The weekend had ended. The “summer” was over and renovations at Hoshikawa High were complete. But as Kaizo stood outside Yumi’s house that morning, watching her open the door with her usual neat ponytail and school bag slung over her shoulder, it didn’t feel like a bad ending. In fact, it felt like something was just starting.

  Kaizo (smirking): “Sup, Grace.”

  Yumi (annoyed): “Can you stop calling me that? When did you even come up with that stupid name?”

  They walked together toward Hoshikawa High’s grand front gates, Kaizo whistling low when the building came into view.

  Kaizo (jokingly): “So how long do you think it'll take before someone says something weird to you now that you look like a Onlyfans model?”

  Yumi (muttering, looking away): “...I don’t know what that is, but I'm gonna assume it’s something sexual.”

  But what they weren’t expecting was what greeted them at the school entrance:

  Sipping her green tea and looking up at the sky, was the principal—Ayame Nekodaira herself.

  Kaizo (to himself): “Fucking hell…”

  Yumi (whispering): “You’re in trouble again?”

  Kaizo (muttering, stretching his neck): “No idea… This year’s gonna be a pain in the ass, isn’t it?”

  Ayame stood beneath the school path when she noticed her nephew, a radiant grin on her face like she just won an international award. Kaizo slowed his walk as he and Yumi approached.

  Kaizo (dryly): "Alright, alright, Auntie, don’t let it go to your head. I only one the first match."

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Infinity poked his head out of Kaizo’s backpack like he was just as unimpressed.

  Ayame (winks): “Oh, hush, that’s not even the real surprise. Head to my office on the second floor—go on.”

  Kaizo (curiously): “...You’re not gonna tell me?”

  Ayame: “Nope.”

  As they walked by her, Ayame finally asked Kaizo what her head was questioning a little.

  Ayame: “Quick question, Kaizo.”

  Kaizo (calmly): “Hit me.”

  Ayame (pointing at Yumi): “Who’s that girl that’s been walking next to you.”

  Kaizo (grinning): “That’s my secretary.”

  Ayame (choking on her tea): “That’s Yumi?!?! It’s only been 3 months since the Apex Circuit and she’s changed that much.”

  Yumi (turning red, embarrassed): “Hey, Principal Ayame. Kaizo and I did a lot of training at the… “summer school”, like you wanted.”

  Ayame (suprised): “Yeah, I can see that… Ok, you guys can go now.”

  As Kaizo and Yumi entered the school building, it was like a scene from a high school drama.

  Every hallway, every classroom they passed… students froze.

  Whispers exploded throughout the halls:

  “Who the hell are they?! What were they doing this summer?”

  “That guy looks like he’s a celebrity…”

  “Wait—isn’t he the guy who beat a Top Ten?”

  “Wow, people like this are also at our school?!”

  “Are they the reason our school looks so much better?”

  Yumi stiffened under the pressure of hundreds of gawking eyes. Her cheeks were pink, but she held her head high. Meanwhile, Kaizo walked with his usual casual swagger, occasionally glancing at students; he knew he was the shit, honestly.

  The stares were especially strong on Yumi. Something about her grace, her posture, her eyes… some areas of her body had definitely changed since last year…

  The presence of the two students felt like they were witnessing two superstars in the making.

  But then, just as the tension reached its peak—

  Something changed.