The morning sunlight filtered through the blinds of Jigen's room, spilling soft golden light across the polished wooden floor. Outside, the futuristic skyline of Shanghai City sparkled in harmony with nature, spirit beasts flying lazily through cloud corridors, neon symbols floating beside cultivation towers. But inside the Jiang household, it was quiet—too quiet, considering what was brewing beneath the surface of an otherwise normal-looking day.
Jigen sat cross-legged on his bed, scrolling casually through his cultivation-themed social media feed. His expression was bland as ever, almost too bland for a 16-year-old living in a world where spiritual roots and elemental talents determined one's future.
A notification blinked at the top of his screen.
[Akai sent you a message: "Morning! Bring lunch today. The school food tastes like ogre feet."]
He stared at it for a moment before sighing softly and putting the phone aside without replying. Ever since their strange little bathroom encounter and her aggressive best-friend proposal, Akai had practically become a daily fixture in his life. She talked enough for the both of them. Loudly.
"Jigen! Breakfast!" his mother, Xian Ni, called out from the kitchen.
He stood up, stretched, and walked downstairs with the posture of someone who bore no burdens—because, in truth, he didn't. Despite the world whispering of immortals, forbidden realms, and raging gods, Jigen lived in the stillness between those waves. Or so it seemed.
His mother smiled brightly when he entered the kitchen. "Did you sleep well?"
Jigen nodded. "Yeah."
Xian Ni placed a plate of celestial spirit buns and golden fruit slices in front of him. "Your father's already left for the family company. He says there's a sudden flux in spiritual ore pricing."
Jigen took a bite of his bun. "Mm."
"I heard you've been spending time with a girl lately?" she added with a teasing glint in her eyes.
He blinked. "Who told you that?"
"You left your school bracelet on. I get notifications when someone spends over ten minutes standing within your personal formation field."
"I forgot that was active," he muttered.
Xian Ni chuckled. "Well, I like her. She's brave. She beat up two cultivator bullies for you. That's friendship forged in battle."
He didn't respond, instead finishing his breakfast in silence, while mentally preparing for another school day.
---
Jigen arrived at the gates of Qinglong Academy just as the morning bell rang. The gates were carved with dragon symbols that pulsed lightly with qi, signaling they were actively scanning every student for weapons, curse marks, or forbidden techniques.
Not that it mattered to Jigen. The gate didn't even recognize his presence unless he willed it. He walked through without a single pulse of resistance.
"Jigen!"
He froze.
A blur of white descended from above, landing gracefully beside him. Akai. Long white hair tied loosely, fluttering behind her like a divine banner. Her uniform was wrinkled from rushing, but her eyes were sharp—she'd likely jumped from the wall again.
"You didn't reply to my message," she said, pouting dramatically.
"I forgot," he replied.
"Liar. I know you saw it. But it's fine. You brought lunch, right?" she asked while leaning closer to sniff his bag like a spirit hound.
"Yes."
"Good! You're officially my lunch supplier now."
They walked into the school together, a few students glancing in their direction. Some whispered. Others raised eyebrows. Akai ignored them all. Jigen was used to the attention, though not fond of it.
"Did you finish today's alchemy assignment?" she asked, walking backward to face him.
"I'm not taking alchemy," Jigen reminded her.
"Oh right. You're in non-cultivator studies." She air-quoted the term with exaggerated fingers. "Still weird you don't cultivate, though. I mean, you're cute, rich, and calm. If you had a cultivation aura, you'd have a fan club by now."
"Good thing I don't, then," Jigen said dryly.
They passed through the main corridor into Class 3-B, where students were already seated. Professor Lan, an older cultivator with flame tattoos crawling down his neck, raised his hand to silence the class.
"Take your seats. Today's lecture will cover the fundamentals of elemental harmonics and how mismatched qi can cause internal backlash. Jigen, pay attention even if you think you'll never use it."
Jigen nodded, sliding into his seat beside the window.
---
The morning passed in a blur of theories, spell diagrams, and students accidentally igniting parts of their desks. Akai, sitting just behind Jigen, kept poking his back with a spiritual pencil every few minutes until he finally turned around during the break.
"What?" he asked.
"You're bored."
