Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Alistair walked toward the school, munching on a bag of chips. He was early for the school pickup, but he wanted to snoop around the "private school."
He felt a gaze from above.
It's her! The girl in red!
On a nearby rooftop, the hooded figure stood with her wooden staff. Seeing she'd been spotted, she didn't run. Instead, her red cloak swirled, and she vanished as if the space itself had folded—just like a certain masked ninja's "Kamui."
But in that split second, the sun had hit her just right.
"Pointy ears? An Elf?" Alistair stood frozen. In this world, Elves were a "Fantasy Race" usually found only in the deepest parts of the Demi-Human zones.
Elves were legendary. They lived for millennia. A "young" elf could be three hundred years old. They were born Transcendents, and their magical aptitude made them the "children of heaven."
Why the hell is an Elf stalking me? Alistair wondered. Real life isn't a game; Elves can be terrifying enemies. He decided he needed to talk to Uncle Takai about this immediately.
He entered the school grounds. Being a high schooler himself, he blended in easily. Most students were heading home or to clubs.
He spotted a familiar "giant." Miki, the Rat-Man, was hovering around a cute, shy girl.
"Yo, Miki," Alistair called out.
"Oh, Alistair? Here for Chitose?" Miki turned. Despite his rodent-like face, he seemed to have a decent reputation.
"Yeah. And who's this?"
"This is Nanami. One of the girls I'm courting," Miki said bluntly.
Alistair blinked. This guy is a straight-up player? With that face?
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket," Miki explained seriously. "I cast a wide net. Eventually, one will bite."
"I'm amazed you haven't been pepper-sprayed," Alistair muttered.
"Miki-kun is actually very nice," Nanami giggled, not seemingly bothered by the giant's attention. "He keeps the real creeps away."
"Well, good for you. Where are the others?"
"Manga Club. Third floor, that building over there," Miki pointed.