As you strolled onto the grounds of Atlas Academy, you completely dismissed the looks of the students around you. You despised the attention. You noticed a blonde-haired girl snapping a selfie and a purple-haired girl passing out flyers as you looked around. You rolled your eyes and cranked up the volume on your phone when you overheard a group of girls gossiping too loudly.

"She's that adopted Minoru, right?" You heard Eiffel's loud whisper as you passed by her. "They're that desperate to replace Amy, huh?"

You clutched your eyes in anger while the music boomed in your ears. You couldn't care less if your ear started bleeding from how loud you're blasting the music right now. 'I knew transferring here was a mistake.'

A few months, almost a year, after Amy Minoru's death, you were adopted by the Minorus to their home after they found out what happened to you. You were forced to evacuate from your home nation with the rest of the population after it came crashing down, but you have no recollection of what actually happened. It only comes in your dreams, which makes you wonder if it is real or not.

Nico, Amy's younger sister, kept her distance from you. You could understand her because her parents' adoption of you seemed to be a replacement for Amy. You weren't enrolled at Atlas Academy; thus you didn't know any of Nico's former friends. Until now, that is.

Robert proposed that you be transferred to Atlas Academy so that both you and Nico might form a bond and grow closer, as you are sisters after all. Nico was months older than you, which meant she is responsible for something terrible that was going to happen to you.

You closed your eyes shut to avoid everyone around you and clutched the strap of your backpack while a lump formed on your throat. 'Get it together, (Y/n). You can do this.' Your thoughts were suddenly interrupted when you crashed into someone so hard you tumbled on the ground.

You dropped your backpack, and your headset was detached from your phone. You groaned in pain from the sudden impact and opened your eyes to see a tall, dark-skinned young man with his eyes wide open in shock. "Shit." He gasped before assisting you up. "I am so sorry."

"It's my fault. I should be the one saying sorry." You mumbled as you allowed him to help you up. You started collecting your things and avoided eye contact with the teenager you just foolishly bumped into. "Hey, you're that new kid..." You heard him tell.

"I'm Alex." You heard him introduce himself as you stood up and dusted your clothes off. You stared at him for a moment and noticed his smile didn't reach his eyes. 'He looks upset.' You gave him a small smile. "Nice to meet you, Alex." You gave him a small wave before walking away and connecting your headset once again to your phone.

Alex scratched the back of his head as he glanced at you. "I didn't even get your name." He whispered before shaking his head and walking away.

You turned to a corner and completely halted before you could even bump into another person. The young girl gasped in surprise. "Oh, didn't see you there." The girl chuckled nervously before wincing in pain and clutching her abdomen.

You tilted your head as you recognized who was talking to you. "Molly?"

Molly blinked twice before widening her eyes. "(Y/n)!" She immediately engulfed you in a warm hug, and you returned the gesture. "You're here!"

Molly Hernandez was your only best friend once you moved to Los Angeles because you shared some common interests and similarities in life. Molly understood what it was like to be adopted and orphaned. Despite being older than Molly, it doesn't stop you from being friends with her.

"Are you okay?" You asked worriedly as you cupped her cheeks firmly. "You look like you're in pain. I can get you something if you like—"

"No, no, it's fine," Molly reassured. "I think I can handle it. I have a tryout session later, so..."

You gave her a look for a moment before understanding what was happening. "You're on your period, huh?"

Molly weakly nodded and whimpered. "Why does it have to be now?"

You sighed. "I'll get you some painkillers later. Maybe you can go to the nurse's office to give you some hot compression." You looked down at your phone to see the time. "Look, I gotta go. See you later, okay?"

Molly watched as you walked away. "Hey! Do you even have someone to tour you around the Academy yet?"

Nico was meant to be there, but you spotted her reading a Wiccan-related notebook and chose not to disturb her. Molly couldn't give you a tour because she's busy and has menstrual cramps. When you got to the second floor, you saw the same boy from before, staring longingly at your adoptive older sister.

Your eyebrows slightly raised in surprise. 'Huh...' You shrugged it off and opened the door to your classroom, completely missing a glance from Alex.

You just so happened to be in the same class as Nico and her former friends, and you could feel the awkward tension around them. You were busy chewing your bottom lip and started doodling some people from the sitcom you watched earlier in the morning. You've always found solace in sitcoms and have grown to enjoy them. You knew someone had influenced you, which was why you like watching old television shows, but you didn't know who it was.

"My point is that the system needs to be dismantled, which is why I'm starting a new club on campus, undermining the patriarchy." As the teenage girl, whose name's Gert Yorkes, continued talking about her plans for a club she wanted to create, you froze when you spotted your drawing was now different from what you have in mind. "What the..." You whispered.

