Awakening me from my nap was a soothing, yet, soft melody as I slowly opened my eyes and looked around in a daze, my memories recollecting themselves as I glanced outside the window of the car and noticed we were traveling over a large bridge that rested over a vast lake, connecting us to a prestigious hero academy.
So it wasn't a bad dream.
I really am enrolling into a hero academy.
With a vexing sigh, I began watching the petals from numerous cherry blossom trees dance throughout the wind as their pleasant performance eased my irritation.
~
Eventually, we arrived at the front entrance of the academy as I stepped outside of Ryan's jet black sports car and began stretching my body with a yawn, taking a moment to relish in the fresh autumn breeze as several petals brushed across my face.
"So, how do you like my academy? It's pretty nice, isn't it?" Ryan asked with a smug expression, which was very unfitting for his appearance as he was a tall man with sharp facial features, standing around 6 '4 with an ivory complexion, disheveled, yet short wavy black hair and captivating mint green eyes that seemingly left every woman entranced.
Choosing to ignore his gloating as I refused to entertain him with an answer, I shifted my attention towards the extravagant academy that stood before me as its pristine condition left me intrigued.
I do have to admit that the academy is quite impressive.
Ryan said this academy existed for nearly fifty years, but from the exterior, it's as if it was built just this year.
It was an enormous academy as the entrance bore a large water fountain with several benches and lampposts placed meticulously around it.
"Ryan, I'm sure you know my stance on heroes, so why enroll me into your academy?" I asked curiously, grabbing my bags from out of his car as Ryan's eyes widened until he looked up into the starry night sky with a soft smile.
"Rai, I'm sure you know that all heroes aren't bad. I understand that the society we live in doesn't have the most righteous heroes, but there are still heroes out there that will risk their lives to save even one person and we both know one very well who risked their life to save everyone." Ryan replied as I began looking into the skies above while a shooting star crossed the night sky.
"You sound like my old man." I remarked as a faint smile crept onto my face.
"I prefer to do your rank assessment tonight, so we'll drop off your bags at your dorm first and that way, you can also meet your roommate." Ryan said as he adjusted the collar of his black dress shirt.
"I'm fine with that, but who is my roommate?" I asked curiously while we headed towards the boy's dormitory as Ryan pulled out his phone and showed me an overview of my roommate, which had a brief description about him as his photo was located at the top left of the screen.
So it's him.
"I'm sure you've heard of him during your days in junior high, but your roommate is Arthur Kojiro. He's a first year student and he's ranked 3rd in the academy overall." Ryan stated as he placed his phone back inside his pocket.
Arthur Kojiro.
From what I've heard about him, he's a genius swordsman who is also the son of Jett, the world's strongest swordsman, but despite his lineage, it's still surprising that he's only a first year and yet, he's ranked third within the entire academy.
I wonder…
"If he's the third strongest in the academy, why isn't he a member of the Elite Ten?" I asked.
"I'm not sure. Arthur told me he wasn't interested in joining the Elite Ten." Ryan replied as he began checking his pockets frantically.
"Oh no…" Ryan mumbled as his eyes widened in distress.
"What happened?" I asked, concerned as Ryan slowly turned his head towards me with a grave expression.
"I don't have my lighter." Ryan replied despondently as he lowered his head and began dragging his feet while I gave him a look of pity.
Within the minute, Ryan recovered from his moment of depression and began informing me about the academy in a chaotic manner.
"Anyways, the academy is located in the middle with your dormitories being located on the left side and as for your room, you have a kitchen installed inside with your everyday necessities, but if you don't want to use your kitchen, the cafeteria offers free food for all students just in case any irresponsible student spends all of their money recklessly. The training facility is behind the academy along with-"
"You really are terrible at explanations." I remarked as Ryan tried to argue with me out of pettiness, however, I ignored his tantrum as we arrived inside the boy's dormitory, which was quite spacious as the lobby was kept clean with several benches and vending machines placed around for student's personal uses.
After taking a moment to look around, we began walking down the long corridor towards my room as there were many portraits of students and events held by the academy itself, ranging from a relay race to even a student being awarded for defeating over one hundred students in a single fight.
Room 60.
"Arthur, your new roommate is here. Open the door." Ryan said, sulking over my previous remark as he knocked on the door.
The door was opened from within by Arthur, who was the same height as myself, standing around 5' 10 with a pale ivory complexion as his hair resembled a cherry blossom petal, which was kept into a short messy tail as his wavy bangs were parted in the middle, ending just above his ears.
As for his facial features, a prominent scar in the form of a slash stretched across his right cheek from his jaw while his eyes matched the color of his hair and as for his clothes, he wore a simple plain white long-sleeved shirt with gray shorts that ended just above his knees.
There was a moment of silence as our gazes locked until Arthur began yawning, however, his yawn ended abruptly as he stepped back with his eyes widened in surprise.
This guy…
"Sorry for the rude introduction. I'm Arthur Kojiro, nice to meet you." Arthur said with a sincere grin as he extended his hand towards me in the gesture of a handshake.
"Rai Shinsei." I replied as our hands clasped in a firm handshake, but as our palms met, I noticed the distinct callus that covered his skin as it was a tactile sensation that sparked my curiosity.
