January 31, 2013, Thursday, 9:00 pm, Wasei Rengō Manor
The night was chilly, and the light posts flickered on and off. At the Wasei Rengō manor, the yakuza members and servants cleaned the household. Having recovered from overheating in the steam room, Takahiro Matsunaga sipped hot tea with his bodyguard Kenta and two other high-ranking subordinates. A meeting was underway.
Takahiro ordered to everyone, "Status report."
Second-commander Jojo answered, "Nothing unusual has occurred on our end."
Third commander Shouma answered, "A few delinquent students from Nakameguro High have been causing a ruckus in our territory. It's nothing we can't handle."
As everyone except Takahiro reported on different situations in their territory, Jojo and Shouma asked Master Matsunaga about Aoi's situation.
With a determined face, the boss answered, "I have determined that my granddaughter will not leave the Nakameguro High."
Jojo and Shouma were stunned by his answer. They, too, were worried for the young lady's safety, especially the crumbling situation at Nakameguro High.
Master Matsunaga reassured, "Aoi would be fine, and the situation at Nakameguro High would be fixed with the help of that man."
Both commanders were confused by the existence of "that man." Kenta pointed out the man Elric was related to the "demon" twenty-five years ago.
"What!!?" both commanders exclaimed in confusion, "You mean someone related to the 'demon' is here? There is no way we will leave him with the young lady!"
Master Matsunaga and Kenta glared at both commanders for looking down on Elric. They explained that Elric estranged himself from the "demon" due to a family squabble. With the young man's strength and relations with the 'demon,' it was already dead set.
"If even so, Ryosuke would never allow this to happen!" Jojo exclaimed.
"Speaking of which, where is he? He should be attending this meeting," Shouma questioned.
Noticing the situation, Kenta worried that Ryosuke would go after Elric to determine if he was worthy. However, Master Matsunaga was calm and determined that Elric would defeat Ryosuke despite being a curse user.
Moments later, a commotion erupted outside the room. The sound of stomping footsteps grew louder as they approached. The door slid open to reveal an injured Ryosuke, who had a black eye, a bleeding left arm, and tattered clothes. A cigarette hung from his mouth, smoke curling into the air.
While the boss was calm, the others were panicked by Ryosuke's appearance. They wondered how the number one bodyguard curse user received this much damage.
Ryosuke sat down and raised his injured arm as the servants provided first aid.
"What the hell happened to you? Did that foreigner do this to you?" Jojo asked.
"Wow! I knew Elric was formidable based on his appearance, but this is beyond my expectation," Kenta analyzed, still in awe of the scene unfolding before them.
Ryosuke's expression darkened as he turned to his Master. "That bastard... he is a curse user, and you knew it... Did you, Master?"
As everyone shifted their gaze to their Master, he took a deep breath and explained, "I had my suspicions about him. When he leaned closer to whisper a secret, I sensed cursed energy emanating from him. That young man probably doesn't realize he's exuding this cursed energy... No, he doesn't seem to know about curses."
Ryosuke nodded in agreement, realizing that Elric, the foreigner, was unfamiliar with the sorcerers' terminology, which only added to his concerns.
As Master Matsunaga sat idle, the others argued that Elric was a curse user and a foreigner.
Just then, Shouma's sharp eyes caught a glint of something unusual sticking out of Ryosuke's back.
"Hold on...? This shard... Is that guy related to...?'" Shouma asked, curiosity mixing with apprehension.
As the darkness enveloped the room, anticipation hung in the air, leaving the answers to be uncovered later.
February 11, 2013, Monday, 8:15 am, Nakameguro High School
Classroom 3-4's atmosphere was as desolate as the rows of empty desks. Only ten of the thirty-six students were present:
Miruko HorigawaIchiro MutoHiroki MutoRiku TakaharaShoji NakamuraTakeshi OgawaMiyu SasakiYuna KurokawaRika TanabeAoi Matsunaga
Among the group, Miruko, Ichiro, and Hiroki were the more grounded ones, their quiet presence a faint beacon of normalcy in the otherwise chaotic class. They received direct coaching from their savior.
In stark contrast, Riku, Shoji, and Takeshi, the notorious trio of delinquents, seemed to thrive on their lack of direction. Loud, reckless, and unapologetically brash, they wore their disdain for authority like badges of honor, each more disruptive than the last.
The female trio of gyaru, Miyu, Yuna, and Rika were just as bold but in a different vein. Adorned with dyed hair, bold makeup, and trendy, Western-inspired accessories, their appearance flaunted rebellion against traditional norms. Though their looks drew attention, their behavior turned heads for all the wrong reasons. They often targeted their class representative, Aoi Matsunaga, with cutting remarks and petty cruelties.
Despite being the granddaughter of the influential head of the Wasei Rengō, Aoi carried herself with a quiet dignity that only seemed to provoke the gyaru further. Once a cheerful and kind-hearted girl, she had withdrawn into herself, the weight of constant bullying isolating her from her peers. Even now, she sat at her desk, eyes cast downward as if willing herself to become invisible.
