The bell rang, chairs scraped, and chatter filled the classroom like a flood. I was packing up my bag when a voice cut through the noise.
"Kurosawa. Come with me."
It was Hachika. Her dead-fish eyes locked on mine, unreadable, but there was steel in her voice.
I raised an eyebrow. "Romantic. But you could at least buy me lunch first."
"Shut up," she snapped, already walking toward the door.
I sighed, slung my bag over my shoulder, and followed.
She led me around the corner of the school, to a shaded, empty spot between two buildings. It smelled faintly of chalk dust and rain-soaked concrete. She turned, crossing her arms.
"Stay away from Totsuka."
I leaned against the wall, unimpressed. "That's direct. Most people at least try small talk first."
"I'm serious." Her voice was flat, but the twitch in her jaw betrayed her. "She's… important to me. She's my wife."
"Your wife," I repeated dryly. "Funny, I don't recall attending the ceremony."
Her glare sharpened. "Don't play dumb. You sit next to her. You talk to her. You make her laugh. Don't hurt her."
I studied her for a moment, then chuckled. "Some wife you are. You leave her alone when she needs company. You glare from the sidelines instead of standing next to her. And then you show up to bark at me when someone else does what you couldn't."
Her breath hitched, eyes narrowing. "You don't understand."
"I understand cowardice when I see it," I said smoothly. "If you care so much, stop hiding behind your pride and actually be there for her."
The air between us crackled with tension.
"Don't you dare lecture me," she hissed.
"Too late," I said, smirking faintly. "And the best part? I'm right."
She clenched her fists, then turned sharply on her heel. "Stay out of my way."
I watched her stalk off. "Good talk," I murmured.
---
When her footsteps faded, I spoke casually. "You can come out now."
A shadow shifted near the corner. Totsuka peeked out, eyes wide, hands fidgeting nervously.
"Y-You noticed?"
"Hard not to," I said. "You cast a longer shadow than you think."
She stepped closer, biting her lip. "…I didn't mean to listen. But… I heard everything."
"Of course you did," I said softly.
Her gaze dropped to the ground, troubled.
---
"She cares about you," I said. "Even if she's terrible at showing it. That was jealousy, not malice."
Totsuka's eyes softened. "…I know. Hachika's always been like that. Rough on the outside, but…"
"But?"
Her lips curved faintly. "She's gentle. In her own way."
I tilted my head. "And you? What do you feel?"
She hesitated, then stepped forward suddenly, wrapping her arms around me. Her warmth pressed against my chest, trembling just slightly.
"…Gratitude. And… I want to repay both of you somehow. For caring."
I exhaled quietly, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You don't owe anyone repayment. But if a hug's part of the deal, I won't complain."
She laughed softly against me, then pulled back, cheeks pink.
"Come to the Service Club," I suggested.
She shook her head gently. "Not yet. I don't want to trouble anyone. But… thank you, Ras-kun."
I watched her go, her steps lighter than before.
---
The Service Club was its usual picture of dysfunction; Yukino's icy composure, Yui's fidgeting warmth, and Hachika slumped in her chair, eyes dull but simmering beneath.
Then the door slammed open.
"The East Magic Society Club has arrived!" declared a voice.
Two figures marched in: Rikka Takanashi, eyepatch glinting, and Yuuta Togashi (female in this world), cape swishing dramatically.
"We request your aid in exorcism!" Rikka cried, pointing a finger skyward. "Our classroom is tainted by the Wriggling Shadows of the Dark Beyond!"
Yuuta followed with a flourish. "The east trembles. Only those worthy may face this calamity."
Yui blinked rapidly. "…Eh?"
Yukino pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is ridiculous."
Hachika muttered, "Kill me now."
I leaned back, chuckled. "Finally. Clients with flair."
---
The room descended into chaos.
Yukino's voice was sharp. "Do you expect us to indulge your childish fantasies?"
Rikka slammed her staff. "These are not fantasies! The Eye of the Wicked Lord sees all!"
Yuuta posed dramatically. "And the Contract of the Tyrant binds the darkness!"
Yui waved her hands desperately. "W-Wait, wait, let's not fight! Maybe they really feel something?"
Hachika groaned. "I feel a headache."
I smirked. "Careful, Hachika. That might be the curse talking."
"Shut up, Ras."
I turned to Rikka. "So, how many monsters so far? Three? Four? Or just shadows that look scarier when you forget to close the curtains?"
Rikka gasped. "He knows!"
