A New Face

The alarm rang, signaling the start of a new day. Kaito rose from his futon, his eyes heavy from a restless night. His mind lingered on the news he had seen, questioning, “What could this all mean? Is this just a coincidence?” The lingering doubts had kept sleep at bay, circling endlessly in his thoughts.

“I have to pull myself together,” he resolved. Worrying wouldn’t solve anything, and he couldn’t afford mistakes—not for his students. “Maybe there’s no harm in looking into it,” he muttered, stepping into the bath.

The warm water enveloped him, soothing the tension in his body. The gentle ripples and rising steam seemed to quiet his thoughts, each breath drawing him closer to a rare sense of calm.

Overtaken by the bath’s comfort, Kaito nearly lost track of time. With a start, he realized he was running late and hurriedly climbed out, reminding himself he can’t afford to be late for the morning briefings.

“Kaito, I need to see you in my office,” the commandant called.

Kaito turned, his heart sinking slightly. Was he about to be reprimanded for being late to roll call? He hurried toward the commandant’s office, uncertainty gnawing at him.

“Sir, you called?” Kaito asked, standing at attention as he entered the room.

“Yes, nothing serious,” the commandant replied casually, settling behind his desk. “You’re familiar with the Maekawa Corporation, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” Kaito responded, his nerves easing somewhat. “They’ve been major shareholders of the academy for years.”

“Exactly,” the commandant said with a nod. “They’ve been a cornerstone of this academy’s funding and development. As it happens, the first son of the current head of the corporation is transferring here today.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and anticipation flickering across his face.

“I think you can see where this is heading,” the commandant continued. “I’ll be assigning him to your class. I trust you’ll do a fine job training him.”

“Yes, sir,” Kaito replied firmly, masking any doubts he might have.

“Good,” the commandant said with a small smile.

With a quick bow, Kaito exited the office, his mind already turning over what this new addition might bring to the class.

He looked through the boy’s profile as he headed to the class. Tatsumi Maekawa, age 20. A genius student and a talented flyer, but noted for having difficulties working with others.

“Is this why he was assigned to me?” Kaito wondered, his brow furrowing.

As he approached the class, voices filtered through the hallway, growing louder with each step. One voice, unmistakably Reina’s, carried a sharp edge of agitation.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” she exclaimed, her tone fiery and unyielding.

“I’m talking to you!”

“What makes you think I’m under any obligation to answer you?” a calm, unfamiliar voice retorted.

Kaito quickened his pace, the tension in the voices growing clearer as he neared the classroom door. Sliding it open, he was greeted by the sight of Reina, her fists clenched and her expression fiery, standing toe-to-toe with a young man who exuded a calm, almost smug demeanor.

“I’m talking to you, so don’t ignore me!” Reina demanded, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel.

The young man, undoubtedly Tatsumi Maekawa, stood with his hands in his pockets, his posture unbothered and his gaze cool. “And I’m telling you, your opinions mean nothing to me,” he said, his tone carrying the faintest hint of mockery.

“That’s enough,” Kaito said firmly as he stepped into the room, his authoritative voice cutting through the rising tension.

Both Reina and Tatsumi turned toward him. Reina’s expression softened slightly, though her frustration lingered. Tatsumi, on the other hand, regarded Kaito with a calculated look, as if sizing him up.

“You must be Tatsumi Maekawa,” Kaito said, his tone neutral but firm.

“And you must be my instructor,” Tatsumi replied, his lips curling into a faint smirk. “I really don’t see someone my age is fit to tutor.”

“Watch it, I don’t appreciate what you’re implying”, Emi retorted sharply

“I said that’s enough” Kaito insisted. He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the young man’s arrogance. “In this classroom, we work as a team. If that’s going to be a problem for you, we’ll address it immediately.”

Tatsumi’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but he quickly recovered. “I don’t see why it would be,” he said smoothly. “Although this team looks pretty incompetent.”

“Well, we will have your doubts cleared soon enough” Kaito replied, “please take your seat”.

