Morning sunlight washed over the lively streets of Tokyo.
The city was already awake. Office workers hurried across intersections, shopkeepers opened storefronts, and the scent of fresh bread drifted through the air.
Serena walked beside Aunt Melda through the crowded shopping street, her hands stuffed lazily into the pockets of her jacket.
She stretched her arms above her head.
"I still can't believe you dragged me out this early."
Melda adjusted the strap of the shopping bag on her arm.
"Dragged you?" she replied calmly. "I recall inviting you."
Serena rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. 'Invited.' That's what kidnappers say too."
Melda chuckled softly.
"And yet you came anyway."
Serena shrugged.
"Only because Mom said I should spend more time with you."
They walked past several storefronts before stopping at a grocery market.
Melda began selecting vegetables carefully, inspecting each one with practiced precision.
Serena leaned against a display rack, watching her with mild boredom.
"Are we seriously buying cooking ingredients again?"
Melda placed carrots into the basket.
"You'll need them eventually."
Serena groaned loudly.
"Why does everyone in the house think I'm becoming some kind of housewife?"
Melda smiled but said nothing as she continued walking.
Across the city, inside a Tokyo commuter train, Yuma sat quietly beside Alumna.
The train rattled softly along the tracks as passengers chatted, read books, or stared out the windows.
Yuma rubbed the back of his neck.
"I still don't understand why we had to come all the way into the city."
Alumna didn't even look up.
"You wanted to understand real Geist work, didn't you?"
Yuma nodded.
"Yes."
Alumna finally glanced at him.
"Then watch carefully."
Yuma frowned slightly.
"Watch what?"
Before Alumna could answer, the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the entire train car went silent.
A cold wind swept through the cabin.
Passengers looked around nervously.
And then something slammed against the outside of the train.
Back in the shopping district, Serena carried a small bag of groceries while Melda walked beside her.
Serena crossed her arms and muttered,
"You know this is too much for just cooking class"
"Besides… it's not like he cares."
Melda glanced at her.
"Who?"
Serena waved dismissively.
"Yuma."
She scoffed.
"That guy is so annoying."
Melda raised an eyebrow.
"Annoying?"
Serena nodded firmly.
"Yeah! He's always worrying about everything, apologizing for nothing, acting all serious… and then the moment I tease him he turns bright red like his brain stopped working."
She snorted.
"Seriously, he's way too easy to mess with."
Melda listened quietly as she continued walking.
Serena kept going.
"And don't even get me started on his training obsession. If he's not studying, he's training. If he's not training, he's reading manga."
She shook her head.
"Honestly, the guy has zero chill."
Melda finally stopped walking.
"Let's sit for a moment."
They settled at a small café patio table.
A waiter brought two glasses of iced tea.
Serena immediately took a long drink.
"Okay… maybe this trip wasn't a total waste."
Melda watched her silently.
Then she spoke.
"Serena… thank you."
Serena blinked.
"…Huh?"
Melda folded her hands on the table.
"For Yuma."
Serena frowned.
"What about him?"
Melda looked out toward the busy street.
"That boy used to be very lonely."
Serena tilted her head.
"Lonely?"
Melda nodded slowly.
"Before he came to live with us… Yuma rarely spoke to anyone."
Serena frowned.
"That doesn't sound like him."
Melda smiled faintly.
"That's because you didn't know him back then."
Serena leaned back in her chair, now listening more carefully.
Melda continued.
"Yuma grew up believing he had to carry everything alone. Expectations. Responsibility. He was always alone."
She tapped the table gently.
"He spent most of his childhood doing one thing."
"Studying."
Serena stared at her drink.
"That sounds… depressing."
Melda nodded softly.
"It was."
She continued.
"There were days he would study until he passed out."
Serena's grip tightened around her glass.
"And when he wasn't studying… he would sit somewhere quietly. Alone."
Serena asked quietly,
"Why?"
Melda looked at her.
"Because he didn't believe anyone would stay."
Serena blinked.
"…What?"
Melda smiled gently.
"Yuma got used to people leaving his life."
Serena looked down.
"So he stopped letting people get close."
Serena muttered,
"That's stupid."
Melda chuckled softly.
"Yes. It is."
Then she leaned forward slightly.
"But then you showed up."
Serena froze.
Melda continued.
"You argued with him. Teased him. Challenged him every day."
Serena muttered,
"Yeah, because he's annoying."
Melda smiled warmly.
"And yet…"
She gestured lightly.
"He smiles now."
Serena went silent.
Melda continued.
