tokyo describer

just for fun - see master post for chapters

[tokyodescriber]

chimi • they/them • main is @timeslipcamp

we are currently posting season one, episode one! chapters will be posting on mondays at 8am est

campus interactions or affinity chats are queued to post on fridays at 8am EST and are constantly being updated. if you see one that hasn't been added, feel free to submit it here or on timeslipcamp!

if you have translation notes (aka you read the story in a language other than english and your version says something slightly different) please send it here! i'd love to collect the notes and compile them on the chapters!

feel free to send questions here but i'm more likely to answer on my main. huge shoutout to iwa for helping with transcriptions

i'm not affiliated with tokyo debunker or zzg games in any way, this is a fan run account.

masterpost for chapters, campus interactions, and affinity chats can be found [here]

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 16: The King's Advisor--What Are His Motives?

[scene opens outside Frostheim’s vault]

Kaito: What’s taking so long… What’s taking so long… What’s taking so long… What’s taking so long?!

Kaito: We’ll be done in no time, my ass!!

Kaito: There’s no way that guy’s not planning something sinister! What if Luna is in trouble?!

Lucas: Don’t say that. What cause has he given you to think so?

Kaito: Are you being serious? He’s shady as fuck!! I mean who wears a monocle in this day and age, huh?!

Kaito: (Hold on. Chill out, Kaito. Gram always said when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.)

Kaito: (These are the times that test a man’s mettle. This is my chance to impress Luna…)

Kaito: (It said in Q&G women can’t resist a knight in shining armor!!)

[scene changes to inside Frostheim’s vault]

Kaito: Knock kn– AHHHHH!!?!?

Luna: Kaito?!

Kaito: Hands! Hands!! Why’re you holding hands?! What’s going on?!

Lucas: Holding hands? Oh, you’re right. You have very good eyesight, don’t you, Kaito?

The vice-captain let go of my hand, slipping his glove back on. I realized I’d never noticed him take it off.

He let out an exaggerated sigh.

Tohma: It appears you even need to be taught the proper etiquette for entering a room.

Tohma: Oh?

The chess pieces had leaped from the board and formed a line in front of Kaito, reverting to their giant forms.

Kaito: Gyah?! Y-You wanna go? I don’t!!

Tohma: Interesting…

Kaito: I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry!! We’ll leave!!

Tohma: No need–we’re done here. Be sure to take your role as inspector seriously on this case, Luna.

Luna: O-Okay…

He began tidying up the tea set as though nothing had happened. I was left with more questions than answers.

Tohma: One last thing. There’s no need for you to address me as Vice-Captain. Tohma is quite sufficient.

Tohma: I am not the only vice-captain in Darkwick, so let’s avoid the confusion. The same goes for you, Errant.

Lucas: All right.

Tohma: Please return to your activities. I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave.

Tohma turned and walked away. As soon as he did, the chess pieces retreated.

Kaito gave a sigh of relief that bounced off the frozen walls, echoing through the frigid vault.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 15: Tense Chess Match Has Surprise Ending

[scene opens inside Frostheim’s vault]

Tohma: Please, take a seat.

Tohma: It may look like ice, but it’s actually quite comfortable.

The vice-captain pulled out a chair, gesturing to me to sit down. 

Somewhat nervously, I did as asked.

As he’d said, the seat was warmer and softer than I’d anticipated.

In the center of the table in front of me was a beautiful chessboard with squares of clear and frosted glass.

Tohma: Please wait here.

He moved off to the side, and, with deft movements and soft clinks, prepared a tray of tea.

Tohma: This blend is the highest quality Darjeeling, produced in India. I hope it will be to your taste.

Luna: Thank you… Wow, it smells amazing.

Tohma: That’s good to hear. It’s our captain’s favorite blend.

Tohma: But seeing as I won’t be able to serve it to him for some time, I was debating whether to dispose of it. 

I winced a little at the word “captain.”

I glanced over at the vice-captain sitting across from me, and our eyes met.

Tohma: The captain is quite furious over your little peeping incident.

