Saint Freya Academy. Even with his limited knowledge, Izanagi had heard of the school. And now, he found himself standing beside an S-Rank Valkyrie in front of the gates of the prestigious academy. It felt… surreal.

"Nervous, Itsuki-sama?" Nagi turned to Rita. The maid's look was a mix of curiosity and concern for the young man, to which he responded with an uneasy smile.

"Nervous. Anxious. Excited, terrified." He replied. "I've heard about this place a fair bit, so… I kinda feel… unprepared, you know?"

"I see. I suppose I cannot blame you. It is quite the big transition… But I assure you, Itsuki-sama, you will adjust. In the end, it is simply school, with just a bit more added onto your daily schedule."

"Haha, school, yeah… Definitely… know what that's like…"

"...Right. My apologies. …Nonetheless, I have faith in you. Do not forget that, Izanagi."

"..." Nagi gulped, and took a deep breath. He had come this far. Why should school be the thing to knock him down, right? "...Mm. Sorry. I'll get over myself. Promise." She nodded, before starting forward, the young man following dutifully behind as always.

As they made their way onto the campus, he had to admit… the school was pretty. Every aspect of it was built with purpose; the stone pathways all forming a grand pattern, beautiful gardens tended and managed along the way. The buildings as well were clearly aged, but aged in the same sense a fine wine was aged. The craft was incredible that even an inexperienced eye like Nagi's could tell, various school halls, libraries, gymnasiums, and more, all built not just to last, but to impress. And, from where he and Rita stood, he could see down an incredibly long bridge across the campus, where a great church was built surrounded by a massive waterfall. It was beautiful.

Yet, strangely, Nagi did not feel a sense of wonder. That was not to say he wasn't impressed. But compared to the vast scientific wonder that was Schicksal HQ, the campus was tame by comparison. If anything… I'm kinda relieved… It looks like a normal school. I mean… a fancy school, but… you know what I mean!

However… despite the comfort that came with Saint Freya and its comparatively normal appearance, he wasn't able to just pretend he was perfectly content. The further into the school they walked, the more eyes he could feel upon his back from the various passing students. Of course, it was not him they were interested in. He glanced up at his companion; he doubted she didn't notice the intrigued and curious eyes following her every step. The eyes on him were simply a byproduct of his company, he supposed. But, as he listened close, he managed to catch a few faint whispers.

"Is that… Rita Rossweisse!?"

"Durandal's Adjutant!?"

"Who's that shorty with her…? He kinda looks like the principal!"

Principal? That comment gave Nagi an amusing mental picture. He imagined himself sitting at a nice wooden desk, a stack of papers set to the side, and wearing a nice suit. For a moment, the idea didn't actually seem too bad… until he realized that, at his height, he'd need a custom desk for his height. Not to mention, the students would all be taller than him and his desk. And that he'd be mistaken for a kid. ANd that he'd have a huge amount of paperwork. And… His frown grew deeper and deeper with each progressive thought, as he carefully dissected all the reasons that would simply not work out. He cleared his mind of such thoughts. Still, though… principal, huh? Wonder if she's a Kaslana. I never did ask Rita about that other girl.

"That lucky bastard gets to be with Rita-sama!?"

Aaand that's where I stop listening for my own self-esteem. He thought with a relaxed smile, turning to Rita to distract himself. "Um. Rita?'

"Yes, Itsuki-sama?" She replied, giving him a momentary glance.

"Would it be alright if I get a tour of the place? This campus seems… not HQ big, but still, well. Big."

"I had assumed that was a given, Itsuki-sama." She replied with a raised eyebrow. Her lips suddenly curved into a devious smile. "Though, perhaps it would be rather cute watching you stumble around on your own, too embarrassed to even ask a single student for help…"

"Eh!? B-But—"

"Fufu~ Do not worry, Itsuki-sama. I am not that cruel. …Without good reason. Though that is not a bad reason if I do say so myself."

"...You bring so much comfort with your words, you know that?" Her only reply was another giggle. The two continued their cross campus journey, Nagi asking various idle questions and Rita providing an answer without fail each time. He even spotted a few more locations of interest along the way, amongst which seemed to be some kind of arena.

