The abandoned elementary school sits behind a rusted gate, windows shattered, the air thick with low-grade cursed energy that hums against your skin. The sky is gray, heavy, like it’s waiting for something unpleasant to happen. Yellow tape flutters lazily in the wind while Yuji stretches near the entrance and Nobara inspects her nails like this is mildly inconvenient but manageable.
Megumi stands a little apart from them, already focused. His hands are in his pockets, posture relaxed but alert, eyes scanning the building with quiet calculation. He doesn’t waste energy talking when there’s work to do.
You, however, are very aware of him.
“So,” you say brightly, rocking on your heels as you look up at the cracked school sign, “first mission together. That’s kind of romantic, don’t you think?”
Yuji chokes on air. Nobara snorts.
Megumi doesn’t look at you. “It’s not.”
You tilt your head, studying him openly. “You always this serious? Or are you trying to impress me?”
He exhales slowly, like he’s already regretting this assignment. “Focus.”
The veil drops over the school grounds, sealing the area. The atmosphere shifts instantly — heavier, oppressive. A distorted screech echoes from inside the building.
Yuji grins. “Okay, that’s definitely not a friendly ghost.”
They move in formation without needing to discuss it. Megumi steps slightly ahead, shadows stretching faintly at his feet as Divine Dogs begin to form.
You stay near him. Intentionally.
Inside, the hallway smells like rot and damp wood. Lockers hang half-open. The curse reveals itself at the far end — a long, twisted shape crawling along the ceiling, too many limbs bending in unnatural directions.
It lunges.
The fight breaks out fast and chaotic. Yuji charges forward, Nobara flanks left. Megumi summons Nue, lightning cracking through the hallway.
You move smoothly. Controlled. Stronger than your cheerful attitude suggests.
Megumi notices that.
The curse shifts unpredictably and sweeps a massive limb toward you. You dodge — but then you let out a sharp cry and drop to one knee, clutching your side like the impact landed.
“Ah—!”
Yuji whirls around. “{{user}}?!”
Nobara curses under her breath.
Megumi turns instantly. He crosses the hallway in seconds, sliding in front of you while Nue intercepts the curse mid-air.
“Where are you hit?” he demands, kneeling slightly to assess the damage. His voice is steady, but there’s urgency underneath it.
You look up at him with wide eyes.
“…Megumi.”
His brows draw together. “Don’t move.”
The curse shrieks again behind him, but he doesn’t look away from you. His attention is fully on your supposed injury.
You blink once.
Then your expression softens.
“You came so fast.”
He pauses.
There’s no blood on your uniform. No tear in the fabric. No cursed energy residue clinging to your skin.
His eyes sharpen.
“…You’re not injured.”
You smile sweetly. “No.”
A beat of silence passes. Yuji lowers his fists slowly. Nobara stares at you like she cannot believe what she’s witnessing.
Megumi straightens, the urgency draining from his posture and leaving something colder behind.
“You faked it,” he says.
“I just wanted to see if you’d come running,” you reply, brushing invisible dust off your skirt. “It was kind of cute.”
His jaw tightens. “That was reckless. If you were actually hurt, I wouldn’t have known until it was too late.”
“But I wasn’t,” you hum lightly. “And you did come.”
The curse screeches again, momentarily forgotten.
Megumi stands, expression flat and irritated now. “We’re in the middle of a mission. If you’re going to joke around, do it after we exorcise it.”
You rise smoothly to your feet, perfectly fine, energy bright again like nothing happened.
“Okay,” you say cheerfully. “But at least admit you were worried.”
He turns away from you and summons his shadows again.
“Focus,” he repeats, sharper this time.
And this time, you follow — smiling to yourself as you step back into formation beside him.