March 21st, 3:45 PM.
A car slowly pulled into the parking lot.
After parking, Haruno Yukinoshita glanced at the figure in the passenger seat.
Her younger sister, Yukino Yukinoshita.
"You can drop me here. I'll walk the rest of the way myself."
Yukino adjusted her handbag, slung it over her shoulder, and looked out the window at the alley opposite.
From this angle, she could clearly see Café LycoReco's roadside sign standing in the middle of the alley.
"Yukino."
Haruno suddenly called out.
Yukino, who had just opened the car door, paused and slightly turned her head, her tone cool:
"Is there something else?"
"Is it about transferring to Toyogasaki High School? Or the apartment arrangements?"
Haruno, in the driver's seat, stared at the windshield, took several deep breaths, then said:
"If it becomes too much... you can always come home..."
Before Haruno could finish, Yukino interjected:
"Seems sister has forgotten something."
"Eh?" Haruno froze.
Yukino Yukinoshita took a deep breath and once again met her sister's gaze - their first eye contact this year:
"Big sister and I are enemies,"
Yukino stated coldly with emphasis.
The Yukinoshita family tradition was to identify enemies, defeat them, surpass them, and thereby continually transcend oneself.
Within the Yukinoshita household, the two sisters were natural enemies and rivals when it came to succession rights.
This was an environment deliberately fostered by Mrs. Yukinoshita, or rather, the inherited environment of the Yukinoshita family.
"Undoubtedly, I lost to big sister in our previous competition. That's why when I proposed living outside during high school, mother agreed without hesitation."
In other words, regarding family succession rights, Yukino acknowledged her defeat.
Compared to Haruno, who excelled at socialising and always prioritised the Yukinoshita family's interests, Yukino - socially awkward and presenting herself as a prickly hedgehog in social situations - was a complete failure by Yukinoshita's standards.
"But now, the path I'm taking is no longer within the Yukinoshita family's sphere of influence."
The Yukinoshita's traditional domain was politics, represented by their county councillor status among the gentry, and their influence in Chiba's construction industry.
Now, Yukino clearly understood that she was heading towards a path likely fraught with constant danger, yet one that diverged from the Yukinoshita's established route—a path with higher growth potential.
This was the only shortcut she could currently see to overtake her sister, the only route where she might surpass Haruno, who had already defeated her.
Even Hoshiga Shrine paled in comparison to SDS.
Because Hoshiga Shrine also fell within the Yukinoshita family's influence. Yukino wasn't foolish - she knew Shirayuki Hotogi was naturally closer to her sister than to herself.
That was why she had chosen to join SDS that day.
Hearing Yukino's emphasis - though this was what she herself had wanted - Haruno Yukinoshita felt inexplicably uncomfortable:
"Yukino-chan is so strict~ At this rate, you'll become just like mother~"
Seeing Haruno's teasing expression, Yukino frowned:
"No, I don't wish to become like her... That's not important right now."
After glancing at Haruno, she pushed the car door open while lifting her backpack:
"Anyway, you can drop me off here. There's no need for big sister to worry about what comes next, nor is it your responsibility."
Yet Haruno seemed to completely ignore Yukino's words, waving enthusiastically:
"Remember to check in every two hours~"
"If anyone harasses you, don't forget to use your pepper spray~ After all, Yukino-chan is so cute~~"
"Annoying," Yukino muttered under her breath, quickening her pace to leave Haruno's sight.
"Welcome!!"
Chisato Nishikigi, dressed in a light red kimono, greeted enthusiastically.
"What would you like to drink... Oh!! It's Yukino!"
Upon recognising the unapproachably beautiful girl at the entrance, Chisato immediately rushed forward enthusiastically, grabbing Yukino's hands:
"Checking the time, it is about when you were supposed to report. I was worried this afternoon you might be late, but thankfully you've arrived right on time."
"Um..." Yukino Yukinoshita, who still couldn't quite get used to Chisato's enthusiastic greetings no matter how many times they met, hesitated slightly. "Is Mr Luo Shu here?"
"He's at the training ground with Takina. Want me to take you to him?"
Chisato Nishikigi released Yukino and pointed towards the kitchen area, then grinned:
"Seeing you come over will probably make Luo Shu happy."
"Thank you for your trouble." Yukino bowed formally to her senior, Chisato.
"Mizuki-nee, I'm taking Yukino to see Luo Shu. Can you cover for me here?"
"Ten minutes." Mizuki Nakahara called from the busy kitchen without looking up.
"Ah! Understood! I'll hurry back to help."
"Quick quick quick!"
Chisato trotted behind Yukino and began gently pushing her forward.
"O-okay." Yukino allowed herself to be propelled forward.
Soon they passed through the kitchen area into the back corridor, then descended via a side staircase to the basement.
Before long, Chisato led Yukino to the door of the underground training ground.
Even before they arrived, Yukino could hear loud BANG! BANG! noises resembling firecrackers.
"What's this?"
"Oh? That sound - it's 7.62mm rounds from an M240. They're going all out today."
Hearing this description, Yukino peered through the doorway Chisato had just opened into the training area.
What greeted her eyes was a space roughly the size of a football pitch.
Inside, Takina Inoue stood expressionless behind goggles, effortlessly handling a light machine gun with one hand as she fired relentlessly, utterly unfazed by the recoil.
Orange muzzle flashes erupted from the barrel as bullets rained towards Luo Shu's position.
Witnessing this scene, Yukino's pupils contracted violently as she instinctively shouted:
"Danger!!"
But at that moment, indigo flames spread outwards, forming a mist-like substance that rose around Luo Shu.
The incoming bullets passed through the hazy mist - and through Luo Shu's body - as if encountering no resistance, only making audible impact sounds when they hit the ground behind him.
"The person... turned into mist..."
Yukino's mouth fell slightly open at the sight.
Was this the world of the abnormal?
Was this the so-called power of a sorcerer?
Questions rose in her heart as she instinctively turned to Chisato, hoping this supposed insider could provide an explanation.
Yet when Yukino looked, she found Chisato equally dumbfounded.
"No way?"
"He's just standing there, but the bullets pass right through?"
Apparently hearing their voices, Luo Shu - who had been using Mist Flames to create illusions - ceased his movements and called to Takina:
"That's enough, Takina."
"Understood."
Takina gave Luo Shu's completely unharmed body an envious glance. Though she'd also received the Adjuster Drug, Luo Shu's current abilities clearly surpassed anything the serum could explain.
"Wow!!"
As soon as the shooting stopped, Chisato rushed over to Luo Shu and began patting his shoulders and torso:
"Are you really unharmed? That was amazing! How did you do that? The bullets just went right through you like you were made of smoke!"
Her hands moved rapidly as she inspected him, her voice rising with excitement. Meanwhile, Yukino remained frozen in the doorway, struggling to process what she'd just witnessed.
"It's a physical body!! Oh my god, it's actually a real body, but how did you dodge those bullets just now?"
"This is simply too incredible!"
Luo Shu glanced at Chisato Nishikigi bouncing around excitedly, shook his head helplessly, then turned to Yukino Yukinoshita with a faint smile:
"It seems you've made your choice."
"Are you prepared for the resolve to enter the world of anomalies?"
Hearing this, Yukino remained silent for a moment before lifting her head to meet Luo Shu's gaze directly:
"I'm prepared, Director."
Upon hearing that unwavering voice, Luo Shu immediately revealed a smile brimming with capitalist undertones.