"Tick... tick... tick..."

Bombs were exploding from buildings, and people were lying lifeless with blood pooling everywhere.

"We'll be alright, okay?"

Soldiers around and two familiar people locked in cages. You noticed a few words on your paper around the doodles you made.

2007.

Speed.

Witch.

All hail...

"I'm scared..."

You snapped out from your thoughts when you noticed the class had their eyes on you. You didn't notice you were sitting beside Alex, so you jumped when you felt his fingers tapping your arm. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked worriedly. "Your hand it's..."

You looked down at your hand and found your pencil snapped into two pieces. You softly gulped and lightly nodded. "Yeah..."

People started fixing their things, and since Alex was convinced you were okay, he walked away to approach his former friend, Chase Stein. He noticed him sketching on his tablet. "Woah, are those the, uh, God, what did you call them? Handblasters?" He asked nervously to his old friend, who was still not breaking his attention on his tablet. "It's so cool you're still working on it."

You glanced at the two boys before opening your fist to see blood on your palm. You sighed heavily and took out your handkerchief, wrapping it around your hand.

"Handblasters?" Chase lightly scoffed with a smile while Alex crossed his arms and listened intently. "No, these would be bionic prosthetics using myoelectric sensors. I'm calling them Fist—"

Chase stopped his sentence and looked to his side to see Alex, who fixed his glasses up. Chase slightly moved away. "Wait, why am I even talking to you?"

"Actually, I was talking to you." Alex corrected before clearing his throat. "I was thinking that maybe you might want to get together tonight, just all of us like we used to."

You glanced at Nico, who was listening quietly to Chase and Alex. "Seriously, Wilder?" Chase questioned. "You think I'll come over to hang out like we're still friends?"

"Just keep your voice down."

"Wait, you're joking." You spotted Gert approaching the two men. "He's joking, right?"

"That is what I expected you to say, Gert, which is why I was hoping that if I could get Chase on board first and maybe..."

"Oh, right, because I totally make all my decisions based on what some roided-out jockstrap has to say."

Chase snapped his head to Gert. "Hey! I've got opinions."

"Right, about what flavored protein powder to use, right?" Gert questioned. "And we really admire you for it."

Alex chuckled nervously. "Classic Gert, you see?" You adjusted on your seat as you placed your chin on the palm of your head, continuing to eavesdrop on their conversation. "This kind of delightful banter is why I think we should all get together and hang out at my place tonight."

"You're having people over tonight?" Karolina Dean asked after she overheard what Alex said.

Chase suddenly fixed his posture as he turned his attention to Karolina. "Why, are you interested?"

Karolina shook her head. "Oh, no, I'm sorry, I can't. I have a church thing."

"Or you could just come by after that," Alex suggested. "It doesn't have to interfere with your religion."

'Man, I've missed some drama.' You hid a small smile as you got interested in their small talk.

"Religion, is that what we're calling it now?" Gert asked as she looked up at Alex.

Karolina turned to Gert. "What I believe in is positive and life-affirming, and it doesn't allow me to be cut down by some miserable loser."

You frowned at Karolina's statement while Chase glanced at Alex. "Oh, think she was referring to you, Wilder!" He whispered loudly.

"But you do realize that no institution has been as oppressive to women as organized religion," Gert argued.

"Except my mother runs my church," Karolina argued back. "You call yourself a feminist, Gert, yet no one cuts down other women more than you do."

"Not all of them, no, just the ones who walk around with fake smiles pretending to be happy all the time."

"Okay, guys..." Alex tried to stop the two girls from fighting, but Karolina spoke again. "At least I'm trying. When was the last time you took a shower?"

And to your relief, the bell rang out loud. You began fixing your things as the Gert, and the others continued to talk. Chase glanced at you and furrowed his eyebrows. "Were you listening to us this whole time?"

You froze and looked around to see Nico looking at you. Chase scoffed as he glanced at Nico. "Looks like your little sister is a little eavesdropper, huh?"

Alex's eyes widened, and he looked at Nico before looking back at you. "Wait... what?" Karolina sighed as she walked away from Gert while Nico gathered her things, preparing to leave. Chase turned to Alex. "I thought you're the nerd one? You should know that by now."

Chase left Alex to join his new friends while Alex watched you leave the classroom. Gert glanced at Alex. "And you wanted us all to hang out?"

Gert grabbed her bag and left the classroom as Alex shook his head. "Not for me..." Alex sighed. "...for her."