The pages blurred together.
Not because the words were difficult—far from it. I had read the same material so many times that I could probably recite entire paragraphs from memory. But repetition didn't make the answer appear, and that was the problem.
I turned another page anyway.
The library was quiet, as it always was this time of day. Rows of shelves stretched endlessly, filled with records, theories, and documented cases of awakened Gifts. Every book here existed for one reason—to explain the world after the Calamity.
And yet, none of them explained me.
I exhaled slowly, pressing my fingers against the bridge of my nose before forcing my eyes back to the text.
"Gifts are innate phenomena that manifest upon awakening, typically during adolescence. Though their nature varies, everyone is believed to possess the potential to awaken…"
I stopped reading.
"…Everyone."
My grip on the page tightened slightly.
"Yeah," I muttered under my breath, "except me."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the book as if it might correct itself. As if the ink would rearrange and finally acknowledge the one exception sitting right here in the middle of the library.
It didn't.
Of course it didn't.
With a quiet sigh, I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.
There was only one way to confirm it. The same way I had checked hundreds—no, thousands—of times before.
I raised my hand slightly.
A faint, almost imperceptible ripple passed through the air in front of me.
Then, it appeared.
A translucent panel.
Cold. Minimal. Unforgiving.
Rei Arkwright
Race: Human
Status:Stable
Gift:[-]
Rank:[-]
I stared at it.
Same as always.
No Gift.
No Rank.
Just a blank existence, like the system itself refused to acknowledge me.
"…Right."
I let my hand drop, and the panel vanished instantly, dissolving into nothingness.
At this point, I didn't even feel frustrated anymore. Just… tired.
Tired of checking.
Tired of hoping.
Tired of being the only person in a world full of power who had absolutely none.
I leaned forward again, resting my elbow on the table as I flipped to another page.
If the system wouldn't give me answers, then I'd find them myself.
"Twenty years ago, the sky turned blood red."
My eyes slowed as I read.
"What began as a global anomaly soon escalated into what is now known as the Calamity. Spatial distortions occurred across every continent, followed by the emergence of hostile entities—later classified as 'monsters.'"
I could picture it.
Everyone could.
It was the most documented event in human history.
The sky, stained crimson.
Cities collapsing overnight.
Creatures that defied biology tearing through everything in their path.
Humanity didn't stand a chance.
At least, not at first.
I turned the page.
"In the midst of extinction, a second phenomenon occurred. Humans began to awaken abilities—later termed 'Gifts'—alongside access to an internalized system interface. These developments marked the beginning of the Awakened Era."
Right.
The so-called miracle.
The turning point.
The moment everything changed.
"With the emergence of magic and Gifts, humanity gradually regained control. Organized resistance formed, and over time, the Calamity was pushed back. Though threats remain, the world has since stabilized under the new system."
Stabilized.
That was one way to put it.
I closed the book slowly, my gaze lingering on the cover.
"…Gift from the gods, huh."
That's what people called it.
A blessing.
A salvation.
A power given to ensure humanity's survival.
My lips curved slightly, though there was no real humor in it.
"Guess I got skipped."
The words were quiet. Casual.
But they lingered longer than I expected.
I pushed my chair back a little, stretching my arms before letting out another sigh.
"I need a break…"
Even I had limits.
Reading the same thing over and over wasn't going to magically give me a Gift.
For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the ceiling.
Then—
bzzzt.
The vibration snapped me out of it.
I blinked, glancing down at the source of the sound.
My phone.
I picked it up, unlocking the screen.
A single notification.
From Yuuki.
…Of course it was.
I stared at her name for a second longer than necessary.
Then, without thinking too much about it, I tapped the message open.
Yuuki: You done yet? Or are you still buried in books?
A small breath escaped me.
…She hadn't changed.
Straightforward. No wasted words. No unnecessary concern—at least, not openly.
My thumb hovered over the screen for a second before I locked it instead of replying immediately.
Yuuki.
Out of everyone… she was the only one who had stayed.
