The week after the 'Thieves in the Night' mission had passed more quickly than Daiki expected.
Between bruised arms, stiff muscles, and 'lessons' that pushed them to the edge, it almost felt like normal school life.
At least for the Shinyo Institute.
Daiki managed to also somehow avoid being punished for sneaking into the cafeteria after hours as well.
It was crazy to think about.
Surviving Yurei and dodging teachers was now his 'normal' school life.
Far from what he wanted his life to be before.
As the days passed, Class 1-F buzzed with a little more confidence than before, even if almost all of them were still shaky, or, by Kojiro's words, "god-awful" with their abilities. People carried themselves a bit differently, even Yui.
People had straighter backs, others had sharper eyes, but most had both. Bruises and cuts were hidden under their sleeves, and jokes about "almost dying" floated around like casual banter.
One thing Daiki especially noticed was his frame changing. He was growing muscle, which made Daiki especially proud in the morning, even if it was only a little.
The week was also packed with Kojiro's drill. Sparring with classmates until Daiki thought his muscles would explode, running laps, and almost endless lessons on how not to panic when a beast breathed down your neck.
The absurdity of it all made Daiki loosen up a bit and crack more jokes, mostly with Ren and Yui during class time, and Jin during breakfast and in the afternoon.
It was better to die liked than an "average" loner, right?
But... today felt different. When Daiki and the rest of Class 1-F filed into Kojiro's classroom, the unpredictable cocky grin stretched wider than usual across his face.
"Field trip, lambs," Kojiro announced, slapping the board with the sheath of his katana. "And not the sightseeing kind."
That got everyone's attention.
"Today," Kojiro continued, "you guys will be working with the other first-year classes. Class 1-A, Class 1-B, and Class 1-C. Most of you haven't had the pleasure of properly meeting your peers yet. Think of this as... a bonding exercise."
Before anyone could respond, three other teachers entered the room, and what was most definitely their students followed in as well.
One was a stocky and stern-faced man who carried a thick folder. His name tag on his chest read "Instructor Masataka".
The second was a tall woman with long hair and a calm demeanor. Her name tag read "Instructor Shimizu".
The last teacher was a younger-looking man with black hair styled in a pompadour. His name tag read "Instructor Morishima".
The once-small classroom now felt like the inside of a packed-out concert.
Masataka stepped forward. "We'll be pairing up students randomly. Each pair will be responsible for investigating abandoned or suspicious locations in Mushin City[1]. Civilians live in the city, so all interactions must appear normal. Don't be idiots."
Shimizu nodded. "Your main priority is safety first. Look for signs of missing people, identify and neutralize Yurei if encountered, but maintain discretion. Any questions?"
Daiki and Ren looked at each other without saying anything, their faces individually saying two different things.
Daiki's was: "This is going to suck".
Ren's was: "This is going to be so fun".
Before the class would erupt with chatter and talking, Kojiro raised his voice and immediately cut through it. "Shut up. Locals have reported disappearances near abandoned districts. Your job is to investigate quietly. If anyone asks, you're architecture students on a survey."
Ren raised his hand. "Architecture? I don't even know what a support beam looks like."
"That's because you're an idiot," Daiki said quietly from his seat.
Kojiro smirked. "Then make something up, Takagi. But no Ketsugojin's where people can see. Understood?"
A chorus of "yes, sir" filled the room, though some were pretty half-hearted.
The bus ride there was long and bumpy, filled with a bunch of first-years pretending not to be nervous, for the most part. Ren foggged up his window, sketching a dick with his finger until Daiki smacked his hand away.
From across them, Yui sat quietly, watching the scenery flick past.
In the seat right behind Daiki and Ren, a boy Daiki didn't recognize sprawled across the seat. He had really pale skin and messy black hair falling over half-closed blue eyes. His uniform was practically falling off him, as his shirt was untucked, he had a loose tie, and his blazer was unbuttoned.
He was staring at the ceiling the whole time, expression unreadable.
When Ren started humming loudly, the boy muttered without looking over, "If you keep that up, I'm opening the emergency exit."
Ren blinked. "You serious?"
The boy shrugged. "I don't care."
Daiki snorted and nudged Ren's shoulder. "I guess every class has its own psycho."
The boy didn't say anything else, but Daiki couldn't shake the feeling that his presence carried a calm but unsettling weight.
Or maybe he was just nervous.
After a bit, Mushin City and the waters that surrounded it rose on the horizon. Narrow streets threaded between rows of apartments with laundry lines sagging from balcony to balcony. Vendors called from food stalls, steam curling from skewered meat. Children darted through the streets with toys in hand.
Daiki assumed the abandoned districts they were to investigate lay beyond the older, quieter streets, but the contrast made the city feel real and alive.
Civilains bustled about, unaware of the Yurei that lurked nearby.
The bus hissed to a stop at the curb. Locals glanced at the group with curiosity as Kojiro, Masataka, Shimizu, and Morishima stood from their seats at the front, slinging bags over their shoulders.
"We're out now," Kojiro said, voice rising over the chatter. "Stay sharp! From this point on, you're architecture students on a survey. Don't lay attention to yourself. Understood?"
"Understood," the students echoed, some hesitantly, others with confident nods.
One by one, the students filed off the bus. Daiki stretched his arms behind his head. "I haven't seen a place this alive and bright in a minute."
Yui's eyes scanned the city, looking for older buildings. "Yeah, you're right," she murmured.
Ren cracked his knuckles. "This is where the fun starts! Reminds me of summer camp."
The group walked to a park named "Sumaru Park" that was in the center of the city, the liveliness of the city surrounding them. Smells of grilled food, sea air, and something faintly heavy in the atmosphere.
The bus had already pulled away, leaving the students to step into Mushin City, first-years only, armed with little more than training, determination, and each other.
And with that, the field trip had officially begun.
[1] Mushin City is a seaside city about 30 to 40 minutes from the Shinyo Institute. The city has a series of beaches and districts with shops, eateries, and amusement parks.