The second the knock echoed through the dorm...
Seren stopped mid-sentence.
Luen's pen froze halfway across the page.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
Their eyes met briefly before shifting toward the door.
...
Knock.
Knock.
The sound came again.
Seren let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Seriously?"
He pushed himself off the bed.
"If this turns out to be another club announcement, I'm pretending nobody's home."
Luen didn't respond.
Seren walked across the room and pulled the door open.
Standing quietly in the hallway was a girl with neatly cut crimson bob hair.
Her academy uniform was flawless.
Not a wrinkle.
Not a single strand of hair out of place.
Her posture was so straight it almost looked rehearsed.
She looked at Seren first.
"Captain Seren Forbes?"
Before he could answer, her eyes shifted past him.
"Is Captain Luen Cassian here?"
Her voice was calm.
Polite.
Professional.
Seren leaned lazily against the doorframe.
A playful grin slowly appeared.
"Well..."
"Miss Ice Queen."
"No 'Good evening'?"
"No smile?"
"Not even a tiny one?"
The girl stared at him.
Expression unchanged.
"I'd appreciate it if you answered the question."
"...Still terrifying."
Seren stepped aside dramatically.
"He's inside."
Without saying another word, she waited patiently.
Inside the room...
Luen carefully closed his notebook.
Placed the pen neatly on top.
Straightened the edge of the pages.
Only then did he stand.
As he approached the entrance...
The girl's composed expression softened ever so slightly.
"Captain Luen."
Luen gave a small nod.
"Akari."
"What happened?"
She took a quiet breath.
"The Academy Authority has announced an emergency meeting."
"All five team captains are required to attend immediately."
Silence settled over the room.
Seren blinked.
"...Right now?"
"Yes."
He threw both hands into the air.
"My date was finally going to be successful..."
"And now destiny chooses paperwork."
Akari looked at him blankly.
"I wasn't aware meetings counted as paperwork."
"...You missed the joke."
"I noticed."
Luen ignored the conversation.
"When does it begin?"
"In ten minutes."
"We'll be there."
Akari nodded once.
"Thank you."
She turned and walked away.
Her footsteps were light.
Almost soundless.
Halfway down the corridor...
She paused.
Only for a heartbeat.
Her eyes drifted back toward Luen.
Then, as if realizing what she'd done...
She quietly continued walking until she disappeared around the corner.
The dorm fell silent again.
Seren folded his arms.
"...She definitely has a crush on me."
Luen picked up his academy blazer.
"No."
Seren frowned.
"What do you mean 'No'?"
"She tolerated you."
"...That hurt more than it should."
Luen calmly buttoned his blazer.
"You'll recover."
"I don't think I will."
"You will."
"...You're impossible."
"And you're dramatic."
"I prefer 'charismatic.'"
Luen didn't bother replying.
Ten minutes later...
The two captains walked through Blackthorn Academy's dimly lit corridors.
The usual energy of the academy had vanished.
Students stood in small groups, whispering.
Some looked nervous.
Others looked confused.
No one seemed to know why every captain had been summoned so suddenly.
Outside...
Thunder rumbled across Blackwick City.
Rain tapped softly against the stained-glass windows.
Neither Luen nor Seren spoke.
One remained lost in thought.
The other strangely quieter than usual.
As they reached the end of the corridor...
The massive doors of the Council Hall stood slightly open.
Warm golden light spilled into the darkness.
Inside...
Low voices echoed across the chamber.
Uneasy.
Restless.
Waiting.
Luen stopped just before the entrance.
That strange feeling...
The one from earlier...
Returned.
Colder than before.
As though something beyond those doors...
Had already begun to change their future.
Seren glanced at him.
"...You feel it too?"
Luen didn't answer.
He simply pushed the doors open.
And together...
They stepped inside.
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