The two weeks passed faster than expected. Toby got his uniform as well as his contract. He read … Most of it. He already knew he was going to do this anyway.

He put on the uniform in the morning. It was black with white rims and white shoulder marks with a single golden star on each side. “How do I look?”

“Gorgeous!!!” Memis’ tail wagged. “You’re ready!!”

He spent a lot of time with his friend over the last two weeks. They had grown very close during that time. Despite being a dog, Memis became very close to a little brother to Toby. They’d basically go everywhere together. Toby was very excited to work as a defender with Memis, and see him morph as well.

“Hell yeah, I’m ready!” Toby grabbed his backpack and his skateboard. “Mom! We’re going to the welcoming ceremony!”, he shouted to the kitchen, where his mother was sitting.

“Hm?” She looked up from the TV. “Okay, please stay safe.”

“We will!” Toby opened his backpack so Memis could jump in, then shouldered it and got outside. “Hold on tight, Memis!” He put the skateboard on the ground, jumped on it and quickly kicked it in motion.

“Awoooo!” Memis panted excitedly, his long, pink tongue flying in the wind. “I will be a greeeeat defender with you!!”

“I’m sure you will be!”

The Morpho Defenders HQ was in sight, its glassy exterior was glistening in the sun. Toby got off his skateboard and carried it the remaining distance into the building.

There were actually quite a few people in the lobby, namely the new apprentices and their partners and parents. Almost all of them had some sort of company with them, which made Toby feel kind of weird, being all by himself.

But he quickly discovered that he wasn’t the only freshman who had no company. A familiar face was standing next to the entrance door, all alone.

“Hey, Sophia!” Toby said, approaching her. “I’m glad to see you passed!”

“Huh?” Sophia was fiddling with her jewelry, and looked up as Toby spoke to her.

“Remember me?” Toby smiled.

“Ah!” Sophia’s cheeks flushed. “Y-Yes I do! Y-You’re the boy from the test… Toby- right?”

“Correct! And this is Memis!” Toby turned around, showing Sophia the dog whose head peeked out of his backpack.

“Hello!!” Memis barked.

“Ahh-!” Sophia jumped. “He’s-- he’s cute- I guess-”

“So?” Toby faced her again. “Who’s your partner? Show me!!”

“Uhm- So uhm-” Sophia brushed her fingers through her ginger hair. “I have…” Her hand went to her crossbody bag, and she carefully lifted the cover. Inside, a bunny-like Morpho Mon with a mermaid tail was sleeping. “This is… Strapholynne… I think.”

Toby tilted his head. “You think?”

“She picked me- rather than me picking her.” Sophia closed her bag again. “She seems very… peculiar.”

“Oh… I see. Anyways- I’m glad you made it Sophia.” Toby grinned. “Actually, I wonder if Randall is around as well~"

“Hm? Who’s Randall?”

“The boy that sat next to me! He did the challenges with me! We’re basically best friends.”

“Oh… the emo guy? I haven’t seen him yet.” Sophia shook her head.

“I’m sure he’ll turn up soon!”

“Oh my gosh is this him? Hiiiii!!”

Toby and Sophia both looked up as a woman with poofy black hair and a baby on her back approached them. “You are the boy with the auburn hair!!”

“I am- what now?” Toby tilted his head.

“My son told me about you!!”

“Mom…. y-you’re embarrassing me--” Behind her, a flushed red Randall appeared. He was carrying a grey kind of a vase in a black bag with skull applications.

“Oh!” Toby looked at him. “Hi Randall!”

“I’m so glad~" Randall’s mother giggled. “My little Randall is very bad at finding friends. Please be nice to him~" She turned around to him and patted him on the cheek. “You will behave well, right?”

“... gmhrghgh.” Randall looked away. “Yeh.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t bother you anymore~ I will sit in the back for the ceremony in case little Anastasia needs some attention~" She smiled. “I’ll check out the reception~ See you later!” She waved and went off.

Randall let out a deep sigh. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“Ah, it’s fine.” Toby nodded. “Sooo…” He twirled a lock of his around his finger. “You think my hair is auburn~?”

“Ghr.” Randall looked away.

“I think it’s nice!” Toby giggled, pretending he actually knew what the word auburn meant. “Hey! What would you call Sophia’s hair color?!”

“Hm?” Randall faced them again, giving Sophia a glance.

“Ahh--! Toby-!” Sophia jumped a bit. “D-Don’t startle me like that!”

Randall stared at Sophia a little bit longer than strictly necessary, then quickly looked away again, clearing his throat. “Sunset Copper.”

“Oh!! Sunset Copper!!” Toby grinned. “That sounds beautiful!”

“Ahh...” Sophia brushed her hair behind her ear. “It does…”

“So Randall, where’s your Morpho Partner?”

“HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE!!”

“AAHH--!!” Toby and Sophia both jumped as a grey, snake-like creature crawled out of the vase Randall was carrying.

“...” Randall faced them again. “This is Kracheen.”

“He- He’s…” Toby shortly looked over the Morpho Mons' weirdly humanoid face. “He’s very nice- I guess-”

“Huuuuhuhuhuhuuuu hue huehue huehue….” Kracheen quickly wiggled himself back into his vase.

“He’s shy,” Randall explained.

“NEW APPRENTICES: PLEASE GO TO CONFERENCE HALL 01, THE CEREMONY WILL START SHORTLY.”

The familiar AI voice was heard again, and the apprentices and their companions headed inside.

“Conference Hall 01?” Toby tilted his head. “Where would that be?”

“Uhm-” Sophia folded her hands. “Don’t you remember? They gave us floorplans via mail.”

“Oh… I don’t really check my mail.”

Randall rolled his eyes. “Come follow me.” He went up ahead and the other two followed him.