Tohma: He has forbade even me from entering his room.

Tohma: Most troubling…

[Dialogue choice]

1. Luna: I’m sorry…

Tohma: If you’ll be coming in and out of Frostheim, you’ll need to learn some manners.

2. I was there for a reason…

Luna: Um.. I was there for a reason…

Tohma: You think this is the appropriate moment for excuses? It seems you need an education in etiquette.

3. It’s not just my fault…

Luna: It’s not just my fault, is it…?

Tohma: I see. So you were peeping.

[End of dialogue choice]

Luna: Urk…

Tohma: I’ll let it slide for now. Do you play?

He gestured to the chess board. With heavy clinks, the giant chess pieces gathered around us.

Luna: (There was only one kind of piece before, but there’s more now…)

Tohma: These chess pieces are anomalies. We keep and utilize them here in Frostheim.

Tohma: Most unusually, they grow in size and attack when they sense malicious intent from an intruder.

Tohma: No need to be so nervous. They won’t attack you. Provided you don’t have malicious intentions, that is.

Luna: I don’t think I do…

While I was trying hard not to have malicious intentions, the vice-captain suddenly snapped his fingers.

The chess pieces glowed with bright light, then shrank, leaping one by one on top of the chess board.

Tohma: Go ahead. The player who makes the first move has an advantage.

Luna: Um… What exactly are we talking about here?

Tohma: You cant tell? Then allow me to show you how to win.

Tohma: First, move this pawn two squares forward.

Luna: Like this…?

Tohma: Very good. Now it’s my turn.

Every time I moved one of my chess pieces, the vice-captain mirrored me with his.

His eyes, devoid of warmth, seemed to see directly into my thoughts, and he never once took them off me.

[Panel sequence]

Panel 1: The chess board, with panels of Tohma and Luna over it.

Tohma: Is something the matter?

Luna: N-no…

Panel 2: A wide shot of Luna and Tohma sitting at a table, playing chess.

Tohma: You’re doing very well.

Tohma: Next, move your queen.

Panel 3: Luna’s right hand with the ring on it holds the queen piece.

Luna: Okay…

Panel 4: Tohma grabs Luna’s hand.

Panel 5: A close up of Tohma’s mouth, the chess board underneath him.

Tohma: Argeas.

Panel 6: Tohma still holding Luna’s hand.

Luna: Huh…?

Panel 7: Tohma points down with his other hand to his part of the chess board.

Panel 8: Luna drops her queen piece.

Panel 9:

Tohma: Check.

Panel 10: An intense atmosphere looms over Luna, she looks uncomfortable.

Luna: ?!

[End of panel sequence]

It was as though his voice was inside my head, reverberating down my back, my legs, and right down to my toes.

Luna: (What’s happening…?!)

Every hair on my body stood on end. He continued holding my hand and my gaze, a satisfied smile on his lips.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 14: Why The Knight Is Seeking A Demon

[scene opens inside Frostheim’s vault]

Luna: (Luca’s twin brother is missing…?)

Kaito and I stared at Luca, wondering if we’d misheard.

Kaito: Twin… You have a twin? And he’s missing?!

Lucas: We’re twins, but I was born first. The demon I made a pact with took him in exchange for granting my wish.

Lucas: I have to find a demon, and force it to tell me where he is.

Lucas: I’ll find him, even if that means forcing a demon to its knees.

Kaito: …

[scene changes to a flashback]

[Panel sequence]

Panel 1: Inside the chancellor’s office Luna sits on the couch while Professor Hyde and the chancellor stand in front of her.

Chancellor Cornelius: Anyway, our special admissions students, several of whom you’ve met already…

Chancellor Cornelius: ... have each devoured a demon.

Chancellor Cornelius: We call such humans “ghouls.”

Panel 2: A human hand reaching from above to a demon hand.

Chancellor Cornelius: Since time immemorial, humans have sold their souls to demons in exchange for the granting of a wish.

Chancellor Cornelius: We call this a demon pact.