Guess it'd make sense. Wonder what a proper fight between Valkyries would look like… He decided he would have to sneak by later. "So, Rita… we're going to meet the principal, right? If I remember right?"

"Correct."

"What are they like?" She gave him a curious look, to which he responded with a confused one of his own.

"Do you not know?"

"Uhh… N-No?"

"I see. The Principal is Theresa Apocalypse, my fellow S-Rank Valkyrie, and the Overseer's granddaughter."

"Eh? Granddaughter?" Nepotism much? Then again, S-Rank is a pretty big title for a family thing… Nagi thought before shaking his head. "I didn't realize he was that old… He didn't look any older than thirty."

"A word of advice then, Itsuki-sama. Do not judge age by appearance, in our world. Looks can be deceiving."

"Huh… Alright then." He shrugged, unsure of what to think of her advice. "So is the Overseer married, then?"

"It… is complicated. It is also not my place to explain."

…Complicated family. So Otto's a playboy, huh? He considered the man's pretty face for a moment, and found himself unsurprised. "So what's Theresa like?"

"Patience, Itsuki-sama."

"Er… S-Sorry…" He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. But, a moment later, Rita's devious smile returned.

"Fufu. I will say one thing. She is rather adorable to tease~" At that moment, Nagi felt a sudden sympathy for this Theresa. Perhaps he'd get along with her… he shook his head once more.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Nagi. The two continued until they arrived at the Administration Building, making their way inside until they arrived at the Principal's Office, where a grand set of double doors greeted them. The maid took the lead as usual, and knocked on the door.

"Come in." A surprisingly high-pitched voice called from inside. Nagi furrowed his brow as Rita gently pushed open the door, and the two made their way inside. At first, he only thought there was one person inside the room, an older looking red head who turned to the door with a slight fluster to her face. The second, he only noticed after a few moments… and, admittedly, had to resist the urge to do a double take. He suddenly understood the comments from earlier… for all he saw of the girl, behind multiple stacks of paper, was her head, sticking up from behind the comparatively huge desk like a whack-a-mole. Her hair was white as snow, her eyes a beautiful blue… indeed, he could suddenly understand the comments very well.

Ignoring the two for a moment, the office inside was surprisingly pleasant; whereas the Overseer's exuded an aura of extravagance, power, and mystery, the office here was far… simpler. Not to say it was simple, necessarily; it still had a higher budget than he had seen in his entire life. A golden logo of Schicksal's emblem hung over the office desk, while the room itself was bigger than Nagi's own room at home. The desk was masterfully crafted, the material itself as clean and polished as if it were freshly made; not a speck of dirt or dust could be seen on the wood. Two windows were behind the desk, granting a lovely view of the campus outside, specifically over a courtyard connected to the front of the Admin building. Yet, despite these things, the office still had a practical simplicity to it; not a show of status by any means.

Of course… it wasn't perfectly presentable by any means, either. The previously mentioned stacks of paper littered the desk, only able to be called loosely organized if even that. Two bottles of wine were set on the desk beside the red haired woman, alongside a half-filled glass cup beside those. It wasn't hard to tell why her face was somewhat flustered, with that in mind. But what Nagi took most note of… were the surprised expressions upon the two's faces as he and Rita stepped into the room.

"Good afternoon, Theresa-sama, Murata-sama." She spoke, giving a polite bow as he let the door close behind him. Silence fell upon the room as the two on the other side simply just… stared, whatever they were doing stopped as if they were frozen in time. Rita said nothing, a polite smile on her face as she awaited their response.

D-Did I miss something…? Nagi thought, his eyes rapidly darting in between the two parties. W-What is happening…? W-Why aren't they talking, am I not supposed to be here!? He could already feel his anxiety skyrocketing, sweating more and more with every second that passed. He didn't know whether someone had just planted a bomb, insulted someones mother, or what.

"...O-Oh. R-Rita. You're… here." The one he presumed to be Theresa muttered, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Indeed, as we arranged, Theresa-sama." Rita replied without missing a beat. Theresa and 'Murata' shared a look. Another moment of silence passed. And then…

All hell broke loose.

"W-W-Wait outside for a moment!" Theresa all but leaped over the desk, nearly knocking over multiple stacks of paper and landing perfectly in front of Rita, before promptly shoving the two of them out the door. The red headed woman moved just as quickly, snatching the wine bottles off the desk and rushing to stuff them away in a nearby closet. "W-We're finishing a meeting we lost track of time Theresa cannot answer the phone please call again later!"

