Students were scattered all over RavenHall’s campus, spilling out onto the sunlit lawns and sidewalks this early in the morning. The western street had been cordoned off with bright orange barriers for Peter McHorny, the official mayoral candidate. Hardly anyone paid him attention.
Ren and Bishop stood near the front gate, surrounded by the noise.
"So how’d it go?" Ren asked.
"We’re back together, bro." Bishop’s face lit up with a wide, boyish grin, eyes bright behind his glasses.
Ren studied his best friend. "I don’t think that’s the smartest move, honestly."
"Says the guy still too scared to confront Z," Bishop fired back, raising an eyebrow.
A sleek silver BMW pulled up smoothly at the gate. Stephanie sat behind the wheel, sharp, elegant features, long dark hair falling perfectly over one shoulder, sunglasses perched on her nose.
Her expression was calm and composed, one hand resting lightly on the steering wheel, the other tapping the gear shift with quiet impatience.
Bishop’s head snapped toward the car. "Oh my. She’s got a hot sister."
"Stop it."
Pearl stepped onto the sidewalk with effortless confidence, black hair in a perfect puff, mini skirt, oversized jacket. She had the same striking features as her sister, but with a sharper, more youthful edge.
"This is part of why Pearl gets so much respect at RavenHall," Bishop continued, mesmerized. "I wish I had a sister like that."
"B." Ren shifted uncomfortably.
Pearl drew level with them. Bishop still hadn’t noticed.
"Imagine she just opens her shirt, man. You see the two of them—" Bishop kept going, gesturing animatedly. "You die. You literally daa—"
"Nah." Pearl cut in lightly, glancing back toward the gate with a small, amused smirk. "She’s really not that special."
"Trust no boy!" Stephanie called from the car, waving with a graceful flick of her wrist as she started to pull away. Her lips curved into a knowing smile behind her sunglasses.
Pearl waved back with a soft laugh. "Sorry to interrupt. I’m Pearl Noble, by the way." She offered Ren her hand, her gaze steady.
"Ren Moore." He shook it. "This’s B. Don’t mind him."
"I don’t think I’ve seen you before today," Pearl said, tilting her head slightly, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Are you new?"
Ren just stared at her.
『Come on. We’re literally classmates. 』
"Kidding." Pearl smiled wider, letting go of his hand. "You’ve been looking good lately, though."
Bishop was completely frozen now. Pearl walked off to join her usual group, the one that dissected hero rankings like a full-time job.
"That family is blessed," Bishop muttered, eyes still tracking her every step.
Izzy emerged through a knot of students, crisp white top hugging her frame and her usual mini skirt swaying with each step. She headed straight for Ren and Bishop.
She gave Bishop a quick, warm hug.
"You smell good, baby," Bishop said, pulling back with a playful grin. "That’s new."
Then Izzy turned to Ren. She stepped in close and hugged him fully, arms wrapping tight around his neck, one leg lifting slightly off the ground as she leaned her whole body into him, face buried in his shoulder for a second longer than usual.
Bishop’s eyes widened instantly. "No way."
Izzy was already laughing softly into Ren’s shoulder.
"No fucking way." Bishop was practically shouting despite how close they were, his face lighting up with pure shock and amusement. "Ren, you absolute liar."
Izzy broke the hug, still grinning brightly, her eyes sparkling. "You didn’t tell him?"
Ren made a sheepish face, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I’m genuinely happy for you two," Bishop said, shaking his head with a big smile. "And I’m happy that pretty soon I’ll have each of you back, one at a time, after you break up."
Izzy laughed, bright and carefree. She slid her hand into Ren’s, fingers intertwining naturally. They started walking toward class together.
Ren still wasn’t sure what to do with the new feeling, so he simply pulled her a little closer, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand.
"It’ll end in tears!" Bishop called after them, peeling off with a dramatic wave to join the political discussion group.
"Didn’t think McHorny would even bother campaigning at RavenHall," one student was saying as Bishop slid into the circle. "He knows we’re all Mayor Woman."
"Mayor Woman’s been campaigning with Storm Girl. Imagine Storm Girl actually showing up here."
"That’d be epic. What’s McHorny got to pull numbers? Half of us aren’t even going. Thank God it’s optional."
"Maybe he hires Lady Vega," one kid offered.
"Nah." Most of them said it at once. "Lady V’s way out of his budget. She’s presidential-campaign money."
"Maybe he brings Glitch to campaign for him," Bishop tried, angling into the conversation.
"Honestly? Not a bad move," a boy backed him up. "Wonder why politicians don’t think like that."
"Glitch’s whole base is teens and kids," another said. "Politicians don’t need him. And he’s not even a hero."
"Alex, get out of here. Nobody disrespects Glitch like that. You didn’t see his numbers go toe to toe with the actual Lady Vega presentation yesterday?"
Alex laughed. "You guys are delusional. Lady Vega pulled millions. Glitch had, what, eight thousand?"
"Man, leave." The group physically shoved him out.
Ren and Izzy kept walking, hands linked. He still couldn’t believe how much better this felt than anything he’d let himself imagine.
『Now that I’ve got money... I’m gonna make the rest of your life the best of your life. 』
"You going to the McHorny thing?" Ren asked, glancing down at her.
"Nah." Izzy looked up at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Why, you got plans?"
"Yeah, actually. We could use the time and hit the mall."
"Now?"
"Yeah. Now."
"I’m down," she said, her smile widening as she gently squeezed his hand.
"So we good to go?" Ren asked, glancing down at her.
She nodded, eyes bright.
Her phone rang almost immediately. She quickly silenced it without even looking at the screen.
"It’s fine, Z," Ren said softly. "You can take it."
"Nah, it’s my mom." Izzy fidgeted slightly, a quick flash of nervousness crossing her face before she covered it with another smile. "She’s always checking in on me."
Ren let it go and pulled her a little closer, his arm slipping around her waist as they walked. The warmth of her body against his side felt new and addictive.
The phone rang again, insistent and loud in the pocket of her mini skirt.