Chapter Text
The city streets appeared deceptively calm under the amber glow of the streetlights. The faint hum of distant traffic and the occasional chirping of crickets painted a picture of peace. But Natsume Sakasaki knew better than anyone that this wasn’t the case.
Leaning on the edge of a narrow rooftop, his gloved hand resting on his staff, he watched intently. The air around him shimmered faintly with magic, an invisible shield to ordinary humans. His amber eyes scanned the streets below, where shadows twisted unnaturally at the corners.
“AnothER uneasY night,” he murmured to himself, amusement lacing his voice. The demons lurking in the shadows—manifestations of human despair and corruption—were his constant companions. Most humans couldn’t see them, let alone confront them, but that was his duty as a mage.
A flicker of movement caught his attention. One of the demons—a bulky, serpentine figure wrapped in black mist—emerged from the shadows near a park. Its glowing yellow eyes fixed on a lone passerby, a man absorbed in his phone.
With graceful movement, Natsume leaped from the rooftop, his coat billowing around him. As his feet touched the ground, he whispered a spell, and fiery runes ignited in a circle beneath him.
“By the flames of the arcane, I purge you from this realm!”
The demon hissed, lunging at him, but Natsume’s staff swung in a precise arc, releasing a burst of fiery energy. The creature disintegrated in an explosion of sparks, leaving only a faint, acrid smell in the air.
Natsume straightened, brushing off his coat as if ridding it of imaginary dust. “Too easY.”
But just as he was about to leave, a soft gasp stopped him in his tracks. He quickly turned, staff raised, ready to strike, but what he saw made him hesitate.
A few meters away stood a familiar figure.
“Is that… TsumuGI?”
Tsumugi Aoba stood frozen, his wide eyes reflecting the lingering embers of Natsume’s spell. His usual gentle demeanor had been replaced with sheer disbelief.
“Natsu…me? N-Natsume-chan!” he stammered, his gaze darting between Natsume and the fading traces of the demon. “What was that? What are you doing here? And—” He stopped, visibly struggling to process what he’d just witnessed. But before he could continue, he was met with a sharp smack to the head from Natsume’s staff. “Why did you do that?!” he cried, holding his head.
“Do NOt call me thaT again, or next time, you’ll be demon fooD.”
“Sorry, Natsume-cha—Natsume-kun, I mean…”
“Doesn’t matTER,” Natsume replied, his expression shifting to one of caution. “You shouldn’t be able to see thIS,” he said slowly, lowering his staff but keeping it ready. “Ordinary humans aren’t meant to perceiVE it.”
Tsumugi’s hands trembled as he clenched them into fists. “Well, I did see it. And this isn’t the first time.”
For the first time in years, Natsume felt genuine surprise. Tsumugi, his childhood friend who had always been so grounded and ordinary, was now standing in a world he was never meant to enter.
Before Natsume could say more, a cold gust of wind swept through the park, and a low growl echoed in the distance. Another demon, larger and more menacing than the last, emerged from the shadows, drawn by the residual energy of Natsume’s spell—and perhaps by Tsumugi himself.
“TsumuGI, get behinD me!” Natsume commanded firmly.
But Tsumugi didn’t move. His gaze was fixed on the demon, his expression unreadable.
“No,” he said, surprising even himself. “If I can see them, I should help you face them.”
Natsume let out a soft laugh, though devoid of humor. “You’re not ready for thiS.”
With a flick of his wrist, he cast another protective shield around Tsumugi. “Stay out of my way, FUZZ ball. We’ll talk latER. If we surviVE.”
As the demon charged, Natsume raised his staff, flames roaring around him with intensity. Tsumugi’s heart pounded, torn between terror and a strange, unyielding resolve.
For better or worse, his ordinary life had just been consumed by fire.
The demon disintegrated into nothingness, its death marked by a burst of glowing embers that floated into the night sky. Natsume lowered his staff, breathing heavily, his amber eyes still sharp and watchful.
Tsumugi remained rooted in place, his legs trembling beneath him as the last remnants of the battle faded. He wasn’t sure what terrified him more—the monstrous being or the realization that Natsume, his sweet and mischievous childhood friend, was now someone entirely different.
The park fell silent, save for the distant hum of the city. Natsume turned to Tsumugi, his expression unreadable.
