The morning sun cast a gentle glow over the school courtyard, bathing everything in a warm, golden light. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their delicate petals drifting softly to the ground with each passing breeze. Rinne walked along the hallway, her footsteps echoing lightly against the polished floor.
She paused by the large windows that overlooked the courtyard, her gaze drifting to the students mingling below. Laughter and chatter floated up, but she felt a world apart, lost in her own thoughts. The events of the previous night lingered in her mind—the adrenaline of battle, the eerie stillness afterward, and, of course, that stupid smirk on Shigure’s stupid ugly face.
"Good morning, Heroine-chan~" a familiar voice called out.
She turned to see Shigure approaching, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. The sunlight caught the edges of his dark hair, making him look almost angelic. He moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, his eyes meeting hers with a playful glint.
"You're awfully cheerful today," she remarked, her tone flat as she crossed her arms.
He shrugged, leaning against the window frame beside her. "Why wouldn't I be? It's a beautiful day, and I'm in excellent company."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't start acting all buddy-buddy with me now," she retorted. "Especially not after you completely ignored me when I offered a handshake the first time we met!"
Shigure waved a dismissive hand, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Ah, that. Don't worry about it. I've decided to forgive our rocky start."
"Forgive?" Rinne echoed, incredulous. "You were the one being rude!"
He chuckled softly, tilting his head in a way that she bet he thought made him look charming. "Well, you see, maintaining a cool and aloof persona makes me more popular with the ladies. It's just how these things work. But due to your beauty, my icy facade has managed to crack, but just a little bit~~~"
She felt a vein throb in her temple. "Is that so?" she said through gritted teeth.
"Absolutely," he continued, undeterred. "And now that I've heroically saved you from danger, it's only natural you'd start falling for me. Classic harem logic!"
Rinne's cheeks flushed with embarrassment and irritation. "In your dreams!" she snapped. "And if you'd been there from the beginning, I wouldn't have had to fight Aka Manto alone!"
He raised an eyebrow, a teasing glimmer in his eyes. "Oh? Sounds like you wanted me by your side all along. Is this a confession? Do you wish for me to be with you twenty-four seven?"
She paused, her heart skipping a beat despite herself. "Don't flatter yourself!" she retorted, turning her gaze away to hide the faint blush coloring her cheeks.
He sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Alas, as much as I'd love to oblige, I have other duties. There are still Routes to unlock with the other beautiful girls at this school."
"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.
Shigure leaned in slightly, his voice lowering to a seductive whisper. "But don't worry, you're still my favorite~~"
That was the last straw. With a swift motion, Rinne delivered a light kick to his shin—not enough to cause real harm, but sufficient to make her point.
"Ow!" he exclaimed, hopping back with an exaggerated wince. "What was that for?"
She couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Get lost," she said, but her tone lacked any real malice. "I have classes to get to."
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The world shifted again when the Midnight Hour fell.
As per usual, the Nightguard was already in the thick of battle.
Rinne stood in the middle of it, her chest heaving, her fists bruised and slick with blood. In front of her, a hulking spirit lurched forward, its blackened limbs reaching for her. With a fierce shout, Rinne swung her fist, feeling the satisfying crack of bone as it connected with the spirit’s head. The force of the blow sent the creature crashing to the ground in a heap, its body dissipating into smoke as her blow crushed it.
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Rinne stood over the fading spirit, her chest heaving, a smug grin creeping across her face as she wiped the sweat from her brow. “Not so tough now, are you?” she muttered under her breath.
But her moment of victory was cut short by a sharp voice from behind.
“It’s about to head into the residential zone! Newbie, stop it!”
Rinne’s head snapped up just in time to see one of her fellow Nightguard members pointing toward the sky. Her eyes followed the direction of the shout, and she spotted it—a large, bird-like spirit with wings of shadow, soaring through the night, heading straight for the homes in the distance.
Before Rinne could even take a step, a blur of motion caught her eye. Shigure was already on it.
