The fifth week of classes at Chiba Academy had come to a close, and the students were eagerly heading home for the weekend. Mei Raiden stood by the school gates, gracefully waiting for her family's limousine to arrive. She maintained a calm exterior, but her sharp gaze flicked around, ever vigilant for the unexpected.
When the familiar black limousine pulled up, she stepped forward. However, the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. Turning her head slightly, she saw Hoshizora-san walking toward the gates. Instinctively, Mei tensed, half-expecting some new disaster to befall him—perhaps a sudden downpour or a car veering too close to the curb.
Surprisingly, nothing happened.
Hoshizora-san paused for a brief moment, sparing her a neutral glance before continuing down the road toward his usual route home. Mei blinked, her body relaxing as the tension dissipated.
"Strange," she muttered under her breath, climbing into the waiting limousine.
"Good afternoon, Mei-sama," greeted her chauffeur with a respectful nod.
"Good afternoon," Mei replied politely, unaware of the way the chauffeur's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as they tracked Hoshizora-san's retreating figure.
The chauffeur, a man loyal to the Raiden family for years, watched the boy walk away with a calculating gaze. By the time the limousine began pulling out, he had already sent a message to his employer, Raiden Ryoma:
Subject identified. Observed by Mei-sama. Conducting further investigations.
The limousine pulled up to an opulent estate befitting the Raiden family name, a grand shogunate-style building that exuded wealth and tradition. A pair of impeccably dressed guards opened the gates, allowing the vehicle through.
Upon entering, Mei was greeted by Akane, the head maid, whose warm smile and graceful demeanour were as familiar as the halls of the home.
"Welcome home, Mei-sama," Akane said with a small bow. "Your father is available for dinner tonight." She added a playful wink.
Mei's face lit up. It had been a while since her father had free time for dinner together. "Thank you, Akane-san."
After the brief exchange, Mei made her way to her room. Its furnishings were a perfect balance between the grandeur expected of the Raiden name and a simple elegance that reflected Mei's personal taste. She set her school bag down, changed into casual wear, and diligently worked on her homework until a maid knocked to inform her that dinner was ready.
The dining room was as grand as the rest of the estate, its walls adorned with traditional Raiden clan motifs. Raiden Ryoma sat at the head of the table, his broad shoulders relaxed, exuding both authority and warmth. He smiled as Mei entered.
"Mei, my flower," he said, standing and opening his arms.
"Otou-sama," Mei greeted, stepping into his embrace.
The two sat down as the staff brought out an array of exquisite dishes. Their conversations started light, filled with updates about Mei's studies and Ryoma's business endeavours. Once the plates were cleared, however, Ryoma leaned forward, a curious glint in his eyes.
"Mei," he began, his tone casual but probing. "Your chauffeur mentioned something interesting today. He said you seemed... tense around one of your classmates. A new transfer student, I believe?"
Mei's chopsticks froze mid-air. "Hoshizora-san?" she asked, caught off guard.
Ryoma nodded. "Yes. Is there something I should know about him?"
Quickly recovering, Mei set her chopsticks down and waved her hands slightly. "No, no, it's nothing like that! He just... he has bad luck."
"Bad luck?" Ryoma echoed, his brows arching skeptically.
"Yes," Mei insisted. "It's not just bad—it'sunbelievablybad. Things go wrong around him constantly. But it's harmless! Mostly."
Her father's doubt was evident, so Mei began recounting incidents she'd witnessed:
"During chemistry class last week, his beaker exploded even though he followed the instructions perfectly. The teacher double-checked, and it still made no sense!"
"In math class, a light fixture fell from the ceiling. It nearly hit me but landed just a few centimetres from Hoshizora-san's head. He didn't even flinch."
"There was the time during lunch when it started raining, and he somehow managed to slip intoevery single puddle. Even after he went inside!"
"And then just yesterday, a soccer ball came flying out of nowhere. He ducked at the perfect moment, but the ball ricocheted and knocked a tray of food right onto him."
"Oh! And today," Mei added with a small laugh, "I saw a black cat follow him halfway to school. It kept meowing like it wanted his attention."
Ryoma leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting from disbelief to amused confusion. "You're telling me this Hoshizora Akito attracts explosions, falling objects, and stray animals?"
"Yes, Otou-sama," Mei replied earnestly. "I swear I'm not exaggerating. It's almost like he's... cursed."
Ryoma hummed thoughtfully, stroking his chin. While it all sounded far-fetched, he trusted his daughter's word implicitly.
