Transfer Student

Torii Heart School had barely finished airing out the classrooms when the noise returned in full summer force.

Bags thumped onto the floor. Chairs scraped loudly across tatami. The room filled with the unmistakable sound of children who had survived weeks without structure and were now aggressively determined to share every detail of their lives all at once. Eight small yokai voices overlapped into one incomprehensible storm of excitement, disappointment, bragging, and outright nonsense.

‘I learned a new curse word!’ Mon announced proudly.

‘That is not a skill,’ Mutsuki said weakly from the front of the room. It hasn’t been 15 minutes since the kids arrived and he was already exhausted. ‘And it is absolutely not something you should be proud of.’

‘It is if you use it correctly,’ Gon replied with utter sincerity.

‘I went to the river and I didn’t push anyone in,’ Sumire announced with regal pride, as if this were a significant moral breakthrough.

‘My grandpa let me steal fireworks!’ Mon added quickly. ‘I mean…borrow! Borrow fireworks.’

‘Celebrities are shorter in real life,’ Gon declared. ‘Except the dragon ones. They are huge.’

Akashi cracked his knuckles. ‘I fought my cousins. I won. Mostly.’

‘I ate twelve kinds of shaved ice,’ Honey said cheerfully. ‘I might be part syrup now.’

‘Also why are you looking less feminine now sensei?’ Gon added. ‘You’re looking more “unisex” now.

‘I trained,’ Kojiro said flatly. ‘And I keep crossing paths with Mutsuki-sensei against my will. Maybe that’s why he looks less girly now.’

‘Sorry, Kojiro…’ Mutsuki replied with genuine remorse. ‘I couldn’t see the future.’

‘Of course you trained,’ Sumire groaned.

Meow raised her hand timidly, ears twitching. ‘I only broke one thing.’

Applause erupted.

‘I think I made a girlfriend.’ Someone whispered.

The room suddenly went silent.

‘Who said that?’ Mon and Gon furiously flipped their heads to the back of the class. They never found out who said it.

Mutsuki laughed despite himself. He lifted both hands in surrender. ‘One at a time. Please. I beg you. My soul can only process so much joy at once.’

Youchan smiled from the side as she helped hang fresh paper charms near the windows. Ones that help bring the summer heat down. The room felt alive again, buzzing with the kind of chaos that meant the class was whole.

‘WE ARE BACK!’ the children squealed, finishing the Torii Heart School theme song at full volume.

‘Alright, alright,’ Mutsuki said, laughing. ‘Welcome back, everyone. Let’s—’

The door slid open. The room froze, literally. Frost traced part of the doorframe as the temperature dipped sharply;

Maria Kuroyanagi stood in the doorway.

‘Ma… Maria?’ Mutsuki blinked. ‘Was I supposed to know you were coming?’

Youchan stiffened beside him. Maria stepped aside. A small figure followed her in.

The girl’s white hair fell straight down her back like untouched snow. Her kimono was immaculate. Her eyes were sharp, clear, and far too calm for a child her age.

‘This is Rei,’ Maria said.

Rei bowed with impeccable precision. ‘Good morning.’

Cold mist crept along the floor. Not a single student was able to say anything anymore. Mutsuki turned his head slowly toward Youchan in perplexity.

‘You knew about this?’

Youchan whispered. ‘I received a notice. I thought you did too.’

‘When?’

‘Few minutes ago.’

Mutsuki felt his life span shortening.

‘Rei will be joining Torii Heart School effective immediately,’ Maria continued.

‘Effective… right now?’ Mon finally managed.

‘Yes.’

‘From where?’ Kojiro asked with his left brow almost kissing his tiny forehead. He was already very suspicious.

‘Saegusa Shigure’s class.’

Eight reactions detonated at once.

‘The elite one?!’

‘Why here?’

‘Did she explode something?’

‘Is she dangerous?’

‘You’re a spy!’

Rei spoke calmly, before Mutsuki could intervene.

‘I am Rei,’ she said. ‘A yuki-onna.’

She paused to let everyone react, then added evenly, ‘I froze three classmates. And some staff.’

Mon leaned toward Gon. ‘She’s scary.’

‘I like her already,’ Gon whispered back.

‘On accident,’ Rei added. ‘They recovered.’

‘How frozen?’ Kishin asked faintly.

‘Solid.’

Kishin squeaked. Meow hid behind her chair.

Sumire crossed her arms. ‘Unacceptable.’

‘That’s… kind of cool,’ Honey whispered in awe.

‘It is not cool,’ Sumire snapped. ‘It is dangerous.’

Mutsuki stepped forward quickly. ‘Rei’s control needs refinement. That’s why she’s here.’

Maria glanced at him. ‘Concerned parents.’

‘Of course,’ Mutsuki muttered.

‘She needs a class that can accommodate growth without competition,’ Maria added.

Mutsuki met Rei’s eyes. She does not look cruel. Not arrogant as well. Maybe… just controlled to the point of loneliness?… Huh… Like me then….

‘You’re welcome here,’ Mutsuki smiled as he extended a hand.

Rei bowed instead of taking it. ‘Thank you. I rather not touch anyone.’ 

‘She’s like a snow princess,’ Mon whispered.

‘She might murder us,’ Gon replied. ‘But politely.’

‘She’ll fit right in,’ Mon decided.

‘Absolutely not,’ Sumire muttered.

Rei turned to her. ‘You are a kappa princess.’

‘I am.’

‘I will do my best not to freeze you,’ Rei said solemnly. ‘You would crack.’

Sumire’s eye twitched. ‘EXCUSE ME—’

Gon burst out laughing.

‘Enough,’ Mutsuki said firmly. ‘Seats.’

Maria turned to leave. ‘I’ll handle the paperwork.’

‘You always do,’ Mutsuki replied.

Maria disappeared just like that from where she was standing.

‘Well,’ Mutsuki said, ‘that’s new.’

‘You attract surprises,’ Youchan murmured.

Mutsuki smiled sheepishly at Youchan.

‘Please take a seat Rei. Everyone, treat her kindly. Welcome her.’

Everyone introduced themselves one by one. Rei took the last open seat gracefully. Frost briefly traced the desk leg, then vanished as she corrected herself.

‘New term,’ Mutsuki announced. ‘New student. Which means we start with something important.’

‘No,’ the class groaned.

‘Evacuation drills.’

The groan escalated to chaos.

‘BORING,’ Mon declared.

‘Necessary,’ Kojiro countered.

‘Evacuation drills are unfortunately part of life,’ Mutsuki said with a sigh. ‘Everyone, line up by height.’

After arguing over who was taller between Mon and Gon, they complied.

‘No panic,’ Mutsuki instructed. ‘No spells unless told. No heroics.’

Akashi looked deeply offended.

‘And Rei,’ Mutsuki added, ‘tell me or Youchan if anything feels wrong.’

She nodded. ‘Understood.’

As they practiced, Honey kept checking on Rei. Meow matched her pace. Mon and Gon argued about emergency supplies. Sumire watched like a general. Kojiro observed Rei as carefully as the exits.

When the drill ended, Rei bowed to Mutsuki.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘For not treating me like a hazard.’

Mutsuki smiled. ‘You’re a student. Not dangerous goods.’

A faint blush warmed her pale face. Torii Hearts had just welcomed winter in the middle of summer.