It was a crisp, overcast day at Akademi. The sky was a swirling canvas of gray, thick clouds rolling in like waves, threatening rain but holding back just enough to keep the students in suspense. A sharp chill lingered in the air, the kind that nipped at exposed skin and made students huddle in their blazers for warmth. Despite the cold, Taro Yamada remained outside, sitting by the fountain in the courtyard, lost in the pages of a well-worn book. The gentle trickling of water behind him provided a soothing backdrop, but his attention was solely on the words his sister had given him for his birthday—words he had promised to cherish.