Panel 3: A person reaching out with their arms, with shackles and chains wrapped all around their body. Underneath them is a red-tinted graveyard, and on the bottom of the page is a person cowering on the ground.

Chancellor Cornelius: But the realization of a wish…

Chancellor Cornelius: ...comes at a price.

Panel 4: The chancellor has his pointer finger in the air. Behind him Professor Hyde has his hands on his cheeks in mock surprise.

Chancellor Cornelius: However!

Chancellor Cornelius: Although they are extremely rare, there are some individuals…

Chancellor Cornelius: ...who survive their pact completely unharmed.

Panel 5: The background is a starry sky, with panels of Taiga, Haku, Kaito, Lucas, and Romeo appearing.

Chancellor Cornelius: Those once-in-a-million exceptions…

Chancellor Cornelius: ...are the ghouls whom you met today.

[end of panel sequence]

[scene changes to inside the chancellor’s office]

Chancellor Cornelius: The leading theory is that they acquired inhuman power by devouring demons.

Chancellor Cornelius: That is the true nature of their exceptional combat abilities.

[End of flashback]

Luna: (The ghouls had their wishes granted, and on top of that acquired special powers…)

Luna: (I thought they were lucky people.)

Luna: (I didn’t realize some of them lost things in exchange for that wish…)

Lucas: Let’s begin the investigation tonight.

Tohma: You’ve decided?

Lucas: We’ll take this one. “Investigation of Man who Grants Wishes.”

Tohma: All right. All missions require an investigation permit.

Tohma: Please sign here.

Tohma handed us a document titled “Application for Investigation Permit,” which Luca immediately signed.

Tohma: I’ll need your signature too, Luna.

Luna: Huh? Me?!

Lucas: WIth all due respect, Vice-Captain, Luna is–

Tohma: I have heard from our advisor that you’re to join one of Frostheim’s missions.

Tohma: Though low-ranking, this more than qualifies.

Tohma: As stipulated, I’m ordering you to join this mission.

Luna: Okay…

I accepted the heavy pen from the vice-captain, signing my name in heistant letters beneath Luca’s confident ones.

Kaito: …

Lucas: …

Luna: …

Kaito: All right! Fine!! I have to sign it too, right?!

Tohma: Everything seems in order. You’ll receive a notice on your phone when your permits are granted.

Kaito: RIP my peace and safety…

Lucas: I will prove to you that I am capable.

Luna: Thank you for your time. We should get going…

Tohma: A moment if you will, Luna. I need to speak to you about something, in my capacity as vice-captain.

Kaito: Huh? You want Luna to stay back alone?

Tohma: We’ll be done in no time. No need for you to stay.

Lucas: All right. We’ll take our leave, then.

Kaito: Luca, wait! Argh… I’ll wait for you outside, okay?!

Silence fell as I was left alone with the vice-captain. Cold air floated through the vault, sending a shiver up my spine.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 13: King's Advisor Also Ice Cold

[scene opens inside Frostheim’s vault]

Lucas: …

Kaito: NO! NOPE! NO THANK YOU!! [Plain text: No! Nope! No thank you!!]

Tohma: That’s enough.

Lucas: ?!

A commanding voice rang out through the vault, and the glass chess pieces froze in their tracks.

Kaito: It’s the vice-captain!!

Tohma: If it isn’t our second-year duo. To what do I owe the pleasure?

Luna: Um… This person was calling for help…

Tohma: What person?

Kaito: Huh?! Where’d that girl go?!

I glanced around the room, but the girl who had been behind us had vanished.

Tohma: Playing hide and see, were you?

Luna: N-No… Professor Dante asked us to bring this to you…

I hurriedly pulled out the documents. The vice-captain took them and flipped through the pages, looking suspicious.

Tohma: … Thank you.

Tohma: Indeed, these are the documents I requested. Will that be all?

Kaito: Yep! That’s all! Sorry to bother you!!

Lucas: Wait.

Tohma: …

Lucas: I’m Lucas Errant. I was recently assigned to Frostheim.

