'Defence yourself' Ayu and the deadly premonition

After a thrilling race through mud, smoke, and embers, Serizawa arrived at the hot springs house. The teacher hurriedly approached the door, nearly tripping on the steps. Unexpectedly, the door was open. Inside, Natsu sat on the floor within a shimmering magic circle, while Kate remained unconscious on the couch.

‘Natsu,’ Yuuko called out, and the girl looked up with a strained expression.

‘It seems someone overslept,’ Natsu reacted in her usual voice, as the intensity of the light and rain diminished. She smirked. ‘A little bird told me you would show up. I doubted its word, but maybe I shouldn’t have dismissed it...’

‘Where is he?’ Yuuko’s tone filled with concern.

‘Choose your words carefully, Miss Serizawa,’ Natsu become serious, sending chills down Yuuko’s spine. The worried nurse’s voice reached them.

‘Yuu!’ Ryoko was astonished. The building sent her back in time. ‘This place...’

‘Wow! Still intact!’ just like Ryoko, nostalgia struck Azuki upon seeing the hot spring house. They approached the door.

‘Ah!’ Ryoko was surprised at seeing Natsume. ‘Natsu, good day!’

‘Oh, Natcchin!’

‘Hey!’ The magic circle’s light dimmed, showing Natsu’s loss of concentration and the subsiding rain. She regained her playful tone. ‘What’s this? A gathering of old dorm alumni? I’d offer you tea and pastries, but you caught me at a bad time.’

‘Well, Yuuko rushed out of here!’ Azuki interjected. ‘Ryoko and I followed her.’

‘Yuu,’ Ryoko focused on her friend’s troubled expression. ‘What’s going on?’ Yuuko shook her head.

‘Nothing’s wrong. Feared, this place had been burned.’

‘Oh, how touching!’ Natsume approached sarcastically. She then turned to Ryoko. ‘I could use some help.’ The principal gestured towards Kate, drawing the nurse’s attention.

‘Oh! What happened to her?’ the nurse approached the unconscious girl.

‘She encountered the Onmyou ghost, but it’s nothing serious,’ Natsu revealed. ‘You two should be on your way. Someone might lurk and caught by the fire. We don’t want any accidents.’ She looked at Serizawa. ‘Right, Yuu?’ Yuuko looked at Natsume in confusion.

‘Time to reform the rescue team!’ Azu patted Yuu on the back, smirking. ‘Let’s go, team leader!’ She turned and ran outside. Yuuko followed, but was stopped by Natsu one last time.

‘You better find he before anyone else, Yuu,’ Natsu closed her eyes. The magic seal glowed intensely once again, and the rain regained its strength.

‘Are we leaving now or what?’ Azu shrieked. Yuuko turned to her companion.

‘Yes!’

***

A long, silvery-grey hair student walked alone along the forest path towards the Omnyou. She had a pale skin and crystal blue eyes. The girl felt downcast. ‘I should join my classmates for breakfast. It’s not helpful to be in none of the dormitories. It’s not my fault my house is so close by!’ the student lowered her gaze and exhaled, feeling somewhat guilty. ‘Well, maybe a little. I could’ve let Mom and Aunt Natsume know I wanted a room. At this rate, I’ll spend another 5 years as the lonely and peculiar nerd in the library.’ She let out a rather sad laugh, reminiscing about high school. Shaking her head, she lightly tapped her cheeks. ‘Come on, Fuyume, you can do this! This isn’t lower secondary!’ She tried to strengthen herself. ‘I missed the opportunity to interact with the rest of my classmates yesterday during the introduction, but today is different. I can feel it! Besides...’ Suddenly, a bright flash pierced through the foliage, surprising the girl. Then, a loud noise startled her, causing her to stop.

‘A lightning strike? It landed nearby! The weather forecast didn’t mention rain!’ She checked the time on her phone. ‘Should I go back for an umbrella? I still have some time, but it would cut it close. Maybe it’s the best option.’ Another sound caught her attention, and Fuyume peered into the forest. Heavy breathing was approaching her. ‘Could it be... the Onmyou ghost?’ Fuyume cautiously walked to the edge of the path and took a peek. She saw Ayu rushing toward her. ‘Oh, it’s just a boy...’ The girl reacted calmly, before she realised.

