The morning training had ended, and the house was bustling with activity as lunch was prepared.
Alumna clapped his hands."Yuma, upstairs. Let's take a break. Eat properly."
Yuma wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded. Stud, curious, floated behind them, misty tendrils trailing as he followed silently.
The dining room was bright, with sunlight streaming through the windows. Serena had already placed a variety of dishes on the table: rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and a small salad.
Yuma set his plate down carefully, still catching his breath from the morning session.
Stud hovered near the edge of the table, inspecting the food cautiously.
"Hmm… humans and their rituals," Stud muttered, small tendrils reaching toward the dishes.
Serena, busy opening the fridge to grab a container of cold water, froze suddenly.
Stud's glowing eyes widened, and he let out a high-pitched shriek."WATER?!"
Before anyone could react, he shot backward in a burst of mist, disappearing under the sofa with a swirl.
Yuma blinked in surprise and slowly crouched down."Uh… Stud? You okay?"
A small, trembling voice came from under the sofa."I… I hate water… stay away from it!"
Serena, leaning against the counter, tilted her head and smiled—an unmistakably mischievous glint in her eyes."Oh? The mighty Stud has a weakness? How adorable!"
Stud peeked out, glowing eyes narrowed."This… this is harassment! I will report you!"
Serena giggled, slowly approaching the sofa."Oh, boo hoo. A poltergeist complaining about a Geist. You're pathetic."
Yuma groaned, rubbing the back of his neck."Serena, maybe… maybe just leave him alone."
Alumna, seated at the table, spoke calmly."Enough, Serena. He deserves a break. He helped Yuma train this morning."
Serena paused mid-step, hand on her hip, and smirked."You're lucky," she muttered, then crossed her arms and leaned back.
Erika poured herself a glass of tea from a nearby jug, whispering to Aunt Melda."Fascinating… poltergeist with a fear of water. Most of them are aquatic, or at least indifferent."
Aunt Melda tilted her head thoughtfully."Mysterious, indeed. Perhaps something in his past caused this aversion."
Yuma, curious, crouched near the sofa, peering at the tiny poltergeist."Stud… what did you do during rain? Did you—?"
Stud flinched, tentacles curling protectively."During rain? I… I would be freaking out like a coward! Hiding, running… screaming! Unlike you humans, I have a fragile constitution."
Serena's grin widened. She rubbed her hands together."Ohhh… I see. The annoying, loud mouth finally has a weakness! And it's so easy to exploit!"
Stud's glowing mist eyes narrowed again."No! Don't you dare!"
Serena quickly grabbed a small cup and filled it with water, holding it triumphantly in front of him."Here, a little taste for the mighty Stud!"
Stud shrieked and shot across the room like a small whirlwind, yelping as he tried to evade the liquid."RUN! THIS IS HARASSMENT! I WILL SUE!"
Serena chased after him with playful glee."Oh, poor baby poltergeist! Afraid of water, are we? How precious!"
Yuma sighed, exasperated, and called out."Serena! Stop it! He helped me train!"
Serena froze mid-chase, smirking back at Yuma."Fine, fine… he's lucky. But only because he trained the little nerd this morning."
Stud floated slowly out from under the sofa, slightly sulking."…Humans… I cannot… cannot believe…"
Erika chuckled softly."Perhaps we should make sure he never encounters water accidentally again."
Aunt Melda nodded."Yes… this fear is both unique and intriguing. Could be useful to know if he's ever facing aquatic poltergeist in the future."
Stud muttered under his breath, half annoyed, half resigned."You humans… always so loud… and reckless… and… screaming… and—ugh!"
Serena leaned on the counter, smiling wickedly."See? Even poltergeists have ears that bleed from human stupidity."
Yuma pinched the bridge of his nose."I… I don't know why I bother sometimes…"
Stud let out a tiny sigh and muttered, almost to himself."Humans… strange, messy… but… I'll survive, I suppose."
Serena leaned back, satisfied with herself."Well, looks like our new roommate isn't completely indestructible—just annoyingly cowardly around water. That'll make future lessons interesting."
Yuma glanced at Stud and smiled faintly."Just… don't run off this time, okay?"
Stud's tiny tentacles twitched."I… will try… if no humans approach with liquids…"
The dining room settled into a curious mix of tension, amusement, and quiet wonder, as the tiny poltergeist and the human family navigated the quirks of their unusual new household.
The lunch dishes were cleared, but the energy in the house remained far from calm. Serena leaned against the counter, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips, eyes fixed on the tiny poltergeist hiding nervously behind the sofa.
Stud peeked out, glowing faintly, tentacles twitching."I… I don't want trouble!" he squeaked, voice tiny but firm.
Serena smirked."Oh, Stud… you just don't get it. You're indestructible, right? You helped Yuma train this morning. But now… you're going to help me teach him some fun little tricks."
