The afternoon sun draped the schoolyard in a warm, amber glow. Cicadas buzzed lazily, filling the air with a steady hum that mingled with distant chatter. A soft breeze brushed past, carrying the faint scent of grass and chalk dust, ruffling the edges of scattered papers near the entrance. Shadows stretched long across the pavement, hinting that the day was sliding slowly toward evening.
Shiori stretched, her arms lifting above her head, a faint groan escaping her lips. "Ugh… I'm so tired. I don't think I can unpack at all today," she murmured, her steps slow as she padded down the walkway.
"Same here," Kenji replied, adjusting the strap of his bag. "But… I want to relax later, so I guess I'll get it done."
Shiori glanced back over her shoulder, grinning, "Sure thing. I'll even give you a half-hour head start."
Kenji tilted his head, smirking. "Wait… that's just a nice way of saying you're leaving all the work to me, huh?"
Shiori laughed, the sound light and teasing, echoing softly across the courtyard. "You know me better than anyone ever will, big brother."
Kenji's gaze drifted toward the school gate, catching a glimpse of a familiar figure. Her arms were folded, her back resting against the wall, posture rigid.
"Wait… isn't that…" he started, squinting.
Before he could finish, she opened her eyes. She cast a brief glance at him, her crimson gaze locking with his for a moment, then turned and walked away, her pace calm and unhurried.
Shiori's voice snapped him back. "Big brother? Are you okay? Quit spacing out while I'm talking!" she pouted, her cheeks tinged with color.
"Ah… sorry," he said, shaking his head. "I just… thought I saw someone familiar. Let's go."
They continued walking under the amber sky, their footsteps light on the cracked pavement. The air was warm but carried a hint of evening coolness, a balance that made the sweat on Kenji's back prickly but bearable.
"How was your first day?" Kenji asked.
Shiori's face softened. "I was nervous at first, introducing myself… but everyone was so kind. They really made me feel welcome." Her fingers absently traced the strap of her bag. "I even made a few friends instantly. One of them saved a spot in line for me, so I didn't have to wait too long on an empty stomach."
Kenji let out a low whistle, lips pressing into a thin smile. "I wish I had that kind of luck… I'm still starving."
"And the boys help me whenever I need something… like a textbook or an eraser," Shiori said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face as they walked.
"I see…" Kenji thought, his grip tightening slightly on his bag strap. Hopefully none of those idiots think they can date my little sister…
Shiori glanced up at him for a moment, catching the faint tension in his expression. She tilted her head, a small, curious smile tugging at her lips, before looking back ahead.
"And what about you?" Shiori asked, eyes glimmering with genuine interest.
Kenji exhaled, shoulders slumping slightly. "Well… it started off fine, but I spent almost the entire lunch waiting in line. Starving to death. Still didn't get lunch."
Shiori giggled, the sound light, rhythmic. "Don't worry! Starting tomorrow, I'll make breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
"I like the sound of that—" he said, a small smile forming. He was about to add something else when a low, menacing growl suddenly cut through the warm afternoon air, making the hairs on his neck stand on end. He froze, heart skipping a beat, and Shiori's eyes widened in terror.
"Big brother… what are those things?!" Shiori's fingers twisted into his shirt, her knuckles white.
"I—" The words snagged in his throat. His mind screamed they couldn't be real—monsters with molten eyes and burning breath belonged in stories, not under a summer sky. "I… I don't know."
From the shadows of a nearby alleyway, three monstrous flame hounds emerged. Their eyes glowed like molten coals, bodies shimmering with heat, and smoke curled from their snarling mouths. The first exhaled a jet of searing fire, the pavement around them sizzling and cracking under the intense heat.
"Look out!" Kenji shouted, shoving Shiori down. The scorching air pressed against his skin, pain flaring along his forearm.
"Shiori! Are you okay? Shiori!!" Her head lolled slightly against his arm, eyes fluttering but unresponsive. Panic gripped him like ice as he realized she was unconscious.
The hound roared, a deep, rattling sound that vibrated through the air and made the ground beneath Kenji's feet shiver. Flames erupted from its mouth again, scorching the asphalt in a sizzling wave. Without thinking, he scooped Shiori into his arms, clutching her tightly as he bolted forward, legs pumping frantically, lungs burning with each ragged breath. Heat radiated off the hound, singeing the hair at his neck and the fabric of his shirt.
"I've got to get out of its range!" he gasped, chest heaving.
The beast thundered behind him, each heavy paw slamming against the pavement like a drumbeat of doom. The smell of smoke and charred asphalt stung his nostrils, making him gag. A blast of fire grazed his back, the searing heat snapping at his skin and burning through his shirt. His footing slipped, knees buckling under Shiori's weight.
