Chapter 1: potato chips

The smell of burnt toast and her brothers terrible coffee hit Mika’s nose before her eyes even cracked open. She groaned, rolling off her bed and landing with a thud on the wooden floor – exactly how she’d woken up every single morning for the past seventeen years. Except… something was off.

The walls of her room were wrong.

Instead of her usual pastel blue paint splattered with dried nail polish and band posters, the space around her was lined with sleek white panels that hummed softly. A glowing screen on the wall displayed text she’d never seen before: ACADEMY OF ENHANCED ABILITIES – DORMITORY BLOCK C, ROOM 317 – STUDENT: MIKA EVERLY.

“Okay,” Mika mumbled, pushing herself up and running a hand through her short, messy blonde hair. The strands stuck up at odd angles like she’d been electrocuted, which was par for the course. “Either Im still asleep, or Tais terrible writing has finally invaded my dreams.”

She’d spent the entire previous night reading her older brother’s latest unuploaded novel – The Infinite Reclaimer. Tai had begged her to be his beta reader, saying she had a “knack for spotting plot holes that make readers throw their phones across the room.” And he wasn’t wrong. The story was full of familiar tropes: an overpowered main character who died and came back to life over and over, a team of loyal allies, a modern world where mana flowed through everything and a system governed every ability imaginable.

The MC, Rin Voss, was supposed to be this terrifying, merciless force of nature – someone whod carved his way to the top by outsmarting and outfighting every enemy in his path. Tai had described him as “a predator in human form, with eyes that could freeze blood solid.”

Mika padded over to the mirror on the wall and stared at her reflection. Same green eyes that always looked like shed just gotten into trouble. Same smattering of freckles across her nose. Same unruly hair that refused to stay flat no matter how much product she used. The only difference was the uniform she was wearing: a cream-colored blazer with dark blue trim, a white collared shirt, and a matching bow tie that was already coming undone.

“Right,” she said to her reflection. “If this is Tais story, then I’m… wait, did he even write a character named Mika Everly?”

She wracked her brain, but all she could remember were the main players. Rin and his team of elites. The evil organization trying to control all mana in the world. A bunch of side characters who mostly existed to either cheer Rin on or get killed to advance the plot. She must be one of the latter – some nobody whod probably trip over her own feet and end up in the crossfire within the first few chapters.

“Nope,” she announced aloud, already making up her mind. “Not happening. Im staying as far away from the plot as possible. No heroics, no getting mixed up with powerful people, just… laying low and figuring out how to get back home.”

She grabbed the small bag shed found on the desk – inside were a few basic supplies, some mana crystals for emergencies, and a schedule that listed her first classes at the academy. Introduction to Mana Control at 8 AM, followed by History of Enhanced Humans at 9:30.

Mika headed out into the hallway, her loud footsteps echoing off the polished floors. The academy was even bigger then Tai had described – glass walls that let in natural light, students walking around with glowing hands or floating books, and the faint hum of mana resonating from every corner. Shed barely made it past the main lobby when her stomach rumbled loudly enough to make a nearby girl with pink hair glance over and giggle.

“Food first,” Mika decided, veering toward the cafeteria shed spotted on the map. “A girl cant avoid plot if she’s hangry.”

The cafeteria was chaos in the best way possible – students chatting and laughing, food stalls serving everything from mana-infused ramen to regular old sandwiches. Mika made a beeline for the snack section, her eyes lighting up when she saw a display of her favorite potato chips. She reached out to grab a bag, but just as her fingers touched the plastic, someone bumped into her from behind.

“Whoa – sorry!”

Mika stumbled forward, knocking an entire rack of chip bags to the floor. They scattered across the tile like orange and yellow confetti, and she winced as she turned to face the person whod crashed into her.

And there he was.

A guy around her age with soft dark hair that fell over his forehead, big brown eyes that looked genuinely horrified by what had just happened, and a face so cute it made her think of a lost puppy. He was wearing the same academy uniform, though his blazer was slightly too big on his shoulders, and he was already dropping to his knees to help pick up the mess.

“I am so, so sorry,” he repeated, his voice quiet and earnest. “I wasn’t looking where I was going – I was trying to find the juice section and I got distracted and –”

“Hey, hey, its fine,” Mika cut him off, dropping down beside him and gathering up as many bags as she could hold. Her hands were full in seconds, and she grinned at him. “Im clumsy enough on my own – you just gave me an excuse. Plus, now I know which chips are the sturdiest. These ones didn’t even break open.”

The guy blinked at her, his cheeks turning pink. He was holding a bag of chips that had survived the fall, and he carefully handed it to her. “I… I should buy you a new one. As an apology.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it.” But when she saw the guilty look on his face, she relented. “Okay, fine – one bag. But only if you let me buy you something too. Fairs fair.”

