Jace Nakamura had been many things in his life: mediocre barista, part-time kendo instructor, full-time procrastinator. But he had never — not once — expected to become the reluctant landlord of a supernatural girl squad.
And yet here he was, running down a neon-lit alley, pursued by a demon with too many arms and not enough personal space.
"This is all because of a toaster," he gasped as he sprinted. "A toaster."
The demon screeched behind him, its voice like someone shredding metal with a cheese grater. "Givvve it baaack!"
"No! I need it to heat bagels!"
The creature hurled a dumpster like it weighed nothing. Jace dove, barely avoiding being turned into a human pancake.
Everything had been normal twelve hours ago. Well—not normal normal. He still lived in a cramped, half-haunted apartment above a ramen shop. He still had exactly twenty-six dollars in his bank account. And he still had no love life whatsoever.
But things were normal enough.
Until the toaster.
Twelve Hours EarlierMORNING STAR PAWN & ODDITIES was the kind of store that shouldn't exist. It was tucked between a laundromat and a nail salon, glowing faintly despite the lack of windows. Jace stepped inside only because of the sign taped to the door:
"Everything half off for people with terrible luck."
"That's me," he'd muttered.
Inside, the shelves were cluttered with things that looked like props stolen from horror movies: cracked mirrors, dusty grimoires, jars containing things better left undescribed. A bored-looking old man sat behind the counter, reading a newspaper titled Daily Paranormal Times.
Jace pointed at a silver-blue toaster sitting on a velvet cushion like it was royalty.
"How much for that?"
The old man peered over his paper. "Ah, the AetherToast Model V. Fifty bucks."
"Fifty? It's used."
"It's cursed."
"Twenty."
"Sold."
Jace didn't question the discount. He should have.
Back in his apartment, he plugged in the toaster. It hummed. It glowed. It sparked.
And then a girl flew out of it.
A girl.Out of his toaster.
She did a midair flip and landed on his counter like a gymnast sticking a perfect landing.
She was around his age, pale skin with a faint bluish shimmer, eyes glowing like neon cyan, hair floating slightly as if underwater. She wore a hoodie far too big for her and shorts that definitely weren't regulation for anyone doing magic.
"Hi," she said cheerfully. "I'm Lyra! Bound spirit of the AetherToast! Please do not put forks inside me!"
Jace blinked. Twice.
"…what?"
"Cool! You're my new owner. That means I'm bound to protect you from all threats until death do us—well, until death. Yours or mine. Preferably yours."
"That is not comforting."
Lyra floated around him, inspecting. "Huh. You look like someone who has a lot of near-death experiences."
"I do not—"
A fireball exploded through his window.
Which brings us back to the alley chase.
Jace skidded behind a parked car. Lyra phased through the metal like a hologram. "Okay, don't panic, but that thing wants to kill you."
"I noticed!"
"It's a Harvest Demon. They eat human souls, sometimes faces, sometimes both."
"Oh good," Jace snapped. "A multitasker."
The demon barreled toward them.
Lyra tapped her chin. "Sooo…if you want, I could blast it with aetheric plasma. But I need you to shout the activation phrase."
"Which is?"
She coughed. "Uh… 'Let's get this bread.'"
Jace stared at her. "You're joking."
"Nope! Old enchantment. Very sacred. Very stupid."
The demon roared.
Jace inhaled.
"FINE!" he shouted. "Let's get this—"
A voice cut in.
"Flame Step — Rising Lotus Kick!"
A streak of red shot past him. Someone leapt high into the air, heel blazing with fire, and slammed it into the demon's face.
The creature launched backward like it had been punted by an angry volcano.
Standing in the debris was a girl.
A very tall, very athletic girl with fiery red hair tied in a high ponytail and eyes burning like embers. She wore a martial-arts gi mixed with streetwear — a sports bra, red flame-printed gloves, and pants that looked like they had seen (and won) too many fights.
She cracked her knuckles. "Yo. That demon bothering you?"
Jace blinked. "Um. Yes? Who are you?"
She smirked wide. "Akira Takashiro. Exorcist-in-training. Demon hunter. Also part-time barista at your shop. You never looked up from your phone so you probably never noticed me."
Jace choked. "Wait—you're THAT Akira?! The one who always spells my name wrong on cups?"
"Look, Jass, that's not the point."
"It's JACE!"
The demon screeched again and lunged.
Akira grabbed Jace's collar and yanked him against her. "Hold on tight."
"Why?"
"Because this next move has, uh… collateral potential."
Before he could ask, she launched forward with rocket-like speed, the ground cracking beneath her feet. Her kick collided with the demon's stomach, sending it flipping end over end into a wall.
Lyra cheered. "Nice! Punching things solves like 60% of supernatural problems!"
Akira twirled her hair proudly. "Damn right."
The demon staggered up—burnt, dizzy, and extremely done with life. It hissed and vanished in a puff of sulfur.
Jace slumped in a heap. "I… I want a refund on the toaster."
Lyra floated over. "Sorry, no refunds. Only ghost-support hotline and occasional free bagel heating."
Akira folded her arms. "You realize this means more demons are coming, right?"
Jace groaned. "Why?!"
Lyra raised a hand. "Because you bought a toaster that contains one of the Seven Aether Spirits, who are being hunted across the city, and also because you look extremely kidnappable."
Akira nodded. "Yeah, he does."
"I DO NOT—!"
Lyra drifted close, eyes glowing ominously. "Anyway! Since you're my new master, you get my protection. But that also means the others will sense my presence."
"The…others?"
Both girls nodded.
At the exact same moment, thunder cracked overhead.
Wind howled.
A chill swept down the alley.
A third voice echoed:
"Found you, Lyra. And your new human. Step aside or face judgment."
Jace whimpered.
Akira cracked her knuckles.
Lyra whispered, "Ohhh no. It's her."
And then—
A girl descended from the rooftop like a gothic snowflake, cloak billowing, eyes glowing violet.
She pointed her staff at Jace.
"Human. Prepare yourself."
Jace screamed.