Kickstart My Heart

“Only YOU can save yourself.”

“…If you can do that, I’ll deal with whoever dares cross that line myself…”

“…I promise.”

The words Eiji had uttered that night played back in his head like a looped recording on an old radio. It was the first time he’d ever said something like that. It felt like the words weren't even his own, yet he didn't regret them for a second.

Deep within the fog of his mind, another voice answered. A familiar one. A voice he loved more than any other.

“Violence isn't the answer to every problem, Eiji. Most of the time, words will save someone far more than physical strength ever will.”

It was Hifumi. She was standing in a vast green field, her hair being caressed by a gentle, refreshing breeze.

What was she doing there? What was he doing there?

It didn't make sense, but it felt so peaceful he didn't dare question it. He just stood there, wondering if this was a sign that he’d finally done the right thing.

DING.

A loud, utterly misplaced ringing echoed through the field.

His sister turned to him with a knowing smile, her lips moving soundlessly. He couldn't hear the words, but he understood the meaning.

You need to go.

With another ring—longer this time—Eiji’s eyes flickered open.

DIIIING…

A third ring in quick succession. Who the hell was at his door this early? Was it the landlady? What day was it, anyway? Rent day?

As Eiji reluctantly dragged himself out of the comfort of his blankets, Meh popped out of thin air.

“Eiji-dono! Someone is at the door!”

“No shit...” Eiji muttered, stumbling toward the entrance.

He flicked the lock, already rehearsing excuses for the cat and the unpaid rent. “Look, there was some—”

“Good morning, Senpai!”

The door swung open, and Eiji came face-to-face with a radiant, delighted smile. Naomi stood there, her face full of a liveliness that put the gloomy morning sun to shame.

It wasn't the landlady.

Eiji let out a long, weary sigh. Why was his sleep being hijacked? He’d worked through the night and had zero intention of attending classes today. But it seemed life had a different script.

Not if I can help it.

With a soft click, he shut the door in her face and walked straight back toward his bed.

“EEH?! SENPAI?!”

Her muffled protest pierced through the wood, but Eiji paid it no mind.

“Is Eiji-dono not going to let his friend in?” Meh asked, hovering over him.

“She isn’t... haah...” Eiji slumped onto the mattress and reached for the lighter on his nightstand.

“Then I’m going to—”

“Wait!” Eiji raised a hand, but he was a second too late. Meh had already batted the doorknob.

The door swung wide, and Naomi’s head peeked inside. “Senpai?”

Eiji lit a cigarette and stayed silent, staring at the ceiling as if she wouldn't notice him if he just didn't move. He was a sulky cloud of smoke and exhaustion. Naomi took the liberty of stepping inside anyway.

“Is something the matter, Senpai?” She tilted her head, watching him smoke with an incredibly grumpy expression.

“Eiji-dono doesn't like having his beauty sleep interrupted!” Meh flew in circles, making Naomi chuckle.

“Good morning, Meh-chan!”

“Meh-chan...?” The shikigami paused, seemingly confused by the suffix.

“And good morning to you too, Luna!” Naomi bent over to pet the black kitten weaving through her legs. The cat purred instantly, leaning into the touch.

“Luna?” Meh questioned. “Did Eiji-dono name her?”

“Well, I just thought she looked like a Luna,” Naomi said. “Did you have another name in mind?”

“Not that Meh knows of...” The shikigami muttered, sounding slightly dejected that his own legendary name suggestions had been bypassed.

Eiji watched the three of them—the girl, the cat, and the floating eyeball. He crushed his cigarette into the ashtray and sat up.

“Good morning again, Senpai!” Naomi bowed slightly, sensing the shift in his mood.

“Whatever,” he muttered, heading for the closet.

“Have you had breakfast yet? We’re going to be late for school.”

Eiji considered telling her he was staying home, but the thought of getting lectured by another girl was too much to handle. One Hatsue was his limit, apparently.

