Next Morning — Midnight Sun Guild Hall
The golden rays of dawn filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting fragmented colors across the grand hall of the Midnight Sun Guild.
Shidou Shiranui stood at the front, arms crossed, his voice firm and commanding.
"We're assigning official teams starting today."
Cheers echoed through the hall.
"Yay! We get teams!" Sol Yoshida shouted, throwing his hand in the air.
Ryker smirked faintly. "Why are you always so damn energetic?"
"Because life's better that way!" Sol grinned.
Shidou cleared his throat.
"Each team will have four students and one assigned guild hero as their mentor."
"No problem!" Sol said with a thumbs-up.
Team One
Sol Yoshida
Haruto Kenzaki
Celica Sora
Shin
Hero: Tanaka Kai
"I want Yumi on my team too," Sol muttered.
Yumi, standing behind him, gently placed her hand on his head. "Next time."
Team Two
Arata Kenzaki
Izumi Nakamura
Arisu Nakamura
Mio Amagiri
Hero: Mori Ito
Team Three
Rin Shirasawa
Saki Nakamura
Hiroshi
Haruto Minami
Hero: Shidou Shiranui
Team Four
Reiji Tachibana
Aisa Nakamura
Ryker Tensai
Tasuya Jin
Hero: Jasmine Katsuragi
Ryker glanced at Aisa briefly. Neither said a word.
Team Five
Kenta
Amelia
Tojijo
Yumi Ayanami
Hero: Matsumoto
Shidou looked over the assembled students one last time.
"Train hard. Missions start in two days."
Midnight Sun Guild Garden – Late Morning
The sun filtered through the leaves above, casting dappled shadows across the quiet garden. Aisa Nakamura leaned against the wooden railing, her arms folded, gaze fixed on the koi pond ahead. Her leg was still healing, but she stood firm.
Footsteps approached from behind. She didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"I didn't expect to end up on your team," she said, voice calm but edged.
Ryker came to a stop beside her, hands in his pockets, his gaze on the water.
"Neither did I," he replied. "Guess fate's still messing with us."
Aisa let out a soft, almost bitter chuckle. "Or maybe someone's idea of a cruel joke."
He said nothing for a moment, letting the silence stretch between them.
"You think it's going to be a problem?" he asked finally.
She turned to look at him, eyes sharp but tired. "Not if you don't make it one."
Ryker met her gaze. "I'm not the one still holding onto the past."
The words lingered in the air. Aisa's eyes narrowed.
"You think that little stunt is in the past?" she said quietly. "You sabotaged my gear, Ryker. I almost died."
His jaw tightened, but his voice remained level. "And you awakened."
"That's not your decision to make."
"I know."
Silence again. The wind shifted, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and old stone.
"I'm not here to fight with you," Ryker said. "We're on the same team now. I need you focused."
Aisa looked away, staring at the rippling pond surface.
"I am focused," she murmured. "I just don't know if I can trust you."
Ryker stepped forward, closer to the railing, his voice dropping to something softer.
"You don't have to trust me," he said. "Just believe this—if anything happens out there… I'll protect you. No matter what."
She looked up at him, her expression unreadable.
After a moment, she nodded—slowly, carefully.
"Then don't give me a reason to doubt you again."
Ryker's eyes flicked toward her, faintly glowing beneath the midday sun.
"I won't."
They stood there in silence once more—not as enemies, not yet as allies. Just two broken souls caught in a world that demanded more than either of them was ready to give.
But they would give it anyway.
Together.
A soft breeze stirred the garden, ruffling Aisa's hair as she stood beside Ryker. Their conversation had settled into silence when a new voice cut through the air.
"You two are on my team," Jasmine Katsuragi announced, walking toward them with a confident stride.
Ryker turned slightly, his posture still relaxed. Aisa glanced over her shoulder but remained mostly still.
Jasmine stopped a few steps away, her gaze focused on Aisa.
"First…" she began, her tone more sincere than usual, "I want to say sorry. For that battle. I… should've handled it better."
Aisa looked at her for a moment, expression unreadable.
"I don't have any questions," she said, voice calm but firm.
Jasmine blinked. "You sure?"
Aisa nodded. "We're in the same team now. I don't care about the past—only the mission ahead."
A flicker of surprise passed through Jasmine's eyes, followed by a quiet smile. "Good. Then let's win this together."
Ryker leaned slightly forward, eyes flicking between the two girls.
"Just don't slow me down," he said flatly.
Jasmine smirked. "Please. Try to keep up, Ryker Tensai."
He gave a soft exhale—half amused, half irritated.
Aisa glanced between them both and sighed. "This team's going to be chaos."
The three stood there for a moment, the koi pond behind them reflecting the bright midday sun, unaware that this was just the beginning of a journey that would test every bond, every scar—and every secret.
The garden quieted as the teams began to disperse, each member heading toward their assigned squads. Sol Yoshida, however, lingered behind, his eyes scanning until they landed on a familiar figure.
Yumi Ayanami stood beneath the shade of a sakura tree, adjusting her gloves with calm precision. Sol walked toward her with his usual confident stride—but his expression was softer than usual.
"Yumi," he called gently.
She looked up, smiling as he approached.
"I really wanted us to be in the same team," Sol said, stopping just in front of her. "But… it doesn't matter now. Just promise me you'll give it your best."
Yumi grinned, eyes shining. "Yay! You too, Sol."
For a moment, the wind blew between them, scattering a few pink petals in the air.
Then, without warning, Sol stepped forward and hugged her.
Yumi's eyes widened, heart skipping a beat as she froze in his arms.
"I want this too," Sol whispered, voice low and sincere.
Before she could say a word, he stepped back and turned around, walking away without another glance.
Yumi stood there stunned, a flush rising on her cheeks. Her hand subconsciously touched her chest.
"W-What just happened…?" she muttered, her voice barely audible as the sakura petals danced around her, carrying the moment away like a fleeting dream.
She stood silently, bow slung across her back, the tension in her chest heavier than any drawstring she had ever pulled.
Sol's hug replayed in her mind again—and again.
"I want this too."
She had trained to steady her breath under pressure, to aim true through wind and chaos. But now, her pulse was anything but calm. Yumi reached up and gently touched her shoulder where Sol had held her.
"Stupid idiot…" she whispered, biting her lip.
And yet, even as she tried to brush it off, the heat in her cheeks betrayed her. She turned away, pretending to check her quiver. The arrows were in perfect alignment, unlike her thoughts.
A deep breath. She looked up at the sky.
Focus, Yumi. You're an archer. You don't miss... except when it comes to feelings, huh?
Still, a soft smile tugged at her lips.
She smells like wildflowers.
Sol shook his head. No. Focus. Training. Guild exam. Not Yumi.
But it was no use. He could still feel the way she blinked up at him, shocked, her hand frozen mid-air. He had hugged her without thinking—like an impulse after holding back for too long.
She's not just some teammate to me. I've known that for years.
Still, seeing her on another team... it stung.
He looked back once, just briefly. She was adjusting her bowstring, pretending nothing had happened.
But Sol saw it—the slight tremble in her fingers.
And he smiled.
Maybe I finally landed a hit… just like her arrows always do.