After she finally opened her room door, Fenix collapsed onto her bed and stretched out like he owned the place, sprawling across the mattress with a sigh of deep relief. There was no space left beside him, but he didn't seem to care. Aura did care—or told herself she should. But despite her annoyance, she couldn't bring herself to scold him. Maybe it was the way he looked so content… so unguarded. Her irritation softened into something else entirely as she watched him drift off within seconds.
All she could do was smile.
Aura sat on the edge of the bed, close enough to feel his warmth but far enough not to disturb him. She stared at him for a while, eyes quietly tracing the curve of his jaw, the way his lips parted slightly in sleep. There was something oddly peaceful about Fenix when he wasn't talking. Something fragile. After a few moments, she shook herself out of it and stood up. A quick shower would clear her head before lunch.
Fenix was still yawning as he and Aura made their way to the lunchroom, his hair sticking out messily like he hadn't fully woken up.
"What are today's lunch options?" he mumbled, still half-asleep.
"The school's website says either salmon, baked chicken, or the vegetarian meal," Aura answered almost automatically.
He gave her a lazy grin. "Who needs the website when I've got you?"
Aura flushed. She looked away quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed the way her ears turned pink.
"What's the vegetarian meal exactly?"
"Three-bean chili," she replied, quieter this time, almost shy.
"Thanks," he said warmly, and Aura only nodded, hugging her arms to her chest.
At the cafeteria entrance, Mirror spotted them and waved dramatically.
"Hey, guys!" she shouted across the room.
Fenix grinned and waved back, flashing one of those radiant smiles that seemed to make people forget everything else around them.
"Oh wow, Aura, you actually changed?" Mirror teased as they approached. "You usually keep that ugly uniform on all day."
"I took a shower. Felt like changing too," Aura said simply, but her fingers tugged at the hem of her T-shirt like she was second-guessing her choice.
Mirror reached over and tousled her hair. "You're becoming more self-conscious. I'm glad."
Aura slapped her hand away. "Stop patronizing me!"
Mirror laughed, and Fenix watched the scene silently, something fond flickering behind his sleepy eyes. Their closeness, even in conflict, intrigued him.
Eventually, Aura snapped, "Just leave me alone!" and grabbed Fenix's hand, tugging him away from the noise.
He blinked in surprise but smiled softly and curled his fingers gently around hers.
"Alright," he said.
Mirror stared at them as they walked away. Something like recognition—or realization—lit her eyes, and the smile that bloomed across her face wasn't playful this time. It was knowing.
At the lunch table, Mirror rested her chin in her hands and just stared at Aura with that same grin, clearly amused by something she wasn't saying.
"Can you please stop acting so creepily?" Aura muttered, embarrassed.
Mirror didn't respond.
"So, Fenix," Vision cut in, "you've been here a while now. How are you liking the school?"
Fenix tapped his chin, thoughtful. "Ah… it's been fun. Surprisingly so."
Vision leaned in, dropping his voice. "You and Aura… you're not dating, right?"
Fenix's eyes widened. He glanced at Aura, who was still happily—and messily—eating, unaware of the question.
"No… we're just friends," he said carefully.
Vision exhaled, as if a weight had been lifted, and turned to start another conversation with Caster. Fenix gave Aura one more glance and went back to quietly eating his chili, his thoughts trailing somewhere distant.
After lunch, the disagreement between Aura and Mirror hadn't cooled.
"I'm just saying, it was freaky! You wouldn't stop smiling," Aura grumbled.
"Is it so creepy for me to smile at my sister?" Mirror asked, throwing the question to Fenix.
He looked away. "Yeah, it kinda is."
"You're just agreeing with her because she's your friend!" Mirror accused, not entirely joking.
As they neared Aura's room, a sudden wave of noise met them—loud chatter, laughter, and the crinkle of wrappers underfoot. The hallway was a mess of trash, empty bottles, and five boys lounging lazily in front of her door.
Mirror's expression darkened instantly. "What the hell are you guys doing? Clean up your trash and move."
One of the boys smirked, recognizing her. "Ah, the invisible chick."
Mirror's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm not invisible. You can see me just fine. Now get out of the way, and clean up your garbage while you're at it."
The boys laughed.
"This isn't even your hallway. Why do you care?" another asked.
"She's here with me," Aura said quietly, rubbing her temple like a headache was forming.
The leader of the group turned to Aura. "Oh… the prodigy. So this is your room. Why don't you ask us nicely, and maybe we'll move."
"Why should I ask you nicely?" Mirror muttered.
One of the boys tilted his head at her. "Why aren't you quiet and cute like your sister, Aura?"
"Yeah," another one chimed in, eyeing her. "I bet she could ask real sweet."
Aura looked up at them, voice as soft and sweet as ever—but her words were razor-sharp.
"People who refuse to clean up their own messes should all rot in hell."
The words hung in the air like a slap. The softness of her tone made it all the more disturbing. The boys blinked, startled, before erupting into laughter again.
That's when Fenix stepped forward.
"I haven't seen you around. What are you doing in this dormitory?" he asked, his voice light but firm.
"We're seniors. We can go wherever we want. What's it to you?"
Fenix smiled faintly. "You're in our way."
The boys rolled their eyes, and the leader shrugged. "Come on, guys. Let's go."
But before the tall one could move, Fenix gripped his shoulder, voice suddenly low and cold.
"You forgot to clean up your trash."
"The janitor can clea—" he began, but then screamed—his face swallowed by flame.
The sound of burning flesh and panic drew others into the hallway. The boy collapsed, clawing at his face.
"I told you," Fenix said, pressing him down with eerie calm, "to clean it up."
The boy fell to his knees and started scrambling for the trash, skin blackened and blistered. His regeneration was slow, not enough to undo the damage quickly. His eyes—miraculously—had been spared.
Fenix turned his gaze to the others. In a blink, he was behind them.
"If I were you," he said, voice sugar-sweet, "I'd help him."
They froze—terrified by his speed, his cruelty, his control. One by one, they started cleaning.
"Good boys," Fenix praised, still smiling.
Mirror clapped slowly, impressed. "If he hadn't done it, I would have."
Aura stared at Fenix, heart hammering. There was something unhinged beneath that smile. Something terrifying… but not unfamiliar. When he noticed her staring, his expression softened—not with guilt, but with a strange sort of joy.
Aura exhaled and offered a faint, reluctant smile.
"No need to be so violent next time, okay?"
Fenix nodded eagerly, like he was proud of her approval.
As the boys turned to leave, Aura gently pulled the injured one close. She exhaled across his face, and in seconds, the burns vanished. Gasps rippled through the watching crowd.
"You shouldn't loiter outside someone's door," she murmured. "It's impolite."
And with that, she unlocked her room and stepped inside.