“Not yet,” Eiji said, pulling his uniform from a hanger.

“That won't do...” Naomi shook her head disapprovingly. She trotted over to the small fridge. “Let’s see here...”

She hummed to herself, swinging her hips slightly as she peered into the fridge with a level of energy Eiji found physically offensive for this time of day.

Then, she stopped. Her shoulders slumped.

“Ugh... there are only three cartons of juice in here,” Naomi muttered in disbelief. “What do you even eat for breakfast, Senpai?”

“Juice,” Eiji replied flatly, tossing his black hoodie over his head and sliding into his checkered blazer. He was supposed to be wearing a standard button down according to school rules but frankly, he didn’t care that much.

“Well, there’s nothing else in here, is there?” Naomi chuckled, though she looked genuinely shocked. “What about lunch?”

“Canteen.”

“And dinner?”

“Ramen.”

“Woaaaah...” Naomi’s eyes went hollow. A small, soul-shaped vapor actually wafted out of her mouth. Eiji’s lifestyle choices were apparently the death of her.

“Come on.” Eiji walked past her and grabbed a half-finished juice carton from the shelf. “Weren't we going to be late?”

“Oh, right!” Naomi snapped back to reality, literally sucking her escaped soul back through her nose. “Let’s go!”

⌁◉⌁

Despite being baffled by Naomi’s sudden 180 and her newfound sense of familiarity, Eiji didn’t push it. Even as blunt as he was, he couldn't quite find the words to ask why she’d suddenly decided to become his shadow. Was it because of the promise? He knew what he’d implied that night, but he hadn't expected her to go "buddy-buddy" on him forty-eight hours later.

As they walked to school, Naomi talked his ear off. The surrounding students watched in visible shock—a tiny first-year animatedly chirping at a scary upperclassman was a rare sight on campus. It wasn't long before Mitsuaki’s cronies took notice, too. Not that Eiji gave a damn.

Before the first period, the unusual pair split up outside their classrooms. For the first time all year, Eiji had completed the side quest of making it to class before the bell.

Despite his rare punctuality surprising everyone, his exhaustion didn't leave room for much else. He spent the morning sleeping through every lecture leading up to lunch.

“Oi.”

“...”

“Oi!”

Eiji knew that voice all too well, but this time, he was even more reluctant to acknowledge it.

“Earth to Kanzaki...?”

“Just leave me alone,” Eiji sighed into the crook of his arm. He could barely withstand the pressure of one energetic girl; two was a tall order.

“Wow, who spat in your cereal this morning?” Hatsue raised a brow, clearly taken aback by his unusually prickly mood.

Just as a heavy silence settled between them, a short figure cut through the ranks and spoke up nonchalantly.

“Something the matter, Senpai?”

“Huh?” Eiji raised his head at the familiar pitch.

“Senpai...?” Hatsue’s eyebrow arch managed to grow even wider.

“Ah-noo... are you a friend of Senpai’s?” Naomi turned toward the flabbergasted class rep.

“His what—?” Hatsue shook her head, trying to clear the shock. “Well, not if you ask him, no.”

“I... see.” Naomi nodded solemnly. “Hey, Senpai, want to grab lunch?” She patted his arm even more casually than she’d walked into a room full of upperclassmen.

“Lunch? Wait...” Hatsue raised her palms, looking lost. “Have I missed a season? Is this a flashback? What in the shonen manga is going on here?”

Looking around at the commotion the visit was causing, Eiji rubbed his temples. He was visibly exasperated. How had his life escalated to this?

“Shonen manga? You seem more like the TV drama type, Senpai,” Naomi said, tilting her head quizzically at Hatsue.

“Ah-re? Where did you even get that impression? Am I really that easy to read?” Hatsue, true to form, immediately jumped the tracks of the original conversation.

“Oh, so I was right.” Naomi nodded, satisfied.

“I read manga too, you know. I can enjoy a good story in any medium,” Hatsue replied cockily. Naomi clapped her hands together.

