The air inside the Tenka Academy’s Shinsei Hall with restless energy. Rows of students in crisp uniforms sat shoulder to shoulder, whispering nervously as Instructor Minazuki stood on the stage, clipboard in hand. The faint hum of lights above reflected off his silver badge, the symbol of a veteran Yomu Executioner who had faced death more times than most could imagine.

  “Alright, settle down!” Minazuki’s voice cut through the chatter like a blade.

  Within seconds, silence filled the hall. Only the sound of his boots tapping the wooden platform echoed as he paced slowly.

  “The moment you’ve all been waiting for,” he began. “Starting today, your performance, teamwork, and survival will depend on your assigned groups. These teams will accompany you in all field missions, simulations, and, eventually, Yomurei hunts. Choose wisely how you treat them—your partner today might be the one keeping you alive tomorrow.”

  Students exchanged uneasy glances. Some looked excited, others pale. I sat near the center, my heart pounding in sync with his words.

  He started reading.

  Name after name.

  Cheers erupted every time close friends ended up together, and quiet sighs followed when others didn’t.

  “Team 5,” he announced. “Haruto Mizuki, Aika Tanabe, and Mina Kurashina.”

  I heard an instant explosion of joy from my right. Haruto literally jumped from his seat.

  “Let’s gooo! We’re together!”

  Aika laughed, rolling her eyes. “Calm down, Haruto, it’s not a festival.”

  Even Mina, usually quiet, smiled warmly. “Guess we’re stuck with you again.”

  I smiled faintly at their excitement. I couldn’t help but feel happy for them—but a small part of me wondered who I’d end up with.

  Minazuki flipped to another page. “And now… Team 7.”

  He paused, his sharp eyes scanning the sheet before speaking clearly.

  “Ren Kazenagi.”

  My breath caught.

  “Tatsuya Rendo.”

  The name made several students murmur.

  “And Ayaka Sumeragi.”

  The room fell into a brief silence before the whispers started again.

  Ayaka Sumeragi…? I thought, blinking. The Sumeragi family’s youngest daughter?

  I’d heard about her even after I transferred here. She was known for her skill, composure, and the tragedy that shadowed her name. Her entire family had been wiped out by a Jūma, one of the most vicious Yomurei to ever appear. She was the sole survivor—and rumor said she vowed to dedicate her life to hunting it down.

  Then there was Tatsuya Rendo.

  A Jo-Rank student, top 3 in the academy in terms of combat. But despite his strength, he was practically a ghost socially—quiet, distant, uninterested in forming bonds. He didn’t talk much, and when he did, it was usually short and blunt. No one knew much about him, not even the instructors.

  I swallowed hard. “So that’s my group, huh…” I whispered to myself. They’re strong—but total strangers.

  Minazuki continued, his tone commanding but steady.

  “Starting today, those will be your official groups for Yomurei hunting and mission assignments. You are free to choose your team names, but there are two rules. One: keep them appropriate. Two: absolutely no references or worship toward Guraith. You know the punishment for that.”

  He turned the page one last time. “Each group will be assigned a shared apartment inside Tenka dorm. Two bedrooms per unit, with basic facilities provided. That’s all. Dismissed!”

  He gave a small nod and left the stage.

  The moment he was gone, the entire room burst into chatter again. Students stood, laughing, introducing themselves to their new teammates. The air was lively, filled with energy and possibility.

  But for me, it felt… quieter.

  I turned to see my two new teammates. Tatsuya sat at the back row, his head down, arms crossed, expression unreadable. He didn’t seem to care about the announcement at all.

  Meanwhile, Ayaka stood gracefully near the center aisle, her crimson eyes calm and unshaken. Even her posture screamed confidence—chin slightly lifted, presence composed and commanding.

  She was beautiful, no doubt. Her long, silvery hair shimmered under the light, tied neatly with a black ribbon. But there was a weight behind her eyes—something heavy and distant, like someone who had seen too much too soon.

  For a while, no one said anything. The silence between us stretched.

  Finally, Ayaka broke it. “Since no one’s starting the conversation, I’ll begin.”

