He didn’t have the expression of a charming prince.But he sure as hell had the looks for an ice prince.

  Pause.“I know what you’re all thinking.”“Am I gonna do the thing where a girl's heart skips a beat when a handsome guy saves her?”“Yes, I am — but don’t worry, it’s not gonna go exactly how you expect.”“Well… for the most part, at least.”Unpause.

  He had caught Shindo as she stumbled, his arm briefly around her to break the fall. She quickly pulled away, flustered and slightly pink.

  Twice today.Twice my clumsiness has gotten me into this kind of situation. So embarrassing. And right in front of him, too.

  “I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”(She bowed sincerely toward Rukimi.)

  The other three stood frozen, watching as the scene unfolded.One was slightly cowering, convinced Rukimi could literally smell fear.Another was itching with bloodlust and excitement — finally, her chance.The st one? Let’s just say he wasn’t thrilled to meet Rukimi, not after watching him casually swoop in like a prince from a drama.

  First-years…They shouldn’t be around here.

  “There’s no need to apologize.”(He gestured for Shindo to stop bowing.)

  “Umm, thank you for saving me. I’m Shindo Izarashi, a first-year starting today.”“It’s an honor to meet you.”

  Was that weird? I hope I didn’t creep him out. He’s one of Gen Zero, after all…

  He stared at her, then at the other three. His gaze felt… clinical. Like he was scanning, detecting something.

  They actually had the guts to approach our cssroom. I’ll give them that.But… something feels off about this Shindo girl.

  “Rukimi Mizuno. Second year.”“And you?”(He stared daggers at the other three.)“Also, be warned — this pce isn’t exactly welcoming to normal students.”

  He wasn’t trying to pierce daggers into them. That was just… how he naturally looked at people.

  “Sachi Hikozashi. First year.”“And now that I’ve introduced myself… why don’t we have a little match?”“You know, just a warm-up.”

  The surrounding temperature dipped. Not drastically — just enough to notice.

  “You know what, it’s fine. Maybe ter.”

  So this is what a Gen Zero member is like… color me impressed.That aura… it made me shiver for a moment.Cold…

  “Uhhh… hi. My name’s Daichi Kawamura, first year.”“Umm… nice to meet you…”

  Please don’t kill me. Please don’t kill me. My danger senses are screaming.

  And now — st but not least — the ‘Leader’ of this very gutsy group of first-years.

  So this is the guy they call The Arctic Hell.Doesn’t look so scary.Just some pretty boy who swoops in and saves the damsel.If I had his looks and timing, I would’ve done the same.

  (Actual internal-internal monologue: Please let me live past today. No, I’m not jealous or anything.)

  “Sure. Whatever you say, boy.”

  The disembodied narrator shook his non-existent head at the boy’s “non-jealousy.”

  Cough.

  “Umm, Shiro Yasaki. First year. Nice to meet you… Arctic Hell sir.”

  Wait, why the hell did I call him sir!?He’s not all that! He’s just a good-looking guy who saved Shindo.Not that I care it was him instead of me.

  “I mean — Arctic Hell…”“Thank you for helping Shindo.”

  He said it begrudgingly. He’s thankful. But also a teenage boy with pride and emotions.

  “Drop the title calling.”“Just call me Rukimi.”

  Daichi…Simir vibe to Keigo. A chaotic one.

  Sachi…Reckless, but cautious. Respectable.

  Shiro…Acts his age. Could use work on keeping his emotions internal.

  Shindo…Strange. Like she doesn’t belong here. Something about her feels... off.

  He stared at each of them in turn — a rare sight from someone used to being surrounded by crowds instead of four very real individuals.

  “You. Who are you really?”(He took a step toward Shindo.)

  “I’m sorry… I don’t know what you mean.”(She stepped back.)“Did I do something wrong?”

  Oh no. I think I made him mad.

  (Shiro stepped in front of her.)“Hey, what’s the big idea? Who do you think you are?”

  “I don’t care if you’re part of Gen Zero — you don’t just go around scaring people.”

