Inside, the classroom was already half-full. A few students lounged at their desks, others compared summer tan lines, and at the front, a tired-looking man with black hair tied into a low bun sat slumped over a stack of papers, coffee in hand.

The desk nearest the window was unoccupied, a single ray of sun cutting across its scuffed surface. It was a good vantage point—close enough to the door to see everyone coming in, far enough from the front to avoid the chalk dust.

The classroom door slid open again with a soft hiss. A boy with wild, messy purple hair shuffled in, dark circles under his eyes. He wore an oversized hoodie that swallowed his frame, and his hands were shoved deep into the pockets. He glanced around the room once, took in the chaos with a flat expression, then made a beeline for the corner desk.