The chapter opens with Nikui and his fox Sol-Partner walking down the school hallway on his way to class. Lockers line the walls, voices echo, and eyes follow him everywhere he goes.

  **Being popular isn’t all it’s hyped up to be, he thinks. Everyone knows your name, and they think they know every little thing about you.**

  As he passes a group of girls clustered by the lockers, their whispers turn into squeals.

  “Oh my god, here comes Nikui,” one of them says. “How do I look?”

  “As if he’s too dreamy for you,” another laughs.

  “Yeah,” a third adds, “I could just get lost in those eyes.”

  Nikui walks directly past them.

  “Hi, Nikui!” they all shout in unison.

  He tilts his head back, knocking his dreads out of his face, and lets out a quiet scoff as he keeps moving.

  “Good grief.”

  **Why doesn’t anyone get it? he thinks. I don’t need them crowding me all the time. I need space.**

  Further down the hall, he spots members of the basketball team leaning against the wall.

  **Great. Not these guys.**

  “Hey, look, it’s our pal Nikui!” one of them calls out.

  The boys surround him instantly.

  “You know, man,” one says, slapping him on the shoulder, “if you joined the basketball team, we’d definitely make the championship.”

  “Yeah,” another adds. “I’ve seen you train. You’ve got crazy talent in everything you do.”

  The rest of the group cheers in agreement.

  Nikui stops walking.

  He slowly turns, his expression hardening. The sudden shift makes the boys uneasy.

  “I’m not talented.”

  They stare at him, confused.

  “Dude,” one of them says, “it’s a compliment. You’re really talented at everything. That’s a good thing.”

  “Don’t call me that,” Nikui snaps. “I work day and night to reach the level I’m at now. There’s no god-given talent that made me this way. I earned it. Maybe you all should do the same if you actually want to win a championship.” He scoffs. “Which I doubt you will.”

  One of the boys clenches his fists. “What a jerk. You’re lucky I don’t beat your ass.”

  “Come on,” another says, pulling him back. “We’ve got practice anyway. Forget this guy.”

  “No wonder he’s always alone,” someone mutters as they walk off. “I couldn’t imagine being friends with someone like that.”

  Nikui hears every word.

  He enters the classroom and takes his seat just as the teacher begins the lecture.

  **Those basketball jocks can’t even do simple arithmetic,** he thinks. **What do they know about friendship? They’re forced onto a stupid team and have no choice but to work together. That’s not friendship. Who needs friends anyway? I’d much rather be alone.**

  As the word alone settles in his mind, a paper slams onto his desk.

  He looks down.

  100% – A+ A smiley face is drawn in red ink at the top.

  “Great job, Nikui,” the teacher says. “You’re the only student in the entire grade who got a perfect score.”

  The girls behind him sigh dreamily.

  “Isn’t he just the smartest?” one whispers.

  “And the dreamiest,” another adds.

  Nikui rubs his face with his palm. “Good grief.”

  The bell rings, and the classroom erupts as students rush out.

  **Finally,** Nikui thinks. **I can escape.**

  He changes into his workout clothes and heads to the outdoor track, where students are exercising. Stepping onto the field, he puts in his earbuds, cranks the volume all the way up, and starts running.

  **I really like this song,** he thinks as the bass thumps in his ears. **It makes me feel strong. Music is amazing. It helps me escape crowded spaces… even a crowded head.**

  The steady pulse of the 808s syncs perfectly with his movements.

  **I could do this for hours. This is my true escape, where I can actually be alone.**

  The scene pulls back, Nikui training in the middle of a crowded field.

  He stops to grab some water when he hears muffled screaming behind the bleachers.

  Frowning, he jogs over.

  Behind them, he finds Eartha, Dawn, and Quinton standing over Taddo. Dawn and Quinton are holding him down while Eartha kicks him repeatedly.

  “Hold his arms!” Eartha snaps. “Don’t let him move!”

  “Why the hell did you do that, you twerp?” she shouts, kicking him again.

  “I—I’m sorry!” Taddo cries. “I didn’t mean—”

  Another kick cuts him off.

