The Quintuplets Are My Neighbors

Kenji leaned against the window near the back of the classroom, staring outside. The cherry blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, their petals scattering across the school playground.

The monotonous drone of the teacher's voice echoed through the room.

"Alright, let's continue the class..."

Mr. Sato, a tired-looking, middle-aged man, sipped his tea and resumed the lecture. His voice was dry, enough to lull half the class into a stupor.

Kenji yawned, flipping open his notebook lazily. His gaze drifted to the girl seated at the desk beside him.

She had long, burgundy hair with soft curls, and small, star-shaped accessories adorned her temples. Her bright blue eyes, partially obscured by her bangs, stared intently at the blackboard. Her posture was perfect—back straight, hands folded neatly, the picture of a diligent student.

Nakano Itsuki.

She had transferred in at the start of the semester. At first glance, she seemed flawless—disciplined, serious, and elegant.

But then came yesterday's math test.

Single digits.

Kenji couldn't believe it. How could anyone fail so spectacularly? Even random guessing should have earned her a few extra points.

Itsuki had earned the title of dead last entirely through her own effort.

Kenji smirked. He wasn't paying attention to her because of her beauty or those long legs wrapped in black tights. No, there was something else about her.

Above her head, a dark, ominous mist hovered—thick and malevolent.

Kenji frowned. That wasn't there yesterday. Whatever happened to her had occurred recently, within the last 24 hours.

Something unnatural.

---

Kenji stared for too long. Itsuki noticed, her brow furrowing. She turned to glare at him.

"What are you staring at?"

Kenji coughed awkwardly, looking away. Too obvious, he scolded himself. He shifted in his seat and pretended to focus on the teacher's lecture.

A few minutes passed. The classroom blurred into background noise. Kenji decided to lay his head on the desk, hoping to catch a nap.

But then, a shiver crawled down his spine.

Something had touched the boundary he'd set up—his warning barrier.

Kenji sat upright. His expression hardened.

---

He raised his hand. "Mr. Sato, I need to go to the bathroom."

The teacher scowled. "Again?"

Kenji offered a sheepish smile. "Emergency."

Sato sighed, waving him off. "Fine. Just don't take forever."

Kenji wasted no time. He strode out of the classroom, ignoring the curious stares from his classmates.

Once he entered the bathroom, he locked the door and took a deep breath. His body shimmered, then vanished.

---

The blood-red moon hung low in the sky.

Kenji stood amidst the ruins of a city, its buildings cracked and decayed. The air reeked of ash and despair. This place was an empty reflection of the real world—a parallel dimension where nothing but monsters roamed.

"Back again," he muttered.

A low rumble drew his attention. One of the crumbling buildings collapsed, and a hulking, humanoid creature emerged from the debris.

Kenji's eyes narrowed. He could sense it—this thing carried the same dark aura that clung to Itsuki.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand. A luminous longbow materialized in his grip, its surface glowing with a faint, holy light.

He pulled the string, and an arrow of pure energy formed.

"Disappear."

The arrow flew like a streak of lightning, piercing the monster's skull. The creature let out a guttural scream before disintegrating into black mist.

Kenji lowered his bow, scanning the area.

"That aura… it's similar to hers, but weaker," he murmured.

Something wasn't adding up. He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior.

---

He returned to the classroom as if nothing had happened. But his thoughts raced.

Whatever had tainted Itsuki wasn't ordinary. He had to find the source before it consumed her completely.

This wasn't just about her anymore.

If the boundary between their world and this one continued to weaken, it could mean disaster for everyone.

✥✥✥

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