Voices pitched, battling their way past the tall door that Ikko engaged in a fearsome staring contest.

He sighed, conceding defeat, and buried his head in his hands. Wearing a look that he could only describe as abject horror, Miss Shirayuki had stolen him from the classroom and dragged him here, to the very top of the main campus building. A long corridor containing only one door in its exact middle. Opposite, five basic chairs were arranged in a line, designed for unruly students, school officials, concerned parents and in this particular instance, one bewildered human.

Ikko reread the plaque adorning the left door. Tenmei Mikogami, Headmaster. A few other abbreviations signified his qualifications, but more important than that – more curious, surely – was the impressively decorated cross that embellished the plaque.

In her rush to get him here, Miss Shirayuki answered only a handful of his yelped questions before shunting her way into the headmaster's office, leaving him alone outside without really knowing why.

"Are you alright?"

Ikko's gaze snapped to his right, the question an explosion of sound in the crushing silence. The woman from before, the one shepherding first years, leaned forward to catch his eye. She smiled, the tiny curl of her lips insignificant compared to the warmth filling her eyes. "It's Akada, isn't it? What are you doing here?"

He opened his mouth, but only strangled, choked croak escaped. She arched her brow. "Don't tell me you're in trouble already…"

"No!" He forced. "A-at least I don't think I am. I hope I'm not. All I did was tell-"

The voice shrieking from the office stopped, cut off. It caught the pair's attention. Ikko trailed off. "I only told her about Kia smelling me…"

"What? Who?"

"One of my classmates. She said I smelled good. Really good – which is weird. I've never been told that before, so I told Miss Shirayuki and… uh… and here we are. All because I told her I was human."

The woman's expression emptied. "You are?"

"What else would I be?

Her jaw slackened, almost hanging open. "You don't know?"

"Don't know what? What don't I know? Why are you looking at me like that?"

A flurry of emotion stormed across her face. Confusion. Dread. More confusion. She knit her brow and pinched the bridge of her nose. "It's hard to explain…"

"You won't have to." Miss Shirayuki's voice pierced the slow creak of the opening door. "Come in, Akada."

"Mizore, what's going on?" asked the other woman, looking to her with a strange new emotion in the mix.

"In a sec. Akada."

She left no room for protest, no time for questions. Ikko rose and shuffled inside, swapping places with her. The door closed behind him.

He now realised why the corridor stretched for such a distance. A grand space opened out before him, decked in luxurious carpets and towering bookcases. Candlelight filled the office with orbs of flickering flame. "You must be Akada. Come in, please – come closer."

Ikko approached, feet dragging him towards the only chair in the room. A grand, imposing seat with a high back, and carved wood armrests. It stood proud in the centre of a similarly giant desk, curved in a crescent either side of its occupant. "My name is Tenmei Mikogami. I'm the headmaster of this institution."

His garb explained the cross. Mikogami shrouded himself in a monk's habit, the white robes casting shadows over his face, rendering his true form near-invisible, try as Ikko might in the half-light. "Where's the principal?" Ikko found himself asking, letting his curiosity get the better of his sense.

"In his own office. He manages the day-to-day operations of our school, whilst I manage the more… vital matters. Come closer, please – I do not wish to shout."

His words twisted the very fabric of the air, compelling Ikko to obey. "I understand that you raised some concerns to Miss Shirayuki."

"Y-yes sir."

"Concerns about a student smelling you?"

"Yes, sir." Ikko nodded, breath betraying the quiver in his tone. Fear gripped him.

"Are you human?"

Unlike Miss Shirayuki and the woman before him, Ikko responded with neither question nor panic. "I-I am, sir."

"Do you understand why you are here?"

He shook his head. Mikogami steepled his fingers, lacing them into a joined fist, as if at prayer. "Our Academy is not for human students. It was founded to educate monsters in the ways of surviving the human world, and has done so for many, many years under my protection."

He spoke the words, but they filled Ikko's head with syrup. "The human world?"

