"Another transfer student?"
"Seriously? That's awesome!"
"Oh—!"
Excited chatter instantly filled the classroom.
That reaction was only natural; in school life, a new classmate is a big event.
When Yatogami Tohka transferred in before, everyone had been beside themselves with excitement—‑and she was a stunning beauty besides.
With any transfer student, what the class secretly hopes for is a cool guy or a pretty girl.
"All right, quiet down, everyone," Tama-chan-sensei drawled. "Let's invite our new classmate in~"
All eyes swung toward the door.
Clank—thunk—
The door slid open and the transfer student stepped inside, already dressed in Raizen High's uniform.
…
The room went dead silent.
A girl had entered—but, incredibly, despite the sweltering weather she wore the winter jacket of the uniform, and black tights on her legs.
That, however, was not what froze everyone in place.
Her long hair was as black as a shadow, braided into twin plaits that rested neatly on her shoulders. Her slender figure looked delicate enough to snap with the slightest force. A waterfall‑like fringe covered the left half of a face so beautiful it took one's breath away, leaving only a wine‑red right eye and lips soft as cherry‑petals visible. Her skin was smooth and pale like polished alabaster… One glance was enough to feel her devilish allure.
The girl's looks were every bit a match for Yatogami Tohka's.
And Tohka was a Spirit—a being whose beauty surpassed the human norm—yet this girl was in no way outshone!
Gulp.
Swallowing sounds echoed around the room.
"All right, please introduce yourself," Tama-chan-sensei said. She had already met the girl earlier and was a little more immune.
"Certainly."
Her voice was pleasant. With a gentle smile she nodded, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote her name on the blackboard in elegant script:
──Tokisaki Kurumi.
"My name is Tokisaki Kurumi. I look forward to studying with you all…"
Kurumi paused, then raised her voice slightly. "Also—I'm a Spirit."
"Eh?"
"What does she mean?"
"Well, she is as beautiful as a Spirit!"
"Not losing out to Yatogami!"
"And to Tobiichi too!"
"I'm so blessed to be in this class!"
"Unless the transfer student gets stolen away by Shichen-sensei…"
"Shut up! Don't say that!"
While most of the class buzzed in clueless excitement, Yatogami Tohka and Tobiichi Origami frowned. Unlike the others, they understood exactly what the word "Spirit" meant.
At that moment Kurumi turned her gaze to Tohka and Origami and smiled.
Did she realize I'm a Spirit too?
Does she know I'm with AST?
The two had very different guesses.
"Ah, um—excellent! A very… distinctive self‑introduction!" Tama-chan-sensei clapped awkwardly, praising Kurumi.
Clap clap clap—
The class followed her lead and applauded the new arrival.
"Now then, Tokisaki‑san, please pick any empty seat."
"Of course~ But before that, may I ask a favor, Sensei?"
"Oh? What is it?"
Kurumi raised a finger to her chin and said sweetly, "I just transferred, so I'm completely unfamiliar with the campus. At lunch, could someone show me around?"
"That's no problem at all," Tama-chan-sensei replied with a smile.
"Me!"
"Pick me, Sensei!"
"I'll do it!"
"Tokisaki‑san, I know the school inside out—let me guide you!"
Several students volunteered on the spot.
"Ha‑ha~ Tokisaki‑san, whom would you like as your guide?" Tama-chan-sensei asked.
"Hmm…"
Ignoring the eager volunteers, Kurumi put on an apologetic look and asked the teacher in a small voice, "Could I trouble Shichen-sensei to show me around?"
"Eeeh—!"
The entire class cried out in surprise.
…
Science Prep Room
Shichen was absent‑mindedly playing a gal‑game. Beside him sat Murasame Reine, calmly watching the kissing scene on the screen.
"Reine, do you hear something?" Shichen set down the controller.
"I do. Probably about the transfer student."
As teachers they already knew a transfer was coming—but Shichen knew a little more. Not through foresight: he had sensed a powerful wave of Spirit energy, carrying a strangely familiar aura.
A Spirit has come to the school.
And he knew who it was.
Just then his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and answered.
"What is it, Kotori?"
"A Spirit's appeared! She's the transfer student in Tohka-nee's class," Itsuka Kotori said gravely.
"Do we know which one?"
"Code name: Nightmare," Kotori's tone was heavy.
The obvious designation, yet Shichen frowned.
She's still using that code name—so nothing about her has changed? Impossible. If I'd gone back in time I'd have helped her for sure.
"Nightmare, huh? Sounds dangerous."
"Actually, not exactly…" Kotori's voice was odd.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain later. Onii-chan, hurry to Tohka-nee's class—the Spirit and the others are about to fight."
"What?" Shichen thought he'd misheard.
"Just hurry and defuse it!"
"…All right."
He hung up and turned to Reine. "Looks like trouble."
"Go on," Reine said placidly.
"I'll be back—quickly." Shichen left the prep room at a run.
Reine didn't move. She looked back at the on‑screen couple still kissing, lost in thought.
…
"Who are you? Why are you after Shichen?"
"You know Shichen-sensei?"
"My, and what is your relationship with him?"
Shichen arrived at Class 2‑4 to find Tohka and Origami in a tense three‑way standoff with the lovely Kurumi. The surrounding students looked less like spectators and more like victims of despair, while Tama-chan-sensei stood helpless at the podium.
"Shichen-sensei, you're here!" Relief flooded her face.
Her words drew everyone's attention to Shichen; Tohka and Origami included.
"Shichen!"
"Shichen-sensei—"
"Ah~"
"What happened?" Shichen nodded to Tohka and Origami, stole a discreet glance at Kurumi's enchanting, almost dreamlike beauty, then asked Tama-chan-sensei.
"Well, Shichen-sensei, the new transfer student Tokisaki‑san wanted you to show her around the campus, but Yatogami‑san and Tobiichi‑san… seemed displeased…"
"I see. Tokisaki‑san, was it?" Shichen finally faced Kurumi.
"Good day, Shichen-sensei. I'm Tokisaki Kurumi—please, call me Kurumi." With a noble lady's grace, she lifted her skirt hem and curtsied.
"Then Kurumi it is… Kurumi, you'd like me to give you a tour? But I don't believe we've met?"
"As expected," Kurumi murmured, then smiled. "This is indeed our first meeting, Shichen-sensei."
"Our first…?"
"But I'm just an ordinary girl who heard there's a very handsome teacher at this school, so I couldn't help myself… Though it seems I upset these two classmates." She glanced playfully at Tohka and Origami.
"I see. Still, a young lady should be a little more reserved."
"Shichen-sensei prefers reserved girls? Understood." Kurumi nodded lightly.
"I can give you a tour, but only after your classes are over."
"Wonderful. How about lunch break? If possible, I'd love to have a meal with you, too."
"…That's fine."
"W‑wait, why? I'm eating with Shichen too!" Tohka protested.
"Then I will as well!" Origami added.
~~~
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