The teacher's fingers moved with practiced rhythm across the holographic keyboard that floated in the mid-air.
Live feeds of various classrooms and maps cycled rapidly on the projection.
He pulled a floating microphone toward him, issuing a flat command, "Annie, come to the teacher's room, immediately."
Luka and the others were still captivated by the mesmerizing holographic displays.
When the door suddenly burst open with a resounding bang.
A girl practically tumbled into the room.
Her black jacket was casually tied around her waist in a knot over her black skirt.
She wore a white shirt, tucked neatly into her skirt, and a brown vest-coat.
The same style that was part of the modern academy uniform worn by the black-clad boy.
The speed at which she had run was so great that her footing faltered the moment she flung the door open.
She was about to fall, but she managed to catch herself by contorting her body at an awkward angle.
Her hair was disheveled across her face, and beads of sweat on her forehead were a testament to her haste.
Despite being completely breathless, she waved a hand in the air, attempting a lopsided smile toward the teacher.
"Sir!" she stammered. "An emergency? For... for what reason have you summoned me?"
Luka fixed his motionless gaze on the girl.
It was completely new for him to witness that someone could be so carefree and full of energy within this strict and high-tech Academy.
The teacher's gaze locked onto Annie's disheveled appearance, his eyebrows narrowing into a sharp line of disapproval.
His voice carried the weight of strict discipline.
"Annie! What is this nonsense? Why is your jacket tied around your waist?"
"Take it off this instant and wear it properly!"
Annie glanced down at her waist with a start, as if only just realizing that in her haste, she had forgotten the basic decorum of the uniform.
She offered a sheepish, lopsided grin.
"Oh! Sorry, Teacher. A total blunder on my part. I'll fix it right now."
With a swift motion, she untied the black jacket from her waist, snapped it straight in the air, and slipped it on quickly.
"Now, sir, what was the urgent reason for summoning me?"
Annie asked, adjusting her collar and smoothing out the fabric.
The teacher gestured toward Luka, Yuki, and Haru, who had been watching the exchange in silent observation.
"Escort these three to their separate rooms. From today, they are part of this institute."
"Understood, sir! On it!" Annie said with a burst of enthusiasm, turning toward the trio.
"Alright boys, hand over your Key-Cards so I can confirm your room assignments in the system."
The three of them rose from their chairs, handing their shimmering digital cards to Annie before following her out of the office.
There was a certain fluid grace to Annie's walk.
As they navigated the high-tech corridors, she glanced back over her shoulder.
"So, what are your names?"
"I'm Haru," the eldest boy replied in a calm, steady voice.
"My name is Yuki," the second added concisely.
"Luka," the youngest whispered, his voice small but firm.
"Nice names!" Annie chirped.
"And what about your classes? Which section were you assigned to?"
Yuki shrugged slightly.
"Our classes haven't been decided yet. They said we'd find out tomorrow after our initial testing."
Luka, observing Annie's remarkably agile movements, asked curiously, "What about you? Which class are you in?"
Annie gave a mysterious, playful tilt of her head.
"I'm in Classroom '8-A'. My body is exceptionally flexible, so I'm training to be a 'Spy'."
"You could say I'm learning how to belong to the shadows."
The echo of their footsteps bounced off the polished floors of the corridor.
Annie clasped her hands behind her back, glancing at the trio out of the corner of her eye.
"By the way, tell me something," she whispered, as if probing for a deep secret.
"How on earth did you three get separate rooms?"
"In Valthorin, having your own private space is almost impossible. Even seniors have to wait years for that."
Yuki replied without blinking, his gaze fixed forward, "We don't know. Commander Silas brought us here."
At those words, Annie's feet came to a sudden halt.
She froze in the middle of the hallway, her eyes nearly popping out of her head in shock.
"What? For real?" she asked, almost in a shriek.
She quickly scanned the surroundings to ensure no one was eavesdropping before lowering her voice.