Back when none of this mattered. Back when there were no ranks, no expectations—no invisible line separating people like me from everyone else.
She never treated me differently.
Even now.
"…Guess I should go," I muttered.
I stood up, pushing my chair in quietly before glancing around the library.
If she texted me, she was nearby otherwise she wouldn't know I was drowning myself in the library again.
My eyes scanned the rows of shelves, moving past scattered students and quiet corners until—
There.
Near the window.
Sitting alone, a book resting loosely in her hand, her posture relaxed but composed.
For a brief moment, I just… looked.
Yuuki had always stood out, but not in an obvious way. It wasn't something loud or flashy—it was quieter than that. The kind of presence that naturally drew attention without trying.
Her dark hair fell neatly over her shoulders, slightly catching the light from the window behind her. Her expression was calm, almost indifferent, as her eyes moved across the page—though knowing her, she was probably only half-reading it.
There was something distant about her.
Like she existed slightly apart from everything else.
I walked over.
Before I could say anything, her gaze shifted—locking onto me instantly.
"…You're late," she said.
"I just got the text."
"That's still late."
"…Right."
I stopped beside her, slipping my hands into my pockets.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Her eyes flicked briefly toward the book I had been holding earlier.
"…So?" she asked. "Find what you were looking for?"
I already knew what she meant.
And I already knew my answer.
"…No."
No hesitation. No excuses.
Just the truth.
She watched me for a second longer than usual.
Then—
She reached out and lightly patted my shoulder.
"…Don't look so down," she said, a faint teasing tone slipping into her voice. "I'll still be friends with you, you know."
I let out a quiet breath.
"…That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"It should."
"…It doesn't."
"Then that's your problem."
I shook my head slightly.
Typical.
But still…
I glanced at her again.
Yuuki—who everyone else saw as cold, distant, almost untouchable—had this side too.
Subtle. Rare.
But real.
"…Anyway," she said, closing her book with a soft snap as she stood up. "My family's having a barbecue later."
I blinked.
"And?"
"You're coming."
Not a question.
"…You don't even try to ask properly anymore, do you?"
"No."
"…Right."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
"…Fine. I'll come."
It wasn't like I had anything better to do.
"Good."
We started walking, leaving the quiet of the library behind.
For a while, it was silent.
Comfortably so.
Then—
"Rei."
I glanced at her.
"The entrance test is in a week."
Arcana.
"…Yeah. I know."
"Arcana Academy," she continued, as if I needed the reminder. "The best academy for Awakened."
Hard to forget something like that.
It wasn't just a school.
It was where the strongest gathered. Where elites were trained. Where people like her… belonged.
"…You know," she added, "even if you don't have a Gift, you can still use magic."
I looked at her.
"…Is that supposed to comfort me?"
"No."
"…Then why say it?"
She didn't even pause.
"If I wanted to comfort you, I'd whisper sweet nothings in your ear."
I stopped mid-step.
"…What?"
"I won't, though."
"…Good."
"It was never an option."
"…Even better."
We continued walking like nothing happened.
But my mind drifted again.
Yuuki wasn't just strong.
She was something else entirely.
In this world, Gifts were divided into classifications:
Low Rank — Common Rank, Adept Rank
Mid Rank — Master Rank, Arcane Rank
High Rank — Ascendant Rank, Calamity Rank
And above all of them—
Sovereign Rank.
A level so rare that fewer than fifty people in the entire world possessed it.
Yuuki was one of them.
Her Gift was something that stood at the very peak.
And me?
I exhaled quietly.
No rank.
No name.
No Gift.
Yet somehow…
I was still walking beside her.
"…Weird," I muttered under my breath.
"What is?" she asked without looking at me.
"…Nothing."
By the time we arrived, the sun had already begun to dip slightly, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood.
Yuuki's house wasn't overly extravagant, but it carried a quiet elegance—clean, well-kept, and unmistakably belonging to a family with status.
Which made sense.
The Villene family wasn't exactly "normal."
Before I could even knock—
The door opened.
