Takumi woke up disoriented. A thick fog, like the divine smoke of a cigarette, filled the room.
In front of him, a man calmly watched. His face was completely bandaged, only strands of bright white hair peeking through.
He wore a light brown poncho and held a cup of tea with absolute composure.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty~~." Kohaku wiggled his fingers in a mocking wave. "Wow, you look like a post-party zombie. Want some skincare tips? Though in your case… ha~, ha~, not even hyaluronic acid would save that face."
"Uh…? You're… Kohaku." Takumi froze in shock, recognizing him.
"Ha, ha, the one and only. A man's gotta take care of his skin too. But those of us born handsome? We die handsome~~." He laughed with smug arrogance. "But you're not here for beauty advice, are you?"
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Takumi exploded, trying to walk toward him.
That's when he noticed—chains and protective seals bound him, pulling in opposite directions.
"Easy now, kid~~. You're here for a reason: and that reason is… you're cursed~."
"Cursed…? What the hell do you mean by that!?" Takumi shouted, thrashing in vain attempts to free himself.
Cursed? Ren never told me anything about that. But he knew everything about exorcists…
"Exactly, sweetheart." Kohaku stirred his tea, the spoon chiming melodically. "A Ghost infected you with its Jaki. Welcome to the club of the Cursed… where the membership fee is paid in blood~~."
Takumi's thoughts spun out of control. Didn't the Association of Exorcists ban people from even knowing that word?
"Hey, don't make that face. Being cursed isn't so bad—they'll just chop your head off~~." Kohaku dragged out each syllable in a deep, mocking tone.
Takumi's face twisted in utter confusion and rage.
"Aren't you supposed to save lives?! This is complete bullshit!"
The man stayed silent, his smile never wavering.
"Don't get mad, for God's sake. Arguing with ordinary people is way too fun."
He walked toward Takumi, lowering his gaze until their noses almost touched, invading his personal space.
"I'm not here to hurt you~."
His laughter echoed through the room.
"You say you won't hurt me, but you're telling me you want to kill me!"
"Not me. But the society of exorcists does." Kohaku toyed with his fingers as if it were all a simple game.
Takumi thrashed harder against the chains, his desperation plain. Sweat dripped down his neck, his knees trembling.
"Don't bother," the man said. "They're idiot-proof."
"…"
"Don't worry. An exorcist is always prepared for death."
"But I'm not an exorcist!"
So I'm cursed. That's what I am. Maybe… that's not so wrong.
"You should know those things already. They're all over TV."
"…Ghosts…" Takumi whispered, his voice breaking. A storm of emotions crashed over him.
Exorcists save the world and protect the citizens. Kohaku is their biggest symbol of freedom, kindness, and friendship. 'Exorcist of the Year' is always Kohaku. The AOE is a league of heroes fighting for our safety.
Memories piled up—every news report, every broadcast praising the AOE… all a lie. Kohaku wasn't a hero. He was an executioner with a movie star smile.
"To hell with your damn Association!" Takumi shouted, tears pouring uncontrollably down his face as he remembered every praise and every congratulation. "You're nothing but leeches!"
"How dramatic~~~." Kohaku chuckled softly. "Don't be upset, little pup. We look after everyone's safety."
"…I never did anything to deserve this…" Takumi stammered, unable to stop crying.
How could people only see the good in these people? They're monsters too.
"Life's unfair. People only see what they want to see. Don't you think~?" the man cooed, speaking to the air itself.
"I don't care! I just want to go home!" Takumi begged through sobs. "Please, let me go…"
Kohaku looked at him silently, eyes studying him deeply.
"I was gonna invite you to join our ranks, but looks like you're useless. You're just a scared little cat~~." He spat the words with careless cruelty.
Then he smiled. A wide grin stretching ear to ear.
"Fine then, I'll let you go." He placed a card between Takumi's lips. "Call me when you'd rather be dead~. Oh, and by the way, everything they say about me is blown way out of proportion. I don't save people because I want to. I do it because it's fun~~."
And with that, he dissolved into the mist. No one else remained, save the echo of Takumi's ragged breathing.
Takumi woke in his room. Everything was intact, just as he'd left it. Was it a dream?
He touched his head. Faint stinging marks. No dream.
He collapsed onto the bed. His skull throbbed violently. He tried to calm down, then went to the kitchen.
But the moment he entered—he froze.
A creature with eyes on the palms of its hands devoured the bread, while another, with a mouth carved across its torso, shredded family photos with glasslike claws. The sound of splintering glass made his skin crawl, like thousands of insects scurrying up his back.