  Her voice was firm but not harsh, carrying a quiet authority. “My name is Ayaka Sumeragi, youngest of the Sumeragi family. My reason for becoming a Yomu Executioner is to avenge my family, who were killed by a Jūma. I specialize in fire-type Shin'en and tactical combat. And you—” her gaze landed on me, “—you’re the one Akihiro Saiten personally recruited, correct?”

  I blinked, caught off guard. “M-me?”

  “Yes, you. Who else?”

  I straightened my back quickly, forcing a small smile. “Uh, yeah. That’s right.”

  My throat felt dry. “I’m Ren Kazenagi. There’s not much about me, really. But…”

  I paused, remembering Saiten-san’s warning. Never reveal your power, Ren. Not yet.

  “…I became a Yomu Executioner because my parents believed I could. I didn’t believe them at first, but when Saiten-san said he saw potential in me, it gave me a reason to keep moving. That’s all, I guess. You can call me Ren.”

  Ayaka gave a small nod. “Ren Kazenagi. Understood.” She turned to Tatsuya next. “You?”

  He didn’t move at first, as if debating whether it was worth answering. Then, finally, he opened his eyes and said flatly, “Tatsuya Rendo. I’m not special. That’s all you need to know.”

  It was blunt—but expected.

  Ayaka didn’t seem bothered. “Then, what should I call you?”

  He shrugged lazily. “Suit yourself.”

  “Then, Tatsuya it is,” she said, faint amusement flickering in her tone. “Ren Kazenagi and Tatsuya Rendo. I’ll remember your names.”

  The way she said it—calm, confident—made it obvious. She wasn’t just a teammate. She was someone born to lead.

  Around us, other groups were already bonding. Haruto, Aika, and Mina were laughing loudly at something near the corner, and the sight of them made my chest feel warm—and a bit lonely.

  Ayaka noticed me glancing that way. “Friends of yours?”

  “Yeah,” I said softly. “They got lucky. Same group.”

  “Be glad for them,” she replied, folding her arms. “They’ll be your allies outside your team someday too.”

  I nodded. “Yeah… guess you’re right.”

  After a brief pause, I excused myself. “I’ll go check on them for a bit.”

  “Don’t take too long,” Ayaka said, already looking through her tablet. “We’ll need to discuss our next steps soon.”

  ---

  I walked through the crowd until I spotted my friends near the stairway.

  “Haruto! Aika! Mina!” I called out.

  They turned, faces lighting up.

  “Oh, Ren!” Mina waved. “So? How’s your group?”

  I scratched the back of my head. “It’s… interesting.”

  Aika smirked. “Interesting? You mean you’re teamed up with Ayaka Sumeragi, the academy’s ‘Ice Queen’? That kind of interesting?”

  My face went red. “Don’t start that already.”

  “So you are thinking about her,” Aika teased, poking my shoulder.

  “Shut it!” I said, glaring playfully. All three of them burst out laughing.

  Haruto, catching his breath, grinned. “Still, man, your team’s incredible! You’ve got Tatsuya Rendo—top 3 in combat. Ayaka Sumeragi—second in the Tenka test. And you—the guy Akihiro Saiten personally recruited. That’s a stacked lineup if I’ve ever seen one!”

  I shrugged. “Yeah, maybe… but Tatsuya’s not easy to talk to. He barely says anything.”

  “That’s just his personality,” Mina said kindly. “Give him time. Maybe he just needs someone who understands him.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Or maybe he just doesn’t like people,” Aika added with a grin.

  “Probably both,” Haruto said, and the three of them laughed again.

  For a moment, it felt like everything was normal—just students joking after class. But deep down, I could feel it—the next phase of my life at Tenka Academy was starting. Things would never be the same again.

  “Well,” Mina said finally, glancing toward the exit, “we should head to Instructor Minazuki to check our room assignments.”

  “Yeah,” Aika agreed. “We’ll catch up later, Ren.”

  “See you, man,” Haruto added, raising a hand in farewell.

  “See you,” I replied with a small smile, watching them go.

