"When Saints Knock and Dragons Answer"

(In College)

"Yuuta! You idiot! Where the hell have you been? You missed three days in a row!"

Before I could even defend myself, the professor grabbed my ear like he was trying to tune an old radio.

"OW—sir! I was sick! Three whole days. Fever, chills, the whole nine yards!"

He let go, pushing up his glasses with a sigh like a father debating whether to ground his kid or just give up on parenting altogether.

"Sick, huh? I might believe you… but you missed the critical lecture on complex equations and the upcoming group project instructions. Sit down. And I want all your pending work submitted before you leave today. Clear?"

I rubbed my aching ear, nodding quickly. "Crystal clear, sir."

"Good. Now move."

I slunk to my seat, muttering under my breath. "Man… I'm gonna need a new ear if this keeps up."

Sam, my bench neighbor and certified conspiracy theorist, leaned over as I dropped into my chair. He had that look—the one that said he'd already cooked up at least three insane theories about my absence.

"Yo, dude, I thought you got abducted by aliens or something. Three days? Did you get recruited by a secret agency or join a cult?"

I snorted, pulling out my notebook. "Nah, nothing that wild. Just had an interview."

Sam's eyebrows shot up. "Interview? For what? You finally trying to escape this academic prison?"

I glanced around, making sure no one else was eavesdropping. "For Elena. Morning Star Elite Academy."

Sam blinked at me, his brain clearly buffering for a moment. "Wait… like the Morning Star Elite Academy? The one where students come out speaking five languages and solving equations like they're chewing gum?"

I sighed, leaning back. "Yeah, that one."

He slapped my shoulder, eyes wide. "Bro, I can barely keep my GPA alive, and you're trying to raise a genius? That's next-level parenting. Respect."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Yeah, something like that."

As I glanced around the room, my eyes landed on Fiona. Oh boy. Fiona—the girl who's had a crush on me recently. She was still staring, her eyes sparkling like a K-drama lead about to confess. I gave her an awkward half-smile. She turned beet red and almost knocked over her water bottle.

"Dude," Sam whispered, following my gaze. "Fiona still looks at you like you're a limited edition action figure. You should just be honest with her and save her the trouble."

I groaned. "Don't start, man."

(At Yuuta's Apartment)

A sleek white van pulled up in front of the old, weathered apartment building, its polished exterior gleaming like a beacon of purity against the rusted bikes and cracked pavement. The golden cross on its side glowed faintly, almost as if it were radiating divine energy. The door slid open with a soft hiss.

"Saintess, we've arrived," a calm, deep voice announced from the driver's seat.

A slender figure stepped out—a woman draped in flowing white robes, her long, blonde hair tied back neatly, a cross-shaped cane made of polished gold and silver in her hand. She paused, taking in the sight of the modest, slightly run-down building before her.

She let out a soft, almost nostalgic sigh. "So… Yuuta managed to live here. I'm glad."

With slow, graceful steps, she approached the narrow stairwell, her cane tapping gently against the cracked concrete as she climbed. Dust motes swirled in the air, catching the light from the streetlamp outside, adding a faint, ethereal glow to her every step.

When she reached the door—

Knock, knock.

Inside, Erza was sprawled on the couch, absentmindedly flipping through TV channels with a bowl of popcorn balanced on her lap. She frowned, tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth.

"Huh? Who's knocking now?" she muttered, reluctantly getting up. She reached the door, one hand still gripping the remote like a shield.

She pulled the door open, her expression shifting from mild annoyance to confusion as she took in the sight of the robed figure before her.

Erza raised an eyebrow. "Yes? What do you want, lady?"

The Saintess blinked, her head tilting slightly. She seemed almost caught off guard by the casual, slightly dismissive tone. "Oh my, did I enter the wrong home? This is Yuuta's residence, right?"

Erza leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms with a slight smirk. "Yeah, that's my husband's home. Do you need something from him?"

The Saintess's eyes widened behind her blindfold, her grip on her cane tightening. Her serene, composed expression shattered for a split second, replaced by raw, unfiltered shock.

"H-Husband?" she stammered, her voice trembling slightly, a rare crack in her normally flawless poise. "What do you mean by… husband?"

Silence.

The air felt heavy, the kind of tension that crackles before a storm. Erza's eyes narrowed, a playful spark flickering behind them as if she'd just stumbled onto a very interesting game.

"Oh, didn't he tell you?" Erza's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Yuuta's my husband. We've been living together for a while now."

