That afternoon, as usual, Arya, Dio, and Rika sat on the cafeteria chairs, bathed in the harsh sunlight. The light streamed through the large eastern windows, casting long shadows across the floor, still damp from last night's rain. The air felt heavy and slightly stuffy; the scent of wet earth mingled with frying food, coffee, and the whir of a blender from a small café tucked in the corner.
The cafeteria was packed. Students bustled around carrying trays, some laughing loudly, others focused on their laptop screens. Every seat was taken, forcing a few to gather on the steps or at the edge of the small garden outside, since there was no place left to sit.
"Looks like I'll have to involve you in this case," Dio said softly but firmly, swirling a small spoon in his coffee cup. The metallic clink of the spoon against the cup rang sharply, cutting through the surrounding noise.
Arya and Rika stayed silent. Both lowered their heads, sitting upright yet stiff, like schoolchildren being scolded by their parents for misbehaving.
"I've been after that spirit for a long time," Dio continued, staring at the dark liquid in his cup. "It's slippery, like an eel—hard to catch. I've searched everywhere in Jogja to find its true form, but nothing. It always vanishes before I get close."
His voice grew heavier, deeper. Steam from the coffee blurred the air in front of his face, adding a somber weight to his words.
Arya and Rika still didn't move, heads down, eyes fixed on the table, afraid to meet Dio's gaze as he raised one brow, looking at them with irritation.
"What's wrong with you two? Speak up…" Dio sighed heavily, setting his cup down with a soft thud. "I feel like a fool talking to myself here."
His tone was sharp but not truly angry, more like a teacher losing patience with passive students.
Arya glanced at Rika, and Rika returned the look. That brief exchange seemed like a silent signal deciding who should speak first. Rika blinked nervously, but Arya finally took a deep breath and spoke first.
"…We're sorry," Arya said quietly, almost drowned out by the cafeteria's commotion.
"Sorry?" Dio echoed, frowning. "For what?"
"…We acted disrespectfully last night," Arya continued, voice tinged with guilt, like a child caught stealing candy. "And we won't do it again."
"Yes, we regret it," Rika quickly added, half embarrassed, half pleading.
"Huh?" Dio said, utterly confused, looking at both of them.
"Last night I behaved rudely toward Moth—"
Rika's words were cut off by a sudden gust of wind that seemed to come from nowhere. The cafeteria curtains, usually still, fluttered softly, and the air around them suddenly turned cold, causing a few students to glance around in surprise.
From behind Dio, a woman in a red dress slowly appeared, a gentle smile on her face. Her gown shimmered faintly under the sunlight filtering through the leaves, and her black hair swayed lightly in a wind that shouldn't have been there.
"I forgive you…" Nagini said softly, her voice echoing subtly, as if coming from two directions at once.
Rika's face instantly brightened, eyes sparkling like a child seeing her mother return with a gift. She stood up and ran toward Nagini, her steps light.
"Thank you, Mother Nagini!" she exclaimed joyfully, hugging the elegant woman with a wide smile.
Dio's gaze narrowed. He looked at Nagini suspiciously for a moment before turning back to Arya.
"So, Arya?" he asked flatly, but with seriousness.
Arya hesitated for a few seconds before speaking quietly, "I… I'm not sure I'm capable right now."
"Unfortunately, this isn't a choice or a request, Arya," Dio said sharply, pressing the point. "This crazy spirit has gone too far."
"Crazy spirit? You mean me?" Rika retorted, pointing at herself with a confused expression.
"Is there anyone else who fits the description?" Dio replied with a small, teasing grin.
"Ugh! Annoying. You're so annoying, human!" Rika said, turning her face away with puffed cheeks like a sulking child.
Dio just chuckled lightly, ignoring her.
Arya, who had been silent until now, finally lifted his face. He looked at Dio, then at Nagini, then back to the table, taking a deep breath.
"Alright… then I'm ready," he said firmly, though a trace of doubt lingered in his tone.
"Heh, planning to run from the group task, huh?" Rika cut in sharply, eyes narrowing suspiciously at Arya. "No way! Arya needs to focus on finding the group first."
Arya forced a wry smile, trying to calm the increasingly chatty Rika.
"I can handle that part on my own, Rika," he said quietly.
"Mmmm, you want to run, don't you?" Rika pressed again, leaning closer, eyebrows raised suspiciously.
Dio's face instantly turned serious and deep as he observed their behavior, like someone suddenly realizing something critical. His gaze went blank toward the table, yet sharp and focused as if he was solving a puzzle. He laced his fingers in front of his lips, leaning forward with his chin resting on his thumbs. His movements were slow, calm, but carried a pressure that made the table's atmosphere heavy.
"Have you signed a contract?" Dio finally asked, voice flat but firm, still staring at them over his interlaced fingers like a detective who just uncovered a crucial clue.
"A contract?" Rika and Arya said almost simultaneously, both confused, reflexively, like students caught off guard by a teacher's sudden question.
