Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Ikaragi household, painting the kitchen in soft golden light. Outside, birds chirped faintly as the quiet neighborhood slowly woke up.
Inside the house, however, peace lasted only a few seconds.
"SERENA!"
A loud crash echoed from the kitchen, followed by the sound of something sizzling violently.
Upstairs, Yuma's eyes snapped open.
He sat up immediately.
"What now…?"
Another loud clang echoed downstairs.
Yuma quickly threw off his blanket and rushed down the stairs two steps at a time.
"SERENA WHAT HAPPENED—"
He stopped in the doorway.
Smoke drifted lazily toward the ceiling.
Serena stood in front of the stove holding a frying pan like a warrior gripping a sword.
The pan contained what could only be described as a tragic battlefield of burnt eggs.
Serena looked at him calmly.
"…They attacked first."
Yuma stared.
"…Eggs attacked you?"
Serena nodded seriously.
"They looked suspicious."
Yuma rubbed his face slowly.
"You burned breakfast again."
Serena pointed the spatula at him like an accusation.
"Excuse me. I was experimenting."
"With fire?"
"Cooking involves fire!"
"Not this much fire!"
The smoke detector above them beeped faintly in protest.
Before the argument could escalate further, a calm voice spoke from behind them.
"I see we are improving."
Both of them turned.
Aunt Melda stood in the doorway, observing the kitchen like a general surveying a battlefield.
Serena crossed her arms defensively.
"It's not my fault the eggs were weak."
Melda walked forward and gently took the frying pan from Serena's hand.
She inspected it for a moment.
"…You used maximum heat again."
Serena blinked.
"…Is that bad?"
Melda sighed quietly.
"Very."
Serena slowly began backing toward the door.
"…Well, learning experience."
Melda smiled politely.
"Yes."
Serena grabbed her school bag.
"Great! Lesson over! I have school!"
She turned toward the hallway.
"Nice try," Melda said calmly.
Serena froze mid-step.
"…I hate this house."
Yuma quietly slid past them, grabbing a piece of bread from the counter.
"I'm leaving before the next explosion."
Serena glared.
"Traitor."
Later — Tokyo High School
The school courtyard buzzed with the usual morning energy.
Students chatted loudly while others rushed toward their classrooms before the bell rang. The sounds of laughter, footsteps, and locker doors filled the air.
Yuma walked through the hallway quietly with his bag slung over his shoulder.
His expression looked slightly tired.
Alumna's training from the previous night still lingered in his muscles.
That man is insane…
Just remembering the endless drills made Yuma sigh.
He turned a corner near the bathrooms.
Then he stopped.
Three girls stood near the wall.
One of them leaned casually against the lockers.
Her long dark hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and her sharp eyes looked down at the smaller student standing nervously in front of her.
Hinako.
The first-year girl clutched her bag tightly.
"I—I'm really sorry…"
Hinako tilted her head slightly.
"You bumped into me."
"I didn't mean to—"
"And you spilled my drink."
The girl bowed repeatedly.
"I'll buy you another one—"
Hinako stepped forward slowly.
"That's not the point."
The girl looked like she might cry.
Yuma frowned.
He stepped forward.
"That's enough."
All three girls turned.
Hinako's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Who are you?"
Yuma looked at the frightened student.
"You should go."
The girl hesitated.
Hinako raised an eyebrow.
"Hold on."
Her gaze slowly scanned Yuma from head to toe.
"You're new."
Yuma didn't answer.
Hinako smirked.
"And you think you can interrupt me?"
"You were bothering her."
Hinako laughed softly.
"Bothering?"
Her two friends giggled behind her.
"She spilled my drink."
"That doesn't mean you need three people to intimidate her."
The hallway grew quieter as nearby students began noticing the tension.
Hinako stepped closer to Yuma.
"And what are you going to do about it?"
A voice spoke behind him.
"Or what, Hinako?"
The hallway fell silent.
Serena stood there.
Her arms were crossed, and her expression looked completely unimpressed.
Hinako blinked.
"…Serena?"
Serena walked forward casually.
Her gaze flicked briefly toward the nervous student.
"Still picking fights with random people?"
Hinako frowned.
"I wasn't picking a fight."
Serena shrugged.
"Sure you weren't."
The first-year student took the opportunity to run away.
Hinako looked between Serena and Yuma.
"…You know him?"
Serena waved dismissively.
"Unfortunately."
Yuma sighed quietly.
Hinako raised an eyebrow.
"You two seem… comfortable."
Serena looked away.
"He's just someone I'm stuck dealing with."
Yuma muttered,
"You're the one causing trouble."
Serena smirked.
Hinako studied them carefully.
Something about their interaction felt unusual.
But she simply crossed her arms.
"…Interesting."
Then she turned and walked away with her friends.
But before leaving—
She glanced back at Yuma.
Lunch Break — Rooftop
The rooftop was quiet compared to the noisy hallways below.
A soft breeze carried the distant sounds of students talking in the courtyard.
Yuma sat on the bench eating his lunch slowly.
The door opened.
Serena stepped outside and dropped down beside him.
"That was annoying."
Yuma nodded.
"You seem to know her."
Serena leaned back against the railing.
"Old friend."
"She didn't look friendly."
Serena snorted.
"Yeah."
Yuma glanced at her.
"…Thanks for earlier."
Serena rolled her eyes immediately.
"Don't misunderstand."
Yuma sighed.
"There it is."
Serena pointed at him.
"You looked like an idiot standing there."
"I was helping."
"Barely."
Yuma frowned.
"You're impossible."
Serena smirked proudly.
"You're welcome."
They sat quietly for a moment.
The breeze brushed Serena's hair across her face.
She glanced at Yuma.
"…You look tired."
Yuma sighed.
"Alumna's training."
Serena's smile widened.
"Oh good."
Yuma stared.
"You're enjoying this."
"Very much."
Somewhere Beneath Tokyo
Far below the city streets…
Inside an abandoned subway tunnel…
Dark mist twisted through the air like living smoke.
A low, unnatural sound echoed through the darkness.
Shapes slowly formed within the shadows.
Poltergeists.
Their distorted limbs stretched unnaturally as they crawled along the walls.
But these ones were different.
Larger.
More violent.
One creature lifted its head.
A terrible screech echoed through the tunnel.
The ground trembled faintly.
Something was gathering.
Something stronger than before.
That Evening — Ikaragi House
The front door opened.
Yuma stepped inside and dropped his bag near the entrance.
His body felt completely exhausted.
Serena sat at the table.
She tossed something toward him.
Yuma caught it.
A small sweet bun.
His eyes widened.
"You bought this again?"
Serena looked away quickly.
"Don't misunderstand."
Yuma smiled softly.
"…Thanks."
Serena crossed her arms.
"…You're still annoying."
Yuma chuckled.
"Whatever."
Across the room, Aunt Melda watched them quietly.
But her smile slowly faded as she looked toward the darkening sky outside the window.
Her expression turned serious.
She whispered softly to herself.
"…The disturbances are increasing."
Far beneath the city…
The poltergeists continued gathering.
And the shadows were growing stronger.