Sigh.
Chihaya Aine stepped out of the airport, dragging her suitcase to a stop at the entrance. She glanced back.
Under the dim sky, scattered lights littered the ground like shattered glass—much like her dreams of studying abroad, smashed to pieces by harsh reality.
From the moment she boarded the plane seven hours ago to touching down now, Chihaya had replayed the same thoughts over and over: If I hadn't been so cocky, if I'd properly researched my target school, flown to that country early to settle in, maybe practiced my language skills more… would I have avoided this failure?
But the world doesn't hand out do-overs. Failure's just part of the grind, always has been. Since she'd already crashed and burned, all she could do was pick herself up and start again.
It was getting late, so Chihaya skipped the subway and hailed a taxi instead. Sure, it was pricey, but her wallet could handle it.
Staring out at the city's blazing lights, she didn't bother chatting with the driver. After giving her destination, she zoned out, mulling over which school she'd try next.
The car stopped. She stepped out in front of her house. Her parents had okayed her coming back, but she still had no clue what to say when she saw them. So, she paused, deciding to hit up the nearby cake shop to grab a bite first.
She'd barely eaten before boarding—just a light breakfast—and airplane food? Yeah, that was as bad as everyone says.
The familiar streets felt comforting, grounding. But sometimes, that sense of safety is exactly what lures danger out of the shadows.
In the pitch-black night, beyond the reach of the streetlights, a faint crack split open in the darkness—barely noticeable to most. From that rift, a horned, shadowy figure slithered out, trailing silently behind Chihaya.
Its steps were so light they were nearly soundless. If not for the shadow it cast under the streetlight, betraying its presence, Chihaya's story might've ended right there.
She'd have regretted her reckless choices, regretted coming back to this demon-infested hellhole.
Glancing at the shadow, she turned—not for any particular reason, just because it was swaying like some drunk stumbling down the road. She didn't expect it to be something far worse.
"A d-demon?!" Chihaya's scream tore through the night.
She ditched her suitcase and bolted—not toward home, but straight ahead. The snake-faced, horned demon, realizing it'd been spotted, moved faster than her, closing the gap in seconds.
Is this punishment for running from that church school? she wondered, her mind racing. That split-second distraction was enough to trip her up, sending her crashing to the ground. The snake-faced demon lunged, claws out, ready to end her.
But… just as the demon savored its imminent kill, its own danger arrived. Unlike Chihaya, it didn't even get a chance to regret.
A flash of icy blue light sliced through the night, freezing the grotesque figure in place. A few seconds later, its head rolled to the ground.
"Eek!"
Chihaya, still sprawled on the pavement, shuddered as the severed head rolled toward her. She looked toward the source of the blade's light, desperate to see who'd saved her.
Under the streetlight stood a stunning figure in a tailcoat, their gender impossible to pin down at a glance. They removed their top hat with one hand, revealing a black feathered mask laced with gold and striking crimson eyes. Silver hair, radiant as moonlight, was tied back in a ponytail, swaying gently.
In their other hand was an elegant katana—clearly the weapon that had decapitated the demon.
"You shouldn't be wandering these streets at night," they said. "This city's darkness is dangerous."
The moment they spoke, their sweet voice told Chihaya this was a young woman, probably not much older than herself. Chihaya nodded stiffly, managing, "Thank you for saving me. Um… could I get your name? I'd love to send you something as thanks!"
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first? That's proper manners, isn't it?" the tailcoat-clad girl teased with a smirk.
"Oh! Sorry!"
Chihaya scrambled to her feet, legs still shaky. She bowed deeply and said, "I'm Chihaya Aine. Thank you so much for saving me."
The girl studied her in silence for a moment before chuckling. "You can call me 'Samael.'"
Then she added, "No need for gifts, though. Just get yourself home quick. Let's hope we don't cross paths again."
Chihaya, sharp as she was, caught the meaning: If we meet again, it'll probably be because you're in another demon's crosshairs. She stammered, "Thank you, really," and, forgetting all about the cake shop, hurried home.
Her stomach was still growling, but oh well. She'd just ask her mom to whip something up.
Behind her, the tailcoat girl sheathed her katana. Her elegant silver hair shimmered, then shifted to a dazzling gold. She removed her mask, and the blood-red glow in her eyes faded, replaced by clear, sky-blue pools.
"Good thing I had her introduce herself first," she murmured.
The girl—Nero—spoke softly to herself.
When she'd first seen the pink-haired girl, Nero had felt a spark of recognition. But it was only after Chihaya gave her name that Nero confirmed it. The protagonist of some band anime? Not quite, but definitely a key player.
"Just got back to the country, huh?" Nero tilted her head, watching Chihaya disappear in the direction of her abandoned suitcase. "Talk about rotten luck."
To get attacked by a demon the second you return? That's next-level bad fortune.
This city reeked of demonic energy, but actual attacks were surprisingly rare—Nero had learned that much from her own trek here after skipping the subway. Either some big bad was plotting something massive, or other demon hunters were already on the prowl.
Which made Chihaya's attack a glaring anomaly. Nero figured she'd better keep an eye on her.
But how? Stalk her? Play bodyguard? Nah, too much hassle.
Then it hit her—Chihaya was probably transferring to a new school soon. Why not keep tabs on her there?
Not a bad plan. Because Nero suddenly remembered something else—
She was only sixteen. Prime high school age.
Is this chapter title a bit too on-the-nose?
Eh, whatever. It'll do.