Lucas: If that mission has some relation to demons, we would like to participate.

Kaito: Seriously?! Again??

Tohma: Even if this were a low-ranking mission, novices will only get in my way.

Tohma: As for a mission involving demons, that is completely out of the question.

Lucas: I completed numerous missions alone before coming to Darkwick.

Lucas: If you’re concerned about Kaito, I will protect him. Therefore, there should be no issue.

Kaito: Why are you including me in this?!

Tohma: I’m not asking for your opinion. To put it candidly, you haven’t earned my approval.

Tohma: That’s all. Anything else?

Lucas: If you think I am too weak, would you care to test that theory?

Luca removed one of his gloves and threw it to the ground.

Kaito: What are you throwing your glove around for?! Are you from a period drama?!

Tohma: …

Lucas: …

Tohma: You’ve more than proven yourself painfully stubborn.

The vice-captain placed his hand on a row of files lined up on a shelf by the wall, setting loose a cloud of frost.

Tohma: Here.

Lucas: What’s this?

Tohma: A list of low-ranking missions.

Lucas: !

Tohma: These are cases deemed safe enough even general students can handle them.

Tohma: Choose one from here, and complete it without incident.

Tohma: I’ll consider allowing you on future missions based on your performance.

Lucas: …Understood.

The vice-captain allowed us to borrow a desk, and the three of us pored over the list of low-ranking missions.

Kaito: “Periodic Ecological Survey.” Huh, more mundane that* I was expecting.

[this is a typo in the game. *than]

Kaito: “Location: Yakushima”... That’s way too far! Pass!

Lucas: …

Kaito: “Inspection and Removal of Videos Relating to Anomalies”... How about this one?! It sounds fun!

Lucas: No. I’d like to choose this one. “Investigation of Man who Grants Wishes.”

Kaito: What? Why do you want to do one that sounds so fake?

Lucas: Kaito. When you became a ghoul, a demon granted you a wish, correct?

Kaito: Urgh…! C-Come on…

Kaito: You seriously think demons have something to do with this? It’s on the low-rank list!

Lucas: I can’t say for sure. But I’ll take any information I can get, no matter how trivial.

Lucas: As long as I can find a way to subjugate a demon.

Kaito: What do you want to do that for, huh? That sounds totally unhinged…

Lucas: My twin brother is missing.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 12: Trio Attacked By Giant Chess Pieces

[scene opens inside Frostheim’s entrance hall]

Kaito: Tell me again why I have to be here?!

Lucas: I don’t understand your question. The two of us are new here.

Lucas: The Frostheim dormitory is large, and we have no way of knowing where to find the vice-captain.

Kaito: Well… Sure, but…

Kaito: I got a bad feeling about this the moment you decided to stick your nose into it.

Despite Kaito’s futile protests, at Luca’s request, the two of them accompanied me to see the vice-captain.

Luna: Sorry to drag you into this…

Kaito: Ah! Don’t be sorry, it’s totally fine!

Kaito: It’s my job to show you around, so I’m happy to help!

According to Kaito, the vice-captain could usually be found doing paperwork in a vault in the Frostheim dormitory.

[scene changes to inside Frostheim’s vault]

Luna: I can see my breath in here…

We arrived at the vault. Apparently it was managed by the Frostheim students.

Upon closer inspection, the piles of valuable objects within were frozen in ice, staunchly protected against theft.

Lucas: Just breathing causes your body temperature to drop rapidly.

Lucas: I don’t think we are welcome in here.

Kaito: We might as well be in a freezer…

Kaito: It said on Wickhive that he’s in here a lot, but no way that’s true!!

Luna: WickHive…?

Kaito: Oh, I haven’t told you about it yet! It’s a website. Let me show you…

Kaito: I sent you the link, can you open it?

I tapped on the link Kaito sent me. It opened a website with the title “WickHive.”

Kaito: It’s basically a collection of all the gossip making the rounds here.

Kaito: Since you can post anonymously, it’s pretty popular. No one knows who’s running it.