"W-What…?" he stammered.
The beings turned toward him, laughing with guttural sounds that reverberated through the room. Takumi bolted, locking himself in his bedroom.
This can't be happening. This can't be happening. His nails dug into his skin, the sting only fueling his terror.
His frail body trembled under the blankets, clutching his knees tight. Shivers racked him to the core.
The TV flicked on by itself, spewing static. Through the white noise, a whisper hissed: Cursed…
"They say exorcists possess massive amounts of Jaki, letting them see Ghosts before anyone else… But there's a crazy theory that ordinary people might carry Jaki too."
"That would mean anyone could become an exorcist."
"…Cursed…" Takumi repeated faintly.
"It's a term common people don't know."
A lamp crashed to the floor, making him jolt. Slowly, he turned—there, a Ghost gnawed at his phone.
He tried to punch it, but his fist went right through, like smoke. Horrified, he fled into the city, desperate to escape the things he could now see—and the things that saw him.
Every corner. Every reflection. They were there. Watching.
He ran aimlessly. No destination, just memories.
Traffic blared. Voices roared. The stench of food, fuel, and sweat mixed with the sickening odor of Ghosts.
Stumbling, he fell into a deserted road. Silence swallowed him whole. His chest tightened like he was drowning.
"Well, look who we have here. The little nobody~~." Kohaku emerged from the shadows. "Hello~."
"You…" Takumi glared up, wary.
"Yep, it's me. The one and only Kohaku. I was worried when you didn't come back~~." His tone said the opposite—mocking, amused.
Takumi ran to him, tears in his eyes, his body convulsing.
"Missed me that much~~?" Kohaku opened his arms as if for a hug.
"Help me!" Takumi dug his nails into Kohaku's arms, leaving red marks. Pride meant nothing now. He just wanted the monsters to go away.
"Poor thing, did the ugly monsters scare you~~~?" Kohaku mocked, patting his head.
"Stop joking and save me!"
"Mmm… so demanding. If I recall, you said you wanted to go home…"
"I don't anymore! Help me!"
Kohaku laughed at his desperation and led him inside.
Later that same day, in a shadowed chamber full of elders, the air grew heavy.
"You want another cursed one in the AOE?" The voice was deep and raspy, dripping with anger.
"Of course. I know it's forbidden, but breaking rules is always fun." Kohaku laughed shamelessly.
"The AOE does not accept cursed ones! And you know exactly why."
"So just because one cursed brat once rose above you all, now you can't stomach another? Your pride's so fragile you feel inferior. Admit it—it's been years." His words dripped with sarcasm and irony.
His speech only hardened their expressions. Voices clashed in angry debate, but Kohaku simply enjoyed the barking.
He carefully adjusted the collar of his uniform.
"Enough," the academy director finally spoke. His appearance soft, relaxed—but his voice firm enough to silence the room. "Cursed ones have been a problem, yes. But that doesn't mean we'll end the lives of children."
After a long silence, one elder spoke.
"Fine. But you'll take full responsibility, Kohaku. And the protocol stands. If a cursed one steps out of line—" the old man dragged his thumb across his throat "—you know the consequences."
"That's the 46th time you've told me that. Oh, and by the way, Ryouma agreed with me too. Add his name to your little list of executions~." Kohaku chuckled with boredom and walked out.
If I'm going down, I'm dragging Ryouma with me.
He returned to Takumi, waiting in a small room.
"Good news!" Kohaku announced brightly. "You're not gonna be killed… You're gonna work for us~!"
"Work? I asked for help, not a damn job!"
Takumi shook him by the poncho, frantic.
Kohaku only laughed at each shake, eyeing his small frame.
"The future's not a buffet for the weak to feast on." Kohaku tapped his nose playfully. "Only spectacular beings like me can cut the threads of fate. Do you see any Ghost behind me?"
Takumi clenched his fists. Kohaku was an idiot… but he was strong enough to slay Ghosts.
For now, that was enough. Ghosts stalked him… and Kohaku was his only way out, even if it meant accepting that stupid job.
While Takumi sulked, two men walked through Tokyo. Neither spoke until the black-haired man broke the silence.
"Isn't shopping fun, Shiro?" he licked his strawberry ice cream, ignoring the ten bags his partner carried.
"Of course, boss." Shiro's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Especially when I'm the pack mule."
The man smiled sweetly while the other scowled.
"All of this is necessary for our plan, so stop whining~."
And with that, the two vanished into the crowd.