Early-March spring wind drifted gently into a narrow alley.
Moonlight pooled in the cramped space, washing the brick walls in silver. Shadows gathered under the eaves, stretching wet and dark across the bluestone.
Meow.
A strong black cat perched on the wall, its golden eyes molten and alive, the edges shimmering with a cold blue gleam.
Meow…
Down on the stones, a white cat crouched low, hindquarters raised, its voice soft and plaintive.
The black cat gave it a bored glance, then leapt down. Its sleek fur rippled like silk as it touched down in the shadow beneath the eaves. Its pupils widened until amber was swallowed by black, leaving only a thin ring of gold.
It padded over to the white cat.
Rrrr…
The white cat whined louder and rolled against it, shamelessly begging for attention.
The black cat flicked its tail and smacked the white cat's flank. Once the white cat settled down, it arrogantly mounted from behind.
As its view rose, it could see every inch of the white cat's back.
A few tufts of fur were sticking up where they'd been snagged on the stone.
The black cat's whiskers twitched. It reached forward and pressed a paw to the raised patch, combing it down over and over. Its pace quickened until the unruly fur finally blended back into the coat. Only then did it ease off.
Meow…
The eager white cat urged it on.
The black cat let out a low, cold meow and readied itself, when hurried footsteps echoed around the corner.
A mouse that had been hiding in the shadow of the wall bolted out in terror.
The black cat's eyes lit up. It ignored its long-waiting partner entirely. With a powerful kick, it launched after the mouse.
---
"Failed."
"Didn't even manage to begin the mission before failing."
"That woman…"
Baizhu staggered into the alley, one hand clutching his stomach. Two bullet-sized holes in his T-shirt were pumping out blood in steady streams, and a deep slice tore across his shoulder so badly that bone showed through.
All three wounds came from the same ambush—delivered by a man with a high ponytail.
That knife definitely had a Curse Devil's power in it. If that one-eyed woman hadn't stepped in, he would've taken a fourth hit for sure.
…And his gun was gone too.
Step. Step. Step.
Measured footsteps echoed from deeper inside the alley.
Baizhu glanced down. Drops of his own blood dotted the ground behind him, forming a crooked trail.
Rip.
He tore two long strips from the wide legs of his pants, then tied them tightly around his waist and shoulder to slow the bleeding.
Gathering what strength he had left, he took a few running steps, kicked off one wall, then the opposite one, and vaulted up onto the rooftop. Staying low, he sprinted across the connected buildings.
After a series of jumps and turns, he reached the back side of a four-story apartment building.
He stepped onto the rim of the wall, pushed off, and landed on the balcony of a second-floor unit.
Behind the balcony divider, a pair of glass double doors stood slightly open, although the curtains behind them were pulled shut.
A middle-aged man's voice drifted out—he was on the phone.
Sounded like a high school teacher.
Drip… drip…
The movement had split Baizhu's wounds open even more. Blood seeped through the cloth and dripped onto the concrete.
Face pale, Baizhu held his breath and listened.
Burp~
"Haha, Director, I agree. The graduation speech should definitely go to Kudo Tomomi."
"Exactly, Shin Kagaki is a huge company. Of course they'd want the student they sponsor to have a well-rounded image."
"Kudo Tomomi might come from a poor family, but she still got into the University of Tokyo. She's cheerful, outgoing, looks good, and she works hard—manager of the baseball team her first year, and her student council work last year was excellent."
Burp~
"What am I doing? Drinking alone…"
"Futoshi Hoshino's grades are amazing, I know. Top score in the schoolwide exam this year, and first in the entire school for the national governance exam."
"But the kid barely talks, doesn't socialize, and even if he goes on stage he won't say anything."
"There'll be more than students watching. Reporters will be taking pictures and recording everything. For the school's sake, and for Shin Kagaki…"
"Ay… As his homeroom teacher, I'm honestly disappointed. But our grade only gets two slots, and our class only gets one…"
"Yes, mhm, of course, Director. I won't bother you tonight then. Right, right, we middle-aged men have to take care of ourselves, haha. After work the day after tomorrow—drinks together? Yes, yes, I'll be there."
Beep.
The call ended.
The so-called homeroom teacher let out a greasy little laugh. "Offend your teacher and still expect a scholarship? Who gets it is just a matter of me, Matsumoto Fumitsuna, saying a few words."
"I work myself to the bone for these kids, and the scholarship has nothing to do with their teacher? Yeah right."