“Do you read webnovels? I just got into one about a school for programmers where—”

Eiji stared. How did this turn into otaku talk? Individually, these two were formidable; but together… they were a force of nature.

“Let’s just go,” Eiji muttered, unable to handle the chattering or the weird stares for another second.

“Roger!” Naomi chirped. “See you, Senpai!”

“See... you?” Hatsue waved back, looking like her brain had short-circuited. “What the hell just happened?”

⌁◉⌁

After a hectic, draining day, the "sticker" known as Naomi finally detached herself from Eiji’s side as they went their separate ways. Eiji didn't head home, though—he went straight to work. On foot.

It really was a bad day for Kanzaki Eiji.

In contrast to school, his shift at the convenience store was quiet. No energetic underclassmen popped out of thin air to pester him, at least. Once he clocked out, he headed to "Dream" for a drink—which, for Eiji, just meant his usual juice.

“And then?! What did you do, Eiji-kun?”

“I blasted a hole through the back of its throat and severed its cord once and for all.” Like a celebrity being grilled at a fan meet-and-greet, Eiji leaned back and answered the rapid-fire questions.

“Wow...” Shigeru breathed, eyes wide at the tale.

“'Wow' my ass. You’re too old for this crap, man. Get a grip.” Hayato sighed at the two men spinning tales of ghosts and magic.

“Hayato will never understand how cool being an exorcist is...” Shigeru whispered.

“Heard that.” Hayato didn't even look up from the counter. He was standing right there, after all.

“It really isn't,” Eiji muttered, sipping his juice.

“So, when’s the next mission?” Shigeru asked, practically vibrating at the edge of his seat.

Eiji paused. “Tonight.”

“Wow, wish I could come with.”

“YOU are a working adult. You don't get to play Ghostbusters.”

“Hayato, Ghostbusters are lame and outdated. Exorcists are trending right now.”

“What?! Ghostbusters were the height of cool!” Hayato looked genuinely hurt by the accusation.

“I’m off.” Eiji finished his drink and stood up.

“Take care, Eiji-kun!”

“See ya, kid.”

The two men stopped their bickering just long enough to wave off the third member of their ragtag group. Eiji wished he could stay and chat, but he’d told Shigeru the truth. He had to check out some peculiar malevolence Meh had spotted nearby.

It was still a bit too early for hunting though, so he decided to head home for a bit first.

…

Using his scarce free time to play mechanic, Eiji knelt in front of his bike in the apartment lot. He was busy tinkering with its internals, figuring he needed to learn some basic maintenance if he wanted to dodge the expert fees.

To his surprise, the machine wasn't all that complex once he got under the hood. He still lacked the refined touch of a pro, but thanks to the internet, he could handle an oil change, swap a filter, or check the brakes without blowing anything up.

As he was inspecting the pads—completely enamored by the glossy, clean finish of his machine—a voice he’d already heard a thousand times today echoed in the lot.

“Hey, Senpai! Whatcha doing?”

The distinct, short figure of Naomi emerged from across the street. “Maintenance? Are you going out, perhaps?”

“What are you doing here?” Eiji questioned, not taking his eyes off the calipers.

“Hm, just passing through...?” Naomi shrugged, not even convincing herself.

The heavy silence from Eiji suggested he wasn't buying it either. Naomi cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “You’re going out as an Exorcist tonight too, right?”

Eiji finally looked up, his expression screaming: How the hell do you know that?

“Who tol—”

“Meh told me how late you were out yesterday. Didn't you hear?” Naomi chuckled. “So I figured you’d be heading out tonight, too.”

That shikigami was walking a thin line. Getting on Eiji’s nerves wasn't new, but tonight was the kind of night where one more slip-up would result in Meh being punted into low earth orbit.

That idiot...

Eiji gritted his teeth. “And? What does my schedule have to do with you, exactly?”

