The next morning, after Haruka and Yume both shared each other's thoughts felt weird.
Not in the air, not in the sky—But in the way people spoke less and looked more.
Whispers moved faster than the wind.
"Did you hear? They're coming today…" "The Watchers…"
Haruka sat in his seat, eyes half-lidded, but his mind wasn't resting. Ever since yesterday, something inside him refused to settle. The memory, the conversation with Yume, the fact that "Yume's soul transmigrated too and her growing consciousness of it" —it all lingered like an ink that wouldn't fade.
Saito leaned back in his chair.
Saito: "Looks like we're getting special guests today."
Yume, unusually energetic, turned toward them.
Yume: "Guests? No way… You think it's them?"
Before Saito could respond—
The classroom door slid open.
Silence.
Three figures stepped in, dressed in clean, dark uniforms. No flashy entrance. No arrogance. Just… presence.
The teacher immediately stood up straighter.
Teacher: "Welcome."
One of them nodded.
Watcher: "We'll begin shortly."
No explanation. No introduction.
Just control.
The entire school was gathered.
One by one, students were called forward. A device—something between magic and technology—was placed near them. It pulsed faintly, reacting to something unseen.
Some students passed through with nothing.
Some received small nods.
And then—
Haruka.
The device flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then glowed. Because he has 3 elements.
Not bright "glow"… but unstable.
The Watcher holding it paused.
For just a second.
Haruka noticed.
But nothing was said.
"Next."
Marcus and others were NOT mages, so they weren't called in the test either, but Saito and Yume were called.
Yume stepped forward.
The reaction was immediate.
A soft, steady glow.
Controlled.
Balanced.
The Watchers exchanged a glance.
Saito.
A sharper reaction.
Like a spark trying to break out, or perhaps it was trying to adapt.
The three of them were told to stand aside.
Along with a few others.
The lead Watcher stepped forward.
The leader watcher:
"For those who don't know about us... We are The Watcher... T.W for short... working under T.H.S Aka The Heroes Society. We recruit for the next generation of heroes!
The leader Watcher:"Those selected today have shown potential beyond standard limits."
A pause.
"You are now candidates for the J-Class Mage Division under government authority."
Murmurs spread instantly.
Yume's eyes lit up.
Saito smirked slightly.
Haruka… said nothing.
The leader Watcher (continued):"You will continue your education. You will maintain contact with your families. Your lives will not be taken from you."
Another pause.
"But they will change."
The teachers were feeling proud that their students, especially Haruka, Yume, and Saito, passed the selection, while Aurel, Marcus, and others kept cheering Yume, Haruka, and Saito on.
J-Class Facility
The place was clean.
Too clean.
White walls. Structured halls. Cameras—but not hidden. Open. Normalized.
Rooms assigned.
Schedules given.
Phones allowed.
Contact allowed.
Freedom… within boundaries.
Yume: "This is actually kinda exciting…"
Saito: "Government-backed power training? Yeah, I'm not complaining."
Haruka forced a small nod.
But that same strange feeling…
It didn't leave.
The leader Watcher came and began talking.
"We have contacted your guardians, and most of them are happy for you all... feel free to call them whenever you want. We gathered their contact numbers from your school, so if you need something, we can contact your guardians for you. If you don't want us to interfere, you can do it yourself."
It got dark, and Haruka, Yume, and Saito were chosen for one room. Room-A0174.
They settled in. Though Yume and Haruka were a bit uncomfortable by the fact that they are in a new universe and already are living as J-ranked Mages/heroes under the government's faculty.
Haruka could have told that today too, it was his Yume who was controlling her body.
Silence filled the dorm.
Haruka's eyes opened.
No dream.
No sound.
Just… awake.
He sat up slowly.
Something felt wrong.
Again.
The hallway was dimly lit.
Quiet.
Each step echoed just a little too much.
On his way to the washroom—
voices.
Low.
Careful.
Guard 1: "Did you hear? The President arrived tonight."
Guard 2: "Yeah. VIP room on this floor."
Haruka stopped.
President?
Here?
Curiosity pulled him.
Just a glance.
That's all.
But "Curiosity killed the cat," They say.
A door, slightly open.
Light spilling through the gap.
Voices inside.
Haruka stepped closer.
Careful.
Silent.
He didn't even mean to listen.
But then—
President (calm, steady):"The system remains stable?"
Voice: "Yes, sir. Public trust in heroes continues to rise."
President:"And the villains?"
A pause.
Then—
"Under control. Manufactured incidents are proceeding as scheduled."
Haruka froze.
President:"Good."
Another voice:
"Fear levels remain within an acceptable range."
"And hope?"
A faint chuckle.
"Maintained through hero success rates."
President (quietly):
"Then the balance holds."
Haruka's chest tightened.
President:"As long as they believe in heroes… they will never look at us. We are happy as long as we can fill our pockets. And the public is happy as long as they are safe. Hm, I can't lie, a few of the murders were planned, such as killing children in the Dyren district. But it was worth it, haha! And also, the villains were made by us, not even the villains are aware of that fact."
Silence.
Heavy.
Cold.
Haruka shifted slightly—
A faint sound.
Inside—
"…Did you hear that?"
Footsteps.
Closer.
Haruka stepped back instantly, heart pounding, breath locked in his throat.
One second slower—
And he would've been seen.
He turned.
Walked.
Then faster.
Then back to his room.
He closed the door quietly.
Stood there.
Not moving.
Heroes.
Villains.
All of it…
His hand trembled slightly.
Haruka (whisper):
"So… even this world…"
A pause.
"…is controlled."
His eyes lowered.
Dark.
Thinking.
And for the first time—
This wasn't about survival.
It was about truth.