Hanato's Perspective
The wind howled past my ears as I leaned over the rooftop edge.
Empty.
No sign of her.
"…Not possible."
She did not fall, Ryuhou stated calmly.
"…Yeah, I figured that much."
I stepped back slowly, eyes scanning every corner of the rooftop again.
No doors opened.
No footsteps echoed.
No shadows moved.
"…She vanished."
And yet—
I knew what I saw.
Those eyes.
Gold and violet.
Burned into my memory.
"…Fine."
I cracked my neck slightly.
"…Then I'll just find you again."
Later That Day
It didn't take long.
People talk.
Students gossip.
And someone always sees something.
"…A masked girl near the back building again?"
"Yeah, I swear!"
"…Same one from this morning?"
"Probably!"
I leaned casually against the hallway wall, listening without looking like I was listening.
"…Too easy."
She is not being careful, Ryuhou noted.
"…Or she wants to be seen."
That thought made me smirk.
"…Either way—"
I pushed off the wall.
"…I'm not missing her this time."
Behind the School – Afternoon
The area was quieter now.
Classes were still ongoing.
Which meant fewer witnesses.
Fewer distractions.
Perfect.
I walked slowly along the back path—
Then stopped.
"…There."
She stood near the fence this time.
Mask on.
Back turned.
As if she hadn't learned anything.
"…Or maybe she has," I murmured.
Explain.
"…She's waiting."
The moment I took a step forward—
She turned.
Those mismatched eyes locked onto mine.
And without a word—
She ran.
"…There it is."
The Chase
I sprinted.
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
She cut through the narrow path beside the storage building, her movements sharp and efficient.
But this time—
I was ready.
"…Left."
I anticipated the turn before she made it.
Cutting the corner tighter.
Closing the distance.
She glanced back—
Just for a second.
And that was enough.
"…Got you."
She sped up.
So did I.
Footsteps echoed against concrete as we burst into a tighter alley between buildings.
No escape routes.
No open spaces.
Just walls—
And one narrow exit.
"…You're cornered."
She didn't slow down.
Didn't hesitate.
Instead—
She jumped.
Straight toward the stacked containers near the end of the alley.
"…Seriously?"
I followed.
Climbing after her, grabbing onto the edge and pulling myself up in one swift motion.
She landed on the other side—
But her footing slipped.
"…!"
The container shifted slightly under her weight.
And in that single moment—
Balance broke.
"—!"
We both fell.
Impact
CRASH.
The world flipped—
Then hit.
Hard.
The smell hit immediately.
"…Trash."
I groaned slightly as I pushed myself up from the pile of garbage bags we had crashed into.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
A groan came from beneath me.
"…Get off."
I blinked.
Then realized—
"…Oh."
She was under me.
"…Right."
I stood up quickly, brushing off bits of trash from my uniform.
"…You okay?"
"…Do I look okay?"
"…Not really."
She sat up, clearly annoyed, bits of debris caught in her hair and clothing.
"…You're unbelievable."
"…You're the one who ran."
"…Because you were chasing me!"
"…For a good reason."
She clicked her tongue.
"…Annoying."
Before she could move—
I grabbed her wrist.
Firm.
Not rough.
But enough to stop her.
"…Got you."
She froze.
Just for a second.
Then—
"…So what now?"
"…Now?"
I looked at her mask.
Then at the faint traces of paint still on her sleeves.
"…You're coming with me."
She sighed.
"…Seriously?"
"…Seriously."
"…You're no fun."
"…I'm not trying to be."
A pause.
Then—
She laughed.
"…Fine."
"…Fine?"
"…Yeah."
She didn't resist.
Didn't struggle.
Which—
Somehow—
Was more suspicious.
Principal's Office
The atmosphere was tense.
The principal sat behind his desk, his expression shifting from confusion—
To shock—
To relief.
"…You caught the vandal?"
"Yes."
I stepped slightly aside.
Revealing her.
Still masked.
Still oddly calm.
"…Remove your mask," the principal ordered.
She tilted her head slightly.
"…Do I have to?"
"Yes."
A brief silence.
Then—
She slowly lifted her hand.
And removed it.
Her face was revealed.
A girl.
Our age.
Unfamiliar.
But her eyes—
Still unmistakable.
Gold.
And violet.
The principal's expression hardened.
"…You are responsible for the vandalism?"
She smiled faintly.
"…Depends."
"…On what?"
"…On whether you liked it."
"…This is not a joke."
"…I know."
Her tone didn't change.
Didn't waver.
"…It was intentional."
"…Why?" the principal demanded.
She shrugged slightly.
"…I was bored."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"…Bored," the principal repeated.
"…Yeah."
He exhaled slowly, clearly trying to remain composed.
"…You will be facing serious disciplinary action."
"…Figured."
No fear.
No regret.
Just—
Acceptance.
I watched her carefully.
"…You're not even trying to defend yourself."
She glanced at me.
"…Would it matter?"
"…No."
"…Exactly."
Hallway – Later
I stepped out of the office.
The door closed behind me with a soft click.
"…Well."
You achieved your goal, Ryuhou said.
"…Yeah."
But something felt…
Off.
"…She gave up too easily."
You noticed.
"…Yeah."
I glanced back at the door.
"…That wasn't the same energy from before."
No.
"…So either…"
I crossed my arms slightly.
"…She's hiding something."
Or she wanted to be caught.
I smirked faintly.
"…Either way—"
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"…This isn't over."
Inside the office—
The girl sat calmly.
Hands resting on her lap.
The principal continued speaking—
But she wasn't listening.
Not really.
Instead—
She smiled.
"…That was fun."
Her mismatched eyes glowed faintly.
"…Let's see what happens next."
Because being caught—
Was never the end of her plan.
It was just—
The beginning.