“Are you hurT?” he asked, his voice softer now.
Tsumugi shook his head, though his knees buckled slightly. “I’m... I’m fine. But I can’t say the same for my sanity,” he said with a fragile, automatic laugh.
A faint smile flickered across Natsume’s lips but quickly vanished. He stepped closer, the embers of his barrier still flickering around him. “You weren’t supposed to see thiS. The demons, the magiC—none of iT.”
Tsumugi looked up at him, his eyes shining with a mix of fear and determination. “And yet I did. I’ve been seeing them for weeks—shadows, flashes, things no one else notices. I thought I was losing my mind, but now… I’m not so sure.”
Natsume’s expression darkened. “You’re not losinG it. But this isn’t a gifT, TsumuGI. It’s a burden. One you shouldn’t have to beaR.”
Tsumugi took a shaky step forward. “Then explain it to me. What are those things? Why can I see them? And why—” He pointed at Natsume’s staff and the remnants of the protective barrier. “Why you? Why are you fighting them?”
Natsume hesitated, glancing around the empty park before sighing. “This isn’t the place for a lessoN. Let’s go somewhere safER.”
Tsumugi frowned. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”
“Always so stubbORn,” Natsume muttered. He waved a hand, and the remnants of the barrier glowed briefly before disappearing. “Fine. I’ll tell you the basiCS. For now.”
He gestured for Tsumugi to follow, leading him to a secluded bench under an old streetlamp. Natsume remained standing, his silhouette sharp against the faint glow.
“Those creatures are demonS,” Natsume began. “They’re born from negative energy: fear, anger, despaiR. Most humans can’t see them because they exist on a different plane. I’m what you’d call a mage—someone trained to fight them and protect the balancE.”
Tsumugi’s brow furrowed. “And why can I see them? I’m just… ordinary.”
“Not anymore,” Natsume replied, his voice heavy with meaning. “Something has changed in you, TsumuGI. Maybe you’ve been touched by their energy. Maybe it’s something else. Either way, you’re no longer separate from their worlD.”
Tsumugi looked down at his hands, his mind racing. "I never asked for this. I didn’t want any of this."
"I know," Natsume said, his tone gentler now. "But yoU’re here, and the demons won’t ignore yoU just because you don’t want to be involved. That’s why I’m telling yoUto stay on the sidelines. Let mE handle them."
Tsumugi clenched his fists. "You can’t expect me to sit back and do nothing while you risk your life."
Natsume gave a faint smile, his amber eyes glinting. "YoU've always been toO kinD for your own good. An idiOT by my definition."
The air between them grew heavy, loaded with unspoken questions. Finally, Tsumugi broke the silence.
"Is this why you disappeared? Why you left without saying anything all those years ago?"
Natsume’s gaze softened, a flicker of regret crossing his face. "It’s... complicated," he murmured, biting his lip. "But yoU left first."
"I…"
Before they could continue, a faint rumble echoed through the air, and the ground beneath them trembled. Their expressions hardened instantly.
"They’re not finished yet," Natsume muttered. He turned to Tsumugi, urgency in his voice. "We’ll continue thiS later. For now, find somewhere safe."
"No." Tsumugi straightened, surprising even himself with his determination. "If I can see them, if I’m part of this now, then let me help."
Natsume’s lips curved into a wry smile, though his eyes remained wary. "How many times do I have to say it? YoU’re not ready to fight, TsumuGI. But if yoU insist on stayING, don’t get in my way."
The ground cracked open, and another demon emerged, roaring as it shook the park. Tsumugi’s heart pounded in his chest, but he didn’t move.
The demon towered over them, its form flickering like a fractured shadow. Eyes as clear as the sky burned with cerulean fire on its shapeless face, locking onto Tsumugi with an intensity that froze his blood.
"The... Blue... Bird," it hissed, its voice like grinding metal.
Natsume froze, his staff raised mid-incantation. "What did yoU just say?"
The demon ignored him, its gaze fixed on Tsumugi. "The treasure of the Blue Bird... I’ve finally found you."
Tsumugi took an involuntary step back, his heart racing. "Blue Bird? What is it talking about?"
"Shut uP!" Natsume barked, his staff flaring with fiery light. "You’re its target, TsumuGI. Stay behind mE."
