[Unknown Location — Exorcist Organization Headquarters]
A dimly lit room.
Cold.
Silent.
Two figures stood near a large table covered in documents, maps, and strange markings.
"…The numbers don't match."
One of them spoke, arms crossed.
"…They've doubled in the last few days."
The other man sighed.
"…Not just increased."
He tapped the table.
"…They're appearing in places they shouldn't."
A pause.
"…That train incident…"
"…Wasn't random," the first one completed.
Silence filled the room.
"…Do you think it's them?" the second man asked quietly.
The first man's expression darkened.
"…Who else could it be?"
A name wasn't spoken.
But both of them knew.
"…The organization that collects spirits…"
"…And weaponizes them."
The air grew heavy.
"…If they've started moving again…"
"…Then this isn't just an outbreak."
A pause.
"…It's a war."
_________________________
[ Outside Ash's House]
Ash sat on the steps.
Quiet.
Still.
Izumi stood beside him.
"…You okay?" Izumi asked.
Ash didn't answer immediately.
"…I feel…"
He paused.
"…empty."
Izumi looked at him.
"…That's normal."
"…Is it?"
"…Yeah."
A faint silence.
"…She's really gone this time," Ash whispered.
Izumi didn't try to comfort him with lies.
"…Yeah."
Ash let out a small laugh.
"…You're bad at emotional support."
"…I try."
"…Don't."
A pause.
"…Still…"
Ash looked up.
"…Thanks."
Izumi nodded.
"…Anytime."
________________________
[Evening — Izumi's Home]
The door opened.
"I'm back—"
Izumi stopped.
"…What?"
Goutham sat casually inside.
Eating snacks.
"…You didn't invite me?"
"…You broke in."
"…Same thing."
"…No, it's not."
"Oi."
A new voice.
Izumi looked.
An older man stood there.
Messy hair.
Bright eyes.
Grinning like he didn't belong in a serious situation.
"…You must be Izumi."
"…And you must be trouble," Izumi replied.
The man laughed.
"I like him," he said, pointing at Izumi.
"…That's my grandfather," Goutham added.
"…Mr. Kaseki."
Izumi blinked.
"…You're the exorcist?"
"…Legendary, actually," Mr. Kaseki corrected proudly.
"…Self-proclaimed?" Izumi asked.
"…Confidence is key."
"…Delusion too."
Goutham nodded.
"…He's like this all the time."
"…I can see that."
"Alright!" Mr. Kaseki clapped.
"…Let's get to business before you both roast me to death."
_________________________
[Izumi's Room]
The three of them sat inside.
Mr. Kaseki placed a large bag on the floor.
"…Now this…"
He unzipped it dramatically.
"…is where things get interesting."
"…Please don't pull out something cursed," Izumi muttered.
"Too late for that."
He reached inside—
And pulled out two daggers.
Sleek.
Sharp.
Strange symbols engraved on them.
"…For you," he said, tossing them to Goutham.
"—WOAH!"
Goutham barely caught them.
"…You're just throwing weapons now?!"
"…Builds character."
"…Or kills me."
"…Also builds character."
Izumi sighed.
"…I'm surrounded by idiots."
"Correction," Mr. Kaseki raised a finger.
"…experienced idiots."
Then—
His expression changed slightly.
"…And this…"
He reached into the bag again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And pulled it out.
A katana.
With a red shining stone.
Izumi's eyes widened.
"…That's—"
"…Yes," Mr. Kaseki nodded.
"…Your blade."
Silence.
"…But I—"
"…Used it," Mr. Kaseki finished.
"…And lost it," Izumi added.
"…Exactly."
Izumi stood up.
"…This is the same one."
"…Of course it is."
"…How do you have it?"
Mr. Kaseki smiled slightly.
"…Because it was always meant for you."
Silence.
"…What?"
Mr. Kaseki leaned back.
"…Your grandfather told me."
Izumi froze.
"…Before things got...complicated."
He placed the katana gently in front of Izumi.
"…This belonged to my great grandfather."
"…A legendary exorcist."
"…He traveled across regions, eliminating spirits no one else could handle."
A pause.
"…Before his last journey…"
Mr. Kaseki's voice softened slightly.
"…He gave this sword to your grandfather."
Izumi's breath slowed.
"…And told him…"
"…'Give it to the next one… when the time comes.'"
Silence filled the room.
Izumi looked at the katana.
"…So that 'time'…"
"…Is now," Mr. Kaseki said.
Izumi slowly picked it up.
The moment his hand touched it—
A faint warmth spread through him.
"…It feels…"
"…Alive?" Goutham asked.
"…Yeah."
"…Good. That means it likes you."
"…Weapons have preferences now?"
"…This one does."
A pause.
"…Wait," Izumi said suddenly.
"…Then what happened
yesterday?"
Both of them looked at him.
"…At Ash's house…"
"…This blade appeared out of nowhere."
"…And then disappeared."
Silence.
Mr. Kaseki frowned slightly.
"…That's not possible."
"…I know."
"…No one else should have it."
"…Exactly."
Questions began to pile up.
"…Then who threw it?" Izumi asked.
"…And where did it go after that?"
No one had an answer.
For the first time—
Even Mr. Kaseki was silent.
"…Interesting…" he muttered.
But his tone—
Wasn't joking anymore.
_________________________
[Later — Outside Izumi's House]
"…Take care of it," Mr. Kaseki said.
"…I will."
Goutham stretched.
"…Try not to die before I get cool with these daggers."
"…No promises."
They left.
Izumi stood there.
Thinking.
"…That doesn't make sense…"
The katana.
The third person.
The disappearance.
"…Something's missing…"
His phone buzzed.
"…?"
A message.
From Videl.
"Can you meet me?"
Izumi didn't hesitate.
_________________________
[Cafe — Evening]
Videl sat across from him.
Quiet.
Unusual.
"…What happened?" Izumi asked.
She hesitated.
"…It's nothing."
"…You don't call someone like this for 'nothing.'"
A pause.
"…Some seniors…"
Izumi's expression changed slightly.
"…What about them?"
"…They've been…"
She looked away.
"…bothering me."
Izumi's voice lowered.
"…Define bothering."
"…Ragging."
Silence.
"…And bullying."
Something inside Izumi snapped.
Quietly.
"…Who?"
"…Do you know their names?"
She nodded slowly.
"…One of them…"
A pause.
"…Sharon."
Time stopped.
Izumi's eyes widened slightly.
"…Sharon?"
"…Yeah."
His grip tightened under the table.
Memories resurfaced.
Classroom.
Laughter.
Mockery.
"…That guy…"
The same person.
The one who made his life miserable.
"…Of course it's him."
Izumi exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
Videl looked at him.
"…Don't do anything stupid."
He stood up.
"…Too late for that."
"…Izumi—"
He looked at her.
His eyes—
Different.
Calm.
But dangerous.
"…Don't worry."
A faint smile appeared.
"…I'll handle it.."