Chiba Academy – Lunchtime
"You two go ahead. I've got something to take care of," Kouga said casually, slipping his hands into his pockets.
Mei paused, worry flickering in her eyes. "Are you sure? We can wait for you."
Kiana didn't even bother looking at him, already climbing the stairs two steps at a time. "What's there to worry about? He can handle himself."
Kouga let out a small sigh at her stubbornness, then turned back to Mei with a reassuring grin. "I'll be right behind you. Promise."
Mei's lips parted like she wanted to argue, but she caught the look in his eyes. After a moment, she nodded. "Don't make me wait too long, Kouga-kun."
"I wouldn't dare," he said lightly, though his gaze sharpened the second she turned away.
Second Floor – Stairwell
"Kiana-chan!"
Kiana skidded to a stop halfway up the stairs and looked back, grinning when she saw Mei hurrying to catch up. "There you are!"
Mei reached her, panting softly. "I told you, I'm not racing you again. You nearly fell last time."
Kiana smirked. "Aw, c'mon, Mei-senpai. First one to the roof gets Kouga's lunch."
"Lunch isn't something to gamble with," Mei replied, shaking her head, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Fine, fine. Let's just eat before the bell rings again," Kiana laughed, turning back toward the stairs.
But before either of them could move, a sharp electronic ring cut through the hall. The sound came from Kiana's bag.
Her entire body went still. Slowly, she pulled it off her shoulder and dug through it until she produced an old, gray flip phone. The screen glowed with a distorted light, glitching faintly.
Kiana's expression hardened instantly.
"What is it?" Mei asked.
"I've gotta take this," Kiana muttered, already turning away.
"Wait—" Mei started, but the girl was already gone, vanishing down the corridor with surprising urgency.
Left alone, Mei suddenly felt dozens of eyes on her — the same eyes that used to ignore her, now sharp and cutting. Without Kouga or Kiana at her side, that old hostility was back. She hugged her bag tighter and hurried up the stairs.
First Floor – Bathroom
Cold water dripped from Kouga's face as he leaned against the sink. He exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the lingering memory of last night's "meal."
That girl's cooking really is lethal, he thought with a chill. I might've actually used immortality just to survive it.
The ground suddenly rumbled.
Kouga's head snapped up, hand bracing against the mirror as the tremor shook the walls. Then another hit — harder, violent — throwing him off balance and slamming him to the tile floor.
He pushed himself up, but froze when an eerie purple light began seeping beneath the doorframe, spreading like veins through the tiles. The entire bathroom glowed as if it were submerged in some otherworldly aura.
Library – Rear Corner
Kiana ducked behind a tall bookshelf, flipping open the ancient flip phone with a snap. The screen fuzzed before a line of text scrawled across it:
[Honkai Surge Detected – Location: Chiba District]
Her jaw tightened. "A Honkai outbreak? Here?"
She smacked the side of the phone, even hit it against her palm, but the screen only flickered before going dark. "Figures. Dad had to give me junk tech."
Cursing under her breath, she shoved it back into her bag — then a massive purple blast erupted across the city. From its core, a wave of energy spread like a dome, crushing streets, flipping cars, and swallowing everything in its path.
"Oh, crap."
The explosion's echo slammed into the library, rattling shelves and sending books crashing to the floor. Students screamed and ducked for cover.
Blinding purple light swallowed the school.
When it faded, the library was filled with stunned silence. Some students just trembled, clutching at their desks. But others… too many others… were already changing. Their skin pale, eyes hollow, movements sluggish.
Signs of infection.
The Honkai had reached them.
A Few Minutes Earlier – Chiba Academy Rooftop
Mei burst through the rooftop door, slamming it shut and throwing her weight against the steel frame. Thuds rattled it from the other side — fists, bags, maybe even chairs smashing against the barrier.
Then, silence.
Her breathing came in ragged gasps as she peeled herself away from the door. Her arms were already marked with fresh bruises from books, bottles, anything the others could hurl at her.
Without Kouga-kun or Kiana-chan here… they didn't even hesitate.
She sighed shakily, forcing herself to cross the rooftop. Sitting down near the edge, she hugged her knees close.
"It's okay," she whispered to herself. "Kouga-kun and Kiana-chan will be here soon. Everything's going to be fine."
A voice cut through the breeze."Still talking to yourself, Mei-chan?"
Mei stiffened and twisted around.
It was Akane — the leader of the trio of girls who always sneered at Kouga when she spoke to him. A classmate who had once extended friendship, only to turn away like the rest.
"...It's been a while, Akane-san," Mei said quietly, her tone steady even as nerves clawed at her.
Akane gave a shrug, casual, almost playful. "Guess it has. Looks like you're all alone today. No knight in shining armor to hide behind."
"Kouga-kun had something to take care of. He'll be here soon," Mei replied, trying to inject calm into her voice.
But the way Akane stood there — too relaxed, too deliberate — set every alarm off in Mei's head.
"Why are you really here?" she asked.
For a moment Akane didn't answer. She just gazed out at the city, hair whipping in the rooftop breeze. Then, slowly, she reached beneath her jacket.
And pulled out a pistol.
Mei froze.
"I was paid to kill you," Akane said simply, as if she were announcing homework. "Turns out being the daughter of a criminal comes with perks. Someone really wants you gone."
Mei stumbled back until her heel scraped the rooftop edge. "W-Why would you—?"
"Because the money was insane," Akane replied with a smirk, leveling the gun. "And I get to erase the last trace of a disgrace. Win-win, really."
The cold steel of the barrel pressed against Mei's forehead. Her body locked. Tears spilled down her cheeks as her mind screamed for escape.
She thought of her father, shackled and taken away.She thought of Kouga, always standing in front of her.She thought of Kiana, who refused to let her cry alone.
Then—
The pressure vanished. Mei gasped as Akane stumbled back, a metallic clang echoing across the rooftop.
Two small mechanical shapes had slammed into her — a bird and a grasshopper, their frames glinting under the sun. The Takacandroid. The Battacandroid.
"Seriously?" Akane hissed, shielding her face as the drones dove again.
Mei's mind reeled, but instinct screamed run. She bolted — only to be caught mid-stride.
Akane's kick crashed into her ribs, flinging her into the wall. Pain exploded in her skull as she struck concrete, blood smearing down her temple. Her vision blurred. She slumped, dazed, as Akane raised the gun once more.
The candroids intercepted, wings and steel bodies knocking the bullet off course with a burst of sparks.
Mei blinked, vision dimming. And then — the world shifted.
Her own shadow rose against the wall. From it stepped a figure that mirrored her form, outlined with glowing violet circuitry. Its eyes locked with hers, calm yet piercing.
"Tired of being their victim, Mei?"
Her lips parted, but no sound came. Her thoughts, though, thundered: No. It's not fair. None of this is fair.
The specter tilted its head. "The world took your father. Your peace. Now it wants your life. And they call that justice?"
Mei's body trembled. She didn't want this life — to be hated, hunted. She just wanted to live.
"I can give you strength," the being whispered. "Enough to rewrite it all. To take back what was stolen. To never be alone again."
Images flashed in her mind — her father home again. Kouga smiling, unburdened. Kiana laughing, without fear.
The specter extended its hand. "All you need to do… is reach for me."
Mei didn't hesitate. She seized it.
"Then rise, Raiden Mei," the voice thundered, "as the Herrscher of Thunder."
The rooftop detonated in blinding violet light.