The demon lunged forward with unnatural speed, its elongated claws stretching toward Tsumugi. Without hesitation, Natsume struck the ground with his staff, causing a wall of fire to erupt between them.
"You’ll have to get through me first!" he growled, stripped of his usual playful tone.
The demon let out a guttural laugh, its shadowy form twisting. "The mage cannot protect the Blue Bird. He doesn’t understand its worth."
"TheN explain IT to mE," Natsume snarled, summoning another surge of magic. "BeCAUSE whatever twisted plans yoU have enD here."
The demon charged, its claws slicing through Natsume’s flames as if they were water. Natsume barely had time to block the attack with his staff, the force of the impact driving him back.
"TsumuGI!" Natsume shouted, urgency in his voice. "RuN! NoW!"
But Tsumugi couldn’t move, his legs rooted to the ground as fear and confusion overwhelmed him. "Natsume-kun, I—"
The demon slipped past Natsume, its glowing eyes fixed on Tsumugi. Natsume cursed under his breath, unleashing an explosion of fire that forced the demon to retreat momentarily.
"Why don’t YOU ever listeN?" Natsume hissed, grabbing Tsumugi’s arm. His grip was firm but not harsh. "We’re leavING. Now."
"But you haven’t defeated it!" Tsumugi protested.
"I can’t fight and BABYsit yoU at the same TIME," Natsume snapped. His amber eyes softened slightly. "Please, just truST mE."
Before Tsumugi could argue, Natsume whispered a spell, and suddenly they were enveloped in a swirl of golden light. The world blurred around them, the park and the demon fading into nothingness.
When the light subsided, they were standing in a quiet alleyway, far from the park. Tsumugi stumbled, his head spinning from the sudden teleportation.
"Are yoU okAY?" Natsume asked, his tone stern but laced with concern.
"I think so," Tsumugi murmured, leaning against the wall. "But that demon… it was looking for me. Why?"
Natsume leaned on his staff, his expression dark. "I don’t knOW," he admitted. "But it called yoU the treasure of the Blue Bird. That’s NOT something I’ve heard before."
Tsumugi frowned, his mind racing. "Blue Bird… treasure…" He shook his head. "None of this makes sense. I’m just an ordinary person."
"NOT anymore," Natsume said gravely.
They stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Finally, Natsume broke the quiet.
"That demon won’t stop huntING yoU," he said. "It’s after yoU for a reason, and until I figure oUt what it IS…" He sighed. "Give mE a second."
Natsume sat down, forming a triangle with his hands and pressing his lips to his fingers. He closed his eyes, concentrating deeply.
Tsumugi blinked in surprise. "Are you okay? Are you feeling sick? Should I call an ambulance?"
"ShUt uP. I’m talking to someONE."
Tsumugi tilted his head. Was this how mages communicated? "Who? Some important wizard?"
"My mOMmY," Natsume said abruptly. Anyone else might have laughed at the response, but Tsumugi looked at him fondly, remembering how close Natsume was to his “mommy.” Natsume stood up, and Tsumugi tensed. "I haVE a placE," Natsume said vaguely, already turning to leave. "It’s protected againST demonS. YoU’ll be safE there."
Tsumugi hesitated, his instincts screaming that this was all too much, too fast. But this was Natsume, and even if it were the end of the world, that seemed like the best excuse to see him again.
"Okay," he said at last, smiling almost smugly. Natsume looked at him oddly.
"YoU seem pretty calm for someONE whO almost got killeD."
"Well, this doesn’t happen to me every day, but seeing you again really is a relief."
Natsume glanced over his shoulder, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. He gripped his staff tightly before conjuring an imaginary circle that formed a portal to their destination. As they disappeared into the city’s labyrinth, the demon’s distant laughter echoed in the air. This was far from over.
The house was surprisingly ordinary. A modest two-story home located in a quiet suburban neighborhood, with a small, meticulously tended garden. If Tsumugi hadn’t just been fighting for his life against a demon, he might have thought he’d been brought to a typical family home for dinner.
"Is this your base of operations?" Tsumugi asked incredulously.
Natsume didn’t dignify him with an answer. He opened the garden gate and headed toward the entrance, gesturing for Tsumugi to follow. "Don’t judge a book by its coveR," he muttered.
The interior of the house was just as simple. There were no glowing runes etched into the walls, no bubbling cauldrons, or scattered spellbooks. Instead, the aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the air, and family photos adorned the shelves.
