Several days had passed since the trio's arrival at Kuoh Academy, and the dust of curiosity had begun to settle—somewhat.
Hajime Nagumo found himself slipping into the rhythm of school life with surprising ease. Mornings had become something of a familiar ritual—equal parts mundane and ridiculous. Each day, the moment he stepped through Kuoh Academy's main entrance, he'd catch Issei and his companions in their usual corner. At first, they were awkward—especially Issei, whose recent talk with the Occult Research Club had left him nervous around the trio, eyes darting toward Hajime with wary curiosity more than envy. But by midweek, the tension began to melt away.
Issei resumed his usual comedic banter, often throwing exaggerated fits over Alice's affectionate greetings and Anisphia's sparkling theatrics, much to the amusement of the class. Their expressions eventually shifted back to familiar ground: awe, envy, and the kind of comedic tragedy only high school boys could master.
Alice, ever composed, would greet him with a quiet smile and a nod that carried warmth only he could fully read. Her steps were always calm, her uniform neat, her presence exuding a quiet dignity that turned heads—but it was her way of softly taking Hajime's arm or leaning ever so slightly in conversation that set off Issei's exaggerated internal screams. Asia, who had gradually begun to accompany Alice in the mornings, found herself at ease in her company. The two walked in tandem like old friends, their conversations peaceful and filled with gentle laughter.
And then, like the rising of the sun in its most theatrical form, came Anisphia.
Anisphia didn't enter Kuoh Academy so much as announce herself. Every morning was a spectacle—a sweeping hand, a glowing smile, and some outrageous one-liner shouted loud enough to make even the upper floors aware of her presence. She had a talent for turning even the mundane into a moment, from overly dramatic greetings to producing glitter from… well, no one really knew where. Her energy was infectious, her charisma magnetic.
It didn't take long for her to become one of the most talked-about students in class. Most adored her. Matsuda and Motohama, unfortunately for them, adored her too much. They hovered, fawned, tried their best to flirt—with results that varied from "mildly pitiful" to "suddenly horizontal." Anisphia handled them with gleeful grace, often redirecting their overzealous admiration with misdirection, sarcasm, or the occasional nudge that "accidentally" sent them into the nearest desk.
Even among the chaos, Hajime stayed alert. He let himself relax, just a little, but never fully. Something about this school, this world, still didn't sit right with him.
But for now… mornings were oddly bright.
Despite the morning theatrics and lighthearted chaos, Hajime never let his guard down.
He observed.
He listened.
And more importantly—he sensed.
Every day, faint magical pulses tickled the edge of his awareness. Surveillance spells. Traces of tracking magic. He felt the gaze of eyes he couldn't see, the soft residue of enchantments brushed against walls and lockers as if waiting for someone to trigger them. Subtle, but constant. Someone is always watching.
Because something in Kuoh wasn't normal.
That feeling grew stronger after school one day. The sky had dimmed early, the air tinged with something acrid and faintly charged. Students had gone home, but Hajime, Alice, and Anisphia lingered behind. They had chosen to walk back to Yuragi-sou together, which had slowly become their semi-permanent base while in this world.
Their walk took them toward the outskirts of town, past the busy streets and into a forested perimeter behind the academy. The air was fresh and gentle, rustling the leaves with every step they took. Birds chirped in the distance, and the sunlight filtered through the trees in dappled patterns, wrapping the trail in warmth and quiet peace.
Alice slowed to a halt, tilting her head slightly as if catching a sound just beyond hearing. "...You feel that?"
Anisphia's grin faded, and she glanced around warily. "It's too quiet... like the whole forest just went still."
Hajime shifted slightly, stepping in front of Alice and Anisphia with deliberate intent. His eyes scanned the treeline, sharp and unwavering. "Stay close," he said, voice firm but protective.
Deeper into the woods, they stumbled upon something unsettling—a crumbled altar buried beneath moss and rot, its surface etched with twisted markings that pulsed faintly with residual energy. Charred feathers lay scattered, the remnants of something ritualistic and wrong. A stale magical aura hung in the air—left behind by a ritual.
