Morning arrived far too quickly for Class 4A. The sun peeked through the dorm windows like an overexcited Paimon with a mission. Inside, Xiao was already up and meditating, Kazuha was writing a haiku titled "Bruised by the Glider", Heizou was reorganizing his prank list, and Wanderer was upside down in bed, snoring like a low-pressure wind tunnel.
"Get up! Dance class today!" Venti sang from the hallway, tossing a handful of wind-charged glitter through the open door. It sparkled ominously as it drifted onto their beds.
"I'm already exhausted and we haven't even moved," Heizou groaned.
Period One: Dance with Lan Yan
The boys dragged themselves into the mirrored dance studio. It was a pristine space, softly lit, with a polished floor and glowing Anemo motifs swirling gently on the walls. Waiting for them at the front was Lan Yan, poised like a crane mid-dance, her long sleeves flowing with elegance.
"Good morning, my young breezes," she said with a serene smile. "Today, we become the wind itself."
"Can't we study the wind instead of becoming it?" Wanderer muttered.
"You will perform a partner dance. Precision, grace, and synchronization! Let the wind flow through your limbs."
Xiao blinked. "I am a warrior. Not a dancer."
Lan Yan clapped. "Even warriors must know rhythm."
Kazuha partnered with Xiao. Heizou, sensing mischief, grabbed Wanderer's hand.
"What are you doing?" Wanderer hissed.
"Bonding," Heizou said, leading him in a spin that ended in Wanderer's face smacking the floor.
"T-try again," Lan Yan winced. "Less... face planting."
Xiao surprisingly adapted fast, letting Kazuha guide him into sweeping turns. His face remained blank, but his movements grew smoother with each beat. Kazuha smiled, quietly impressed.
"You're getting it."
"I'm imagining this as dodging Abyss Mages."
"Motivation comes in all forms."
Meanwhile, Heizou dipped Wanderer so dramatically that he dropped him again.
"That's it! I'm setting your pillow on fire tonight!"
"Romantic tension, noted," muttered Kazuha.
Lan Yan finally called time. "Wanderer, Heizou, you both earn a C for creativity. Xiao and Kazuha, an A-. You didn't smile, but at least no one died."
Lunch Detour: Detention with Jean
Just as the boys sat down to lunch, the intercom crackled.
"Wanderer, Heizou, report to my office. Now."
Jean's voice cut through the air like a cold gust.
Kazuha sighed. "What did you two do this time?"
"Apparently," Heizou whispered, "the fake overdue notice I sent to Faruzan tripped the entire library lockdown protocol."
"And you put a wind slime in my locker," Xiao added.
"...Which exploded," Kazuha said.
"Jean's too powerful to be mad at us. She'll just smite us with disappointment," Wanderer mumbled, walking away like he was off to battle.
Jean's Office: Discipline and Dandelion Tea
Jean sat behind her desk, calm but fierce. A pot of tea steamed beside her.
"Gentlemen. Explain."
Wanderer crossed his arms. "Heizou tricked me. Again."
"Because you kicked me out of my bed during gliding class."
Jean sipped. "You will both spend your afternoon cleaning the rooftop. Without gliders. No Anemo powers. Just... buckets."
"That's cruel and unusual punishment," Heizou whined.
"You're lucky I don't assign you to mime class with Itto. Dismissed."
Afternoon Chaos: Chemistry with Sucrose
Back in the classroom, Kazuha and Xiao joined Sucrose, who was setting up an experiment with bright green Dendro crystals and wind-infused powders.
"Today, we study Anemo-Dendro reactions!" she chirped, placing safety goggles on the students.
Xiao eyed the crystals. "Will this explode?"
"Probably not. I mean... maybe a little."
She handed each student a crystal to combine with wind resin. Xiao's reaction produced a soft green swirl, almost like dancing vines. Kazuha's grew into a wind-shaped leaf that hovered over his palm.
"Fascinating," he murmured.
Suddenly, a pigeon flew in the window, knocked over Heizou's earlier experiment, and chaos erupted. One of the crystals cracked, releasing a vine that wrapped around Xiao's leg and lifted him off the floor.
"Unhand me," he said, entirely calm.
Sucrose scrambled with a dropper. "Don't worry! I've got the anti-reagent!" She splashed Xiao's face.
He blinked. "That was vinegar."
"Oh. Oops."
Evening: Rooftop Confessions
After their rooftop punishment, Wanderer and Heizou returned exhausted and slightly soapy.
"My arms... feel like Jueyun Chili noodles," Heizou wheezed.
"We suffer. We learn. We retaliate," Wanderer said, still plotting.
Back at the dorms, Kazuha lit incense, Xiao returned to meditating, and Heizou crawled onto his bed groaning.
"That was the worst day yet."
"We've had three days," Xiao pointed out.
Wanderer flopped onto the floor. "I'm going to become a slime and never attend school again."
Then, the door creaked. Venti poked his head in.
"You all did great! Lan Yan said your dancing was... interpretive. Jean said your cleaning was... mildly helpful. Sucrose hasn't stopped twitching."
"We're too tired for your cheerfulness," Kazuha muttered.
"Rest well, ducklings. Tomorrow... Library research day with Faruzan!"
Everyone groaned in unison.
"I'll set up the incense again," said Kazuha.
Xiao, already meditating, let the room fall into silence.
Heizou peeked over. "Hey Xiao... why do you meditate every night?"
Xiao didn't open his eyes. "To quiet the karmic echoes."
"That's deep," said Wanderer, dozing off mid-sentence.
Kazuha added, "May the wind bring you peace."
But Xiao had already slipped into silence.
To be continued...