Tsumugi gasped with excitement upon spotting a photo of an adorable little girl with twin braids smiling brightly. She was wearing a sweet ballerina dress and struck a pose worthy of the profession. "Ah! What a memory! Natsume-chan, you—!"
When Tsumugi turned to look at Natsume, his grin vanished as he received a punch square in the nose, causing a small bleed. "What was that for?"
"If you make another damn comment like that, I swear I’ll hand you over to the deepest hell to get torn apart and then—"
"Welcome home, Naa~chan," a warm, melodic voice interrupted from the kitchen. A woman appeared in the living room, drying her hands with a towel. She looked remarkably young, with vibrant orange hair tied in a loose bun and the same piercing amber eyes as Natsume. Her smile was disarmingly kind. "Is this the troublesome package you mentioned?" she asked, glancing at Tsumugi with amusement while holding out a small cloth handkerchief for his bleeding nose.
"MoMmY," Natsume sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can you NOT call him that in front of hiM?"
"Oh, so he is troublesome," she teased lightly. Tsumugi stiffened under her scrutiny. "I see. You’ve gotten yourself into quite a mess, haven’t you, dear?"
Tsumugi blinked, unsure how to respond. "I-I didn’t ask for this," he stammered.
"Of course not," she replied gently, her smile unwavering. "None of us do."
Natsume crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "MoMmY, this isn’t a casual visit. Demons are specifically after him. One of them called him the treasure of the blue birD."
The warmth in her expression faltered for a moment, replaced by a spark of concern. "The treasure..." she murmured, her tone more serious. "That’s… unexpected."
"Do you have any ideA what it iS?"
Natsume’s mother thought for a while, nodding slightly as if in deep reflection. Then she looked at them both with a mischievous gleam in her eyes and a shameless grin. "No idea."
Natsume let out a heavy sigh. "Now I have to babysit him until I figure out what it iS."
She gave him a look that made Tsumugi think he wasn’t the only one who got maternal scoldings. "Naa~chan, that’s no way to talk about your friend."
"He’s not my—!" Natsume began, his face flushing, but he stopped when his mother’s gaze sharpened. He sighed, slumping his shoulders. "Finee."
Turning to Tsumugi, she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Listen, dear. You can’t abandon your normal life. That would be the worst thing you could do right now. The more you try to hide or avoid it, the more attention you’ll attract—from demons and humans alike."
"But—" Tsumugi started, his voice trembling.
"No buts," she interrupted firmly but kindly. "You’ll keep going to school, spending time with your friends, and living as normally as you can. Understood?"
He nodded hesitantly. "I-I guess so."
"Good," she said with a smile, stepping back. "And you, Naa~chan…"
"I already know what you’re going to saY," Natsume grumbled.
"Then I won’t repeat it. You have to take care of him: go to school with him, make sure he’s safe, and keep him out of trouble." She winked at Tsumugi. "That includes doing human things together."
Natsume raised an eyebrow. "Human things?"
"Like studying, spending time together, maybe having lunch," she said with a playful smile.
Natsume groaned, running a hand over his face. "You’re enjoying this way too mucH."
"Oh, absolutely," she replied, patting his shoulder. "Now, off you go. I’ll prepare some talismans to reinforce the house in case the demons find us here."
With that, she disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving Natsume and Tsumugi in an awkward silence.
Tsumugi glanced at Natsume, who looked like he’d rather fight another demon than deal with him. "So… school tomorrow?"
"Don’t even mention iT," Natsume muttered.
"Hey, you’re the one who’s supposed to keep me safe," Tsumugi pointed out, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Natsume sighed, already regretting his mother’s orders. "It’s going to be a long weeK."
Natsume’s room was exactly what Tsumugi had expected: organized chaos. The shelves were packed with books and strange artifacts, many of them covered with cloth or hidden in boxes that seemed almost forbidden. However, what caught his attention the most was the uniform perfectly hung on the wall.
“Is that... the Yumenosaki uniform?” Tsumugi asked, moving closer to get a better look.
Natsume, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, looked up from an old book. “What about iT?”
“I didn’t know you had it,” Tsumugi replied. “I mean, you don’t even attend classes. Why did you get it if you never planned to wear it?”