"Can that grumpy old man actually bring someone here?"
"I thought he had a cold machine where his heart should be."
She resumed walking, but this time with a dramatic flair of annoyance.
"He rarely visits, and when he does, he only brings trouble."
"He's so incredibly strict that even breathing feels heavy in his classes."
"To be honest, I absolutely hate his sessions! Just shouting and discipline... Ugh!"
Luka listened in silence to Annie's complaints.
He was surprised that a girl could so casually call a man, whose name made the entire staff tremble, a 'grumpy old man.'
Annie tilted the first key-card toward the light, where the number '120' shimmered.
"Haru, this is yours," she said, handing it over.
She moved toward the next two doors.
"Yuki, you're in 121, and Luka, your room is 122. You're all neighbors now!"
After showing the rooms, Annie's gaze softened as she looked at Luka.
Treating him like a small child, she instinctively reached out and grasped his hand.
"Luka, you must be hungry. Come, let me show you the canteen."
Luka and Yuki followed her silently toward the dining hall, filled with sleek machines and long, metallic tables.
Annie gestured grandly, "Just place your order here. Give them your table number, and your breakfast will be delivered right to you. Want a demo?"
Haru leaned toward Yuki, whispering, "Don't you think this girl is way too talkative and maybe a bit of a dimwit?"
"Quiet, Haru," Yuki hissed back. "She'll feel bad if she overhears you."
Haru pointed at Luka, who was staring blankly at Annie's face.
"I think Luka is in shock. He isn't even responding to her."
Yuki noticed that Luka wasn't listening to her words.
He was focused on her face and the sensation of her hand on his.
Memories of Len flooded Luka's mind—how Len used to take his hand without permission and play with his fingers.
Abruptly, Luka pulled his hand away from Annie's grip.
"Sorry, but don't hold my hand. I don't like it," he said, his voice laced with a hidden sorrow.
Annie's cheerful expression flickered for a second, but she quickly masked it with a smile.
"Oh... alright. I just thought you were hungry. I won't hold your hand again."
She waved a brief farewell to the three of them.
"I should head out now. You guys can order something. See you tomorrow! Bye!"
As Annie vanished down the corridor, Luka remained still.
Staring at the hand she had touched, the shadow of Len's memory lingering in his eyes.
The vast canteen hall was nearly empty, with rows of polished tables stretching out like a still sea under the cool blue lights.
Haru turned toward Yuki and Luka.
"Are you two hungry?" he asked, answering his own question before they could, "I'm only feeling a little bit peckish."
"Sit down here at table number 8, I'll be right back," Haru said briskly.
Moments later, he returned with a tray of light snacks and set them on the table.
He noticed Luka and Yuki still standing as if lost in thought.
"Why are you both just standing there? Sit in the chairs," Haru prompted with a small smile.
Yuki and Luka sat down in silence and began to eat.
On the wall, the glowing numbers of the modern digital clock indicated it was already 6:00 PM.
The hours had slipped away since they first arrived at Valthorin.
Amidst the soft clinking of cutlery, Yuki fixed his gaze on Luka.
"Luka... why did you pull your hand away from that girl so suddenly?"
Yuki's voice was low, carrying a note of genuine concern.
Luka's hand paused in mid-air.
He lowered his head, staring down at his hands resting on his knees beneath the table.
He clenched his fists tight, as if trying to anchor himself against a rising tide of emotion.
"When she grabbed my hand..." Luka's voice wavered, "I suddenly remembered Len."
"Her touch... it felt just like his. That's why I couldn't help but jerk my hand away."
A heavy silence descended upon the table at those words.
Haru and Yuki exchanged a look, their eyes filled with deep sympathy for Luka.
In this strange, new environment, Len's name felt like an old wound being reopened.
"It's okay, Luka," Yuki said gently.
"Finish your snack first, then we'll all head to our rooms."
They finished their meal in silence and made their way with heavy steps toward their private quarters.