"He laughs more. Talks more. Worries about someone other than himself."
Serena stared at the table.
Melda's voice softened.
"You gave him something he never had before."
Serena finally asked quietly,
"…What?"
Melda looked directly at her.
"Someone who stayed."
Serena didn't reply.
Her mind replayed memories.
Yuma panicking when she teased him.
Yuma trying his hardest during training.
Yuma nervously thanking her for simple things.
Serena muttered,
"…He's still annoying."
Melda laughed softly.
"Of course."
Serena sighed.
"But…"
She hesitated.
"…I guess he's not completely hopeless."
Melda smiled knowingly.
Serena crossed her arms quickly.
"Don't misunderstand. I only stick around because someone has to keep him from doing something stupid."
Melda nodded politely.
"Of course. You making the decision of marrying him back then, turned his lonely world upside down"
Serena glared slightly.
"…Stop smiling like that."
Across the city, inside a Tokyo commuter train, the lights flickered violently.
Passengers looked around nervously.
Yuma sat beside Alumna.
"Something feels weird…"
Before he could finish—
A violent crash shook the train.
Passengers screamed.
The windows rattled.
Dark mist seeped through the ceiling vents.
Yuma's eyes widened.
"…Poltergeists?"
Three twisted shapes burst through the side windows, their forms made of swirling shadow and distorted limbs.
Their shrieks echoed through the train car.
Passengers panicked.
Alumna stood slowly.
"Stay behind me."
The first creature lunged.
Alumna moved before it could reach him.
His fist shot forward like lightning.
The impact shattered the creature's core instantly.
The poltergeist exploded into black fragments.
Yuma's jaw dropped.
"That was—"
Another creature dove from the ceiling.
Alumna stepped forward and spun.
His kick slammed into the creature midair, sending it crashing into the luggage racks.
Before it could recover—
Alumna's hand sliced through the air.
The creature split apart.
Two down.
But more were coming.
Dark mist poured through the broken windows.
Six more shapes formed inside the train car.
Passengers screamed louder.
Yuma clenched his fists.
Alumna didn't look worried at all.
Instead, he cracked his neck slightly.
"Good."
Yuma blinked.
"…Good?"
Alumna stepped forward.
"Watch carefully."
The first creature lunged.
Alumna sidestepped effortlessly.
His palm struck its chest.
A shockwave exploded outward, erasing it instantly.
Another creature attacked from behind.
Without even turning—
Alumna grabbed its arm and flipped it across the aisle.
It crashed through several seats.
Before it could rise—
Alumna drove his heel down.
The creature burst apart.
Three more rushed him at once.
Alumna moved like a blur.
A punch.
A kick.
A sweeping strike.
Each movement was precise.
Each attack destroyed another poltergeist instantly.
Yuma stared in amazement.
"This… this is real combat…"
Only one creature remained.
It screeched and lunged toward a child hiding under a seat.
"Yuma."
Yuma snapped to attention.
"Yes!"
"Protect the passengers."
Yuma ran forward immediately.
"This way! Move to the next car!"
Passengers rushed past him.
The final creature turned toward him.
Its twisted face screeched.
Yuma's heart pounded.
But he remembered his training.
Control.
Awareness.
Precision.
The creature lunged—
Yuma stepped aside instinctively.
For a moment, time seemed to slow.
Then—
Alumna appeared beside the creature.
One precise strike.
The poltergeist shattered.
Silence returned.
Passengers stared in shock.
Yuma exhaled heavily.
Alumna dusted his sleeve.
"…Not bad."
Yuma blinked.
"…Really?"
Alumna glanced at him.
"You didn't freeze."
Yuma smiled slightly.
Later that evening.
The front door opened.
Yuma stepped inside, exhausted.
Serena looked up from the table.
"…Wow."
Yuma blinked.
"What?"
"You look terrible."
Yuma dropped his bag.
"The train got attacked by poltergeists."
Serena paused.
"…Oh."
She tossed something across the table.
Yuma caught it.
A sweet bun.
His eyes widened.
"You bought this?"
Serena immediately looked away.
"Don't misunderstand."
She crossed her arms.
"I just saw it while shopping."
Yuma smiled softly.
"…Thanks."
Serena muttered,
"…You're still annoying."
But this time—
Her voice was a little softer.
Yuma smiled slightly.
"Whatever." he replied.
Across the room, Aunt Melda watched quietly with a gentle smile.
Yuma took a bite of the bun.
And for a moment—
He looked genuinely happy.
For the first time in years, Yuma felt like he truly belonged somewhere.