Episode 4 – The Silent Glimmer
The morning bell rang, and the students began moving through the academy corridors. Uzumi Izue and Arae walked together, discussing small things as they headed toward their classrooms.
Suddenly, the President appeared. He walked right past them—side by side, inches away from Uzumi and Arae—while the hallway was filled with other students. His gaze briefly met Uzumi's, but it was strange, almost dangerous in its intensity. Uzumi noticed, her heart skipping a beat, yet she remained calm. Arae, too, saw everything but stayed silent. Neither said a word; the moment passed as the President continued on his way.
The girls attended their classes as usual, but Uzumi's mind remained occupied with the strange glance. The incident from before, the accident… everything seemed tangled and confusing.
After school, as Uzumi made her way to the library, Arae called out, "Wait for me. I'm coming too."
"Alright, let's go," Uzumi replied, and together they headed to the library.
Once they settled in, a familiar boy approached. "Excuse me," he asked politely, "do you know where I can find this book?" Uzumi recognized the usual request—it was the second time he had asked for the same book.
After a brief pause, the boy hesitated. "You're… Uzumi Izue, right?"
"Yes," Uzumi replied.
"You've been acting a little different these past few days… since that incident," he said.
Uzumi tilted her head, "Which incident?"
"You don't remember?" he asked. Uzumi frowned. "My memory has been a little weak… maybe that's why."
"Ah… I see," the boy said lightly. He introduced himself: "I'm Mitsuma. Mind if I study with you today?"
"Sure," Uzumi and Arae replied.
The three of them studied together deep into the night. Hours passed, filled with books, calculations, and quiet conversations. Eventually, each returned to their own home.
Uzumi lay in bed, lost in thought. What exactly had happened? Who was she really, and why was she in this body? She searched her memories for clues but found nothing.
The next morning, walking to school, they ran into Mitsuma again.
"You might not remember, but we've been in the same class for a long time," he said.
Uzumi blinked, "Oh… I hadn't noticed?"
Mitsuma's gaze lingered on her in a strange way. "Such a peculiar girl," he murmured quietly, almost to himself.
Classes continued as usual, and after the final bell, Uzumi pulled Arae aside. "Tell me the truth… who was I? What happened with the accident?"
Arae hesitated, uneasy, then said softly, "Nothing… just a small accident. That's all."
Just then, Mitsuma appeared again. "Shall we skip the library today?" he asked.
"Yeah, let's go," Arae replied quickly.
As Uzumi walked away, her eyes caught a subtle shimmer. The red crystal ball among the three in the academy hall glowed faintly, casting a delicate light across the floor. Its shimmer was quiet, almost teasing, yet it held a silent warning—a signal that the mysteries surrounding Uzumi were far from solved.
The headmaster of the Demon World notices that the crystal red ball is glowing. The crystal ball has been glowing all night. What happens next?