The sound of a bicycle bell rang in the distance, cutting through the soft rustle of leaves and the silence scattered across the schoolyard. Sana turned her head just in time to see Satoru and Suguru speeding toward her, a blur of motion and mischief. Suguru pedaled furiously, his brows furrowed in mock determination, while Satoru sat comfortably on the back seat, arms outstretched like a bird about to take flight.
"Faster, Suguru! We have to break the speed limit!" Satoru yelled dramatically, his voice carrying over the schoolyard.
"Shut up, idiot! You're making it harder to balance," Suguru grumbled, though the grin on his face betrayed his words.
"Hah, who's the idiot here?" Satoru added after a pause. "The one who's pedaling for me!" He let out a mischievous laugh, his sunglasses sliding down his nose.
Sana couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head as they screeched to a stop in front of her. Satoru jumped off smoothly, fixing his white hair that had been tousled by the wind.
"See? Told you I could ride like a king." He smirked, dusting off his uniform as if he'd done all the work.
"You weren't even pedaling," Suguru pointed out, shooting him a deadpan look.
"Exactly. Like a king," Satoru shot back.
Their playful banter was interrupted by Sana's soft voice.
"What is it, Sana?" Suguru asked, tilting his head at her curious expression.
She glanced around cautiously before leaning in slightly. "Guys, you know tomorrow's Shoko's birthday, right? What are we planning?"
Suguru shifted his gaze to Satoru, who immediately grinned.
"We could plan a surprise party at school with hand-cooked food," Satoru suggested, his eyes glinting with excitement.
"Great idea! Leave the cake to me. We can handle the other things together," Sana offered, already thinking about flavors.
Suguru gave a nod of approval. "Nice idea, Satoru."
"Well, it's the least we can do," Satoru said with a smirk. "She'll treat us all to something better herself. Just wait and watch."
Sana and Suguru exchanged confused glances, but Suguru quickly caught on when he locked eyes with Satoru.
Before they could dwell on it, Satoru clapped his hands together. "Alright! Now that that's settled, Sana, we have news for you. Suguru and I have a mission to attend, and it looks like Mei-san has one lined up for you too."
"A mission?" Sana blinked, her interest piqued.
"Yep. A third-grade mission. It'll be more thrilling and exciting for you," Satoru explained, flashing his usual wide grin. "But don't worry, Mei-san will be there with you. She's an excellent sorcerer."
"Oh? Is that so?" A smooth, sultry voice came from behind.
The three of them turned to see Mei Mei approaching, her presence commanding attention. She carried an air of mystery, her sharp eyes calculating as they met Sana's.
"Mei-san? You're already here?" Satoru asked, raising a brow.
"I thought I should see the young lady whom I have to escort today," Mei Mei said, her voice carrying a musical hum.
Sana felt her cheeks warm slightly. Mei Mei was unlike anyone she had ever met—elegant, powerful, and almost untouchable in her aura.
"Good morning, Mei-san," Sana greeted with a polite nod.
"Hmmh. Let's go," Mei hummed, turning on her heel gracefully.
With that, the three of them parted ways, heading toward their respective missions.
---
Sana's Mission
Sana followed Mei Mei into a dense forest outside the city, the air thick with an eerie silence.
"The cursed spirit here has been targeting travelers at night," Mei Mei explained, pulling her silver axe from her back with ease. "It's a third-grade, so it can be a little trouble for you. But let's see how you handle it."
Sana swallowed, steeling herself. As they moved deeper, a chill ran down her spine. Shadows slithered between the trees before a grotesque figure lunged from the darkness, its elongated limbs reaching for her.
Without hesitation, Sana dodged, her grip tightening around the cursed tool in her hands. The blade gleamed under the faint moonlight as she shifted her stance, eyes locked onto the grotesque figure lunging at her. Mei Mei watched intently, observing her reaction time.
Sana swung her weapon in a swift arc, slicing through the spirit's arm. The creature let out a shrill screech but retaliated immediately, its remaining limb stretching unnaturally as it tried to claw at her. She barely managed to evade, rolling to the side before planting her feet firmly on the ground.
"Too slow," Mei Mei remarked, her tone calm yet critical.
Gritting her teeth, Sana adjusted her grip and dashed forward again. This time, she feinted to the left before delivering a precise slash to its torso, the cursed tool cutting deep. The spirit howled, its form flickering. Sensing the opportunity, she drove her weapon downward in a finishing strike, dispersing the curse into nothingness.
Mei Mei smirked, shouldering her axe. "Not bad. But next time, don't just react—control the fight. Make the enemy move the way you want."
Sana nodded, catching her breath. She knew she still had a long way to go, but this was just the beginning.
Sana panted, gripping her weapon tightly, determination flashing in her eyes.
---
Satoru & Suguru's Mission
Meanwhile, Satoru and Suguru were stationed near an abandoned temple, their mission requiring them to eliminate a first-grade curse that had been terrorizing the locals.
"Easy job," Satoru said, stretching lazily. "We can be back in time for dinner."
Suguru sighed. "Unless you slack off."
The moment they stepped inside, a powerful surge of cursed energy hit them. The air felt thick, vibrating with an eerie hum as a monstrous figure materialized from the darkness. Its grotesque limbs twisted unnaturally, red eyes gleaming with malevolence before it lunged at them with an ear-splitting screech.
Suguru reacted first, summoning his curses to coil around the beast like constricting vipers, slowing its movements. The creature thrashed violently, its strength shaking the ground beneath them. Satoru, unfazed, flicked his wrist, activating his Limitless technique. The curse's elongated claws halted inches from his face, repelled by an unseen force.
"You're so predictable," Satoru sighed, his voice dripping with boredom. In an instant, he disappeared from sight, reappearing above the spirit. With a casual flick of his hand, a concentrated blast of cursed energy erupted, slamming into the creature's core and sending shockwaves through the temple. The curse let out a final, distorted wail before it shattered.
Suguru lowered his hand, his curses dissipating. "Could've let me do something, you know."
Satoru smirked. "What? You were taking too long."
Suguru shook his head, walking past him. "Show-off."
Satoru grinned, adjusting his sunglasses. "Always. But I left the cursed spirit for you to take it."
---
Back at School
By the time they returned from their missions, exhaustion weighed on them, but the excitement of Shoko's birthday kept them going. Shoko had gone on a mission with Utahime and Atsua where she was needed.
They gathered in the common room, setting up decorations and preparing food, Shoko was going to be late today. Sana made it sure by texting her before as she was on a far of mission.
Sana carefully placed the cake on the table, while Satoru and Suguru arranged the snacks. They all made the snacks together and also prepared some delicious Yakitori that they knew Shoko would like after a long mission in this cold weather, apart from the snacks they prepared.
As it was past-midnight, they waited for Shoko to arrive. The moment she stepped in, sleepy-eyed and unaware, they all jumped out.
"Surprise!"
Shoko blinked before breaking into a small smile. "You guys... seriously?"
"Of course!" Satoru grinned. "Now, let's eat before Suguru complains again."
As laughter filled the room, the exhaustion from their missions melted away. For now, they were just friends celebrating another day together.