027. Faces at the Noodle Stall

Soyo Nagasaki’s suspicion was correct; that massive red line that had suddenly descended upon Tsukinomori Academy was indeed emanating from Ugetsu Nagumo. Since there had been no male students at Tsukinomori before, he was undoubtedly a transfer student. Soyo did not dare to make rash contact with Ugetsu, yet a voice in her heart kept whispering that perhaps through him, she could finally understand the nature of the "Vision" she had suddenly awakened.

Soyo spent the entire day pondering, yet she could not come up with a natural, unobtrusive way to strike up a conversation with Ugetsu. If she approached him too abruptly, would she scare him off? At that moment, the consequences of her long-standing isolation from the opposite sex became painfully clear. But fate had a way of providing an opening. The next day at school, while heading to the faculty office for matters regarding the brass band, she happened to receive a request from a teacher.

"There are still a few new transfer students who haven't picked up their textbooks. Soyo, you’re in your third year of middle school, right?"
"Yes, teacher."
"That’s perfect. There’s a student in your grade named Ugetsu Nagumo who hasn't collected his books yet. Why don't you take them to him?"
"All right."
"I believe he’s in Class C. You can give them to one of his classmates and have them pass the books along to him."
"No problem, I understand."

Soyo felt a surge of excitement. She had been racking her brain just yesterday over how to approach the new transfer student, and now, a perfect opportunity had presented itself. As for giving the books to a classmate to pass on—how could that ever happen? Soyo was determined to seize this chance herself.

She couldn't wait a second longer. Grabbing the new textbooks, she jogged back to the third-year middle school floor. Breathless, she rushed straight to Class C and grabbed a student, asking them to call Ugetsu Nagumo for her.

A moment later, Ugetsu Nagumo appeared in her line of sight. In truth, she hadn't known him before, but that towering red line had allowed her to memorize his face with striking clarity.

*He doesn't seem... abnormal at all, aside from being a little bit handsome,* Soyo thought, wearing her usual gentle smile as she looked at him.

Before the thought could fully form in her mind, her "Vision" suddenly shifted. The several red lines that had been rising throughout Tsukinomori Academy vanished in an instant, and even the vast red line emanating from Ugetsu disappeared, as if everything about her had returned to normal. Soyo felt as though her five senses were being blocked, as if she were probing some whirlpool that could not be looked upon directly. Then, her body was held fast by a suction force hidden beneath that vortex, rendering her unable to move even a fraction.

***

It wasn't until Ugetsu Nagumo’s voice sounded that the spell broke.

"I am Ugetsu Nagumo. May I ask..."

The moment he spoke, she felt as if the restraints had been lifted, and she snapped back to reality. Suddenly, Soyo realized she could freely control the appearance of the red lines in her "Vision." In the past, whenever she focused, the perspective of the red lines would naturally emerge in her mind; now, she could decide whether or not to see the contents of her "Vision" at will. Furthermore, the range of her "Vision" seemed to have expanded slightly.

Before she could even process her surprise, she had already handed the books to Ugetsu and exchanged a few polite words. Just then, the bell rang, and she hurried back to her classroom, her heart pounding all the way.

*That transfer student... there is something wrong with him.*

That was the first thought that occurred to her once she regained her composure. She had originally assumed she wouldn't have many chances to interact with him, but when school ended, she happened to run into him again. The familiar sensation of being suppressed returned, giving her an inexplicable urge to kneel before him. Yet, the moment Ugetsu greeted her, the pressure vanished once more. Only then did she manage to respond, pretending to be her usual self while chatting with him.

Now, Ugetsu Nagumo had left her sight and walked out the school gates.

"Phew."

Soyo let out a long breath. *That transfer student definitely knows something.* She was certain of it. The red lines rising from the bodies of a select few must hold some special meaning, though for now, it remained shrouded in mist. She recalled that when her "Vision" first awakened, she had faintly heard someone mention the words "Bloodline Jiera."

*Should I find another opportunity to ask him?*

The thought rose in her mind. Instinctively, she wanted to extinguish it; the inexplicable sensation she felt made her terrified of having any further contact with him.

"It's almost time for practice."

Soyo rushed off. However, that lingering thought continued to expand in her mind until, finally, it spiraled out of control.

***

Meanwhile, Ugetsu Nagumo was heading home.

He was tired tonight, so he decided to treat himself to a meal outside rather than go through the trouble of cooking dinner. He crossed the intersection alone, turned down two streets, and navigated his way into an old alleyway. At the corner of the alley was a small ramen stall.

A faded red curtain hung over the stall. The light was dim, and the rising steam, mingled with the rich aroma of pork bone broth, gave one a grounded sense of returning to the world of the living.

"This place still has the most authentic taste."

Ugetsu pulled out a small stool in front of the stall and sat down. The owner was an elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair; the wrinkles on his face looked like knife marks carved by the passing of time, yet his eyes held an indescribable composure.

"The usual?" the owner asked with a smile, glancing at Ugetsu.

"Yes, pork bone," Ugetsu nodded. "Add a soft-boiled egg, and make the broth a bit thicker."

"Coming right up."

The owner skillfully scooped up the noodles, and the hot, white, thick pork bone broth was poured into the bowl, sending up a rich, fragrant steam. Ugetsu rested his chin on his hand, waiting for his meal.

The stall was unusually crowded tonight, with almost every seat taken. The air was filled with the aroma of food and the low buzz of conversation. Ugetsu was just congratulating himself on having managed to snag a small table alone when a customer with blonde hair, wearing a hat and a mask, walked over.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

The voice was spirited but crisp; it was clearly a girl. Ugetsu nodded.

"Arigato," the customer said in thanks.

She then took off her mask, revealing her true face.