Natsume set the book aside and shrugged, as if it were no big deal. “I never saw the need to weaR it. I bought it because I thought it might be useful to havE, in case of... circumstanceS.”
Tsumugi raised an eyebrow. “Circumstances like what?”
“CircumstanceS like this conversatioN,” Natsume replied with a sly smile.
Tsumugi sighed, but he couldn’t help smiling a little. “Yumenosaki is a prestigious academy,” he explained, more to himself than to Natsume. “A place where students can refine their skills and talents. I can’t imagine you fitting in there. You’re already perfect, Natsume-kun.”
He recalled that Natsume had been a frequent topic of conversation in his family. Tsumugi’s mother ran an idol school, and Natsume had been a student there, though at the time he presented himself as a girl. Everyone called him “Natsume-chan” since that was how he had introduced himself. Not only was he charismatic and beautiful, but he also possessed incredible talent. He had been the prodigy student.
Tsumugi couldn’t assume that Natsume had been “pretending” to be a girl. The last time he had seen him, Natsume had still been a girl. Now, not only did he look and behave like a boy, but he was also a magician. How much could someone change in just a few years?
There was a brief silence before Natsume responded, “I can’t either,” he said with a playful glint in his eyes. “But here I am, pretending to be one of yoU. Isn’t it fuN?”
Tsumugi shook his head, but something inside him told him that the uniform wasn’t just a “precaution.” There was something more, something Natsume wasn’t saying. The conversation paused as they both stared at the Yumenosaki uniform. Then, Tsumugi broke the silence by bringing up the real topic at hand.
“Where am I going to sleep?”
Natsume looked up with a raised eyebrow. “Aren’t you going back homE?”
Tsumugi shook his head. “Your mother said I should stay here, as a precaution.”
Natsume clicked his tongue, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. “Your motheR won’t worry if you don’t go bacK?”
“No,” Tsumugi replied with a shrug. “She’s out with her boyfriend for dinner. She always gets back late, so she won’t care.” He said it with such natural indifference that Natsume’s jaw visibly tightened.
“You talk about thaT like it’s nothing,” Natsume murmured, though he didn’t expect an answer.
Tsumugi gave a faint smile but said nothing more. There was something about his relaxed posture that didn’t quite match his words.
Natsume sighed, clearly battling with himself. “I was going to say you could sleep on the flooR, but you’d probably move around and mess up my bookS.”
Tsumugi glanced at the floor, where a pile of books was scattered in what was clearly a deliberate order. “Your perfectly disorganized books?” he asked, amused.
Natsume scowled, a faint blush creeping onto his face. “ExACTLY. So you’ll sleep with mE,” he declared, averting his gaze as if he didn’t want to face Tsumugi’s reaction. “Any problem with thaT?”
Tsumugi stared at him in surprise for a moment, then shook his head. “No, I don’t mind.”
“Good,” Natsume said, letting out a breath as if he’d passed some great test. “But don’t you dare touch anythinG.”
Tsumugi chuckled softly, sitting on the edge of the bed as Natsume continued to pretend he wasn’t nervous about sharing the space. There was something comforting about Natsume’s discomfort; for the first time in a long while, Tsumugi felt oddly at peace.
The sun began to filter through the curtains, softly illuminating the room. Tsumugi slowly opened his eyes, blinking to adjust to the light. The bed was strangely empty, and it took him a moment to realize that Natsume was no longer by his side.
Turning his head, he found him standing in the center of the room.
Natsume was wearing surprisingly short shorts that revealed his long, slender legs, paired with the Yumenosaki shirt worn in an unconventional way, like an improvised short nightshirt. His messy reddish hair fell over his shoulders, and the morning light seemed to accentuate his figure in an unexpected way.
Still half-asleep, Tsumugi allowed his gaze to wander over Natsume's body, noticing details he hadn't before. He was... attractive. His movements were light, almost graceful, and there was something about his posture that reminded him of a girl. Of course, Tsumugi had never been around a girl, let alone seen one undressed, so he couldn’t make an exact comparison. But one thing was clear in his sleep-clouded mind: Natsume was beautiful.
It was at that moment that Natsume turned, catching Tsumugi's gaze. His eyes widened slightly, and to Tsumugi's surprise, a deep blush began to creep over his cheeks.
