SCHOOL ARC
Morning at the Dorms
The morning sunlight slipped through the blinds, casting warm stripes of light across the dorm room.
August stirred first, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Her gaze fell on Jimmy, who was calmly tying his blue scarf at the mirror.
"Morning," Jimmy said casually. "Sleep well?"
August stretched and yawned. "Yeah. You?"
"Good." He smirked slightly. "By the way… what are you doing in my dorm?"
August blinked. "…Your dorm?"
Jimmy turned, arching a brow. "Yeah. Mine and Adam's. You barged in last night. Shirtless, by the way."
Her cheeks went scarlet. "Wha—Shut up, pervert!" She snatched the nearest pillow and hurled it at Jimmy.
Adam groaned from his bed, still half-asleep. "Why are you yelling this early—"
A second pillow nailed him in the face.
As the chaos died down, Adam blinked and frowned. "Uh… August? Is that… the grumpy toad… on your head?"
August froze. Slowly, very slowly, she looked up.
The grumpy toad sat perfectly still atop her head, glaring at everyone like it owned the room.
"AAAAAAAAH!" August shrieked, flailing. "Get it off, get it off!"
Jimmy, deadpan, adjusted his scarf. "Told you yesterday. It's your spirit animal. Which means… it goes wherever you go."
The toad croaked loudly, as if agreeing.
August grabbed another pillow and hurled it. "I don't want it! Make it stop!"
"It's a bond," Jimmy said flatly. "Not a leash. Good luck with that."
Math Class
By the time they reached Math Class, August was still muttering under her breath, the toad now perched smugly on her shoulder.
Professor Alice Longhorn was already at the front of the classroom, her glasses glinting under the enchanted lights. She clapped her hands for attention.
"Before we begin today," she said, her tone unusually grave, "there's something you need to know. This morning, a demon was found dead in the gym… next to a dead student. The headmaster has announced there will be a funeral later this week for the fallen."
The room went silent, tension gripping the students.
"The demon's body," Alice continued, "looked like it had been burned… by fire."
From his seat, Adam leaned closer to Jimmy and whispered, "They… they found you out."
Jimmy, calm as ever, whispered back, "No. They won't."
"Now then," Alice said briskly, snapping open a book. "Page 137. Let's at least try to keep our minds busy."
For the next hour, the students worked through equations in tense silence until the bell finally rang.
"Lunch break," Alice announced. "And for your safety, the school day will end early until the demon threat is under control. Stay in groups."
In the Corridors
Elsewhere, the halls of Avalon were less peaceful.
A girl walked alone, her books hugged tightly to her chest. She froze when she heard a faint rustle — like claws scraping stone.
"...Hello?" she whispered.
The only answer was a wet, guttural snarl.
Two demons lunged from the shadows, knocking her to the ground before she could scream. The last sound that echoed down the empty corridor was her terrified cry as they tore her apart.
"Fresh meat," one of the demons hissed.
"Sweet and warm," the other growled, feeding on her remains.
Staff Emergency Meeting
By the time the teachers arrived, the corridor was empty save for bloodstains.
"Damn it," one instructor cursed, fists clenched.
Headmaster Varion's expression was grim as he surveyed the scene. "That's the fifth death today," he said, voice heavy. "And they're escalating. Every attack so far… has targeted girls."
Professor Aldren tightened his jaw. "Then we prioritize protecting the female students. Effective immediately, no one walks alone."
"Agreed," Varion said, his eyes sharp. "Especially after dark."
Lunch Break
The cafeteria buzzed with hushed whispers as students gathered in groups. Jimmy, Adam, and August sat at their usual table, eating quietly.
Then the loudspeaker crackled.
"Attention, students: demons are targeting girls. Effective immediately, travel in groups of three or more at all times."
The announcement faded, leaving an uneasy silence.
Moments later, a girl with silver hair approached their table nervously. She clutched the strap of her bag, dressed in the academy uniform, her bright eyes shy and hesitant.
"Um… excuse me," she said softly. "Can I… sit with you?"
Adam smiled kindly. "Sure. Sit down."
As the girl slid into the seat, Jimmy glanced at her, expression unreadable. "And you are…?"
She smiled timidly. "Liana. Liana Silverwind."
Jimmy blinked, clueless, but Adam and August froze.
Adam leaned in to whisper. "Dude. She's a Silverwind. Noble family."
Jimmy groaned. "Great. Another noble. Like we don't have enough trouble with one already."
August puffed her cheeks, glaring at him. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
Jimmy smirked but said nothing, returning to his food.
"So," he said after a moment, "what brings you here, Liana?"
She fiddled with her sleeve nervously. "I'm new here… and I don't really have any friends yet. And, well, the announcement said to group up, so…"
Jimmy smirked faintly. "Guess that means you'll be sticking with us then."
Adam chuckled, but August nearly choked on her drink.
"W-What do you mean sticking with us?!"
Jimmy leaned back lazily. "Simple. You'll either be sleeping in the boys' dorm… or Adam and I will have to move into the girls' dorm."
August's face went red again. "Over my dead body!"
Jimmy stared across at August, scarf slightly tilted down as if trying to process her words. "…Over your dead body, huh? Seriously? You have a better plan?"
