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Long ago, a great war broke out between humans and demons.
People feared the demons, calling them cursed beings — those who brought misfortune wherever they went.
As time passed, the war faded into legend.
It was said that somewhere in the world existed ten mystical orbs, known as the Ka Balls.
Whoever gathered all ten could have any wish granted — no matter how impossible.
But there was a warning in the tale:
> "If a demon gathers the ten Ka Balls, that demon shall be reborn as the Demon King — the ruler of calamity."
Some demons fell from the sky.
Some took the form of beasts.
Others disguised themselves as humans.
Thus, the Demon Hunters were born — warriors who vowed to track down those cursed with bad luck before disaster could spread.
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A Peaceful Dream
A boy with messy black hair slept quietly in his room. His name was Kirota Akamura.
In his dream, he was a child again, running across a sunny field with his friends. Laughter echoed through the wind until they stopped beneath a tall tree.
One girl lowered her head sadly.
"What's wrong?" Kirota asked softly.
"I'm just… scared," she said. "When we go to high school, what if we're not together anymore?"
Everyone went silent for a moment. Then one boy smiled.
"Then let's make a promise! No matter what happens, we'll always be friends!"
Their pinkies linked beneath the sunlight.
"Promise!"
---
The First Morning
Beep-beep-beep!
Kirota groaned and rolled over. "Ugh… who set that alarm?"
He rubbed his eyes and looked around his messy room — clothes everywhere, piles of manga and DVDs on the floor.
Then his phone started ringing.
"Who's calling this early?" he muttered, picking it up. "Hello?"
A loud voice nearly blew his eardrum.
> "Really, Kirota?! You don't even know your own sister's number?!"
He pulled the phone away. "Oh… so you're the one who set the alarm."
"Of course I did!" she said proudly.
"And why would you do that?"
"Don't tell me you forgot — it's your first day of high school, idiot!"
Kirota froze. "Wait… what?!" He glanced at the calendar. "Oh no…"
"I'm totally serious! If you're not dressed in five minutes, I'll come there and kick your lazy butt! Bye!"
The call ended.
Kirota sighed deeply. "What a great start…"
He opened his closet and found his neatly ironed black school uniform.
"My sister even ironed my clothes… thanks, I guess."
He dressed quickly, checked the mirror, and frowned at his wild hair.
"Well… good enough."
As he turned to leave, his foot hit a pile of manga.
Thud!
"Ow… just my luck," he groaned, standing up again.
---
Bad Luck on the Way
In the kitchen, he spotted a lunchbox on the counter beside a family photo.
He picked it up. Half of the picture was torn away.
He stared at it for a moment, then sighed and walked out the door.
Outside, the street buzzed with morning noise.
A police car sped by, sirens wailing.
Then — SPLASH!
A passing truck hit a puddle, drenching him from head to toe.
"You've gotta be kidding me! Sis just ironed this! She's gonna kill me!"
He groaned, checked the time, and ran toward the school.
The front gate was closing fast.
"Wait, wait, wait!"
He barely squeezed through — only for his sleeve to get caught.
"Come on, not now!" Riiip.
He looked down at the torn fabric.
"Unbelievable…"
---
School Disaster
Kirota finally reached his classroom.
The teacher frowned. "Late on your first day, Akamura? Really?"
Kirota scratched his head and gave a weak smile as the class laughed.
A girl whispered, "Look at his hair."
"Take your seat," the teacher sighed.
Kirota sat down — CRACK! — and the desk broke under him.
The entire class burst out laughing.
"Maybe you're too heavy!" one boy joked.
Kirota stood slowly, muttering, "I hate my life…"
He moved to the back of the room, sitting beside a quiet girl with long black hair and calm, cold eyes. She didn't look up — just kept reading her book.
---
A Quiet Genius
Time passed. The teacher turned to the board.
"Alright, who can solve this equation?"
His gaze landed on Kirota.
"You, the sleepyhead in the back."
A piece of chalk hit Kirota's desk.
"Eh? Me?" He stood up, staring blankly at the numbers.
"I, uh… can't—"
Before he could finish, the black-haired girl beside him stood, walked to the board, and solved it flawlessly.
The class clapped.
"As expected from the Hokari family," the teacher said proudly. "Take your seat, Akamura."
Kirota sighed and sat down.
When the bell rang, everyone rushed out.
He turned to her. "Hey, uh… thanks for saving me there, Miss…"
She packed her bag. "Suzuka Hokari. And don't thank me — I just didn't want to wait."
Then she left, calm and cold.
Kirota slumped in his chair. "Even when I say thanks, I get rejected…"
---
The Fall of the Ka Ball
Later that day, Kirota lay under a tree, staring at the clouds.
That same dream replayed — the pinky promise beneath the tree.
He woke with a start. "Why do I keep dreaming about that?"
He yawned — and then frowned.
Something dark was falling from the sky.
"What the…?"
A black orb crashed into the schoolyard, shaking the ground. Dust and wind exploded outward.
Kirota shielded his face. "What is that?!"
The orb cracked open — and a giant, bear-shaped monster crawled out, roaring in fury.
Screams filled the air as students fled.
Kirota froze. "Of course. My bad luck strikes again…"
He spotted Suzuka standing still, staring as the demon smashed through a wall.
"Hey! Move!"
He sprinted forward and shoved her aside just as the wall collapsed.
"You okay?" he panted.
She brushed dust off her uniform. "I didn't ask for your help."
"Yeah, well… I didn't plan to need medical treatment either," he muttered.
She narrowed her eyes at the monster. "That's a demon. It took the form of an animal."
"A… demon?"
She reached into her bag and pulled out a white fox mask.
When she placed it on her face, a glowing sword appeared in midair, floating before her hand.
She grasped it tightly.
Kirota blinked. "What the hell are you?!"
"You can call me… a Demon Hunter," she said, leaping into battle.
With one swift slash, she severed the demon's arm. It roared in pain.
"Too easy," she said — right before the creature slammed her through two walls.
"Suzuka!" Kirota ran forward, shielding her as the beast charged again.
The impact threw him backward, pain shooting through his body.
"Thanks…" she whispered weakly, pushing him aside.
She raised her sword, energy flaring — and cleaved the monster in half with a single strike.
Kirota collapsed, exhausted. "Not even a thank-you, huh…" he mumbled before passing out.
Suzuka approached slowly. "So weak…" she murmured — then froze.
Before her eyes, Kirota's wounds were closing, the blood fading as if time itself were reversing.
Her eyes widened.
> "What… are you?"
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To be continued…
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