The oppressive air in the room mirrored the state of the school itself, a once-vibrant institution now plagued by tension and shadows of corruption, with its students bearing the brunt of the decay.
The classroom door slid open as the clock kept ticking until it pointed at 8:15 am. The sudden opening caused a bucket of water suspended above the door to fall over. This prank was set by the delinquent trio. However, the prank failed before the trio could laugh.
A blank teacher with glasses and messy hair approached his desk. He glanced at the sparsely filled rows of desks, his sharp eyes briefly meeting each student's gaze before settling on the chalkboard. Picking up a piece of chalk, he wrote his name in neat kanji: えりっく・ほ (Elric Ho).
Turning to face the class, he leaned slightly on the desk and spoke, his tone calm yet commanding enough to draw attention.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Elric Ho, and I'll be your substitute teacher starting today."
His eyes swept across the room, noting the defiance in some faces, the disinterest in others, and the subtle unease of one or two students who avoided his gaze entirely. He didn't miss Aoi Matsunaga, shrinking slightly behind her desk, nor the way the gyaru trio exchanged sly glances, likely already sizing him up.
Miruko, Ichiro, and Hiroki greeted their new teacher with sincerity. Aoi followed suit but was silent. The other remaining students were disrespectful and ignorant. The boys were chattering and fooling around while the gyaru girls were chatting and playing on their phones.
His eyes swept across the room, noting the defiance in some faces, the disinterest in others, and the subtle unease of one or two students who avoided his gaze entirely. He didn't miss Aoi Matsunaga, shrinking slightly behind her desk, nor the way the gyaru trio exchanged sly glances, likely already sizing him up.
"I've been told that this school is going through some... challenges," he continued, his tone steady but with an edge of firmness, "But I believe every challenge is an opportunity. For now, though, let's keep things simple. I'm here to teach; you're here to learn, or at least pretend to."
A faint chuckle came from the back, but it was quickly stifled when Elric's sharp eyes flicked in that direction.
"For those of you wondering, yes, I'll be sticking around for a while. So, let's get one thing straight. This is a classroom, not a battlefield. I expect respect, and I'll give you the same in return."
His gaze briefly lingered on the delinquents and gyaru before softening slightly as it shifted to Aoi.
"Now, why don't we start by hearing from you? Introduce yourselves if you're willing. If not, that's fine too. Just know that by the end of today, I'll have learned all your names regardless."
The class remained quiet, some delinquents and gyaru glancing at one another, unsure how to respond. Elric stood silently, waiting with the patience of someone who had been through worse situations than an unruly classroom.
As the silence fell on the classroom, Elric noted that this room was swarming with entities invisible to everyone except Miruko, who awakened her abilities. She was still struggling as she was trying to get used to their presence.
"So these things are referred to as curses or cursed spirits... It is good fortune to meet someone who knows a thing or two..." Elric thought.
February 6, 2013, Wednesday, 2:00 pm, Random Izakaya
Five days ago, before the interview, Elric stepped into a small, dimly lit izakaya tucked away in an unassuming alley. The faint smell of grilled fish and the tang of spices filled the air. He was just looking for a quiet meal to pass the time, but fate had other plans.
A familiar figure was sitting at the counter's corner, nursing a steaming oden bowl. Ryosuke, the yakuza bodyguard, sat hunched over, his left arm wrapped in fresh bandages. Elric blinked in surprise, his voice escaping before he could stop himself.
"Well, this is unexpected," Elric muttered as he slid onto a stool nearby. "What are you doing here?"
Ryosuke turned his head, his sharp gaze narrowing before recognition dawned. "I could ask you the same thing, foreigner," he replied, his tone laced with suspicion.
The tension in the air was palpable, drawing the attention of a few patrons. Elric was about to respond when the izakaya owner appeared, his cheerful voice cutting through the awkward silence.
"Welcome! What can I get for you, sir?" the owner asked, his smile broad but his eyes flicking cautiously between the two men.
Elric relaxed slightly and gave a faint nod. "Something spicy. Anything that'll wake me up. It's my first time here."
The owner's face brightened. "Spicy, eh? You've come to the right place! How about 'Shinretsu Udon' and some of our famous 'Spicy Eel Kabayaki'? And don't worry about the eel. It's on the house."
Elric nodded appreciatively, and soon, two steaming dishes were set before him. The udon's rich, crimson broth glistened ominously, and the kabayaki eel shimmered with a glaze that promised fiery punishment.
Ryosuke watched in disbelief as Elric picked up his chopsticks and calmly dug in. The ghost pepper-laden broth barely earned a twitch from the foreigner's stoic face as he ate with deliberate ease.
"How are you eating that without screaming?" Ryosuke finally asked, his voice laced with incredulity.
Elric glanced at him, the faintest smirk curling his lips. "Harsh training. Pain like this is nothing. It's a reminder that I'm alive."
