Time passed in a blur for Meteora after that day.

  There were mornings in homeroom with Sonny and Merida—who pushed him gently while trying to understand his needs at a fundamental level. Afternoons with Tori, who always seemed to know exactly how to place him into situations that challenged him just enough. And then there were the twins, who had somehow become a constant in his life, lingering in his lab during practical classes whenever they found themselves free.

  Seven years later.

  Meteora stepped out of the nurse’s office with a quiet sigh of frustration.

  It was spring of his freshman year, which meant—like clockwork—health assessments. And health assessments always meant measurements. The process had grown more uncomfortable with each passing year, especially now that he could never quite find clothes that felt right on him.

  The only saving grace was the system’s allowance for Sonny and Merida to act as his beneficiaries, requesting a private nurse for neutral evaluations and testing. Tori had likely helped as well, he suspected, given the nurse’s Taurus-sector credentials.

  _I can go straight to my lab and take a nap,_ he thought, clinging to the idea for all of half a second-a fragile, fleeting hope at best.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Meo-chan~!”

  Meteora sighed in resignation just as a familiar arm slipped around his shoulders.

  “Good morning, Seris,” he mumbled, exhaustion weighing down his voice as he glanced at the now-senior student beside him.

  Seris wore his usual uniform—technically the female one. He had explained it once, long ago, but Meteora hadn’t retained much beyond the essentials. Seris was a guy. He liked dressing femininely. That was enough.

  “You look down,” Seris said quickly, concern plain in his voice. “Was the Taurus nurse awkward?”

  Before Meteora could answer, the sound of measured footsteps approached from behind.

  “Seris, give him space.” Elowen’s voice was cool, not unkind. “You know he finds that invasive.”

  She nodded to Meteora as she came to his other side, carrying herself with her usual composed, almost noble bearing—so different from her brother’s easy warmth.

  “But Elly,” Seris protested, “look at him! He looks more uncomfortable every year!”

  A single sharp glare from Elowen silenced him instantly.

  “I take it you’re both free today?” Meteora asked, stifling a yawn as they started walking—one sibling on either side of him.

  “Elly was wor—” Seris began.

  He yelped as Elowen smacked him lightly. She cleared her throat and looked away.

  “Our schedules were cleared after our own assessments,” she explained calmly. “So today’s gate dive was canceled.”

  Meteora nodded, deciding not to press further after witnessing Seris’s fate.

  “Last year with you two…” he mused aloud.

  The words surprised even him.

  “Finally some peace and quiet for a couple of years,” he added quickly, covering the slip.

  The twins exchanged a knowing look—but said nothing.

  “Yep!” Seris chirped. “Elowen and I are seniors this year! You _have_ to come to graduation!”

  As they reached the lab doors, Meteora groaned internally.