  Look at him go. Swooping in to defend a girl.

  I might’ve screwed myself. But please tell me I looked cool. Cooler than the Ice Prince.

  “My apologies. That was wrong—”

  Before Rukimi could expin, the temperature spiked. A burst of fire crashed into him.Oddly humanoid in shape. Why is it always humanoid?

  BOOMF!

  The calm and cold Ice Prince went flying.

  “Ice cube~”“Are you bullying some poor first-years?”

  A teasing, feminine voice echoed through the smoke.

  Of course she shows up now.

  Cough.Rukimi stood up slowly, brushing off debris. The wall… not so lucky.

  “Oi, fireball. Who’s paying for the damages!?”

  “You~ Obviously~.”

  Ughhh.

  “I can’t stand you sometimes…”

  “But you’re always next to me, though?”

  Tch.“Whatever…”

  (His ears — suspiciously pink.)

  The first-years stared, unsure whether to be scared or... deeply concerned.

  “Hiya, firsties~ Did little ol’ Rukimi bully you poor things?”

  “Don’t worry, he’s always like that. He usually means well.”“Usually...”

  Shindo was taken aback by her sudden entrance, but her awestruck expression stayed.

  Wow… so beautiful…

  “Hi-hi, my name is—”

  “No need to reintroduce yourselves. I already know your names.”(She pointed at each of them.)“Shindo, Sachi, Daichi, and Shiro.”

  “Y-yes… how did you know?”

  (Shindo tilted her head.)

  “Oh, I heard it from the ice cube over there.”

  Ahem.

  “Mind expining how you ‘heard’ it from me when you just got here?”

  “Hmmm. Oh — there’s a listening device attached to your hoodie.”

  “What.”

  “Yup~ Tracker and listening device. ‘Cause you’re such a lone wolf.”

  Tch.“…Ryo.”

  “So, what’s going on here?”“Why were you interrogating the poor girl?”

  (She gently patted Shindo’s head.)“Don’t worry — he won’t hurt you. Big Sis will protect you~”

  “Th-thanks, Big Sis Ayuri…”

  Wait, what am I saying? That’s the Fme Empress!

  “Oh, sorry — that was weird of me to say.”

  “No need to apologize. If you like, keep calling me that.”

  She gave a devious smirk — hard to tell if it was genuine or if she just enjoyed the spotlight.

  Awwww, what a cute first-year.Time to show them how Big Sis does it.

  (Rukimi deadpanned and looked at the two.)

  “I wasn’t trying to interrog—”

  He was promptly cut off. Which, honestly? Wild. Nobody cuts him off.

  The temperature dropped — and not in a good way.

  “Hey-hey, Ms. Fme Empress. Let’s have a match.”

  Sachi… might need therapy.Who willingly challenges a walking sor fre?

  “Heh. I like your style. Not afraid of anything.”

  The heat surged by 10°C. It was getting hot — and not in the attractive way.

  “But just so you know — very few can handle my fmes.”

  Her tone was teasing. But beneath it? A yer of sly warning.

  Yep. Fme Empress lives up to the name.Today is not the day to spar.

  “Let’s save the match for ter.”“Wouldn’t want you injured before your big debut.”

  Pause.“Honestly, for someone with crazy battle tendencies—”“She gives up when faced with actual danger.”“Coward?”“Maybe…”“Am I gonna say it out loud? Hell no.”Unpause.

  “Dude… it’s not just me that thinks she’s hot, right?”“Not just metaphorically — literally.”

  “Daichi. For someone who uses his family name as an escape pn…”“You really think that’s a smart thing to say?”

  (Daichi shrugged.)

  “Fair point… but are you gonna argue with me?”

  “…No. You’re not wrong.”

  Still… Shindo is cuter. Not that it’s a competition or anything. Not like I’m biased.

  “I’m just warning you two — maybe don’t say that out loud.”

  The narrator echoed ominously from the void.

  “You know what it meant by that?”“No, man. You’re the one always talking to the voice!”

  “Well…”

  “Can’t arg—”

  They messed up. Of all people to provoke…

  Ahem.