They stood up, and Mika led him over to the counter to pay. She chattered away the whole time – talking about how weird it was that the academy had her favorite chips, how she still hadn’t figured out where all the classrooms was, and how she was pretty sure shed already gotten lost three times that morning. The guy listened quietly, nodding along and occasionally smiling, his pink cheeks never quite fading.

“I’m Mika, by the way,” she said as they walked out of the cafeteria, each holding a fresh bag of chips. “Short for Mikaela, but nobody calls me that expect my grandma when she’s mad at me.”

“Rin,” he said softly, opening his bag and popping a chip into his mouth. “Rin Voss.”

Mika froze mid-bite.

The chip shed just put in her mouth felt like it had turned to sand. She stared at him – at his cute face, his gentle smile, his slightly messy hair – and

CHAPTER 2: FIRST LESSONS AND SECOND GLANCES

The teacher – a tall woman with silver hair pulled back in a tight bun – walked to the front of the room and set down a stack of books. “Good morning, class. I’m Professor Chen, and I’ll be your instructor for Introduction to Mana Control. Before we begin –”

She paused, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Mika, who was still munching on her potato chips. “Miss Everly? Food is not permitted in my classroom.”

Mika’s face went bright red as she quickly stuffed the remaining chips into her mouth and crumpled the bag into her pocket. “Sorry, sorry! I forgot – I mean, I didn’t know –”

“It’s quite alright,” Professor Chen said, though her tone suggested it was only just alright. “But please dispose of that before we start. And take a seat properly – slouching won’t help you focus your mana.”

Mika scrambled to sit up straight, knocking her notebook off the desk in the process. It hit the floor with a loud thud, and she could feel her ears burning as a few students turned to look. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rin reach down to pick it up for her, his fingers brushing against hers as he handed it back.

“Thanks,” she whispered, and he just nodded, his cheeks still faintly pink.

Professor Chen began writing on the board – MANA SENSING: THE BASICS – and Mika tried her best to pay attention. “Every person has a unique mana signature,” the professor explained. “Some are strong, some are weak, some are better suited for combat, others for healing or creation. Our first exercise today will be simple: close your eyes, clear your mind, and try to sense the mana around you.”

Mika did as she was told, shutting her eyes tight and trying to empty her head of all thoughts – which was harder than it sounded. She kept thinking about how she’d ended up here, about Tai typing away at his computer back home, about how the guy next to her was supposed to be some kind of terrifying force but seemed more like a shy kid.

After a few minutes, she started to feel something – a faint warmth in her fingertips, like holding a cup of hot chocolate. She concentrated harder, and suddenly the warmth spread, and she could see it in her mind’s eye – threads of light weaving through the air, connecting every person in the room to each other and to the walls beneath their feet.

She opened her eyes to see if anyone else was having the same experience, and nearly jumped. Rin was looking at her, his expression unreadable. But when their gazes met, a small, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips before he turned away.

Across the room, a boy with dark hair was muttering under his breath. “This is stupid – I’ve been able to sense mana since I was eight. Why do we have to waste time on baby stuff?”

Rin’s head snapped toward him, and the change was immediate. His shoulders squared, his jaw tightened, and his eyes went cold – so cold that even from several desks away, Mika felt a chill run down her spine. The boy stopped talking mid-sentence, his face paling as he met Rin’s stare.

“Something you’d like to share with the class, Mr. Voss?” Professor Chen asked sharply.

The boy shook his head quickly, looking anywhere but at Rin. “No, ma’am. Sorry, ma’am.”

Rin turned back around, and just like that, the coldness was gone – replaced by the same quiet demeanor he’d shown her earlier. Mika stared at him, her mind racing. She’d seen it clearly – the way his whole presence shifted, the dangerous edge that had flashed in his eyes for just a moment.

“Alright,” Professor Chen said after a while. “It seems some of you are already able to sense mana – that’s excellent progress. We’ll continue this exercise tomorrow. For now, please read chapters one through three in your textbook and be prepared to discuss mana circulation pathways next class.”

As students began packing up their things, Mika turned to Rin. “Hey, did you feel that? The warmth? It was like… like there was a whole other world right in front of us.”

He nodded slowly, and she noticed his voice was different now – deeper, more confident than before. “Yeah. Been able to feel it for years. Most people here are just catching up.” There was a cocky edge to his words that hadn’t been there earlier.

“Tai never wrote about this part,” Mika said before she could stop herself. “I mean – I read a lot of books about this kind of stuff, y’know? Always wondered what it would actually feel like.”

The cockiness faded, and he looked at her again – really looked at her – with that same soft expression from the cafeteria. “You read a lot?”

“Too much, probably,” she laughed, shoving her notebook into her bag. “I should get going – I still haven’t found my next classroom and I don’t want to be late again.”

