My name is Hina Hanzaki.
If you asked anyone who knew me, they would probably say I live a perfectly normal life.
I go to school.I study hard.I stay out of trouble.
Simple.
At least… that's what it looks like from the outside.
The truth is a little different.
Because my mother has a very specific idea of what I should be.
Perfect.
Perfect grades.Perfect manners.Perfect reputation.
Anything less than that is unacceptable.
"HINA! ARE YOU STILL SLEEPING?!"
My mother's voice cut through the house like an alarm siren.
I groaned and rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. After a moment, I forced one eye open and looked toward the clock sitting beside my bed.
5:30 AM.
Too early.
Way too early.
School didn't start until eight.
But in my house, being late wasn't simply discouraged.
It was a disaster.
"I'm up!" I shouted back.
Reluctantly, I pushed myself out of bed and stretched my arms, trying to shake away the last bits of sleep. Pale morning light slipped through the curtains, painting faint stripes across the floor of my room.
Today was my first day of high school.
For most people, that would probably feel exciting.
New school.New classmates.A fresh start.
For me?
It mostly meant more expectations.
After a quick shower, I changed into my school uniform—a black sailor-style blouse paired with a pleated skirt, the red ribbon at the collar tied neatly in place.
I paused in front of the mirror.
Hair brushed.
Uniform straight.
No wrinkles.
Everything exactly how it should be.
Good enough.
Downstairs, the kitchen smelled faintly of toast and coffee.
My mother stood by the stove, already dressed for work, flipping an egg in the pan with precise movements.
She glanced at me the moment I stepped inside.
"You're cutting it close."
"It's only six," I replied, taking my seat at the table.
"Early habits build discipline," she said firmly.
I nodded silently and began eating.
Arguing was pointless.
Breakfast passed in quiet routine. The only sounds were the ticking of the kitchen clock and the occasional clink of utensils against plates.
Eventually I finished eating and slung my school bag over my shoulder.
"I'm leaving."
Just before I stepped outside, my mother spoke again.
"Remember," she said, not looking up from the counter, "first impressions matter."
"I know."
I stepped out the door.
The moment it closed behind me, the tension in my shoulders eased slightly.
The morning air was cool and fresh as I stepped onto the quiet street. Most houses were still dark, their windows reflecting the soft orange glow of sunrise.
For a moment, everything felt peaceful.
I started walking toward school.
About ten minutes later, I heard someone calling my name.
"Hina!"
I turned to see Yuki Shinazaki running toward me, waving enthusiastically.
My best friend since elementary school.
She slowed to a jog once she caught up beside me.
"Good morning!" she said cheerfully.
"Morning."
She studied my face for a moment.
"You look nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
She smirked.
"Sure you're not."
We continued walking toward the station together.
"New school, new classes…" Yuki said, stretching her arms. "This is exciting!"
"If you say so."
She bumped my shoulder playfully.
"Oh come on, Hina. Maybe you'll meet someone interesting."
"I doubt it."
And honestly, I preferred things that way.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
Predictable.
Unfortunately…
My life was about to become none of those things.
As we walked past a narrow street lined with small shops, something caught my attention.
A small antique store sat quietly between two larger buildings.
I frowned slightly.
I had passed this street dozens of times before.
But somehow…
I had never noticed that shop.
The wooden sign above the door was faded with age, its paint chipped and worn. Through the front window I could see strange objects displayed inside—old lanterns, dusty books, and antiques that looked far older than the rest of the neighborhood.
Something about the place felt… out of place.
"Hey, Yuki," I said. "Has that shop always been there?"
She looked over.
"Huh?"
Her eyes scanned the street.
"What shop?"
I pointed.
"The antique store."
But Yuki only frowned.
"I don't see anything."
I blinked.
"What?"
She looked at me like I had just said something weird.
"Hina… there's nothing there."
I looked back again.
The shop was still there.
Exactly where I had seen it.
Weird.
Maybe she just wasn't paying attention.
Still…
Something about it gave me a strange feeling.
Inside the shop, an elderly man stood quietly near the window.