  ---

  I turned back toward the center of the hall, where Ayaka and Tatsuya still stood—one checking her datapad, the other lost in his own silence.

  And with that thought, I stepped back to my group.

  I went back to my group. Ayaka was standing by the wall, arms crossed, waiting.

  But Tatsuya was gone.

  “Where did Tatsuya go?” I asked, tilting my head.

  Ayaka glanced at me. “He said he had something to take care of. Even a guy like him has business to do, I guess.”

  I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Should we ask Instructor Minazuki where our room is? I wonder why he didn’t announce it.”

  “You’re right… we should go.”

  We left the Shinsei Hall, our footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. The academy halls were quieter than usual—students had already gone off in groups, laughing and talking about their teams.

  Ayaka walked ahead, her steps calm and steady. Watching her from behind, I couldn’t help but think—she really looks like a leader. Her movements were graceful, composed. She had that kind of aura that made people want to follow her without her saying a word.

  Even her silence had weight.

  “Ren,” she suddenly spoke, breaking the stillness. “I know we’ve only met today, and I know this is a selfish request but…”

  Her voice faltered slightly. I turned to look at her, surprised by the hesitation. She wasn’t the type to stumble over words.

  “What’s wrong? If you’re troubled, you can tell me. But if you don’t want to, it’s fine. Everyone has secrets they’d rather keep.”

  We kept walking side by side through the hall. Dust sparkled faintly in the sunlight that filtered through the tall windows.

  “You already know since I’m from the Sumeragi family,” she said quietly, “that my family was killed by a Jūma. You’re the person that Akihiro Saiten recruited, so please… I want your help to kill that bastard.”

  Her voice trembled slightly at the end. She clenched her fists tightly—so tight her knuckles turned white. I could tell how much courage it took just to say that to someone she had met only hours ago.

  I looked at her, unsure what to say at first. There was a pain in her words that I understood all too well. Losing everything, watching the people you love disappear—it was something I could never forget.

  “I… am not strong enough to fight a high-level Yomurei,” I said quietly. “Especially a Jūma. But I also want to wipe out all Yomurei in this world.”

  Ayaka looked at me, her crimson eyes softening slightly.

  “Thanks,” she murmured.

  We arrived at the teachers’ office. A few students were already there, holding forms and chatting nervously. Some probably came for the same reason we did—to get their room keys.

  The door opened, and a woman stepped out. She wasn’t Minazuki, but I recognized her from the other class.

  She wore rectangular glasses, and her calm, mature tone immediately quieted everyone in the hall.

  “Instructor Mizuhara…” Ayaka said respectfully.

  Mizuhara nodded. “Apologies for the delay. The dorm list wasn’t finalized earlier, so we didn’t announce the rooms during Minazuki’s session.”

  She held up a ring of keys, each labeled with a number. “We’ll distribute them now. Please choose one representative per group to line up.”

  “I’ll get the key. You stay here, Ren,” Ayaka said, stepping forward without hesitation.

  She joined the line. Being one of the first, she got our key quickly.

  “Instructor Mizuhara, Ayaka Sumeragi. Team Ren Kazenagi and Tatsuya Rendo.”

  Mizuhara checked her clipboard and handed over the key. “Room number four, at the Tenka Dormitory. Here you go.”

  Ayaka returned, holding the key up slightly. “Here are the keys,” she said with a faint smile.

  “How do we inform Tatsuya about this?” I asked.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Ayaka replied. “He’ll probably ask the teachers and figure it out himself.”

  That sounded exactly like something Tatsuya would do—quiet, efficient, and without asking for help.

  “I remember Haruto and the others saying they’d get their keys earlier,” I said. “They probably already went to their dorms.”

  “Then let’s go too,” Ayaka said.

  We walked through the corridor again, heading toward the front gates. Outside, the evening sun painted the academy in warm orange light. The gentle wind carried the scent of sakura trees from the courtyard.

  The Tenka Dormitory stood not too far away—just a short walk from the main building. There were five dorms in total, each divided by class rank. The building itself looked new, its glass windows reflecting the sunset glow.

  We arrived at the entrance.

  “It’s not far at all,” I said. “That’s convenient.”

