The soft light of Monday morning crept through the windows of the house, illuminating the quiet chaos of a typical start to the week. Stud was already awake, perched atop the couch with his tiny glow flickering as he observed the humans moving about.
"Where are you two going, all dressed up so early?" Stud asked, his voice faint but piercing, curiosity lacing every word.
Yuma rubbed the back of his neck and adjusted his school bag."School… we have classes today."
Stud's tiny tentacles twitched as he floated closer, examining Serena's new look. He paused mid-air, eyes narrowing slightly."…Wait a second. You're wearing… glasses?"
Serena glanced at him, unimpressed."Yes… and?"
Stud squinted at her."I didn't realize you were blind. I thought it was this boy who married you… but I guess I was wrong."
Serena's glare was instantaneous."I'm not blind, you idiot!"
Stud's tone shifted instantly, waving his tiny limbs defensively."…Okay, fine, fine! I take that back. They… look good on you."
Serena crossed her arms, still fuming."Better."
Just then, Alumna arrived at the house, standing with his usual calm presence beside the car."Ready?" he asked.
Yuma nodded. Serena followed, keeping a watchful eye on Stud.
Stud floated behind them, curiosity written across his miniature form."Wait—I can come?" he asked, his voice laced with hope.
Serena stopped abruptly, crossing her arms."No. You're not allowed outside. Humans might see you… and then they'd call the Geist Police Force."
Stud's glow flared indignantly."…Those brutes can't damage me. The serious man in front of me is on a higher threat than they are. And here he is… being chill about my presence."
Alumna chuckled softly."I didn't realize you could sense strength like that."
Stud floated proudly, puffing out his tiny chest."I can. I'll only stay inside the car. I'd be bored stuck outside all day anyway."
Serena huffed, still suspicious."Fine. But don't even think about sneaking out."
Yuma and Serena carefully guided Stud into the car, Serena hovering near him like a strict guardian.
"I'm not a toddler, you know," Stud complained, floating in the passenger seat."Save your baby talk for when your actual baby arrives."
Serena's face turned bright red."That's never gonna happen! Never!"
Yuma chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck."Let's just get to school…"
The ride through Tokyo was uneventful, though Stud remained unusually quiet, his tiny form hovering in the corner, watching the city with a mix of suspicion and fascination.
When they arrived at school, Serena and Yuma led Stud to the entrance, keeping him firmly within the "no going outside" boundary.
"…You're making me feel trapped," Stud muttered, glowing faintly."I can see everything from here."
Serena's eyes narrowed."You're staying right here. Got it?"
Stud sighed, then whispered under his breath."…Humans… sometimes I wonder if dealing with you all is worse than being chased by another poltergeist…"
As they walked toward the main building, Stud's glowing eyes flicked upward.
His tiny body froze.
Perched atop the school roof, partially hidden in the morning sunlight, was a Silquist. Its semi-transparent form shimmered faintly—a grade 2 poltergeist.
Stud's tiny tentacles twitched nervously."…What's a Silquist doing here?"
No one else noticed. Serena and Yuma walked ahead, completely unaware of the danger lurking above.
Stud's voice lowered, urgent yet quiet."This isn't good… it's observing. Or maybe… marking territory. I need to stay hidden… and so do they."
His glowing body pulsed slightly as he hovered closer to the school walls, keeping his distance from the humans while analyzing the intruder."…Grade 2. Strong. Dangerous. Humans can't see it… but I can. And I'll need to warn them… eventually."
He floated silently, a tense observer. The Silquist's gaze swept over the schoolyard, unseeing of the tiny poltergeist watching it.
"…This is going to be a long day," Stud whispered to himself, a rare flicker of worry crossing his normally confident demeanor.
Stud hovered silently on the edge of the rooftop, his tiny body tense, glowing faintly in the morning sunlight. The Silquist loomed above, its semi-transparent form pulsing lightly. Stud's confidence wavered as he considered his plan to confront it.
"Alright… small, fast, indestructible… I can handle this," he muttered to himself. Tentacles coiled, ready for a strike.
He lunged forward, aiming to disrupt the creature's focus. But the Silquist reacted instantly.
It hissed, its voice echoing like shards of glass.
Stud froze mid-air, caught off guard by the sheer force in its tone. "What? Eat me?! That's… unreasonable!"
He darted back, narrowly avoiding a shadowy tendril slashing at him. His tiny frame was fast, but the Silquist was faster, moving with an almost mocking grace. Stud realized quickly—he couldn't win this.
"…Fine. Retreat. Tactical withdrawal," he muttered, spinning midair and disappearing behind the building's edge.
From his new vantage point, he noticed the Silquist spreading its translucent slime across the rooftop tiles. His tiny body shivered.
"…No… no… that's a summoning slime. It's calling for friends. A feast… a fiendish gathering. Great. Just what I needed."
Stud's glow flickered nervously as he zipped down the side of the building, turning partially transparent to avoid being spotted. He scanned the school grounds frantically.
"Where… where is Yuma? Serena? I need… I need backup… the humans need protection…"
He finally spotted Serena, but of all places—inside the girls' bathroom. Her voice carried clearly, frustrated and scolding.
"…Privacy! This is the girls' bathroom, get out!"
Stud hovered just outside the door, shaking his tiny head."Trust me… only a human male would enjoy this. I'm not here for that. Just… step aside for a moment."
Serena squinted at him through the frosted glass of the bathroom stall."…What?!"
Stud waved one tiny tentacle impatiently."Where's the Yuma? And The one with the tall guy—Alumna! I need to alert him! An attack is about to take place! Now!"
Serena's eyes widened."…An attack? What do you mean?!"
Before Stud could answer, a piercing alarm cut through the school, shrill and urgent. Lights flickered in the hallways, and a booming voice repeated over the PA system:
"Warning! Silquist activity detected! All students evacuate immediately!"
Stud's glow intensified, his tiny body vibrating with panic and determination."…It's worse than I thought. They're summoning reinforcements faster than I can intercept. I need Yuma… NOW."
Serena, still processing the situation, stepped out of the bathroom cautiously, her face a mixture of confusion and concern."What do you mean, Silquist? Reinforcements? What is going on?!"
Stud's small form hovered beside her, eyes flicking toward the rooftop."I failed. It's calling friends. You humans have no idea how fast these things can multiply. We have minutes—maybe seconds—before the first wave hits. I need Yuma to coordinate with the Geist Police Force."
Serena's eyes narrowed, adrenaline sparking within her."…Fine. Let's find him. But we don't, Stud… you're explaining it to me personally."
Stud shivered."…Trust me, I'd prefer surviving this with you over getting eaten by them. Now move!"
Together, they dashed toward the school courtyard. Outside, the alarm blared and students scattered, chaos spreading like wildfire. Stud remained partially transparent, scanning the rooftops and grounds for any sign of Yuma.
"…There he is!" Stud shouted, pointing a tiny tentacle toward Yuma, who was still several steps behind, unaware of the Silquist looming overhead.
Serena followed his direction."…Yuma! Get over here! Now!"
The stage was set: Stud had failed to stop the Silquist, reinforcements were coming, and the humans—and their tiny poltergeist ally—were about to face a full-scale attack.
Stud's voice quivered as he glanced back at the rooftop slime."…Brace yourself, kid. This is going to get messy."
The school alarms continued to blare, echoing through the hallways, signaling the beginning of a chaotic and dangerous confrontation.