"Cursed or not," he said finally, "it sounds like you've taken quite an interest in him."
Mei blinked, flustered. "I-I'm just curious, that's all!"
Ryoma chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Very well, Mei. But if this boy's bad luck starts causing you trouble, let me know immediately."
"Yes, Otou-sama."
After exchanging goodnights, Mei hugged her father and returned to her room.
As soon as Mei left the dining room, Ryoma's demeanour shifted. The relaxed warmth in his eyes gave way to a sharp, calculating look. Pulling out his phone, he dialled a private number.
"Get me everything you can on a boy named Hoshizora Akito," he ordered curtly. "He's a transfer student at Chiba Academy. Start with his family background and school records. I want to know if this so-called bad luck is just a series of coincidences—or something more."
Ryoma ended the call, his gaze lingering on the empty dining room. If what Mei described was even half true, Hoshizora Akito might be someone worth keeping an eye on.
The quiet hum of Raiden Ryoma's office was a comforting constant, a counterpoint to the storm of thoughts brewing in his mind. His eyes scanned the report glowing on his laptop screen, the nameHoshizora Akitoetched across the header.
Seventeen years old. Currently living alone in a modest studio apartment. Parent's locations are unknown. No emergency contacts. Zero academic or athletic achievements to speak of.
On paper, the boy was utterly unremarkable. And yet...
Ryoma's gaze lingered on a particular line:"The boy has changed schools multiple times due to so-called 'bad luck.'"
He scrolled further, reading through the incidents catalogued across Hoshizora's educational history.
At one school, an electrical fire had started during a science experiment. Witnesses insisted Hoshizora-san was nowhere near the source, yet somehow, the flames had spread toward his workstation.
At another, the gymnasium's ceiling had partially collapsed during a basketball game. Sitting on the sidelines, Hoshizora was miraculously unharmed but still at the centre of the disaster.
A particularly bizarre event involved a loose set of stage props crashing down during a cultural festival—timed perfectly to narrowly miss him.
Ryoma smirked humorlessly."Bad luck," indeed.
Scrolling further, his eyes caught the recommendation from Hoshizora's previous principal:
"Despite being an otherwise model student, the disruptions caused by Hoshizora-san's 'luck' are unsustainable. For the safety of the school and its reputation, we must recommend his transfer."
That phrase—model student—stood out. Hoshizora-san's teachers consistently described him as disciplined, polite, and diligent. He rarely missed deadlines, and even when he did, it was only by minutes, usually because of another bout of bad luck. He participated respectfully in discussions and displayed a quiet tenacity that Ryoma found both intriguing and unsettling.
"Resilience."
Ryoma leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. That was one way to put it. The file detailed injuries that would have sidelined most students: a sprained wrist from a ladder collapse, cuts from shattered glass, and a concussion from a falling ceiling tile. Yet Hoshizora never complained, never sought special treatment, and always returned to class as if nothing had happened.
Scrolling to the final section of the report, Ryoma's intrigue deepened.
"Animals, particularly black cats, black dogs, crows, foxes, and owls, have been observed near Hoshizora-san frequently. Their behaviour toward him is unusually tame."
Ryoma frowned, rereading the line. In Japanese folklore, these animals were symbols of ill omen, mystery, or even divine intervention. Black cats and dogs often represented bad luck, while crows and owls were messengers of the gods—or death. Foxes, however, were the most peculiar mention. Known as shapeshifters or messengers of Inari, their presence added an unsettling layer to the already strange narrative.
"Superstitions,"he muttered under his breath, though he couldn't entirely dismiss the significance.
His eyes darted to the next section: Hoshizora's health records. Most of it was unremarkable. The boy was in excellent physical condition, with an unusual immunity to common illnesses. But one note caught Ryoma's attention.
"Subject possesses synesthesia, a condition where sensory pathways intertwine. It has been noted that Hoshizora-san describes sounds and emotions with colours."
Ryoma paused, intrigued but unsure what to make of it. Then he saw the next detail.
"A geometric mark resembling a triple-sided crest is located on the right shoulder. Unclear origin, believed congenital."
Ryoma straightened in his chair. A mark like that was not unheard of—but it wasn't common. He pulled up a second file, one from his personal archives labelledAnti-Entropy: Aberrations.
Though Anti-Entropy's focus had always been combating the Honkai threat, Ryoma knew that Einstein and Tesla occasionally investigated other phenomena. Marks like the one described in Hoshizora's file had appeared before—on individuals with unique resistance to the Honkai's corrupting influence.