The door slammed shut behind them with a bang, as Rita and Nagi found themselves in the hall once more. A few students were walking by, giving them confused looks as they went. Inside the room, they could hear the two scrambling around in a mad panic.

"...W-What… happened…?" He asked, bewildered. He flinched at the sound of a loud crash, followed by a quick shouting match between the two inside. He stared at the shut door blankly, unsure of what to even think.

"It seems Theresa-sama lost track of time." Rita replied, an amused smile on her face. "It is rather adorable, is it not?" He felt a drop of sweat on the back of his head as he gave her a skeptical look.

"...You said she's S-Rank…?"

"I did. Why do you ask?" He glanced at the door, then back to Rita. At that moment, another crash could be heard inside, followed by a scream of panic, inciting a polite giggle from Rita.

"...She doesn't seem the type. The difference between you two is night and day…"

"Hmm? And why do you say that?" There was something in Rita's tone that gave him pause. However, the look in her eye told him he wouldn't be able to back out now. He gulped nervously, and continued.

"Uh… W-Well… You're proper, pristine. The picture of elegance, super capable. Uh…"

"...Itsuki-sama, are you flirting?"

"Hah!?" Nagi's face turned bright red. "W-W-Wha—"

"I'm teasing~" Nagi felt an instant desire to die. It was becoming more common than he'd like… "Continue."

"You get my point, though!"

"I do. I knew from the start what you meant. However, Itsuki-sama… how one carries themselves is not indicative of their skill. Though Theresa-sama at times fails to present herself professionally… I assure you, she is undoubtedly my equal, if not my superior, in our rank. Do well to remember there are only four S-Rank Valkyries."

"...R-Right." Nagi nodded his head slowly. "Alright. Um. S-Sorry…"

"For what? You did not insult myself nor Theresa-sama. You were merely educating yourself; there is nothing to be ashamed of, Itsuki-sama." Rita gently patted his head, stroking her fingers through his soft hair. With that simple action, his face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"R-Rita…?" She simply smiled, giving the young man no response, much to his chagrin. Before he could comment, however, the office doors opened up, revealing a panting, flustered Theresa. Rita pulled her hand away faster than the eye could see, certainly at a speed the principal failed to notice.

"O-Oh, Rita! W-What good timing, we were waiting for you…" The white-haired girl said between labored breaths. "C-Come on in!" The two shared a glance.

"Our apologies, Theresa-sama. We did not mean to keep you waiting." Rita then replied, going along with it.

…Is… Is that what we're doing…? He wondered with an apprehensive look. The two did not seem to notice as they stepped inside. With a sigh, he entered the principal's office for the second time that day. The red head was standing much straighter compared to before beside the desk, and two seats were set out now. He couldn't help but notice 'Murata' trying to hide the fluster on her face… trying and failing, that is. Well… she's trying. Can't fault her for that, I guess… He watched Theresa circle around the desk and retake her seat, still barely visible from behind it. The mental image he had earlier wasn't far off from what he was seeing now, in fact. It was… oddly amusing. The desk was also cleaner than before, though Nagi couldn't help but wonder what Theresa did with all the paper.

"Ahem! So. Rita. What were we discussing again?" Theresa asked, starting the conversation off strong.

"The enrollment of Izanagi Itsuki at Saint Freya Academy. My companion, here." Rita gestured to Nagi. "Izanagi, introduce yourself."

"Oh, uh. Yeah. Me. Um. I'm… Nagi. N-Nice to meet you."

"...You alright, hun?" The red head spoke, tilting her head curiously. "Nervous? I can fetch ya some tea, if you'd like."

"Eh? Uh… t-thank you, but I couldn't. Haha. Ha." Killmenow. 'Murata' raised an eyebrow, but before she could say anymore, Rita cleared her throat.

"As per the Overseer's—and my own, might I add—request, he will be enrolling here as a student, up until his training is complete and he may join the Immortal Blades as a Chevalier."

"Immortal Blades?" Theresa questioned, eyes wide. "I know the rumors about Durandal, but isn't he kind of young for that?"

