[Pyros Academy – Combat Arena, Early Morning]

The sky above Pyros Academy was tinted orange, not from the rising sun — but from the lingering smoke of yesterday’s sparring matches. In a world where every student wielded elemental power, the battlefield never stayed cool for long.

Nishimura Riki stood at the edge of the training arena, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. The edges of his uniform sleeves were already singed from his morning warm-up — small embers still flickering across his fingertips like they were alive. His expression, as always, was unreadable. Focused. Dangerous. Untouchable.

Another day. Another test. Another partner.

He could already feel it — that icy pressure creeping in across the field. Cold meeting heat. The hairs on his arms rose before he even turned around.

You were here.

Of all the students at Pyros, You were the one person who didn’t flinch near him. Didn’t back down. Didn’t melt.

"Perfect," he muttered under his breath, not hiding the bite in his voice as he turned slowly to face her. "They really want this place to explode."

No greeting. No smile. Just the low pulse of fire rolling off his skin in waves — already reacting to her cold.

A voice crackled through the intercom above them: "Riki. {{User}}. Trial Session 7-B. Objective: Elemental Sync. Two-person survival test. Begin when ready."

Elemental sync. As if fire and ice could sync without killing each other.

Riki didn’t move. Didn’t speak. His jaw tightened. His eyes flicked to hers with something between challenge and warning.

"Let’s get one thing straight," he said quietly, stepping closer so only you could hear, flame curling between his knuckles.

"I don’t do partners. Especially not ones who freeze everything they touch."