The Yuzuara Temple stood like a postcard painting, its delicate garden of Sakura trees casting a pink mist over the grounds. A gentle breeze carried petals across the small pond where visitors often paused to take in the peaceful view. But behind this tourist charm lay a secret far from ordinary. Hidden beneath the gardens and lantern-lit paths was the main base of the Company, the nerve center where we, the Paranormal Officer Trainees, gathered. This was where we sharpened our skills, exchanged strategies, and pushed toward earning our coveted Value Points.
As one of the senior trainees—the best among the best—I usually oversaw most of the day-to-day activities. But today, the training ground was strangely quiet. Many had been called away on missions or were in seclusion, focused on increasing their spiritual energy reserves.
I had recently advanced to Level 3 and pushed my strength ranking up to EEE-Rank, early stage. Balancing all that I'd learned was critical now—not just for my own growth, but to guide the younger ones. Especially my niece, Nana, and her group.
"Sam, your swinging posture is wrong," I called out, observing Nana's little team as they practiced nearby.
"I'm tired," Sam groaned, his shoulders sagging dramatically.
"Quiet," snapped Alia, a sharp-eyed member of my own team, who stood with arms folded like a strict commander. "You're lucky Chifuyu-sama is even assisting you. She should be focusing on her own training." Her glare pinned Sam in place.
"Sorry, ma'am!" Sam yelped, straightening his stance and adjusting his grip on the wooden sword.
"Come on, Sis Alia, give Sam a break," Nana giggled, sidling up to me and wrapping her arms gently around my waist. She rested her head on my shoulder, her soft brown hair brushing my cheek.
Alia clicked her tongue. "Nana-sama, I still don't approve of you mingling so casually with this lower branch of the family." Her voice tightened. "The only reason they ranked so well was because your generation didn't have enough Main Bloods to compete."
"But they still beat the Irohas," I said with a proud smile, glancing at Sam and Haruwa. Even Yaya, who hadn't taken the test with them, had her share of strength. "They earned second place, which is impressive."
"They did try," Alia admitted with a reluctant nod. "But why'd you all let a one-man team beat you in the exam?"
"You mean Deluke?" Nana's eyes sparkled at the mention, her excitement bubbling over. "Don't you know? He's considered one of Japan's top talents!" She lifted her shoulders proudly, almost as if his achievements reflected on her.
"And he's from the Izana line, huh. They've really got a powerhouse in him," Alia mused thoughtfully.
"But why are you so excited talking about him?" Kaou asked, suddenly appearing beside us. He'd been helping the junior trainees at the center but had clearly been eavesdropping on our conversation.
"I'm not excited," Nana mumbled, turning her gaze away, cheeks tinged pink.
As Kaou joined us, Sam, Haruwa, and Yaya quickly bowed in greeting. Me, Nana, Alia, Kaou, and two others from my team all shared Main Blood ties. Especially Nana, Kaou, and me—our connections to the core family ran deep. Sakura, one of the Maiden candidates, was another, though she was rarely seen around due to her shrine duties, just like my elder sister, already a full Paranormal Officer. Because of this, the branch family members, even if stronger or higher-ranked, still showed deference. Not that I particularly cared for the formality, but others in the Yuzuara Main family took pride in it, sometimes pushing it too far.
"It's because she has a crush on him," Haruwa blurted suddenly, peeking out mischievously from behind my back.
"Haruwa!!" Nana shrieked, face exploding into a deep blush. She chased after Haruwa like a cat after a mouse, darting in circles around me until she finally tackled him to the ground. I couldn't help but chuckle softly at the adorable chaos, while Alia, Yaya, and Kaou stared wide-eyed at the revelation.
"I thought she liked Young Master Sky," Yaya murmured, blinking in confusion.
"Unfortunately, Deluke's more handsome than Young Master Sky," Sam snickered, teasing Nana mercilessly. "Don't forget Nana's weakness for handsome boys!"
"Nana!" Alia gasped, folding her arms sternly. "You do know he's from the enemy company, right?"
"Hey, who said Shizu was my enemy?" I jumped in, raising a playful brow.
"I mean…" Alia trailed off, avoiding my gaze.
"Why are you all complaining about my love life," Nana shot back, "when Kaou and Sky are both busy competing over Big Sis Shizu?"
Kaou let out a dramatic cough at that, his face going pink. Somewhere, I was sure, Sky was sneezing from across the temple grounds. I couldn't hold back a laugh. "Kaou, you should be worried," I teased. "Shizu and Deluke are from the same company now, so it wouldn't surprise me if they end up a couple!"
"Come on, please," Kaou huffed, his confidence reasserting itself. "It's the guy who'll be drooling over Shizu, but knowing her, she won't give him the time of day."
"Is that why she keeps ignoring your advances?" Alia deadpanned, raising an eyebrow.
"She's just being a Tsundere," Kaou claimed boldly, puffing out his chest. "Under that tough exterior, she's totally head over heels for me."
We all exchanged dry, skeptical looks.
"Delu-lu," Nana whispered slyly, causing the entire group to erupt in laughter. Kaou turned red and bolted back to help the juniors, hiding his face with both hands.
"Nana, that was mean," I said, still wiping tears of laughter from my eyes.
"I was only joking!" Nana waved her hands quickly. "Even I wouldn't want Deluke to fall for Shizu. I mean, how could I compete with her in any way?"
"That's my Shizu for you," I murmured proudly, crossing my arms.
"Enough about love and crushes," Alia cut in sharply, her voice regaining its commanding edge. "Let's get back to training. We can't afford to slack off."
"Damn, we were just getting to the good part," Sam whined, dragging his feet back to the practice line. Haruwa let out a small growl but followed suit.
"Let's all work hard to keep these good times going," I said softly, watching them with a gentle smile. Despite the teasing, the rivalry, and the endless push for strength, this was my family, and I wouldn't trade these moments for anything.
The sun began to dip lower, casting golden rays across the Sakura gardens as we resumed our drills. Somewhere beyond these temple walls, a larger world of missions, battles, and rivalries waited. But for now, here among laughter and practice swings, we held onto the peaceful strength of today.