Ryoma's breath hitched. Such individuals were rare. And for males, exceedingly so—to the point of near extinction in this era.
"Could he have a natural Stigma?"
Ryoma leaned forward, his mind racing. A natural Stigma was a genetic anomaly, granting the bearer unique abilities or resilience. If Hoshizora truly had one, it could explain the peculiarities surrounding him. But it also raised questions—questions that Ryoma knew he couldn't answer alone.
Reaching for his phone, Ryoma scrolled through his contacts and selected a trusted number. The line clicked, and a familiar voice greeted him.
"Raiden. What do you need?"
"I have a... potential anomaly I need you to look into," Ryoma said, choosing his words carefully. "Discreetly. The subject is a boy named Hoshizora Akito. I want everything—family history, medical records, any patterns that don't add up."
The voice on the other end chuckled softly. "Getting sentimental in your old age? Or is this about Mei-chan's safety?"
Ryoma smirked. "Both. And a hunch."
"I'll see what I can find. If it's related to—"
"It's not," Ryoma interrupted firmly. "Let's keep this simple. Just keep me informed."
Hanging up, Ryoma turned his gaze to the city skyline beyond his window. The crescent moon hung low, its silver light casting an eerie glow over the room.
"Misfortune indeed,"he murmured, his mind already churning with possibilities.
The weekend had passed, and the familiar routine of school began again. Mei adjusted the hem of her blazer as the family limousine slowed to a stop at Chiba Academy's front entrance. The chauffeur stepped out to open her door, and she offered a polite nod as she exited.
"Thank you," she said, her tone formal but warm.
The chauffeur dipped his head. "Have a good day, Mei-sama."
She walked toward the courtyard, her steps light yet purposeful. Behind her, the limousine remained idle for a few moments longer than usual, though she was unaware of the driver's lingering gaze.
The early morning air was crisp, and the courtyard was slowly filling with students chatting or heading toward the main building. As Mei crossed the cobblestone path, her attention caught on a figure a little ways ahead—Hoshizora-san.
He wasn't following the path toward the school like everyone else. Instead, he veered off toward the shade of a tree—the very one he had chosen to sit under on his first day. Mei frowned, curiosity piqued as she noticed the annoyed expression on his face.
'What is he doing?'
Without fully understanding why, she found herself following at a careful distance, her footsteps muffled by the grass as she left the main path.
Hoshizora-san came to an abrupt stop near the tree and crouched, yanking his backpack off his shoulder. Mei paused several meters behind him, keeping herself out of sight.
What happened next was… unexpected.
He plunged a hand into his bag and pulled out a small, black shape. Mei blinked.'A cat?!'
The creature dangled in his grip, looking entirely unbothered by the situation. Its fur was sleek and dark as midnight, its eyes glinting like polished onyx.
Hoshizora-san, however, didn't seem to share the cat's calm demeanour. His eyebrows furrowed, and his mouth tugged into a tight line. His voice was low, almost a mutter, but the irritation in his tone was unmistakable.
"What are you even doing here, Dusk?" he said, holding the feline out in front of him as if chastising a mischievous sibling. "I told you to stay with Captain's pack. You can't just sneak into my bag every time."
The cat—apparently named Dusk—responded with a soft, plaintive meow, its tail curling lazily.
Mei's lips parted in surprise. She'd never seen Hoshizora-san talk like this before—calm, but with a hint of exasperation. And…'Who's Captain?'
Hoshizora-san sighed, running a hand through his dusty-grey hair. "Go on, Dusk. Back to the others. Captain's probably already looking for you."
Dusk meowed again, sounding almost reluctant, before hopping gracefully to the ground.
Mei watched, still unnoticed, as the little black cat padded toward the base of the wall nearby. It paused briefly, sniffing at a patch of overgrown foliage, before slipping through a small, nearly invisible hole in the brickwork.
Her breath caught.'There's a hole there?'She hadn't even realized it was there before now—it was so well hidden by grass and tangled vines.
From her vantage point, she noticed movement along the top of the wall. Crows—at least three of them—sat perched in a neat row, their dark feathers blending seamlessly with the early morning shadows. As the cat disappeared through the hole, the crows let out a series of sharp, quiet caws and took flight, as if guiding Dusk on her way.
'What in the world?'
Hoshizora-san let out a long exhale, rolling his eyes toward the sky before shrugging his backpack onto his shoulder again. Without another glance at the wall—or the crows—he turned and made his way toward the school building.
Mei remained frozen in place, her mind struggling to process what she'd just witnessed.