Yuma groaned, sitting at the table and rubbing his temples."Fun… little… tricks? Serena, please don't—"
Alumna's calm voice cut in."Let her try. It's harmless, and it will test Stud's control and reflexes."
Stud's eyes widened."Control… reflexes… wait, what are you humans planning?"
Serena grabbed a small spray bottle from the counter and held it up, a devilish grin on her face."Oh, nothing scary… just a little motivational aid."
Stud shrieked, floating backward instantly."NO! I WILL NOT—"
Yuma sighed heavily."Stud… just… stay calm… it's training, not torture."
Stud glared, tiny mist swirling protectively around him."…Humans… always loud, always… always insane…"
Serena leaned closer, whispering like a conspirator."Rule number one: don't run away when I give you instructions. Got it?"
Stud hesitated, then muttered reluctantly."…Fine. I… will try. But I swear… if this involves water again…"
Serena clapped her hands."Perfect! Now, you follow me, and you're going to be Yuma's moving target. He has to practice reflexes, speed, and precision without hurting you. Think of it as… Geist obstacle training."
Stud's eyes glowed faintly."Moving… target? This… sounds… dangerous…"
Alumna smiled faintly."It will teach him awareness and timing. Stud, you're indestructible; mistakes won't hurt you."
Stud floated hesitantly toward the training mat in the living room, keeping a cautious distance from Serena's hands. Serena twirled a small kitchen knife in her fingers just to accentuate the "threat," though she didn't intend to touch him.
Yuma stepped onto the mat, stretching."Alright… let's do this carefully. Stud… I won't hurt you, I promise."
Stud floated in a defensive circle."I… hope… you don't mean that literally…"
Serena grinned and whispered, almost to herself."Good… fear is a motivator. Let's see if I can make him panic just enough to help Yuma focus."
The first round began. Yuma darted forward to dodge the unpredictable movements of Stud, who floated like a tiny shadow across the mat.
Serena leaned back against the railing, arms crossed, eyes twinkling."Faster, faster, little brat! Don't let him rest!"
Stud's tiny tentacles waved in panic as he zipped around, glowing erratically."This… is harassment! I… I will… scream—"
Serena leaned closer and smirked."Go ahead, Stud… scream. Make the noises. Makes Yuma react faster."
Yuma blinked, surprised at how erratic Stud's movements were. He lunged, dodged, and jabbed his fists precisely, his Geist training translating well into this controlled sparring. Each movement was calculated—he couldn't afford to get sloppy.
Stud's glowing mist twisted and dodged, yelling every time he nearly got "tapped" by Yuma's hands."You humans… your training is insane! I… I did not sign up for this level of chaos!"
Serena clapped her hands mockingly."Ohhh… I think he likes it already! Look at those reflexes!"
Alumna chuckled softly."Yuma… notice how he reacts to stress. That's valuable data. Learn his patterns."
Stud floated in a corner, muttering to himself."I… can't… believe I am… helping… train a human… this is… ridiculous…"
Serena suddenly leaned forward, grinning wider."Stud… over there. Move left. Faster!"
Stud zipped, and Yuma reacted perfectly, avoiding a collision.
Serena laughed wickedly."Perfect! Faster! Again!"
Stud groaned."…I… can't… keep up… humans…"
Yuma smiled faintly."I… I think I'm learning a lot more than I thought…"
Stud muttered under his breath, a rare hint of pride in his tiny voice."…Humans… insane… but maybe… not completely useless…"
After a few more rounds, Stud floated back to the couch, glowing faintly but visibly calmer.
Serena leaned down toward him, mock-serious."You did well, Stud. But remember… next time, water stays away from you. And don't think I won't use this little weakness again."
Stud groaned, curling slightly in a defensive posture."…Humans… you are… unbearable… but… maybe… I like this."
Alumna smiled, watching the tiny poltergeist and the humans interact."Good session. Yuma, you improved your awareness. Stud… you handled stress well."
Yuma panted, wiping sweat from his brow."Thanks… everyone… even if it was… chaotic."
Serena grinned, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear."Chaotic? That's just a warm-up. Wait till next week—then we bring in kitchen utensils."
Stud groaned, sinking into the couch, tiny tentacles drooping."…I… regret… nothing… but… I also… fear everything…"
Erika and Aunt Melda peeked into the living room, smiling quietly at the unusual dynamic."Well… it seems Stud's quirks make him quite the character," Erika whispered.
Aunt Melda nodded."Yes. And he's already forming… unusual bonds. Interesting, considering his past."
The house, still filled with sunlight, laughter, and chaos, settled into a rhythm of strange harmony. A poltergeist afraid of water, a feisty human girl, and a dedicated young man—all learning from each other in their own twisted, chaotic way.