  “Yeah,” Ayaka replied softly.

  Our room was at the very end of the ground floor. Ayaka unlocked the door and stepped inside first.

  The room was clean and well-kept—neatly arranged furniture, polished floors, and sunlight spilling gently through the curtains.

  “This place is way better than the room I used inside the academy,” I said, placing my bag down.

  “You slept inside the academy for four years?” Ayaka asked, surprised.

  “Yeah,” I said, sitting down on the couch. “It wasn’t bad, but it was small and noisy most of the time.”

  She chuckled faintly. “I can imagine.”

  Just like Minazuki said, there were two bedrooms—one with a single bed and another with two. The living room had a simple couch, a small table, and a television. The kitchen was by the entrance, tidy and bright.

  “I’ll take this room,” Ayaka said, pointing to the one with the single bed. “You and Tatsuya can share the other. Since we’re opposite genders, it’s better that way.”

  “That makes sense,” I said.

  She set her bag down and walked around, checking the drawers and curtains, making sure everything was in order. Her movements were efficient—like she’d already done this a hundred times before.

  A few moments later, the door opened.

  Tatsuya stepped in quietly, his expression as unreadable as ever.

  “How did you know this was our room? Did you ask the teachers?” Ayaka asked.

  “No,” he said flatly. “I followed you two ever since you got the keys.”

  “Really? I didn’t even notice,” Ayaka said, blinking.

  I nearly laughed. He’s really good at hiding his presence… I didn’t even sense him either.

  He’ll probably make a good scout someday.

  “What did you do earlier?” I asked. “Ayaka said you had something to take care of.”

  “I went to the restroom,” Tatsuya replied bluntly.

  Ayaka sighed. “That’s… not important, I guess.”

  She sat down on the couch across from me and crossed her legs. “Anyway, Instructor Minazuki said each group should come up with a name. We might as well decide that now.”

  We all sat down together, though it felt less like a discussion and more like Ayaka trying to pull words out of us.

  “Team Sumeragi?” she suggested first.

  I shook my head quickly. “Too obvious.”

  “Crimson Flames?”

  “Too dramatic,” Tatsuya muttered.

  “Team—”

  “Pass,” he interrupted before she could finish.

  Ayaka frowned. “Are you even trying?”

  Tatsuya leaned back, bored. “What about Gesshoku?”

  “Gesshoku?” Ayaka asked. “Why that?”

  He shrugged. “It just popped into my head.”

  Ayaka sighed again. “If you’re going to help, then be serious.”

  “Wait,” I said suddenly. “That might actually work.”

  Both of them looked at me.

  “‘Gesshoku’ means when the earth is between the sun and moon,” I explained. “In other words, a lunar eclipse.”

  Ayaka tilted her head. “And your point?”

  “It symbolizes unity between light and dark,” I said. “All three of us… we’ve been through different kinds of darkness. Pain, loss, isolation. But if we can work together, we can bring light to others—so they won’t have to suffer like we did.”

  Silence filled the room for a moment. Then Ayaka smiled faintly.

  “That’s actually… pretty smart, Ren.”

  Tatsuya smirked slightly. “I helped, right? So I’m useful after all.”

  “Do you want to fight right now?” Ayaka shot back.

  I chuckled. “Alright, alright. From now on, we’re Team Gesshoku.”

  Ayaka nodded firmly. “We’ll work together as one, and defeat any Yomurei that comes our way.”

  Tatsuya crossed his arms. “Fine by me.”

  The three of us sat there for a moment, quiet but comfortable. Despite how different we were, something about that moment felt… right. Like maybe, just maybe, this team could actually work.

  ---

  [Tenka Academy — Teacher’s Office]

  Instructor Minazuki leaned against his desk, reviewing several papers. “I’ll announce tomorrow that three groups from the academy will take their first mission.”

  Across the room, Instructor Mizuhara raised an eyebrow. “Why so soon?”

  “I want them to experience real combat,” Minazuki said. “Some of them already have potential worth testing. But I can only send three groups—most of the others aren’t from my class.”

