Hoshikawa High Cafeteria – Lunchtime, Day After Kagari and Miyu Transferred

  The cafeteria was unusually loud today.

  Students peeked over their trays, whispering behind water bottles and servings of curry. Phones discreetly and secretly snapped photos. The source of the commotion? None other than Kagari Akari — the Flame Empress herself — casually sitting in the middle of the room beside Miyu, Yumi, and Kaizo.

  Kaizo (raising an eyebrow): “So, seriously… What the hell is this “endorsement system”?”

  Kagari (thinking hard): “It’s a bit difficult to explain. I heard from a friend of mine that it was supposed to be an improvement from what the government did last time, or something like that…”

  Yumi (curious, tilting her head): “Wait… so the endorsement stuff is like, the new version of something older?”

  Kagari (nodding): “Not really. But I don’t really know much about the old system either. I heard it wasn’t that great. All I know is stuff went bad when Horizon users weren’t properly trained.”

  Miyu (chiming in, slightly embarrassed): “The system is still pretty new and they don't tell us a lot.”

  Yumi (frowning, under her breath): “…I don’t know that much either. I’m still new to this”

  Kaizo (leaning forward, tapping his fingers on the table): “I think I can cover that part..”

  The three of them glanced at him, as he lowered his voice slightly and began speaking clearly.

  Kaizo (serious): “In the past, our country of Amakure would repeatedly cycle through conflicts we called the Catalyst Wars. They weren’t really battles. It would be better if we called them clean up efforts after deadly catastrophes. Each war broke out because the Sosei Council didn’t know how to handle Horizon users properly, and those Horizon users couldn’t handle their powers correctly.

  They were trying to contain something called Resonant Collapse. That’s what happens when someone with Horizon abilities bottles up their powers for too long—usually because of trauma, loneliness, or straight-up emotional breakdowns. If they fail to attempt to use their abilities, the Horizon energy builds up inside until it starts leaking uncontrollably. That’s when things get ugly.”

  Yumi (eyes wide): “Ugly how?”

  Kaizo (grim): “First it’s memory loss… then violent outbursts… then they lose themselves completely., No control over themselves so their pure Horizon energy would just run wild. They’ll destroy anything nearby—people, buildings, you name it—until they pass out… or someone… puts them down.”

  The other 3 gave him a slightly terrified look.

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  Kagari (shocked): “Like… they killed them?”

  Kaizo (nodding): “Yeah, something like that. Anyway, the Council knew eventually they had to break the cycle. So after the last Catalyst War, they tried something new. Some kind of program.”

  He glanced at Kagari and Kagari nodded in understanding.

  Kagari (picking up where Kaizo left off): “They called it the Catharsis Program. It’s… complicated, but the point is to stop Horizon users from reaching Resonant Collapse.”

  Miyu (nodding): “Right. It gives us somewhat of a purpose. We train, fight, and receive assistance mentally, physically, and emotionally. We get help so we don’t end up like what happened to the previous users of the past.”

  Kagari (continuing): "Military training, monitoring of power, certain education. All of it is meant to be a controlled outlet. And if you’re good enough, you earn endorsements — like contracts. Deals from real companies that want to sponsor you, even the school you go to. That’s how schools suddenly start raking in cash out of nowhere.”

  Yumi (eyes lighting up): “So that’s why Ayame’s been pushing so hard for all this!”

  Kaizo (leaning back, processing): “…Makes sense now. Auntie’s trying to abuse this system using me, huh? That old lady is going to regr-”

  Kagari (suprised): “Your aunt?”

  Yumi (explaining): “Oh yeah, you don't know? Principal Ayame is Kaizo’s aunt.”

  Miyu (quietly drinking her water): “Makes sense.”

  Kagari (sighing): “Is that why he acts that way around her?”

  Yumi (nodding): “Yep.”

  Kaizo (to us):[ “Am I that annoying? (slight pause) “Delete that comment.”]

  Infinity sat on the table beside Kaizo’s plate, gnawing on a taiyaki as the rest processed the information between them.

  MONTAGE – TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

  – Kagari scribbled lazily in a workbook; an Algebra question for someone else could be considered Calculus in front of her

  – Yumi was finishing her work, and helped Kagari finish up

  – Miyu quietly adjusted her notes as she sneaked glances at Yumi’s paper.

  – Kaizo did about 200 push-ups very slowly while reading a ton of books in the library and Infinity continued to sleep on his head.

  WEDNESDAY – ROOFTOP, HOSHIKAWA HIGH

  Kagari walked toward Kaizo, who was lounging against the fence, sipping a sports drink and looking at the sky.

  Kagari (flat): “Question.”

  Kaizo (casual): “Shoot.”

  Kagari (arms crossed): “Where’s our private lounge?”

  Kaizo blinked. Then frowned.

  Kaizo (thinking hard… too hard): “...We don’t have one… yet.”

  Kagari stared at him, expression dead blank.

  Kagari (deadpan): “You had VIP room privileges this whole time… and you forgot?”

  Kaizo shrugged.

  Kaizo (unbothered): “I’ve been busy. I’ll get it done… eventually…”

  Kagari sighed, already walking away.

  Kagari (dismissive): “Never mind.”

  Kaizo watched her leave, sipping his drink like nothing happened.