The door slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing Shinro's cheerful face. "Hey, fools, you up!" he chimed, his black eyes sparkling with warmth. Takahishi, caught off guard, hastily wiped the sleep from his eyes, his hair disheveled from the sudden interruption.

"Ah, Shinro, it's you " Takahishi said, his voice still husky from slumber. He stepped aside, allowing Shinro to enter.

Crinix emerged from the shadows of the room, a gentle smile spreading across his face. "Good morning, Shinro," he greeted, his voice like a soothing melody.

"You're still asleep?!" Shinro thundered, his voice incandescent with rage, "What is wrong with you?!"

“Man, I'm tired," Takahishi yawned, stretching his arms over his head as he arched his back in a languid curve. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, drooped half-closed, and his voice was husky with fatigue. "I swear, Shinro, your idea of an early start is basically torture.”

Shinro's face twisted in fury as he bellowed, “You fools aren't serious! You'll be late for the test! Get ready, and fast! Do I always have to breathe down your necks?”

Crinix and Takahishi exchanged a wary glance, wisely choosing not to provoke Shinro further. They beat a hasty retreat to the bathroom, emerging a few minutes later, dressed and ready to go.

Without a word, the trio filed out of the room, their footsteps echoing down the corridor as they made their way to Hunter Academy. Before long, they stood before the academy's imposing entrance.

Shinro looks at them and forces a half smile “Well l guess this is it, I wish you guys luck and remember all that l taught you” Shinro tells them

Crinix looks at Shinro and nods “Thanks Shinro we greatly appreciate that ”

Takahishi suddenly bursts into laughter , his laughter exploding like a pent-up storm. "Hahaha! I don't need luck, I'm going to crush this test and claim the most gargantuan weapon imaginable! It'll be so large that when a Soul Eater lays eyes on it, it will tremble with fear!"

Shinro's expression transformed from annoyance to utter bewilderment, his eyebrows shooting up in confusion. He shook his head, a wry smile spreading across his face. “Okay, then,” he said, his tone laced with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Turning to leave, he called out over his shoulder, “Goodbye, see you later. Don't fail”

As Crinix and Takahishi stepped into the Academy's hallowed halls, they swiftly located their designated classroom.

Upon entering, they were immediately struck by the sea of expectant faces, all of which seemed to be gazing at them with a mixture of disdain and disinterest. The air was thick with tension, and the duo's tardiness only seemed to exacerbate the situation.

As they made their way to the back row, the weight of their peers' unpleasant stares bore down upon them. It was a harsh reminder that, thus far, they had failed to make any other friends besides Niski.

However, their spirits lifted as they spotted Niski's familiar face already seated in the back row. His warm smile and gentle greeting provided a much-needed respite from the chilly atmosphere. "Hello, friends! What took you so long to get here today?" he asked, his voice a soothing balm to their frazzled nerves.

Crinix flashed a friendly smile at Niski. "Hey, Niski. We had a long day yesterday, and it was hard for us to get up on time today." He explained, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

Niski's face lit up with a warm smile. "I'm just glad you managed to make it today." His eyes sparkled with excitement. "Today, we're going to get our Divine weapons! I've been waiting a long time for this, and you know what the best thing will be?"

Niski paused, his gaze locking onto Crinix and Takahishi, drawing them in. "If we both end up in the same squad!" He exclaimed, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

Crinix's smile widened, and he nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that will be great."

Takahishi's eyes rolled heavenward, and he thought to himself, Niski is so weird. I hope he fails this test, because I wouldn't want to end up with him in the same squad. A snicker escaped his lips, and Niski's head swiveled towards him.

"Hey, Takahishi, what are you laughing about?" Niski asked, his brow furrowed in curiosity.

Takahishi's eyes widened, and he hastily concocted a lie. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking that it would be really great if we ended up on the same squad." He forced a laugh, trying to sound convincing.

Niski's face lit up with a bright smile. "Oh, that will be great, right?" He echoed, his voice filled with excitement.

Takahishi nodded, his smile feeling like a mask. "Totally great," he agreed, his thoughts screaming in protest.

Just as the conversation was continuing, the door burst open, and Hiruki and Shizuki strode in. The room fell silent, all eyes drawn to the commanding presence of the two instructors.

Hiruki's hands grasped the edges of a table, which he pushed forward with a sense of purpose. A white cloth shrouded the table's surface, piquing the curiosity of all who laid eyes on it.

The air was thick with anticipation, the room holding its collective breath. Hiruki's deliberate movements only added to the sense of drama, his eyes gleaming with an knowing intensity.

"Good morning, everyone," Hiruki and Shizuki chimed in unison, their voices commanding attention.

The class responded with a chorus of greetings, their voices filling the room.

Hiruki's gaze swept over the class, his expression serious. "Hope you're all ready for the test today."

Shizuki stepped forward, her eyes locked onto the class. "Before we begin the test, I will outline the rules. Listen carefully," she instructed, her pause hanging in the air like a challenge.

All eyes snapped towards Shizuki, her voice commanding the room's attention. "The first rule is straightforward: when your name is called, you will come forward and select your weapon."

Her gaze swept over the class, her expression firm. "The second rule is equally clear: those who fail to choose their weapons will fail the test. And if you fail, you will be required to repeat the year at Hunter Academy until you pass your weapon test."

The room erupted into a chorus of worried whispers and disbelieving murmurs, the weight of Shizuki's words sinking in like a stone. The students exchanged nervous glances, the stakes now painfully clear: failure was not an option.

“Silence!” Shizuki commanded Shizuki's gaze swept the room, ensuring she had everyone's attention before delivering the final rule. "And the third rule: once you have chosen your weapon, you may not change your mind. Your choice is final. So, choose wisely."

The room was shrouded in silence, all eyes fixed on Shizuki. "Does anyone have a question before we begin the test?" she asked, her voice piercing the stillness.

The silence was oppressive, no one daring to break it. Shizuki's gaze swept over the class, her expression unreadable. She turned to Hiruki, her eyes locking onto the table covered with the white cloth. "Hiruki, now pull the cloth off."

Hiruki's hand grasped the cloth, and with a swift motion, he pulled it off. The class gasped in unison, their eyes widening as they took in the array of weapons laid out before them.

Shizuki's voice was low and mysterious. "Here are the weapons. Remember, choose wisely."