The academy was louder than usual that evening.
News of Hitake's fight with Thorne had spread through the first-year dormitories faster than any official announcement could have managed.
By the time Hitake reached the residential wing, students were already talking about it.
"Did you actually see him knock Thorne down?"
"With one punch!"
"That's impossible. Thorne is Level 8."
"I heard Hitake's been hiding his strength this whole time."
"That's stupid."
"Then explain what happened."
Hitake walked through the corridor pretending none of it concerned him.
It was strange.
For years, people had talked about him because he was weak.
Now they were talking because he wasn't.
He wasn't sure which one he preferred.
Beside him, Zena walked quietly.
She had stayed with him ever since they returned from the dungeon, and Hitake was beginning to notice something.
She hadn't once asked where he was going.
She simply followed.
Eventually, he stopped in front of a door.
"Why are you still following me?"
Zena looked at him.
"We're going to the dormitories."
"I know."
"Then why are you asking?"
Hitake sighed.
"Never mind."
The residential wing had been divided into several sections. First-year students were given individual rooms, while each floor shared a common lounge, kitchen, training area, and study room.
Hitake had never really cared about dormitories before.
He'd always assumed he'd spend most of his time training anyway.
But when the administrator handed him a small silver key and pointed toward the end of the corridor, something unexpectedly warm settled in his chest.
"Room 307," she said. "That's yours."
Hitake stared at the key.
"Mine?"
The administrator smiled.
"Unless you've suddenly become rich enough to purchase another room."
He smiled.
"Not yet."
She laughed and walked away.
Hitake unlocked the door.
The room was simple.
A bed sat against one wall. There was a desk beneath the window, a wardrobe, a small bathroom, and a bookshelf containing several basic academy textbooks.
Nothing luxurious.
Nothing extraordinary.
Yet Hitake stood in the doorway for several seconds.
It was his first real room away from home.
His own space.
His own bed.
His own future.
Zena looked over his shoulder.
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah."
He stepped inside.
"It's nice."
Zena entered behind him.
Hitake turned.
"You know you're supposed to wait outside, right?"
"No."
"Why?"
She looked genuinely confused.
"Why would I?"
Hitake opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
There wasn't really a logical answer.
Zena walked toward the window and looked outside.
"The academy looks different from here."
Hitake joined her.
The sun was setting beyond the distant city, painting the towers and roads in warm orange light.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Zena said quietly, "You're thinking about your mother."
Hitake looked at her.
"How did you know?"
"You've been looking toward home since we left the dungeon."
He smiled faintly.
"She's probably worried."
"Call her."
Hitake hesitated.
"Maybe later."
Zena turned toward him.
"Why?"
He looked down at the silver key still resting in his palm.
"I don't know."
The truth was that something about coming back had made him realize how much he had taken his mother for granted.
Before the dungeon, his life had been simple.
Wake up.
Go to school.
Get bullied.
Train.
Fail.
Go home.
Repeat.
Now everything had changed.
He had awakened.
He had discovered his father's secret.
He had met Nefertiti.
He had gained strength.
And suddenly, the ordinary things felt important.
His mother's voice.
Her cooking.
The way she complained whenever he skipped breakfast.
The way she always pretended not to worry whenever he came home bruised.
Hitake sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'll call her tonight."
Zena nodded.
"Good."
A golden figure suddenly appeared beside Hitake.
Nefertiti leaned against the wall with her arms folded.
"Finally."
Hitake sighed.
"What now?"
"I was beginning to wonder when you would remember that mothers exist."
"She's my mother, not a quest objective."
"Exactly. Which makes her much more important."
Hitake stared at her.
There was something unusual about her tone.
Almost serious.
"What do you mean?"
Nefertiti's playful smile faded slightly.
"Nothing you need to worry about tonight."
Hitake frowned.
Before he could question her, there was a knock on the door.
He looked toward it.
Zena immediately stood straighter.
"Who is it?"
A voice came from outside.
"Delivery."
Hitake opened the door.
A large package sat outside.
His name was written across it.
HITAKE KAEL.
He looked confused.
"I didn't order anything."
The delivery worker shrugged.
"Paid in advance."
Hitake glanced at Nefertiti.
She smiled.
"Your sugar mommy has arrived."
"Nefertiti..."
"Open it."
He carried the package inside.
Zena watched suspiciously.
"What is that?"
"I don't know."
Hitake opened the box.
Inside was a neatly arranged collection of clothes, training gear, several pairs of shoes, gloves, casual outfits, and a sleek black jacket.
Hitake stared.
"Nefertiti."
"Yes?"
"Did you buy me clothes?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"Because you have approximately three decent outfits."
Hitake looked offended.
"That's enough."
"No, it isn't."
Zena unexpectedly agreed.
"She's right."
Hitake looked at her.
"You too?"
Zena picked up the black jacket.
