The following morning, Mei arrived at Chiba Academy earlier than usual. She had started noticing a pattern—both she and Hoshizora-san seemed to be among the earliest students to arrive. Whether by chance or routine, their schedules overlapped enough to pique her curiosity. This time, as she entered the courtyard, Mei's steps faltered at the sight before her.
Hoshizora-san sat cross-legged on the ground beneath the familiar tree, an open book resting on his knee. Nearby, perched or lounging about him, were more animals than she'd anticipated.
A black cat—Dusk, Mei recalled with surprise—was curled up on his lap, purring contentedly as his hand idly scratched behind its ears. Above him, Aaaaah, the infamous crow, was perched on a low-hanging branch, staring down with what Mei swore looked like judgment in her dark eyes.
But what really caught her attention were the other three crows. They sat lined up on the fence just behind Hoshizora-san, almost as if standing guard. From left to right, their unique features stood out starkly in the early morning light.
The one on the far left, had light white highlights on her feathers, faint but striking under the sunlight. The middle one had a silvery sheen to his feathers that made him stand out. And then there was the youngest-looking of the group, whose dark plumage seemed tinged with a deep, navy blue under the same light.
The scene felt almost surreal.
"Morning, Raiden-san."
Mei startled at the sound of Hoshizora-san's voice. Despite his focus remaining on the book in his hand, he had somehow sensed her approach.
"Good morning, Hoshizora-san," Mei greeted, trying to shake off her unease. Her gaze flickered toward the animals. Dusk looked like it was moments away from dozing off, but the crows all tilted their heads at her arrival, their dark eyes sharp and inquisitive.
"You're here earlier than usual," Hoshizora-san commented, his voice neutral. He didn't look up from his book, though his free hand continued to stroke Dusk.
"I could say the same for you," Mei replied, regaining some composure. She gestured to the animals. "You're not alone today."
Hoshizora-san glanced up, following her gaze to the crows and then down to Dusk. "You get used to it. Dusk here," he lightly tapped the cat's head, earning a lazy blink, "has attachment issues. I told her to stay with her brother, but…"
"Her brother?" Mei echoed, stepping closer.
"She has one. Lives near here." He didn't elaborate, instead turning his attention to the crows. "And these three?" He gestured vaguely toward the fence. "Spectre, Scout, and Vann. From left to right."
"Let me guess, they follow you too?" Mei couldn't resist a teasing smile.
Hoshizora-san finally closed his book and raised an eyebrow at her. "They do what they want. Spectre's nosy, Scout likes watching things, and Vann… well, he's still figuring out what he likes."
Mei blinked. "You named them?"
"They're regulars," he said with a shrug, as if that explained everything.
Aaaaah let out a loud caw from above, seemingly impatient with being ignored. Hoshizora-san's poker face didn't waver, but Mei swore she saw a flicker of irritation. "And that one," he muttered dryly, "needs no introduction."
"Captain and Lieutenant aren't here?" Mei asked before she could stop herself.
Hoshizora-san's gaze briefly flickered to her, sharp and assessing. "You remember those names?"
"They're… distinct," Mei admitted. "You've mentioned them a few times."
"They're busy," he replied shortly, his tone suggesting he wouldn't elaborate further. He turned back to the crows. "Alright, break it up. Show's over."
The crows cawed in unison before scattering to different parts of the courtyard, while Dusk stretched luxuriously before leaping gracefully from his lap. Mei followed their departure with wide eyes.
"Do they… always listen to you like that?" she asked hesitantly.
"Not always," Hoshizora-san admitted, standing and dusting himself off. "But when they do, it's usually because they're bored of hanging around."
The bell rang, startling Mei out of her thoughts. She had completely lost track of time. As Hoshizora-san picked up his bag and started walking toward the building, he paused and glanced back.
"Coming, or are you staying here?"
Startled, Mei hurried to catch up.
As they walked side by side, her mind lingered on the strange encounter. She couldn't help but wonder—was this connection to animals part of his luck, or something else entirely?
One thing was certain: Hoshizora-san was as much an enigma as the animals that followed him.
In the following weeks, Chiba Academy became the unwitting host of a bizarre phenomenon. The courtyard's once-serene atmosphere had transformed into something straight out of a nature documentary. The tree near which Hoshizora Akito often sat had earned a nickname among the students: "The Augury Tree."
At first, it was just a few animals—crows perched high in the branches and the occasional black cat weaving through the grass. But as time passed, the numbers grew. It became almost impossible to pass the tree without noticing its unusual residents.