Ryosuke stared for a moment before a low chuckle escaped him. Then, as if the weight of the tension lifted, he laughed, a deep, genuine sound that caught even him by surprise. "You're an odd one, Elric. But I'll give you this. You've got guts."
The two men shared an unexpected camaraderie, warming the small izakaya with laughter and conversation. They toasted their success with warm sake, though it didn't take long for Ryosuke to succumb to the alcohol. His cheeks flushed as he leaned heavily on the counter, his words slurring.
"You know nothing," Ryosuke slurred, pointing a finger at Elric. "Curses… jujutsu sorcerers… you're so clueless it's painful."
Elric raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt as Ryosuke launched into a rambling tirade about the supernatural world. Though much of it was disjointed, keywords like "curse users" and "sorcerers" sparked Elric's curiosity.
The conversation ended abruptly when the door slid open, and a second bodyguard stepped in. Kenta, Ryosuke's more composed partner, shook his head at the sight of his comrade slumped over the counter.
"I leave you alone for one hour…" Kenta muttered, pulling Ryosuke to his feet. "Apologies for the trouble."
Elric waved it off, watching the two disappear into the cold afternoon. The faintest smile tugged at his lips. He hadn't planned on encountering familiar faces. Still, this strange encounter left him with questions and perhaps a few answers.
Back to the present...
In the classroom, swarmed with unseen creatures that are invisible to normal folks, Elric analyzed his surroundings. He understood Miruko's awkward situation.
"I guess I will give a proper explanation to her later. Now, for Aoi..." Elric thought to himself.
As he gazed at Aoi, the so-called infamous granddaughter of a redeemed yakuza, she began hiding in the corner of the classroom when the curses started to manifest. He noticed that her thick braided hair was covering her neck, which was proof of the abuse she experienced in high school. It was not common, but students who have familial connections to yakuza, even though redeemed, would often hide their yakuza backgrounds, which would affect their high school life.
"Beautiful..." Elric mused to himself as his gaze lingered on Aoi's heterochromatic eyes, partially obscured by her glasses.
The contrast of colors was striking, yet there was something deeper, something unsettling. Elric could sense it.
Elric's mind continued to race, "She can see them... the curses."
The air grew heavy, a suffocating pressure that only he, Miruko, and Aoi seemed to fully perceive. From the blackboard behind him, a grotesque, hulking curse began to emerge, its form writhing like shadows made flesh. Its twisted grin revealed rows of jagged teeth, and its eyes gleamed with malevolent intent.
Across the room, Miruko froze in place, her wide eyes betraying the fear she dared not voice. The curse's attention, however, shifted to Aoi. She trembled violently, her breathing shallow, as the creature slithered closer. Its predatory gaze swept over her, its lecherous grin widening with malicious delight.
Aoi's knees buckled, and she covered her face with her hair without drawing attention. She seemed moments away from collapsing when the curse suddenly halted. Its grin vanished, replaced by a look of sheer panic. Its grotesque eyes darted frantically, its mouth hanging open as though struggling to breathe. The room fell silent, the students watching in confusion, unable to see what was happening.
All eyes turned to Elric, who stood calmly with one hand gripping something invisible to most. To them, it seemed as if he were clutching the air, but to Aoi, Miruko, and the curse, the truth was unmistakable. Elric had wrapped his fingers around the curse's elongated, snake-like body, his grip unyielding.
"Enough of this," Elric muttered, his voice low but filled with authority. His hand began to glow faintly with cursed energy, a crimson flickering aura that pulsed with raw power. It enveloped the curse, which struggled with no avail. Without another word, he swung the curse with inhuman strength, slamming its writhing body against the blackboard.
The impact was deafening. The blackboard cracked and cratered under the force, shards of chalk dust scattering like a white haze. The students flinched, feeling the ripple of the shockwave that rattled their desks and chairs. The noise was felt across the school as if there was an earthquake.
The curse let out a final, gurgled screech before dissipating into nothingness, leaving only the damaged blackboard as evidence of its existence.
Elric turned back to the class, brushing chalk dust from his hands and sleeves as if nothing unusual had happened. His sharp eyes scanned the room briefly before landing on Aoi, who had sunk into her chair, still trembling but now staring at him with a mixture of awe and confusion.
"Damn..." Elric muttered with an air of feigned disappointment, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "Missed the fly."
"Sorry, everyone. I tried to hold back the force, but this annoying fly buzzed around like an annoyance," Elric calmly explained with a normal yet intimidating expression, "I hope no one is frightened, right?
The room remained silent, the tension hanging thick in the air. None of the students, especially the delinquent boys and gyaru girls, dared to ask what had just occurred, but one thing was certain. Elric Ho was no ordinary substitute teacher. He adjusted his glasses where the reflection hid his eyes and smirked at his students.
In the dark corners of Tokyo, sinister laughter and metal screeching echoed. In an office shrouded in shadows, grinning faces gleamed through the darkness, ready to cause chaos.