Hina's Perspective
The day should have ended normally.
It almost did.
The final bell rang, and with it came the familiar release of energy—students stretching, chatting, packing up their things as they prepared to leave.
But something still lingered.
The incident from earlier.
The vandal.
The strange girl with mismatched eyes.
"…It's been a weird day," Yuki said, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"…That's one way to put it," I replied.
Around us, conversations buzzed as students made their way toward the exit.
"Did you hear? They actually caught her!"
"Seriously? That fast?"
"Yeah, apparently Hanato was the one who found her."
I froze for a split second.
"…Of course he did," I muttered under my breath.
Yuki grinned.
"Wow, who knew he could be useful?"
"…Don't say that too loud. It might go to his head."
"Too late," a familiar voice cut in casually.
I turned.
Hanato stood a few steps behind us, hands in his pockets, looking completely unbothered.
"…You're annoying," I said flatly.
"And you're predictable," he replied.
Yuki looked between us, clearly enjoying the tension.
"…You two really don't get along, huh?"
"No."
"No."
We answered at the same time.
Then paused.
Then both looked away.
"…See?" Yuki said, laughing.
"…Not helping," I muttered.
We stepped out of the classroom and into the hallway, joining the steady flow of students heading toward the gates.
For a moment—
It felt normal.
Peaceful.
Like everything was finally settling down.
Then—
The light changed.
School Grounds – Dusk
"…Wait."
Someone stopped.
Then another.
And another.
I looked up.
The sky—
Was darkening.
Not naturally.
Not like sunset.
But like something was swallowing the light itself.
"…Ryuna," I whispered internally.
"…Yes."
Her voice was sharp now.
Alert.
"…That's not normal."
"I know."
Students began murmuring around us.
"What's happening?"
"Is that a storm?"
"No way, it wasn't in the forecast—"
The sunlight dimmed rapidly, shadows stretching unnaturally across the ground as the sky turned a deep, unnatural gray.
Then—
A sound.
Low.
Distorted.
Like something tearing through reality itself.
CRACK.
The air split.
Right above the school.
A jagged fracture appeared in the sky, pulsing with dark energy.
My breath caught.
"…It's here."
"Yes."
The crack widened—
Then burst open.
BOOM.
A massive figure dropped from the fracture, crashing into the center of the school grounds.
The impact shook the entire area.
Students screamed.
"RUN!"
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
The creature rose slowly from the crater.
Its body was twisted.
Malformed.
Covered in thick, dripping paint-like substances that shifted and pulsed like living liquid.
Bright colors—
Red.
Blue.
Yellow.
All swirling together into something unnatural.
Its arms stretched unnaturally long, dripping with viscous paint that hissed as it touched the ground.
Its face—
Barely human.
"…Another Vessel…" I whispered.
"Corrupted through creation," Ryuna said grimly.
"…Paint…"
The creature moved.
And wherever its paint splattered—
The ground warped.
Distorted.
Alive.
"…This is bad."
Hanato's Perspective
"…So it finally shows up."
I stood still for half a second.
Watching.
Analyzing.
The creature's body shifted constantly, colors blending and reforming as if it couldn't decide its own shape.
This is not like the previous one, Ryuhou noted.
"…Yeah."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"…This one's unstable."
Students ran past me in panic.
Teachers shouted orders.
Chaos spread instantly.
But my focus stayed on one thing.
The monster.
"…Guess we're doing this again."
Hina's Perspective
I turned sharply.
"…Yuki!"
She was frozen a few steps away, staring at the monster in shock.
"Move!" I grabbed her arm.
"R-Right!"
We ran.
With the crowd.
Away from the center.
But my mind was already elsewhere.
"…Ryuna."
"Yes."
"…I have to go."
"I know."
We reached the hallway entrance.
I let go of Yuki.
"…Go outside. Stay with the others."
"What about you?" she asked, panic in her voice.
"…I'll catch up."
"Hina—!"
But I was already moving.
Turning.
Running the other way.
Hanato's Perspective
Same idea.
Different direction.
I slipped away from the crowd, moving quickly but without drawing attention.
"…Bathroom."
Efficient.
"…Always is."
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Empty.
Good.
I locked the door behind me.
"…Let's go."
Hina's Perspective – Girls' Bathroom
The door slammed shut behind me.
Empty.
Silent.
My heart pounded in my chest.
"…No turning back."
Ryuna floated in front of me, her small form glowing faintly.
"You already decided that."
"…Yeah."
I closed my eyes.
Taking a deep breath.
"…Essence of Light…"
The warmth returned instantly.
"…Awaken."
Light exploded outward.
Filling the room.
Transforming everything.
Hanato's Perspective – Boys' Bathroom
I stood in front of the mirror.
My reflection stared back.
Calm.
Focused.
"…Round two."
Ryuhou hovered beside me.
"Do not hold back."
"I won't."
Darkness gathered.
"…Essence of Shadow…"
The air thickened.
"…Awaken."
Shadows consumed the room.
Transformation
Light and shadow surged simultaneously.
In separate places.
Unseen.
Unconnected.
Yet moving toward the same destination.
School Grounds – Moments Later
The monster roared.
Paint splattering across the ground, warping everything it touched.
Students had cleared the area.
But the destruction—
Was just beginning.
Then—
Two presences appeared.
One from light.
One from shadow.
Shina landed lightly on the cracked ground, her glowing white suit shimmering softly despite the darkened sky.
Hirito emerged from the shadows nearby, his dark form blending seamlessly with the surrounding gloom.
They didn't look at each other.
Didn't acknowledge each other.
But they stood—
On the same battlefield.
Once again.
The monster turned.
Sensing them.
Its distorted face twisted into something resembling a grin.
And then—
It attacked.
The battle had begun.