If glares possessed tangible force, Hozuki Nozomi would have been atomized a thousand times over before even reaching the school gates. Walking through the morning crowds, he was acutely aware of the barrage of envious, jealous, and downright hostile stares drilling into his back from his male classmates.
Simultaneously, clusters of girls huddled together, their whispers carrying on the crisp air like the rustle of autumn leaves.
"Look, there he is! That's the Succubus—the one who tamed the Snow Princess, entangled himself with the celebrity senpai, and seems to be collecting every notable beauty in Soubu High!"
"Oh my gosh, he just looked this way! He's even more handsome up close…"
Hozuki Nozomi suddenly found himself wishing his hearing were a little less keen. Supernatural senses had their downsides.
"Hozuki Nozomi," Yukino Yukinoshita began, a hint of playful malice in her tone as she observed the surrounding reactions, "are you aware of who currently holds the title of 'Most Despised Male' in our school?"
He didn't even need to think. "Let me guess… would it be the legendary 'Succubus' who has inexplicably charmed an entire roster of beautiful girls? That'd be me, wouldn't it?"
He then leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur meant only for her ear. "But, Yukino… why on earth would I care about my popularity with boys? As long as I remain… appreciable to girls, that's more than sufficient."
"Hmph. Getting a little full of yourself, aren't you? You incorrigible playboy," she retorted, though the usual sharp edge was softened by the faint blush on her cheeks.
Seizing the moment, Hozuki Nozomi closed the distance further, his breath ghosting over her earlobe. "If Yukino finds me so reprehensible, then perhaps as penance… you should come to my room tonight. Alone. I'll be utterly, exclusively yours. No distractions."
A full-body shiver ran through Yukino Yukinoshita. She quickly shook her head, her silken hair swishing. "N-No… I refuse! I don't want to be alone with you!"
There was a time when the thought of having her fiancé all to herself might have been appealing. But after several… educational and overwhelming private sessions that had left her utterly drained and begging for respite, she had thoroughly abandoned that fantasy. Her constitution simply couldn't withstand a focused, unilateral campaign.
Watching her rapid retreat, Hozuki Nozomi couldn't suppress a low chuckle. "You see, Yukino? I offer exclusivity, and you're the one who turns it down."
"Be quiet! I'm not speaking to you anymore. All you know how to do is bully me." Miss Yukinoshita shot him a final, flustered glare before swiftly disentangling herself and hurrying toward the sanctuary of her own classroom.
…
Time flowed onward, bringing the lunch hour. Hozuki Nozomi made his way to the Service Club room. Today, they had an active request to address. The client, as previously indicated, was one Misaki Mei.
The name tickled something in his memory, solidifying his suspicion that she was another protagonist lifted from the tapestry of anime archetypes. However, the genre seemed to have shifted. If his recollection served, this Misaki Mei hailed from a more… atmospheric, horror-mystery oriented series. Reputedly, she possessed the ability to perceive things hidden from ordinary sight—such as the shroud of death clinging to a person.
Whether such tales held truth, however, would require firsthand investigation.
The client had not yet arrived. With time to spare, Hozuki Nozomi's gaze naturally drifted, coming to rest on a pair of exquisite vistas: the elegant, stocking-clad legs of Yukino Yukinoshita and the graceful limbs of Sanshokuin Sumireko.
Noticing the direction of his appreciative stare, Yukino rolled her eyes skyward. "Pervert," she muttered under her breath, though she made no move to shield herself.
Hozuki Nozomi, far from being chastened, reached out and let his fingers lightly trace the curve of Yukino's calf over her stocking. "I prefer to think of it as… aesthetic appreciation," he countered with a smile.
Yukino Yukinoshita ignored him, stubbornly focusing on the light novel in her hands, though the slight tremor in her page-turning finger betrayed her.
Sanshokuin Sumireko found the exchange amusing, a gentle smile playing on her lips—until she felt the same appreciative gaze land on her own legs. Meeting his eyes, she gave a slight, playful wave.
Recognizing the invitation, Hozuki Nozomi's eyes lit up. He immediately shifted, lowering his head to rest comfortably upon Sumireko's lap. Her lap pillows were among his favorite things in the world.