"Yes."
"You're hiding something."
"No."
She narrowed her eyes. "You always answer like that."
"Because those are the right answers."
She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "You know, I used to think you were some kind of cultivation dropout. But now I think you're just… strange."
Jigen tilted his head. "Strange how?"
"Like… you never get surprised. You never react. You're like a lake that doesn't ripple, even when someone drops a stone in it."
"I'm just a calm person."
"Sure. Calm. Or secretly a grandmaster hiding in plain sight," she teased.
Jigen turned away again, face impassive, though a glint of amusement touched his eyes. If only she knew how close her joke was to the truth.
---
Lunch arrived quickly. Akai dragged Jigen up to the rooftop again, their unofficial eating spot.
"Alright, hand it over," she said, sitting cross-legged.
He passed her the neatly wrapped box his mother had packed. It smelled of grilled phoenix meat and steamed cloud rice.
As they ate, Akai stared at him for a long time.
"You know," she began softly, "I used to be alone. Always. Until I met you."
Jigen paused mid-bite.
"I had power. I still do. White hair, punch-first personality, sharp tongue. Most people stayed away. But you didn't. Not that you came close either. You just… existed beside me. It felt different."
Jigen looked at her.
"I guess what I'm saying is… thank you. For letting me sit next to you. For not pushing me away."
He remained silent for a few seconds, then finally said, "You're welcome."
She grinned. "Don't get used to my soft side. I'm still going to annoy you every day."
"I already figured that out."
They sat in companionable silence, the cityscape stretching endlessly before them. Cultivator ships floated in the distance, elders walking on air, battles echoing from training fields.
But on this rooftop, a boy who was already stronger than all of them… simply shared lunch with a girl who refused to leave his side.
And that was more than enough for now.
The bell signaling the end of lunch break echoed through the campus, but Jigen and Akai lingered a moment longer on the rooftop, watching as the afternoon sun began to tilt towards the west. The city's hum softened here, away from the crowded classrooms and bustling hallways. It was their small haven.
Akai brushed a strand of her long white hair behind her ear, her usual boldness softened in this quiet moment. "You know," she started, "it's weird. People expect cultivators to be loud and flashy. But you—you're quiet, calm. Like you're watching a storm but never caught in it."
Jigen glanced at her, expression unreadable. "Maybe storms aren't always loud. Sometimes they're just... inevitable."
She looked at him curiously but didn't press further.
---
Back in class, Professor Lan launched into a practical exercise on elemental resonance. The students were paired off, expected to channel their qi into simple elemental constructs. Akai tugged at Jigen's sleeve as they waited for their turn.
"You'll be fine. Just act like you're focusing," she said with a wink.
Jigen gave a half-smile and nodded. When it was their turn, Akai conjured a small gust of wind that swirled around her fingers effortlessly. Jigen closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to reveal a faint glow in their irises.
The instructor's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. Jigen, you have potential. But since you're in the non-cultivator track, you won't be tested on this."
Jigen shrugged, letting the glow fade. Akai grinned beside him, eyes shining with admiration.
"See? Told you you'd surprise them."
---
After class, Akai insisted on walking Jigen home, despite his usual preference for solitude. As they passed through the crowded streets of Shanghai, the city's eclectic blend of ancient cultivation temples and futuristic skyscrapers seemed to fade into the background.
"Do you ever get tired of pretending?" Akai asked suddenly.
Jigen looked at her, surprised by the directness. "Pretending?"
"Yeah. Acting like you're just a regular guy when you're obviously not."
He considered her words, then shook his head. "It's easier this way."
Akai's expression softened. "Maybe one day you'll let me see the real you."
Jigen smiled faintly. "Maybe."
---
That night, as Jigen lay in bed, his mind replayed the day's moments—the small gestures, the unspoken words. Akai's presence was like a spark in the stillness, a storm quietly gathering strength.
Outside his window, the city lights twinkled, mirroring the stars hidden by the neon haze. Somewhere beyond the mundane world he inhabited, powers stirred, destinies awaited. But for now, Jigen chose to live quietly, cherishing the fragile threads of friendship that bound him to the girl with white hair and fierce eyes.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new stories. But tonight was theirs alone.