A second hound burst from the side, claws carving into his ribs. Pain flared white-hot, stealing his breath and driving him to his knees before he slammed onto the ground.
Blood spattered the concrete, warm and metallic against his hands. Agonizing waves shot through his body, making it hard to focus, hard to move.
"Shiori! Shiori! Please—wake up! We'll die if you don't move!" His voice cracked, fear lacing every syllable as he glanced down at her limp form. The world felt distorted—the amber sunlight flickering through smoke, the hiss of burning concrete, the pounding of his own pulse deafening in his ears.
He tried to push himself up, muscles trembling violently under the strain, but pain lanced through his ribs with every movement. The second hound growled, circling, jaws snapping. Kenji forced himself to his feet again, staggering, every step a battle against gravity, exhaustion, and terror. His mind screamed for him to run, to put distance between them, but each movement sent jolts of fire-hot pain through his body.
The alley smelled of smoke and scorched asphalt, tangling with the coppery bite of his own blood. He could feel sweat dripping into his eyes, stinging as he blinked rapidly to clear his vision. Each breath came in ragged gasps, sharp and shallow, his chest tight as if the hounds' heat pressed against him, squeezing the air from his lungs.
"Just a little further… come on…" he muttered through gritted teeth, forcing his legs to carry him despite every scream of agony. Shiori's weight felt heavier with each step, her limp body a constant reminder that failure wasn't an option. Every snap of fire behind him made his heart leap into his throat, every roar of the hounds a hammering drum of imminent death.
He stumbled again, nearly dropping her, but his arms wrapped around her tighter, refusing to let go. Pain blazed across his back and sides, each breath tasting of smoke and iron, but adrenaline carried him forward. The alley seemed endless, shadowed and narrow, littered with broken crates and debris that scraped against his arms and legs as he ran, the hounds' growls echoing, relentless and terrifying.
He forced his feet to move faster, ignoring the screaming muscles, the sting of burns along his forearms, the hammering pain in his ribs. Fear and desperation propelled him, every fiber of his being screaming: Don't let them get her. Don't let this be the end. I don't care what happens to me… I just need her to be safe.
Another blast of fire grazed Kenji's back, searing through his shirt and leaving a sting that made him flinch.
Before he could adjust, a second hound lunged from the side, its claws raking across his back with brutal force.
"Gah!" Kenji crashed to the ground, blood spattering the concrete. Shiori, cradled in his arms, tumbled a few feet before coming to a stop. Agonizing pain tore through his body, and he coughed, the metallic taste of blood flooding his mouth.
"Shiori! Shiori! Please—wake up! If you don't move, you'll die! Please!!" he screamed, ignoring the agony coursing through him.
Tears streamed down his face as the hounds closed in, their growls vibrating through the air like thunder.
One of the hounds snarled, molten jaws opening wide as it leapt.
Kenji's arms tightened around Shiori. This was it—no escape, no strength left to fight. All he could do was shield her from the teeth and fire.
Heat closed in—
And then a sharp hiss split the air. Orange light tore across his vision, cleaving through the beast mid-lunge.
The first hound yelped, collapsing into a heap as the searing heat gave way to the sharp hiss of cooling embers and the acrid scent of scorched fur curling into the air.
Kenji forced his eyes open, vision blurred by adrenaline and pain. His gaze landed on her. She wore his school's uniform, long black hair whipping behind her, crimson eyes calm and unreadable. In her hands, a sword blazed with brilliant orange flames.
The second hound surged , fiery breath lancing toward her. She didn't flinch. Standing in the blazing heat that could scorch the pavement, she remained utterly unfazed.
"You think flames as weak as yours can harm me?" she said, her voice flat, almost bored. Orange fire danced along the edge of her blade, crackling and flickering as sparks rained down around her. Her sword arced with effortless precision, leaving a streak of fire in its wake as it cleaved through the beast, igniting its body in a burst of molten embers before it split clean in half. Smoke and heat swirled around her, but she stood completely unfazed, the flames bending to her will.
The third hound growled, backing into the shadows, its courage broken. The lingering heat from its flames warped the air above the pavement, but she didn't move. Calm, unshakable, she watched it retreat into the darkening street.
Kenji's blurred vision settled on her figure, standing over them as the last of the flames vanished. Sheathed her blade with deliberate, smooth movements, the orange glow fading from the tip until only the dark steel remained.
"Sayuri…?" His voice cracked, disbelief thick in his throat. That's Sayuri Tanaka… from class 2A…
His mind spun, struggling to process what he was seeing. What the hell is going on…? That sword… those flames… who is she…?
His body finally gave in. Darkness swept over his senses, pulling him under. The last thing he saw was that same crimson gaze from the school gate—steady, unblinking, impossible to look away from. Then darkness swallowed him whole.