Asagi crossed her arms, eyebrow twitching as she stared straight at Leo.
"Like," she said slowly, dangerously calmly, "how does one even get the idea of using their real clan name while undercover?"
Leo opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then—very deliberately—turned his head.
Kurenai was already looking away, hands in her pockets, whistling absolutely nothing.
"…Please," Kurenai muttered, not meeting Asagi's eyes, "just let that die."
Ayame coughed into her hand, shoulders shaking. "In her defense, it did get us a private table."
Asagi snapped her gaze to Ayame. "You are not helping."
Leo rubbed the back of his neck. "If it helps, I did say it was a bad idea."
Asagi's eyes narrowed. "Oh?"
He raised both hands. "I explicitly said it was a bad idea."
Kurenai finally snapped. "YOU ALSO AGREED TO BE AN ESCORT AT A CABARET!"
Asagi froze.
Slowly.
"…You did what?"
Leo looked away. "We had masks."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Asagi smiled.
That smile.
"Good," she said sweetly. "Because if I ever hear you volunteered for something like that again without telling me, I will personally invent Flame Arts: Divorce Court."
Leo swallowed. "Noted."
Kurenai exhaled in relief. "So we're done talking about the clan-name thing?"
Asagi turned back to her.
"No."
Kurenai sighed. "I deserve that."
From the side, Kotaro whispered to Tokiko, "She survived Hell Knights, Dragon Gate, and elders… but she won't survive this."
Tokiko nodded solemnly. "Truly the deadliest battlefield."
Asagi's expression didn't soften. If anything, it sharpened.
"But Leo," she said quietly, stepping closer, "now Dragon Gate is after you. And so is Nomand."
Her voice dropped. "Are you sure you can handle that?"
Leo didn't answer right away.
Instead, he reached out and gently flicked her forehead.
Asagi blinked. "—Hey!"
He smiled, that familiar, infuriatingly calm smile she'd learned to trust and worry about at the same time.
"Handle this, I can," Leo said lightly, almost teasing. "I'm sure of it."
Inside his head—
'Don't get overconfident,' James warned. 'Even if you're correct.'
Leo's smile thinned just a little.
'I know,' he replied mentally. 'Confidence isn't the same as recklessness.'
Asagi studied his face, reading the tiny shifts most people missed. She sighed.
"…You're not saying that because you think you're invincible," she said. "You're saying it because you've already decided there's no other choice."
Leo met her eyes.
"Exactly."
Her hand clenched in his shirt for a moment. "Dragon Gate doesn't play fair. Nomand plays worse."
He placed his hand over hers. "Then I won't play their game."
There was a pause.
Then Asagi smirked faintly. "You realize this means I'm not letting you out of my sight anymore."
Leo chuckled. "Was that not already the case?"
From somewhere behind them—
Kotaro: "Aww, that's romantic."
Tokiko: "It's a death flag."
Sakura, from a distance: "PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT."
Asagi finally exhaled, resolve settling in her eyes.
"Fine," she said. "If the world wants to come after you…"
She drew her sword just enough for the metal to whisper.
"…then it comes through us first."
Leo smiled again—this time, sharper.
"That's the plan."
The next day, everyone returned to school.
Which, apparently, meant that even if you were a genetically engineered demon-slaying ninja with access to forbidden arts, homework was still mandatory.
Leo learned this the hard way.
Gosha Academy—Gosha Gakuen (五車学園)—stood at the heart of Gosha Village like a concrete declaration of "you're not done suffering yet."
It wasn't a normal school.
Nothing in Gosha ever was.
Officially, it was the headquarters and primary training ground for the Taimanin, a government-protected, top-secret institution that didn't exist on any map and would absolutely deny its own existence if asked.
Unofficially?
It was hell.
The academy housed students ranging from early teens all the way up to late university age. Older students—veterans who had mastered their Ninja Arts—either became captains, field leaders, or instructors, often without ever leaving the campus.
