Homurahara Academy, inside the Year 1 Class C classroom.
Dappled sunlight spilled across the desks, and the chalk tapping against the chalkboard beat out a hypnotic rhythm.
For Sumire Kamado, this should have been an ordinary class.
But right now, every second was pure agony.
Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead; just staying awake took everything she had.
Her left hand remained hidden beneath her desk, her sleeve covering the rather unprofessionally wrapped bandages.
With every beat of her heart, she could feel a burning sensation radiating from the wound on the back of her hand.
That was the [Command Spell], the brand left behind by last night's nightmare.
Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the previous night.
Guided by the mysterious ghost named Asuka, she had stumbled out of the sewer and dazedly fled back to her neighborhood.
To avoid waking her mother, who was about to leave for her night shift, she had endured the agonizing pain all over her body and climbed up the drainage pipe to her second-floor window like a thief in the night.
The moment she tumbled into her room, she practically collapsed onto the floor.
She hadn't even dared to turn on the light, relying only on the moonlight outside to hastily treat her wound with the family's first-aid kit.
She had frantically shoved the blood-soaked towel deep under her bed, planning to find a chance to dispose of it the next day...
"...Sumire Kamado? Sumire Kamado?"
At the podium, Yamada, the biology teacher, pushed up his glasses and tapped the chalkboard lightly with his pointer, raising his voice.
"Ah! Yes!"
Sumire Kamado shot up from her seat, her sudden movement knocking over the pencil case on her desk.
The clattering noise drew the attention of the entire class, instantly dyeing her pale cheeks with a layer of red.
"You've been spacing out. Are you feeling unwell?" Mr. Yamada frowned, but upon seeing the dark circles under the girl's eyes and her frail complexion, his tone softened slightly. "Well, if you're not feeling well, you can go to the infirmary. But before that, try answering this question."
The teacher pointed to the notes on the chalkboard regarding genetics and lifespan.
"We are discussing the relationship between the limits of human lifespan and genetics. As a matter of general knowledge, does anyone know who the longest-living person in the country is, as certified by the Guinness World Records?"
"The longest-living person..."
Sumire Kamado's mind was still a bit foggy.
She tried to search her mental database, but under extreme exhaustion, her thoughts were like mush.
Just as she was stammering, unable to answer, a lazy voice quietly prompted her from the side.
"Ubuyashiki..."
It was her good friend, Akiyama.
Prompted by him, Sumire's mind jolted awake, and she quickly blurted out, "It's... Mr. Kiriya Ubuyashiki!"
"Correct." Mr. Yamada nodded in satisfaction and motioned for her to sit down. "Kiriya Ubuyashiki, as the longest-living male in the country right now, is an extremely rare case even on a global scale."
"This also indirectly proves that even if a family has a history of short-lived genetic diseases, vitality can still create miracles..."
Sumire Kamado let out a long sigh and slumped back into her chair.
At this very moment, in the corner of the classroom by the window, an entity that no one but Sumire could sense was floating in the air.
Asuka, in his spiritual body.
It was a strange state; his body felt like a mass of weightless mist, yet he retained his sight and hearing.
This was a necessary measure taken to conserve Sumire's pitifully low magical energy.
Asuka stared at the name on the chalkboard, murmuring inwardly, 'Kiriya?'
Of course he remembered that name.
The last time he saw Kiriya, he was just a little kid crying his eyes out, yet forcing himself to stay calm as he bowed to the Hashira one by one in farewell.
'I never would have thought...'
A rare, gentle curve appeared on Asuka's lips, and his invisible eyes softened.
'That little brat actually broke the curse and lived to this day?'
'Makes sense... Muzan is dead, so the curse naturally dissipated.'
It was a wondrous feeling.
Asuka looked at the modern city outside the window, watching these students in their uniforms, carefree and attentively listening in class, or passing notes, discussing gossip and games.
This was the future.
This was the future without evil demons that everyone had traded their lives for.
Although this world still had scum like Ryunosuke Uryu, and still had this baffling, cruel slaughter known as the Holy Grail War, it was at least much better than back then.
Probably.
"Good job," Asuka chuckled softly. The annoyance he felt from being forced into this inexplicable war actually dissipated quite a bit in this moment.
'Mr. Asuka?' Sumire called out cautiously in her mind.
'I am here.' Asuka reined in his thoughts, his voice returning to its usual flatness. 'What is it?'
'Um, you seem to be in a really good mood.'
'...I suppose. I just remembered something happy.' Asuka didn't elaborate further. 'More importantly, little one, focus on your breathing.'
'Eh?'
At that moment, Asuka felt as if he had turned into a strict instructor like Master Arisaki, floating gently to Sumire's side. 'Total Concentration・Constant. Did the Kamado family stop passing down this training? No wonder you're recovering so slowly after just being knocked out by some drugs.'
'Ah? What Constant... Dad... he only taught me how to breathe before...'
'No excuses,' Asuka interrupted her. 'From today on, no matter the situation, you cannot slack off on your Total Concentration Breathing training! I will be supervising you.'
'I have to use Total Concentration Breathing even when I sleep?!'
'That is a given.'
Sumire stuck out her tongue. Although she couldn't see Asuka's expression, she could imagine the cold-faced man crossing his arms and staring at her with utmost seriousness.
'Alright, I get it...'
She took a deep breath, adjusting the rise and fall of her chest to let oxygen circulate more efficiently through her blood, washing away her fatigue.
Although she didn't know what this so-called Holy Grail War was, nor what she would face next.
But since the wooden carving passed down from her great-grandfather had turned into this powerful ghost guardian, she had to work hard too.
The school dismissal bell finally rang.
For Sumire Kamado, this day had felt longer than a year.
She declined her friends' invitation to sing karaoke, using her poor health as an excuse, and hurriedly packed her bag to head home.
Right now, she just wanted to rush back to her small but safe home and get a good sleep.
And then discuss this whole Servant and Master business with Mr. Asuka.
'Hey, kid.'
Just as she walked out of the school building, Asuka's voice suddenly grew alert.
'What is it! What's wrong! Is there an enemy?!' Sumire instantly tensed up, the Command Spell on the back of her hand growing faintly hot.
'No, not an enemy... but a very strong emotional fluctuation is approaching.' Asuka paused. 'And it's right at the school gate.'
Sumire looked up in confusion toward the school gate.
The next second, her footsteps froze.
Standing at the grand entrance of Homurahara Academy was a middle-aged woman.
"Sumire!"
The woman was wearing a grayish-blue work uniform—the uniform of a logistics and transportation company in Fuyuki City—with the cuffs and collar worn slightly white.
Although she was past forty, the elegant contours of her youth were still faintly visible.
Especially those large eyes, which were practically carved from the same mold as Sumire's.
The only peculiar thing was that her right eye seemed a bit unusual.
There was a fine silver-pink ring around the edge of her pupil, making her eye look as if it were covered by a layer of mist.
That was her mother, Haruri Kamado.