“Heya Chloe!”

“Who are you?”

“My name’s Versys! I don’t really know why I’m here though, Rein must’ve done something weird…”

Chloe awakened to a white void, with nothing but a black-haired version of Rein standing in front of her, wearing no clothes. She blushed and covered her eyes.

“Geez! Cover yourself!”

“Oh, this? Don’t worry, I don’t actually have any private parts. Besides, clothes don’t even exist in this world.” Chloe opened her eyes, seeing Versys pointing at her. She looked down at herself, seeing that she also wasn’t wearing any clothes. Once again, she blushed and covered up.

“Hey, it’s fine, you don’t have to cover up. I’m not actually human. Just a manifestation of Rein’s conscience. But, wow. So that’s what’s under your hood. So that means…” Chloe completely forgot about her clothes situation and moved her hand to cover her head, curling up into a ball on the ground.

She began crying, shielding herself as if she was about to be attacked. Versys sighed, and fell over backward, landing on his back on the floor, staring up into the white abyss.

Chloe looked at him in bewilderment as she stopped shielding herself.

“Wh- what are you doing?” She asked softly, confused.

“Don’t worry. Rein won’t hear a word of this. He’s gonna have to figure it out himself. If he asks, then I didn’t see anything except this white void.”

“Huh? You won’t tell him? But I thought you were his conscience, wouldn’t he already know?” She asked.

“Oh, no, we don’t exactly share memories. It’s a bit more complicated than that. Though I can’t say for sure whether Rein knows or not. I guess you’re gonna have to wake up and find out.” He said as he stood up to stretch.

“I have to what?” She said, confused.

“Waaaaake uuup Chloe!!” She felt a soft object whack her face lightly, replacing the white void with the ceiling of the dorm room. She saw Emria holding a pillow, and Saphrilla standing at the door.

“Finally! Hurry up, the first match already started! Quint and that punching guy are fighting for 5th place!” She hurriedly explained.

“Indeed. And judging by the cheers coming from the arena, I would say that it’s reaching its climax,” stated Saphrilla. Emria began pulling Chloe out of bed by the arm.

“Wha! But I haven’t even showered or changed out of my pajamas!”

“It’s fine! Your pj’s cover your head just fine!” Said Emria, struggling to pull her.

“I suggest we pick up the pace Chloe, if you are not there soon, you will be disqualified.”

The two girls pulled Chloe out of bed, wearing her all-red onesie pajama with a hood. The girls forced her to wear her shoes, take her weapon ring and rush outside.

“Wait, this is too embarrassing! The sweater I usually wear is less tight around my top, I can barely fight in this!” She complained as they ran to the arena.

“Aw, don’t worry! This outlines your curves much better! Your old sweater didn’t do you justice, they’re huge! At least an F, right?” Laughed Emria, followed by a giggle from Saphrilla.

“On second thought, I think I’ll go back and change—”

“We have ourselves a winner! The one who will be advancing to the academy will be contestant number two! Would the two contestants please make way for the final match between contestants three and eight!”

“You hear that? Quint won! There’s no time for you to change! Hurry and get in the arena, Saphy and I’ll head up to the stands!” The two girls once again dragged her as she followed reluctantly. She entered the waiting room, seeing nobody else there. She looked out into the arena to see if Rein was already waiting in the ring, which he wasn’t. She went around to the west exit, towards the nurse station, where she saw Quint and Reggie shaking hands.

“Heya guys! Have you seen Rein anywhere? Our match is about to start and he’s nowhere to be seen.” She said, waving to them.

“Oh, hi Chloe-” he turned around, seeing Chloe’s attire. “Are you uhhh, gonna fight in that?” He pointed at her.

“O-oh! Yeah, I didn’t have any time to change. Sorry, Quint, I couldn’t even watch your fight.” She spoke apologetically.

“Uhuh… That’s okay, though I didn’t see Rein anywhere.” He said shaking his head, trying not to stare at Chloe.

“Oh, I think I saw him dash out of the arena a couple of minutes ago. It was around the time the match ended.” Claimed Reggie.

“Really? But I would’ve seen him if he was going back to the dorms…” She said in a thinking motion.

“It would seem contestant eight is ready to go! Contestant three, would you please make your way into the arena.”

“Huh?! He’s here? But I looked everywhere. Anyways, thank you two. Quint, congrats on getting in. I hope to get along with you during school.” She waved as she ran away.

“Dude, you’re staring too much. You like her don’t you?” Remarked Reggie.

“Aw shut up man! It’s not like that!” Quint denied it, blushing profusely.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be your wingman. I’ll make sure you let her know how you feel by the end of our first year,” promised Reggie.

“Dude what? But you placed in sixth place. Wasn’t it top five who make it in?” Asked Quint, confused. Reggie laughed.

“Yeah, but that’s not the only way to get in, hahaha! Remember, not everyone enters the school through this tournament. You forget or something? My family is fortunate enough to be able to afford the tuition. Honestly, even if I’d won that match, I would’ve given you the spot. No disrespect, but you probably need it more than me,” explained Reggie, with Quint slightly beginning to tear up.

“You’re a really good guy you know that!” Quint hugged him, tearing up.

“Watch it! Don’t get any snot on me.” They both laughed, as they went up to the stands to watch the final match. They met up with Clyde, who was sitting near the stairs, all of them properly introducing themselves to each other, as they were gazing on the horizon of a new friendship as fellow students.

Chloe entered the ring. Rein looked at her, then instantly looked away seeing what she wore. Internally embarrassed, he took a second to compose himself before he looked at her once again.

“You overslept, didn’t you?” Voiced Rein.

“Wha?! How did you know!” She said, too embarrassed to think straight.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s that you’re wearing a onesie to the most important match of the entire tournament. Are you, uhhh, at least wearing… u-underwear?” He said, finally showing some hints of embarrassment. Chloe’s face flushed the same color as her clothes.

“Yes! And that’s not something you should ask a girl!” She screamingly whispered, averting her eyes and pouting. Rein sighed, summoning his weapon from his ring. But this time, he only summoned 1 sword instead of 2. Though, the sword was a little different. It had a metal sheath, which could be controlled by the earth Spring that Rein somehow obtained.

“What gives? Why are you using one sword this time?” She asked as she summoned her own sword.

“I just felt like using her one sword style. You know, that Leona person you mentioned,” he responded.

“You’re using it on a whim? But it takes training! And wait, what do you mean by her ‘one sword style’? Does that mean Leona had more than one style?”

“Nah, just ignore my rambling,” he smiled at her, mimicking her fighting stance.

“Now that both contestants are in the ring and raring to go, I pass the mic to the principal!”

“Greetings, students and citizens of the Hasbin gulf. My name is Julianne Starsage. I’m a 12th prestige Ranger and the principal of Ranger Academy. I would like to formally thank all of the participants of the Ranger tournament thus far and would like to extend not only my good luck, but that of the vice-principal, Wallace, who could not attend today. And for the two in the ring, may the best blade among you light the path to a brighter tomorrow, in true Ranger fashion!”