Yukino Yukinoshita's brow furrowed slightly. "Sanshokuin, you really shouldn't indulge him so much."
Sumireko merely smiled, her fingers already beginning to card gently through his hair. "What harm does it do? Can you honestly bear him staring at us with that intensity for the entire period?"
Yukino fell silent. She truly couldn't. In fact, given the depth of her feelings for him, a part of her rather enjoyed being the object of his rapt, if sometimes roguish, attention.
…
Hozuki Nozomi was drifting in the pleasant haze between waking and sleep, lulled by the softness of Sumireko's thighs and the soothing rhythm of her fingers in his hair, when a voice—cool, clear, and utterly devoid of warmth—cut through the tranquility.
"Your death is nigh."
His eyes snapped open.
Before him stood a girl with a severe, chin-length bob of dark hair. She wore the standard Soubu High uniform, her frame petite and slender. Her features were delicate and pale, the kind of beauty that would score highly on any scale. The most striking feature, however, was the plain white eyepatch covering her right eye, leaving only a single, vivid crimson iris to regard him with unsettling focus.
"Um… miss? Were you… speaking to me?" Hozuki Nozomi asked, pushing himself upright.
"Yes." Her voice was flat, factual. "Your death is nigh. The aura of demise already envelops you completely."
Hozuki Nozomi's cheek twitched. This was a first—being informed of his imminent demise by a mysterious, eyepatch-wearing beauty. "May I ask your name?"
"I am Mei. Misaki Mei." Her gaze, cool and assessing, shifted past him to Yukino Yukinoshita. "Yukinoshita-san. Regarding my request… it is still not too late for you to withdraw."
Yukino had been momentarily startled by the morbid pronouncement, but remembering Hozuki Nozomi's own formidable and strange capabilities, she quickly regained her composure. "Misaki-san, once the Service Club accepts a request, we see it through. Moreover," she added, her voice firming with conviction, "if you have truly encountered a supernatural phenomenon, then I believe our club is uniquely positioned to assist you."
"That's right! Misaki-chan, you can trust our Club President! Trust Yukinon!" Yui Yuigahama chimed in, popping up with supportive enthusiasm.
Yukino's eye twitched. "The 'Yukinon' part is entirely superfluous."
Yui blinked, feigning innocence. "Is it? But I think it's cute!"
"For the person being addressed by such a diminutive," Yukino stated dryly, "it feels somewhat… lacking in gravitas."
"Ah! I'm sorry, Yukinon! I was wrong!" Yui immediately deployed her ultimate technique: the apologetic cling. She latched onto Yukino's arm, shaking it gently while wearing her most contrite, puppy-dog expression.
Yukino Yukinoshita sighed, utterly defenseless against this particular assault. "Enough, enough. Let us return to the matter at hand." She turned her attention back to their client. "Misaki-san, please, explain what you have encountered. We have… a specialist present who can undoubtedly address your concerns."
At this, Hozuki Nozomi immediately sat up straighter, puffing out his chest with an air of pride. That's right. The 'specialist' she's referring to can only be me.
His display seemed to make Misaki Mei study him more intently. Yet, in her singular red eye, the ominous shroud she perceived around him seemed to grow even darker, more oppressive. A flicker of conflict crossed her stoic features. She shouldn't involve outsiders. Her initial plea for help two days prior had been born of desperation over her younger sister's deteriorating condition, a frantic grasp at the hope of a miracle.
Seeing her hesitation, Sanshokuin Sumireko spoke up, her voice a gentle, calming balm. "Please, tell us, Misaki-san. The request is already accepted. Whether you voice it or not, we are already involved with your situation."
Misaki Mei released a soft, almost imperceptible sigh. "I understand."
Hozuki Nozomi promptly pulled over a chair for her. As she settled into it, preparing to speak, the door opened once more. Asuna Yuuki entered, having finished her student council duties, her expression one of quiet determination to participate.
Misaki Mei took a moment to collect her thoughts, her gaze growing distant. Then, she began her tale, her voice low and measured.
"This began… back when I was in middle school…"