a chance for us to see your true strength. Hold nothing back—give everything you've got."
She paused, eyes narrowing on Kouga."Except you. Don't go all out, please."
Kouga let out a small sigh and nodded. "Understood."
The students quieted as Fu Hua stepped across from him. Instead of immediately dropping into her stance, she lowered her head in a formal bow, her movements precise and deliberate.
"I hope this battle will remain clean," she said, her tone calm and unwavering. "That neither of us loses respect for the other."
Kouga mirrored her bow, the corners of his mouth softening. "I hope for the same."
When they straightened, both shifted seamlessly into their fighting forms. Kouga slid into the Fierce Beast Tiger Fist stance, his body coiled like a predator ready to pounce, weight on the balls of his feet. Across from him, Fu Hua lifted her right hand before her face, fingers curled with her index and middle fingers raised, her left arm tucked tightly behind her—a stance honed by years of discipline.
The tension thickened. The air seemed to still.
Then, without hesitation, they launched forward, their steps pounding the stone as their clash began.
The instant their feet slammed against the stone floor, the courtyard erupted with movement.
Kouga lunged forward first, his fist striking out like a tiger's paw, sharp and fast. Fu Hua twisted at the last moment, her body flowing like water as she deflected the strike with two fingers, redirecting his momentum past her. Before he could reset, she countered with a sharp palm thrust aimed at his ribs.
Kouga caught her strike on his forearm, the impact ringing through his bones. He smirked through the sting. She's fast.
Shifting his weight, he stepped into her space, unleashing a flurry of strikes—fists and elbows in a wild yet controlled storm. Fu Hua slipped between them with graceful pivots, her hair and sleeves flowing as though she was dancing, but every step, every deflection was razor precise.
The clash of their styles echoed across the training ground. Fu Hua's calm, pinpoint technique against Kouga's explosive, beastlike aggression. Neither gave an inch.
From the sidelines, the students whispered in disbelief.
"H-how? He's… actually keeping up with the class monitor?" one stammered.
Kiana cupped her hands to her mouth, grinning wide. "Go, Kouga-senpai! Don't lose to her!"
Mei smiled faintly, her voice quieter but no less supportive. "You can do it, Kouga…"
Bronya, by contrast, watched silently, her expression unreadable, though her eyes followed every exchange.
Back in the ring, Fu Hua struck with lightning speed, her hand slicing toward Kouga's neck. Kouga ducked under, pivoting on his heel, and countered with a sweeping kick that sent a gust across the courtyard. Fu Hua blocked, but the force pushed her back half a step.
Gasps rippled through the class. For anyone to move Fu Hua in combat was already rare enough.
Fu Hua's lips curved slightly, almost invisible behind her calm expression.
They rushed each other again, their movements blurring. Kouga's strikes cracked like thunder, Fu Hua's deflections answered like lightning. Stone tiles chipped beneath their feet, the sound of fists clashing against palms resounding through the arena.
Finally, their fists collided mid-air—Fu Hua's knuckles against Kouga's tiger-fist punch. The shockwave rippled outward, making several students shield their faces from the wind it kicked up.
Both fighters skidded back, breathing heavily but still standing. Equal.
The training ground fell into stunned silence.