The morning of the annual festival arrived quietly.
Kami was still lying on his bed when his eyes slowly opened.
For a moment, he just stared at the ceiling.
Then he whispered to himself,
"Today… at least I'll get to meet her once."
A soft, genuine smile appeared on his face.
Kami stood up.
After getting ready for school, he returned to his room one last time.
He bent down and pulled out a small wooden box from under his bed.
Inside it lay a bracelet.
Simple.
Old.
Yet precious.
Kami picked it up, smiled again, and slipped it into his pocket.
Then he left for school.
The city was unusually crowded.
Traffic was jammed everywhere.
People filled the streets, rooftops, and balconies.
Everyone was waiting for one person.
Mizuki.
The sole heir of the richest family in the city.
At present, her wealth surpassed even that of the mayor.
The entire city felt alive—but tense.
When Kami reached the school, he saw something extraordinary.
The entire school stood in formation.
Teachers.
Students.
Staff.
Everyone was waiting for the chief guest.
Moments later, black security vehicles began entering the campus.
In the center of them—
A luxury car.
As the convoy moved forward, flowers rained from every direction.
Cheers echoed.
The doors opened.
Mizuki stepped out.
The principal and teachers welcomed her with garlands and guided her toward the stage.
Students tried to get closer, desperate for a glimpse—
But the security didn't let anyone near.
The program began.
Performances filled the stage—dances, music, applause.
Kami stood among the students, watching silently.
Then—
Thud.
Something small hit his shoulder.
A stone.
Kami turned around.
It was Dr. Atom.
Completely human.
No machines.
No distortions.
Kami pulled him aside quickly.
"What are you doing here?" Kami whispered urgently.
Dr. Atom looked serious.
"I told you to prepare," he said calmly.
"A very big fight is waiting for you."
Kami froze.
Dr. Atom continued,
"It's happening today. You probably didn't see the news—something mysterious was seen moving in space last night. I know what it is."
He looked up at the sky.
"It will attack today."
Kami's heart started pounding.
"This battle will not be easy," Dr. Atom said.
"I can't help you this time."
He paused.
"If you win—congratulations."
"And if you lose…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
"You're smart," he added quietly. "You understand."
Before Kami could ask anything—
The sky went dark.
Completely.
A shadow swallowed the school.
Students screamed.
Teachers froze.
Above them hovered a spaceship—
Five times larger than the school itself.
Panic erupted.
Mizuki immediately turned to her guards.
"Get everyone out. Now. Take them to the cars."
The convoy moved.
Mizuki's car led the way, followed by vehicles carrying staff and students.
From the sky, energy blasts rained down.
The ship began to descend—
Aiming directly at the school.
Before it could land—
Hatches opened.
And monsters poured out.
Small.
Countless.
Slightly shorter than humans.
They spread everywhere.
Not just the school—
The entire city.
Sirens blared.
The army went on full alert.
Kami stood on the school rooftop.
The monsters filled the ground below.
Unknown to Kami, the attack was centered on him.
The ship had come because he was here.
Kami took a deep breath.
This was what he had trained for.
He summoned the sword.
For the first time—
He lifted it.
Not perfectly.
Not smoothly.
But he lifted it.
He jumped down into the chaos.
Inside the school, Kami fought.
His movements were rough.
Unpolished.
But determined.
Monsters kept coming.
One after another.
Minutes passed.
Kami was exhausted.
Bleeding.
Cornered.
I need a plan…
He ran into a classroom, shut the door, and held it with all his strength.
The impact came instantly.
A monster smashed through—
The wall shattered.
The window broke.
Kami was thrown out—
From the third floor.
He crashed onto the ground.
Bones screamed.
Pain exploded through his body.
A normal human would've died instantly.
But Kami survived.
Barely.
Monsters jumped down after him.
Surrounding him.
Kami lay there, unable to move.
So this is it…
I tried.
If I had trained more… maybe…
Darkness began to take him.
Yet his eyes stayed open.
He could still see.
The monsters were almost upon him—
When suddenly—
They were attacked.
From all sides.
Kami's eyes widened.
Standing between him and the monsters—
Were his friends.
And behind them—
Kiba's entire gang.
Every single one of them.
Weapons in hand.
Fear in their eyes.
But resolve in their stance.
They stood as a wall.
Between Kami—
And death.