Pleasant Uninhabited Island Life (Planned)
Rohan returned to Orion Academy after a hectic lunch hour.
He ran into Ichinose right in the Class 1 hallway at the perfect moment.
When he asked if she'd gotten the merchandise she wanted from the cafeteria, Ichinose beamed with a bright smile and even dragged him to her locker to show off her haul.
"They said the other items will be available later, but this acrylic stand is limited stock at each location."
"Oh! You scored that one? Jackpot!"
"Right? Talk about good luck. The odds were so slim I was planning to hit up lunch again tomorrow."
Ulul cooking in the background, Bluebee serving tables.
Judging by the setting and outfits, it was a collab cafe where they were working part-time.
Some might look at this and think: Is a chunk of printed acrylic really worth all the fuss?
But Rohan knew better. He knew it was absolutely worth the hype.
Limited merch? Hell yeah.
Having enjoyed Abyss City with the same passion, Rohan could perfectly understand Ichinose's fandom—she was one of his own kind.
"Noah must've shone in it."
"She did. But I got it sooner than expected, so I couldn't splurge. Ended up grabbing a regular meal too."
Her eyes, usually closed, were wide open.
Ichinose chattered away excitedly, looking just like a canary.
Truth be told, someone in her position—daughter of the Ichinose family—could probably get whatever she wanted without setting foot in the store.
But she clearly savored the thrill of going herself, the competition, the etiquette of it all.
What Rohan especially admired was how she never tried to throw her weight around the characters or their companies.
"Above all, my rule is never to buy from scalpers, so that makes it even sweeter."
"Ah...! I get that feeling."
"Hehe, and realizing your love's hit the ceiling? That's a happiness you can't ignore."
They chatted like that all the way back to Class 1.
But Ichinose didn't ask about Sion or Clara. Once they reached the classroom, she quietly returned to her seat.
She wasn't probing or anything.
Was it a gesture saying she wouldn't meddle in Tigrova's internal affairs, being from Samhwa Nation herself?
Hard to read the girl's mind.
"…."
Inside the class, Noah was lounging in a food coma.
She shot Rohan curious glances—clearly having heard bits from Ichinose—but held back.
Should be fine for a while.
With one weight off his mind, he prepped for class.
Afternoon was theory today.
He pulled out his textbook and was bantering with Gilbert when Juyeon entered.
Standing at the podium in her usual flawless poise.
"Everyone knows midterms start next week, right?"
The Class 1 cadets sharpened their focus at her voice.
Seeing no one drowsy or slacking from lunch, Juyeon continued with a satisfied nod.
"If you've researched Orion Academy since before enrollment or checked out the Orion Circle, most of you know this: the first-year midterm isn't flashy or grand."
She began her lecture, using the changes sweeping the world from Academy City as her theme.
"But this year is different. It was unanimously decided in the meeting just now."
Monolith Hologram
The recent terror symbol—not spawning monsters anymore, but swallowing humans into unknown places dubbed dungeons.
"You all know how the world's buzzing about this Monolith anomaly."
Survivors all report grueling ordeals. The missing number in the countless.
It kept happening without end, and no one had returned recovered like Rohan.
"Too few cases to neatly compile data. Survivors are rare, so there's basically no confirmed info on the Monolith anomaly."
"""…."""
Juyeon scanned the attentive cadets' eyes.
Then explained the practical exam change.
"The big shots from each nation are handling that. We just wait. For those of us who wield power, the right move is training to adapt fluidly to any situation."
Academy training had focused deep on monster combat till now.
In the old days, maybe, but these days? You could assume no monster fights without food or water shortages.
But the world wouldn't let academy cadets have normal exams anymore.
It was shoving survival skills down their throats, plain as day.
"The practical will use an uninhabited island teeming with monsters, like last year's second-year finals. You can guess the rest now that I've said this much."
Times had changed.
Pulled by a Monolith? Not just monster death—now starvation too.
And filling your belly and quenching thirst wasn't enough.
Conflicts from frayed nerves in groups, mediation needs, issues between normals and powered folks, food rationing...
Imagine strangers thrown into a dungeon en masse—problems galore.
"This Monolith shift is grave. Dropped into worst-case climates and conditions, fights breaking out, minds pushed to the brink."
Seemed that was all Juyeon could share with them now.
But it was enough. Class 1 got the message.
They understood what the academy wanted them to feel the need for.
"Remember what I always say. Orion Academy aims to raise you into specialists."
She turned, writing the schedule on the board.
Move the day the written exam ends. Monday through Friday.
"The greenhouse has clear limits on proficiency, no matter the method."
She punctuated firmly.
Lightening the mood.
"Of course, the written theory exam is the same as always. No changes there—rest easy."
Rohan, listening intently, let out a breath at the theory pressure, heavier than practicals.
"Phew…."
Juyeon caught the tense exhale, her gaze landing on him.
Feeling her eyes, Rohan met them; she curved her lips faintly, showing subtle anticipation.
"Scores aren't everything, but they're solid proof of effort and guide post-grad paths. I just hope it helps my cadets walk their desired roads."
A murmur from Juyeon: hoping her methods proved right.
Rohan and Noah—who'd gone wild on placement with one-line answers—swallowed hard.
Gotta ace this.
After possession and that placement stunt, time to reap rewards from effort.
Written scores couldn't sink lower. Chance to shed the vague delinquent-not-quite-good-student image Juyeon had of him.
"That's all for announcements. Class starts."
The theory lesson flowed sharp as ever.
Class 1 followed smoothly now.
…
…
First afternoon class ended, break time.
Rohan called Flower Lily Bookstore, shared his exam schedule, got leave approved.
And pondered.
The bookstore part-time... gotta cut back or quit soon.
Decision time, sooner than expected.
Merit pay would ease life. Flower Lily had already given its sweetest honey—meeting Clara and building their bond.
Exciting events from shifts? Sure, but Rohan needed blade time and body-breaking training more.
Talk to the manager today?
Decided, heading back—
──Bzzz!!! Message chime.
The photo from Clara showed a train soaring through the sky.
Sion's on that. Sky train—insanely cool.
Call during next break.
He messaged the group: Sion, travel safe; Clara, get back careful.
Time to head in for real—
Rohan's ankle got snagged again.
Alert window this time.
The shop list has been updated.
"Oh."
Another long-awaited ping.
The skill that'd kept him hanging without a timer finally showed.
What'd they add without even a heads-up on timing...?
With quiet excitement, Rohan activated the Shop skill.
"!"
He froze at the new item.