Morning light slipped through the curtains.
Tachibana Hina sat on her bed, staring at her phone.
A new email notification blinked on the screen.
Sender: Kurosaki Shin
Subject: Location Attached
Hina frowned slightly.
"…Shin?"
She opened it.
A short message.
"Come here. Don't be late."
Attached—
A location.
Hina stared at it for a moment.
Then—
She stood up.
"…guess this is it."
Later
The place was quiet.
Too quiet.
An old dojo stood at the end of a narrow path.
Wooden walls worn by time.
Paint slightly faded.
Surrounded by silence.
Hina stepped closer.
The wooden floor creaked as she entered.
"Hello…?"
No response.
Then—
A voice.
"You're late."
Hina turned.
A girl stood inside.
Calm.
Cold.
Sharp eyes watching her.
Kurosaki Shin.
Hina straightened slightly.
"Ah—my name is—"
"I know."
Shin cut her off immediately.
"I'm Shin. Kurosaki Shin."
She stepped forward slowly.
"From now on…"
A short pause.
"I'm your mentor."
"…as long as you want to join our team."
Hina blinked.
Then nodded.
"…understood."
Shin crossed her arms.
Her gaze didn't soften.
Not even a little.
"Good."
She turned slightly.
"Then listen carefully."
The atmosphere shifted.
"This is what they should have taught you at the Academy."
Hina focused.
"First—Garde."
Shin's voice was calm, but firm.
"It represents how strong we are."
She raised one finger.
"Second—Demon threat levels."
Another finger.
"There are four main levels."
Hina listened carefully.
"Yellow Level."
"The weakest."
"But don't underestimate them."
"They rely on tricks."
"Deception."
"Dirty methods to kill their prey."
A pause.
"Red Level."
Shin's eyes sharpened slightly.
"These demons are far more dangerous."
"They begin using Ma Chi-jutsu—"
"…Blood Demon Techniques."
Hina's expression changed slightly.
"Threat Level."
And the most dangerous is the Special level
because they are demons who have lived for almost a thousand years. But
they rarely appear but once a special level appears Hunter will be overwhelmed even if you are a special Grade
Shin continued.
"The most active ones."
"They attack cities openly."
"They don't hide."
Her tone turned colder.
"Their strength…"
"…can wipe out half a Hunter force."
"From Grade B… to even Grade S."
Silence filled the dojo.
Hina swallowed slightly.
"…that strong?"
Shin didn't answer directly.
Instead—
She looked straight at Hina.
"You know your rank, right?"
Hina nodded.
"…Grade C."
Shin continued—
"From lowest to highest—"
"Rookie (Grade D)."
"Grade C."
"Grade B."
"Grade A."
"Grade S."
"Semi Special Grade."
"Special Grade."
Hina listened quietly.
Then—
She hesitated.
"…why me?"
A short pause.
"…I'm weak."
Silence.
Shin stared at her.
Expression unreadable.
Then—
She spoke.
"I didn't choose you."
Hina blinked.
"…what?"
Shin turned away slightly.
"Seiichi Asuka did."
Silence.
Hina's eyes widened just a little.
"…him?"
Shin nodded once.
"That alone should tell you something."
She glanced back.
"He doesn't pick people."
A pause.
"So don't waste that chance."
The air grew heavy again.
Hina lowered her gaze slightly.
Her hand slowly clenched.
"…then I'll prove it."
Her voice—quiet.
But firm.
Shin watched her for a moment.
Then—
A faint smirk appeared.
"…good."
She stepped back.
"Because your test…"
Her eyes sharpened.
"…starts now."
To be continued…