"Correct. To protect ourselves, we have concealed the school's existence from your kind, lest terror and panic lead to, shall we say, undesirable outcomes for both sides. Thus, I must ask – who sent you?"

"What?"

"Knowledge of this academy is a well-guarded secret. That it spread to the human world through innocent hearsay is inconceivable. Who sent you?"

"N-no-one, sir."

"How did you find out about Yokai?"

"An email, sir!" Ikko yelped, voice breaking. "There was an email and it told me about Yokai and said it only needed an application review after my parents submitted my history and-"

"An email…?"

"O-on the computer, sir." Ikko added, lacing and unlacing his fingers.

"I know what an email is," said the monk. Ikko felt his cheeks flush. "I see…"

"I-I don't." Ikko whispered. "I'm lost, sir. I don't know why I'm here, don't know what's going on – did you say that this was a school for monsters?"

"I did," Mikogami nodded, matter-of-fact, "I believe I can clear up this confusion. Miss Shirayuki?"

He barely raised his voice, but the door opened nevertheless. Ikko watched the headmaster monk, fascinated. "You can come in."

Soon she stood at Ikko's side, refusing his desperate stare. "Sir?" she inquired.

"Where to begin…" Mikogami rose from his desk. Without the imposing furniture to frame him, he seemed no more or less powerful than anyone in the room, yet still the very air submitted to his will. "Mister Akada, you are here by accident."

"Huh?" to Ikko's surprise, his wasn't the only voice. Miss Shirayuki elucidated her question. "By accident?"

"After the events of the last few years, Yokai has been taking steps to… modernize its approach to the educational model. There were plans drafted to begin an outreach program, of sorts."

"With the human world?" asked Miss Shirayuki.

"Yes. It seems one of our servers glitched during unplanned maintenance, and the surveys were sent out prematurely. 'Tis most fortunate that only one human answered."

"Fortunate?" she scoffed, "Sir, you know the risks-"

"I am well aware, Miss Shirayuki. I daresay I know them slightly better than you." His words silenced her.

Ikko dared to break the tension, speaking up. "Th-then when you say monsters…"

"I mean monsters, Mister Akada."

"Like… trolls?"

"Yes."

"Vampires."

"Oh, yes."

"Demons?"

"No."

Ikko paused. "Chupacabra?"

The headmaster laughed. "Not here in Japan, no."

"What about-"

"Perhaps we should move on to the heart of the matter," interjected the headmaster, before Ikko's questions ran rampant, "Common law once dictated that humans should be killed were they ever discovered upon academy grounds. A barbaric practise, but necessary to preserve the delicate balance we've worked so hard to maintain. So my question, Ikko Akada…"

The headmaster pointed at Ikko's chest, and he recoiled as if he'd touched him with the tip of a sword. "…Is what do we do with you?"

"Sir!" Miss Shirayuki yelled. She replaced Ikko's view of the headmaster with the square of a slender back, arms spread wide. "You said it yourself – he came here by accident, by one of your designs! You can't mean to…"

A strange noise underscored her protest, causing her to falter. Mikogami's laughter carried, and her arms dropped to her sides. "Forgive me, Miss Shirayuki – I couldn't resist."

"S-sir?"

"There is no plan to execute Akada for blunder on the part of our system," Mikogami explained. He should have claimed relief from such assurance, but Ikko still found his nerves wound tighter and tighter, "Forgive me. Such drama is irresistible, don't you agree?"

Miss Shirayuki slumped, moving out of the way. Ikko watched, bewildered but not for long; Mikogami's attention once more returned to him. "Though the intent is different, my question remains. Having a human on campus before we are prepared to accept them will prove a rather nightmarish administrative challenge, to say nothing of the risks involved to yourself, Mister Akada."

"Risks? What risks?"

"We are monsters. As you have experienced, the allure of human flesh can prove overpowering in even mature adults. In teenagers…"

"A-allure? Like- like as in steak's allure? Like food?"

"Yes."