The crows were the most active, led by Aaaaah, Spectre, Scout, and Vann. They lined the branches like sentinels, their sharp eyes following anyone who approached. Occasionally, one of them would swoop down and snatch a piece of bread or a half-eaten snack from an unwary student. Their audacity became infamous, and some students even took to carrying umbrellas as makeshift protection.
But the crows were far from the only inhabitants. Black dogs and cats lurked in the bushes surrounding the tree, their glowing eyes visible in the shadows. These animals were fiercely territorial. Anyone foolish enough to step too close—whether out of curiosity or by accident—was greeted with growls, barks, or hisses. The only exceptions were Hoshizora himself, Mei, and the teachers, though the latter group only seemed to avoid trouble because Hoshizora explicitly told the animals not to bother them.
"Seriously, it's like a zoo out here," one student muttered to another, glancing nervously at the black Labrador lounging near the base of the tree.
"More like a haunted zoo," their friend replied, shuddering as a crow overhead let out a piercing caw.
The strangest sightings were the tanuki and foxes, whose shapes could occasionally be seen darting through the underbrush or peeking out from behind the tree. Their presence baffled even the groundskeepers, who couldn't figure out how the creatures were bypassing the school's supposedly secure walls.
Unbeknownst to most, a hidden hole in the wall provided the answer. Hoshizora had discovered it early on, but he never bothered to mention it to anyone. Mei, the only other person aware of the breach, had forgotten about it entirely in the wake of the increasingly bizarre events.
It wasn't long before students began documenting the phenomenon on their phones. The first viral video came from a brave second-year who had tried to capture the scene around the Augury Tree up close.
The footage showed a group of crows squawking loudly from their perches as the student approached. Just as they got close enough to film the base of the tree, a sleek black cat darted out of the bushes, hissing and baring its teeth. In the background, a black dog emerged, its low growl audible over the sound of wind and rustling leaves. The camera jostled violently as the student fled, and the video ended with a blurred shot of their escape, punctuated by the sound of their terrified laughter.
It was only a matter of time before hashtags like#AuguryTreeand#HoshizoraZoobegan trending locally. More students tried their luck filming the strange happenings, though few dared to get too close.
"Why hasn't the school done anything about this?" one student could be heard whispering in a follow-up video as a fox trotted casually across the courtyard, seemingly unconcerned by the growing crowd.
"Are you kidding? That'sHoshizora'stree. No one's gonna touch it unless he says so," their friend replied, nodding toward Hoshizora, who could be seen in the distance, calmly reading beneath the tree while Aaaaah preened herself on his shoulder.
The videos only fueled rumours about Hoshizora Akito, who somehow remained oblivious to his growing online notoriety. His classmates, however, were another story.
"I'm telling you, there's no way this is normal," Haruto whispered, leaning across his desk toward Mei.
"It's Hoshizora-san," Minako chimed in. "What about himisnormal?"
Kaede snickered. "Maybe he's a spirit medium or something. The animals clearly worship him."
"More like he's cursed," Airi muttered, shivering. "Have you seen how those crows look at you? It's like they know your darkest secrets."
Mei didn't participate in the gossip, though she couldn't deny that even she was baffled by Hoshizora-san's ability to attract animals. She alone had been spared their ire when visiting the Augury Tree in the mornings. Though she didn't spend long under its canopy, she had learned the names of several of the regulars, including the black cat Dusk and the trio of crows that frequently flanked Aaaaah.
Still, a part of her wondered: Why her? What made Hoshizora-san tolerate her presence when he seemed so indifferent—or downright dismissive—toward everyone else?
The next day, Mei arrived even earlier than usual, determined to find answers. As expected, Hoshizora-san was already at the Augury Tree, sitting cross-legged with Dusk curled up beside him. Aaaaah perched nearby, occasionally cawing softly as if giving commentary on the world. The other crows—Spectre, Scout, and Vann—were scattered among the branches, their eyes glinting like onyx marbles.
"Good morning, Hoshizora-san," Mei greeted hesitantly, stepping closer.
He looked up briefly, nodding in acknowledgment before returning to his book.
Mei hesitated, unsure how to broach the subject. "It's… getting a bit crowded around here, don't you think?"
Hoshizora-san didn't look up, though his lips twitched faintly. "You're still coming back, aren't you?"
Mei flushed slightly, caught off guard by his bluntness. "Well, they don't chase me away."
"They won't," he said simply, turning a page.
"Why not?" she pressed, crossing her arms.
Hoshizora-san sighed, finally setting his book down. "Because I told them not to."
Mei blinked. "Youtoldthem?"
"They understand more than people think." He glanced up at Aaaaah, who ruffled her feathers in apparent agreement. "Besides, you don't bother them."
Mei frowned, glancing toward the bushes where a pair of glowing eyes—likely belonging to one of the black dogs—watched her intently. "Doesn't this… I don't know, feel a little weird to you?"
