As the teachers entered the classroom everyone got on their seats and it became quiet immediately. Sayuri remembered the school's principal from yesterday's entrance speech as she introduced herself again. 

Miss Osakabe: "… and my tang is shadow control." As a demonstration her pupils became slits and she let her dark red eyes glow in the same alarming red as Kazuo's yesterday.

Why out of all powers it had to be this? Sayuri felt uncomfortable. Did all shadow controllers have this kind of glance? Creepy … 

Mister Takano, a slender man with dark hair and eyes also had an eye-related tang he called supervision. A power letting him see through walls, 360° and even beyond the horizon. What an irony, both teachers wore glasses. Sayuri thought about ever being able to get used to all this. Could her teacher also look through clothing? She shook this off her mind as she now had to concentrate on the lesson. 

As soon as the principal started talking about the subjects her eyes returned to normal.

Miss Osakabe: "I'll be your general history teacher this year. There are three categories: Northwind history, Tokuni history and Tang history. You can choose them more specifically from third grade on. You'll also have the honor of me teaching you practically, showing you how to use your tangs together and against each other. Last but not least I'll boost your left brain side with some essay writing and stuff like that. You know, that's also important!" She said the last part like she knew most of her students only wanted to show off their powers and then graduate.

Mister Takano: "The theory part for Shinteki is mine. I'll tell you all important facts about your tangs, their strengths and weaknesses, just everything! Oh, and I'm also here for your mental exercising! Some logical riddles, arithmetic, … be prepared!"

Sayuri cringed. Hopefully not too much math. She hated this subject ever since and god knows what everyone else had learned with numbers so far in this world. At least she knew what the term "Tokuni" meant, as she read it up yesterday. It was just what they called this part of the world, where people with tangs lived in separation from the "normal" humans.

Miss Osakabe: "Now let's get to the probably most anticipated topic: Private coaching with your assigned tutor! They are selected randomly from the graduation class according to your category. Meaning you as Shinteki will also get a Shinteki tutor. You're all matched up already and we will reveal them shortly. But first …" She looked at her colleague.

Mister Takano: "Ah, yes, yes. Sports. You need to choose two out of three! Stamina training, team sports and there are some additional sport subjects from which you can choose one maximum. The sport classes will be mixed with Gaiteki and Haigo. Stamina training will be taught by me among others and for the extra courses, I'm now handing out a list. Please read carefully and enter your names, if interested! And don't forget to remember the times and room numbers and it's sad I have to add this, but make it work with your curriculum. Don't overlap your classes!"

While the list was circulating, Miss Osakabe then mentioned voluntary courses not related to school grades and just for fun and sharing hobbies, meeting other students and having a bit more of a high school feeling. They should look at the board in front of the mensa.

Hana: "Hey, do you know what you'll attend?" She bent over to Sayuri whispering, because the necromancer girl finally had the list on her table.

Sayuri: "Hm … I think I'll check in for the dancing class." //I love doing rhythmic gymnastics after all.// "And then … I need some stamina and I hate team sports, haha." She entered herself in the respective fields and passed the list over to Hana.

Hana: "Really? I'm dancing like a duck and …" she scanned the classes. "… none of them takes my fancy. I'm staying with the basic courses. Hopefully we'll have stamina training together. I'm sooo unathletic!"

Sayuri looked over her curriculum. Even with all classes filled there was so much free space. Like half the week was empty. But well … as long as no one complained, this might just be the way it was.

Miss Osakabe: "Okay, back to the tutor training. I'll now announce the pairings. Definite and valid from now on. You'll get more details from your coaches themselves."

🔹

Hana: "But honestly, you're not having an easy time, Sayu-chan. Having one of the school's best students teaching you, out of all this Vincent guy on top. I'm sorry for you." 

During lunch time the Power Squirrels compared their curriculums, talked about their first lessons and the most exciting topic: The tutors.

Ryota: "Why? I don't know this guy, but it is awesome having a good trainer! I'm so excited about mine tomorrow. Daisuke Oonishi – what his tang might be?"

Toki: "Exactly, don't scare Sayuri right away! Just because your brothers don't like him, it means nothing! I'm far more concerned that my tutor will be Miss Ootsuka! Haigo's graduating class students are too few, so I'm going to be trained by my teacher!"

Ryota: "Nice. Finally a woman who will get you by the balls, Toki-chan!"

Toki: "Ah, come on, shut up!" He laughed.

Hana: "Hm, maybe you're right, but it would be way cooler if one of my brothers could be coaching Sayuri!"

Sayuri didn't really listen. She didn't know Hana's brothers nor Vincent. It was a strange coincidence that the only two necromancers got matched. Additionally their training would start after lunch break, which made her feel nervous. She was so helpless and unprepared. She still was a Momaina knowing nothing. Hopefully it wouldn't get too embarrassing… 

Suddenly squeaks resonated from the food distribution and everyone looked over there instinctively. Girls' skirts blew up, food floated around and someone tripped over nothing. Hana was sighing.

Hana: "Speak of the devil …"

Sayuri didn't understand a thing. She just saw a croissant flying towards them and Toki's hair was rumpled up by itself. She didn't know what to say, as the pastry got a hand holding it and even a whole body as well as a person behind Toki becoming visible. And they looked alike. So were they even two or one person? These tall, ash blonde guys.

Hana: "Do you always need to cause chaos? It's even worse than at home!"

Guy behind Toki: "Say, little sister, are you finally dating illousy* douchey?" (*editor's note: pun with illusion and lousy)

Toki: "Don't call me like that, Chino!" His arms were crossed but Toki was still smiling.

Hana: "Baka! Better bring home a girlfriend yourself!"