"This one doesn't even need to be paid back! Tomomi Kudo is so sensible. Promised to give her hardworking teacher a quarter afterward."
"I even told that brat, split half with me and the scholarship would be his. And what did he give me? That look."
Burp~
"He actually glared at me like, 'I'll get rid of you in a few days.' A kid with no morals like that doesn't deserve a speech slot or 1,000,000 yen."
Matsumoto Fumitsuna took a long swig of beer. The cold bitterness slid down his throat and settled heavy in his gut.
He shifted in his chair.
Burp~
Another satisfied belch rolled out of him.
"Fine, twenty-five thousand is twenty-five thousand. It's every year anyway…"
"And Tomomi, seriously… She lives just three blocks away and never visits her teacher."
"Ask her to share a little more of the scholarship? She refuses. Ask her to talk about her poor family in the speech? Doesn't want to."
"What's the problem? Make her mom sound a little useless, make her dad seem a bit scummy—it gets more attention! More attention means more donors. That helps both her and me live better lives!"
His fat-padded face sagged into a melancholic frown.
"I've devoted half my life to education, raising the future of our nation. And that's why I'm still single…"
"But I'm still a man. A man needs a woman! That's the universal truth for every high-quality male!"
"Damn it, students should think more about their teachers! Chizuru-chan from the strawberry-scented half-service parlor is still waiting for me to marry her! Why don't they get that?!"
He chugged again. His eyes went glassy. He was clearly drunk.
"Hic… Chizuru-chan's a good girl… a good person, like me… Otherwise she wouldn't only offer half-service… hic…"
"It's all that teacher from her old school… ruined her… If she'd met—hic—someone like me, she'd be happy… hic…"
Thump.
Overwhelmed by alcohol, he collapsed onto the desk, eyelids drooping shut.
Knock, knock.
Someone rapped on the door.
Matsumoto jerked awake, his jowls trembling.
"Who is it?! It's so late!" he grumbled, stumbling toward the door.
He twisted the knob.
"I'm heading next door, Hayakawa-kun."
"Alright."
Before Matsumoto even got a clear look at her face, the woman had already walked away down the hall.
Left standing in the doorway was a cold, sharp-featured young man wearing a black suit. His topknot was neatly tied, exposing clean, angular earbones and simple round black earrings.
Matsumoto straightened up quickly, suddenly cautious.
"Who're you looking for?"
The young man produced a badge.
"Aki Hayakawa, Tokyo Public Safety Devil Hunters, Division Four. We're pursuing a suspect. Based on the traces left behind, they likely hid somewhere in this apartment building. We need to search."
"A suspect? Impossible! I'm a teacher! I've dedicated my life to this country's future! How could I possibly harbor a criminal? Ridiculous! Impossible!"
"The suspect possesses devil abilities. For your own safety, please cooperate." Aki said flatly.
At the word "devil," Matsumoto instantly shrank back and changed his tune.
"Then come in, hurry. Search carefully! I'm a teacher—if something happens to me, my students would be devastated."
"Alright." Aki stepped inside. As soon as he slipped off his shoes, his brows tightened like drawn blades. His lips pressed into a thinner line.
He walked further in, and the frown only deepened. His entire expression twisted with discomfort.
Matsumoto hovered nervously behind him, terrified something might jump out and kill him.
He grabbed Aki's sleeve. "I'll get you some water! You look around slowly!"
Aki immediately raised a hand to stop him. He shook his head hard, eyes scanning the room. His spread fingers snapped into an "OK" sign, and he started to leave.
But his hand wouldn't move.
He looked back.
Matsumoto was gripping him with both hands.
"Keep looking! Check the cabinets, the bathroom, the balcony—don't miss anything!" Matsumoto pleaded desperately, his belly fat jiggling with each tremble.
Aki's eyes bulged. He shook his head frantically and flashed even more urgent OK signs.
Matsumoto refused to let go. "I'm a teacher! I can't afford trouble! You're young—take your job seriously!"
Aki puffed his cheeks, face turning red with strain.
At the last possible moment, he ripped his hand free with every ounce of strength and sprinted for the nearest balcony.
He yanked open the door.
He stuck his head outside immediately.
"Hahh—hahh—hahh!" He gulped down huge breaths of fresh air, chest heaving.
The stars overhead seemed to spill downward, flickering in the edges of his vision.
"…."
After a long moment, the dizziness faded and clarity slowly returned to his eyes.
"I'm saved…"
---
My little break is over now 😭 so I'll be posting regular updates again!