  “Touch me like that again,” Eartha snarls, “and next time I’ll be kicking your face in.”

  “Hey,” Nikui says sharply. “Ease up on him, Eartha.”

  Quinton smirks. “Uh-oh. The force is here.”

  “Oh! It’s your brother, Nikui!” Dawn chirps. “Hi, Nikui!”

  “Shut up, Dawn,” Quinton mutters.

  “This doesn’t concern you,” Eartha snaps. “Back off.”

  “I don’t know what that loser did,” Nikui says, “but I don’t think you should—”

  “Don’t tell me what to do!” Eartha yells. “You’re not Dad!”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I never said—”

  “Why are you even back here?” she continues. “I’m sick of you following me around. We’re twins, but you need to back off, you creep.”

  She jabs a finger toward his chest.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  She tries anyway. Nikui blocks her hand with his palm. She tries again. Blocked. Again. Again.

  Finally, he sweeps her hand aside, throwing her off balance. She stumbles, but he catches her by the shirt before she hits the ground.

  He helps her back up and brushes her off.

  When he looks around, the entire track field is staring.

  Then they start cheering.

  A teacher rushes over and grabs both of them by the arms.

  Later, Eartha sits outside the principal’s office as Nikui walks out.

  “Hahaha, just a misunderstanding,” the principal says, shaking Nikui’s hand. “Thank you for your cooperation. You’re a very bright student.”

  He turns and glares at Eartha.

  “Though I still had to phone home. You two stay out of trouble. I expect great things from both of you.”

  The twins hurry down the hallway.

  “Well?” Eartha asks. “Did you talk?”

  “I just told them what happened.”

  Outside the school, Nikui sighs. “Don’t worry. One of the maids picked up the phone. Dad won’t find out.”

  “I knew you’d snitch,” Eartha says, tripping him before running off. “That’s why you’re a lonely bitch!”

  Nikui groans as he scrambles up. “I’d much rather be alone… Good grief—hey! Wait! I don’t have the house key!”

  He chases after her as the panel fades to white.

  The next page opens in the present day at the Solar Training Temple.

  The students stand in formation as the three teachers prepare the day’s lessons.

  “Today, you’ll be training with me,” Sailor Bee announces.

  She leads the rookies to an open field and has them sit down.

  “Today I’ll show you how motion helps store solar energy,” she explains. “Stretching and movement prepare the body, like a seed reaching toward the sun.”

  She demonstrates several yoga movements, then motions for the students to stand.

  “These build habits,” Bee says. “Good habits. Your Sol Partner will guide you, but it’s up to you to practice.”

  As they move, Bosatsu struggles. Nikui, on the other hand, moves effortlessly.

  Eartha notices Bosatsu and steps in to “help.” He immediately falls over.

  Nikui helps him up.

  “It’s hard at first,” Nikui says quietly. “But it gets easier if you stick with it.”

  “I was already helping him,” Eartha snaps.

  “My bad,” Nikui says. “I didn’t mean to—”

  “Why don’t you leave?” Eartha cuts in. “This doesn’t concern you.”

  “He’s fine,” Bosatsu says. “Why don’t we all train together?”

  “With him? No way,” Eartha scoffs. “I should’ve known you two would get along.”

  “All right,” Sailor Bee says, clapping her hands. “That concludes today’s session.”

  The next day, Seismic Vein leads the students through the surrounding temples, eventually stopping at Solina’s Temple.

  Inside, he explains how Solar energy powers the island and how it should never be wasted.

  “The energy is strongest when it flows naturally,” he says.

  The students sit in an infinity symbol as Vein guides them through meditation.

  Later, Leo Heart claps his hands once, the sound echoing softly through the temple.

  “Alright,” he says, scanning the room. “That’s enough observation. Let’s put this into practice.”

  He begins dividing the recruits into groups of three, guiding them with calm authority. As students shift around the room, murmurs break out, excitement and nerves blending together.

  Eartha watches carefully.

  When Leo Heart assigns Taddo to a group that isn’t hers, she immediately steps forward.

  “I’ll switch with him,” she says quickly.

  Taddo blinks. “Huh?”