Other guy: "Don't talk to your precious onii-tans like that!" He took the last bite from the croissant and appreciatively licked his fingers.

Hana: "I'm not 4 years old anymore, Akira!"

Akira: "But, but, but, we love our imouto-chan sooo muuuuch!" With his overdone staginess he'd surely have won a price somewhere … maybe.

So they were Hana's brothers? Twins with only pranks on their minds? And she really wanted one of them to coach Sayuri? She was kinda relieved that this didn't happen. How much worse could this Vincent be?

Akira: "Oi, Ryo, long time no see!"

Ryota: "Ture, I was kinda busy during summer vacation."

Akira: "And who's that pretty lady?" He suddenly appeared behind Sayuri.

Hana: "Hands off! That's Sayuri, my Sayuri!" She kicked her brother's shinbone and he jumped back screaming.

Sayuri: "Um … nice to meet you or something?" A shiver went down her spine as Akira was so close behind her. To not look frozen she ran her fingers through her hair as displacement activity.

Akira: "Oh, pardon! I didn't know you had already claimed her ownership." He laughed while rubbing his shin. "May I introduce us? My brother Chino and my humble self, Akira. Just so you know, I'm some minutes older."

Chino: "You're pulling out this crap again? It doesn't matter at all! I'm 100-times prettier and smarter than you anyways!"

Akira: "We look completely alike and even our grades are the same …"

Chino: "My hair falls fluffier and I'll definitely get a girl first!"

Akira: "You won't!" He tripped his brother up as he wanted to move towards a girl group.

Chino: "You bastard! You're just jealous!" He took a tray from the shelf he had landed in front of, just to hit his brother with it as soon as he got up again.

Ryota: "Guys, we're in the canteen …" He tried to stop Chino.

Hana: "Stop!" She grabbed Akira's waist and pulled him back.

But because Akira accidentally hit Ryota instead of his brother he joined the fight. Even Hana got involved. Only Toki seemed to have no interest in this mess.

Toki: "You know, Sayuri, actually they're totally palsy-walsy." He smiled.

The others: "Shut up, illousy douchey!"

Toki just shrugged laughing. Sayuri could easily see how close this group was with each other. Something she never experienced herself. She had two friends at her home town, but compared to what she witnessed in only two days here, she felt her bondings had only been superficial. Well, now her daily life would definitely get chaotic but also more funny.

But when she looked at Toki, she thought about her dream again. Toki behaved completely normal, like nothing had happened. Has he really been in her head last night? She decided to say nothing about it. No matter it being real or not, it wouldn't make a difference to her anyway … would it?!

Toki: "Too bad I'm the only one of us having free time Monday afternoon. Compared to you all, my timetable just sucks."

Sayuri: "True. But I'm also wondering how there is so much free space in general. I mean, I know this isn't a normal school here, but anyway …"

Toki: "It's the reward for going through hard torturing lessons here." He laughed. "I mean, the teachers expect us to use all the free time for self studies, self training and so on. They won't go easy on us as they want us to graduate as showpieces. And don't worry. Each year, more classes are added."

Sayuri: "Oh, I see." //I'm so not ready for this.// "Then why … did you choose this school over a normal one?" Hiroshi's old friends had tangs and attended a casual school. So there was no dictates being here.

Toki: "Good question. I guess, on the one hand, because it's just how things are and always have been. My parents were here, my grandparents and I don't wanna be separated from Hana and Ryo. On the other hand I also wanna become stronger. Much stronger! I need to – no, I want to control my tangs to achieve my goal."

Sayuri: "Your goal?"

Toki: "Ah – I've got too carried away." He scratched his head constrainedly.

Sayuri realized he probably didn't want to talk about his goal, so she didn't ask further. Luckily, before an awkward silence could develop, Hiroshi came over. He asked if they had seen Ryota, since they both now had stamina training. but Sayuri and Toki just pointed to the cloud of dust, in which the four were still scuffling. Hiroshi just shook his head, smiled and left.

Sayuri: "I also should go now … My tutor is awaiting me …" //And it will take me ages to find the right room.// As she was about to bring away her tray, Hana seemed to have finished her fight.

Hana: "Yo, guys. I'm out as well, I also have my coaching now!" She tried to fix her hair.

Her brothers and Ryota finally stopped fighting, too.

Ryota: "Oh shit, and I have sports and need to fetch my clothes from the dorms! See ya!" Ryota sure was really fast, as he was already gone, before he finished his sentence.

Chino: "Say, whooo is my sister's tutor? We definitely know them!"

Hana: "Emily Tachikawa!"

Chino: "Aww, Emi-chan! Such a sweetheart!" He looked up to the ceiling with folded hands, like he was praying, but his expression was so soft, his eyes could turn into hearts every moment.

Akira: "Yeah, so sweet that she friendzones you every damn single year, hahahaha."

Chino: "No, no. She is just shy! But be careful, Hana. Still waters run deep. Or I'd better say loud, hehe."

Hana: "What does that even mean? Whatever, gotta go now!" She hugged Toki from behind and then turned to Sayuri. "Sayu-chan, let's go! I'll show you the way!"

Sayuri: "You're saving my life!"

Sayuri was lucky, Hana had already planned on bringing her to her destination. Time has come. Her first supernatural training. She pressed her bag with her rod to her side, took a deep breath and entered the room. A project room with some dusty shelves, even more dusty books, some tables in one corner with boxes on them, a blackboard and some folding chairs. She didn't know what she'd expected, but not this. She was almost disappointed and confused. She didn't even notice a person standing behind her closely. When Sayuri noticed the presence it was already too late and the person held something cold to her throat and she froze immediately. Again someone was way too close to her. So close she could feel the breath when they whispered in her ear.

???: "Rule number one – Never turn your back on your opponent."