His long gray hair fell loosely over his shoulders, and deep lines marked the corners of his eyes.
He watched the two girls walking down the street.
Beside him floated two small creatures, each no larger than a cat.
One was white with bright blue eyes.
The other was black with deep crimson ones.
The old man sighed softly.
"So… it has finally begun."
The white creature fluttered closer.
"Master… did you feel it too?"
The old man nodded slowly.
"A dark presence has appeared."
The black creature lowered its head.
"It feels… familiar."
The old man closed his eyes for a moment.
Yes.
He knew that presence.
And it worried him more than anything else.
For two hundred years he had waited.
Two centuries protecting what remained of a forgotten duty.
Two centuries hoping this day would never come.
But now…
Something terrible had awakened.
The white creature looked toward the street.
"What will you do?"
The old man's gaze followed the two girls as they walked away.
He focused on one of them.
Hina Hanzaki.
For the briefest moment, the air around her shimmered faintly.
A soft glow—so subtle that no ordinary human could ever notice it.
But he could.
And so could the creatures beside him.
The black one spoke quietly.
"...Is it her?"
The old man remained silent for a long moment.
Finally, he exhaled.
"Perhaps."
The white creature looked uneasy.
"But she's just a child."
The old man nodded.
"I know."
He turned away from the window.
"But fate rarely asks for permission."
Outside, I shivered slightly.
"Did it just get colder?" I muttered.
Yuki looked confused.
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing."
I shook my head and kept walking.
Probably just my imagination.
After all…
Today was only the first day of school.
There was no reason to think anything strange would happen.
But somewhere in the city…
Something had already begun to move.
And before this day ended…
My perfectly ordinary life was about to change forever.
A short while later, the gates of Hazuki High School came into view.
The campus was enormous compared to our old middle school. Several tall buildings surrounded a large courtyard where students were already gathering.
"Wow…" Yuki whispered.
"This place is huge."
We followed the other students toward the locker room.
Metal lockers lined the walls from end to end, and the room buzzed with excited chatter.
I found my locker number and set my bag down.
"See you in class," Yuki said before heading to her own locker.
"Yeah."
I grabbed the handle and pulled the locker door open.
And immediately—
FWOOOSH!
Something shot out like a cannon.
A cold, sticky explosion splattered across my face.
For a moment…
Everything went silent.
Strawberry jam.
Whipped cream.
A crushed pie tin slowly slid down my uniform.
The locker room erupted with laughter.
"Oh my—"
"Did someone prank her?"
I wiped the cream from my eyes.
And slowly turned around.
Across the room stood Hanato Hamagi.
Blue hair.
That stupid grin.
And currently laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
Our eyes met.
His grin widened.
"Wow," he said."Looks like our princess got creampied on the first day."
My face burned.
Not from embarrassment.
From anger.
Before I could stop myself—
BAM.
My fist connected with his cheek.
The entire locker room froze.
Hanato stumbled backward, clutching his face.
"...Ow."
Yuki immediately grabbed my arm.
"Bathroom. Now."
She dragged me away while stunned students stared after us.
Someone whispered behind us.
"...Note to self. Don't mess with her."
A few minutes later, after cleaning up in the bathroom, we hurried to class.
At 8:00 sharp, our teacher finished attendance.
Then he clapped his hands.
"Everyone line up. We're heading to the gym for the opening assembly."
Hundreds of students gathered inside the massive gymnasium.
Yuki leaned toward me.
"So far, first day isn't too bad."
"I got hit with a pie."
"You also knocked out Hanato."
"...Fair point."
As the assembly prepared to begin, I glanced toward the windows.
And froze.
Across the courtyard, beneath a tree…
The same old man from the antique shop stood watching me.
For a moment, the noise of the gym seemed to fade away.
Then a teacher's voice echoed across the room.
"Everyone quiet down!"
When I looked back toward the window—
The old man was gone.
"...Weird," I murmured.
"Hina?" Yuki asked.
"You zoned out."
"Oh."
I shook my head.
"It was nothing."
But somehow…
I couldn't shake the feeling that today was only the beginning.