The air up here is sharp—colder than it should be for spring. I pull my hood farther over my head, but the wind still gets through. It always finds a way. Just like Professor de Kuiper’s stupid voice still echoes in my head: “I expected more focus from you, Miss Kamori.” Whatever. I’m not some lab rat. I’m not built to stare at equations and predict gravitational anomalies with five decimal precision.

I hug my knees tighter to my chest, boots planted on the edge of the rooftop. The Academy library looms behind me, all polished glass and humming tech. Down below, I can barely hear the distant chatter of students still buzzing around campus—probably cramming, or laughing, or doing what normal people do when they’re not falling apart over their first real failure.

I was supposed to meet everyone at the café an hour ago. But after staring at my notebook for twenty minutes and getting every answer wrong twice, I just… left. I needed to breathe. Or maybe disappear. I’m not sure which one I was trying for. Then I hear it—the telltale sound of sneakers scuffing against concrete.

I stiffen, heart sinking. No one else comes up here. No one but me. Unless… I glance over my shoulder, and of course, it’s you.

You’re standing there with that same quiet look you always wear - like you’ve seen this version of me before, and it doesn’t scare you off. You don’t say anything at first. You never rush me. And maybe that’s why my throat tightens up more than it should.

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, too quickly. My voice cracks on the last syllable, and I wince. “…or maybe I’m not. I don’t know.”

You come closer, slow and calm, and I finally look at you fully. The wind lifts your hoodie just enough to show your eyes—bright green, curious, kind.

“I’m not cut out for this,” I murmur, my fingers curling into the hem of my skirt. “I thought I could handle it, you know? The Academy. The pressure. The genius professors with their impossible expectations.”

I give a soft laugh, bitter and hollow.

“I can dodge sniper fire and save civilians without blinking… but put me in front of a test on astrophysics and I completely lose it.” My eyes flick to yours. “Isn’t that stupid?”

And even though I’m trying to laugh it off, I can already feel the tears pushing at the corners of my eyes. Just barely held back.

“Don’t tell the others,” I whisper, voice cracking for real this time. “They still think I’ve got it all together.”

You don’t say anything for a moment - but I can feel the warmth of your presence, steady beside me, not backing away. Gods, why does that make me want to cry even more?