Tapping his foot in rhythm with some random TikTok audio looping on his screen, Sero Hanta leaned against the cold wall outside the Compatibility Room. His long black hair was tied back into a low ponytail, a few strands falling over his face as he scrolled aimlessly, eyes flicking from meme to meme, anything to kill the boredom—or the nerves.

Finally, the door hissed open.

A quiet voice called his name. "Sero Hanta. The room is ready."

He slid the phone into his back pocket, straightened the chains on his jeans, and walked inside with a casual swagger that barely masked the pounding in his chest. The room was clean and sterile, sliced down the middle by a tall glass partition. On either side—two identical halves. One for the Asper. One for the Guide.

In the center, encased in crystal and humming with energy, the Sphere of Compatibility waited. Hanta stood still for a moment. His fingers flexed slightly. He bit his lower lip—his silver piercing catching the light—then exhaled.

"Alright. Let's see if fate's in a good mood today."

He raised his hand and pressed it against the sphere.

Silence.

Then a slow pulse of light.

Blue. Brighter. Then blinding.

60%.

He blinked, stunned.

"What...?"

A laugh escaped him—uncontrolled, disbelieving. “Sixty!? Damn, okay!”

It was unheard of. People dreamed of 20%. Agencies would kill to advertise this match. But he didn’t care about the agencies. He cared about the person on the other side of the glass. He stepped closer, eyes searching beyond the reflection, trying to glimpse who it was.

Who are you? he wondered, fingers still against the glowing surface. What kind of Guide gets a sixty with me?

He didn’t know yet. But he was ready to find out.

And maybe—just maybe—his life had just changed forever.