Morning came.
But Room A-0174 didn't feel like morning anymore.
It felt… delayed.
Like the night hadn't fully left.
The three of them sat in silence.
Not empty.
Not awkward.
Processing.
Saito dragged a hand down his face.
"…So we're just gonna ignore the fact that that dude walked in, knew way too much, dropped a threat, and dipped?"
Yume stood near the wall, arms crossed.
"We're not ignoring it."
A pause.
"We're adjusting."
Saito exhaled.
"…Yeah, that's just a smarter way to say it."
Haruka hadn't moved much.
Sitting at the edge of his bed.
Head slightly lowered.
Eyes unreadable.
"…He's ahead."
That made both of them look at him.
Haruka continued, calm:
"He knew about us… before we fully became anything."
A pause.
"He knew where to hit."
Silence.
Yume's gaze sharpened.
"…Then we stop letting others control the pace."
Saito frowned.
"…You saying we pick a fight with him?"
Haruka slowly stood.
"…No."
A beat.
"…We build something he can't ignore."
That was enough.
No more explanation needed.
Yume smiled faintly.
"…Finally."
Saito cracked his neck.
"…Alright. Now that sounds dangerous."
Training Grounds
The air was cold.
Sharp.
Perfect for thinking.
Students trained across the field.
Magic flaring.
Failing.
Retrying.
Normal.
Haruka stood still.
Watching.
Not their spells.
Not their power.
Their reactions.
Who panicked under pressure.
Who hesitated.
Who looked around before acting.
Weakness wasn't lack of strength.
It was lack of certainty.
Saito stretched.
"So what, we scouting like some underground cult now?"
Yume shook her head slightly.
"We observe patterns first."
Haruka spoke.
"…No."
They both looked at him.
He didn't turn.
"…We choose."
That word landed differently.
Not casual.
Intentional.
Yume noticed.
Saito scratched his head.
"…Man, you're starting to sound like a villain."
Haruka didn't respond.
His eyes had already locked onto someone.
A student.
Alone.
Struggling.
Magic unstable.
Failing repeatedly.
No one helping.
No one watching.
Invisible.
Haruka turned away.
"…Later."
Classroom
Noise filled the room.
Conversations.
Laughter.
Chairs scraping.
Everything felt normal.
Too normal.
Haruka sat by the window.
Looking outside.
But not seeing anything.
Fragments replayed.
"You don't belong…"
"Your grave…"
His fingers tightened slightly.
A single thought surfaced.
Weak.
Not from anyone else.
From himself.
The Mirror
The bathroom was empty.
Silent.
Still.
Haruka stood in front of the mirror.
Looking at his reflection.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same flaw.
"…Pathetic."
No response.
"…You saw it."
A step closer.
"You felt something was wrong."
His hand pressed against the sink.
"…and you still hesitated."
Silence.
Then—
A small laugh.
"…ha."
It grew slightly.
"…haha…"
Not loud.
Not wild.
But wrong.
Like something inside him finally aligned.
"…this is why you fall behind."
His gaze sharpened.
"Not power."
A pause.
"Not intelligence."
Another.
"Hesitation."
His reflection stared back.
Unchanging.
"…Emotion slows you down."
A breath.
"…Attachment blinds you."
His voice dropped.
"…Doubt kills you."
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Then—
"…so remove it."
The words came out naturally.
Like they had always been there.
Waiting.
Haruka straightened.
His expression flattened.
Not calm.
Not angry.
Just… decided.
"…from now on…"
His voice was steady.
"…I don't hesitate."
The mirror didn't break.
But something else did.
Something quieter.
Something human.
Recruitment
Training grounds.
Same student.
Still failing.
Still alone.
Haruka approached.
The student flinched.
"…S-Sorry—"
"Why are you still trying?"
The question cut clean.
The student blinked.
"…What?"
Haruka stepped closer.
"You fail."
A pause.
"Repeatedly."
The student's hands trembled.
"I—I'm improving—"
"No."
Flat.
Immediate.
"You're surviving."
Silence.
That hit harder.
Haruka leaned slightly closer.
"Do they help you?"
The student glanced around.
No one was looking.
"…No."
"Do they care if you improve?"
Another pause.
"…No."
Haruka straightened.
"…Then why stay like this?"
The student didn't answer.
Because there wasn't one.
Good.
Haruka's voice softened slightly.
Not kindness.
Control.
"…Join us."
The student froze.
"…Us?"
"We don't care how weak you are."
That caught them off guard.
Haruka's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…We care if you can change."
Silence.
"…What are you?"
Haruka turned away slightly.
"…People who move forward."
A beat.
"…Alastor."
The name settled in the air.
Heavy.
The student hesitated.
Then—
"…I'll join."
That was enough.
End
Haruka walked away.
No smile.
No pride.
Just progress.
Behind him—
Something started.
Not friendship.
Not teamwork.
Structure.
Control.
Direction.
And far away—
A quiet voice echoed.
"…so it begins."
Watching.
Interested.
"…show me what you become."