Hoshizora-san shrugged. "Weird things happen whether I'm here or not. At least this way, I know what's going on."
His cryptic response left Mei more confused than ever, but before she could press further, the bell rang in the distance. Hoshizora stood, brushing off his uniform. "See you in class, Raiden-san."
As he walked away, Dusk trailing at his heels, Mei couldn't help but feel that she'd only scratched the surface of the mystery that was Hoshizora Akito.
Chiba Academy was at a loss when it came to dealing with the animals that had overrun its grounds. Despite the numerous creatures lurking near the Augury Tree and roaming the courtyard, there was never any mess to speak of—no droppings, no fur, not even so much as a stray feather left behind. It was as though the animals were carefully orchestrating their presence to avoid leaving evidence of their dominion.
Every time inspectors were called to investigate, the animals scattered like shadows dissolving at sunrise. By the time the officials arrived, the grounds looked immaculate, as though nothing had ever been amiss. The creatures didn't flee entirely, however. They simply reappeared in smaller groups throughout the school—perched on rooftops, hiding in bushes, or watching silently from the safety of trees.
No one could explain it. The administration eventually gave up trying to "deal with" the animals, though the students continued to whisper rumors about Hoshizora Akito and his growing entourage.
One crisp morning, Mei once again found herself drawn to the Augury Tree. The usual suspects were there: Aaaaah perched on a low branch, Spectre and Scout above her, and Dusk weaving gracefully around Hoshizora's legs. A few of the black dogs lounged at the base of the tree, their eyes unlike their caretaker, half-lidded as if in a perpetual state of relaxation.
"Good morning, Hoshizora-san," Mei greeted, stepping closer.
Hoshizora glanced up from his book and gave her a small nod. "Raiden-san."
For a moment, Mei simply stood there, watching the serene scene before her. Finally, she broke the silence. "Why do you let me hang around here? You don't seem to like it when other people get close."
Hoshizora closed his book, resting it on his lap as he considered her question. "No one bothers to come closer to me," he said at last. "They're perfectly fine watching me from a distance like I'm some kind of entertainment. But you're different."
Mei tilted her head, curious.
"You approached me on your own," he continued, his tone as even as ever. "And while it was just to deliver a note, you decided to stick around. So I figured I might as well make you feel comfortable when you're here."
He glanced down at Dusk, who was now rubbing against his shin. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Or would you prefer to be mobbed by animals for searches and cuddles?"
Mei flushed at the suggestion, muttering under her breath, "I wouldn't mind petting one of the cats or dogs…"
As if on cue, a small dark brown dog emerged from the bushes and trotted over to Mei. Without hesitation, the dog climbed into her lap, plopping down with an air of entitlement. It looked up at her expectantly, its tail wagging slightly.
Mei froze, her hands hovering awkwardly above the dog.
"That's Chunni," Hoshizora said casually, watching the interaction. "He's a guy Lieutenant helped sneak food to a while back. After that, he decided he wasn't going anywhere."
Mei let out a small laugh and began scratching behind Chunni's ears. The dog leaned into her touch, his tail thumping happily against her knees.
As she petted him, an impulsive thought escaped her lips: "...Are you sure you're not in the Yakuza?"
The question hung in the air for a moment. Hoshizora's expression didn't change much, but his smile thinned, a sharp edge creeping into his features. His gray eyes flickered with a warning that made Mei instantly regret her words.
"No, I'm not," he said evenly, though his tone suggested he wasn't amused.
Mei gulped, feeling the weight of his gaze. "Right," she mumbled. "I was just kidding…"
Hoshizora's stare softened slightly, but he didn't let the subject linger. Instead, he leaned back against the tree, tilting his head as he observed her.
"When am I going to meet Captain and Lieutenant?" Mei asked, hoping to change the topic.
Hoshizora raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "When I'm sure you won't pass out from seeing them."
Mei blinked, caught off guard. "What's that supposed to mean?"
His smirk widened just a fraction, and he let out a low chuckle.
"What do you mean by that?" Mei pressed, her curiosity now mingled with unease.
Hoshizora didn't answer. Instead, he returned his attention to his book, as though the conversation had already concluded.
"Hoshizora-san…" Mei tried again, but he remained silent, the faint amusement in his expression the only indication that he'd heard her at all.
Mei sighed, resigning herself to the mystery. She glanced down at Chunni, who was now snoring softly in her lap, completely oblivious to her inner turmoil.
"Fine," she muttered under her breath, scratching the dog's head absently. "I'll wait. But you better not be messing with me…"
Hoshizora said nothing, but the glint in his eyes suggested that he was enjoying her frustration far more than he let on.