Arya quickly turned his face, eyes widening for a moment before he rubbed the back of his neck and lowered his gaze. He remembered the strange night a few days ago when Rika shamelessly slept in his bed. His face flushed, and he cleared his throat softly, trying to hide the awkwardness creeping into his ears.
Rika reflexively covered her face with both hands, cheeks bright red as if scalded. She bit her lower lip, embarrassed, replaying the moment: Arya's awkward face suddenly acting mature when he scolded her. The memory made her chest race—half amused, half ashamed, and… slightly pleased.
Dio watched their expressions silently, his face expressionless, too expressionless, as if he was holding back from throwing something. He closed his eyes briefly, inhaled deeply.
"They're thinking of another kind of contract," Dio muttered to himself, annoyed but slightly resigned. He exhaled softly, opened his eyes, and looked at them with a nearly desperate expression.
"You understand the contract I mean, right?" Dio said, half-angrily, each word emphasized.
"That night… we didn't do anything!" Arya stammered, panicked, hands moving forward as if to explain, but only making him look more suspicious.
"Yeah, that night… aaah nooo!" Rika's voice was half-laugh, half-embarrassed, cheeks burning.
Dio frowned, jaw tightening. "So what exactly did you do?" he said, pressing every syllable.
"The contract I mean is between humans and spirits or demons!" he continued, voice high, clearly frustrated, like a professor repeating a lesson for the third time to the same confused students.
"OOOOH, that contract," Rika and Arya said simultaneously, faces innocent.
"I hate those two," Dio muttered, holding back a frustrated shout, fists clenched.
Nagini behind him covered her mouth with the top of her gown, shoulders shaking slightly to stifle laughter. Her gaze was gentle but amused—she clearly enjoyed the little chaos before her.
After a few awkward minutes of silence, the tension slowly eased. Arya and Rika calmed, trying to redirect their wandering thoughts.
"Hmm… the contract you mean, like a pact… or some kind of offering, right?" Rika asked softly, squinting as if trying to take the matter seriously, though still awkward. She looked at the ceiling, imagining scenes from old stories she'd heard: incense, offerings, and spells in the middle of misty nights.
"Why are you asking?" Arya interjected quickly, voice serious, curious but also wary—as if afraid of the answer.
"You're close," Dio said, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, chin slightly raised, a faint proud smile showing at least one of them was thinking along the right lines.
"I'm asking," Dio continued slowly, "because I sense something off between you two. A spirit or demon cannot leave the astral realm if it isn't bound by a contract to a human. The barrier between the two realms is strict, with no tolerance, no exceptions—unless… the spirit or demon has a master."
His last words drifted deliberately, making the air around the table tense.
"And what about Nagini?" Arya finally asked, eyes on the red-dressed woman behind Dio, serious but deeply respectful.
"Ah… Nagini is a special case," Dio said without hesitation. "She can move between the astral and human worlds because she has permission and a special reason related to her status from past to present."
Nagini smiled softly, as if understanding Dio was simplifying something far more complex than ordinary humans could grasp.
"Hmm… if the contract is like that, I don't think we've ever had one, Dio," Arya said softly, tone dropping as he tried to recall.
"We've never—" Rika began, but her words faltered. Her expression shifted—eyes widening slightly, lips parting, but she didn't continue.
A memory flashed in her mind—a few weeks ago, in the astral realm, when Arya first arrived. She remembered his hand reaching for hers, his gentle words, and something that felt… binding. Rika froze, looking down quickly, clutching her blue skirt in her lap as if to hide what had just been revealed from her memory.
Dio, watching every gesture, immediately caught the subtle change in Rika's face. His eyes narrowed, sharp as someone completing a puzzle. He knew—they were already bound by a contract. Only, at that moment, they hadn't realized that their simple actions in the astral realm were already a form of contract.
Dio exhaled long and slow, leaning back in his chair. He looked at the ceiling, then at the two before him, expression a mix of resignation and relief—like someone finally understanding how tangled the threads of fate truly were.
BRAKKA plate slammed onto the middle of their table with a loud thud, making the coffee beside it ripple slightly. The sound cut off the light conversation that had just been about to start between Arya and Dio. The aroma of hot dishes hit instantly, mingling with the scent of chili and leftover instant coffee on the table.
"Sorry, guys," said a woman with long, straight black hair, slightly messy from the ceiling fan above. Her voice was polite but sharp, like restrained irritation masked by a faint smile. "May I use this table to eat? It seems you've just been chatting and not actually using it. Please find another spot…"
She looked at Arya and Dio in turn with a wry smile—no anger, just a clear desire for them to move without questions. In her hands, a tray with rice, fried chicken, and iced tea trembled slightly, maybe from irritation or hunger long held back.
The two froze, exchanging quick confused glances. Dio raised an eyebrow, holding back a small laugh, while Arya blinked rapidly, unsure how to respond.
"Ah, yes… sorry. We'll find another place," Arya said finally, voice quiet and stiff. He slung his bag over one shoulder, movements awkward but quick, clearly wanting to end the awkward moment. Dio followed, exhaling softly, half amused, half baffled. They left without further words.