  Mizuhara nodded thoughtfully. “I see. As for me, I’ll hold off. They only met their teammates today. I want them to have time to understand each other first.”

  “That’s fair,” Minazuki said, setting the papers aside.

  Mizuhara stood, bowed slightly, and left the office.

  Once she was gone, Minazuki leaned back in his chair, staring out the window at the fading light. The orange sky reflected faintly in his glasses.

  “Hm…” he murmured to himself. “I think I’ll go with Kazenagi-san’s group.”

  He smiled faintly, the corner of his lips curving with quiet interest.

  “I want to see how much this kid grows.”

  It was night, and the air inside the dormitory felt peaceful. The faint hum of the ceiling fan and the soft clatter of utensils from the kitchen blended into a calm rhythm that filled the room.

  Ayaka was cooking at the small counter. Meanwhile, I sat on the couch, squinting at the black box sitting across the room.

  A television.

  At first glance, it looked simple enough — just a screen and a remote. But after pressing a few buttons and getting nothing but static and some strange glowing numbers, I realized I was completely lost.

  “You don’t know how to use a television?” Tatsuya asked from his bed, eyebrows raised.

  I glanced at him, a little embarrassed. “No. My parents and I lived in the woods. No electricity, no electronics.”

  He blinked, clearly unsure if I was joking. “No wonder… lend me the remote.”

  I handed it over, and Tatsuya sighed like an old man teaching a child how to walk. “You press this to power it on, this one changes the channels, and this adjusts the volume. Don’t press them all at once unless you want to break it.”

  “I see…” I followed his hand movements carefully. It was more complicated than I thought but easy to understand once explained.

  “Thanks, Tatsuya. I didn’t know you were a kind person,” I said with a small grin.

  He gave me a side-eye. “I just don’t like seeing someone struggle with modern technology. It annoys me.”

  That made me laugh. Tatsuya was blunt as ever, but I realized he wasn’t really a bad person. He was just terrible at communication — like someone who forgot how to be social but still cared in his own quiet way.

  Before I could reply, Ayaka’s voice echoed from the kitchen. “Hey, dinner’s ready!”

  Tatsuya and I exchanged a look and got up. We sat down at the small dining table as Ayaka set down three plates with a proud smile.

  “This is my special nikujaga — you’ll like it,” she said, wiping her hands on a towel.

  “By the way, where did you get all the ingredients?” I asked.

  “They were already in the fridge when I opened it. Looks like the academy provides food for us and ingredients to cook,” she replied, sitting across from us.

  The smell of soy sauce and simmered meat filled the room. I took a bite, and the warmth spread through my chest instantly.

  “This… is amazing,” I said between bites.

  Ayaka smiled faintly. “Glad you like it. It’s a recipe my mother used to make for me.”

  For a brief moment, the three of us were silent — not awkwardly, but comfortably. The sound of clinking chopsticks and the faint crackle of the TV in the background filled the room with a strange sense of normalcy.

  As I ate, I couldn’t help but remember a similar scene — Kaito, Airi, Daigo, and I, sitting around a small table, laughing over a simple meal. Back then, it felt eternal. Now, it was just a memory that lingered like an echo at the back of my mind.

  After dinner, we spent some time talking about random things — training stories, dorm rumors, and even about the cafeteria food ranking. It was lighthearted, something I didn’t know I needed until now.

  Then, the phone on the wall rang.

  Riiiing… Riiiing…

  The sound broke the calm atmosphere instantly. I stood up and grabbed the receiver. “Hello, this is room 4. Ren Kazenagi speaking.”

  “Ren? Perfect timing.”

  That voice — I recognized it immediately.

  “Instructor Minazuki?” I said.

  Ayaka and Tatsuya turned their heads toward me, clearly listening in.

  “Yes, it’s me,” Minazuki’s calm but authoritative tone came through. “I know this is sudden, but I’ve chosen your team for tomorrow.”

  “My team?” I repeated. “What’s happening tomorrow, sir?”

  “Your first mission.”

  “My… what?” I froze. “First mission?!”

  Both Ayaka and Tatsuya’s eyes widened.