Seeing she finally had his attention, Naomi took a deep breath and stood up straight. “I want to come with you.”

The reply was a cold gust of wind. “No.”

“Eh?” Naomi was left speechless for a second. “But I want to help! I promise I won’t be in the way. I’ve always loved the occult! My knowledge might actually be useful, so—”

“No.” Eiji swatted the request away like a fly and turned back to his bike.

“Oh, come on, Senpai! Please?” Naomi bowed low, palms pressed together.

“No.” That was three. Eiji checked the brake levers for the third time, purely for the sake of ignoring her.

“Geez...” Naomi slumped. “And how are you going to take responsibility now that I can still see all those weird spirits at night?”

“You what?” Eiji narrowed his eyes. Naomi playfully arched a brow.

“I do. The curse is gone, but the 'Sight' is still there.”

“You should have started with that...” Eiji sighed. He didn't even have to try; his annoying assistant manifested out of habit.

“You called, Eiji-dono?” Meh popped up in a puff of smoke, blinking at the two teenagers.

“How come she still has the Sight?”

“Hmm... perhaps her contact with the malevolence left a lasting print on her soul? She did have two very close encounters, after all.”

It was rare. Surviving a curse usually meant returning to a normal life, but apparently, Naomi’s soul had decided to keep the door unlocked.

“Does that mean I’m... special?!” Naomi had a sudden eureka moment, her eyes sparkling. “Do I get cool powers like yours, Senpai?!”

“You don't,” Eiji said flatly.

“Eh...? What about this? Come to me, almighty power within! X-ray vision, unleash!!” Naomi struck a dramatic, perfectly executed chuuni pose, shouting at the empty air.

“Nothing happened,” Meh observed, tilting his head.

“Of course nothing happened.” Eiji shook his head.

“Jeez, why not...?” Naomi dropped the stance, looking genuinely disappointed. But she wasn't done. “So, do I get to come with you now?”

Eiji paused. Her having the Sight was a liability. She didn't have the teeth to fight back, which made her a target. But was she safer staying home or being where he could see her?

“The answer is still no.” Eiji weighed the risks and chose the one that kept her away from the fangs. As irresponsible as he could be, he wasn't about to let a civilian get hurt on his watch.

“Oh...” Naomi’s face dropped. She looked like a discarded puppy. Even the heartless Kanzaki Eiji felt a twinge of guilt, but he held his ground. It was for her own good.

“Well... see you tomorrow at school, Senpai.” Naomi managed a weak smile before turning to walk away.

“I didn't say she had to leave now...” Eiji muttered, shaking his head. He felt like a villain. What was wrong with him? Since when did he have a soft spot for anyone?

“Eiji-dono made the right decision,” Meh reassured him. Eiji just nodded.

Minutes later, Eiji decided it was late enough. Guided by Meh, he rode his bike through the deserted night roads, arriving at a neighborhood just outside Shina.

He parked and secured his helmet, scanning the area. It looked like a standard residential block. Nothing suggested a Specter was lurking, and the streets were dead silent—though that wasn't unusual for after midnight.

Suddenly, a lone taxi pulled over to the curb nearby.

“Thank you very much!” A short girl in a red raincoat, skirt, and high sneakers bowed to the driver. The cab pulled away, leaving her standing under a streetlight.

Eiji knew that voice.

“Hey, Senpai!”

“Haaaah...” Eiji let out an exasperated breath. “What are you doing here?”

“Hm, what would a heroine say? 'It’s a coincidence,' maybe?” Naomi cocked her head playfully.

“Look, I don't know what you think this is, but—”

“Somebody, help!”

The cry of an old lady echoed from across the street.

Eiji clicked his tongue and shook his head. He started walking toward the sound. “...Figures.”

Meh couldn't pinpoint the malevolence, which meant Eiji had to play vigilante to find the source.

“Let’s go, yo-ho!” Naomi cheered, following right behind him.

“Oh, shut it...”