He looked to Miss Shirayuki, then to the headmaster. "You mean Kia wants to eat me?"

"Perhaps. Without knowing what kind of monster she is, it is hard to say with certainty – but mark my words. Even if she does not, there are others who will feel the temptation."

Ikko shrank, withered into himself. He stared at the floor – to the newfound hell that lurked down a mere two flights of stairs. Seeing this, Miss Shirayuki took a wary step back. "What can I do?" he whispered.

"You have two options," said the headmaster, commanding his gaze again. He held up one finger, his hand adorned in sacred finery. "The first is to return to the human world and continue your studies back in your original school. There will be precautions, your memories wiped, of course – but you will be home, safe, and blissfully ignorant once more."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

Ikko paused. "And the other option?"

For the first time, he saw a smile creep along Mikogami's shadowed face. He held up his second finger. "You continue to study at Yokai."

"You can't be serious!" Miss Shirayuki interrupted, arms unfolding. She took a step towards Mikogami.

"Why not?" asked he.

"Why not!? He'd face hell here! If someone – if anyone finds out, there'd be panic! Murder!"

"Precautions will, of course, be taken; your safety," he looked past Miss Shirayuki to fix on Ikko, "Will be assured to the best of the faculty's capabilities. I can protect you, but there will always be a risk. Do you understand, Mister Akada?"

"Sir?"

"You could quite possibly face your death at Yokai Academy. Let there be no misunderstanding when I state the dangers involved."

"You can't-" Miss Shirayuki rounded on Ikko for the first time. "Akada, please – please listen to me. Go home. Go home and forget all about this. You can't stay here. If someone finds out you're human…!"

"But-"

"No buts!" She shouted, a completely different woman to the cool, collected beauty he'd met on the bus. "Don't even think about it – just go home!"

"Miss Shirayuki," the headmaster spoke, "Let the man make his own choice."

"But sir-"

"Mizore." The finality of his tone crushed whatever fight she yet mustered. Miss Shirayuki closed her mouth and watched Ikko, hysteria contained but still ravaging her complexion. They both stared at him, expectation clear.

Ikko shrivelled under the weight. He stared at the floor, perhaps hoping to find strength in the carpet. "I… um… y-you said there'd be precautions? To keep me safe?"

"Ikko-"

"There would," Mikogami spoke over Miss Shirayuki, "I cannot promise the world, but you will be protected."

"Then…"

Ikko stared at his feet. He scrunched his eyes. Took a breath. Straightened his back.

"Then I'm staying!"

He daren't open his eyes, but when neither of them responded he forced one to open. Miss Shirayuki stared at his, horror persisting. She shook her head. "No. Ikko, no, you can't be serious…"

"Are you sure?" pressed Mikogami. "Even after every warning – and Miss Shirayuki's fervent plea?"

"I'm- I'm sure." Ikko nodded, repeating himself. "I'm sure. I'm scared, but I'm sure. I think."

Mikogami's smile grew. "Wonderful. Ruby!"

His door opened again, and this time the woman from before wandered in. "I trust you heard all that?" asked the headmaster.

"Every word," she said, nodding.

"Excellent. You and Miss Shirayuki will be responsible for Mister Akada's safety."

Miss Shirayuki protested, even as Ruby nodded. "Headmaster, please – you have to reconsider!"

"The boy has made up his mind, Miss Shirayuki. I shan't deny the wish of one of our students to remain, whatever his reasons."

"Then get someone else to protect him! I can't do this again!"

Ikko's ears pricked. Again?

"Like who?" asked Mikogami, calm in the face of her agitation, "Who in the faculty would you suggest exposing his true nature to?"

"I…" Miss Shirayuki stumbled over her words, apparently coming up empty-handed.

"It has to be you. Besides Ruby and yourself, there is perhaps one other I would trust with the protection of a human on Yokai's grounds. You are uniquely qualified, after all."