"This suits you."
Hitake blinked.
She held it against him.
Her fingers brushed his shoulder.
For a moment, neither moved.
Zena looked at him.
Hitake looked at her.
Then she quietly said, "Wear it."
His heart skipped.
"Okay."
Zena immediately looked away.
Nefertiti's smile became enormous.
"Oh, this is going to be entertaining."
Hitake rubbed his forehead.
"Don't start."
"I haven't said anything."
"You're thinking loudly."
"That's because I'm proud."
Zena glanced toward him.
"Are you talking to yourself?"
Hitake froze.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Personal problem."
She stared at him.
Then nodded.
"I'll leave you to it."
She walked toward the door.
Hitake looked surprised.
"You're leaving?"
Zena stopped.
Her hand rested on the door handle.
"I have my own room."
Something in her voice sounded almost disappointed.
Hitake smiled.
"Goodnight, Zena."
She looked back.
"Goodnight."
Then she left.
The door closed.
Hitake exhaled.
Nefertiti appeared directly in front of him.
"You wanted her to stay."
"No."
"Liar."
"You're becoming annoying."
"And you're becoming predictable."
Hitake sat down at his desk.
A small golden screen appeared before him.
[CURRENT STATUS]
[ATTRIBUTE POINTS AVAILABLE: 20]
[SKILL SLOT: 1]
Hitake stared at the numbers.
Twenty points.
He could spend them immediately.
But something stopped him.
"Not yet."
Nefertiti raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"I don't know what kind of fighter I want to become."
She smiled.
"Good answer."
Hitake leaned back.
"I've spent my entire life trying to become stronger without knowing what strength actually means."
Nefertiti's expression softened.
"Then we'll figure it out."
A knock sounded again.
Hitake frowned.
He opened the door.
Zena stood there.
She was holding something.
His phone.
"You left this in the common room."
Hitake took it.
"Thanks."
She didn't leave.
Instead, she looked at him for a few seconds.
"Are you calling your mother?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
She hesitated.
Then added, "I'd like to meet her someday."
Hitake smiled.
"I think she'd like you."
Zena's cheeks turned slightly pink.
"Good."
She turned to leave.
Then stopped.
"And Hitake?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't forget to eat."
He laughed.
"You're starting to sound like my mother."
Zena looked away.
"Someone has to."
She left before he could respond.
Hitake closed the door with a smile.
Then he looked at his phone.
His thumb hovered over his mother's contact.
Mom.
He pressed call.
It rang twice.
Then a familiar voice answered.
"Hitake?"
He smiled immediately.
"Hey, Mom."
There was a brief silence.
Then Amara's voice softened.
"You're alive."
Hitake frowned.
"Of course I'm alive."
"You disappeared for three days."
"I know."
"I've been worried sick."
"I'm sorry."
"You better be."
He laughed quietly.
For several minutes, they talked about ordinary things.
His classes.
The dungeon.
His room.
Whether he'd eaten.
Whether he'd been sleeping enough.
Nothing important.
Nothing extraordinary.
Just a mother talking to her son.
Then Hitake asked the question that had been sitting in his mind since the dungeon.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"How did you meet Dad?"
The silence on the other end lasted longer this time.
Hitake's smile faded.
"Mom?"
Amara finally answered.
"Why are you asking?"
"I just... learned some things about him."
Another silence.
Then she said quietly,
"Your father was complicated."
Hitake leaned back in his chair.
"I know."
"No."
Her voice became softer.
"You don't."
Hitake's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
Amara didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she said, "It's late. We can talk about him when you come home."
"Mom—"
"I love you, Hitake."
His expression softened.
"I love you too."
"Good."
The call ended.
Hitake stared at the screen.
Something had changed.
Not in the words.
In the hesitation behind them.
He had heard it.
His mother knew more about Kael than she had ever told him.
A golden figure appeared beside the desk.
Nefertiti was silent.
Hitake looked at her.
"You knew."
Nefertiti met his eyes.
"I knew your father trusted her."
"That's not what I asked."
She smiled faintly.
"I think you should hear your mother's story from her."
Hitake looked toward the window.
The city lights flickered below.
For years, his mother had been the one person he thought he understood completely.
Now, for the first time, he wondered how much of her past had been hidden behind that gentle smile.
And somewhere across the dormitory, Zena stood alone in her own room.
She looked at the wall separating them.
Her shadow slowly stretched across the floor.
Toward Hitake's room.
She frowned.
"Why am I thinking about him this much?"
The shadow curled around her ankle.
Zena stared at it.
Then sighed.
"Don't answer."
The shadow went still.
Zena lay down.
But sleep didn't come easily.
Because for the first time, she realized something she wasn't ready to admit.
She didn't simply want to protect Hitake anymore.
She wanted to be the person he came home to.
And that frightened her.
Not nearly as much as the thought of someone else taking that place.