A long silence stretched after Kojiro's words. The humid, musty air of the Hollow District rolled in, a heavy, stagnant air that carried the stench of ash and rotten earth. No one moved at first, just staring at the ruined town in front of them.
Kojiro stood in front of the gate, his arms folded, his grin as wide and sharp as ever.
"This place is where Yurei gather," he announced, his voice cutting through the unease like the blade he always carried. "Where they breed and linger. Think of it as a cesspool of these little fuckers. Some of you guys are probably scared stiff right now, like a deer in headlights. But remember, this is what you're here to fight."
A ripple of whispers ran among the little crowd that was Class 1-F. Daiki felt his stomach twist. Everything around them looked abandoned, buildings slouched against one another, blackened windows, dried-up stains that came from places Daiki didn't want to think about, lying on walls.
It was like staring into a place the world had purposely forgotten.
Kojiro clapped his hands once. "You all will be moving in pairs. Watch each other's backs, and don't get too careless. You'll only go as far as I say." His eyes scanned the class, sharp and predatory. "You could call this your first taste of real experience."
Kojiro pulled a small talisman from his sleeve. It flickered, projecting faint holographic shapes in the air, silhouettes of Yurei.
"Yurei come in ranks called Classes! Each rank tells you exactly how dangerous a Yurei is. It helps people like me tell how screwed people like you are."
A couple of nervous laughs followed. A teeth-bearing grin popped on Kojiro's face.
"At the bottom, you've got Class I. Most of the runts you'll find in this place belong in this rank. Think of them as newborns. Good for warmups, bad for bragging rights. If one of these things gets you, you're better off staying dead."
He paced, voice rising with each rank.
"Next, you got Class II. They're like lion cubs. They're small, but vicious and unpredictable. They can and will tear through you lambs if you get too cocky. There's probably a couple of these guys in this place."
He unsheathed his blade, slicing the air for emphasis. "Class III is when you start to meet some lions. They've got form, control, and even personality. Some can even talk. These guys fight with intent, and they like playing with their food. None of you lambs could even fathom defeating a Class III Yurei, at least not yet. Luckily for you, they don't really come around these parts."
Kojiro's grin grew even wider. "Class IV? These Yurei are... nightmare fuel with legs. The ones that require squads to take down. They can outthink, outrun, and will eat you up without hesitation."
"And then there's Class V...." He paused, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "These are the guys your ancestors wrote folklore about. They can end cities and cause local disasters. If you're ever unlucky enough to meet one, don't fight, just run."
He spun his sword once before sheathing it with a satisfied click. "There! Lesson over. Yurei 101. You all just graduated from 'clueless prey' to 'slightly less clueless prey'. Congratulations."
Daiki looked around along with other students, uncertain whether to laugh or shiver. Kojiro smirked, clearly satisfied.
"Good. You're learning the first lesson of survival. If you're scared, it means you were paying attention."
Daiki turned his head to glance toward the dark stretch of broken streets beyond the gate. The Hollow District. Even from over here, he could feel it. A pressure in the air, as if the place itself was watching. His fingers twitched against his thigh. He hated that feeling.
It was the same one from that night.
Kojiro clapped his hands once, snapping Daiki's attention back. "Now! That's enough actual education, I'm getting bored. It's time to get in your pairs." With that, Kojiro began to pair up students. His eyes swept the students like a hawk circling prey.
Eventually, he pointed at Daiki.
"Fushino, you're with Tsukiko."
Daiki blinked, trying to remember that name. It was Yui, right? He turned, spotting Yui step forward from the line of students. Her dark black hair swayed as she moved, her eyes calm yet carrying something unreadable. At first, she wasn't looking at him, but at the ground instead.
Then their gazes met, and Daiki's stomach dropped.
That night. The storm. The Yurei.
He knew her.