One thing that started everything

Chapter 10: Echoes of Imminence

Griffin's composure returned swiftly, his momentary shakiness vanished like a ghost. The familiar, cold stoicism took over his face once more—a mask of unfeeling calm that rarely faltered. His face, devoid of emotion, looked as if it had never been touched by fear or stress in the first place. His monotone voice sliced through the tension in the air.

"I expected more."

That was it. No praise, no congratulations—just the flat, dismissive comment before he walked away without so much as a second glance.

Kyosuke stared after him, incredulous, his voice rising in frustration. "What in the... weren't we the ones who just saved his ass?"

Mizuki, folded her arms, shaking her head as if she had expected nothing less. "More so Aneko, really." Her voice was steady,

Kaelan, standing to the side, rubbed his forehead, clearly used to Griffin's attitude but still bothered by it. With a heavy sigh, he glanced at the group. His tone softened, apologetic. "I'm sorry. Griffin's always been like that. Compliments or praise? Don't count on it."

He glanced at Mizuki, Kyosuke, Katsuaki, and Aneko, pausing as if considering his words carefully before continuing. "But you four... were impressive. You did well." His gaze lingered on Aneko, "Especially you," he added, offering a rare, earnest look of approval. It wasn't much, but coming from Kaelan, it meant something.

As the day came to a close, the facility emptied, but the events lingered like a shadow over the students. The fact they had seen Nocturnalis Imps in action, fought through nightmarish realms, and witnessed the intensity of their instructors in the field weighed heavily on their minds. There were still questions that lingered, unspoken yet present in the way their gazes occasionally flickered to one another.

Outside, among the millions of students leaving campus, Aneko, Mizuki, Kyosuke and Katsuaki walked together. Katsuaki, as usual, had his nose buried in a book. Kyosuke gave his signature charming waves to a few passing female students, but his playful demeanor didn't mask the intensity of his thoughts.

Aneko, however, couldn't shake a gnawing feeling, her thoughts churning like the storm clouds before a downpour. Her expression was firm, her hazel eyes sharp with curiosity and confusion. She finally broke the silence, her lemonade-pink hair shifting in the breeze as she spoke, her voice low but filled with weight. "I'm a little confused about something." Her tone cut through the casual atmosphere, immediately drawing the attention of the others.

Kyosuke raised a brow, his curiosity piqued. "About what?" he asked, his usual playful tone muted by genuine interest.

The air seemed to thicken around them as a breeze swept through, tousling their hair. Aneko's hazel eyes glinted with determination as she looked at them, her mind clearly racing. "What drove them to suddenly wake up after years of slumber? And... What made them fall asleep in the first place? It doesn't add up?"

Her question settled over them like a heavy shroud, causing even Katsuaki to briefly pause, lowering his book slightly as he considered her words. Mizuki, who rarely offered reassurance, was the first to speak. She gazed at the horizon, where the orange-pink sunset bled across the sky like spilled ink. "I wouldn't worry," she said, her voice devoid of emotion yet somehow steadying.

Kyosuke grinned at the irony of Mizuki, of all people offering a form of reassurance. He chuckled softly, smirking "Exactly. You saw how we managed to break free from their nightmares, right?" His confidence was infectious, his charismatic smile growing as he tried to lighten the mood.

Katsuaki nodded slightly, pulling his attention from the pages of his book. His voice, calm and measured, added the conversation with an unusual hint of encouragement. "You always find a solution. You're methodical, Aneko. If I were you, I wouldn't worry either."