There were two buildings:
The Old Gosha Academy, abandoned and repurposed after structural and… supernatural issues.
The New Gosha Academy, a massive modern complex of steel, glass, and reinforced Taima-reactive materials.
The new building was recent.
Painfully recent.
Leo remembered watching it being constructed when he was thirteen.
And now?
Now he was attending it.
Leo stood at the academy gates, staring up at the massive structure.
"…I fought Hell Knights," he muttered. "I fought artificial demons. I babysat Yukikaze."
He looked down at the schedule in his hand.
"Why am I still doing algebra?"
Asagi stood beside him, arms crossed, already scowling at the building like it had personally insulted her ancestors.
"I don't care how strong you are," she said flatly. "If you're late to class, they will make you do laps."
Leo blinked. "Laps?"
"With weighted seals."
"…That's just cardio torture."
"Welcome to Gosha."
Behind them, Kurenai yawned, hands behind her head.
"You know what the worst part is?" she said lazily. "They built this place to 'standardize training.'"
Leo winced. "Oh no."
"That means paperwork," Ayame added from the other side, adjusting her glasses. "Mission reports, written exams, tactical essays—"
Leo raised a finger. "Stop. I'm already suffering."
Around them, students poured in, and the general mood was unanimous.
Everyone hated it.
The younger teens hated the strict schedules.
The older students hated being treated like students again.
The veterans hated that children were now officially their classmates.
Somewhere down the path, Kotaro groaned loudly.
"I miss the days when training meant 'don't die.'"
Tokiko nodded solemnly. "Now it's 'don't fail midterms.'"
Sakura, clutching her bag, whispered, "I heard someone failed stealth class because their Taima signature was 'too stylish.'"
Leo paused. "…That's a thing?"
Asagi smirked. "Yes. And it was you."
Leo sighed.
They walked inside.
The interior was even worse.
Clean. Organized. Efficient.
Training halls equipped with holographic simulators. Classrooms reinforced to withstand elemental catastrophes. A combat arena that could dynamically shift terrain.
And, taped to the main board in bold red letters:
REMINDER:
ELEMENTAL ARTS ARE NOT TO BE USED DURING LECTURES.
THIS INCLUDES 'ACCIDENTAL DRAGONS.'
Leo stared at it.
"…I feel personally attacked."
James' voice drifted into his head.
'You are.'
Alex followed.
'Statistically, that rule exists because of you.'
Leo closed his eyes. 'I've been here five minutes.'
As the bell rang—a sound suspiciously similar to a warning siren—Asagi grabbed Leo by the wrist.
"Come on," she said. "First class is Ninja Theory."
Leo perked up slightly. "That doesn't sound terrible."
She smiled thinly. "Taught by elders."
"…Never mind."
They moved with the rest of the students, groans echoing through the halls.
Behind them, Kurenai stretched and grinned.
"Well," she said, "at least if the world ends, we'll die educated."
Leo muttered, "I fought fate, multiverses, and demon gods…"
"I-i um can you help me".
The group turned around to see a girl, a few years older than them, not by much, maybe 18 or 19
She has black/blue hair and green eyes. Beautiful face and was well-worn something else, The Academy didn't have a dress code, the students could wear what they wanted as long as it was appropriate.
[Insert image of Morino Yuuko]
Leo looked at her and blinked. 'Yup, send me to hell already, that's the future teacher from Witch and Tentacles, wow my search history was something else, in my last life'.
Leo looked at her as he spoke. "Yes, what can I help you with".
She looked at him as she spoken. "Can you tell where the class for the upper years are".
Leo blinked once.
Then twice.
Internally, his soul let out a long, tired sigh.
'Of course it's her. Of all timelines. Of all universes.'
Outwardly, however, Leo Fuuma maintained the calm, neutral expression of someone who was absolutely not internally screaming.