Yuuta's eyes widened. "Truly, a kindred spirit!"
Yukino snapped, "He's mocking you."
"Mockery is but a veil for truth," Yuuta countered dramatically.
"Or," I said smoothly, "it's just mockery."
The Chuuni duo pressed on, overwhelming the Oregairu trio by sheer enthusiasm. Yukino's logic, Yui's concern, and Hachika's bluntness all faltered under the weight of theatrical madness.
"Fine," Yukino said finally, exasperated. "Show us this 'classroom.'"
"Victory!" Rikka and Yuuta cried in unison.
---
The Eerie Classroom:
We followed them to their clubroom.
The air was colder here. Shadows stretched too long, corners warped subtly, like the room itself was breathing wrong.
Yui shivered. "It's kinda creepy, actually…"
Yukino frowned. "Probably mold."
Hachika crossed her arms. "…Feels worse than that."
I stood at the center, gaze sharp. Unlike them, I saw it clearly: a twisted spirit, all angles and whispers, crouching in the corner. Weak, maybe D-minus at best, but unsettling.
The others couldn't see it. But they felt it.
Perfect.
----
The room pressed in like a cold hand. Shadows crawled too far across the floor, stretching like they wanted to swallow the desks whole.
The Chuuni duo were practically glowing.
"Behold!" Rikka cried, eyepatch gleaming. "The Wriggling Shadows of the Beyond rise again!"
Yuuta flared her cape, voice ringing: "We must seal it, lest the east fall into ruin!"
"Ridiculous," Yukino muttered; but her posture had stiffened.
I could see what they couldn't: a twisted spirit crouching in the corner, its form half-melted, whispering teeth gnashing silently. Weak, a D-minus at best, but I could be wrong on the power level.
I stepped forward, the Book in my chest pulsing.
"Prison!" My voice deepened, rolling like theater. "Purify Light… Licht Regen!"
Arrows of radiance cascaded down, tearing through the spirit. It shrieked without sound and vanished into dust.
The air eased. The cold fled.
I lowered my hand, adjusting my cuff. "Exorcism complete. tips, please."
Ras said while copying the Chuuni-duo.
Of course, those guys who can't see the spirit, also won't be able to see the magus works.
---
For a heartbeat, silence.
Then Rikka staggered back, eyes wide. "Impossible… another bearer of the Dark Contract?"
Yuuta's hands trembled with excitement. "Senpai! Tell us! What's your pact? Which demon answers you?!"
I let the pause stretch, then said calmly: "Trade secret."
They gasped as if I'd revealed forbidden scripture.
Yukino's voice sliced in, sharp. "That was absurd."
I smiled faintly. "Absurdity that works is called efficiency."
Yui's eyes sparkled nervously. "…It really did feel… lighter, though."
Hachika said nothing. But her stare lingered, sharper than the rest. She didn't believe the act, not fully.
Rikka and Yuuta circled me like overeager puppies, firing off questions. "What rank was that spell?" "Was it the Tyrant's Eye awakening?"
"Ladies," I said, stepping aside, "a magician never repeats his trick."
They gasped reverently. "A kindred spirit!"
Yukino pinched her brow. Yui sighed. Hachika muttered under her breath.
I smirked. Balance, in its own way.
----
That night, I opened the Book. A new glyph pulsed: [Guild Chat].
I typed the first line.
> Ras: An anomaly spirit appeared in my world. Weak. Resolved.
The replies came in a flood.
> Gojo: [posts a sticker of a cat doing a backflip] Oho, anime boy's an exorcist now? Don't tell me you did it with style... Or with a baseball bat, lol!
> Kazumi: Nah, bet it was just a raccoon.
> Ichika: Weak. Call me when it's worth fighting.
> Yaya: FOOD??? DID IT DROP SNACKS??? ANY RAMEN???
> Gojo: Yaya muted.
> Yaya: [message deleted]
> Satsuki: …
> Kazumi: Look at him, being all mysterious. Classic protagonist act. Pretentious.
> Gojo: Pretentious? Nah. Smooth. Smooth as hell. I like him.
> Lin: E-Everyone! Please take this seriously! If cracks are reaching Ras's world, the Guild space isn't stable anymore!
I typed one last line.
> Ras: Relax. If the world ends, I'll save you a seat.
There was a beat of silence.
> Gojo: …This guy's dangerous.
Kazumi: Dangerous and smug.
Lin: PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY!
Yaya: [unmuted] …does the seat have snacks?
Ras closed the chat with a light chuckle