The early morning light slipped through the gaps in the cherry blossom trees, painting the narrow street with fractured shades of pink and gold. Rinne walked with her head slightly bowed, her steps measured, as if she were wary of drawing too much attention. Her school bag hung low, its strap wrinkled and frayed from years of wear. She held it tight, her fingers curling and uncurling around the fabric like it was the only thing that kept her to the moment.
The soft spring breeze carried the faint scent of blossoms, but to Rinne, it felt distant—like the kind of beauty you admire through glass.
As she walked, her mind drifted back to the captain’s words from last night. “This is the responsibility of the strong,” he had said.
A smile—barely there—tugged at the corner of her lips. Strong. The word clung to her like an ill-fitting coat. She wasn’t sure if it was true, but if the captain believed it, maybe it was enough.
She tilted her head up slightly, letting the sunlight kiss her face. “Everyone in this world is born with something strange,” she murmured to herself. Her voice was soft, almost swallowed by the rustling leaves overhead. They called it sorcery—this phenomenon of inexplicable abilities that marked humanity. To some, it was a blessing. To others, a curse. Rinne wasn’t sure what to call it anymore.
Most people’s powers were trivial—parlor tricks that could light a candle or nudge a spoon an inch across a table. And maybe that was why they could be content. They lived normal lives, unburdened by the weight of expectation. But Rinne? She wasn’t like them. Her power was different. Useful.
Her fingers tightened around the bag strap again, knuckles white. The Yashutai had recruited her for that very reason. She was exceptional, or so they said. Exceptional enough to fight, to bear the weight others couldn’t.
But there were days when she wondered if they’d mistaken her for someone else—someone stronger, braver.
The cherry blossoms swayed, their petals falling like slow rain. One brushed against her cheek, and she instinctively flicked it away. She wanted to appreciate their beauty, and wanted to feel the way she used to when walking under these trees with her brother, back when the world still made sense. But that part of her felt muted now, like a song she couldn’t quite hear anymore.
Her steps slowed as she reached the corner of the street, where sunlight pooled like liquid gold across the pavement. She stopped for a moment, letting the weight of the morning settle over her. The air felt thick, her lungs working harder than they should have needed to.
The school soon came to view. Rinne stepped through the gates with a lively skip, her smile radiant. She waved at a group of girls chatting near the entrance, her laughter ringing out like a bell. "Morning!" she called brightly.
Inside, the corridors were packed with students. Lockers clanged shut, and snippets of conversations filled the air. Rinne navigated the flow with ease, her steps light as she offered cheerful greetings to those she passed. Her eyes sparkled, and anyone looking her way would see a girl overflowing with happiness.
As she approached her classroom, she hummed a tune, reaching out to slide the door open. She barely had time to react before colliding with something solid—a broad chest clad in a familiar uniform. She stumbled back, a hand flying to her mouth in feigned surprise. "Oh! C-Captain?" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with mock astonishment. "What brings you here?"
For a fleeting moment, a fanciful thought danced through her mind. Perhaps he'd sought her out, unable to stay away—just like the heroes in the romance novels tucked under her bed.
He met her gaze with his usual stoic expression. "Rinne," he said evenly, "there's a new member of the Yashutai who's just transferred to your school. Since he's your age, I'd like you to show him around."
Her smile didn't falter, but something inside her sank. "A new member? How exciting!" she replied, injecting enthusiasm into her tone. "I'd be happy to help."
Inside, she felt a twinge of disappointment. A part of her enjoyed being the sole Nightguard at the school—it set her apart, gave her a role that was uniquely hers. The idea of sharing that, of playing tour guide to some newcomer, unsettled her. But she pushed the feeling aside, burying it beneath layers of practiced positivity.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"He's waiting in the east corridor," the captain continued. "I'll take you to him."
"Lead the way!" Rinne said with a grin, falling into step beside him. As they walked, she chatted about trivial things—the pleasant weather, a funny incident from class—all the while maintaining her cheerful façade. The captain responded with polite nods, though she was sure he wasn’t listening to her.
