The results were out today. This determined who would go to the academy. There was a huge crowd of people around gathered in front of Flogreen Prep Center. All the students and their guardians were bustling outside the gate. In exactly 5 minutes, a screen pinned up at the sky will determine whether their work of the past year led to something or nothing.

When there were just 10 seconds to go, everyone prayed in one form or the other. Some joined hands, some closed their eyes and clasped the hands of people near them while some even rolled on the ground. Everyone was making a mental countdown.

『10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...』

On the count of zero, a big translucent screen popped out in the sky.

And with it, came a wave of cries and shouts.

A man who was sitting at a bench nearby looked up to see the screen. He read the name of the first place slowly.

『First Place....Akio.』

On reading that, he got up and went to his dorm room in the center. He was tense and hadn't slept all night. On top of that, he even forgot to shower before going to check the results.

He went to his bathroom basin and washed his face. He supported himself with his hands by grabbing onto the rims of the basin. A long groan was released from his mouth as he stared at himself in the mirror.

『You did it, Akio. You did it.』

After showering, he decided to take the rest of the day free. He had to move out of the dorm in 2 days but didn't want to worry about finding a new residence just now. He wanted to roam the streets for the first time after he came outside.

He created some ordinary-looking clothes with magic and went out while humming a song he liked 3 years ago.

The road the busy as usual. Cars were speeding through along with hundreds of pedestrians walking to their destinations. For some reason, it was calming for Akio.

Before he disappeared into the rift, there was a shop he was very closely aquainted with. The person working there was like a father to him.

Since the shop could only be entered thorugh an alley, it was secluded. Even so, it didn't stop the customers from pouring in day and night. It was a suit shop, named 'Dove Pack'.

Ako navigated his way to the store. On entering, he immediately saw a familiar bald head. The door opening was heard by that person. He turned around and said,

『Sorry, our store is closed for the time being.................huh?』

He dropped the hanger he was holding as soon as he saw Akio.

『Is.....that you........Akio?』

『Yes....』

He did not bother to say anything more. He simply came and slapped him hard.

『Where were you all this while?! Huh?! You didn't even bother to say you were going, you punk!』

Akio got slapped again. This time on his opposite cheek.

『Sorry, sir. It's just that....I.....went through a lot.』

『I know. I got to hear it. About the failure of the Bilzwaynes. That was you, wasn't it? After all, I never got to hear from you from that day onwards. You know, I don't give two shits about uou being a failure. But, why didn't you come to me for help?』

This was just the kind of person Arka was. He would generally be cold to everyone but Akio was the only person he considered to be close. Akio didn't know, but Arka though of him as his own son. That's why he was so mad at him.

『The person who banished must be your father, right. I knew that pig bastard was evil from the start. I will immediately blacklist him from my store. The next time I meet him, I am gonna ri-』

『Now, now, it's been so long since we last met. Why don't sit down and talk properly?』

The rest of the evening went by fast. He even got permission to stay with till he manages to find a home. Akio decided to move in the next day at dawn.

By the time Akio left, it was midnight. There was no one besides him in the area. He walked while looking at the stars. Somehow, he found watching the stars in silence strangely peaceful. It made him feel at ease.

As he looked at the stars, he started recalling his feelings. All his feelings were messed up. He was feeling happy but scared at the same time. Angry but glad. Wanting to smile but cry at the same time. Shout but stay quiet at the same time.

Looking at the stars, he felt a dam inside him, that had been blocked for years, finally break down. All of his emotions flowed through the dam in a clear stream. It was a strange feeling. But, he had never felt so relaxed ever in his life. It was as if, talking to Arka, melted down all his worries.

Putting his hands in his pockets, he continued to walk down the street while staring at the stars. As he smiled, a tear flowed from his left eye. They kept pouring down one by one like a dripping tap without bothering to stop.

But he was happy. This feeling of happiness was perhaps for him a sense of freedom and having someone who would understand him. It was something he felt neither all the time he was at his former family's house nor at the rift. All this time, it was like something or the other shackled him down. Responsibility, pressure, depression. All these things were weighing him down. Not allowing him to grow. But now, he felt like a grown up. He realized what life was about. He felt that he was finally a proper human being.

He didn't bother to wipe his flowing tears away. Because to him........it was a special tear.