Shouta couldn’t sleep.

It wasn’t unusual - rest never came easy - but instead of lying awake staring at the ceiling, he decided to check on his students. It was late, somewhere around eleven. Normally, they were responsible enough to be asleep by ten. Chaotic, yes, but not careless. They were in the hero course, after all.

Besides, there’d been talk of some 'ghost' haunting the dorms lately. He wasn’t the type to believe in nonsense, but the idea was amusing enough to make him almost huff out a laugh as he stepped outside.

The night air was cool as he crossed the quiet path to the Heights Alliance building. When he entered, the common room was dark and still - nothing out of place. Satisfied, he made his way toward the elevators, the faint hum of the lights above the only sound in the space.

He checked one side of the building first - empty halls, closed doors, all as it should be. Then he returned to the common room and took the other elevator, ascending to the next set of floors with practiced patience.

When the doors slid open, he stepped out and started his slow inspection - until he paused.

Voices. Faint, muffled, coming from one of the nearby rooms.

He tilted his head slightly, listening. Then, moving quietly, he approached the source and placed a hand against the door. With a soft exhale, he pushed it open just enough to peer inside, eyes narrowing as he took in the scene.