“Principal Verite didn’t even know what she was talking about half the time during that lecture,” Vincent grumbled. “It was basically just her trying to find a reason to scold me. Even she knew I didn’t do anything.”

I agreed, but I didn’t say that.

“You’re still glad to skip class, though, right?” I asked instead.

“Of course,” Vincent admitted. “We still have Marcenian History, though.”

“In two hours,” I said, checking the time on my EmAble. “I think Maddie’s on her break, wanna visit her?”

“Let’s let her know, first.” Vincent took out his EmAble and went to his emvo with Madeleine. 

We’re coming over.

“Isn’t that a bit too direct?” I asked.

“Well, yeah, it’s exactly what we’re doing,” Vincent said as I took out my PlaceMe. “Do you want me to be indirect? I feel like writing ‘Don’t be surprised if you see a white-haired and pink-haired teenager with black eyes showing up at the front of your school’ is a lot creepier.”

“True.” 

Once we shifted to Isa’s Academy, we were met by a glaring red light at the top of the school’s gates.

“One or more of the members are meant to be at ‘Sharpsteam’s Academy’,” the gates said.

“What?” Vincent exclaimed. “Erwin kicked us out, right? Your PlaceMe worked just fine.”

“Sometimes the tech at this school processes info really slowly,” I recalled. “This must be one of those days.”

“Seriously? I feel like we should be able to do something about that,” he complained.

“We should, but I don’t think you want to risk blowing up the school.”

“So what do we do now?” he asked.

“Go back,” I suggested, but then I heard Vin’s EmAble ring. “It’s from Madeleine,” he said, taking it out.

Please do, the emvo said, replying to Vin’s earlier message saying ‘we’re coming over’. I need help.

“I guess we’re not going back,” Vincent said as he replied, With what?

I got hurt, healed myself, but I can’t go out cause that’d reveal my divine powers, Madeleine told him.

“Amazing,” Vincent deadpanned. He replied, The gate isn’t letting us in. 

Let me send you a permission slip. The next emvo was a picture of a butterfly with a weird colour scheme.

“Can the gate even read light screens?” Vincent asked. 

“Considering the fact that it hasn't processed that we’ve been kicked out of school, I’m assuming it can’t.”

I was about to send another emvo to Madeleine when the gate’s light finally turned green. “Welcome to Isa’s Academy. Please make a stop at the reception before going anywhere else.”

The receptionist’s eyes widened when he saw us—or our eyes. “Names?”

“Vincent,” I said, pointing to him, and then I pointed to myself and continued, “Axel. Wyn Ryland.”

“Ah, the Rylands.” His eyes went back to their normal size. “You’re here for your sister?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Picking her up?”

“...Yes?”

“Alright. Welcome to Isa’s. May your visit be eventful.”

“Thank you,” I smiled, then scanned the map next to the reception table.

“Did you see the disappointment in his expression when he heard our last names?” Vincent marvelled when we went into the hallway. “He probably thought we came to fix their bad tech. Why was he even surprised? Has he ever seen any other pink-haired teenagers in his life?”

“He probably saw the eyes first,” I said. “Everyone does.”