Stargazer Academy

New faces, new powers.

Akito stood near the edge of the crowded room, arms crossed, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar faces. He'd already met Tama earlier, though the interaction felt as fleeting as the party's atmosphere was overwhelming. Takumi, ever the social butterfly, hovered nearby, grinning as he introduced Akito to yet another student. Akito shifted his weight uncomfortably, wishing he had slipped out with Kanjo when she decided the whole event was too dull to stick around for. But here he was, half-listening to Takumi's energetic chatter, waiting for the moment he could make his escape. 

Akito's attention was pulled away from the growing noise as Takumi, still grinning, gestured toward a girl standing by the edge of the room. She had pastel blue hair that shimmered faintly in the dim light, almost ethereal, and her eyes, soft and pastel yellow, gave her a serene, dream-like appearance. She was standing quietly, her hands clasped in front of her, observing the party with an almost gentle curiosity. "Akito, this is Yume Mizushima," Takumi introduced, his voice a bit quieter this time, perhaps sensing the calm aura around her.

Yume offered a soft smile, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's nice to meet you, Akito." Her gaze was kind, almost soothing, and for a moment, Akito felt as if the noise of the party had dimmed, replaced by a calmness that seemed to radiate from her. He nodded, unsure how to respond, but the feeling of peace was undeniable. She was unlike anyone he had met so far—quiet, yes, but her presence was somehow comforting, like the quiet before a storm.

As Akito was about to drift back into the background, Takumi gave him an eager nudge. "Oh, you've gotta meet her—Juryoku Misao," he said, leading Akito toward a girl who was animatedly talking to a group of students. Juryoku was laughing, her expression bright and carefree, but there was something almost... innocent about the way she carried herself, like she hadn't yet seen the harsher side of the world. Her hair, pretty lavender, cascaded in waves over her shoulders, and far down her back, contrasting against the dark blue of her outfit. When she noticed them approaching, her laughter softened into a welcoming smile. 

"Hey! You must be Akito, right?" she asked, her voice light and bubbly. "I'm Misao! It's really nice to meet you!" She held out her hand with an eager energy, almost too much for the somewhat quiet setting, but somehow it felt warm rather than overwhelming. Akito hesitated for a moment before shaking her hand, his grip awkward but gentle. "Uh... yeah, that's me," Akito muttered, his usual discomfort flaring up. He wasn't great at this—meeting new people—but something about her smile made it easier. 

"Nice to meet you too," he added, trying to sound more confident than he felt. Juryoku's wide, bright eyes sparkled as she continued, "I've heard a lot about you—well, from Takumi! You seem super cool!" She gave a shy giggle, clearly excited to meet a new friend, her naive charm making Akito's discomfort fade, if only for a moment. He shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond to the praise, but the sincerity in her voice made him feel a little less on edge."Uh, cool, huh?" Akito gave a small, awkward smile, feeling a little embarrassed by the attention but also grateful for her kindness.

Just as Akito was beginning to think this party might never end, Takumi gestured toward a student standing a few feet away from the crowd, her presence standing out in its own subtle way. Ijigen Reika was sitting on the edge of a long sofa, her posture perfectly straight, as though the chaos around her didn't touch her at all. Her long, silver hair flowed straight down her back, gleaming under the lights, and her bright, light blue eyes observed the party with a cool, composed intensity. Her uniform was impeccably neat, as if she'd taken extra care to make sure every detail was in place."Reika," Takumi said, waving his hand toward her. "This is Akito. Akito, meet Reika—our class rep. She's got everything under control."

Reika's gaze shifted to Akito, her expression composed but lacking warmth. "It's nice to meet you, Akito," she said, her voice calm but firm, almost as if she were holding back a more personal reaction. The words were polite, but the tone was distant—more like a routine introduction than anything else.Akito blinked, unsure of what to make of her aloof demeanor. "Uh... nice to meet you too," he replied.

But Reika's expression faltered for a moment, the faintest flicker of recognition crossing her features. Her eyes widened slightly, and Akito caught the briefest flash of surprise before she quickly masked it with her usual composure."You..." Reika started, her voice soft, almost hesitant. "I know you... You and Kanjo, right?" Her gaze shifted toward him more intently now, and there was an unmistakable trace of embarrassment that crept across her face.Akito's mind clicked. The ice cream shop. The run-down little shack on the outskirts of town where Haruka used to take them every summer. It was where they'd seen her—Reika—working, wearing a plain apron, seemingly out of place for the daughter of the wealthy Ijigen family. 
Her presence at that small town's ice cream shop had been unexpected, and Akito remembered how shocked they were when they recognized her.Reika shifted slightly, as if feeling the weight of the memory. "I didn't expect to see you here," she added, her voice a little quieter, her expression distant. "I mean... I didn't think you'd be at a party like this. Or that we'd see each other here, of all places."

Akito couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You worked there?"Reika bit her lip, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, clearly embarrassed. "Well, yes. I needed something... different." She glanced down, as though unsure how to explain the contrast between her high-society image and the lowly ice cream shop. "It's not as glamorous as my family's business, but I needed to take a break from all that."The tension seemed to ease between them, but Akito was still struck by the juxtaposition—Reika, with her composed and refined air, working behind a counter in a rundown shop.
After the awkward interaction with Reika, Akito was more than ready to move on. The noise of the party started to feel more overwhelming, and Takumi led him toward a quieter corner of the room where a figure sat alone, almost blending into the plush couch as if trying to escape the attention of the crowd. Yutai Ridatsu was wrapped in a star print scarf that hung loosely around his neck, its black and white patterns a stark contrast to his dark hair. His posture was slouched slightly, hands twisting the edges of his sleeves, while his red eyes darted nervously from the floor to the wall, avoiding eye contact with anyone.Takumi gestured toward him. "This is Yutai. He's the astral projection hero. You'll usually find him hiding from the spotlight. Not really into parties."Yutai's head lifted slightly at the sound of his name, and his gaze quickly met Akito's for just a fleeting moment. His cheeks flushed a light pink, and instinctively, he pulled the starry scarf up to his mouth, almost like he was trying to shield himself behind it. The scarf covered part of his face, leaving only his bright red eyes visible, as if it were a protective barrier from the overwhelming social situation."Uh... h-hey," Yutai mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. He fidgeted with his fingers, unable to hold eye contact for long before glancing away again. "I'm... Yutai.""Hey," Akito said gently, offering a small, understanding smile. "I'm Akito."Yutai gave a hesitant nod, his cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. "N-nice to meet you..." His voice was quiet, and he seemed to pull further into his scarf, using it like a shield as if trying to hide his shyness behind its comforting folds.Akito could sense the discomfort radiating from Yutai. He was clearly more at ease when things were quiet, away from the attention of the crowd. "I'm not... really good with parties," Yutai admitted, his words coming out in a rush. He glanced up briefly, meeting Akito's gaze before quickly looking back down at his lap, where his hands were nervously twisting the fabric of his shirt. "But if you need anything, I... I'm here."Akito gave a reassuring nod, his voice calm. "Thanks, Yutai. I appreciate it."Yutai gave a small, shy smile, though it was quickly concealed by the scarf once more. He sank deeper into the couch, as if trying to make himself smaller, his gaze drifting off into the party's chaos, but his offer of help was sincere.

As Akito moved on from Yutai, he felt a strange sense of quiet calm settle over him. The party, while still buzzing with energy, seemed less intimidating with each new encounter. He glanced around the room, realizing that he had just met a handful of people who, despite their differences, all had their own stories and struggles. With a small sigh, he took a step forward, ready to face whatever came next.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thank you for reading !! Be cool, and stay awesome!! ❤️