"Yes," he said smoothly, giving a polite nod. "Upper-year classrooms are in the east wing. Third floor."
The girl's eyes lit up slightly.
"Oh—thank you!" She straightened a bit, then hesitated. "Um… sorry to bother you, I'm still getting used to this place. It's bigger than I thought."
Asagi glanced between the two, then leaned toward Leo and whispered, "You know her?"
Leo whispered back without moving his lips. "No."
That was a lie.
A very strategic lie.
Kurenai tilted her head, studying the girl. "You're an upper-year? You don't look like a combat-track student."
The girl laughed softly, a little embarrassed. "Ah—no, I'm not frontline. I'm more… support-oriented."
She adjusted the strap of her bag and gave a small bow.
"Morino Yuuko. I transferred recently."
Ayame's eyes sharpened behind her glasses. "Morino… are you the one listed under Special Research and Sealing Studies?"
Yuuko blinked. "Yes! You've heard of me?"
Ayame nodded. "Your name came up in a lecture about adaptive barrier formulas."
Yuuko's cheeks flushed faintly. "I-I'm still learning."
Leo felt a headache forming.
'Support-oriented.
Research track.
Sealing studies.
Yep. Same person. Different starting point.'
The universe was not subtle.
Leo cleared his throat. "If you want, we're heading that way anyway. We can walk you there."
Yuuko's face brightened immediately. "Really? That would be great!"
Asagi shot Leo a look.
A look that said:
'You are being suspiciously helpful.'
He ignored it.
They started walking down the hall, footsteps echoing against polished floors. Around them, students sparred in training rooms or hurried between classes, elemental signatures flickering faintly in the air.
Yuuko glanced around, eyes wide. "Everyone here feels… intense."
Kurenai smirked. "That's Gosha for you."
Yuuko laughed nervously. "I thought transferring here would be safer than my last school."
Leo almost choked.
Safer.
Sure. Let's go with that.
He glanced at her again, subtle this time. No corruption. No external influence. No visible seals.
Yet.
Whatever future she came from, it hadn't started here.
Good.
They reached a junction, and Ayame pointed up the stairs. "Third floor, east wing. That corridor."
Yuuko stopped and bowed deeply. "Thank you so much! I would've been wandering all day."
She hesitated, then looked at Leo again.
"Um… what's your name?"
There it was.
Leo met her eyes and gave a small, polite smile.
"Leo. Leo Fuuma."
Her eyes widened just a little.
"Fuuma…?" she repeated. "Ah—of course. That makes sense."
Asagi immediately narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Yuuko waved her hands quickly. "N-no! I just meant—ah—Fuuma Clan students always seem very capable!"
Smooth save.
Barely.
Leo nodded. "Good luck with your class."
She smiled warmly. "You too!"
Yuuko turned and hurried up the stairs, disappearing into the flow of upper-year students.
The moment she was gone—
Asagi grabbed Leo by the collar and yanked him down to eye level.
"Alright," she hissed. "Explain."
Leo blinked innocently. "Explain what?"
"That look. That pause. You recognized her."
Ayame crossed her arms. "You rarely pause."
Kurenai smirked. "And you never volunteer to help strangers."
Leo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"…Let's just say," he said carefully, "she's someone we should keep an eye on."
Asagi stared at him. "Is she dangerous?"
Leo thought of tentacles, curses, broken seals, and futures that went very wrong.
"…Not yet."
That answer did not reassure anyone.
Somewhere deep in his mind, James muttered:
'Fate just waved at you, kid.'
Leo closed his eyes.
'Yeah. I noticed.'
The bell rang—sharp, metallic, and just a little too loud.
Conversations died instantly.
The classroom door slid open with a thud, and a woman stepped in like she owned the place.
Short purple hair, cut clean and practical. Light purple eyes that scanned the room the way a veteran scans a battlefield. Her posture was relaxed, but not soft—every movement carried the weight of experience.
