Eli walked out of the principal's office, the door clicking shut behind him. He didn't glance back. His eyes were set on the hallway ahead, filled with the usual mix of curious students and quiet whispers.
He had survived his first encounter with Madam Joselyn Maria. No real punishment—just a warning hidden behind veiled mentorship. She thought she could tame him. Like hell.
"I'll do whatever I want," Eli muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else. No one controls me.
The hallway buzzed softly with low murmurs. Most students still didn't know who he really was. Some had their theories, but no one truly understood.
Except her.
"You haven't changed a bit, have you?"
Eli stopped mid-step. That voice—it didn't belong to a stranger.
He turned and found her standing near a row of lockers, arms crossed, one foot propped casually against the wall. Hana Mizuno. Same dark braid. Same sharp eyes. No noble lineage, no royal blood—just grit, brains, and the kind of discipline born from hardship.
She wasn't just a top student—she was a survivor, like him. They had history.
Eli gave her a long look. "You still talk too much."
Hana smirked. "And you still think silence makes you deep."
He walked a bit closer, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed but eyes watchful. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"I could say the same," Hana said, gaze steady. "You disappeared after middle school. No goodbyes. No word. Now you're out here breaking arms like it's just another Tuesday."
Eli's jaw twitched, just slightly. "Had things to do."
"You mean running from your past and pretending no one remembers you?" Hana's voice was calm, but the sting in her words was clear. "You always had that lone wolf act, but this place isn't like where we grew up."
"I don't need a lecture, Hana," he said. "I'm not here to make friends."
"Obviously," she said dryly. "But if you're planning to stir up hell, don't expect me to clean up after you."
Eli tilted his head slightly. "You think you could?"
Her eyes narrowed. "No. But I know how to make you regret it."
There was a pause. A quiet, tense beat where old familiarity collided with new walls between them.
Then, Eli asked, "So who runs this place now? Who do I need to watch?"
Hana glanced at him, something flickering in her eyes. Not fear. Not even irritation. Maybe understanding.
"You think like that, you'll end up crushed," she said. "It's not about one person. It's about systems. Factions. Teachers. Students with influence. There's more happening here than what's on the surface."
"Let them come," Eli muttered. "I'm not afraid of games."
Hana turned to leave, but paused. "Just… don't act like you're invincible, Eli. Not here. You might've built your walls higher, but some of us still remember what's behind them."
Eli didn't answer. He watched her go, her steps steady and unhurried.
The hallway buzzed again, the weight of the moment dispersing like smoke.
He let out a breath.
He wasn't just facing strangers anymore.
He was facing ghosts.
And that… changed everything.