Morning sunlight slipped through the kitchen windows of the academy dorms, landing on a scene that already looked like a disaster waiting to happen.

Justin Law stood at the stove with his headphones blasting music so loudly that the tinny rhythm could be heard from across the room. He flipped a pancake with exaggerated flair—only for it to miss the pan entirely and slap against the wall.

Behind him, Karim Flam held his hands together calmly, murmuring a quiet prayer before touching the ingredients on the counter.

Justin spun around, still half-dancing. “Hey! Don’t bless the eggs, just crack them!”

Karim frowned. “Preparation requires patience and discipline.”

Smoke curled up from the forgotten pan.

Justin turned back too late. The pancake in the pan had turned black, and the toaster beside it popped violently, launching a piece of charred toast into the air.

“Okay—that one’s not my fault!” Justin protested, waving a spatula like evidence.

Karim sighed, already reaching for a towel as more smoke drifted toward the ceiling.

That was the exact moment the kitchen door opened.

Standing in the doorway, you took in the scene: the burnt pancakes stuck to the wall, the smoking pan, flour scattered everywhere, and the two of them arguing in the middle of it.

Justin froze mid-gesture.

Karim slowly lowered the towel.

For a brief moment, the kitchen went silent—except for the faint music still blasting through Justin’s headphones and the toaster beginning to smoke again.