Morning sunlight slanted through the classroom windows at Sobu High, catching the polished smile of Hayama Hayato as he approached. Like always, he looked like a prince dropped into the wrong school, blond hair perfect, posture immaculate. His entourage followed, Tobe with his forced laugh, Ooka nodding too eagerly, Yamato echoing whatever was said just to fill the silence.
"Kurosawa," Hayato said warmly, "why not join us sometime? We've got room."
I tilted my head slightly, lips curling faintly. "Strange. I thought you already had enough fireflies around you."
The word dropped like a pebble into water. Tobe froze mid-laugh. Ooka's nod faltered. Yamato opened his mouth, then closed it again, the echo dying on his tongue.
Hayato's smile didn't falter, but his eyes tightened, just a fraction. "That's an odd way to put it."
I just let out a smile.
Before the tension could thicken, another voice cut in, sharp and flat.
"He's right," Hachika said, her dead-fish gaze landing squarely on Hayato. "You already act like the sun. People who get too close just get burnt."
The courtyard hushed. Even Yumiko blinked in surprise, Ebina tilted her head with an amused grin, and Yui fidgeted nervously.
I glanced at Hachika, faintly amused. She'd surprised me, not with her venom, but by directing it at Hayato instead of me.
Hayato kept his smile, but thinner now. "I suppose everyone sees things differently."
"Not everyone," Hachika said, voice calm but cutting.
I shrugged, slipping my hands into my pockets. "I'll pass on the invitation. Still have odd-jobs to do."
That should've been the end of it. But Hachika added, almost lazily, "Besides, he already has his own fans."
As if on cue, Rikka waved from across the class, eyepatch glinting in the sunlight. "Dark Contract bearer! Your destiny awaits!" Yuuta posed beside her with a cape flourish.
Laughter rippled through the girls nearby.
Hayato's smile strained further. "…I see."
I didn't bother adding anything. The message was already clear.
---
Later that day, Hachika cornered me near the stairwell, her eyes sharper than usual.
"That exorcism," she said without preamble. "It wasn't normal. What did you really do?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Funny. For someone who claims not to care, you notice more than anyone else. But in the face of previous occasion, I'll let this go"
Her gaze didn't waver. "I don't like mysteries, especially ones sitting next to Saika."
"So this is about her," I said softly.
"Of course it's about her," Hachika snapped, then bit it back, scowling. "Just… don't hurt her."
I smiled faintly. "If I planned to, I wouldn't be eating lunch with her on rooftops, would I?"
Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. Rivalry hung sharp in the air, neither of us yielding ground.
---
The Service Club's quiet was shattered when Rikka slammed open the door, Yuuta striding in with her cape.
"We demand an alliance!" Rikka declared, pointing dramatically. "The darkness encroaches, and only by combining forces can we resist!"
Yukino didn't even look up from her book. "No."
Yui flinched. "W-Wait, maybe we should relax for a while..." in an awkward tone.
"Idiots," Hachika muttered.
I leaned back in my chair. "Should I get popcorn, or will tea suffice? Ne, Hachika?"
Hikigaya kept her silent.
The argument spiraled into a bizarre "debate", Yukino and Hachika's cold logic clashing against Rikka and Yuuta's fervent chuuni conviction. Somehow, impossibly, the Chuuni duo "won," dragging us all into investigating another "eerie classroom" in Sobu High.
---
The classroom was colder than it should've been. Shadows lagged behind movements. The windows sometimes reflected empty hallways instead of the people standing in front of them.
"Spooky," Yui whispered, hugging herself.
"Pathetic," Yukino said, though her voice was a little tighter.
Only I saw the true twisted forms lurking in the corners, weak spirits gnawing on scraps of fear.
Casually, I flicked my fingers, muttering under my breath. "Lightning Arrow."
A silent flash erased them. No one noticed, except Hachika, who gave me a long, unreadable look.
---
Later, on the way home, Totsuka jogged up beside me, her smile warm.
"Things feel… strange lately," she admitted softly.
"Strange, how?" I asked.
"Like… the air's heavier. Shadows move weirdly. Maybe it's just me."
I shook my head. "It's not just you. But don't worry. If something happens, I'll handle it. Just keep smiling like you always do."
Her cheeks pinked slightly. "You always know what to say, huh?"
"Don't tell anyone," I said, "or they'll expect it all the time."
She laughed, lighter now. The warmth of it stayed with me longer than I expected.
---
That night, I opened the book while opening the chat group in my mind.
> Ras: Anomalies growing frequent recently... does anyone also?
The replies came instantly.
> Gojo: [posts sticker of popcorn] Oho, anime boy's ghostbusting now? Did you do it with style?
Kazumi: .... can't help, still doing my job at the bricks.
Ichika: Weak. Call me when it's worth swinging at.
Satsuki: ….
Yaya: Popcorn!? FOOD??? Do ghosts drop snacks??? Hiring me is cheaper than holy water! Half upfront, Instant ramen acceptable!
Kazumi: You're pathetic.
Yaya: Pathetic but profitable! My last job paid me in soba noodles. Exorcism and dinner, two-for-one deal!
Gojo: …This girl's my hero! (Amused.jpg)
Lin's frantic voice cut through.
> Lin: E-Everyone! Focus! If anomalies are appearing that often, then a Space Crack may soon form in Ras's world!
Ichika's reiatsu flared even through the link.
> Ichika: Good. Send me in.
> Satsuki: Reckless. But she's right—this is serious.
> Ainz: Pragmatic approach. If a crack forms, we'll support it. Nothing else matter
>Kazuma: (Laying Bricks.jpg)
>Yaya: (Slurping noodles.jpg)
>Ras: Thankyou for your concern, I'll raise a hand here if I need any help. Thanks (Bow.jpg)