Like you're one to talk! Nagi wanted to shout. "Um… I'm… 15…"

"Eh? You look like you're ten!" Theresa replied in shock. His brow twitched.

"Teri, I'm not sure you should be the one callin' the kettle black…" Himeko countered in his place, earning a harumph from Theresa. "Nagi, huh? I'm Himeko Murata; you can consider me this shorty's friend, if you'd like."

"Himeko!" The now named Himeko smirked at Theresa's indignant cry, but paid it no mind.

"I'm also a teacher here. Not often we get boys here… 'specially not your age."

"Again, 15." This time some of Nagi's annoyance shined through. Shit. He cursed mentally, as Himeko raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry. Sensitive topic?"

…Well, at least she's aware. "Um… I was… mistaken as a kid on the way in, so… a bit…"

"Sorry, sorry." Himeko chuckled. "I think you and Teri here will get along fine, in that case."

"Excuse me! I take pride in the fact I'm the world's number one cutest idol!" Teri harrumphed yet again, before shaking her head. Nagi stared at the white-haired Valkyrie blankly, caught off guard by the sheer ridiculousness of that statement. Meanwhile, Rita simply sat and listened with an amused smile. "Anyways! We're getting off topic! You were saying, Rita?"

"Indeed. Itsuki-sama shall enroll and attend here at Saint Freya during his training, attending classes on the side. However, as necessity sees fit, either Durandal-sama or I shall, on occasion, retrieve him and the two A-Rank Valkyries, Ana Schariac and Wendy."

"Ah, I forgot you have Wendy in that program…" Theresa muttered. "Well… I guess it's fine. She has potential, we may as well use it. Ana Schariac, huh?" She looked up at Himeko inquisitively.

"Newly arrived, Teri." Himeko explained.

"Understood. I wonder if she knew Cecilia…" Nagi noticed an odd melancholy in her voice at the mention of that name. He glanced at Rita to see if she had a reaction, but found nothing behind her poker face. "I'm surprised the Schariacs are letting one of their 'precious bloods' out into the world."

"They had not originally intended to." Rita replied. "However, Durandal-sama and I have history with the young Schariac. Using Cecilia-sama as our primary argument, we managed to convince the Schariac heads to allow her the chance to expand her horizons."

"Eh, really? I'm surprised they listened… normally they're content to slam their heads in the ground like Ostriches all day."

I sense she doesn't care for these Schariacs… Nagi thought with a bemused smile. Theresa then turned her head to Nagi, a look which made the young man gulp nervously.

"And him? I don't think I've heard of a boy in the Immortal Blades before."

"Itsuki-sama here is of no special origin or history with Schicksal, contrary to the former two." Rita explained, earning a questioning look from both Himeko and Theresa.

R-Really doing me favors here, Rita… Nagi thought bitterly, noticing a cold, nervous sweat on the back of his neck.

"That is not quite true, actually. We were made aware of Itsuki-sama's existence the previous year due to a moderate Honkai outbreak which his hometown happened to be involved in. I will not go into great detail, but what you need to know is that Itsuki-sama is an incredible psychic—"

"Wizard." Nagi responded almost subconsciously, before his hands shot to his mouth. Rita shot him a look that, outwardly, was pleasant, but… never before had he had been so close to wetting himself as he was right then. "S-Sorry…"

"Wizard…?" Theresa questioned, raising an eyebrow, only to be stopped by Rita raising a hand.

"I will explain." The principal nodded for Rita to continue. "As I was saying, an incredible psychic demonstrating a unique ability to manipulate energy. He claims himself to be a wizard, as you just saw, going so far as to say his abilities are magical." Nagi's cheeks flushed as both Himeko and Theresa shot him a mischievous look.

"A dramatic kid, huh?" Hiemko joked.

"I… can… prove it…" Nagi started to say, only to trail off. I used to be able to, anyways… He thought with a pout, but his thoughts meant nothing to the two as they shared a laugh.

"Continue, Rita." Theresa said, her voice cheerier than it was a moment before.

Guess that helped her mood… Nagi thought bitterly.

"Additionally, he is capable of regeneration." Rita continued just as instructed.

"Regeneration? Like how I can?" Theresa asked, amusement turning to surprise. Even Himeko suddenly looked curious.

