Then she was gone too.

Leaving me alone in the gym with a cat-shaped familiar, five soul-bonded women who were probably planning their own interventions, and seventy-two hours to figure out how to survive a duel against one of the most dangerous prospects in the entire Academy.

Maki transformed back into human form.

Still wearing just my hoodie.

"Your friends are worried about you."

"They’re not my friends."

"Liar."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"Because you keep lying." She tilted her head. "But it’s okay. I like you anyway."

"Gee. Thanks."

"You’re welcome, Master."

She grabbed my hand.

Laced her fingers through mine with zero hesitation.

"Come on. Let’s go eat. I’m starving. And you need protein if you’re going to fight an S-Rank prodigy in three days."

"She’s A-Rank."

"For now."

We headed upstairs together.

Maki still in human form, still wearing nothing but my hoodie, her bare legs drawing immediate attention from everyone in the common room.

Juan woke up long enough to stare.

Jacob’s datapad clattered to the floor.

Raphael’s jaw actually dropped.

Marco whispered something to Malachi that made Malachi’s eyes widen.

And Natalia.

Natalia stood in the kitchen doorway.

Watched Maki with an expression I couldn’t quite read.

Then looked at me.

"Satori. Who is this."

"This is Maki."

"Your cat."

"My familiar. Technically."

"Your very naked familiar."

"She’s wearing my hoodie."

"That doesn’t count as clothes."

Maki waved cheerfully at Natalia.

"Hi! You must be the scary purple one. Master talks about you all the time."

Natalia’s eye twitched.

"Master?"

"It’s ironic," I said quickly.

"It’s not," Maki corrected.

"Maki. Transform. Now."

She pouted again.

But she obeyed.

Her form blurred and a black cat sat where the girl had been, looking up at Natalia with wide, innocent eyes.

Natalia stared at the cat.

Then at me.

"We’re talking about this later."

"Can’t wait."

She turned and walked back into the kitchen.

I heard her mutter something in Russian that probably translated to creative threats about my anatomical future.

Emi appeared at my elbow.

"That was your familiar?"

"Yeah."

"She’s pretty."

"She’s trouble."

"Most pretty things are."

Same thing Natalia had said earlier.

I needed better friends.

Or a stronger drink.

Possibly both.

Dinner was tense.

Maki stayed in cat form, curled up on my lap while I ate with one hand.

The five women sat in a careful configuration around the table.

Natalia directly across from me.

Skylar to my left.

Celeste to my right.

Emi and Akari flanking Natalia.

Like they’d planned it.

They probably had.

Conversation stayed safe.

Classes. Training. The upcoming tournament.

Nobody mentioned the duel.

Or the fact that Reyna had basically declared war on me in front of everyone.

Or that I had seventy-one hours and counting to not die.

After dinner, people scattered.

Raphael to lift weights.

Jacob to his conspiracy research.

Isabelle to her room with a book.

The usual rhythms.

I headed upstairs with Maki still in cat form, draped across my shoulders like a particularly heavy scarf.

My room was dark.

Quiet.

I set Maki on the bed and she immediately transformed back, stretching luxuriously.

"That was fun."

"That was a disaster."

"Same thing." She sprawled across my sheets. "Your purple girl definitely wants to murder me."

"She wants to murder everyone."

"Fair."

A knock at the door.

Soft this time.

Hesitant.

Emi’s rhythm.

I glanced at Maki.

"Hide."

"But—"

"Now."

She transformed.

I opened the door.

Emi stood there in her yellow pajamas, holding a first aid kit.

"Can I check your ribs?"

"They’re fine."

"Liar." She pushed past me, set the kit on my desk. "Shirt off."

"Emi—"

"Off."

I pulled my shirt over my head.

She immediately went clinical.

Fingers probing my ribcage with practiced care, checking for swelling or breaks.

The regenerator brace had done most of the work.

But I was still tender.

"You need to rest more."

"Can’t. Tournament’s coming."

"The tournament doesn’t matter if you’re dead."

"I’m not going to die."

"Everyone keeps saying that. Nobody ever means it."

She finished her examination.

Stepped back.

But her hands stayed on my chest.

"Reyna’s really good, Satori."

"I know."

"I don’t want you to get hurt."

"I’ll be fine."

"Promise?"

Second promise of the night.

"Promise."

She rose on her toes.

Kissed my cheek.

Soft and lingering.

"Good. Because I just got you. I’m not ready to give you up yet."

Then she left.

Taking the first aid kit.

Leaving me standing there shirtless with a purring cat on my bed and the growing realization that I’d somehow collected five women who would probably burn the world down if I died fighting Reyna.

Maki transformed back.

"She’s sweet."

"Yeah."

"You don’t deserve her."

"I know."

"But you’re going to keep her anyway."

"Yeah."

"Good." She patted the bed beside her. "Come sleep, Master. Big day tomorrow."

"It’s only eight."

"Exactly. You need, like, twelve hours if you’re going to survive training tomorrow."

She wasn’t wrong.

I collapsed onto the bed beside her.

Fully clothed.

Maki immediately curled against my side, her warmth bleeding through my clothes.

"Master?"

"Yeah?"

"Don’t die fighting the electric princess. I just got here. I don’t want to find a new Master yet."

"Wasn’t planning on it."

"Good."

She was asleep in seconds.

Her breathing evening out, her tails wrapping around her waist like living blankets.

I stared at the ceiling.

Counted the cracks.

Seventy hours until the duel.

Seventy hours to figure out how to beat someone who could probably kick my ass while checking her phone.

The Ensemble tab glowed softly in my peripheral vision.

Five Rank Ten bonds.

Five women who’d tied their souls to mine.

The System hummed beneath my skin, constant and intrusive and mine.

Nel whispered from the back of my mind.

You could upgrade abilities. Spend those Schema Points. Get stronger.

"Later."

The Audience is watching. They want a good show.

"They always do."

You’re not scared?

I thought about it.

About Reyna’s reputation. Her power. Her perfect combat record.

About how she’d looked at me today like I was a puzzle she was going to solve.

About the way Natalia’s hand had trembled when she made me promise not to lose.

"Terrified."

Good. Fear makes better television.

"Glad I could help the ratings."

Sleep, Satori. You’ll need it.

For once, Nel was right.