Chapter 38: The Arrival of the Watchers

Morning light spilled through the tall windows of the Tokyo Magic Academy, glinting off polished marble floors and the faint shimmer of enchantments hanging in the air. The corridors buzzed with restless whispers — the kind that only meant one thing: big news had spread fast.

“Hey, did you hear? The High Elite are coming here today!”

“Seriously?! They’re from the central branch, right? What’s going on?”

“No clue, but I heard they’re sending three of them this time.”

“Three? Wait… you mean that person is coming too?”

“If that’s true, I’m not skipping class ever again!”

The entire hallway seemed to hum with speculation. Kanata passed by the crowd quietly, his hands buried in his pockets as he pretended not to listen — though every word reached his ears.
He sighed softly.

“High Elite, huh…” he muttered. “Just what we needed.”

In the classroom, Rio was already seated, lazily scrolling through his tablet.
Kanata slumped into the chair beside him.

“Ohayo, Tanaba.”

“Ohh, good morning, Kanata.” Rio grinned, eyeing him up and down. “You look dead. Was it the date?”

Kanata groaned. “Half yes, half no. I think I lost both my sanity and wallet.”

Rio chuckled. “You’ll survive. But have you heard? The High Elite are really coming — and apparently, they’ll be overseeing our certification exams.”

Kanata blinked. “Wait, that’s supposed to be two months from now.”

“Exactly.” Rio’s tone grew serious. “They moved it forward. No one knows why. But…” He glanced around before leaning closer. “…rumor says it’s connected to the Caine incident.”

Kanata’s eyes narrowed. “Figures. They’re probably trying to smoke out his sympathizers.”

Rio nodded. “There’s more. Have you seen the news lately?”

“No. Should I?”

Rio sighed, tapping the screen of his tablet and sliding it across the desk. “The Vampire cases. They’re spreading again — men and women both. No pattern. Victims go berserk after being bitten. The authorities had to sedate them with… get this… onion gas.”

Kanata’s brow furrowed. “So they’re targeting everyone now. Great.”

“And the officials believe it’s tied to the Banshee Rituals from last month,” Rio added grimly.

Kanata leaned back in his chair. “The world never learns, huh?”

“You’re one to talk,” Rio teased.

Kanata shot him a look that said shut up — but he smiled faintly anyway.

By lunch break, Kanata sat outside under the shade of the academy’s massive sakura tree with Celestine, Itsuha, and Rio. The air was calm, but the conversation wasn’t.

“Vampires, Banshees, and now High Elite inspectors?” Itsuha muttered, taking a sip of her tea. “I’m starting to think peace was just an illusion.”

Celestine nodded in quiet agreement. “Let the authorities handle it. It’s not our fight anymore.”

Rio shrugged. “Maybe. But the timing’s too strange. Why now?”

Kanata watched the petals drift down onto his hand. “Whatever their reason… it’s not just about exams.”

“You think they’re after you?” Itsuha asked bluntly.

Kanata gave her a flat look. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

The next day arrived — crisp, cold, and full of tension.

Dozens of black vehicles pulled up before the academy gates, escorted by suited guards carrying enchanted rifles. The courtyard exploded in flashing cameras and cheering students.

“They’re here!”

“Look! It’s really them!”

A sleek limousine door opened — and a tall woman stepped out.
Her long silver hair shimmered under the sunlight, her aqua-blue eyes calm but commanding. She wore a tailored white uniform with the insignia of the High Elite stitched across her chest.

The crowd erupted.

“Lady Kobayashi! Over here!”
“Welcome to Tokyo Academy!”
“You’re even prettier than in the broadcast!”

Kobayashi smiled politely and waved. Her composure alone sent half the male students into chaos.

Then came the next figure: a man in a sharp black suit, his dark hair slicked back, thin-framed glasses resting on his nose, and eyes that carried quiet authority.

“Reiga-sama! You’re so cool!”
“Kyaa! Reiga-sama, notice me!”

The screams nearly drowned out the car engines. Reiga simply adjusted his cuffs, ignoring the commotion with a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Kanata, watching from the second-floor classroom window, sighed deeply.
“This feels like a circus.”

Rio leaned over. “You think the third one’s not coming?”

Kanata shrugged. “Probably fashionably late.”

Inside the principal’s office, Headmaster Keegan greeted the two with a forced smile.
“Welcome, Lady Kobayashi, Sir Reiga. But forgive me — where is the third member of your team?”

Reiga adjusted his glasses. “Miss Evelyn will arrive later. She’s attending to a recent incident.”

“I see.” Keegan nodded. “Well, we’re honored by your presence. The students are… quite enthusiastic.”

“Enthusiastic,” Reiga repeated, clearly unimpressed.

Moments later, they entered Kanata’s classroom.

The students erupted once more into excited chatter, some nearly falling from their seats.
But both High Elite officers stopped short the moment they saw him.

Kanata Tendou.

Their gazes locked — cold, deliberate, as if recognizing something unspoken.

Kobayashi’s expression softened only slightly. Reiga, on the other hand, stared at Kanata like a scientist observing a dangerous experiment.

Kanata blinked slowly, his usual calm unbroken.
“I knew it,” he muttered under his breath. “I’m the reason they’re here.”

The air in the classroom grew tense — every whisper fading into silence.

And then, quietly but clearly, Reiga spoke.

“Tendou Kanata… we finally meet.”