He moved like a ghost, his steps silent as he bounded from rooftop to rooftop. The moonlight glinted off his blade, turning the steel into a thin ribbon of silver. In one fluid motion, he leaped into the air, twisting like a saucer before bringing his sword down in a perfect arc. The blade sliced through the bird-like spirit cleanly, severing its form in two. The creature’s screech pierced the night, a sound so sharp and otherworldly it made Rinne’s ears ring, before its body dissolved into a cloud of black mist.
Shigure landed lightly on the rooftop, his blade still shimmering in the dark, and turned to face the others, his expression calm, collected.
“I have once again severed something that has no purpose,” he said coolly, wiping his blade with the ease of someone who had done this a thousand times before.
Rinne scowled, watching him from below. “Show off,” she muttered.
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The night air carried a sense of relief as the twisted sky of the Midnight Hour began to unravel, fading back to the familiar velvety black of night. The stars slowly peeked out from behind their shroud, and the street lights flickered back to life. Once again, the Nightguard had succeeded in their clean up.
A cheer rose from the group, a swell of laughter and shouts echoing across the empty street. They gathered around Shigure, their faces flushed with adrenaline and triumph. His comrades lifted him up, hoisting him into the air, their voices a chorus of praise.
"All hail our hero!"
"Ever since Shigure joined, these Midnight Hours have been a breeze!"
They tossed him up, his body rising and falling as they tossed him. He wore a stoic expression, though there was an unmistakable hint of pride in his eyes as he was propelled skyward again and again, his dark hair catching the moonlight. He remained silent, his demeanor unchanged, but the rest of the team laughed and cheered around him.
Rinne stood a little apart from the rest, her arms crossed, her lips pulled into a pout. She leaned against a lamppost, her gaze flicking between Shigure and the jubilant team members. She let out a huff, her brow furrowed as her eyes narrowed in annoyance.
The Captain approached her, his footsteps soft against the pavement, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. He paused beside her, watching the scene unfold before them for a moment before turning his attention to her.
"Well, someone looks a little salty," he teased lightly, his tone dripping with amusement.
Rinne's cheeks flushed, and she shot him a glare. "I'm not salty," she snapped, her voice carrying a touch of childish defiance. "Why would I be salty over that idiot?"
The Captain let out a warm chuckle as he crossed his arms, tilting his head as he looked over at the group celebrating. Shigure was tossed into the air once more, his expression remaining cool and composed, his eyes showing only a hint of acknowledgment as if this kind of praise was something he expected. The Captain's gaze softened as he turned back to Rinne.
"You know, his sorcery is pretty simple," he said. "But Shigure was born with an unusually large reserve of mana and mana output. Because of that, he's able to enhance his body with a high-level mana reinforcement, boosting his physical abilities to extreme levels."
Rinne pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing as she watched Shigure being tossed up again. She crossed her arms tighter, her shoulders hunching slightly. "So, it all comes down to genetics," she mumbled.
The Captain let out a laugh, reaching over to ruffle Rinne's hair. "That's not all it is, Rinne," he said, shaking his head. "Getting that level of control over mana takes serious effort. The difference between Shigure's control and yours is like night and day. Perhaps you should ask him for some pointers.”
Rinne pouted even more, a small sound of annoyance escaping her lips. She shot the Captain another glare, her voice rising slightly as she complained, "You're already picking favorites!"
He shook his head, the gentle amusement never leaving his expression. "No favorites, Rinne," he said softly. "Just respect where it's due." He turned his gaze back to Shigure, watching as the young man was finally set down, his teammates clapping him on the back.
Rinne's eyes followed, her gaze lingering on Shigure's figure as he stood there, taking in the praise with the same annoying smug expression on his face.
“What is his sorcery anyway?”
“Just a simple ability to make blades.” The Captain replied.
Rinne’s brow furrowed, her pout fading into something more contemplative. Maybe… maybe he wasn't all bad. Despite his shitty attitude, despite how much he got on her nerves—he was still someone who had her back in the heat of battle. Someone who fought without hesitation.
Her gaze softened, a warmth creeping into her chest that she didn't quite know what to do with. She let out a sigh, shaking her head as if to rid herself of the thought.
"Idiot," she muttered under her breath, though the word lacked its usual bite. She turned her eyes away, refusing to let herself dwell on the unfamiliar feeling that tugged at her heart.