August folded her arms, eyes sharp. "Yes. Since the demons are targeting girls, you two will switch clothes with us and sleep in the girls' dormitory."
Jimmy blinked. Adam blinked. Even Adam's chinchila blinked, tiny nose twitching in disbelief.
"…Are you trying to get us killed?" Jimmy asked flatly.
August smirked, unbothered. "You're strong, Jimmy. You'll survive."
Jimmy dragged a hand down his face. "Oh, yeah. 'Strong Jimmy' — great plan. Why not just hand me a sign that says Fresh Meat, Please Eat Me while we're at it?"
Adam raised a cautious hand. "Uh… what if—what if they figure out we're not… you know, girls?"
Jimmy leaned back with a sigh. "They will. Demons don't hunt with their eyes. They smell what they're after. And I hate to break it to you, but perfume won't cover the difference."
August's eyes narrowed. "Not if we use enough perfume."
Jimmy deadpanned. "…You're going to drown me in lavender, aren't you?"
Adam slowly raised his hand again. "I vote no. A big, very loud no."
Jimmy turned to him, expression blank. "Adam. Buddy. You know we don't have a choice, right?"
Adam groaned, slumping in his chair. "I hate this school."
The chinchila squeaked, almost like it agreed, hopping onto the table to glare at August.
Jimmy sighed, grabbing his drink and downing the last of it. "Fine. But when this blows up in our faces, just remember—this was your idea, Hoodie Princess."
August's cheeks flushed pink. "Shut up, scarf-boy. You're doing it.".
AT DOORMES
Night fell like a heavy curtain over Avalon Academy.
In one of the girls' dorm rooms, Jimmy stood in front of the mirror, scowling at his reflection. He wore a schoolgirl uniform, complete with shorts under the skirt, a padded bra that August had shoved at him, and a long wig with fake brunette curls.
"I look ridiculous," he muttered, tugging at the wig.
Across the room, Adam sat in the same outfit, staring blankly at the floor. His chinchila perched miserably on his head like a fuzzy hat, squeaking in shared humiliation.
"This is… my nightmare," Adam said in a dead tone.
August, smirking like a cat that had caught a canary, leaned casually against the wall, now wearing Jimmy's iconic blue scarf draped around her neck like a trophy.
"You two wanted to be bait," she said, smug.
Jimmy shot her a glare. "No, you wanted us to be bait. I just agreed so you wouldn't throw another pillow at me."
Liana, perched nervously on the edge of her bed, nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah… we're just trying to keep everyone safe."
Jimmy sighed and sat down on one of the beds, crossing his arms. "Fine. But the second something goes wrong, we bail. Clear?"
Adam mumbled, "Crystal," before collapsing back dramatically onto his pillow.
August and Liana ducked into the closet, ready to spring out if needed, while Jimmy and Adam lay still in the beds, pretending to sleep.
The dorm was silent.
Then—creak…
Footsteps. Heavy, deliberate.
Jimmy's eyes snapped open. His breathing slowed as his senses sharpened.
Step. Step. Step.
A shadow fell across the floor as something large entered the room. A guttural hiss vibrated in the still air.
"...Fresh meat…" the voice growled, deep and inhuman.
Jimmy's blood ran cold.Second Face, he thought grimly. They've consumed enough humans to evolve… at least twenty, maybe more. Shit.
The demon's claws scraped against the wooden floor as it moved closer, its glowing red eyes locked on Adam's bed.
Adam's chinchila stiffened, fur bristling, and let out a warning growl.
Jimmy moved in a blur.
WHAM!
He launched from the bed, tackling the demon hard, slamming it into the far wall just as its claws slashed through the air where Adam's throat had been seconds ago.
The second demon burst through the doorway, hissing, and lunged straight for Adam's bed.
The closet doors flew open.
"Not today!" August shouted, firing a bolt of searing flame from her palm. Liana followed instantly, her silver hair whipping as she launched a wave of ice spikes across the room.
The second demon snarled, skidding across the floor, wounded but far from dead.
Jimmy's fists blurred as he traded blows with the first demon, but each punch landed with less and less effect.
"It's… absorbing my strikes," Jimmy muttered under his breath, frustration flashing in his brown eyes.
The demon lunged, jaws snapping, and Jimmy twisted, locking its arm and dragging it forward.
"Outside!" Jimmy barked — then with a surge of strength, he tackled the creature straight through the dorm window.
Glass shattered as they crashed out into the night, tumbling onto the slanted roof below.
Jimmy rolled, coming up in a crouch, scarf fluttering in the wind. The demon stood opposite him, its glowing red eyes narrowed, jagged runes pulsing across its arms.
"Who gave you this power?" Jimmy growled, fists clenched.
The demon grinned with sharp, bloody teeth. "...I won't tell you."
Jimmy's expression hardened.
The demon lunged first, grabbing him and driving him into the roof tiles with a brutal suplex.
CRACK!
Jimmy gritted his teeth, twisted, and retaliated. His fist flared with heat as he drove it hard into the demon's chest.
BOOM!
The blow sent the creature flying, smashing it through the rooftop wall and into the side courtyard below.