The Quintuplets Are My Neighbors

The little girl was a ghost.

Once the ominous aura around her reached its peak, it would be absorbed by the crack in the sky.

Then, it would transform into a monster, breach the world, and attack humans.

This was one way monsters were born.

Kenji called them "Hollows," similar to those in Bleach.

There was another kind of monster born directly from the void, which he called "Void Demons."

Kenji had only seen a Void Demon once in his life.

It had the form of a demon god—towering, monstrous, and terrifying. That encounter nearly killed him.

The fear of death, the harsh reality, and the hopelessness of it all crushed him back then. It had taken him a long time to recover.

It was during that period that he met Mafuyu.

Mafuyu was his teacher.

If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have recovered so quickly.

---

"Trouble," Kenji muttered, walking toward the delinquents. "Apologize. Now."

One of them sneered. "Apologize? You trying to play hero, punk?"

Kenji ignored their bravado, loosening his collar. "Yeah, I am. No rewards, though."

"You're dead!" one shouted, rushing at him with a punch.

Kenji caught the fist mid-air. The delinquent's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What the hell—?!"

Kenji sighed and kicked him hard in the stomach.

Bang!

The boy flew back, crashing onto the pavement, clutching his stomach in pain.

"Damn you!" the other two yelled, charging at Kenji together.

Kenji moved swiftly. A clean strike to one's knee dropped him instantly. A sharp elbow to the jaw sent the other spinning to the ground.

Calmly, Kenji stepped on one of their chests. "Apologize."

The boy coughed, fear etched across his face. "S-sorry!"

"Not to me." Kenji pointed at the flowers they had trampled.

"Sorry!" the group shouted in unison, bowing toward the broken memorial.

Kenji glanced at the cracked vase. "Now fix what you broke. Replace it. Got it?"

They nodded frantically, stumbling away.

---

Kenji turned to the wall where he could sense the ominous aura lingering.

"It's okay now," he said softly, knowing she could hear him. "If this happens again, come find me."

The air around him lightened, the oppressive presence fading. Kenji sighed and walked away.

---

As he left, Kenji's mind wandered.

The little girl's fate was tragic. A life cut short before it truly began. If she turned into a monster, he'd be forced to destroy her.

"Superpowers," Kenji muttered bitterly. "What a burden."

The warm sun overhead made him drowsy. If it weren't for Mafuyu-sensei calling him every morning, he doubted he'd ever get out of bed.

---

At the school gate, a cold voice cut through the air.

"What are you doing here?"

Kenji looked up. Kirisu Mafuyu stood there, arms crossed, her icy stare piercing.

Her presence froze the air. Students often whispered about her behind her back, calling her "Ice Queen"

Kenji smirked. "Morning, Mafuyu-sensei."

Her frown deepened. "What are you still doing outside? Class has started."

Kenji stretched lazily. "The sun felt nice. Thought I'd enjoy it for a bit."

Mafuyu's glare intensified. "Get inside. Now."

Kenji sighed. "Fine. I don't want to end up cleaning the toilets again."

"Then stop wasting time," Mafuyu snapped.

"Sure, Ice Queen," Kenji teased under his breath as he walked past her.

Her ears twitched, but she said nothing, her heels clicking sharply as she followed him.

---

"Write a 500-word self-criticism by the end of the day," Mafuyu ordered as they entered the school.

Kenji groaned. "I protest."

"Protest denied."

"You're too strict, Mafuyu-sensei. You're turning into Hiratsuka-sensei from the next building."

Mafuyu's cheeks flushed. "Humiliation!" she snapped before storming off.

Kenji chuckled. "Yep. Definitely too strict."

---

Kenji entered his classroom after apologizing to the teacher.

He leaned back in his chair, staring out the window.

The crack in the sky loomed ominously in the distance.

And with it, the promise of another battle.

To be continued...

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