The crunching of boots on gravel mixed with the sound of laughter, echoing through the cool night air. It was almost like a festival—the kind you'd see in movies—but this was something else. This was the end-of-year school party, and despite the late hour, the dark wasn't an issue. The house was lit up like a beacon, with vibrant colors of red, pink, and purple cutting through the night, while loud disco music thumped rhythmically in the background, forcing itself into everyone's ears.
At least that's how they described it, but Yuka didn't see it that way.
He sighed, tapping the rim of his empty glass as he surveyed the scene before him. People danced, laughed, and talked in clusters, but Yuka was bored out of his mind. This wasn't what he had hoped for. He had accepted the invitation thinking it would be more exciting, more... memorable.
"Oh right," he muttered to himself. "I came because of her."
His eyes drifted over the crowd, finally settling on a girl who stood out like a radiant star in the middle of the party. Anderson. She had shiny pink hair that shimmered under the party lights, and she wore a black crop top and white skirt that accentuated her slim figure. Anderson was the most popular girl in school, the kind of person everyone either wanted to be or be with.
Yuka felt a rush of nerves just thinking about it. Anderson had personally invited him. Him—Yuka Hikano, the kid who usually stayed out of the limelight, the orphan living with his sister in a sprawling mansion, with more money than he knew what to do with. Despite his wealth, Yuka never felt powerful or special. People always assumed money made everything better, but Yuka was still human. Still lonely.
The thought made him sigh again, this time with a touch of melancholy. His gaze followed Anderson as she laughed and chatted with her friends. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to dream—dream that maybe, just maybe, someone as important as her might actually see him. But reality hit him like a freight train when a tall, broad-shouldered boy swaggered over to Anderson and planted a kiss on her lips.
Ted. The star of the soccer team, loud and obnoxious, but popular enough that he got away with it. Seeing Anderson and Ted together made Yuka's stomach drop.
"Of course," he muttered bitterly. "Why did I even come?"
He looked down at his empty glass. If only his best friend Armin had been able to make it. But Armin's invite had gotten lost in whatever chaotic system the school used for sending out these things, leaving Yuka to suffer through the party on his own.
"I only have this empty cup for company," he thought, raising it in mock toast to the universe.
Occasionally, Yuka noticed a few girls giving him sideways glances, whispering and giggling. He was handsome—tall with sharp features and an athletic build—so it wasn't unusual for him to catch someone's eye. But it didn't matter. Not tonight. Not when everything felt so hollow.
And then there was the other thing. The darkness lurking just beneath the surface of his life. The Shadow Stain. The curse that had been creeping into his body for months now, threatening to transform him into something terrible, something inhuman.
"I should be having fun," Yuka thought, forcing himself to look around the party. "If they were playing some anime or at least had a PS5 around here, I might actually enjoy myself."
"Yuka! Come join me!" A voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Turning, Yuka saw another girl making her way toward him through the crowd. Short blonde hair, a bit chubbier than Anderson, but beautiful in her own way. She wore a similar black crop top and white skirt, and her energy was infectious.
"Beatrix?" Yuka blinked, surprised she was heading his way. She was Anderson's right-hand girl, nearly as popular and just as well-connected, though her background was... complicated.
Beatrix smiled brightly, her eyes gleaming as she reached out to grab Yuka's arm. "Let's go somewhere quieter. We can chill and watch something fun."
Yuka raised an eyebrow, trying to resist the urge to roll his eyes. "If it's not anime streaming, then I'm not sure I'm interested."
Beatrix's smile didn't falter. "We don't have to watch anything too serious. Maybe just a drama or two."
Yuka felt the light touch of her hand on his arm, but the second she made contact, a chill ran up his spine. Something was wrong. He blinked, and the world around him shifted.
The music faded into nothingness. The laughter and lights were gone. Instead, Yuka found himself standing in a cold, dark space. He looked down to see hay scattered across the ground. The scent of animals and decay filled his nostrils.
"Where am I?" Yuka whispered, his voice echoing in the silence.
Crunch.
A low, guttural growl echoed through the barn. Yuka's eyes darted around, finally landing on a dark, monstrous silhouette lurking in the shadows.
"No..." His breath hitched in his throat. "Is that a... Shintou?"
Before he could react, something tapped his cheek, dragging him back to reality. The barn, the monster—it all vanished. Yuka was back at the party, the music thumping in his ears once more. Beatrix stood before him, her brow furrowed with concern.
"Hey, you zoned out on me," she said, leaning in close and planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "Find me when you're feeling better, okay?"
She handed him a small piece of paper and winked before turning and disappearing back into the crowd. Yuka stood there for a moment, still dazed from whatever vision or hallucination he had just experienced.
He looked down at the paper, unfolding it with trembling hands.
Her number.
Yuka couldn't help but smile, a surge of excitement and confusion washing over him. "Awesome!" he whispered to himself. "This is just like an anime... I actually got her number!"
As the music blared on, Yuka headed for the drink counter, trying to shake off the strange feeling that lingered from his vision. He ordered a glass of apple wine, sipping it slowly as his mind raced.
He had been seeing things like this more frequently. Visions of dark places, monstrous creatures. Each time, they left him with an unsettling feeling deep in his gut. The presence he felt earlier... it was all too familiar.
"A Shintou Spirit might be nearby," Yuka muttered under his breath.