The night was still.
Perched silently atop a glassy skyscraper, the world's most feared assassin, Eris Kurozuma, lay flat on the ledge like a panther stalking prey. Her red eyes scanned the city with predatory focus. A sleek rifle rested against her shoulder, aimed toward an alley far below.
Her earpiece buzzed.
Tap.
She answered with a bored tone, "Hello."
A voice crackled on the other end. "Eris, we've found traces of the Gravity Yokai. Its essence hasn't fully awakened this might be our only chance to capture it."
Eris blinked slowly. "Roger that."
[Elsewhere – Kuramoto High School]
In the far back of Class 2-B, a boy stared blankly at his desk. Shikiel Sora messy black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a faded scar slashing across his right brow. He was silent, invisible, forgettable. Just how he liked it.
But the others never let him be.
Thunk.
A paper ball smacked his head.
"Look, the nerd's gonna cry!" one boy jeered.
"Why don't you just die already, loser?" another added, laughing.
Shiki stood without a word and walked out. The whispers followed, but so did a pair of softer footsteps.
"Wait… Hey!" A girl's voice called after him.
He turned. It was Kana, a shy girl with short brown hair and gentle eyes.
"What do you want?" he snapped, eyes cold. "You gonna mock me too?"
She blinked. "What? No! It's… it's your birthday today, right?" She reached into her bag and pulled out a green apple, holding it out awkwardly. "I thought you might like this."
He stared at it, stunned.
"…Thank you," he said softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips for the first time in weeks.
She smiled and walked off. Shiki gently placed the apple in his locker.
As he headed back to class, someone brushed past him. A silver-haired girl with crimson eyes and a cold aura.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
She paused, glanced at him. "It's fine."
She entered his classroom.
Wait… when did she transfer? Shiki wondered.
The teacher clapped his hands as class began. "Alright, we have a new student today. Please introduce yourself."
The silver-haired girl stood, her red gaze sweeping across the curious classroom.
"I'm Eris. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you."
Shiki's eyes narrowed. Something about her felt… off. Dangerous, even.
Later, during math, Shiki stared out the window, lost in memory.
"Run, Shiki, run!"
"Mooom!"
His head jerked up.
"Shiki?" the teacher frowned. "Since you're so eager, why not solve the next problem?"
He walked to the board. As he passed, someone stuck their foot out.
Trip!
The class burst into laughter. Shiki dusted himself off, said nothing, and solved the problem on the board anyway—perfectly.
[Lunchtime]
"Have you found the item yet?" Eris whispered into her comms.
"No sir, not yet. Still scanning."
Across the lunchroom, Shiki sat alone. The bullies returned.
Splash! His tray hit the floor.
"Oh no, the nerd dropped his food," one taunted.
Shiki quietly knelt to pick it up.
"Stop ignoring us!" One grabbed his shirt and shoved him.
"Leave him alone!" Kana called out.
The boys groaned. "Later, loser."
She knelt beside him. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," he murmured. "Thanks."
After school, Kana found him again. "You forgot your apple in the cafeteria."
"Oh. Thanks." He accepted it.
"You should eat it before it goes bad."
"…Sure. See you tomorrow."
As she walked away, Eris's mind reeled. Wait. That apple... No. That's—
That's the Gravity Yokai item?!
I thought it was hidden in the school, not handed to a student!
[Shiki's Apartment – That Night]
"Finally home…" Shiki sighed, locking the door.
He looked at the apple resting on his desk.
Eat it before it goes bad, Kana had said.
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Outside, wind howled unnaturally.
The lights flickered. Then died.
Shiki stood to check the switch—
—and froze.
A skeletal yokai with horns and empty sockets loomed before him.
"The apple… boy…"
"What the hell?!" Shiki backed away.
The creature lunged, bony claws wrapping around his throat.
"Your life… is the price."
Memories surged.
"Moooom!!"
BANG!
The door exploded open.
Eris stepped in, gun drawn, and shot the yokai's hand clean off.
"Move!"
She grabbed Shiki and dragged him behind her.
The yokai regenerated and shrieked, charging again.
"I only have four shots left," Eris muttered. "Damn it… No real weapons on me."
"What is that thing?! Why is it after me?!" Shiki gasped.
"That's a yokai. And people with the Gift can see them. I'm an assassin. We kill things like that."
She pointed at the apple. "It's after that."
"This?!" Shiki held up the green fruit.
"It holds the Gravity Yokai's sealed power!"
BANG! Another shot rang out, slowing the monster.
Shiki looked between Eris, the yokai, and the apple.
"If it wants this… maybe I should just give it to him."
"NO! You dumbass—"
"The apple… boy…"
Then—he heard it.
A voice in his head:
"Eat me… Eat me…"
Without thinking, he bit.
MUNCH. GULP.
"…You idiot!" Eris grabbed his face. "Spit it out!"
BA-DMP. BA-DMP.
His heartbeat thundered.
His hair turned white.
Eyes glowed green with three pupils.
Tattoo-like veins spread down his neck and arms.
Two horns burst from his skull, and a devil's grin curled on his lips.
"...What the hell," Eris whispered.
Shiki raised a finger—
SNAP!
BA-SLASH!
The yokai exploded in a blink, torn apart by invisible pressure.
Shiki laughed darkly.
"BAHAHAHA!"
Then he collapsed, back to normal.
"I guess… you're gonna kill me now, huh?" he muttered weakly.
Eris stood silent.
"…No. I have a better idea."
One Week Later…
[SFTYA – School For The Young Assassins]
Shiki stared up at the blood-red banner hanging over the gates.
"Train in Shadows. Kill Without Mercy."
"Are you kidding me?" he muttered.
Eris smirked beside him. "Welcome to class, Gravity Boy."