I glanced behind him and noticed two katanas sheathed inside their respective scabbards, which was adorned with intricate gold lettering as one of the scabbards was a deep, mesmerizing black hue while the other shone a brilliant white hue, creating a striking contrast.
So those are his swords.
"It seems like you two are going to get along great! I'll be taking Rai with me for his evaluation exam, so he should be back before midnight." Ryan said as Arthur nodded while I observed my new room.
The room was commodious with a lavish interior as the kitchen was located on one end of the room, with a side room for laundry and a single bathroom as the living room separated the kitchen from the bedroom, where our beds were positioned across from each other with a soft, white carpet splitting across the middle.
I need to go shopping at some point.
I placed my bags onto my bed and began stretching my body while Arthur and Ryan conversed among one another.
"Alright, I'm ready Ryan, but Arthur, if you don't mind, can you leave the door unlocked if you're going to sleep? Ryan never gave me a key to my own room." I asked as I tossed my phone onto my bed.
"I doubt I'll be going to sleep anytime soon so you're fine, but good luck on your assessment." Arthur replied as he pulled out an apple from his pocket and began eating it.
Why was there an apple…
Maybe it's better to not even ask.
"Thanks?" I said, perplexed from his peculiar actions as I headed out the door with Ryan.
"So, what do you think about your new roommate?" Ryan asked as we exited the boy's dormitory.
"He's interesting. He's certainly the first person to greet me with an attack." I replied as Ryan chuckled.
As we arrived at the evaluation facility, memories began to flood my mind as a smile crept onto my face.
I haven't done a rank assessment in a few years, so I'm curious to know where I currently stand.
"Are you ready, Rai?" Ryan asked with a grin while I cracked my knuckles.
"Of course." I replied as we entered the building while my heart began to race with excitement.
POV: Arthur Kojiro
Nearly an hour passed since the Headmaster took away my new roommate for a rank assessment and during that time, I sat on my bed and indulged in several apples, my favorite snack to eat as I watched a video until I noticed Rai entering inside the room, but to my surprise, his clothes were tattered with minor scratches across his body as he fell backwards onto his bed and sighed.
"How did your assessment go?" I asked curiously.
"It was alright, but unfortunately, I placed 200th in the academy." Rai replied with a sheepish laugh as his rank left me skeptical.
"You're telling me you were ranked 200th in the academy?" I asked, wondering if he was joking.
"Yeah. My Aspect is a normal-type that enhances my reflexes, but I'm pretty weak physically, so all I'm good for is just dodging." Rai replied as I glanced through the tatters of his white short-sleeved shirt towards his torso, which was toned with muscles that even an adult would struggle to achieve.
Pretty weak my ass.
Anyone who doesn't have a vegetable for a brain can tell he's trained his body to its utmost limit.
He's hiding something, but I'll play along for now.
"I'm sure you know, but this academy doesn't tolerate the weak. High-rankers and even mid-rankers will try to assert their dominance over you at any given moment, so if you're truly weak, then I suggest you avoid anyone who is ranked higher than you and keep your head down." I suggested, yawning shortly after as I turned off my lamp and began laying down.
"I'll take your words into consideration." Rai replied as I rested my eyes until I fell asleep.
POV: Rai Shinsei
"None of this would have happened if you never existed." An all too familiar voice shrieked with a sinister undertone that reverberated through the air as I turned around in trepidation to find a girl, who emerged from the vast darkness with her face drenched in blood as her eyes were void of any life.
My body jolted forward as I awoke in a cold sweat, clutching my chest with my hand as I scanned the room in a panic while I struggled to separate my nightmare from reality.
As I slowly regained my composure, I took a deep breath and placed my head into the palm of my hand.
It was just another nightmare.
"Everything alright?" Arthur asked with concern as he stared at me with an apple in his hand.
"Yeah, just a weird dream." I replied as I noticed sunlight beaming through the blinds of our window.
It's already morning?
"Hey, when does class start?" I asked with a yawn.
"In about an hour, but the Headmaster wants you to stop by his office first." Arthur replied as he began buttoning his white dress shirt.
I nodded as I stood from my bed and tossed my shirt into the dirty clothes basket while heading inside the bathroom to start my morning routine.
After taking a refreshing shower, I examined the school uniform Ryan gave me as I noticed it was custom-made to suit my preferences.
I didn't bother to wear the gray blazer as I decided to only wear a crisp white dress shirt with my collar loosened, a black tie with my sleeves rolled just below my elbow to show the white bandages wrapped around my forearm in honor of my late father.
As for my bottomwear, I wore tailored black dress pants with a black belt and black dress shoes to compliment it.
"You actually look like somebody now." Arthur remarked with a grin as he attached his katanas to his belt.
"Weapons are allowed inside the academy?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, but the Headmaster warned that if anyone uses their weapon with the intent to harm another student, they will be expelled from the academy and sent to the Hero Association's Correction Center." Arthur replied as he grabbed his school bag and headed towards the door.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to ask last night, but I noticed the callus on your palms yesterday. Are you a swordsman by any chance?" Arthur asked as I glanced at my palms.
He's more perceptive than I thought.
"I used to practice with a sword in the past, but it was for mostly training purposes only." I replied while adjusting my tie.
"I see. Well, I'll see you later on." Arthur said as he left the room while I walked inside the bathroom and looked into the mirror.
My first day of school.
I wonder how it's going to go.