Alice crouched beside a half-burned symbol etched into the stone. Her eyes narrowed. "These runes… they aren't like what we have seen before."
Hajime stood beside her, scanning the scene with a practiced gaze. "This..... looks like a sacrificial ritual? Hmmm, as per what I can understand from my authority, whoever set this up, they are using some kind of sacrifice to strengthen someone."
Black feathers littered the ground. Anisphia picked one up, studying it with a frown. "Whatever did this wasn't working alone. Although there is human touch at the spell matrix, this feather is not ordinary. And this setup? looks deliberate. as if they want someone to notice it.."
The air felt heavier the longer they stood there, like the trees themselves were holding their breath.
They didn't know what it meant yet. But they knew enough to be cautious.
Something unfamiliar to them was moving Kuoh's surface, knocking and testing the waters.
They left the forest with sharpened awareness, the weight of the scene still clinging to their thoughts. Hajime walked a half-step ahead, scanning every alley and rooftop with renewed precision. There were no answers—yet—but there were signs.
They resumed their walk back to Yuragi-sou, the discussion turned quiet and serious.
"These feathers... there is a trace of faint divinity and light," Alice said. "but tainted."
Anisphia crossed her arms, pacing slowly. "So we're not dealing with simple mages or cultists."
Hajime didn't look up from the notebook where he was sketching the runes. "Indeed. And that someone is tugging the strings to start trouble."
They were strangers to this world's secrets. But tonight, they are now being exposed and had a glimpse of the bigger picture.
-----
When they finally reach Yuragi-sou, the warm light and familiar scent of dinner greeted them like a comforting shield against the unease still coiled in their thoughts.
Chitose welcomed them from the kitchen hallway with her usual cheerful wave. "Welcome back! Dinner's just about ready. Wash up and don't track in forest spirits, okay?"
Yaya gave them a soft nod from her spot on the porch, cradling a cup of tea. Nonko, half-asleep on the couch with a manga spread over her face, lifted a hand lazily in greeting.
"Welcome back! Hajime-san, Alice-san and Anis-san!" Yuuna peeked from behind the partition, her cheerful tone faltering slightly as she noticed the shift in their mood. She tilted her head. "Everything alright?"
Alice gave a tired but kind smile. "We're back Yuuna-san."
Anisphia dropped onto a cushion with a sigh, tossing a feather onto the table. "Let's just say the walk home had more plot than we signed up for."
Yuuna, while setting bowls on the table, blinked at the blackened feather, her expression immediately sharpening. "That's… not from any normal bird."
Nonko leaned up slightly from her lounging position, her tone sharpening with sudden clarity. "Ohya, isn't that a feather of a Fallen Angel? From where did you guys found that?"
Hajime's tone was measured. "Near the forest outskirts. We found some kind of disturbed ritual site—burnt sigils, broken wards."
Alice nodded. "The magic was warped and chaotic."
Nonko leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied the feather more closely. "Yeah, that's definitely Fallen Angel's magic."
Anisphia tilted her head. "So you all recognize it?"
Nonko gave a slow nod. "I've crossed paths with a few. Fallen Angels like to meddle, especially when they think no one's watching. Their spells warp the world around them—enough to cause unease, break barriers, turn a quiet town sour."
Hajime's eyes narrowed. "So this was meant to stir something."
"Or sniff out who's paying attention," Nonko said. "This? This feels like bait."
Chitose's voice lost its usual cheer as she leaned closer. "I'll reinforce the inn's wards. You three brought something back with you, whether you meant to or not. Whatever this is… it's the kind of trouble that doesn't knock before entering."
Sagiri was still out on duty and haven't came back yet, but the tension had shifted. The residents of Yuragi-sou weren't strangers to the unseen. And they understood more than they let on.
As the group gathered for dinner, the conversation turned into a measured exchange—vague for the sake of caution, but meaningful. The trio shared what they could, and the residents listened with knowing weight.
Whatever was coming… the veil was starting to lift.