  “Yes,” Minazuki continued, completely unfazed by my shock. “Tomorrow will be your first official mission. Three groups will participate. I’ll be the observer, and in case things get out of hand, a separate team — mine — will handle the situation.”

  He paused briefly before adding, “The location is Showa Kinen Park. Don’t worry, the Yomu Detector only picked up D to D+ class Yomurei. Good for beginners. But since your ranks are Shi and Jo, I’m expecting you to handle them with ease.”

  I straightened. “Understood, sir. What time should we report?”

  “Call time is 8:00 sharp, Shinsei Hall. Don’t be late. That’s all. Any questions?”

  “No, sir. Thank you.”

  “Good. Rest well, Kazenagi.”

  The line clicked dead.

  I turned toward Ayaka and Tatsuya, who were already watching me expectantly.

  “Ren… was that Instructor Minazuki?” Ayaka asked.

  “Yeah,” I replied, setting the receiver down. “He said tomorrow’s our first mission. We’re to meet at the academy by eight. Location’s Showa Kinen Park.”

  “I see.” Ayaka crossed her arms, her calm expression barely hiding the spark of excitement in her eyes. “Then we better be ready.”

  “First mission, huh?” Tatsuya muttered, stretching his arms. “Finally, some action.”

  I smiled faintly. “Yeah. Let’s not screw this up.”

  The tension in the room lingered for a while before fading back into the same calm warmth from earlier.

  I glanced at the clock. 10:43 PM. “It’s getting late. I’ll take a bath and head to bed,” I said, standing up.

  “Don’t stay up too long,” Ayaka said, already tidying up the plates.

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  I grabbed a towel and my uniform shirt from the closet, then entered the small bathroom.

  The moment I turned on the shower, the sound of rushing water filled the quiet dorm. Steam rose, fogging up the mirror as the warm water hit my skin. I closed my eyes, letting it wash over me, carrying away the fatigue from training and the day’s weight.

  (My first mission…)

  The thought repeated in my head like a whisper.

  For so long, I’d been preparing for this moment — to fight, to protect, to prove I was strong enough to stand among Yomu Executioner. But part of me felt uneasy. Not from fear of the mission, but from something deeper.

  Why does it feel like something’s waiting for me there?

  I tried to shake it off. It was probably just nerves.

  When I finished, I wiped the fog from the mirror and looked at my reflection. Water dripped from my hair. My eyes looked calm, but there was something else behind them — a faint trace of uncertainty I couldn’t quite hide.

  “Don’t overthink it,” I muttered. “It’s just a D-class hunt.”

  I changed into my sleepwear and stepped out. Ayaka was already sitting by the table, reading a small book. Tatsuya was lying in bed with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

  “Bathroom’s free,” I said.

  “Alright, I’ll go next,” Ayaka replied softly, closing her book.

  I climbed into my bed and stared at the ceiling for a while. The room lights dimmed, and only the moonlight through the window remained.

  I turned to my side, pulling the blanket over my shoulder.

  I’ll be fine. This is different now.

  Minutes passed. Ayaka came out from her bath, her hair damp and her expression relaxed. She smiled when she saw me still awake.

  “Nervous?” she asked quietly.

  “Maybe a little,” I admitted. “It’s been a while since I’ve fought outside training.”

  “You’ll do fine. You’re stronger than you think,” she said with a calm smile before heading to her bed.

  “Thanks,” I replied, though I wasn’t sure I believed it.

  The lights went off completely this time. The sound of the fan returned, steady and slow. Tatsuya was already asleep — his breathing even. Ayaka turned to face the wall.

  I lay there, staring at the faint glow of the moon reflecting off the window.

  (Tomorrow… our first mission.)

  A part of me felt excitement, but another part — the one I buried deep — felt uneasy. Like something was pulling at me from the dark edges of my thoughts.

  But I brushed it off, closing my eyes.

  Whatever happens… I’ll protect them.

  That was the last thought I had before sleep finally pulled me under.

  Outside the dormitory, the wind rustled through the trees of the Tenka Academy grounds. The moon hung low, silver light spilling across the rooftops.