Chapter 5: Whispers of the Past

Aiko sat on the edge of the school courtyard, her mind heavy with thoughts. The assembly two weeks ago had still been buzzing in her head. The sudden announcement about the Tenryuu Academy recruiting top students for their math team had struck her like a bolt from the blue. The more she thought about it, the more it didn’t add up.

She had heard whispers of the academy before—rumors about its elite training and connections to some of the most prestigious figures in the military world. But the offer... it had been too sudden, too specific. The more she thought about it, the more it tugged at her.

Sitting next to her, Haruto kicked a stone across the pavement, lost in his thoughts. Yumi was absentmindedly flipping through a notebook, her eyes scanning the scribbles she’d written.

"So, what's the deal with this Tenryuu Academy?" Haruto said, breaking the silence. "I mean, it's a school, right? It can't be that mysterious."

Aiko stared at the ground, trying to ignore the unease growing inside her. "I’m not sure. My dad had this picture of him when he was younger, standing with someone in front of Tenryuu Academy. I never asked about it before... but now I can’t stop thinking about it."

Yumi’s brow furrowed. "That’s... weird, right? A school for warriors, military and all that, and your dad was part of it?"

Aiko shrugged. "It’s not like I know much about his past. He won’t talk about it. But this... the math team job, this weird offer, and the photo. It’s too connected to be just coincidence."

Haruto leaned back on his arms, gazing up at the clear sky. "We should check it out. If it’s connected to your dad, we might find some answers."

Aiko’s eyes met his, a flicker of hope flashing across her face. "Yeah... I think we should."

The next day, after school, the trio made their way to the local library. The air was thick with the sound of rustling pages as they combed through old records. Haruto’s fingers danced across his phone screen, hacking into old forums, trying to dig up something—anything—that could shed light on Tenryuu Academy’s past.

Yumi, the more patient of the three, was busy flipping through dusty volumes of old city records, pulling out anything that referenced the academy. "It doesn’t make sense," she said, tapping the page in front of her. "The academy was founded over a hundred years ago, but there’s nothing really concrete in any of these books. Just vague references."

Haruto grinned from his screen. "Found something. Check this out."

He passed his phone to Aiko, who squinted at the screen. "What is it?"

"Someone posted a forum thread about Tenryuu. They mention that it's a front for something more—like military training, sure, but not just for academics. The person claimed to have seen 'recruitment forms' for students who weren’t just good at math and science, but had physical training in combat too."

Aiko leaned in, eyes narrowing. "Combat training? But why?"

Yumi was already shaking her head. "There’s no way it’s just about academics. This whole thing’s starting to feel off."

As Aiko mulled over the forum post, she felt the same unsettling tug she’d had ever since she saw her father’s photo. Something wasn’t right. And it was too quiet—too many people were avoiding any questions that connected the academy to anything more dangerous.

Aiko had already decided—she needed to see Tenryuu Academy for herself.

"Let’s go there," she said, standing up suddenly, the resolve in her eyes.

Haruto frowned. "Are you serious? You just want to waltz in there?"

"We’ll figure it out. We won’t get caught," Aiko said, her voice firm. "I need to know why my dad has that picture, and why it’s connected to this academy."

They reached Tenryuu Academy that afternoon. The tall, imposing gates seemed to loom over them, casting shadows across the path that led inside. It was quieter than Aiko had imagined—too quiet. The academy’s walls were covered with ivy, as if nature itself tried to reclaim what had once been an institution of discipline and control.

The trio stood at the gates, staring at the heavy stone pillars and the iron bars that separated them from what lay inside. Aiko felt an odd pull—a tension in her chest that she couldn’t shake. She had never been one to believe in gut feelings, but there was something about this place that seemed... alive.

Yumi tugged at Aiko’s sleeve, pulling her away from the gates. "Maybe we should take a step back," she suggested. "This place feels off. You said your dad’s connected to it, but—"

Aiko shook her head. "I need to know why. I don’t think we’re just being paranoid, Yumi. There’s something here that connects to him. And to me."

Just as they turned to leave, a whisper seemed to float in the air. Aiko paused, her heart skipping a beat. She glanced around, but there was nothing—no one.

Haruto nudged her. "You okay?"

Aiko swallowed hard. "Yeah, I’m fine. But we’re going to find out what’s going on here, even if it’s the last thing I do."

As they walked back down the road toward home, Aiko felt the weight of her decision pressing on her. Something was watching her, something she couldn’t quite see—but she could feel it.

The deity had been silent for days, but now, just as the sun was setting, Aiko felt its presence again—like a quiet murmur on the wind, gentle but unsettling.

She shuddered, unsure whether it was her own nerves or something more. Whatever it was, the deity’s influence was real, and it was guiding her in ways she didn’t yet understand. The tug in her chest, the pull toward Tenryuu—it was all part of a greater plan she wasn’t yet ready to comprehend.

The trio ended their walk by the river, sitting in silence for a while. Haruto cracked a joke to lighten the mood, but Aiko was lost in thought. The path ahead seemed both uncertain and inevitable.

"I’ll get answers," she said quietly, determination in her voice. "I’ll uncover whatever secret Tenryuu is hiding. And I’ll find out what my dad’s been keeping from me."

Yumi gave her a cautious look. "Just... be careful, Aiko. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into."

But Aiko just stared ahead, her eyes set on the horizon. "I have to. For my father. For me."