It didn't take long for Chiba Academy's students to fully embrace the bizarre phenomenon surrounding Hoshizora Akito and his self-proclaimed kingdom at the Augury Tree. The nickname stuck, and it wasn't uncommon to hear students refer to the location as though it were some mythical landmark.
"Meet me near the Augury Tree after school."
"Did you see the new crow chilling on the lower branch?"
"I swear, that owl winked at me. No, I'm not joking."
Even teachers couldn't ignore the peculiarity of it all. While most chose to keep their distance and let Hoshizora be, a few—particularly those teaching biology or environmental science—couldn't help but marvel at the harmony between the animals and the boy who seemed to command their loyalty.
Haruto and Airi were among the first students brave enough to approach Hoshizora about photographing the animals. Armed with their phones, they nervously stepped up to him one morning, hoping he wouldn't brush them off as he did most others.
"Excuse me, Hoshizora-san?" Airi had asked, gripping her phone tightly.
Hoshizora had barely looked up from his book, a crow perched casually on his shoulder. "What?"
"We were wondering if we could take some pictures of the animals," Haruto interjected. "They're… uh… really cool."
Hoshizora stared at them for a moment, then shrugged. "Don't bother them with flash, and if they look restless, stop. Ignore that and be prepared for payback."
Though cryptic, they both took this as permission. Over the next few weeks, Haruto and Airi became regular visitors to the Augury Tree, snapping photos and recording videos of the various animals lounging around or interacting with Hoshizora.
Some of the best pictures were those where Hoshizora appeared in the frame—his relaxed posture contrasting with the menagerie surrounding him. One particularly striking image, taken by Haruto, captured Hoshizora reclining against the tree's trunk, a book in hand, with Dusk curled up at his feet, Aaaaah preening her feathers above him, and three black dogs dozing nearby.
The photos quickly went viral after Haruto posted them on social media. Comments poured in, ranging from fascination to disbelief:
"Is this a real-life anime protagonist or what?"
"This guy looks like he controls an entire mafia of animals. So cool."
"I'd kill to pet that cat."
Hoshizora didn't seem to care about the attention, shrugging it off when Haruto mentioned how popular the posts were getting.
Not everyone followed the rules.
Some students, lured by the prospect of clout or simply too curious for their own good, approached the Augury Tree without Hoshizora's permission. They waved their phones around, snapped pictures with bright flashes, and even tried to provoke the animals into doing something "funny."
The animals were patient—for a while.
But when the line was crossed, payback came swiftly and decisively.
Haruto and Airi got a front-row seat to one such incident. A group of boys had spent an entire lunch period pestering the animals, chasing the cats around and tossing breadcrumbs at the crows to rile them up. Hoshizora had warned them, his voice calm but laced with an undertone of certainty.
"I'd stop if I were you," he'd said. "They don't like being mocked."
The boys ignored him.
The next morning, their punishment became evident. The group walked into school only to find themselves inexplicably stepping into piles of animal droppings—outside the gates, near the bike racks, even along the pathway leading to the main building.
What made it worse was that the mess only ever appeared when they were around. Haruto and Airi couldn't stop laughing as the boys frantically tried to show teachers the problem, only for the droppings to vanish without a trace whenever an adult came to inspect.
It was as if the animals were mocking them, rubbing in the fact that they'd broken the unspoken rules.
Over lunch, Mei and her friends discussed the incident, with Haruto and Airi recounting the chaos in vivid detail.
"I'm just saying, it's like instant karma," Minako said with a grin. "You bother the animals, you get shit on your shoes. It's poetic."
Kaede chuckled, shaking her head. "Honestly, why don't people listen to him? He's literally the one surrounded by a mob of crows and cats. You think maybe he knows what he's talking about?"
"Not to mention," Sayuri added, "he actually warned them. It's not his fault they're too dumb to listen."
Mei smiled faintly, but her thoughts lingered on Hoshizora's indifferent demeanor and the way he seemed to exist on the fringes of the school's social life. She glanced out the window, catching a glimpse of him sitting under the Augury Tree, surrounded by his usual companions.
There was something mysterious about him—something that made her both curious and hesitant. But if there was one thing she was certain of, it was this: Hoshizora wasn't someone to underestimate.
The morning bell hadn't rung yet, and Chiba Academy's classrooms were abuzz with chatter. Hoshizora Akito, as usual, was seated beneath the Augury Tree, unbothered by the chaos brewing inside. But inside Class 2-B, Haruto and Airi burst through the door like twin hurricanes, waving their phones in the air and shouting over each other in excitement.
"Guys! GUYS!" Haruto's voice rang out, drawing the attention of nearly every student.