As she stood to leave, she heard him speak again – his voice quiet enough that only she could hear it. “Room 312 is down the hall, third door on the left. Don’t take the stairs – they’re under maintenance and half the steps are loose.”

Mika paused, looking back at him. He was already packing his things, acting like he hadn’t said anything at all. But when he glanced up, there was that faint smile again – and just for a second, she caught a glimpse of something wild in his eyes, hidden just beneath the surface.

CHAPTER 3: SYSTEM

Mika kicked off her shoes the second she pushed open her dorm room door, collapsing face-first onto her bed with a groan. The day had been way more than she’d signed up for – new classes, weird mana stuff she’d only ever read about in books, and trying to find her way around a place that felt both familiar and completely foreign.

She was just about to close her eyes when a bright blue screen suddenly flashed to life in front of her face, making her jump back so hard she nearly fell off the bed.

SYSTEM INITIALIZED – VERSION T.01

USER DETECTED: MIKA EVERLY

MESSAGE FROM ADMIN: MIKA??? IS THAT YOU???

Mika stared at the glowing words, rubbing her eyes like she could make them disappear. “What the…?”

ADMIN: I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS WORKING – I WAS JUST TESTING THE NEW SYSTEM INTERFACE AND YOUR NAME POPPED UP AS A VALID USER??? YOU’RE REALLY INSIDE THE INFINITE RECLAIMER???

“Tai?” she whispered, leaning closer to the screen. “Tai, yes! I woke up here this morning and I had no idea how to get back! Everything looks exactly like your book – the academy, the uniforms, even the mana feels just like you described it!”

ADMIN: WHAT??? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE??? I WAS JUST CODING A NEW WAY TO VISUALIZE THE STORY WORLD – I NEVER THOUGHT ANYONE COULD ACTUALLY END UP THERE. MIKA I AM SO SORRY. I HAD NO IDEA TESTING THIS COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

Mika scrambled to sit up straight, shaking her head even though she knew Tai couldn’t see her. “It’s okay – I mean, it’s weird as heck, but I’m fine! Everyone here seems pretty normal so far, and I already found my classes. Though I did get lost twice – the building’s way bigger than your notes made it sound.”

ADMIN: I’M CHECKING THE CODE RIGHT NOW TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. I CAN’T FIGURE OUT HOW YOU GOT PULLED IN, BUT I’M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET YOU BACK. IT MIGHT TAKE SOME TIME THOUGH – THIS IS WAY BEYOND ANYTHING I’VE TRIED BEFORE.

A knot formed in Mika’s stomach, but she pushed the worry aside and forced a smile. “That’s okay Tai. I can handle myself while you work on it. Plus, I’m actually getting to see all your ideas come to life – it’s kind of cool, even if I didn’t plan on being part of it.”

ADMIN: I’M GLAD YOU’RE TAKING IT WELL, BUT PLEASE BE CAREFUL. THE STORY WORLD CAN BE DANGEROUS – I BUILT IN PLENTY OF CONFLICTS AND CHALLENGES TO MAKE IT INTERESTING. I’LL SET YOU UP WITH SOME BASIC STUFF TO KEEP YOU SAFE UNTIL I CAN BRING YOU HOME.

The screen flickered and rearranged itself, new text appearing in neater lines:

SYSTEM UPDATED – USER INTERFACE ENABLED

STATUS: ACTIVE

ABILITIES UNLOCKED: BASIC MANA SENSING, ENHANCED RECOVERY

INVENTORY: 3 EMERGENCY MANA CRYSTALS, 1 PORTABLE FIRST AID KIT

MESSAGE FROM ADMIN: I’LL KEEP WORKING ON A WAY TO BRING YOU BACK. TRY TO LAY LOW AND STAY OUT OF ANY BIG PLOT EVENTS IF YOU CAN – I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF THINGS GET TOO OFF COURSE.

“I hear you Tai,” she said softly, watching the words appear. “I’ll be careful. Promise.”

ADMIN: GOOD. I’LL CHECK IN AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING. SYSTEM GOING DORMANT NOW SO NO ONE DETECTS IT – CAN’T HAVE THE STORY CHARACTERS FINDING OUT ABOUT THE SYSTEM ITSELF.

The blue light faded until the room was dark again. Mika let out a long breath, curling up on her bed and looking around the unfamiliar space. She missed her own room, her own bed, the way her brother’s terrible coffee smelled like home.

She was just about to get ready for bed when she heard a noise in the hallway outside her door – someone dragging their feet, followed by a soft thud against the wall. Then silence.

Mika pulled her knees to her chest, thinking about what Tai had said. Maybe this place really was more dangerous than it seemed. But she’d always been good at rolling with the punches – she’d just have to be extra careful until she could find her way back home.