Kouji followed Ryo through the open stone courtyard of the Hunter Association. Lanterns lit their path — their soft glow casting long shadows on the wooden walkways.
He kept glancing around. The other Hunters walked past without much notice. Some wore long coats, others light armor. A few had blades strapped across their backs, but most didn't carry weapons at all.
No one looked particularly friendly.
Ryo glanced over his shoulder. "Try not to stare too much. They'll think you're scouting for weaknesses."
"I'm not," Kouji muttered.
"Doesn't matter. Perception is everything here."
They passed under a short wooden arch with sigils etched into the beams — Kouji's fingertips buzzed faintly as he walked beneath it. Kyokai, no doubt. A security ward.
The main building opened into a wide interior hall. A high ceiling stretched above them with exposed wooden beams, while to the side, a glass wall overlooked the training field. Hunters sparred below — Kouji spotted one woman shooting needles from her fingertips, another man catching them midair using wind pressure alone.
Ryo pointed lazily. "That's the test area. You'll be out there soon enough."
"Is there some kind of initiation?"
"Only if you're weak."
Kouji shot him a sideways look. "What happens if I fail?"
"They won't send you home. Just... into a different kind of work. Logistics. Filing. Boring stuff."
"You're kidding."
"Wouldn't be funny if I was."
They stopped in front of a broad side door. Ryo pushed it open and motioned inside.
A large room greeted them — a sort of common hall, with couches, a vending machine that had clearly been punched more than once, and a table cluttered with playing cards and half-eaten food.
Only one person was in the room.
He sat backward on a chair, arms folded over the top, his chin resting on his forearms. Dark-blue hair fell across his forehead, slightly messy, as if he hadn't touched a brush in days. His red eyes were focused on a small chip-like object that spun between his fingers.
The moment Kouji entered, the guy grinned.
"A stray?" the boy asked.
"Yuusuke," Ryo said, voice flat.
Yuusuke straightened up, tossed the chip onto the table, and stood. "Don't worry, I vacuumed."
"You never vacuum."
"Yeah, I know. Thought I'd lie. It's polite."
Ryo ignored him. He turned to Kouji. "You're going to be working with him. For now."
"Wait, what?" Yuusuke raised his hand. "You're just gonna assign me a partner without asking? Isn't there a form for that?"
"There is. I signed it for you."
Kouji blinked. "Do I get a say?"
Ryo smirked. "Sure. Say hello."
Yuusuke walked over and offered his hand.
Kouji shook it, still a bit unsure.
"You good?" Yuusuke asked. "You look like you got hit by a vending machine."
"Close," Kouji said. "It was a Demon-blade-wielding corpse."
"Ah. First kill?"
"...Kind of."
Yuusuke gave him a long look. "You handled it?"
"Mostly."
Ryo cut in. "Enough talking. Yuusuke, get him settled. I've got reports to write."
"You're gonna write a report?" Yuusuke asked.
Ryo didn't respond. He just walked out.
Once the door closed, Yuusuke let out a whistle and flopped back down on the couch.
"So," he said, "how long you planning to stick around?"
Kouji frowned. "What kind of question is that?"
"A good one." Yuusuke grabbed a new chip from his pocket — a square one, clear — and started flipping it in the air. "Most new recruits don't last a month. They think they're here to save people."
Kouji sat across from him. "That's not why I'm here."
"No?"
"I want to stop people from becoming monsters in the first place."
Yuusuke stopped flipping the chip.
Then he smiled.
"Alright. Let's see how long you keep that fire."