"He challenged the Sovereignty Class."
The words echoed like a shockwave through the Crimson Class.
"WHAT?!"
The entire class erupted in unison.
"Why would he do that?" Dawson demanded, eyes wide.
"He acted like he didn't care earlier…" Marin murmured, frowning, her calm voice only deepening the confusion in the room.
"What exactly happened?" Lina whispered, her hands trembling slightly.
Dice's clone opened its mouth to explain—
but Ard stepped forward, placing a hand on its shoulder.
"Let me show you," he said, his tone unusually serious. "It's better this way."
Dice blinked. "I don't know what you're about to do, but if it eases this tension, just do it."
Ard closed his eyes, pressed his palm to Dice's head, and—
—the classroom dissolved into darkness.
A projection bloomed above them, painting the air with swirling mist and memory.
⸻
• Sovereignty Class — Moments After Kira Left
The temperature dropped sharply.
Frost crawled across desks.
Students' breaths turned to mist.
Shivers raced down their spines.
What is this…?
Why is it so cold?
The door burst open—
A violent gust of frigid wind swept inside, scattering papers and extinguishing the lights.
From the blizzard of mist, a lone figure stepped forward.
Kira.
Eyes empty.
Aura colder than death.
The Sovereignty teacher stepped in his path.
"What do you—"
KRSSHHH.
The teacher froze solid in an instant.
Kira walked past him without a glance and sat casually on Chris's desk, staring at him through the fog.
"Yo, class rep. How're you doing?"
His voice was icy enough to chill bone.
Chris didn't flinch.
"I'm not your rep anymore. And I'm Sovereignty now."
Kira chuckled—then blurred, appearing right in front of Chris in less than a blink.
Chris jumped back, instinctively creating distance.
Chairs scraped.
Desks trembled.
The entire Sovereignty Class rose, preparing for combat.
"Stand down," Sylara said, lifting a hand.
"I don't think he came here to fight."
Kira ignored them all, gaze fixed on Chris.
"It seems you finally found people who care about you."
Chris narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean? I was the core of the Crimson Class."
"Core?"
Kira burst into laughter, echoing mockingly around the frozen room.
"Just because you held the class together doesn't make you the core."
"You know what he means," Pearl muttered. "The true core isn't chosen by skill, it's chosen by force."
Kira didn't even acknowledge her.
"The only ones I couldn't control were you, Dice, and Lina," Chris continued. "And Lina… well, she only listens to you."
"So what of it?"
"She…"
"She isn't why I'm here."
His aura surged—
The room darkened—
Walls cracked under the pressure—
Then it all faded as quickly as it came.
"The reason you left," Kira said quietly, "is to control Ignis, right?"
Sylara's eyes narrowed.
He's stronger than before… much stronger.
Chris stayed silent.
"Just like you were taken," Kira continued, "I'll bring you back."
"And what makes you think I'll return?" Chris flared his aura in response.
Kira matched it instantly.
A heavy clash of invisible force swallowed the room.
Windows cracked.
Frost exploded outward.
"In the next test," Kira said evenly, "it's going to be done by gender. If you beat me… I'll stop. If you can't… you're coming back."
Dina from the back row gasped.
"Wait—the test format was only revealed to the Sovereignties! How do you know that?"
"Ventus told me," Kira replied without looking away from Chris.
Sylara blinked. "Why would she—?"
"Transferring her from Rhea to you was how she repaid me."
Chris's eyes widened.
"You transferred Ventus…? How?"
"That doesn't matter."
Jayze leaned back in his chair, smirking.
"Since you barged in here, I assume you've got something interesting to say besides that."
Kira tilted his head.
"In this next test… the Sovereignties will fall. And you," he pointed at Chris, "will return."
"Raya sent you, didn't she?" Chris asked calmly.
Kira shrugged. "What if she did?"
Yuujin crossed his arms.
"So what do you actually want?"
Kira's expression hardened.
"Nothing. I don't care who leaves or joins the class."
Jayze's smirk faded.
"If we win, you know there'll be consequences."
"I know."
Kira turned away.
"And I don't care."
He took a step—then paused.
"Oh, and Chris…"
His voice dropped to a chilling whisper.
"This time I won't hold back. Try to stay alive.
…Though I guess it doesn't matter. You'll revive anyway."
And with that, he vanished into thin air.
Sylara exhaled. "Even if he wins… how does he plan to make the girls' side win?"
"No one knows what he's planning," Chris answered quietly. "But… I don't think he's alone in this school."
Memories of the time Kira helped with Jayze's sister flickered through his mind.
Sylara smirked. "He's more interesting than I expected."
The projection flickered—
Then shattered.
Dice's clone dissolved into a fluttering card.
⸻
• Back in the Crimson Class
Rhea slammed her hand on a desk, voice trembling with anger.
"What did you tell him?! Why would he risk his life like that?!"
"Nothing," Raya replied softly—
and stepped into a shimmering portal, vanishing.
"Tch…" Rhea bit her lip.
Lina stood up, her expression hard.
"Then it's decided. War has begun. All we can do now is prepare."
She walked out without looking back.
Dice stretched and grinned.
"She's right. If we want our dear Kira to survive, we gotta get stronger. Way stronger."
He left as well, hands behind his head.
One by one, the class emptied, until only two remained:
Rhea
and Sage.
"…Do you have something to say to me?" Rhea asked, her voice small.
"Nope," Sage replied casually.
"Just wanted to see how someone reacts when the person they like hides things from them."
Rhea's cheeks tinted with irritation.
"What do you know about love?"
"Nothing," Sage said simply.
"But I know more about Kira than the rest of you."
Rhea lifted her head sharply.
"…What do you know?"
Sage smirked faintly.
"He won't lose this fight. That's all you need to know.
The rest… he'll tell you when he feels like it."
Her body dissolved into mist—
and vanished.
Rhea stared at the empty space.
"Sage knows Kira…? What is their relationship…?"
Her voice trembled, tinged with jealousy.