The Saintess's breath hitched, her hand gripping the cane so tightly her knuckles turned white. She took a half-step back, her mind racing to process this unexpected twist.

Erza tilted her head, watching the Saintess's stunned reaction with a kind of wicked amusement. She casually tossed another piece of popcorn into her mouth, crunching it loudly in the suffocating silence.

The Saintess swallowed, her normally calm, unshakable demeanor crumbling as a whirlwind of emotions flickered across her face. Confusion, disbelief… and perhaps a hint of something else, something sharper.

Finally, she managed to find her voice, though it came out softer, almost fragile. "H-Husband…?"

As if struck by lightning, Elena quickly rushed behind Erza's leg, peeking out cautiously. With wide, uncertain eyes, she whispered,

"Mama... who is this lady?"

The Saintess, frozen in place, blinked in disbelief. Her voice cracked as she repeated the words, trying to make sense of them.

"M-Mama?

Who is this child?" The Saintess asked.

Without even a hint of hesitation, Erza looked her straight in the eyes and delivered the truth like a blade.

"She's our daughter."

The Saintess staggered back a step. Her lips trembled.

"D-Daughter... Yuuta D-daughter?!"

____

(Back in the College Classroom)

Man, this lecture is mind-numbing, and it's only the second one of the day. The professor's voice droned on about formulas and equations like he was casting a sleep spell over the entire class. My head felt heavier with each passing second.

Sam leaned over, a lazy grin on his face. "Yo, Yuuta, you ready for the event?"

I blinked, snapping out of my daze. "Event? What event?"

Sam sighed, shaking his head. "Oh yeah, you were absent. Sports Day, bro. It's coming up. You know the drill."

"Oh," I groaned, leaning back in my seat. "That cursed day. Bring your family, make cheesy videos, pretend you're having a good time… man, I hate it."

Sam chuckled, nudging me with his elbow. "Yeah, I feel you. You always end up playing alone. No one cheering for you except Sister Mary, standing in the back like some holy guardian."

I felt a flicker of annoyance but then leaned back, my mind suddenly sparking with an idea.

Wait.

Who said I don't have a family?

I straightened up, a sudden surge of excitement hitting me.

"Wait a minute," I said, a little too loudly. "Who said I don't have a family?"

Everyone turned to stare at me, even the professor paused mid-equation, chalk hovering in the air like a sword about to drop.

Sam leaned back, giving me a side-eye. "Dude, chill. You're interrupting the class."

I quickly stood, bowing deeply. "Sorry, sir!"

The professor just sighed, muttering something about "disruptive kids" before returning to the board.

Inner Me: Of course, this time, I have my Lizard Queen and my Cutie Pie. I can't wait to see Elena's reaction when she sees her cool papa in action.

Then, my phone buzzed.

Loudly.

Everyone's heads snapped toward me again, including the professor, who looked like he was about to pop a vein. I panicked, fumbling to silence it, but the phone slipped from my sweaty hand, clattering to the floor with a loud, echoing thud.

"Yuuta…" the professor growled, eyes narrowing like a hawk spotting a careless mouse.

"Sorry! Sorry!" I whispered, diving under the desk to grab the phone.

The caller ID read Home Landline.

My heart skipped a beat. She never called during my classes unless it was something big.

I quickly hit the answer button, keeping my voice low, almost a whisper. "Hello? What happened?"

Her voice came through, calm but with a sharp edge of urgency. "Yuuta. She's here."

A chill ran down my spine. My blood turned to ice.

"S-She who…?" I managed to croak, my mind racing through a dozen worst-case scenarios.

The Saintess.

The line went dead.

I froze for a second, my heart hammering in my chest. Without another word, I grabbed my bag, shot up from my seat, and stammered, "Sir, it's urgent! I have to go!"

The professor's eyes flared, his chalk snapping in half. "Yuuta! Sit down!"

But I was already halfway out the door, bolting down the hallway like my life depended on it. I narrowly avoided colliding with a guy carrying a stack of books, his angry shout echoing behind me. I hit the stairs, taking two steps at a time, my mind a chaotic blur.

"It's urgent, it's urgent, it's really urgent…"

I ran like hell.

My bag? Somewhere in mid-air, probably still trying to catch up with my decisions.

Classes? Skipped them all like a rebel with a mission.

Because today…

There's only one reason I'm moving like my life depends on it—

To meet the Saintess.

Why?

Even I don't know if it's fate, disaster…

or both.

To be continued…