  “Speak up, first-years. Got something else to say?”

  The air froze. Literally. Rukimi lifted his hand. Before being promptly stopped by Ayuri.

  “Ice cube, what did I tell you this morning?”

  Tch.(Rukimi rolled his eyes.)

  “We don’t want a repeat of st year.”

  Annoying fireball.

  The boys shook like leaves.

  “You better be careful with your words around him.”“And fttery only gets you so far.”

  “But thanks for the compliments. I am hot. No need to remind me.”

  Cough.“Yeah… sure… you’re welcome, I guess.”

  I think I saw God for a moment. Or maybe that was just the narrator again.

  (Daichi slowly stepped behind Shiro.)“Dude, be my human shield.”

  “What!? Why me!?”

  “Cause you have a Fate and I don’t. Also… I’m a coward.”

  (An icy presence loomed.)

  “Some comments should be kept inside,” Rukimi said — cold, and not in a tranquil way.In a threatening way.

  “Yes sir, sorry sir. Please don’t kill us, sir.”

  The two boys now resembled soldiers being scolded by their general.

  “Good. Also stop calling me ‘sir.’ It’s weird.”

  They nodded rapidly. Somehow avoiding frostbite.

  Du-du~ Du-du~

  “Hello~ The Fme Empress speaking. What do you want, Glitchbrain?”

  “Uh-huh. Yeah. Okay. Sure.”

  “Oh, and ask the puppy for a fmethrower.”

  “Why? Because the ice cube found the tracker.”

  “Bye~ Good luck~”

  “Oi. Ice cube. We gotta go. Leader’s orders.”

  Hmph.(Rukimi gnced back at the first-years.)

  “You, first years better get moving.”

  The four stared after the duo, each with a different reaction.

  Daichi checked his watch.“Oh crap, we only have 10 minutes before the match starts!”

  Cue panic.

  “Crap, we better go! Good seats are probably already taken!”

  “Great observation, Starry Boy.”“Did anyone else not think of that?”

  (Sarcasm: 100)

  They bolted down the hall — tripping, filing. Honestly surprising Sachi didn’t unch one of them.

  And then…

  “…Wait. We forgot Shindo!?”

  “Damn it! How could I forget Ms. Shindo!?”

  “Why do you call her Ms. anyway?”

  “You wanna keep asking dumb questions, Starry Boy?”

  (Sachi formed a mysterious glowing sphere.)

  “Nope. No more questions.”

  Why does she always resort to violence!?

  (They turned back.)

  Meanwhile…

  (Shindo bowed toward the two uppercssmen.)

  “It was an honor to meet you both.”“And I apologize for making you both lose track of time.”

  The two gnced at each other.One found her sincerity adorable. The other… unnecessary.

  “Don’t worry about it. Big Sis won’t be mad.”

  She’s precious. I want her to be my little sister.

  “It’s no trouble. No need to apologize.”

  Her sincerity is admirable. But still… something’s not quite right.

  Rukimi muttered under his breath.“Ryo, better thank her. She just bought him half an hour of life.”

  (Cut to Gen Zero.)

  Achoo.“Statistically speaking, there’s a 29% chance someone’s talking about me.”

  “Keigo, make a fmethrower.”

  (Back to Shindo and the uppercssmen)

  “You better go. Your friends are running back.”

  (Rukimi pointed.)

  “O-oh, okay. Thank you, Rukimi. And Big Sis Ayuri.”

  “Bye, Firsty~ And keep calling me Big Sis Ayuri~.”

  (Rukimi gave a faint nod.)

  The duo watched her run off.

  “Well, we better get going too.”“Don’t want Glitchbrain to start nagging.”

  “I’d like to see him try…”

  “…A tracker? We’ll see about that.”

  They turned and walked away.

  Pause.

  “Aight, that was a chaotic chapter.”“Ice and fire are total opposites.”“But somehow, they just work.”“Anyway, next up — an interlude chapter.”“Don’t worry. It’s important.”“…Kind of.”

  Unpause.