Chapter 11: The First Day of Trouble

One day had passed since Kamito’s meeting with Amanai.
As Kamito prepared to leave for school, he watched breaking news on television.

An extremist organization called The Grand Resonance Order had attacked several Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
They believed that the Ground Wave incident ten years ago was a “Revelation” and that humans must evolve and unite with monsters.
Because of this cult, many innocent people had become victims — including children.

Kamito’s mother spoke with worry.

“Kamito-kun, please be careful. There’s a chance they might already be in Tokyo… and worse, their followers too.”

“Alright, Mom. I’ll stay alert.”

Kamito, now officially wearing his Magical Academy uniform, rushed toward the bus stop — until his attention was stolen by a young woman with long blue hair and purple eyes, playing the violin beautifully.
The people waiting for the bus applauded.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
She smiled sweetly.

Kamito approached her.

“That was a beautiful performance.”

She smiled brighter.

“Thank you. I didn’t expect everyone to enjoy my violin playing.”

“By the way… that uniform. Are you heading to the Magical Academy?”

Kamito nodded and smiled.

“Yeah.”

The bus arrived.
Before leaving, Kamito handed her a small keychain plushie.

“Oh, Thank you… may I know your name?”

“My name is Kamito Ryuga. Nice to meet you.”

Kamito hurried onto the bus.

As it drove away, the girl gently placed her violin down and whispered with a faint smile:

“Such a kind boy… I hope he isn’t my next target.”

A cold wind blew.
Leaves scattered.
The girl vanished along with her violin.

Kamito arrived at the Academy and spotted Amanai wearing the official uniform.
She looked nervous and embarrassed as she approached him.

“Oh, Amanai-san. Good morning.”

“Kamito-kun, good morning!”

“By the way, which class are you in?”

“Hmm, I’m in Class B. Let me guess — you’re in Class A, right?”

Amanai shook her head.

“You’re wrong. I’m in Class B… same as you.”

“Aree?”

Kamito scratched his head in confusion.

Amanai leaned closer, whispering:

“Hey… what am I supposed to do later? I’ve never properly greeted people my age before.”

Kamito chuckled lightly.

“That’s not funny. What’s so funny about that?”

“Amanai-san, you’re just… really cute. Like a princess trying to mingle with the commoners.”

“That’s NOT funny, Kamito-kun!”

Her face flushed red and she pouted adorably.

Before they could enter class, Amanai was called to the teacher’s office for confirmation.
Kamito walked alone to the classroom.

Gossip spread instantly among the students.

“Sera Amanai, daughter of General Amanai Kouji, will study Ethics here.”

The teacher opened the door.

“Alright, everyone quiet. Today we have a new student.”

Silence filled the room.

The door creaked open…

There stood Sera Amanai — long red-and-black hair flowing behind her, her sharp eyes unintentionally intimidating the room.
But in truth, she was just nervous.

The teacher gestured kindly.

“Amanai, introduce yourself. No need to be tense.”

Sera swallowed hard.

She stepped forward…
Stopped.
Stepped again…
Stopped again.

Whispers filled the air.

“Why is she walking like a robot?”
“Her stare is scary…”

Her face burned red.

“A-a–I… Sera… A-Amanai…”

Silence.

Kamito quietly facepalmed.

Everyone waited.

The teacher frowned.

“Continue, Amanai.”

“…That’s all.”

“Hah?”

The teacher forced a smile.

“Usually new students mention hobbies or personality—”

“I don’t have any!” she shouted in panic.

The class flinched.

Sera waved her hands frantically.

“N-no! I mean… I don’t… I just… I don’t know what to say! I’ve never done this before!”

The class exchanged glances.
Some snickered.

A short-haired girl raised her hand.

“Amanai-san, do you like sweet or salty foods?”

Sera froze.

She pondered the question like planning a battlefield strategy.

“…Spicy.”

The class murmured again.

The teacher clapped.

“Alright, thank you Amanai. Everyone, please help her adjust.”

Sera headed to her seat.
A friendly boy tapped his desk.

“Amanai-san! Nice to meet you! If you need help—”

“NO! I mean—not that I don’t want help! I just… I’m not used to… this!”