They turned a corner into a quieter hallway bathed in soft light from the high windows. Sitting alone on a bench was a boy engrossed in a book, his dark hair falling over his eyes. He wore a black jacket and jeans, the monochrome attire giving him a shadowy aura amidst the bright surroundings.
The captain approached, his footsteps echoing softly. "Shigure," he said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "This is Rinne. She'll be your guide."
Shigure looked up slowly, his gaze meeting Rinne's. His eyes were a deep brown, reflecting a hint of wariness. He studied her for a moment before offering a brief nod. "Hi," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Rinne beamed, trying her best to sound warm and inviting. "Welcome to our school!" she chimed, clasping her hands together. "I'm sure you'll love it here."
Shigure stared at her hand for a moment, his face utterly blank. Then, he shrugged dismissively. “Whatever,” he muttered, turning his gaze away like she wasn’t even worth his time.
Rinne’s smile twitched. Oh, this guy. Her hand dropped to her side, and she could already feel the annoyance bubbling up.
I already hate him.
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The sun hovered high above the school grounds, warming the stone paths that wound through the campus. Rinne followed a few steps behind Shigure, her footfalls light, almost soundless. To any onlooker, she was her usual bright self—her eyes drifting toward the cherry blossoms overhead, a slight smile playing on her lips, as if she were simply enjoying a beautiful spring day.
Shigure, on the other hand, walked with an air of indifference. His hands were jammed deep in his pockets, his dark hair hanging in his eyes as he kept his gaze forward. Every so often, he glanced back at her, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Why are you still following me?” he asked, his voice carrying the hint of annoyance, though it was mostly flat.
The suddenness of the question made Rinne falter for just a moment before she caught herself. She flashed a bright smile, the kind she’d practiced countless times in front of a mirror. “Because the captain told me to,” she replied, keeping her tone light. “You’re my mission today, and I take my missions very seriously.”
Shigure’s gaze lingered on her for a beat longer, as if he was trying to figure out if she was being genuine, then he shrugged and turned away. “You don’t have to babysit me. I’m fine.”
Rinne’s smile didn’t waver. “Sure you are,” she said. “But everyone could use a little help getting settled in.”
He grunted something in response, and they lapsed into silence. She could hear the murmur of students nearby, could feel their eyes on her—people speculating, gossiping. The thought of what they were probably saying about her and Shigure made her stomach twist slightly, but she ignored it.
The captain’s words from earlier that day echoed in her mind: “Take care of the new recruit, Rinne. It’s important for the team to integrate smoothly.”
“So,” she said, trying to cut through the awkwardness, “where are you from?”
Shigure stopped walking and looked up at the sky, his expression distant. "I don't know," he said slowly. "I've been... isekai'd into this world." He clenched his fist tightly, his gaze fixed on some unseen point beyond the clouds. "All I know is that I'm destined to save this world from the evil that plagues it."
Rinne stared at him, her smile frozen in place. Internally, she battled the urge to roll her eyes. Great, she thought. He's crazy.
He continued, seemingly oblivious to her skepticism. "Normally, this is the part of the story where the protagonist meets his love interest." He turned his gaze to her, eyes scanning her from head to toe. "Is that why you're following me so closely? Do you have a crush on me?"
A flush of heat rushed to Rinne's cheeks—not from embarrassment, but from rising annoyance. The audacity of this guy! Before she could formulate a polite response, he added, "If you want to be my woman, you've got some work to do."
That was the final straw. Rinne felt a spark ignite within her, and before she knew it, she had grabbed Shigure by the shoulders, shaking him violently. "Listen here, you delusional edgelord!" she exclaimed, her eyes blazing.
"Do you want me to isekai you again? Because I can arrange that!"
Around them, students had begun to stop and stare, some whispering, others laughing at the unexpected spectacle. The soft rustle of leaves and distant chirping of birds seemed to fade as all attention focused on the two of them.
Shigure blinked, a hint of surprise flashing across his face before it settled back into that infuriatingly calm demeanor.
"Feisty," he remarked, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Perhaps you are worthy of being by my side after all." He said as he closed his eyes and leaned in for a kiss.
She smacked him.
Hard.