Chapter Text
Tenma Tsukasa — a simple yet unique teenager studying in Amaterasu Academy. Students attending this school are of the most special individuals who are capable of witnessing yokai with a naked eye. No other than those said individuals can attend this school; although Tsukasa's case is rather unique.
Tsukasa came from a well-known clan of exorcists, otherwise known as the Tenma clan. His ancestors have a long history of exorcism and brave tales that earned their current prestige in the modern era. His bloodline has an enormous amount of spiritual energy to see and exorcise wretched and hostile yokai that can harm ordinary humans. But Tsukasa is different — he doesn't have enough talent. That results in him being a disgrace to his family name.
In order to avoid any criticism towards the clan, they decided that they must keep this a secret from the public no matter what the cost. Tsukasa may be lacking in talent, but that doesn't mean he is completely useless. Coming from a family strong in spiritual energy, he can do the bare minimum of sensing the qi of both yokai and mortal. However, since he has a sensitive body, when the qi he senses exceeds a certain amount, it results in him getting headaches or feeling nauseous. But that's all there is to it.
He can't see yokai with the naked eye, needing to wear a special glasses (artifact), and he can't exorcise yokai with his lacking spiritual energy. So what can he contribute to his family and academy? Nothing but being a 'compass' for the others. Though he doesn't make it that obvious to arise any suspicions, of course. Who knows what will happen if they find out that the son of the current head of the Tenma clan lacks the ability to even inflict a single scratch to a lower-class yokai?
Thinking about it sends shivers down Tsukasa's spine. He quickly dismissed the thoughts as he shook his head.
What's wrong, Tenma-kun?
A pink-haired girl asked just beside him.
Ah, Airi-chan. No, it's nothing.
Tsukasa said as he waved his hand.
I see..
Airi nodded, Just tell us if you felt anything out of the ordinary, alright? Sigh... why did the principal even agree to the proposal of working together with those guys from Tsukuyomi Academy? I thought they were our rivals?
She then grumbled, stomping on the ground as if throwing a tantrum.
...
Mafuyu silently licked the candy apple on her hand, which she bought from the stall seconds away behind them. They are trying to see who got the best students between Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.. Don't forget that the Principal of both academies is siblings, and this is just their way of... Rivaling each other. In other words, they're having a childish war.
She then let out a sigh.
Tsukuyomi Academy. Although having to strictly hand pick its students, they're no different from Amaterasu Academy that only accept those who have the talent to see yokai. They are well-known for recruiting those who are left in the dark, not having the chance to shine. A diamond in the rough.
Outcast, nobody, oddball, maniac, idiots; all sorts of people that have a huge potential to contribute for the greater good of humanity and its future. That's why despite coming from a common background, they can compete with those hotshots from the Amaterasu Academy.
Amaterasu Academy mostly only accepts those who came from prestigious and high-ranking clans, in which Tsukuyomi Academy opposes. Although the rivalry is mostly between the siblings, their students have decided to see the opposing school as their common enemy, in which the difference in status and belief is what stimulates this further deeper in their hearts.
At first, Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi Academy were supposed to be one whole school. But due to the selfishness of Kagamine Rin, the current Principal of Amaterasu, she decided that only the prestigious and high-ranking clans can enroll in the school, disregarding the fact to consider polishing hidden talents among the commonality. She firmly believed that only the clans who made history throughout different eras are the ones that possess 'true talent', hence the reason why there's no need for them to seek 'raw talent'. But her sibling, Kagamine Len, has a different perspective on this matter. Well, it won't hurt to help the others have their chance to shine, so why don't they give it a shot? Because, someday, if those so-called prestigious clans have no one to turn to when they're at their limit holding back some kind of catastrophe between the yokai and humanity, who could possibly help them?
The answer is clear; those who have 'raw talents'. But of course, without any proper training and education, they can't do much when faced with a catastrophe. That's why they need to see the bigger picture and prepare for any scenarios that could occur. Len has considered this possibility even if it has a 0.0001% chance of happening, but it's better safe than sorry, right? But Rin didn't see the significance of it as she places too much trust in those oh-she-loves-so-much clans like they were some kind of invincible heroes that can save the world single-handedly.
There are no incredible things such as deus ex machina in this world, and that's more the reason why they should think about the future as logically and precisely as possible. But seeing that there's no way to persuade his sibling to help him realize his grand vision, it drives him to establish his own school, Tsukuyomi Academy. This explains the unending rivalry between them.
Ugh! They should've kept their fight between themselves, I have no interest in working with those Tsukuyomi students!
Airi threw her fists annoyingly in the air, clearly infuriated.
Now, now, Airi-chan. Working with them doesn't seem so bad, maybe we could even learn a thing or two from them! Don't you think so too, Asahina-san?
Tsukasa coaxed Airi to calm down, hinting at Mafuyu to help him do so.
Mafuyu glanced at Tsukasa, her eyes are dead and empty as ever, ... I don't know about that.
Asahina-san!!!
Tsukasa cried out internally when a sudden head splitting headache made him wince in pain on the spot, grabbing his head.
Argh!!
He groaned.
Tenma-kun?!
Airi instinctively grabbed Tsukasa, supporting his balance.
A second later, the pain disappeared as quickly as it came. What was that just now? Tsukasa is pretty sure that it was a qi of someone, considering that Airi and Mafuyu didn't seem to have felt it. Is it possible for a human to have that overwhelming amount of qi? Tsukasa felt his hair stand on end and he gasped harshly, trying not to puke everything he ate earlier.
We've got company.
Mafuyu acknowledged rather coldly yet alarmed, her gaze was somewhere above the buildings.
Tsukasa followed her line of sight and, to his surprise, their eyes met. It was a teenager who looked no younger than seventeen, staring down at them as he squats casually on top of an irimoya while clasping his hands, resting his jaw on each of his respective thumbs. There were a few yokai around him.. his servants? That's absurd — no one would take such a low-ranking yokai such as Chochin'obake, a Gashadokuro seems a bit far-fetched, and acquiring the trust of a Nine-Tailed Fox, a young one at that, is extremely rare that even the higher-ups would have trouble getting one. Just who exactly is he?!