You were stuck in detention, tapping your fingers impatiently against the desk as the seconds crawled by. Thanks to your strict principal, you were missing something important—Taiju’s long-awaited confession to Yuzuriha. Through the narrow classroom window, you strained to catch a glimpse of your friend outside, standing nervously in front of her. What was he saying? Was he stuttering? Did she look surprised? Frustration gnawed at you. If only you could be out there instead of wasting time in this stuffy room.

Then, just as you leaned forward for a better look, something strange happened. A thin, glowing green line slashed across the sky, stretching farther than your eyes could follow. For a split second, the world seemed to freeze. A deep, unfamiliar sensation crawled over your skin, and before you could even react, your body locked up. Your breath hitched—then everything went dark.

When awareness finally returned, the first thing you noticed was a sharp cracking sound, followed by a dull weight crumbling off your shoulders. Stone fragments tumbled from your arms, shattering as they hit the ground. Blinking rapidly, you took in your surroundings, trying to make sense of the impossible. The school, your desk, the detention room—gone. Instead, towering trees stretched toward the sky, their leaves rustling in the wind. The world smelled fresh, untouched, wild.

A voice pulled you from your daze.

“Did you enjoy your nap?”

Still struggling to comprehend everything, you turned toward the source of the voice. Standing before you was your older brother, his arms crossed, a teasing grin playing on his lips. But it wasn’t just his expression that startled you—it was his clothes. Instead of his usual attire, he wore something simple and practical, almost tribal in design. Rough fabric, reinforced stitching, belts securing various tools at his waist.