Silence descended. Ikko looked to Miss Shirayuki, saw her hands curled into balls that whitened already pale knuckles. She shook – every inch of her quaked as she strangled whatever sparked her violent protests. "Will you protect him, Miss Shirayuki?"

"You've not given me a choice…" she hissed, jaw clenched.

"Will you?"

"I will."

Mikogami clapped his hands together. "Excellent. Mister Akada, you'll find your things in your dormitory. Ruby will show you over to the halls now, and you can get yourself unpacked and settled. She'll explain the rules of our institution in greater detail. Miss Shirayuki, if you'd like to remain – we can discuss the particulars."

Ruby touched Ikko's arm, drawing his attention. Unlike Miss Shirayuki, she wore the same smile she'd faced him with before. "Come on. Let's get you set up."

He spared one glance at Miss Shirayuki as he departed. He couldn't help but wonder why she was so against his remaining. Based on the way she refused to meet his eye or acknowledge his farewell, Ikko understood one thing:

Miss Shirayuki was far more scared for his life than he could ever be.

"Here we are." Ruby handed Ikko a key. "Your room, 605. Looks like it's just you and one other up here."

Like the campus, the halls proved a lot more hospitable on the inside. Ikko contemplated the practical function of gravestones and skulls lining the path towards the halls of residence, or the foreboding, sculpted dilapidation of the building proper. He slotted the key into its lock and turned, pushing inside.

His suitcase waited for him on a single bed in a narrow single room, with a small en suite fitted into the closest corner. "Kitchens are communal, and you can buy some food at the cafeteria." Ruby explained, walking inside. "Do you want to unpack first, or should we get straight down to things?"

"Things?"

"The rules." Ruby answered, folding her arms under her chest. "If you're going to survive your time at Yokai, we need to be clear about how you're going to behave."

"Oh. Uh. Sure, we can do that first." Ikko plopped down next to his suitcase. Ruby pulled out the chair of his desk and perched on its lip. Despite the weight of their conversation, her smile didn't slip – though unlike the headmaster's, it sang with an intent more sincere than scheming.

"Okay. The first rule is the same every student who enrols here must obey," she began, extending a finger, "It's also the one we see broken the most, but that's beside the point."

"What's that?"

"No revealing your true form. In your case – no telling people you're human."

"Right."

"It should be pretty easy for you to follow; especially in your second year. A lot of the students have adjusted to their human disguises and won't question you."

"What does a monster's true form look like?"

Ruby giggled. "Let's hope you don't have to find out, hm? But don't go trying to find out, either. That's asking for trouble."

"Yeah. That makes sense. What about the other rules?"

"This is more personal to you. Miss Shirayuki and I will be close at hand if you ever need anything. We'll figure out a way for you to get in touch with us later, but for now – if you're ever planning a trip out, you have to let us know."

"Out?"

"There's a couple of places second and third years can go to in their free time If you're going out with friends, for example…"

"Friends?"

"Yes, friends."

Ikko loosely folded his arms. Ruby's head canted to one side. "I don't think I'll be making friends."

"What do you mean? You can't spend two years alone."

"No, but… I can't spend it trusting people who want to eat me, either."

Ruby huffed. "Not every monster is out to kill you."

"Only most of them? That's what the headmaster was saying, right?"

She closed her eyes, taking a patient breath. "Once you've settled, you'll see."

Ikko's disbelief rolled off his scoff with a painful clarity. He folded his arms tighter, looking to his suitcase. "Anything else?"

"Um… that's it, for now. I'm sure Miss Shirayuki will have a chat with you about how she plans to handle it. I'll be close by and easy to contact in case of emergencies."

"She didn't seem too happy with my choice."

"She's concerned, that's all. Mizore- Miss Shirayuki, she's worried about your safety. As I am."

"It sounded like a little more than that. She said she couldn't do it 'again'." Ikko looked at Ruby – looked at her properly, now, seeing her bright eyes fill with the same curiosity that possessed him. "What did she mean by that? I'm not the first human to come to Yokai, am I?"

A long silence confirmed his suspicion. "No, you're not."