A wedding ring glinted on her left hand as she dropped her bag onto the teacher's desk.
She exhaled slowly.
"…Alright. Sit down, shut up, and if anyone's thinking about sneaking out the window—don't. I already checked."
A few students froze mid-motion.
Leo blinked. Yup. That's her.
Yoshizawa Kana picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her name on the board in sharp, decisive strokes.
[Insert image of Yoshizawa Kana]
YOSHIZAWA KANA
She turned back to face them, arms crossed.
"I'm your class instructor. Former field operative. Retired. And before anyone asks—yes, I gained weight after retirement, and no, I don't care."
A beat.
"If you do, you can leave now and save me the trouble."
No one moved.
Kana nodded approvingly. "Good. You're learning already."
She leaned against the desk, eyes narrowing slightly as she looked over the class.
"This isn't a 'hero' course. This isn't a 'destined savior' course. And this definitely isn't a place where talent excuses stupidity."
Her gaze lingered on a few familiar faces—Asagi, Kurenai, Ayame—
Then paused on Leo.
Just for half a second longer than necessary.
Leo felt it immediately.
She noticed.
Kana smirked faintly, then looked away.
"Your generation's got power," she continued. "Too much of it, if you ask me. That usually means you think you're invincible."
She tapped the chalk against the board.
"You're not."
The room was silent now.
"In this class, we'll be covering applied tactics, survival judgment, and mission psychology. The stuff that keeps you alive when your fancy techniques fail."
She straightened. "If you're here to show off, you'll wash out. If you're here to survive—good. I like survivors."
Asagi leaned back slightly and whispered to Leo, "She's… intense."
Leo whispered back, "She gets worse."
Asagi shot him a look. "That didn't help."
Kana suddenly snapped her fingers.
"You. Fuuma."
Leo stiffened. Dammit.
"Yes, sensei?"
Kana walked down the aisle, stopping right in front of his desk. Up close, the aura was heavier—not oppressive, but solid. Like standing next to a loaded weapon that had chosen not to fire.
"Stand up."
He did.
Kana studied him openly now. No embarrassment. No hesitation.
"…Huh," she muttered. "You're younger than I expected."
Asagi blinked. Kurenai frowned. Ayame adjusted her glasses.
Leo kept his face neutral. "Is there a problem?"
Kana chuckled. "Not yet."
She turned to the class. "This one's a good example."
Leo internally screamed.
"He's got discipline," Kana continued. "You can see it in the way he holds himself. But discipline can turn into recklessness real fast."
Her eyes flicked back to Leo. "Tell me, Fuuma—what gets more Taimanin killed than demons?"
Leo answered without hesitation. "Overconfidence. And hesitation at the wrong time."
Kana's eyebrows rose.
Then she smiled.
A sharp, dangerous smile.
"…Good answer."
She stepped back. "Sit."
Leo did, exhaling quietly.
Kana returned to the front of the room. "You'll have a written evaluation tomorrow. Practical assessment next week."
Groans erupted instantly.
She smirked. "If that scares you, quit now."
She picked up her bag again. "Class dismissed."
The bell rang.
As students began packing up, Asagi leaned over. "Okay. I don't like her."
Leo shrugged. "She keeps people alive."
Kurenai glanced at him. "You've met her before."
Leo paused.
"…Something like that."
From the doorway, Kana stopped and glanced back one last time—her eyes landing on Leo again.
Softly, just to herself, she muttered:
"Yeah… you're trouble."
Then she left.
Leo stared at the door long after it closed.
The past is lining up way too cleanly, he thought.
James' voice echoed in his head, low and amused.
'Welcome to school, kid. Try not to break the timeline before lunch.'
Leo sighed.
No promises.
To be continued
Hope people like this Ch and give me Power stones and enjoy, so about the Vote, the next few Ch where written before the Vote where complete, I though you guys will picked Yes more, so um yeah James and Alex are gone for the next few Ch, also happy new year's