"What the heck is your deal, you two?" Kaede said, turning to look at them, eyebrows raised.
"I swear, you won't believe this!" Airi exclaimed, shoving her phone under Kiba's nose. "Look!"
Kiba, a boy with an easygoing grin and a mop of messy brown hair, leaned back in his chair, trying to get a proper look at the screen. "Okay, lunatics calm down. What am I even looking at?"
"It's Hoshizora!" Airi said, as if that explained everything.
"Yeah, and?" Kiba said, unimpressed. "We see him every day."
"No, no, no, not just him—this!" Haruto snatched the phone and jabbed at the screen. "Apparently, someone from his old school saw the pictures we posted online and added their own stories about him. It's insane!"
The whole class, now thoroughly intrigued, began crowding around Haruto and Airi as they took turns explaining what they'd read.
A former classmate of Hoshizora's had commented under one of the viral posts with stories that only added fuel to the fire of his growing legend. According to the commenter, Hoshizora had been just as much of an enigma at his previous school as he was now.
"They said it was basically an urban myth that Hoshizora had mythical guardians," Airi explained, eyes wide with excitement. "Like, people legit thought he had some kind of magical animals following him around to protect him."
"No way," Kiba said, snickering. "That's ridiculous."
"It's true!" Haruto said, reading directly from the post. "They said crows would show up out of nowhere during lunch breaks, and there was even a story about a fox scaring off some delinquents who were trying to mess with him."
Kaede leaned in closer, intrigued despite herself. "Did he ever say anything about it?"
Haruto nodded. "Apparently, someone asked him about it a week before he transferred out. You know what he did?"
"What?"
"He just smirked, walked away, and waved over his shoulder."
The class erupted into a mix of laughter and disbelief.
"No way! That's such a Hoshizora thing to do," Sayuri said, shaking her head with a grin.
As the stories spread, Hoshizora's reputation grew even more mysterious. Whispers filled the hallways, ranging from wild exaggerations to oddly specific theories.
"Did you hear? Hoshizora's been followed by animals his whole life!"
"Someone said his guardians are cursed spirits. Like, if you mess with him, you'll be cursed too."
"Do you think the crows at school are spies for him? I swear they're always watching us."
The teachers weren't immune to the rumors either. During a lunch break, two of them could be overheard speculating about their enigmatic student.
"Have you noticed how those animals scatter whenever inspectors come by?" one teacher whispered.
"It's uncanny," another agreed. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were trained somehow. But who would even—"
"You think Hoshizora is behind it?"
"I don't know, but if he is… I'm not messing with him."
While the rumors reached nearly every corner of the school, one person seemed completely unfazed by it all—Hoshizora Akito himself.
Or so it seemed.
"Do you think he knows?" Minako asked Mei one afternoon as they walked past the Augury Tree.
Mei glanced toward the tree, where Hoshizora sat with Aaaaah perched on his shoulder, her glossy feathers catching the sunlight. As if on cue, Aaaaah turned her head sharply toward them, cocking it in a way that felt unnervingly intelligent. Mei suppressed a shiver.
"Honestly?" Mei said. "I think he knows everything. He just doesn't care."
Minako laughed. "That sounds about right."
"But…" Mei hesitated. "Do you ever feel like… the crows are watching us?"
Minako blinked. "All the time. Why do you think I don't go near the tree?"
Mei couldn't help but wonder if the rumors about the crows being spies had some truth to them. After all, the animals always seemed to know who was a friend and who wasn't—and anyone who crossed Hoshizora quickly found themselves regretting it.
As the bell rang and they hurried to class, Mei stole one last glance at the Augury Tree. Hoshizora was still there, surrounded by his "mafia," as the students had taken to calling them.
A small smile played on his lips, and for a moment, Mei could have sworn he looked directly at her.
For students studying biology, the Augury Tree became an unexpected goldmine of real-world observation. The sheer variety of animals regularly seen around it sparked curiosity, leading many to use it as a field site for informal research.
"Look at the way those crows interact," one student whispered to her lab partner during lunch, binoculars in hand. "They're taking turns keeping watch while the others eat."
"Classic corvid behavior," her partner replied, scribbling notes in a weathered notebook. "But I swear, these crows are smarter than average. I saw one open a lunchbox latch the other day."
"Do you think it's because they're hanging around Hoshizora-san?"
"That's not scientifically valid, but…" the student trailed off, staring at the boy sitting calmly under the tree, a crow perched on his shoulder like a sentinel.
Their teacher, Ms. Takahara, occasionally indulged in their fascination. "If you can document these behaviors properly, you might even be able to submit them for a local competition," she suggested. "But remember, no interfering with the animals. We're observers, not intruders."