Kaito: It got caught by Darkwick’s censor and taken down once, but–

Yumiko Sumitomo: Help!

Lucas: ?!

[Panel sequence]

Panel 1: Yumiko is running toward the camera with tears in her eyes and looking scared.

Yumiko Sumitomo: Please!!

Yumiko Sumitomo: Somebody, please help me!!

Panel 2: Yumiko stops in front of the trio.

Kaito: Of course!! Your wish is my command!!

SFX: Clink clink

Lucas: What’s that sound?

Panel 3: Shows the vault in front of them, the sound continues.

Panel 4: Lucas is looking surprised, while Kaito and Luna look scared.

Luna: (It’s coming closer…)

Panel 5: The bottom of large objects is seen on the floor.

Luna: (What is that…?)

Panel 6: The sound crescendos. A dozen of giant moving chess pieces approach.

Kaito: Aaaaaahhhhh!!!

Panel 7: Kaito points at the chess pieces.

Kaito: Those are the guards!!!

Kaito: They attack!!!

Panel 8: The chess pieces circle the group. Lucas stands at the front, one arm stretched to the side to protect those behind him – Kaito and Luna, while Yumiko is at the rear.

Lucas: …

Lucas: Eight of them.

Lucas: Everyone, stay behind me.

Kaito: Wait, you’re gonna fight those things?!

Panel 9: Kaito looks completely shocked.

Kaito: Are you crazy?!

Kaito: You really think you can take all of them alone?!

Panel 10: Lucas looks back with a calm expression.

Lucas: Of course.

Lucas: They’re anomalies.

Panel 11: Lucas’s gloved hand throws his keychain into the air, and it makes a clink.

Panel 12: Lucas unsheaths his twin swords and hold them in front of him, ready to fight. The rest draw back, looking scared.

Lucas: Come on!

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 11: Frostheim King A Shadow Of The Past

[scene opens inside the cafeteria]

The cafeteria was a wide open space with a skylight that bathed the seats in gleaming sun.

Luna: (It’s so fancy. There’s even a fountain… But it’s really crowded!)

Kaito: Luna! Over here, come line up with me!

I was struggling through the throngs of people when Kaito spotted me.

Kaito: There’s a lot of options, so you should try to decide while we’re still in line.

Kaito: There’s a menu with photos up there.

Lucas: I’ll have the grilled salmon.

Kaito: Sounds about right for you, rich boy.

Kaito: Wait, hey! These lunch plans are for two! What are you doing here?!

I could see the students at the front of the line swiping and tapping on a large touch screen.

Luna: Do we order using that screen?

Kaito: Yep! You can pay on it too.

Kaito: After 30 seconds. give or take depending on what you ordered, your food comes out the bottom.

Luna: 30 seconds? Is that thing an anomaly too?

Kaito: Sure is! Hard to tell if it’s an anomaly or just some fancy tech gadget when it looks like that, right?

Lucas: Will 50 pounds be enough?

Kaito: You can’t use pounds here!

Lucas: I’m not carrying much else, so I’ll need to withdraw money from somewhere.

Kaito: Yeah, all right. There’s an ATM in the campus store. I’ll show you later.

After we all bought our lunches, Kaito showed us to the table he’d had the foresight to save.

Lucas: I see, this is the soup, rice, and three-dish meal I’ve heard about. Where is the fish knife?

Kaito: The cutlery’s over there, but I’m pretty sure they don’t have whatever a fish knife is.

Kaito: Oh… Do you not know how to use chopsticks?

Luna: …

I wondered what Professor Dante would think of this exchange, having called the ghouls immature and selfish.

Lucas: I appreciate your concern, but I can manage.

Lucas: I have studied a little Japanese culture. Flower arrangement, tea ceremony, kabuki, martial arts…

Kaito: Okay okay, I get it. Shouldn’t have got my hopes up, that’s on me.

Kaito: How are you holding them so neat?! Would it kill you to show a little weakness in front of me some time?!

I couldn’t deny they could be a little immature. But that’s not something unique to ghouls.