"Ah, Rei."
Her mom.
Lucy Villene.
She greeted me with a warm smile, the kind that instantly made you feel like you were welcome—even if you weren't sure you deserved to be.
"Good afternoon," I said, giving a small nod.
"You're here for the barbecue, right?"
"…Yeah."
"No need to be so stiff," she laughed lightly. "Come in."
I stepped inside, slipping off my shoes as I entered.
The smell hit immediately.
Grilled meat.
Spices.
Smoke drifting faintly from the backyard.
"Go sit for a bit," Lucy said casually. "We're still getting things ready."
"Alright."
I nodded, moving toward the living room.
Yuuki had already walked ahead without a word, clearly intending to disappear somewhere like she always did during social gatherings.
But—
"Yuuki."
Lucy's voice stopped her instantly.
Yuuki paused.
"…What."
"You're staying."
"…Why."
Lucy smiled sweetly.
"Because maybe this is the reason you don't have many friends."
Silence.
I turned away slightly.
My shoulders shook.
Don't laugh.
Don't laugh.
Don't—
"…Rei."
Yuuki's voice was flat.
Dangerously flat.
"I'm not laughing," I said immediately.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You were."
"…I wasn't."
She stared at me.
I looked away.
This was not a battle I was winning.
Before it could escalate further—
The front door opened again.
Heavy footsteps.
"…I'm back."
A man walked in.
Rein Villene.
Yuuki's dad.
Tall, relaxed posture, carrying himself with the kind of casual confidence that didn't need to prove anything.
His gaze landed on me almost immediately.
"…Oh."
A small grin formed.
"Well, if it isn't Rei."
"Good afternoon," I said.
He walked over, stopping right beside me before casually nudging my shoulder.
"So," he said, lowering his voice slightly, "you here to date my daughter?"
"…What?"
I froze.
Yuuki froze.
Lucy froze—
No, she didn't.
She looked interested.
"…Dad," Yuuki said slowly, her tone dropping.
"What?" Rein shrugged. "I'm just saying. At this rate, you're not getting married anytime soon."
"…That's not your concern."
"It is absolutely my concern."
He turned back to me.
"Seriously, give it some thought."
I forced an awkward smile.
"Uh… I think that might be a bit—"
Complicated.
That was the word.
Internally, I sighed.
Dating Yuuki…
Yeah.
That would be a problem.
Not because of anything obvious.
But because—
She barely showed emotion.
Trying to imagine her in a relationship felt like trying to imagine a storm staying perfectly still.
It didn't fit.
Before I could even finish the thought—
Rein stood up straight again.
"Anyway," he said casually, already walking past us, "food's almost ready."
He waved a hand lazily.
"Think about it, Rei."
And just like that, he headed toward the backyard.
Leaving chaos behind.
"…That man," Yuuki muttered.
Lucy stepped in almost immediately.
"Well," she said cheerfully, turning to me, "you are basically the only friend Yuuki talks to."
"…Mom."
"And," she continued, completely ignoring her daughter, "I wouldn't have any problem with you two dating."
"…Mom."
"I mean, really, Rei is polite, responsible—"
"Mom."
"…and he actually tolerates you—"
"Mom."
Lucy finally stopped.
"…What?"
Yuuki stared at her.
Expression flat.
Completely unamused.
"…Stop talking."
Lucy smiled.
"No."
I looked away again.
This time, I didn't even try to hide it.
"…This family is unbelievable," Yuuki muttered.
"Only sometimes," Lucy replied.
"Most of the time," Yuuki corrected.
"…Fair."
For a moment, silence settled in.
Then—
Lucy clapped her hands lightly.
"Alright, enough of that. Rei, make yourself comfortable."
"…Thanks."
I nodded slightly.
Yuuki turned away without another word, clearly done with the conversation.
But as I followed her toward the living room—
I couldn't help but think—
…This place felt warm.
Too warm.
The kind of warmth that made you forget things.
Even if just for a little while.
And for some reason—
That made me uneasy.