Students from the earth science club found themselves puzzling over how the Augury Tree seemed to defy explanation.
"It doesn't even seem like it's the most ideal habitat," one student muttered, pointing to the tree's surroundings. "It's not particularly old or unique—just a regular campus tree. So why are so many animals here?"
Their teacher, Mr. Kondo, chimed in, "Perhaps the question isn't why they gather, but why they stay. Ecosystems often form around consistent resources. Has anyone noticed any patterns?"
"It has to be Hoshizora-san," someone suggested. "The animals only tolerate him and, like, maybe two other people. It's like he's the constant."
Mr. Kondo smirked. "Interesting hypothesis. Maybe he's the keystone species of this ecosystem."
The class erupted into laughter, but a few students couldn't shake the feeling that there was truth in the joke.
For the art students, the Augury Tree was nothing short of a muse.
"It's just so… alive," Kaoru, a first-year art student, gushed as she set up her easel. "The way the animals move through the branches—it's like a scene from a fairytale."
"More like a dark fantasy," her classmate Jun countered, sketching a crow with a slightly menacing tilt to its head. "I mean, crows and black cats? Hoshizora-san looks like a boss from an indie game or something."
Their teacher, Ms. Nakamura, encouraged them to explore the unique atmosphere of the setting. "Pay attention to the contrasts," she said. "The stillness of Hoshizora-san compared to the liveliness of the animals. The sharpness of the crows against the softer shapes of the tree. There's a lot of visual tension here that can tell a story."
Hoshizora, as usual, ignored the attention, though he occasionally glanced up at their work, his expression unreadable.
The photography club treated the Augury Tree as a living exhibit. With Hoshizora's reluctant permission, they spent mornings and afternoons capturing shots of the animals, the tree, and the boy himself.
"Look at this one!" Airi exclaimed, showing Haruto a photo of Aaaaah mid-flight, her wings spread dramatically against the backdrop of the rising sun.
"That's sick," Haruto said. "Now try getting one with Hoshizora-san in the frame. He has this whole 'mysterious overlord' vibe that'll blow up online."
True to form, their teacher, Mr. Fujimoto, viewed the tree as an opportunity to teach storytelling through visuals. "Photography isn't just about taking a picture; it's about conveying a mood, a narrative," he said, pointing to a student's photo of Hoshizora surrounded by his 'mafia.' "What's the story here? Is he their protector? Their leader? Or just someone who happens to be in the middle of it all?"
Some students even speculated whether the animals posed deliberately for the cameras. "That crow—Spectre, right?—she actually tilted her head at me like she knew I was taking her picture."
"You're imagining things," Haruto said, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely sure.
While the students were mostly fascinated by the phenomenon of the Augury Tree, the teachers' opinions varied.
Ms. Takahara (Biology) admired the natural order Hoshizora seemed to maintain. "It's almost like he's a stabilizing force for the animals," she said during a staff meeting. "If he weren't so standoffish, I'd suggest he join the biology club."
Mr. Kondo (Earth Science) saw the tree as a puzzle. "I've been here for years, and I've never seen anything like this. If someone had told me a regular campus tree would turn into a wildlife hub, I'd have laughed."
Ms. Nakamura (Art) was captivated by the aesthetic appeal. "Hoshizora-kun and his animals have this… timeless quality. It's like watching a painting come to life."
Mr. Fujimoto (Photography) saw the Augury Tree as a teaching moment. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students. How often do you find such a striking subject right on campus?"
Ms. Ishikawa (Homeroom), however, was less enthused. "I just hope it doesn't distract the students too much," she said, though her tone suggested she had already resigned herself to the fact that it absolutely would.
As photos of the Augury Tree circulated online, the school began to gain an unexpected reputation. People outside Chiba Academy started to refer to it as "the school with the guardian animals." Some parents even called the administration, concerned about whether the animals posed a threat to their children.
"We've never had a single incident of aggression," the principal assured them. "If anything, the animals seem oddly well-behaved."
"Well, except for the time they left 'presents' for those kids who broke the rules," a teacher muttered under their breath.
The announcement of Open Day set Chiba Academy buzzing with energy, and when the topic of themes was brought up, the usual ideas surfaced: maid cafes, haunted houses, and themed restaurants. It was a familiar routine until Kaede raised her hand with a mischievous grin.
"Why not base it on the Augury Tree? And, you know, it's a caretaker?"
A hush fell over the room as all eyes turned toward Hoshizora Akito. The boy in question, oblivious—or pretending to be—sat in his usual seat near the window, a book propped open on his desk.