Luna: (I have plenty of flaws…)

Kaito: Luna? You’re not eating. Is something wrong?

Lucas: What’s the matter? Is there something you don’t like in it?

Luna: Oh, no, I’m fine! Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts for a second.

Luna: (I can’t really imagine the captain and vice-captain are close with Kaito…)

Luna: (But I should tell him about what happened earlier and see if he has any advice.)

I told Luca and Kaito about my mission assignment, the incident, and the documents I had to deliver.

Kaito: (There’s a Frostheim mission? They’re not expecting me to go, right…?)

Lucas: To be honest, I don’t think you should be going on missions when you haven’t received any training.

Lucas: There is no guarantee of safety with anomalies. Such work should be left to those with the means to handle it.

Kaito: E-Exactly! So you can say the right thing sometimes!

Luna: (It’s true, I don’t know anything about anomalies or missions.)

Luna: (Luca’s completely right…)

Kaito: Luna…? Hey asshole, did you really have to say that?!

Kaito: Luna can enhance ghouls’ stigmas, remember?!

Lucas: But she was just turned away by the captain and vice-captain, wasn’t she?

Lucas: That power is of no use without ghouls to apply it to. She would just be placed needlessly in danger.

Kaito: I should probably give you some background. Our captain pretty much never comes out in public any more.

Kaito: You’re not the only one he’s turned away, Luna.

Lucas: Come to think of it, he wasn’t at the entrance ceremony, was he?

Lucas: I don’t know the circumstances, but failing to fulfill your duties as captain is quite disgraceful.

Kaito: I picked this pretty much the moment we met, but you’re the “hard on yourself, hard on others” type, aren’t you?

Kaito: Anyway. The rumor is it has something to do with the Clash, this big skirmish that happened at Darkwick last year.

Kaito: I managed to stay out of it, but it was total chaos.

Kaito: I think everyone ended up with some trauma after that.

Lucas: Whatever happened last year, all that matters is who he is now.

Lucas: I would like to ascertain that with my own eyes.

Kaito: Do you even know what you’re saying? Until last year, that guy was the definition of a charismatic leader.

Kaito: Untouchable. People called him a tyrant behind his back though.

Kaito: A filthy commoner like me couldn’t even dream of having anything to do with him. He’s on another level.

Luna: I guess it’s not so easy to talk to him, then…

Kaito: Right. The vice-captain’s been pretty much running the show lately.

Luna: Maybe it’s best if I give the documents to him then.

I decided to go back to Frostheim after afternoon classes and try to meet with the vice-captain.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 10: Ghouls--Can't Live With Or Without Them

[scene opens inside the staffroom]

After being kicked out of the captain’s room, I made a beeline for the staffroom, heart still pounding.

I sought out Professor Dante, the Frostheim advisor.

Luna: Basically, it didn’t go very well…

Professor Dante: Dealing with them is no walk in the park.

Professor Dante: You’ll have plenty more opportunities to learn just how immature, rough, and selfish they can be.

After spending a fun, peaceful morning with Kaito and Luca, I’d completely let my guard down.

Luna: (If he shut me down that hard after just one meeting, there’s no way he’ll agree to me joining them on a mission…)

Professor Dante: …

Luna: …

Professor Dante: Our goal is to resolve anomalous incidents that put human lives at risk. Your goal is to break your curse.

Professor Dante: We need them. If you want to survive, then figure out how to handle them.

Professor Dante: Learn what makes them happy, and what pushes their buttons, and use it to your advantage.

Luna: Use it…?

Professor Hyde: If you don’t, you might die before you figure out how to break that curse, no?

Professor Hyde appeared beside Professor Dante.

Professor Hyde: You managed to actually talk to that hermit? I’m impressed.

Professor Hyde: I haven’t seen his face in like, half a year maybe?

Professor Dante: As his advisor, I can’t let that slide. What on earth was the last idiot doing?

Professor Dante sighed, then reached into his desk drawer. He took out some documents and handed them to me.

Professor Dante: These are the materials Ishibashi asked for. Give them to Ishibashi or Kamurai.