"What happened to them?"

"They graduated."

"They survived?" Ikko lit up. "Seriously?"

"With a lot of help – the help of their friends." She added, nodding meaningfully. "That's partly why the headmaster considered this new program."

"I see…" Ikko's arms loosened a measure. "Alright. So, I don't reveal my nature to anyone, keep my head down, and run screaming if someone tries to take a bite out of me?"

"Something like that."

"I think I can do that, Miss Ruby."

"Just Ruby, please. I'm the headmaster's aide, not a teacher."

"Ruby." Ikko corrected. He found a smile – a nervous, twitchy thing from the shell he'd wrapped around himself – and extended his hand. "Then you can call me Ikko. If that's allowed. Is it allowed?"

"Sure." She took his hand and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ikko. Now - before I start getting things ready, is there anything else you need?"

"No. No, I'll get unpacked. What time does the cafeteria close?"

"Not until the evening - you've got time. Failing that, there's vending machines in the common rooms."

"Okay. I'll, uh. I'll sort my things, then."

Ruby stood, smiling her farewells, and closed the door. He locked it behind her, granting himself the first moment's peace and quiet since arriving at Yokai. He laughed. Laughed for the madness of it. Laughed for the choice he'd made.

Monsters were real. He'd not seen one yet, but here he stood, the lone human in an academy for monsters!

A thousand images from a thousand books flashed before his eyes as he wondered what forms such creatures could take. If Miss Shirayuki was indeed a monster, what did she look like? What did Ruby look like? Kia? A giddy spark ripped through him as he tore open his suitcase, unpacking spare uniforms and casual clothes, toiletries and books, and two boxes packed into the bottom of his case. He set these on the desk with greater care than the clothes he stuffed into the wardrobe, or the blazer he unbuttoned and threw across the room.

Someone knocked on his door. In his excitement, Ikko span to open it, catching his reflection in a full-length mirror hung on the rear of the door. Sullen brown eyes now sparkled with glee; his average build very nearly bounced up and down to disperse some of this reckless spirit that possessed him. He checked his fringe before clearing his throat. "Who is it?"

"It's me!" chirped a voice muffled by the door. He didn't recognise it.

"Me who?"

"Me, silly! Unless – this isn't Ikko? Is this the wrong room?"

They knew his name. Could it be…

Ikko turned the lock, opening the door a fraction. He saw Kia's smile first, bright and beaming. "I was right! I knew it! How are you settling?" She practically sang, voice carrying all the way down the hall. Ikko smiled – but soon hesitated, recalling his conversation with the headmaster not minutes ago.

"Fine," he murmured, "I-I'm still not unpacked, so-"

"Oh, cool! Let me help you." Kia all but barged her way into his room, sending him stumbling back. She'd buttoned down her shirt even further and, like he, shed her blazer. Kia bounced as she strolled into Ikko's room.

"It's fine!" he protested, "I'm almost done, so you can go and, and…" what could she do? Panic once more overtook any other emotion. How could he get her away from him without arousing suspicion? "And catch up with your friends!"

"Already done. I wanted to see my new friend," she span, placing hands on her hips, "I wanted to see you."

"You- you did?"

"Uh-huh." The door clicked shut. Kia's smile softened, masking her teeth and bubbling in baby-blue eyes. She advanced on him. "New transfer. New school… And you weren't around after homeroom. Where did you go?"

"I went to… uh… I had some- some paperwork…" A feeble excuse, and she knew it.

"Are you scared?"

"Scared? Why would I be-" she spoke over him, though her excitement shifted gears. Ikko marked intent behind her words.

"I said I'd help." Kia pressed up against him. When had she gotten so close? Ikko tried to push away, but she'd put the door to his back, and from here he couldn't reach the lock. His mind raced. "Help you settle. Get comfortable."

She took a breath. A slow, shuddering, pleasured breath that drank deep of Ikko. Horror struck him when her eyes opened again. Gone were the baby-blues.

"And you do smell so good…"