The boy stared, stunned.
Some students burst into laughter.

Sera slumped into her seat, covering her face.

“Why does a simple introduction feel like a life-or-death battle…” she muttered.

Before Sera could stand, the entire class swarmed her like fans at a concert.

“Amanai-san! Are the rumors true?!”
“At your age you led frontline troops?!”
“Did you fight A-class monsters?!”
“What did you eat as a kid?! Stones? Steel?!”

Sera backed against the wall, overwhelmed.

“S-stop asking everything at once! I—I—”

A student shoved a notebook toward her.

“Please sign this!!”

“EH!? Why do you want my signature!?”

Through the chaos, Sera spotted Kamito walking out of the classroom.

He didn’t help.
He didn’t look back.
He simply walked away like none of this concerned him.

Sera’s eye twitched.

“…Kamito-kun.”

Kamito paused.

“Hmm?”

“K-KAMITO-KUN! DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE!!”

In an instant, Sera slipped out of the swarm and appeared beside Kamito using military speed.

The class felt only a gust of wind.

She grabbed Kamito’s collar slightly.

“Why didn’t you help me?! That was… that was… humiliating!”

“You’re a young commander. It wouldn’t be polite for me to interfere.” Kamito replied calmly.

“W-WELL MAKE IT POLITE NOW!”

Kamito ate calmly.
Sera ate nervously, glancing left and right.

Whispers filled the cafeteria.

“Isn’t that Amanai… the young commander?”
“She’s eating alone with Kamito-kun?”
“They look like a couple…”
“Tsundere type… perfect.”

Sera covered her face.

“I-it’s not like that! We’re just… just…”

Kamito took a bite.

“Eating lunch.”

“DON’T ANSWER SO MATURELY!”

Laughter erupted across the cafeteria.

Suddenly—

A chilling aura swept in.

Masahiro Yuki stood at the entrance.
Snow-white hair gleaming.
Red eyes sharp and elegant.

She saw Kamito… sitting beside Sera.

Her steps were slow.
Precise.
Dangerous.

“Kamito-kun.”

Kamito looked up.

“Oh, Yuki.”

Yuki’s gaze shifted to Sera.
A polite smile — with a sharp edge.

“Amanai Sera. Could you move? I want to sit next to Kamito-kun.”

Sera froze.

“…Eh?”

Yuki raised an eyebrow.

“Is there a problem?”

“I—I don’t… understand why you want to sit here…”

Rumors exploded again.

“Yuki’s jealous!”
“Love triangle!”
“Tsundere vs Kuudere!”

Yuki’s eyes glinted.

“Do you not want to move? Or… are you too comfortable sitting next to him?”

Sera turned red from hairline to chin.

“T-THAT’S NOT— I’M NOT— I’M NOT ANYTHING TO HIM!”

“I see. Sounds like something someone would say while sitting in her boyfriend’s seat.”

“WHAT!?”

The two stood up at the same time.

Kamito sat in the middle.

“Amanai-san, move.”

“You move! Don’t bully me just because I sat here first!”

“Bullying? I just want to sit beside my friend.”

“No! You’re trying to chase me away!”

“You’re sensitive, Commander Tsundere.”

“DON’T CALL ME THAT!”

The cafeteria exploded again.

“WAH! Tsundere vs Snow Queen!”
“Team Yuki!”
“Team Sera! Her shocked face is cute!”
“Kamito-kun is the calmest one here… he’s the source of the chaos.”

Meanwhile, from a distant corner table—

Natsume Airi ate her sandwich quietly.

“…Humans are strange.”

Back at Kamito’s table, both girls held onto his chair.

“Kamito-kun! Who deserves to sit next to you?!”

Kamito stopped chewing.

The entire cafeteria went silent.

Airi paused mid-bite.

Kamito looked at both of them.

“…Can you both sit down? I just want to eat my bread in peace.”

The cafeteria burst into laughter.

Both Sera and Yuki flushed red.

“DON’T ANSWER SO MATURELY!” they shouted together.

The blue-haired girl reappeared, touching the ground.

“You will all be free soon… and he will come as well.”

She smiled softly—
and vanished.

Thus began the Hope in Ghost City Arc.