"Even more potent, in fact. During my previous evaluation of Itsuki-sama, he had taken a wound that would be guaranteed fatal for any human… only to walk it off a mere few minutes later. I will admit, I had taken him for dead when I arrived." He felt a small amount of pride in that… but only a bit.

"I'll have to see it to believe it." Himeko spoke. Theresa nodded in agreement, earning an impish smile from Rita.

"Shall I provide a demonstration?"

"No thank you I'm very fine I would rather not!" Nagi exclaimed, shooting to his feet and raising his arms defensively.

"My? I simply meant a small cut on the finger, Itsuki-sama. Did you think I intended to replicate what Bohr had done?" Nagi froze up, his cheeks turning red as Rita eyed him playfully.

"...Um. M-Maybe."

"Then, if you would allow me to demonstrate?" Rita held out her hand to Nagi. He swallowed nervously, before giving out a quiet sigh and offering his own. He winced as Rita suddenly yet gracefully cut the tip of his finger, leaving a notable yet painful cut. Both Theresa and Himeko leaned in, their eyes widening as that very same cut glowed with a faint pink hue, before closing and vanishing like it was never there. "While perhaps not the most… evaluative of tests, you can see what I mean."

"Fancy." Himeko commented, before clapping Nagi on the back. "Guess that means I won't have to tell the girls to hold back in training, huh?"

No please do I would rather not be beaten into a pulp thank you. Nagi wanted to say. "Um… J-Just because I heal doesn't mean I don't feel it…" He opted to say instead.

"That so? Shame." The red head winked at him, before taking a step back. Rita cleared her throat, retrieving their attention as Nagi took his seat once more.

"As I was saying… I took an interest in these abilities after my evaluation finished, and volunteered him to join the Immortal Blades to maximize his potential. However, he is still lacking in many areas that other Valkyries would be developed in, and thus I, and Durandal-sama, have enrolled him here."

"Right." Theresa nodded her head, and crossed her arms. "Well, I see no issue. It's not like we'd deny him just for being a boy; but is he ok with it? Saint Freya is mostly composed of women, after all." She turned to him.

"...Y-Yeah. It's, uh… a new experience, but…" Nagi bit his tongue as his eyes fell downward for a moment. He took a deep breath, looked up, and matched Theresa's look with an uncharacteristically fierce one of his own. "This will sound a bit silly, but… a long time ago, I made a promise to…" His cheeks turned a bit red. "F-Find my flame. I want to keep that promise… even if it means leaving what's comfortable. Even if it means going into something I don't think I can handle. Even…" His expression softened for just a moment. "Even if it means I die trying." As he finished speaking, the room fell quiet.

He expected them to laugh. To poke and prod fun at him.

Instead, Theresa matched his gaze. Himeko remained silent, contemplating. Nagi held the principal's gaze, even if he felt his anxiety building in his gut. It felt like an eternity passed in that time.

"...Alright." Theresa smiled, a kind smile that betrayed a wisdom beyond her appearance. Rita's earlier words snuck into his mind for a brief moment as the principal leaned back. "I want to apologize. Truth be told, Izanagi, I was thinking you looked a bit pathetic. But… I think I like that look in your eye." A strange, warm, fuzzy feeling suddenly burned away the anxiety in his gut as his cheeks turned red with fluster.

"It is a good look, no?" Rita replied with a smile of her own, setting an amused hand on her cheek and only fueling Izanagi's fluster. Theresa grinned, before sharing a separate look with Himeko.

"I'll have him assigned to your class, if that's alright?"

"I don't mind; we've got a few spots open, anyways." Himeko looked back to Nagi and leaned down, matching his eye level. "I look forward to workin' with you, hun. But… I've already got enough slackers in my class, so don't go making a good first impression only to follow their example, alright?"

…Oh, right, schoolwork. I guess I should have figured… "Um. This will be my first time going to school, so… I'll try…?"

"Eh? Really?"

"Y-Yeah… homeschooled, it's… it's a long story." Himeko shrugged before stepping back.

"Now then. With this matter settled… as much as I would like to stay and continue my work here, I unfortunately have matters to attend to. I hope you do not mind me leaving Itsuki-sama to your capable hands?"

