Night hung heavy over Tokyo, but one street burned with chaos.
A storefront window exploded outward as a massive shadow slammed into the pavement. Cars screeched to a halt. Neon lights flickered violently. People ran in every direction.
At the center of the destruction stood a creature born from malice.
A Poltergeist.
Its twisted form crawled across the asphalt like living smoke, claws scraping the ground as it howled with a voice that sounded like breaking glass.
And standing in its path—
Serena.
Her school jacket fluttered behind her as she gripped her red spirit dagger tightly.
"Finally…" she muttered under her breath. "My first real fight."
The creature lunged.
Serena dashed forward instead of back.
Steel flashed as her blade ignited with faint red energy.
"HYAH!"
Her strike carved through the monster's arm. Dark spirit particles burst into the air like embers.
The Poltergeist shrieked and swung wildly, smashing a streetlight beside her.
Serena rolled across the pavement and sprang back to her feet.
This is it. This is what Geists do.
Another leap.
Another strike.
Her blade pierced the creature's core.
For a moment the world fell silent.
Then the Poltergeist shattered into drifting fragments of light that vanished into the night wind.
Serena stood alone in the empty street, breathing hard.
Sirens were already approaching in the distance.
Her face lit up with pride.
"I did it…"
Then her expression changed instantly.
"Oh crap."
If the official Geist patrol arrived and saw her here, she'd be grounded for the rest of her life.
She sprinted down the alley, scaling a fire escape and leaping onto the rooftops.
Tokyo stretched endlessly beneath the moon as Serena hopped across buildings like she had done a hundred secret nights before.
Easy, she thought. In and out. No one saw me.
She reached the roof of her apartment building and crouched near the edge.
One jump down to her bedroom balcony and—
A hand shot out of the darkness and grabbed her hand mid-leap.
Serena yelped as she was yanked back onto the roof.
"OW—HEY—!"
She froze.
Standing behind her was a tall man with folded arms and a face carved from pure disappointment.
Her father.
"Serena."
Her stomach dropped.
"H-hi… Dad…"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"You want to explain why my sixteen-year-old daughter was just fighting a Poltergeist three districts away?"
Serena crossed her arms stubbornly.
"I had it under control!"
"That isn't the point!"
His voice thundered across the rooftop.
"You are not a Geist yet!"
Serena glared right back at him.
"Because you won't let me be one!"
"You're not ready."
"Yes I am!"
"You're reckless."
"I defeated it!"
"You disobeyed me!"
Serena clenched her fists.
"I'm strong enough to take care of myself!"
Her father sighed deeply, rubbing his temples.
"You will not become a Geist until you're older… settled… and married."
Serena stared at him like he had just suggested she live on Mars.
"MARRIED?!"
"Correct."
"That's ridiculous!"
Before the argument could explode further—
A sudden whoosh of air landed beside them.
Another man dropped onto the rooftop with casual grace.
"Well," he said with a smirk, "sounds like I arrived at the perfect moment."
Serena turned.
"Uncle Alumna?"
Her father groaned immediately.
"Oh no."
Alumna brushed imaginary dust off his coat, clearly amused.
"I couldn't help overhearing your little debate."
Serena crossed her arms.
"If you're here to side with him—"
"Oh, not at all."
Alumna's grin widened.
"In fact, I think I have a solution."
Both of them looked at him.
"What solution?" Serena's father asked cautiously.
Alumna clasped his hands behind his back.
"My nephew is arriving in Japan tomorrow."
Serena blinked.
"...So?"
"He just turned sixteen."
Her father narrowed his eyes.
"…Alumna."
"And," Alumna continued cheerfully, "he needs someone to help introduce him to the Geist world."
Serena suddenly had a terrible feeling.
Alumna looked straight at her.
"So I was thinking…"
His grin turned mischievous.
"Why don't we solve both problems at once?"
Serena's father slowly turned toward her.
Serena pointed at herself in disbelief.
"…Wait."
Alumna nodded happily.
"Yes."
"Absolutely not."
Serena yelled
"Oh I think it's perfect."
Her father replied.
Serena's eye twitched.
"…What are you talking about?"
Alumna chuckled.
"My nephew's name is Yuma."
And tomorrow—
Her life was about to become a lot more complicated.