Luna: Ishibashi…? Kamurai…?

Professor Hyde: Jin Kamurai is the captain of Frostheim.

Professor Hyde: Tohma Ishibashi is his vice-captain. He’s a third-year too. There wasn’t a guy with a monocle there?

Luna: Oh! Yes, he was there. They were arguing about something…

Professor Dante: Something inane, I’m sure.

Professor Dante: It doesn’t matter which one. Just make sure you hand it over today.

Luna: Today…?

My chest tightened at the thought of going back to Frostheim.

Luna: …

Professor Dante: … Don’t give up.

Luna: Okay…

I thanked the professors, and left the staff room.

Professor Dante: …

Professor Hyde: There’s a bleeding heart under all that ice, isn’t there?

Professor Dante: Shut up.

[scene changes to a hallway in Darkwick]

I wandered absently down the corridor until my phone vibrating in my pocket brought me back to the present.

[Text messages]

Kaito: *Hi sticker*

Kaito: Hey! Third period just ended! Where are you?👀

[dialogue options]

1. The staffroom

Luna: I’m walking back from the staffroom

Kaito: For real? Great timing!😊

2. Luna: It’s a secret

Kaito: Oh okay, didn’t mean to pry…

[End of dialogue choice]

Kaito: *Hey sticker*

Kaito: Do you want to go get lunch? I’ll save you a seat in the cafeteria!👍

Luna: Okay

[End of text messages]

Luna: (It’s only noon. There’s still time. I don’t have to go back right away.)

Luna: (It might go better if I get Kaito to tell me a little bit about them first.)

Luna: (I don’t actually know where the cafeteria is, though… Maybe there’s a sign in the entrance hall?)

Professor Hyde: Luna! Wait up!

I turned to see Professor Hyde waving as he jogged down the corridor toward me.

Professor Hyde: Sorry, I forgot to tell you something. You haven’t had a health check yet, right?

Professor Hyde: The Mortkranken kids are going to come to your room first thing tomorrow for a house call.

Professor Hyde: Probably not exactly how you want to start your day, but be ready for them, okay?

Luna: Okay. I’ll make sure I don’t sleep in…

Luna: (So Mortkranken don’t just treat the students, they monitor their health too…)

Luna: (They’re almost like a hospital…)

After asking Professor Hyde for directions, I made my way to the cafeteria to meet Kaito.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 9: Girl Encounters King Of Frostheim

[scene opens inside Frostheim’s entrance hall]

Luna: (So this is Frostheim House… It’s beautiful…)

The azure entrance hall was lit by an aurora floating high above it.

Chill air floated about the cavernous space as though polishing the lavish interior.

Luna: (He said the captain’s room was at the back of the building, didn’t he? Over that way, maybe?)

I wandered for a while through the icy, castle-like dormitory.

Eventually I managed to find the captain’s room, isolated behind a large, impressive door.

Luna: Excuse me.

Luna: (No answer… Is he out?)

Luna: (Since the captain is a third-year, most of his schedule is independent study.)

Luna: (But the chancellor said he spends almost all of his time in his room…)

[dialogue options are as follows]

1. Knock again

Luna: Hello…?

2. Open the door

[End of action choice]

Luna: (Huh? The door is open…)

[start of comic sequence]

Panel 1: Tohma is standing over Jin, who is languidly laying on the couch in his room.

Tohma: I texted you earlier.

Tohma: Did you watch the security footage?

Tohma: It’s him in the video. There is no room for doubt. In other words…

Panel 2: A close-up of Tohma’s face.

Tohma: Captain.

Tohma: Are you listening?

Panel 3: A close-up of Jin, laying down and smoking a cigarette with an uninterested look.

Panel 4: Zoom out to Tohma and Jin again.

Tohma: In other words, we have a corpse walking around.

Jin: …

Tohma: It is very likely that a high-ranking anomaly is involved.

Tohma: Those are the findings from today’s investigation.

Panel 5: Jin keeps flicking his lighter open and closed.

