Here's the second chapter. From now on, I'll try to publish a new one every Monday. Thank you for reading!

  Riiiiiiing! “Mmm…”

  Riiiiiiing! Riiiiiiing! “Nooo…”

  Riiiiiiing! Riiiiiiing! “Aaagh, damn arm…”

  I hated that time of day when I had to get out of bed, but today was even worse. The cold air hit me the moment I threw off the covers, and a shiver ran through my whole body.

  I barely managed to sit up and stretched, trying to shake off the heaviness. I felt like I had run a marathon in my sleep.

  After a light breakfast, I headed to school. Normally, I’d meet Haruka on the way and we’d go together, but today she wasn’t attending csses, so I was on my own.

  The morning passed without incident… or so it seemed. I couldn’t concentrate. The teachers noticed, of course, and I ended up getting scolded more than usual.

  When lunchtime finally arrived, I thought I’d catch a break. But no.

  “Noa-san, Noa-san! Do you know anything about Haruka-sama?” —Fangirl 1. “Why isn’t she here today? Did something happen to her?” —Fangirl 2. “Tell us, tell us!” —Fangirl 3.

  Surrounded. Again. As always, Haruka’s fan club never missed a chance to overwhelm me. She’s incredibly popur: beautiful, athletic, perfectly well-mannered, and she has that distant, elegant aura that drives girls wild. She even has her own admirer club.

  Of course, I’m immune. I’ve known her since we were four.

  I expined that Haruka was absent due to a family matter, without going into details. It took a while to convince them, but they finally left me alone.

  I sighed in relief. I never felt comfortable dealing with them. Back in my first year of high school, their jealousy over my closeness with Haruka led to weeks of harassment. That was until Haruka found out… and made it very clear she wouldn’t tolerate it. I still remember the pale faces of those girls when they faced her wrath.

  Hehe… if only they knew. I’ve seen both her radiant sides and her clumsy ones. I’ve seen things that club couldn’t even imagine.

  I looked at my lunch and sighed. There wasn’t much time left. The fangirls had eaten up almost my entire break.

  I ate as quickly as I could and made it back to css just in time. But concentrating was impossible.

  Images from st night kept pying over and over in my mind.

  Haruka emerging from the shadows. The monstrous cat lurking. The ice spikes that shot out of nowhere, piercing it. Her face lit by magical light, the night wrapping everything like a fantasy stage… and then, that bck spear shooting straight at me, piercing through my chest.

  My body falling, the pain, the darkness…

  But what truly haunted me was what happened afterward.

  ***

  “Ugh…”

  My body ached. As I barely opened my eyes, a soft voice called out to me.

  “Mochi, wake up.”

  “I don’t want to… five more minutes…” I murmured, curling up. The pillow was so warm, so comfy…

  I turned over, searching for more comfort.

  “Smells nice…”

  I commented without thinking. This scent felt familiar.

  “M-Mochi, s-stop!”

  That voice. I recognized it instantly. Haruka.

  My heart skipped a beat and the memories came flooding back: the spear, the darkness, the monster.

  I shot upright, gasping, clutching at my chest… But there was no wound. No blood. My uniform was intact.

  “What happened? Where am I?”

  “Rex, Mochi. You’re safe now.”

  Haruka was kneeling next to me, her face slightly flushed. I looked down and then understood: her p had been my pillow.

  She seemed to realize it too, because she stood up immediately, trying to act like nothing had happened. That clumsy side of hers… I’ve always found it adorable.

  “Haruka, what was that thing? How did you do that ice thing? That was amazing! Could I also…?”

  I couldn’t contain my excitement. I bombarded her with questions, but she only gave evasive answers. She said she couldn’t tell me anything yet, but that after school she would come find me and expin everything.

  I agreed, reluctantly. She walked me to my house and said goodbye.

  ***

  Ding dong!

  The end-of-css bell pulled me out of my thoughts. I packed my things as fast as I could and left.

  But then I stopped, remembering something.

  “Where am I supposed to meet her?”

  I thought about calling her, but it wasn’t necessary. When I reached the park near school, there she was. Waiting for me.

  “How are you, Mochi? Are you feeling okay? Do you notice anything strange?”

  “Haruka, rex! I’m fine, I’m perfect. Now keep your promise and tell me everything.”

  She nodded seriously.

  “What I’m about to tell you is confidential. You can’t tell anyone, okay?”

  I nodded in response, my heart beating fast. I was really excited.

  “Those things that attacked you st night are called ‘Anomalies’. They’re supernatural beings that live in the shadows and feed on humans.”

  “So the recent disappearances…?”

  “Most likely, yes. Anomalies grow stronger by devouring people.”

  A chill ran down my spine. I had been on the verge of being eaten by a creature like that…

  But beyond the fear, something ignited inside me: excitement. Curiosity. Fascination with the unknown. It felt like being inside a manga.

  “And the giant cat? Was that also an anomaly? Why was it sealed in that altar?”

  “It seems it was an ancient local deity, worshiped back when this city was just a small vilge. Over time, it was forgotten, and what remained of it... transformed.”

  “But that was over a hundred years ago…?”

  “Anomalies have existed since time immemorial. They’ve always been here.”

  “How do you know all this? And the ice thing—how did you do that?”

  Haruka was silent for a moment, and then, with a firm expression, answered:

  “I’m part of an organization that deals with anomalies. It’s called the Occult Hazard Response Agency.”

  “Oc… what?”

  “Just call it OHRA. And this is my weapon,” she said, pulling out a crystal fan. “Thanks to this, I can fight them.”

  My eyes sparkled.

  “That’s so cool! I want one!”

  I stepped closer to get a better look, but she quickly put it away.

  “Muuu, I just wanted a peek…”

  “You’re a bit clumsy, Mochi. I don’t want you to get hurt. This isn’t a toy.”

  “But at least show me how you do magic!”

  “Focus. There’s something more important. The cat… it didn’t disappear.”

  “What?”

  “It hid. Inside you.”

  She pointed at my chest seriously.

  “Mochi, that anomaly is possessing you.”