‘Wait... What’s a man doing here...!?’ Ayumu stumbled and screamed when he saw Fuyume.

‘Watch out!’ He collided with her, and they both fell to the ground. The boy ended up kneeling above her. She opened her eyes, feeling sore, and their gazes met. Fuyume blushed and tried to scream, but Ayu covered her mouth, attempting to calm her. ‘It’s a misunderstanding!’ She whimpered.

‘Am I going to lose my innocence here?’ Fuyume continued her train of thought, crying uncontrollably. She tried to pull the boy’s right arm, which remained unmoved.

‘I’m going to count to three...’ The girl kept trying to uncover her mouth. ‘One...’

‘If I don’t act now, this guy will force me to do it...’ Her expression changed, and the crying stopped.

‘Two...’ The Yumiko’s tower of fire rose to the sky behind him. Ayu turned around, bewildered.

‘Now!’ A whitish aura surrounded the student. She grasped the boy’s arm, causing him to look back. The mark reacted again, and the gleam returned to her eyes. She moved away and somehow freed herself from the boy’s grip before he could break his wrist. The girl stood up, hiding her face behind a tangle of greyish hair.

‘Unforgivable.’ Fuyume repeated to herself. She lifted her tear-stained gaze. ‘Unforgivable! I won’t allow such behaviour! Pervert!’ Ayu’s mark burned. Fuyume lunged at him, her whitish aura enveloping her, ready to teach him a lesson. ‘UN-FOR-GIV-ABLE!’ He rolled on the ground as she struck, shattering one of the stone slabs with her knee. The boy stood up, and their gazes met once again.

‘Master! Defend yourself!’ He heard that mysterious voice while Fuyume pounced on him, trying to knock him out.

‘You won’t escape!’ Ayu somehow expected the flurry of punches and kicks Fuyume attempted to unleash on him. Fuyume’s movements, fuelled by anger; were stronger and faster than an average person’s, but from Ayu’s perspective, they seemed clumsy. Fatigue took its toll on the girl, and the boy created distance between them. Ayumu was becoming familiar with the feel of lightness that had been present since morning. His body moved with a fluidity he hadn’t experienced before. She looked at him in bewilderment, still angry. ‘Why can’t I reach him?’ Fuyume gasped for breath. ‘The martial style has never been my strong suit, but he doesn’t seem to use any magic. Is he laughing at me?’

‘Are you okay?’ Ayu showed concern. The silver-haired girl clenched her fists, determined not to give up, and the temperature dropped in an instant. Dense vapor emanated from Fuyume’s body. He looked up, reacting with surprise as several dozen magic circles appeared in the air, surrounding him and emitting a pale blue glow. Ayumu tried to move away, but his legs were trapped by two ice stalks that ascended from below, preventing him from escaping. Fuyume raised her hand toward the sky. The gleam returned to Ayu’s eyes; the boy realised with horror what was about to happen. ‘Stop...’ His eyes reflected Yumiko, fulfilling the deadly premonition once again. She positioned herself between the two opponents. Flames erupted fiercely from her, without regard for reason, ready to melt Fuyume. Her spell completed faster, winning the race. ‘Don’t do it!’ The aura of the arts surrounded Ayu. A sea of flames emerged from Yumiko’s spell, devouring everything in its path in an instant, leaving only ashes. The Onmyou castle appeared before them. She looked for Ayu. ‘Ayu! Are you alright...?’ Yumiko was surprised not to see the boy ‘Ayu?’

He panted wearily, clasping the unconscious Fuyume in his arms. His aura dimmed as Ayu leaned against a safe tree. ‘It was close.’ his relief was palpable in his voice. Ayumu closed his eyes for a moment. A sharp pain afflicted him as if he had torn every muscle in his body. He felt exhausted from the physical exertion, never stopping for a moment since he regained consciousness. With a sigh of relief, Ayu welcomed the much-needed break. The storm’s voice drowned out the crackling of the flames. The sky poured over the entire Onmyou grounds, combating the flames caused by the girl with the ribbon. ‘Rain, finally.’ The boy opened his eyes and was surprised.

‘Don’t move!’ The stern gaze of another student pierced him. That girl was dressed in the school’s sports uniform, holding a shinai firmly pointed at Ayumu, leaving him caught between a rock and a hard place.