The rooftop of Hoshizora Academy was bathed in soft morning light. Wind swept through the railings, tugging gently at the ivy growing along the edge. Most students didn't come up here—it was peaceful, secret.
Perfect for hiding.
Shane sat on the stone bench, knees drawn to her chest, eyes unfocused. She hadn't told the others about the weird water moment. Not even Mira. What would she even say? "Oh hey, I accidentally made water float in space this morning"?
She sighed.
"I knew I'd find you here."
The voice was low. Steady. Familiar.
She turned—and there he was.
Rio.
Leaning casually against the rooftop door, arms crossed, dark hair catching the sunlight like ink soaked in gold. His eyes locked on hers—not threatening, but not soft either. A mix of curiosity and something else.
"You always appear out of nowhere," Shane said, trying to sound normal.
"You weren't scared," he replied.
"What?"
"Last night. This morning. You felt it, didn't you?"
He took a step forward, his gaze searching.
Shane stood up slowly. "You were watching?"
Rio's silence said yes.
"I saw the water," he said. "I felt the pulse in the air."
Shane swallowed. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying... you're not just someone with powers." He paused. "You're something more."
The wind whipped between them like a breath held by the world.
Shane's heart beat harder. "You're not normal either, are you?"
Rio didn't smile, but his voice softened. "No. I'm not."
There it was. A moment where two truths hovered between them, unspoken but known.
Then—his eyes narrowed.
"You need to be careful. If your energy spikes again, others might notice. Not all of them are safe."
Shane stepped closer. "Are you safe?"
That finally earned a slight smirk. "Only if you are."
She blinked. His answer felt... dangerous. But real.
Before she could ask more, the bell rang in the distance. Students were already flooding the halls below.
"Come on," Rio said, already walking toward the stairs. "You're late for class."
"Hey—wait—" Shane ran after him. "Are we gonna talk about this again?"
"Eventually."
And with that, the dragon was gone.
To be continued…