  Leo pauses, studying her. “And why is that?”

  “I think I’d learn better with Nakatomi and Kahan,” Eartha says, her tone casual, but her eyes flick briefly toward Bosatsu.

  Leo nods slowly. “Very well. Switch.”

  Taddo moves away, confused but relieved, while Eartha steps into the group beside Nakatomi and Kahan, folding her arms with quiet satisfaction.

  Leo Heart raises his voice so everyone can hear.

  “Now listen carefully. Clear your mind. Solar energy responds to intent, emotion, and focus. If your thoughts are scattered, your Solar will be too.”

  He walks between the groups as he speaks.

  “Don’t force it. Let it come to you.”

  The students close their eyes.

  Some produce faint sparks almost immediately. Others glow softly. A few struggle.

  Bosatsu stands stiffly, eyes squeezed shut, his breathing uneven.

  Nothing happens.

  Eartha cracks one eye open and snorts. “Wow. Still nothing? You really are hopeless. I can fix that. <3”

  Bosatsu opens his eyes, flustered. “I—I’m trying.” Bosatsu lowers his head, frustration creeping in.

  Nikui notices from across the room.

  He steps closer. “Hey,” he says gently. “When I can’t focus, I use music. Maybe try to think about your favorite song. That normally make everything else fade away for me. Helps quiet the noise.”

  Bosatsu hesitates. “Music…?”

  “Yeah,” Nikui says. “Something meaningful. Something that makes you feel safe.”

  Bosatsu closes his eyes again.

  At first, nothing changed.

  Then his expression softens.

  A memory surfaces, his mother’s voice, humming a familiar tune, warm and steady. The sound fills his mind, pushing everything else away.

  A faint red glow flickers around him.

  Nikui’s eyes widened. “Uh… guys?”

  The glow intensifies.

  Bosatsu’s hair slowly shifts color, strands turning a deep, radiant red as he begins to float in the sky.

  Gasps ripple through the room.

  Bosatsu opens his eyes in shock and falls to the ground hard. He looks to see everyone's face in complete disbelief. “Ugh, w-what’s happened?”

  The glow fades just as quickly as it appeared, leaving the room silent.

  Leo Heart stops walking.

  Sailor Bee straightens, confused. “That wasn’t Solar control… was it?”

  Vein narrows his eyes, studying Bosatsu intently.

  Students immediately surround him.

  “Did you see that?”

  “How did your hair change color?”

  “Can you do it again?”

  Bosatsu looks overwhelmed. “I—I don’t know. I didn’t mean to do anything.”

  Nikui steps in, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. I can help you train, if you want.”

  Bosatsu nods. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

  From across the room, Eartha watches them, jaw tight.

  Her fists clench.

  That evening, voices echo through the house.

  “You’re letting them throw themselves into danger,” their mother says sharply.

  “They need to be strong,” their father replies. “The world isn’t gentle.”

  Nikui and Eartha exchange glances and quietly sneak closer, listening from the hallway.

  “They should be exploring the island,” their mother continues. “Living. Not fighting.”

  Their father sighs. “Strength gives them choice.”

  The siblings step into the room.

  “We want to join,” Eartha says boldly.

  Nikui hesitates, then speaks up. “I think it’ll help me… talk to people. I don’t want to be so closed off anymore.”

  Their mother softens, looking between them.

  “I just want what’s best for you,” she says quietly. “Being a Sol Fighter isn’t easy. It will change you.”

  Their father nods. “But it’s their choice.”

  After a long pause, their mother exhales. “Whatever path you choose, I’ll support you.”

  The next morning, the bus idles.

  The kids climb aboard, bags slung over their shoulders.

  Their parents wave as the doors close.

  The three teachers sit together in a quiet chamber.

  Leo Heart speaks first. “What we saw today wasn’t individual power. It was a connection.”

  Bee frowns. “But during my session, he wasn’t showing any signs of energy like that at all.”

  Vein leans back, eyes distant. “I’ve only seen that kind of energy once.”

  They look at him.

  “When I trained under Prometheus.”

  Silence fills the room.

  To Be Contenued…