EPISODE ONE - 2

Kaede stepped into Nobuyuki's office, tension coiled in his chest. His recent humiliation on live TV still weighed on him—was this meeting about disciplinary action? Had he finally pushed his luck too far?

Nobuyuki barely looked up from his cluttered desk, smirking as he gestured for Kaede to sit. "Relax, Kaede. If anything, your little blunder boosted our engagement metrics."

Kaede hesitated, unsure whether to feel relieved or insulted. Before he could respond, Nobuyuki slid a document across the desk.

"You've been assigned to document Sun Jia's upcoming raid expedition at Kanagawa Castle, her reports came in, she passed the screening test in flying colors." he announced.

Kaede's eyes widened. The Kanagawa Castle raid—one of the most high-profile missions for B and C-class hunters. The school was using the opportunity to bolster its recruitment efforts and secure more funding from private and government sponsors. It was a big deal, the kind of exposure that could make or break careers.

"But… why me?" Kaede asked, still processing. "Why not Ken? He's never gotten a shot at something this big."

Nobuyuki's smirk widened as he leaned back in his chair. "You think I didn't know that, he must be somewhere crying his eyes out But Sun Jia personally requested you."

The words hit Kaede like a shockwave. She remembered him?

Excitement, disbelief, and pressure tangled inside him. He had spent years feeling like an afterthought in the world of hunters, overshadowed by those with power. But now, he had been given an opportunity—one he couldn't afford to waste.

He straightened in his seat, determination settling in his eyes. "I won't let you down."

Kaede left Nobuyuki's office in a daze, his mind still reeling from the unexpected assignment. Sun Jia personally requested him. The thought alone sent an excited rush through his veins.

Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed the figure in front of him—until it was too late.

Thud.

Kaede stumbled forward, nearly colliding with someone. He caught himself just in time, but the other person wasn't as lucky. A girl with striking heterochromatic eyes—one green, one yellow—stared up at him from the floor. Her expression remained blank, unreadable, as if she were processing the situation at an unnervingly slow pace.

Kaede immediately reached out a hand. "Ah—sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going."

The girl didn't take his hand right away. Instead, she blinked, tilting her head slightly, as if the apology itself needed a moment to register. Eventually, she placed her fingers lightly in his and let him help her up.

She didn't seem upset. If anything, she seemed… detached.

"You okay?" Kaede asked, scratching the back of his head.

The girl said nothing at first, only looking around, her gaze drifting to the hallway signs as though deciphering a foreign language.

"…I'm lost," she finally admitted, her tone flat, lacking urgency.

Kaede exhaled a relieved chuckle. "Well, I can help with that."

He wasn't sure what to make of her yet, but if she needed help, he wouldn't just walk away.

As they walked down the halls, the tension from their earlier encounter eased slightly.

"I'm Kaede," he said, glancing at the girl beside him. "Kaede Tetsuo. Journalism department."

The girl took a moment before responding, as if weighing the necessity of the introduction.

"Hayami. Hayami Hotaru," she said, her voice just as sullen as before.

Kaede nodded, letting the silence settle between them. She wasn't exactly chatty.

As they rounded a corner, the muffled sounds of combat training filtered through the walls. They had reached the Hunter Training Section. Through the large glass panels, they could see figures in motion—hunters locked in combat drills, practicing their techniques under the watchful eyes of their coaches.

But one person stood out among the rest.

Sun Jia.

The spotlight was on her—her spear cutting sharp arcs through the air, her movements crisp, powerful, and relentless. Even in training, she exuded precision, her body in perfect sync with her weapon. A fighter completely in her element.

Kaede couldn't help but admire her. This was what set Sun Jia apart.

Hayami, who had been mostly disinterested until now, stopped walking. "Who is that?" she asked, her tone as neutral as ever.

Kaede's expression lit up. He straightened, immediately slipping into his professional commentator mode.

"That's Sun Jia. Class B Hunter. One of the best in our school. She's representing the school at the Kanagawa Castle raid," he said, unable to keep the pride from his voice. "And guess what? I'm going with her."

Hayami's gaze lingered on Sun Jia. "You?"

Kaede grinned. "Yeah! As part of the school's documentary project. I'll be reporting on everything that happens."

Hayami's expression remained unreadable. Then, in the same detached tone, she said, "I'm a hunter too."

Kaede blinked. Wait, what?

He looked her up and down—her small frame, the way she barely carried herself with any presence, the complete lack of an aura one would expect from a fighter. She didn't look like a hunter. There was slight tinge of jealousy, everynow and then many more people awakened their hunter's abilities, of course he wasn't among such.

"…Really?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.

Hayami didn't elaborate. She simply started walking again as the school bell rang, signaling the end of the period.

Kaede hesitated before following, but Hayami lingered for just a moment longer—her gaze still fixed on Sun Jia.

A flicker of something—a presence—made Sun Jia pause for the briefest moment. Her grip tightened around her spear, her instincts sensing watchful eyes.

But before she could turn and see who it was, the feeling vanished.

She exhaled sharply and pushed the thought aside. Focus.

Her spear cut through the air with controlled precision, every movement sharpened by years of discipline. The muscles in her arms burned, but she welcomed the pain. Pain was proof of growth.

As she moved through her drills, her thoughts drifted. The school's decision to bring civilians into a raid still made her unease, usually she fought alongside parties, those who could defend themselves. This will be different.

Kaede would be there.

Her brows furrowed. Kaede Tetsuo.

A sweet, naive former classmate—always seeing the world as if it could be fair. Always believing there was a place for everyone. But that wasn't how things worked. The world belonged to the powerful.

She knew that truth better than anyone.

She had grown up powerless. No money. No influence. No way out just like him, she accepted this fate. The world ignored the weak, trampled over them without care. She had learned that lesson young.

But then, she awakened. Her Hunter powers changed everything.

Strength became her currency. She vowed never to be helpless again.

She spun her spear, pushing herself harder, faster. She had to be in peak condition. The Kanagawa Castle raid wasn't just another mission—it was a stage.

A stage where she could prove herself.

Her mind drifted to Jin Seiichi.

Class S.

An unofficial title, reserved only for those beyond the classification system. The strongest hunters.

Only one name had ever been confirmed to hold that rank—Jin Seiichi.

A myth. A monster in his own right. It was said he could clear entire doors singlehandedly. His power was so vast that, like the creatures beyond the doors, it bled into reality itself.

But he wasn't just a Hunter. He was an asset. A weapon of the military. Never seen. Never partnered with anyone. A ghost in the system.

Would he be at Kanagawa Castle?

Her pulse quickened.

She gritted her teeth, sweat dripping from her brow. Her spear slammed against the training dummy, splintering the wood.

She wasn't there yet.

She had to be stronger.