Mei sighed, knowing full well he hadn't been paying attention. She got up from her seat and approached him. Before she could tap his shoulder, Hoshizora's hand shot out and lightly grabbed her finger, his reflexes betraying his usual air of lethargy. He turned toward her with an eyebrow raised, silently asking what she wanted.
Used to his uncanny awareness by now, Mei ignored the collective gasps and murmurs from their classmates and explained. "The class wants to do something with the Augury Tree for Open Day. Would that be okay with you?"
Hoshizora paused, slipping a bookmark into place before closing his book. He gave a long, deliberate glance around the room, his perpetually sleepy eyes taking in the eager—or nervous—expressions of his classmates. Finally, with a long sigh, he dragged a hand down his face and muttered, "Don't ask me for permission. Ask the animals for it."
With that cryptic remark, he stood up, grabbed his bag, and left the classroom.
The silence that followed was thick with confusion.
"What… does that even mean?" Haruto asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Maybe we need to bribe them," Airi suggested, half-joking. "You know, offer treats or something?"
"That might actually work," Haruto muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Nah," Sayuri said, shaking her head. "I think he means we have to literally ask every single animal for permission. Can't risk offending them, right?"
"Wait, do we bow or something?" a quiet student added hesitantly.
Kaede, never one to back down from a challenge, smirked. "It's obvious! He wants us to figure out how to communicate with them. Maybe he's testing us."
Minako in a rare display of snark, leaning back in her chair, rolled her eyes. "Or he's just messing with us because he doesn't care what we do."
Kiba, leaning forward eagerly, chimed in. "What if we make it a mystery? Like, 'The Secret of the Augury Tree.' We could set up different stations to explain the animals, and maybe even include the urban myths about Hoshizora!"
"Urban myths?" Minako asked, confused.
"You know, like the stuff that came up online," Kiba said. "The guardian animals, the mafia rumors, all that. People love a good story."
Mei, meanwhile, sat back at her desk with a thoughtful expression. She had a feeling Hoshizora wasn't joking when he said to ask the animals. It was typical of him to let others decide their own course, but his phrasing suggested he'd still hold them accountable if they got it wrong.
Over the next few days, the class debated what their Open Day theme would entail.
Kaede's Pitch: The Augury Tree as an Experience
Kaede suggested transforming the area around the Augury Tree into an interactive exhibit. "We could have stations explaining the animals, their roles, and maybe a 'meet and greet' with the tamer ones. And if we're lucky, we can get Hoshizora-san to actually interact with visitors!"
This earned groans from Sayuri and a few others. "Good luck with that. He barely talks tous, let alone strangers."
Kiba's Urban Myth IdeaKiba doubled down on his mystery angle. "We frame it like a story! We don't justtellpeople about the animals; we let them discover it themselves. Clues about their personalities, their relationships with Hoshizora—maybe even fake legends about the tree itself."
"I like that," Minako said. "It makes it more immersive."
Haruto and Airi's Photography Corner
Haruto and Airi proposed a photography booth. "We've already got tons of great shots of the animals," Airi said. "We can make a display and maybe sell prints to raise money for the class."
"And if we get permission, we could have a live photo station near the tree," Haruto added. "Imagine a family posing with Aaaaah or Chunni!" Kiba snorted, "You think we can get him into a costume?"
The Wildlife Study StationThe quieter students, inspired by their biology and earth science classes, proposed a more educational approach. "We could have info cards about each species," one of them said. "Like how crows recognize faces or how foxes adapt to urban environments."
"That could tie into the urban myth idea," Mei suggested. "Facts mixed with stories to keep it fun."
When the class presented their ideas to Hoshizora during a break, he listened with a neutral expression, arms crossed as he leaned against the Augury Tree.
"I'm not running a zoo," he said flatly when they finished.
"We're not asking you to," Kaede argued. "We just think it'd be cool to share the story of this place with everyone. You're part of the school, too."
Hoshizora stared at her for a long moment before exhaling. "Fine. Do what you want. But if the animals aren't on board, don't come crying to me."
"Which animals do we need to convince?" Mei asked cautiously.
Hoshizora gave her a faint smirk. "Start with the smaller animals. If you can win them over, the rest will follow."
Once Hoshizora gave his cryptic blessing, the students of Class 2-B set about trying to win over the Augury Tree's residents. At first, they weren't sure how to proceed. Hoshizora's remark about starting with the crows sent Haruto and Airi scrambling for treats, while Kaede and a few others attempted to establish a rapport by "talking" to the animals as if they were human.
Mei, accustomed to Hoshizora's subtle sarcasm, felt this was going to go poorly. And it did.
Attempt: 1Haruto and Airi's Crow Bribery
The duo arrived early one morning armed with bags of shiny trinkets and assorted food scraps. Airi held up a silver bracelet. "Crows like shiny things, right? This should be an easy win!"