"Eh!?" Just like that, Nagi's anxiety returned to full blast as Rita stood to her feet.

"Oh? Itsuki-sama, did you believe I would remain on campus to guide your every step?" Rita covered her mouth in a feigned awe, her eyes betraying no small amount of mirth. "My, how obedient~ But alas, you will have to learn to walk on your own."

"I…" Nagi gulped, feeling flustered yet again as he felt Himeko and Theresa's eyes burning into his side. He knew it would be coming… he just hadn't expected it so soon. But… he also knew there was something he wanted to say before then. He stood to his feet, an unexpected courage rising up in him as he stood before Rita. "...T-Thank you for everything, Rita!" He cried, bowing his entire upper half so hard he nearly hit the floor.

"Oh my." Even the all-knowing maid was caught off guard by his display. For just a moment… a faint shine of red could be seen on her cheeks. But, like a trick of the eye, it was gone in moments, replaced by her usual amused smile. "Fufu~ It is not as if I am leaving forever, Itsuki-sama." She reached down and gently stroked his head. "But… I do appreciate the gesture. Indeed… I look forward to working with you again, Nagi."

He could not describe the feeling welling up in his chest as anything other than joy. Yet, joy felt like too weak a word to truly describe it. He straightened himself up, as giddy as could be, as Rita retracted her hand.

"Now… when next we meet, Itsuki-sama, Theresa-sama, Murata-sama." She bowed with an elegant flourish, and soon departed, leaving the three on their own.

"Got a crush, Nagi?" Himeko spoke, earning a startled cry of embarrassment from the young man.

"A-As if!" He replied, his face redder than ever before as he wildly flailed his arms. However, a quick look at either Theresa or Himeko's smug expressions told him that no amount of word vomit could ever convince them otherwise.

"You're adorable, hun." Himeko chuckled. "Oh, have ya toured the campus yet?"

"Oh, uh… N-No, just what I saw on the way here." Himeko grinned, before flicking his head. "Ow!?"

"Come on, I'll show you around. I don't got class for a while, anyways. Consider it my treat." Himeko glanced back at Theresa. "Don't have too much fun while I'm gone~"

"You… didn't you say you'd help me with my paperwork!?"

"I said work, Teri. Which I just did and finished~" Himeko began pushing Nagi out the door with a laugh as Theresa's anguished cries followed them out into the hall.

"You… I'll remember this, Himeko…!"

It was late in the afternoon when Nagi and Himeko finished their tour. "So, hun. Whatcha think of Saint Freya?" She asked as she led the way. "Pretty fancy pants school, innit?"

"Definitely fancier than most schools I've seen. Not… that I've really had a close look at any before."

"Right, homeschooled. Well, is it like what you imagined, then?"

"Bigger. A lot bigger. I guess that kinda comes with being a part of Schicksal, though…"

"Haha, ain't that right." Himeko grinned. "Just wait till you see HQ."

"Two steps ahead of you there…"

"Aw, seen it already? Shame, I'd have loved to see your face. What was the occasion?"

"Rita was reporting to the Overseer. She, uh. Brought me with her, I guess?"

"You met the Overseer, huh?" He tilted his head curiously, before giving a curt nod. "What'd he say? Assuming you can chat about it."

"He, uh. Said he was interested in me, sorta? Seemed interested in my magic." Himeko pursed her lips. "...Look, I know it doesn't seem like it, but it—"

"Not that." Himeko cut him off, her eyes filled with a hint of concern. "Otto's interest can be dangerous. Anyone who's worked with him can tell you that, kid."

"O-Oh." Nagi gulped. "I'll… keep that in mind." Himeko nodded, before her lips curled into a slight frown.

"Not to scare ya too bad, hun. Just something to be aware of." Nagi nodded in understanding, but it only did so much to calm his nerves. "On a lighter note, here we are."

Saint Freya's dorms. Their final destination, and Nagi's soon to be home for the coming year. Unsurprisingly, the architecture was just as beautiful as any part of the Saint Freya campus, a two story high set of apartments, home to the many Valkyries in training at the academy. Himeko motioned for him to follow as they made their way through the front doors; just as unsurprisingly, the interior was of an exquisite craftsmanship far better than anything Nagi had seen at home.