A black cat named Dusk hiding in his backpack. A small hole in the wall she'd never noticed before. And the crows—were they actuallywaitingfor the cat? Guiding it home?
Her heart thudded in her chest as she stood there in silence, replaying the scene over and over.
When she finally stirred and began heading toward the main building, Hoshizora-san was already long gone. But her thoughts remained tangled in the morning's strange events, a thread of intrigue weaving itself deeper into her mind.
'Who are you, Hoshizora-san?'
Mei's thoughts were a jumble as she hurried up the stairs toward her homeroom. The image of Hoshizora-san berating that black cat—Dusk, apparently—played over and over in her mind. It had felt oddly intimate like she had glimpsed a side of him no one else had seen.
"Focus, Mei," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head to clear it.'You're going to be late!'
Breaking out of her daze, she quickened her pace and reached the classroom just as the final bell rang. She slipped inside, noticing Sayuri-kun and Minako-kun waving her over to their desks. Sliding into her seat, Mei couldn't help but glance toward Hoshizora-san's desk. It was empty.
"Raiden-chan," Minako-kun said, leaning closer with a curious look. "You're rarely late. What happened?"
Mei hesitated, unsure if she should share what she'd seen. But one look at her friends' expectant faces and the words tumbled out before she could stop them. "I, uh… I saw Hoshizora-san… pulling a black cat out of his backpack."
The classroom around her seemed to pause, with nearby students who'd been pretending not to eavesdrop now openly listening in. Sayuri-kun blinked, leaning forward. "Wait, what?"
Mei nodded, her voice low. "He called it Dusk. It ran off into some hidden hole in the courtyard wall, and then these crows started flying around like they were leading it somewhere."
"Crows?" Minako-kun echoed, looking baffled. "And… a cat in his backpack? Duringschool?"
"It sounds so weird," Mei admitted, rubbing her temple. "But I saw it with my own eyes."
"Actually…" Sayuri-kun glanced at Haruto-kun, who had been sitting nearby with a furrowed brow. "I've seen him around crows too. And black dogs, now that I think about it."
Haruto-kun nodded slowly. "Yeah, during lunch last week, I swear there was a black dog just sitting near the gate. When Hoshizora-san walked by, the dog followed him for a while before it wandered off."
"Okay, okay." Kaede leaned back in her chair, smirking. "Let's just admit it. If death omens and bad-luck animals are always following him, maybe he reallyiscursed."
"Not cursed," Airi chimed in from her seat, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "But he's always muttering about someone called Captain or Lieutenant, right? What if those are code names or something?"
"Oh!" Haru-kun, another boy from the back, perked up with a mischievous grin. "Maybe Hoshizora-san is part of the yakuza. Captain, Lieutenant… sounds like ranks in a gang, doesn't it?"
The idea sent ripples of laughter and whispers through the classroom. Kaede and a few others joined in, embellishing the joke. "Yeah, yeah, and all those animals? They're yakuza's secret messenger network!"
"Maybe that cat was carrying orders to some underground faction," Haru-kun joked, earning more giggles.
Mei tried to suppress her laughter, though she couldn't deny the absurdity was amusing. The light-hearted speculation continued until the door slid open.
The subject of their discussion himself entered the room.
Hoshizora-san walked in, his usual neutral expression firmly in place. The room fell silent in an instant, the lingering snickers and whispers vanishing like smoke. Mei watched as he walked to his desk, seemingly oblivious to the amused glances following him.
Seconds later, Ms. Ishikawa entered, and the class began.
The rumours, however, didn't stop there.
By lunch, word of the supposed yakuza connections had spread far beyond their class. Mei was sitting with Sayuri and Minako when a boy from another class—Ken-san—approached Hoshizora-san, who was seated alone with his tray of food.
"Hoshizora-san," Ken said, his tone casual but his smirk giving away his intent. "Hey, are you in the yakuza or something?"
The entire cafeteria seemed to pause, heads swivelling toward the table. Mei's eyes widened as she watched Hoshizora-san freeze mid-bite. His expression flickered—confusion, disbelief, and finally exasperation.
His hand slowly rose to his face, and with an audible slap, he groaned into his palm. "No," he said flatly, his voice muffled but clearly frustrated.
But the damage was done.
The cafeteria erupted into laughter, with students calling out new and increasingly absurd theories. "That's exactly what someone in the yakuza would say!" one voice teased.
"Do you take orders from Captain and Lieutenant?" another chimed in, barely holding back their laughter.
Mei couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy as Hoshizora-san let out a weary sigh and returned to his meal, clearly resigned to his Management