The trio of crows—Spectre, Scout, and Vann—watched from the branches above, unimpressed.
Haruto whistled and held out a slice of bread. "C'mon, guys, we're cool. No reason to mess with us, right?"
Spectre responded with a sharp caw before swooping down, snatching the bread, and dropping it directly onto Haruto's head. Airi burst into laughter as Scout and Vann followed suit, pelting him with twigs and leaves.
From his seat by the tree, Hoshizora smirked over the rim of his book. "Guess they don't think you're cool after all."
Haruto glared at him. "Are you just going to sit there and let them bully me?"
"Yes," Hoshizora said without missing a beat, flipping a page.
Attempt: 2Kaede's Animal Conversations
Kaede decided to approach the foxes and tanuki. Her method involved crouching near the bushes and trying to reason with them in hushed tones. "Listen, we just want to share your story. Think of it as raising awareness. You like awareness, don't you?"
One of the foxes, a slender red vixen, yawned and turned away. A tanuki waddled closer, sniffing curiously. Kaede reached out with a hopeful smile—only for the tanuki to snatch the ribbon she'd tied to her wrist and disappear into the underbrush.
"Hey!" she shouted, scrambling to her feet.
From the tree, Hoshizora chuckled quietly.
"Was that your plan all along?" Kaede demanded.
Hoshizora shrugged. "Maybe you should negotiate better next time."
It didn't take long for students from other classes to hear about Class 2-B's "mission." The Augury Tree had become a school-wide phenomenon, and rumors about the animals' intelligence and loyalty to Hoshizora only fueled interest.
Class 3-A's student council president, Rui, decided to join in. "If we win over the animals first, maybe we can use them for our Open Day theme," she suggested to her classmates.
Meanwhile, a group of students from the photography club began brainstorming ways to capture the animals' attention. "Imagine the shots we could get if they trusted us!" one of them exclaimed.
This influx of competition turned the quest into a full-blown race.
Rui approached the problem like a negotiation. She and her friends brought fresh fish for the cats and dogs, setting it out in neat dishes near the tree. A sleek black cat—Dusk—appeared, sniffing cautiously.
"Yes! It's working," one of Rui's friends whispered.
Dusk stared at them for a long moment, then darted forward, snatched a fish, and promptly buried it in the dirt. Rui frowned. "Why would she do that?"
From his perch, Hoshizora deadpanned, "She's saving it for later. You should've asked if she was hungry first."
The photography club tried to impress the crows with a drone carrying reflective trinkets. They figured the novelty might catch the birds' attention.
It did—just not in the way they intended.
Spectre, Scout, and Vann coordinated a counterattack, chasing the drone relentlessly until it spiraled into a bush. The crows perched triumphantly on its remains, cawing loudly.
One of the photographers groaned. "Why are they so aggressive?"
"You brought a robot into their territory," Hoshizora said without looking up. "Wouldn't you fight it, too?"
After several days of failures, Mei finally made progress. Instead of flashy tactics or bribes, she simply sat under the tree one morning, quietly observing. A small dark-brown dog—A Kai Ken—approached her cautiously.
She held out her hand, letting him sniff her. "Hi there," she said softly. "I'm not here to bother you."
The dog wagged his tail and nudged her hand. Mei began scratching behind his ears, earning a contented huff.
"That's Hunter," Hoshizora said from above. She hadn't even noticed him sitting on one of the tree's lower branches.
Mei looked up, startled. "You're always just…there,aren't you?"
Hoshizora shrugged. "Hunter's a good judge of character. If he likes you, the others might come around."
Emboldened by Mei's success, Haruto and Airi approached the crows again—but this time, they followed Hoshizora's advice.
They set up a small table with various objects: buttons, bits of string, and shiny beads. Haruto stood back while Airi knelt nearby. "These are for you," she said, gesturing to the table.
The crows eyed the setup warily before swooping down one by one. Spectre picked up a silver button, Scout grabbed a piece of string, and Vann pecked at a bead before flying off.
"That wasn't so hard," Haruto said.
"Now you just have to wait and see if they like your offering," Hoshizora commented, strolling past with his hands in his pockets.
With Open Day approaching, the competition grew fiercer. Students from various classes tried to outdo each other with elaborate gestures and offerings. Despite their efforts, it became clear that the animals favored Class 2-B—not because of their tactics, but because they'd earned the creatures' trust through patience and genuine respect.
Hoshizora watched the chaos unfold with thinly veiled amusement. He occasionally offered cryptic advice to his classmates, leaving them to interpret it on their own. By the end of the week, Class 2-B had unofficially "won" the race.