Chapter 7

Issac stepped through the gates of Whitmore University, a sense of surreal déjà vu washing over him. The campus was expansive, a blend of modern and classical architecture. Old brick buildings with ivy creeping up their walls stood proudly alongside sleek, glass-fronted structures, and wide paths snaked between them, flanked by tall oak trees whose leaves rustled in the gentle breeze. He glanced around, taking in the students scattered across the quad. Some lounged on the grass, textbooks open, while others hurried between classes, their laughter mixing with the sounds of campus life.

As he walked towards the administration building, a sprawling structure made of stone and glass, he felt a strange mix of excitement and hesitation. This wasn't just a second chance—it was his third, and this time, his cover was crucial.

Pushing through the double doors, he entered the lobby. The interior was modern, with polished floors and a high ceiling. Sunlight streamed in through large windows, giving the space a warm glow. At the reception desk, a middle-aged woman sat, typing away at her computer. She looked up as he approached.

"Hello, how can I help you?" she asked, smiling politely.

"I'm here to finalize my registration," Issac replied, pulling out the acceptance letter he'd received in this new life.

The receptionist glanced at the letter, her eyes widening slightly. "Ah, a full-ride scholarship. Very impressive! You'll want to meet with the academic advisor upstairs. They'll help you select your electives."

Issac nodded, thanking her, and made his way up a nearby staircase, where he found a small office labeled "Advising." He knocked and entered after a brief acknowledgment from within.

An advisor, a woman with short, cropped hair and glasses, sat behind a desk piled with papers and files. She gestured for him to sit down, pulling up his student record on her screen.

"So, Issac, you're here for a science major, correct?"

"That's right," he confirmed.

"Excellent choice," she said, tapping away on her keyboard. "You'll be taking a core set of science courses, but you'll need a few electives to round out your schedule. Any preferences?"

Issac considered for a moment. He needed to blend in but also keep his schedule flexible for his secret activities. "I'll take psychology, and maybe history."

The advisor raised an eyebrow. "Interesting mix. Psychology and history are always good choices to broaden your understanding of the world. Let's get those added."

She typed quickly, and within minutes, his schedule was set. Issac thanked her, received a packet with his room key and orientation information, and stepped back outside. As he reentered the quad, he let out a quiet sigh of relief. The formalities were done; now he could take a look around the place that would be his new home—at least for now.

He strolled through the quad, the iconic centerpiece of Whitmore University. Students crisscrossed the open green space, and the soft sound of the nearby fountain mixed with the hum of conversation. Issac couldn't help but feel a slight pang of nostalgia. It wasn't the same as his first college experience, but something about the atmosphere reminded him of a simpler time, before his life had become so… complicated.

The Whitmore Science Hall caught his attention next. It was a sleek, glass-fronted building that looked out of place among the older brick structures. Inside, he knew, were state-of-the-art laboratories, the kind that would be perfect for the government research he was pretending to be interested in. For now, though, he kept walking, content with just observing.

Further down the path, he passed the cafeteria, a large, modern building with floor-to-ceiling windows that gave a full view of the bustling dining area inside. The smell of freshly prepared food wafted out, and Issac glanced at the digital menu displayed near the door. Three meals a day, covered by his scholarship, except for holidays and breaks. He wasn't too worried about food, but it was good to know he'd be taken care of.

Finally, after a brief detour through the arts building, he found himself standing in front of Dunbar Hall, his dormitory. The building was tall and made of weathered brick, with a set of stone steps leading up to the entrance. Students were sitting outside, chatting and enjoying the sun. Issac nodded to a few of them as he walked up the steps and through the door.

Inside, Dunbar Hall was quiet, the occasional sound of distant voices or music filtering through the walls. The floor was polished wood, and the soft hum of the air conditioning filled the space. Issac found Room 314 easily enough and used his keycard to unlock the door.

The room was simple but clean—a twin bed, a small desk, a dresser, and a window that offered a decent view of the quad below. He dropped his bag onto the bed and stood for a moment, taking it all in. This was his cover, a fresh start as a college student with a full-ride scholarship, majoring in science. No one knew who he really was, or what he'd been through. To everyone here, he was just another eighteen-year-old student.

But he wasn't here to live a quiet life. He was here for answers, to unravel the secrets of the government, to stop the experiments, and to save as many Espers as he could along the way.

Sitting down at the desk, he glanced over the orientation packet and schedule. Science classes in the morning, psychology and history scattered throughout the week. His cover was perfect, and if he played his cards right, no one would suspect a thing.

---

Issac unpacked his last bag, tossing a few stray items into the dresser when a familiar voice rang inside his head: "You've gotta be kidding me, Issac. This is pure comedy gold."

Issac froze, eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about, Alfred?" he thought back, sensing the amusement radiating from his inner companion.

"Oh man, this is rich. Take a look at the name tag on your next-door neighbor's door. Just… do it," Alfred snickered.

Issac rolled his eyes, strolling out of his room and glancing at the door next to his. His heart sank as he read the name: Jaren Halbrook.

"Oh no…" Issac groaned internally, his mind racing. Jaren. Here. In the same dorm. As his neighbor.

Alfred cackled, barely containing himself. "This is too perfect! You can't make this stuff up. The guy who chased you, fought you, and even—oh wait, you died together in one life, right?—yeah, that guy is literally sharing a wall with you."

Issac rubbed his temples, trying to block out Alfred's relentless amusement. "This can't be real. How does he end up here? Of all people, why Jaren?"

"Fate, my friend. Or karma. Probably karma," Alfred replied, still laughing. "You spent two lives dodging him, and now you're stuck in a dorm next to him. You couldn't write this better if you tried."

Issac sighed, slumping back against his doorframe. He couldn't believe it. Jaren—the righteous, ever-suspicious Esper, who'd gone head-to-head with him in previous lives—was now just a few feet away, likely unaware of the tangled history between them. At least in this timeline, Jaren had no idea who Issac truly was.

Just as Issac was processing the surreal situation, he heard a door open behind him. He turned, his stomach doing flips as Jaren himself stepped out of his room. He looked the same as always: sharp, composed, and confident, though slightly less battle-worn than Issac remembered from past lives.

Jaren noticed Issac standing there and offered a polite nod. "Hey. You must be my next-door neighbor. I'm Jaren."

Issac's brain scrambled for a response. He forced a smile, trying to appear casual. "Issac. Nice to meet you."

Jaren gave a curt nod before heading down the hall toward the communal showers, towel slung over his shoulder.

As soon as Jaren was out of sight, Alfred's laughter echoed in Issac's mind once more. "Oh, man! He has no idea. This is going to be hilarious. Just wait until he starts suspecting you're an evil scientist or something. You know he's already suspicious of government workers, right?"

Issac groaned, retreating into his room and flopping onto his bed. "This is the worst kind of luck. How am I supposed to focus on my plans now?"

Alfred's voice softened, though the amusement still lingered. "Look, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe you're meant to face him differently this time. He doesn't know you. To him, you're just some random college guy."

Issac stared at the ceiling, already exhausted by the thought of trying to navigate this situation. "Jaren's not stupid. If he figures out what I'm really up to, it'll blow everything."

Alfred chuckled again. "Well, consider this your cosmic challenge. You'll just have to play it smart. And for the record, this is probably the funniest situation I've ever seen in all your lives."

Issac shook his head, his inner companion's snark ringing loud in his mind. "Yeah, real funny. I'm sure this will go smoothly," he thought, sarcasm dripping from every word.

As he lay there, the reality of his new dorm life began to sink in. Of all the timelines, of all the possible outcomes—this one was going to test him in ways he hadn't seen coming.