The campus was alive — not just with students, but with voices.
Literal ones. Not psychological ones, Not yet.
Just whispers. Snippets of curiosity floating through the crowd like pollen.
"—they said it had nine heads—"
"—a fisherman swore he saw it. Regrew when cut—"
"Dude, it's fake. Clickbait nonsense."
"It's literally a hydra. Like, mythology hydra—"
"Yeah, keep watching those conspiracy vlogs, man. You'll start saying Bigfoot is a demigod next."
Rin passed the chattering group without a glance. Hoodie on, bag slung, head low. Eyes heavy with disinterest.
Hydras. Heroes. Headlines.
None of it mattered anymore.
Not to her.
---
She found her dorm easily. Room 4B.
She knocked once out of habit, then twisted the knob and stepped inside.
The room was… lived-in.
At least one half of it.
Her new roommate's side looked like a comic store exploded.
Posters of famous heroes lined the walls—
Janus, striking in gold and blue, arms outstretched like a god of gates.
Lady Fox, sleek and dangerous, with mirrored lenses.
Miss Arachne, elegant in webbed silks, fingers always poised like a spider's leg.
And in one corner…
A photo.
Old. A bit faded.
A girl cloaked in black, mask shadowing her face.
Her stance was defensive. Her eyes unreadable.
Shadow Girl.
Rin's breath hitched for a second. Just for a second.
She looked away.
The girl sitting on the bed perked up the moment Rin entered. She was short, wide-eyed, and wearing an oversized hoodie with "I BELIEVE" in bold glitter font.
"Oh, hi!! You must be Rin!" she said, springing to her feet like an excited puppy. "I'm Leina! Welcome to Room 4B! I claimed the left side but I left the good shelf for you— unless you like the middle shelf more, then I'll swap—"
Rin raised a hand in half-greeting. "Right side's fine."
"Coolcoolcool—"
On the TV screen behind her, a hero stood against flashing cameras.
Janus, again. Speaking confidently after the bridge collapse.
"Lives matter more than time. Even one life. That's a hero's vow."
Leina clutched her chest dramatically.
"He's soooo dreamy," she sighed. "And wise! And super strong. I mean, if anyone's gonna stop these new monster sightings, it's gonna be him. Don't you think?"
Rin didn't answer.
She went straight to her side of the room, dropped her bag, and began unpacking.
"...So, uh, who's your favorite hero?" Leina asked, trying again. "Miss Arachne? Oh! Lady Fox? Or maybe one of the oldies—like the OG Shadow Girl? I have a theory she didn't die, y'know. Some people say she disappeared after the City Fire Incident, but others think she—"
"I don't believe in heroes."
The words were ice. Flat. Cold. Final.
Leina blinked. "Oh…"
Rin pulled on her headphones. Snapped open a book. Flipped the page before even reading.
Leina sank back onto her bed, quietly turning the volume back up on the interview.
On the wall behind her, Shadow Girl's photo stared back at Rin.
Unchanging. Unblinking.
Unforgiven.
---