Astral Academy didn't exist on any map.
I found that out the hard way.
The address on the card led me to the edge of the city, where buildings slowly disappeared and the streets grew quiet. The morning sky was clear, almost peaceful—but my chest felt heavy, as if something was wrong.
I stopped in front of an old iron gate.
It was rusted shut, cold and unmoving. Beyond it stretched nothing but a dense forest.
"This has to be a mistake…" I muttered.
I checked the card again. The strange crest at the bottom shimmered faintly in the sunlight, like it was alive—like it was laughing at me.
Do not refuse.
Those words echoed inside my head.
I took a deep breath and stepped closer.
The moment my hand touched the cold metal—
The world warped.
The trees beyond the gate rippled like reflections in water. The iron bars dissolved into light, and before I could even react, the ground beneath my feet vanished.
I stumbled forward.
When my vision cleared, the forest was gone.
A wide stone path stretched out before me, lined with tall white pillars carved with glowing symbols. At the end of the path stood a massive academy building—silent, elegant, and unreal—bathed in soft morning light.
Astral Academy.
"…So it's real," I whispered.
My voice felt small in the open space.
Students passed by me, some talking casually, others walking alone like I was. They looked normal—school uniforms, bags slung over their shoulders, familiar expressions.
And yet…
Something felt wrong.
The air itself felt heavy, as if it were watching me.
I tightened my grip on my bag and forced myself to move.
Just get through today.
That was all I wanted.
The entrance hall swallowed sound. A crystal chandelier floated near the ceiling, slowly rotating on its own. I tried not to stare.
A staff member silently handed me a class schedule and turned away.
No explanation.
No orientation.
As I stepped aside, my shoulder brushed against someone.
"I—sorry," I said automatically.
The instant we touched—
My vision blurred.
White petals fell endlessly from the sky.
A quiet classroom after school.
A girl sitting by the window, staring outside while holding a folded letter.
Her hands were shaking.
Pain stabbed into my chest, sharp enough to steal my breath.
I pulled back at once, gasping.
"I—I'm sorry!" I said again, louder this time.
The girl blinked in surprise.
She had long dark hair and calm eyes—eyes far too gentle for a place like this.
"…Are you alright?" she asked softly.
I nodded too quickly. "Yes. I mean—no. I mean—I'm fine."
Idiot.
I turned away, my heart pounding.
That vision…
It was hers.
I was sure of it.
She watched me for a moment, then spoke again.
"You're new, aren't you?"
I hesitated before nodding.
She smiled faintly. "My name is Airi Shizuno."
The sound of her name settled strangely in my chest.
"I'm—" I stopped myself.
If I got closer, I'd see more.
If I touched her again, it would hurt again.
"I'll see you around," she said gently, as if she understood.
She walked past me, her footsteps light.
Then she paused and turned back.
"…When you touched me," she said quietly, "your expression changed."
My breath caught.
"What did you see?"
Her voice was calm.
That terrified me more than anything.
---
I spent the rest of the day avoiding people.
Every accidental brush in the hallway made my body tense. Every laugh and conversation felt distant, like I was watching the world through glass.
That night, I sat alone in my assigned dorm room. The academy lights glowed softly outside the window.
I lay back on the bed and covered my eyes with my arm.
"A school where touching people hurts…" I murmured, letting out a quiet laugh.
Nothing about it was funny.
Airi's calm voice echoed in my mind.
Her future.
The folded letter.
The trembling hands.
The smile that never reached her eyes.
"…I can't ignore that."
For the first time since receiving the invitation, I understood something clearly.
Astral Academy wasn't just a school.
It was a place where every connection carried weight.
And without realizing it…
I had already crossed a line I couldn't step back from.