Kaito glanced at Reina, who was still fuming but holding herself back, and then addressed the class. “Let’s give our new classmate a proper welcome,” he said, though his gaze lingered on Tatsumi for a moment longer than necessary. “Tatsumi Maekawa will be joining us starting today. I expect everyone to work together.”

Reina crossed her arms and muttered under her breath, but Kaito ignored it. As the class settled, he couldn’t help but think that this wasn’t going to be easy. Tatsumi might have talent, but his attitude was going to be a challenge—not just for Kaito, but for the entire team.

After the day's training drills, Kaito heads home, still pondering how to make Tatsumi understand the importance of teamwork. Lost in thought, his mind drifts back to the symbol he had seen the previous day. He’s certain it’s something he’s encountered before, but the memory eludes him, only vaguely connecting it to the case files he had once gone through. However, the details remain fuzzy. He resolves to find those files again and thoroughly analyze them.

Once home, Kaito searches the house but comes up empty. Hesitant to ask his mother for help—fearing it may bring up painful memories—he presses on but still can't locate the files. Then, it hits him: the case files must be at the family house in their hometown. With a newfound determination, he resolves to make the trip over the weekend to search for them, and finally uncover the answers he seeks.

When the weekend arrived, Kaito set off for his hometown. He had grown up in a small village called Kodomoyama, nestled on the outskirts of the Yamagata Prefecture. It was a quiet place, known for its modest population and breathtaking mountain views.

As the bus rolled through the familiar streets, Kaito’s gaze was drawn to children gliding through the sky, playing aero games and sports. A wave of nostalgia washed over him. The memories of his own childhood—soaring through the mountains with friends—came rushing back. It was a joy he could no longer experience because of his injuries.

When the bus came to a stop, Kaito stepped off and made his way toward the house. Just as he approached, a familiar voice called out to him.

“Kaito-nii!”

He turned to see Reina’s little sister, Miku, waving at him with a bright smile. She ran down to him.

“Miku,” Kaito greeted, offering a rare smile as he gently patted her head. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Reina-nee didn’t say you were coming!” Miku said, puffing her cheeks in mock offense. “Are you here for a visit?”

“Something like that,” Kaito replied. “Is your family home?”

Miku nodded eagerly and grabbed his hand, practically dragging him to the door. “Mama! Kaito-nii is here!” she called as she burst inside.

Reina’s mother, a kind woman with a soft demeanor, appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “Kaito, what a surprise,” she said warmly. “It’s been too long. Come in, come in!”

Kaito bowed respectfully. “It’s good to see you again. I’m sorry for dropping by unannounced.”

“No need to apologize,” she said. “It’s always a pleasure to have you here.”

Reina’s father appeared soon after, offering Kaito a firm handshake and a nod of welcome. The conversation stayed light—mostly polite exchanges about the academy and how Reina was doing. Kaito, always mindful of time, kept his visit brief.

After paying his greetings, he excused himself and made his way to the storage room where he suspected the files might be. The house was as familiar to him as his own, and he quickly navigated to the back where old family belongings were kept. Dust settled on his shoulders as he rummaged through boxes and shelves, his hands brushing over worn folders and forgotten keepsakes.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his fingers landed on the edge of a familiar case file. He pulled it out, recognizing the label: Operation Eclipse. The folder was thicker than he remembered, the papers inside worn and slightly yellowed with age. Kaito’s heart pounded as he held it in his hands, a mix of anticipation and unease filling his chest.

He tucked the file securely into his bag, taking a quick glance around to make sure he hadn’t left anything out of place. Satisfied, he quietly left the room and made his way back out of the house.

As he stepped outside, the late afternoon sun bathed the village in a warm glow. Miku called after him from the porch, waving energetically.

“Come back soon, Kaito-nii!”

“I will” he said as he gave her a small wave in return and began the walk back to the bus stop, the weight of the folder heavy on his mind. Whatever answers were inside, he knew they were only the beginning of something much bigger.