"Why are YOU looking at mE with that perVERTed facE?" Natsume snapped, throwing a book at him without warning.
The book bounced off the mattress near Tsumugi, snapping him out of his trance.
"Huh?" Tsumugi mumbled, still confused.
"If you haD weirD dreams, that doesn't mean yoU CAN take them out on mE," Natsume added, visibly embarrassed as he crossed his arms, as though trying to cover himself more.
Tsumugi hurriedly waved his hands in the air. "I wasn’t thinking anything weird, I swear!"
Natsume rolled his eyes, though his tone remained tinged with embarrassment. "HmPh. You'd better nOT. Now geT ready. I’m nOT goinG to put uP with yoU staring at mE like some artiST admiring a statue."
Tsumugi let out a nervous laugh as he sat up, not daring to admit that, in his mind, Natsume was much more than a mere "statue." After all... Natsume had saved his life.
He hadn’t even thanked him for it.
As he got ready, Tsumugi allowed his mind to wander, the weight of reality beginning to settle on his shoulders. This wasn’t just a reunion with a childhood friend, no. The familiar sense of safety Natsume had once inspired in him had returned, but now it came with a heavy burden.
My childhood friend is a magician...
The phrase echoed in his mind like an unreal mantra. As if dealing with the day-to-day at school weren’t enough, now he had to face demons. Demons that wanted... what, exactly? To devour him? Destroy him? The images crowded his mind, each more terrifying than the last, yet none provided clarity.
He recalled the day before. How everything had changed so quickly, so abruptly, that he’d barely had time to process it. It had been a whirlwind of impossible revelations and situations that defied logic. Now, standing by the window as he adjusted his school tie, he realized how surreal everything still was.
How can I think about going to school as if nothing's happening?
Tsumugi sighed, trying to ground himself in the present. The feeling of madness blended with the mundanity of getting ready for what should have been a normal school day. But nothing about his situation was normal.
Natsume, still in the center of the room, glanced at him out of the corner of his eye as he arranged some of his books (the same ones he’d used as an excuse the night before).
"What are yoU thinkinG about so much?" Natsume asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Tsumugi startled slightly, shaking his head as though to clear his thoughts. "Nothing... just that all of this feels a bit surreal."
Natsume gave a small smile, though it didn’t seem mocking—rather, it was softer, almost understanding. "Get used to IT. This is JUST the beginning."
The statement, though simple, left a knot in Tsumugi’s stomach.
Just the beginning...
He adjusted his tie and let out a heavy sigh. No matter how crazy everything seemed, he had no choice but to move forward. Besides, Natsume was here with him, and for some reason, that was more comforting than anything.
No...
Not just comforting...
"Natsume-kun..."
"MHm?" Natsume turned to look at him, the sunlight behind him shining in such a way that it made him appear like a beautiful angel.
"I never thanked you for protecting me."
Natsume clicked his tongue, turned away, and mumbled something Tsumugi couldn’t quite catch.
Without a doubt...
Natsume was his guardian angel. He had to repay the favor.
If only he knew how.
Here’s the revised version with italicized font and dialogue in quotes:
Scenes from the next chapter:
“Tsumugi Aoba, correct?”
Tsumugi quickly turned around and saw a familiar figure at the end of the hallway. Eichi Tenshouin, another student at the academy. The last time he had heard Eichi’s name, it was in relation to his hospitalization due to his fragile health. Eichi was approaching with his characteristic calm and composed demeanor. His pale hair seemed to glow under the dim library light, and his piercing gaze had a peculiar way of making people feel both at ease and unsettled.
“Ah, Eichi-kun,” Tsumugi said, blinking in surprise. “What brings you here so late?”
Eichi offered a faint smile. “I could ask you the same question, Tsumugi. But it seems you’ve been busy with library work.” He gestured toward the freshly arranged books.
“Oh, well, it is my job after all,” Tsumugi replied modestly, scratching the back of his neck. “But if you’re looking for a book, I think I can help.”
“Actually,” Eichi said, his tone soft but purposeful, “I was hoping you could help me with something else.”
Tsumugi tilted his head in curiosity. “With what exactly?”
Eichi motioned for him to follow, leading him to a quieter section of the library. Once they were seated at a small table, Eichi placed his hands on the surface and leaned forward slightly.
“You’ve heard of the ‘war,’ haven’t you?”