The blinding light faded.
In an instant, the three were back in classroom 2-C—only now, they were standing in the middle of a wrecked room. Desks were flipped, ceiling tiles cracked, and students huddled in corners, wide-eyed and traumatized.
Akira blinked rapidly, dazed.
And very, very naked.
He glanced down. "Oh no."
Sera stretched, completely bare and utterly unbothered. "We're back. Successful sync!"
Kurumi, on the other hand, shrieked and dove behind the nearest toppled desk, covering herself with a half-burnt workbook.
"WE'RE NAKED?! IN FRONT OF EVERYONE?!"
Sera tilted her head, her glistening silver aura still flickering. "Technically, we're surrounded by residual magic threads. Like glittery lingerie."
"You mean we're flashing auras, not clothes!" Akira snapped, using a half-melted poster of the school rules to cover himself.
Gasps, fainting, and spontaneous nosebleeds erupted all around them.
At the front of the room, Miss Ayaka Shirosawa didn't flinch. Her eye twitched exactly once before she extended a hand—and with a snap of her fingers, a blast of wind wrapped the trio in summoned cloth. Elegant robes, vaguely magical in design, manifested just enough to restore a sense of decency.
"Sit. Down," she said, voice low and steely. "Now."
The three obeyed without argument.
Silence loomed like death.
Miss Shirosawa exhaled. "I expected disruptions. Not… spiritual orgies and multi-dimensional exposure therapy."
Akira raised a hand feebly. "Technically, it was a Nexus Bond—"
"Silence, Akira."
"Yes, ma'am."
She turned to Sera. "You. Transfer student. You've been here one period and caused more chaos than an inter-school dodgeball match with the martial arts club. Explain yourself."
Sera raised a finger. "It's not just my fault. Akira's body is extremely… resonant. And Kurumi's aura is super aggressive. Combine that with a Cresettla Stone awakening and boom! Naked magical vortex!"
Miss Shirosawa closed her eyes, muttering something about transferring to the countryside. "This is your first and final warning. Another surge like this in my class, and I will personally seal your mana for a week."
"You can do that?" Kurumi whispered, awed.
"I used to train wild summoners in Sapporo. I once muzzled a dragon with a chalkboard eraser." Her glare could melt steel. "Now. Everyone, open your workbooks. And no more magical explosions until the bell rings."
The rest of the class complied.
Mostly out of fear.
---
After School — Twilight Walk
The trio trudged home in awkward silence.
Kurumi still hadn't looked Akira in the eyes since the incident. Her cheeks remained scarlet, and she kept at least one full meter of distance from him, arms crossed like a chastity barrier.
"I told you to stop her," she muttered.
"I tried!" Akira groaned. "You think I wanted to show the class my spirit conduit?!"
Sera, on the other hand, walked in the middle, cheerfully swinging her bag. "Bonding sessions are good for the soul. And hey, now we're more synchronized than ever!"
"You say that like it's a good thing."
"It is. You should be thanking me. Our mana levels are peaking. We could take on a minor demon right now!"
As if summoned by fate—
A cold wind blew through the alley they'd just turned into.
From the shadows stepped a figure in tight black leather armor, her skin a moonlit violet. Her ears were long, twisted, and elvish. Her crimson eyes glowed with malicious delight.
She smirked, dark hair cascading past her shoulders.
"Akira Kitagawa . Kurumi Ogino . Sera Rymer."
Sera froze. "No way…"
The woman stepped forward, licking her lips.
"I am Kirara, emissary of the Obsidian Circle. And I'm here for the Cresettla Stone."
Akira stepped in front of the girls. "Tough luck. I'm not handing it over."
"Oh, I wasn't asking."
Kirara raised her hand.
A spear of shadow magic erupted from her palm—Kurumi barely had time to react. But she did.
With a cry, she slammed her foot down, summoning a shockwave of mana.
"THUNDER SNAP!"
Pink lightning exploded from her fingertips, intercepting the spear midair with a crackle of force. The two spells collided in a burst of sparks.
Kirara grinned. "Oooh. Fiery one. You must be the Third Star."
Kurumi stepped forward, her aura flaring. "I'm more than that. You just messed with the wrong girl."
Sera chuckled, arms crossed. "This should be fun."
Akira looked between them. "Do we have a plan?!"
"Support us. Don't die," Kurumi snapped.
With a feral shriek, Kirara dashed forward, twin daggers of shadow forming in her hands. Kurumi met her head-on, fists glowing.
The first clash was electric.
Literally.
CRACK! Thunder roared as Kurumi's fist connected with Kirara's blade, generating a pulse that split nearby lamp posts in two. Kirara flipped backward, hurling a series of dark needles.
Kurumi dodged, flipping through the air. She landed with her arms crossed. "PINK THUNDER MODE—ENGAGE!"
Her body exploded with radiant pink energy, hair whipping as thunder surged around her. Lightning spiraled around her arms like coiled serpents.
Kirara growled. "So you've awakened. Let's see what the Third Star really means."
She vanished in a blink—shadow teleportation. But Kurumi anticipated it, spinning on her heel and landing a roundhouse kick that sent Kirara crashing into a vending machine.
"Cheap tricks won't save you," Kurumi said, charging another attack.
Kirara stood, blood at the corner of her mouth, and smiled.
"I like you," she said. "Which is why I'll let you live—for now."
From her wrist, she activated a dark sigil.
A massive circle of black flame erupted from the ground, swirling around her like a teleportation seal.
Sera lunged forward, "Wait! That's—"
BOOOOM.
The seal exploded—and standing there, emerging from the ashes, was a new figure.
A tall, striking man with silver hair, red eyes, and a long black coat.
His aura was so intense it warped the very air.
Sera froze.
"J-Justin…"
Akira blinked. "Wait, you know this guy?"
She stepped back, visibly trembling.
"That's my brother. Justin Rymer. First Blade of the Obsidian Circle."
Justin looked over them with a calm, cold expression.
His gaze settled on Sera.
"Sister," he said, voice like steel, "it's time you came home."
Sera's eyes widened.
"No…"
To Be Continued…