Sora Amamiya pushed open the worn wooden door of the bar first. Akitsu Shouga and Seraphine Orion followed closely behind, their footsteps quiet on the creaking floorboards. The interior smelled of stale alcohol and aged wood, the faint glow of lanterns flickering weakly against the walls. At the counter, an elderly bartender polished cups with methodical calm, as if the world outside did not exist.

  Sora strode up to him casually. “Old man,” he said, “I’d like a devil shot.”

  The bartender didn’t even flinch. Without a word, he nodded, gesturing for them to follow. He led them through a narrow door behind the counter into a cramped storage room, stacked high with dusty crates and bottles that had not been touched in years.

  The old man bent down and pulled a hidden lever behind one of the crates. A low grinding sound reverberated through the wooden floorboards as the ground shifted. A secret passageway opened, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.

  “Let’s head down,” Sora said calmly. “Be careful not to look directly at others, or they’ll kill you mercilessly.”

  Seraphine stiffened, tails twitching. “…Charming place,” she muttered dryly.

  They descended carefully. At the bottom, the space opened into a larger bar, far darker than the one above. Lanterns cast dim red light across the room, illuminating dozens of criminals drinking, laughing, and exchanging hushed conversations. The air was thick with menace, heavy and suffocating.

  Akitsu clenched his jaw. “Seeing so many crooks relaxing like this… it makes me sick,” he muttered. No one responded.

  Sora led them away from the crowd and into a narrow, shadow-filled hallway. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they moved deeper, stopping at the very last room.

  Inside, a single lantern burned on a table. A man sat there quietly, black hair falling lightly over piercing red eyes. His posture was calm but alert, like a predator resting between hunts.

  The moment Akitsu and Seraphine entered, Sora turned and left, closing the door behind him.

  “I didn’t expect to meet you so soon,” Akitsu said sharply.

  The man smiled faintly. “Same goes for you,” he replied. “My name is Kaito Morikawa. It’s nice to meet you once more, Akitsu Shouga.”

  “You know what I’m here for,” Akitsu said without hesitation. “So cut to the chase.”

  Kaito calmly slid a folded note across the table. Akitsu grabbed it and opened it. Inside was an address.

  “That information comes at a cost,” Kaito said.

  “Then why did you let me open it?” Akitsu asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “Because I know you’ll do anything for your mistress,” Kaito replied evenly.

  Akitsu’s eyes hardened. “…What do you want?”

  “This seems sketchy!” Seraphine snapped, tails bristling.

  “It’s not sketchy at all,” Kaito replied, voice calm. “I only want one simple thing. That is, to be your acquaintance. A reasonable demand given the current situation.”

  “…And why do you want to be my acquaintance?”

  “I simply want to remove any hostility between us. That’s all.”

  Akitsu studied him for a long moment. “…Thanks, I guess. I’ll be leaving now.”

  Kaito watched him stand, expression unreadable. “I’d like to see what’s in store for you, Akitsu Shouga,” he murmured.

  They exited the underground bar together. Sora glanced at Akitsu as they walked.

  “How was it? You seem awfully calm compared to before.”

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  “I got the location of where Kaoru is,” Akitsu replied. “And… sorry about earlier. I was so stressed about what happened that my rage got the better of me.”

  Sora smiled faintly. “It’s alright. She’s important to you, after all.”

  “I still don’t trust you, decently handsome guy!” Seraphine snapped.

  “I have a name, you white fox!”

  “Orion, shut up,” Akitsu said flatly. “Let’s go. We don’t have time to argue.”

  Meanwhile… high above the town, inside a dimly lit discussion room on the top floor of Fiester Academy’s academic building, a long table stretched across the room. Seven figures sat around it, along with the headmaster, Itsuki Shiraishi, who presided at the head of the table, expression calm yet attentive.

  “Shall we begin?” Figure One asked. The others nodded.

  “First,” Figure One continued, “we must discuss a new student. His name is Akitsu Shouga.”

  Figure Five’s eyes narrowed. “Isn’t he the one with a spirit? That’s illegal.”

  “Yes,” Figure Two said, voice measured. “He carries a spirit by his side. According to law, this violates the regulations regarding unauthorized spiritual contracts.”

  Figure Three frowned. “A spirit… next to him at all times, invisible yet present. That aura—it’s unlike anything we’ve encountered before. Dangerous, unpredictable.”

  “I’ve observed him,” Figure Four interjected. “The spirit appears to be bound to him. It’s loyal, yes, but not malevolent. And it seems to amplify his power without overtly harming civilians.”

  Figure Six leaned forward, fingers tapping on the table. “Legality aside, consider this: Akitsu Shouga’s skill and the spirit’s presence could be advantageous to the Academy. His growth is exceptional.”

  “I disagree,” Figure Five hissed. “Laws exist for a reason! He is breaking them. It cannot be allowed. Spirits are volatile—uncontrolled, they endanger everyone around them.”

  Figure Two raised a hand. “We must weigh risk against benefit. His spirit, while technically illegal, is not causing immediate harm. Perhaps—allowing him to keep it is wiser than punishing him.”

  Figure One nodded slowly. “Agreed. For now, we observe him. His unusual aura, his behavior, the spirit at his side… it could either be a catastrophe or an asset. But there is no need for hasty measures.”

  “I still think he’s pushing boundaries,” Figure Three muttered. “Unpredictable behavior, mysterious energy… he attracts attention. If he isn’t carefully monitored, he could destabilize our systems.”

  “It is precisely because of his unpredictable nature that we should let him continue,” Figure Six replied. “A contained environment like the Academy is ideal. We can guide him while gathering data on his abilities.”

  Itsuki Shiraishi leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. “Then we have a consensus. No action will be taken against him for now, though his presence and spirit must be monitored. Any misuse of his power will result in immediate consequences. Keep him under watch, and nothing more.”

  The figures murmured in agreement, tension still lingering in the air.

  “…He is unlike any student we’ve had before,” Figure Four whispered. “The one with a spirit at his side… he could be the start of something unprecedented.”

  The meeting ended quietly, shadows stretching across the walls as the headmaster and council members filed out, leaving only the lingering question: what will Akitsu Shouga’s mysterious companion bring to the Academy—and to the world beyond?