"I'll show you to your dorm and then leave you to rest. I imagine you've had a busy day, hun?"

"Juuust a bit." Nagi replied with a faint smile. Himeko grinned.

"Right this way, then. Got your stuff?"

"Oh, Rita mentioned on the way here. It… supposedly… should be here?"

"Sounds like her, alright. I'll take her word for it. You'll be sharing your room with Ana and Wendy. It'll be a good chance to get to know your team."

"Eh? Room?"

"You'll see. Don't worry, you won't have to share a bed~"

"I-I wasn't thinking that!"

"Sure you weren't." Nagi clicked his tongue, earning a chuckle from Himeko. "And… here we are. Room 212. Same building as me and my girls, so if you need anything, I'm around. Probably."

"Your girls?"

"You'll meet them eventually… buncha brats, but they're my brats." Despite her words, there was a certain fondness to her voice. Nagi decided he liked that fondness. "Anyways, this is my stop. You'll be starting class as early as tomorrow."

"Right." Nagi nodded.

"So… see ya around, hun. Don't be late or I'll make you regret it~" Himeko turned and walked back the way they came, lazily waving a hand over her shoulder as she left him to his own devices.

"Oh… S-See you!" He called out, before turning to the door. He swallowed nervously, tentatively lifting his hand to knock on the door. Once, twice. No response from inside. And so, he took the handle as confidently as a Nagi could, and pushed open the door. Suddenly, he understood what Himeko had meant. Inside it looked like he had just stepped into a proper house, rather than just a dorm room: a living room set complete with couches, a coffee table, and a full screen TV was the first thing that met his eye, followed by what looked like a full kitchen behind it. To the left, there was a hallway leading further inside, a full five separate rooms to be found lining it, and even a hall closet on the way.

"This place might be bigger than home…" He muttered in disbelief. "What the hell is Schicksal's budget…?" However, before he could inspect any further, one of the doors clicked. "Whoa!?" Spooked by the noise, he ended up tripping over his own foot, only to fall flat on his face.

"...Hello?" Spoke a soft voice from down the hall. Massaging his now bruised forehead, Nagi looked up to see a soft-faced girl looking down at him, more than a little confused. She had emerald green eyes, and short dark hair with similarly green highlights, her bangs loose and messy covering her forehead. "Are you ok…?"

"Uh… Y-Yeah. Sorry." Nagi quickly stood to his feet, more than a little embarrassed.

"...Are you… supposed to be here…?"

"Uh. I… think so? Miss Himeko led me here…"

"Oh. Wait… are you… Izanagi?"

"Yeah! And you are?"

"...Wendy."

"Nice to meet you, Wendy."

"Mm. Nice to meet you too."

"..."

"..."

A-Awkward! Nagi cried internally, unsure of what to say. He desperately tried to think of a conversation topic, but his mind was entirely blank; not a single other word coming to mind.

"...Are you sure you're ok? You kinda hit your head…" Wendy asked, stepping forward and closing the distance without warning. Without hesitation, she brushed aside his bangs and held her hand on where he hit his head. Her eyes widened a moment later, but Nagi hopped back, covering his forehead bashfully. "What was…"

"D-Don't worry about it!" Nagi exclaimed. "Trust me, I'm alright! Really! I've got… a hard head! Yeah!"

"..." She looked skeptical, eyeing her hand curiously, quietly tilting her head. "Well… Ok." She shrugged it off, before turning and silently motioning him to follow.

"Oh, uh…" Nagi shrugged himself and followed. She gestured to a room in the back right corner of the hall.

"Your room. Mine's across from yours. Ana's is to the right." She pointed at each one as she spoke. "...Ah. Ana was here earlier. Went to take a walk."

"Oh. Ok." Wendy nodded, subtly eyeing his forehead once more, before turning away. "Um. T-Thank you…" She nodded again, before disappearing back into her room. …Quiet type. Sheesh… Nagi shook his head, and made his way into his room. Unsurprisingly, the room was simple, having little more than a bed and desk, alongside a few other general room appliances. However, just as Rita had said, his belongings had in fact been delivered, tidily placed upon his bed. His lips curved up into a faint smile.

My room, huh? Well… let's make it like home. And so, Izanagi grabbed the first box…

And so finished his first day at Saint Freya academy.