"Kojo."
"Huh? Sensei? You came too?"
At lunch break, Shichen brought Yukina and the others to the station.
Asagi's group was already there.
"What, I'm not welcome?" Shichen asked with a smile.
"No, just surprised," Akatsuki Kojō said quickly, then glanced past Shichen at his little sister.
"I was just a bit bored, so I came along with Nagisa to greet your friend."
"Hehe~ thanks, Sensei!" Akatsuki Nagisa said, delighted.
"Nagisa…" Kojō pulled a complicated face.
He knew his sister liked Sensei—at home she talked about him nonstop. It made him miserable—and he couldn't do anything about it.
"Sensei, want some water?" Asagi came over with a bottle.
"Perfect, I was thirsty." Shichen took the half-full bottle from her and took a couple of big swigs.
Off to the side, Yukina watched silently. She hadn't needed to come, but if Shichen was coming, his monitor couldn't exactly stay behind. And during a festival the station was the likeliest place for trouble—no telling who might show up.
"Crowded today," Shichen said, handing the bottle back to Asagi. The station was packed—mostly visitors coming to Itogami for the festivities.
"I'd heard about this festival, but I didn't expect it to be this big," Yukina said.
"You only arrived recently," Shichen said with a grin, then explained: "It's huge. Every company on the island takes time off, and this window is the easiest time to get permission to visit. That's why tourists pour in."
The festival was the the biggest annual celebration in Itogami City. Fireworks, outdoor concerts, costume parades—everything ran across the whole week, the whole island celebrating together. Visitor numbers topped 120,000—small only because the island's far from mainland Japan. For here, it was massive.
Since Itogami is a demon special zone, it normally doesn't accept visitors beyond corporate and research staff and their families. Tourists, journalists—forget it. For people wanting to do business here, the festival week was the best chance to enter openly.
For days now, ads around the city had been wall-to-wall promos, TV stations airing specials, themed product commercials blasting everywhere. The whole island was buzzing.
"This festival's based on Halloween, right?" La Folia asked.
"Mm," Shichen nodded. He'd been through it before—today was wilder than ever. And with this many people, it was hot. He'd almost skipped it.
"Why Halloween?" La Folia pressed.
Itogami was an artificial island—no indigenous traditions. But to give residents entertainment and a sense of season, festivals are effective. So, as part of civic services, the island's administration modeled the Festival on Halloween.
"I think it's because Halloween originated as an exorcism rite—fits a demon special zone," Yukina said seriously.
"That… does make sense," La Folia agreed.
"As expected of Yukina—so knowledgeable," Sayaka added, quick to praise.
Yukina ignored her and continued: "In ancient Celtic belief, at the start of winter the passage between this world and the spirit world opens, letting spirits and witches flood in. To protect themselves from these beings, people wore masks and lit bonfires—that's said to be Halloween's origin."
"I see." Shichen nodded.
"Sensei, you didn't know that?"
"How would I? Don't forget I wasn't originally from Itogami."
"Right, I forgot."
"Still—Yukina knows a lot," Shichen said, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
"Sensei…" She tried to keep a straight face, clearly enjoying it.
"So the costumes and pumpkin lore just descended from that?" La Folia asked.
"Yes. And the legends aren't baseless—the space-time continuum really is unstable this time of year. There are even reports in the past of people encountering visitors from alternate timelines and uninvited beings from other realms," Yukina said, still under his hand.
"Space-time instability, huh…" Shichen mused. He had a faint memory of something due to happen soon. Maybe it was time to let Nayue loose.
"Onii-chan, what's wrong?" Kanon asked.
"Nothing… So, Kojo—when is your friend arriving?" Shichen asked.
"Any minute…"
"Kojo—!" Before he could finish, a voice rang out from above.
A clear, androgynous voice carried across the crowded arrivals hall; people looked up to see a figure vaulting off a railing. The owner of the voice had hopped out over the stair rail and jumped toward them—a bright, lively-looking girl.
She landed smoothly, revealing a short bob with curled tips, a hooded tunic up top and shorts below, showing off long, slim legs and a pair of chunky basketball shoes that somehow worked with her slender calves.
"Eh?"
Kojō stared, stunned for a moment. "Yu… Yūma?"
"It's me~ Long time no see. Looks like you're doing fine, Kojo," the girl—Yūma—replied with a squinting smile.
Kojō grimaced. "What are you doing? You almost gave me a heart attack… you're still as reckless as ever."
"Hehe~" Yūma stuck out her tongue sheepishly, only now realizing she'd made herself the center of attention.
"Yuu!" Nagisa ran over, thrilled, and hugged her.
"Nagisa? You've turned into a real beauty—I hardly recognized you~" Yūma laughed, hugging her back.
"As if—didn't I send you photos?"
"Sure, but the real thing's even better."
"Stop…" Nagisa flushed and couldn't help sneaking a glance at Shichen.
"Hm?" Yūma noticed and looked too.
"Yūma, let me introduce you. This is our Sensei, Shichen, and the others are his students and… friends," Nagisa said quickly.
"A Sensei, huh—and that handsome."
"Right, right?" Nagisa beamed, oddly proud.
"But why are there so many girls?"
"Um…" Nagisa had no answer.
"Any of them close to you, Kojo?" Yūma teased.
"No…"
"Haha~" Yūma burst out laughing.
"What? What's that supposed to mean?" Kojo grumbled.
"Nothing… Just—classic Kojo."
"What do you mean classic!"
"What is this? What's going on?" Yase Motoki said, sounding rattled.
"What's up?" Shichen asked.
"Why is the friend Kojo mentioned a girl—and such a cute one?" Motoki was crushed.
"He didn't tell you?"
"No! Now I'm the only one without a date? Unbelievable!"
"…My condolences. Keep at it," Shichen said, patting his shoulder.
"Don't pity me, Sensei!"
"…Suit yourself."
"Sensei, can we go?" Yukina asked.
La Folia and the others looked to him too—none of them were particularly interested in Yūma.
"Right… Kojo, go have fun with your girlfriend. We'll get going."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Kojo shot back, face red.
"Hehe~" Shichen chuckled and led everyone out of the station.
"Seriously, Sensei—don't say stuff like that," Kojo muttered, mortified.
"Kojo's still easy to tease," Yūma said, but her eyes stayed on Shichen's back until he disappeared from sight.
~~~
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