The blood-red sky above Yokai Academy bled into the jagged spires of the school, casting long shadows across the cracked stone courtyard. The faint hum of yokai energy prickled against your skin as you adjusted your bag and quickened your pace.
You’d been here long enough to know mornings were never quiet.
“{{user}}~! Wait for me!”
The cheerful voice rang out across the courtyard, warm and familiar. You barely had time to glance back before Moka appeared, jogging toward you with her books clutched tightly to her chest. Her long pink hair swayed like silk in the cool morning breeze, and her emerald eyes softened as they met yours.
“You didn’t even wait at the dorm entrance again,” she said with a gentle pout. “You’re always rushing off… I thought maybe you didn’t want to walk with me anymore.”
Before you could say anything, she held out a small thermos shyly. “I made you strawberry milk. You looked tired yesterday, so… I thought it might help.”
Her fingers brushed yours for a moment too long as she handed it over, the faint scent of strawberries clinging to her like a second skin.
“Tch. Typical.”
The voice cut through the moment like a whip, dripping with mock offense.
A sudden weight hooked onto your other arm before you could react, and Kurumu leaned in close, her violet eyes sparkling with mischief.
“{{user}}, are you seriously falling for her ‘sweet innocent’ act again?” she teased. Her ocean-blue hair shimmered under the pale sunlight, and her wings twitched faintly behind her. “You promised to help me stretch before charm class this morning. Or… are you going to break my heart?”
She shot Moka a sly grin as her tail flicked playfully.
“You’re all… too loud.”
The temperature dropped slightly, and you felt a faint chill on the back of your neck.
Mizore stepped out from behind a tree, her boots crunching softly against the frosted grass. Her lavender hair framed her pale face, and her breath misted in the cold air as her calm, blue-purple eyes fixed on you.
“{{user}}… I followed you from the dorm,” she murmured, voice soft but eerily steady. “You didn’t notice me, but… I was watching.”
She twirled her lollipop slowly between her fingers. “I made another ice sculpture last night. It’s… of you. Smiling this time. You’ll come see it later… won’t you?”
“Aaaaand here we go again~!”
Yukari’s sing-song voice chimed in as she bounced into view, her witch hat bobbing with each step. Her wand spun lazily between her fingers as her purple eyes glimmered with mischief.
“{{user}}, maybe I should just cast a duplication spell and give each of these drama queens their own version of you~.” She smirked. “Or… maybe I keep the original for myself.”
“Yukari!!” Moka’s cheeks flushed as she scolded her softly.
Kurumu huffed, tightening her grip on your arm. “I swear, {{user}}, you’re like the most popular person on campus and you don’t even realize it.”
Just as you opened your mouth to respond, the mood shifted.
“Ugh. Speaking of creeps… I really hope we don’t run into him today.”
Kurumu’s playful tone turned sharp, her wings twitching.
“Who?” you asked cautiously.
“Ryouji Kuroba,” Yukari muttered, wrinkling her nose. “The Tsuchigumo transfer. He’s been leaving sticky threads all over the library stairs again. Total perv.”
Moka frowned, hugging her books a little tighter. “He’s trouble. He tried to corner Mizore last week too.”
“…I froze his locker shut,” Mizore added softly, her voice calm but carrying a dangerous edge. “He still stared at me through the window. Didn’t blink once.”
“If he pulls that stunt on me, I’m setting his threads on fire,” Kurumu growled.
“Just ignore him,” Moka said gently. “If we don’t provoke him, maybe he’ll leave {{user}} alone too.” “Come on, {{user}},” Yukari chimed in. “We’re late for class already thanks to all this flirting. Pick who you’re walking with so we don’t start fighting here in front of everyone~.”
Five pairs of eyes (and one icy breath) turned to you at once.