Chapter 40: The Blood Moon Begins

Kanata was walking toward the academy when Reiga was already waiting at the gate, surrounded by a halo of admiring women behind him.

“Yo, Kanata-kun? Ohayō.”

Kanata stopped and raised an eyebrow. “Reiga — what do you want now?”

Reiga smiled, polite and confident. “Relax. I didn’t come to provoke you today. I came to offer you something.”

“For me?” Kanata sounded uninterested.

“Yes. So I’ll be direct: Kanata-kun, will you join the High Elite? If you do, you’ll get what you want — including a way out of this academy. How does that sound?”

Kanata barked a laugh that wasn’t amused. “Huh? Are you serious? That’s like jumping out of the frying pan straight into the fire.”

Reiga chuckled. “Don’t worry — we’re not monsters. We like our fun too. Sometimes we joke around.” His grin said he meant it.

Kanata frowned, unreadable. “No thanks. I already have my own organization.”

“Oh? I’m curious — what organization?” Reiga’s interest deepened.

Kanata breathed out and said plainly, “The Black Dragon.”

Reiga froze mid-smile. Even Kobayashi — who had been hiding a few steps away — looked stunned behind the wall. Reiga had assumed Kanata hadn’t gone that far.

“Kanata-kun, are you sure you can stand among us?” Reiga asked, recovering his composure.

“Of course. Besides, my team is not officially formed yet — members aren’t finalized.” Kanata kept walking, thinking.

“Interesting. Then from now on, you should prepare your team.”

“Don’t joke around. I already said we’re short a member.”

“Remember the upcoming exam,” Reiga said, voice even. “Teamwork will be essential. Many students already formed teams — you’re the only one who hasn’t.”

The words stuck with Kanata as he walked the corridors. Schwartz, Erika, and Envy weren’t part of the academy, so if he wanted teammates for the exam he’d have to recruit from inside. He thought through possibilities while classes continued and bells rang.

At lunch, Kanata met with Itsuha, Celestine, and Rio.

“So,” Rio said, leaning forward, “you’ll need a team for next week’s exam.”

“I expected them to corner you,” Rio added. “Reiga’s group is clever like that.”

“Relax, Tanaba. I won’t be baited so easily,” Kanata replied.

He told them about “The Black Dragon.” Celestine’s eyes brightened.

“Then let me join,” she said, taking both of Kanata’s hands for a heartbeat.

Itsuha snapped, flaring tsundere, “D-don’t get the wrong idea — I’m joining to make sure you don’t lose control again!”

Rio watched with a wry smile. Nagisa arrived then, cheeky as ever, and practically dragged Kanata by the shoulder.

“I’ll join too!” she announced, tapping Kanata on the head. “Who says a Four Witch can’t be part of a team? I’ll officially supervise you — that way I can watch you myself.”

Itsuha flushed and growled in embarrassment. The group fell into noisy teasing, but the point was decided: a team would be formed — and it would include people who cared about Kanata.

Later, on his way home to buy ice cream for Haqua, Kanata saw a woman stumble on a banana peel. Snow-white hair, crimson eyes, dressed neatly — she looked uncannily like Celestine.

“Ouch!” she cried.

Kanata rushed over. “Miss, are you okay?”

“Yes… thank you. Sorry, I’m in a hurry!” she answered, straightening herself.

Before Kanata could ask more, the woman answered a phone that crackled with a tense, professional voice.

“Agent Evelyn here. Subj-02 sighted in Area A — very close to your position.”

“Understood. Prep units to contain. We can’t let it escape or harm civilians.”

The name — Evelyn — set something cold moving in the night. This was no ordinary patrol. This was a hunt.

Thus the Blood Moon Arc began: Evelyn Vairne had been mobilized to contain Subj-02 — and tonight, the city would be quietly bracing itself for a hunt that would set events spinning.

Kanata watched the hurried woman leave, the unexpected tremor of unease tightening in his chest. He had no idea how close the next danger already was — and how many strings were being pulled behind faces he had learned to trust.