Tohma: Still feeling unwell?

Panel 6: A close-up of Tohma.

Tohma: Shall I…

Tohma: call someone over from Mortkranken?

Panel 7: Jin looks over coldly.

Jin: You got a death wish?

Panel 8: Jin reaches for a glass ash tray.

Panel 9:

Tohma: I could consult your father instead.

Tohma: I’m sure he’d put his best researchers on–

The ash tray smashes on the ground near Tohma’s feet.

Tohma: !

Panel 10: Luna looking into the room through the crack in the doors, looking uncomfortable and alarmed.

Luna: (Maybe now’s not the best time…)

Luna: (I’ll come back later…)

Panel 11: Jin looks over with a cold expression.

Jin: Hey…

Jin: ...Who the fuck are you?

Panel 12: Jin and Tohma both turn to look at Luna, who has her arms in front of herself in a placating gesture.

Luna: S-Sorry…

Luna: I came to introduce myself…

Tohma: Did you now?

Tohma: You’re quite brazen for a Peeping Tom.

Panel 13: Jin sits up on the couch, still smoking. Tohma has his back to him, looking at Luna.

Luna: T-That’s not what I…!

Jin: Tohma.

Jin: Use a Match on her.

Panel 14: Tohma is approaching Luna with a glass container full of Mesmer Matches. Luna looks surprised.

Tohma: As you wish.

Panel 15: Tohma standing in front of Luna.

Tohma: Oh?

Tohma: You’re the new honor student, aren’t you?

Panel 16: Zoom out to Jin still on the couch.

Jin: Just do it.

Jin: Quit wasting air.

Tohma: Captain…

Jin: ...The Matches won’t work on her, I’m afraid.

Jin: …Why?

Panel 17: Tohma turns his head to look back at Jin, amused.

Tohma: Who knows?

Tohma: It’s a side effect of her curse, apparently.

Tohma: The chancellor explained it in person at the entrance ceremony yesterday.

Panel 19: A close up of Jin, smoking. His eyes are obscured. He wears rings on the middle and ring finger of his right hand.

Jin: That so?

Panel 20: Jin picks up his jacket.

Jin: A curse, huh?

Panel 20: Jin walks over to Luna.

Panel 21: Jin slams one leg next to Luna against the door. Luna looks terrified.

Luna: (Oh my god…)

Panel 22: The same scene from a different angle.

Jin: My room…

Jin: ...has anomalous soundproofing.

Panel 23: A close-up of Jin’s face, his eyes a striking blue.

Jin: You can scream and cry all you like.

Jin: No one’s gonna hear you.

Panel 24: Tohma is standing near Luna, both are looking at Jin.

Luna: I-I’m sorry…

Panel 25: A shot of Jin’s back as he walks away from them both.

Jin: I don’t want to see your face in here again.

Jin: Same goes for you, Tohma.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 8: Girl Takes First Step Toward Breaking Curse

[scene opens inside the chancellor’s office]

Luna: Hello…?

Chancellor Cornelius: Ah, Luna!

Chancellor Cornelius: Your punctuality is much appreciated. Apologies for the impromptu summons.

Cat 1: Meow!

Cat 2: Meow!

As soon as I stepped into the office I was greeted by a cacophony of meows from the cats seated on every surface.

Luna: There’s even more cats than yesterday… Are they the academy’s pets?

Chancellor Cornelius: Yes! Though it may be more accurate to call them cohabitors than pets.

Chancellor Cornelius: They can take care of themselves.

Luna: I see…

After recalling the cats I’d seen performing various jobs, I found this explanation quite convincing.

The Darkwick cats were impressively dexterous.

Chancellor Cornelius: Let’s get to the matter at hand, shall we?

Chancellor Cornelius: Do you recall me asking you to join the ghouls on missions?

Luna: Yes… I’m going to help them compile their reports as an inspector, right?

Chancellor Cornelius: Bingo! A round of applause for you!

Chancellor Cornelius: To be more specific, you’ll be helping compile case reports–very important and highly classified documents.

Chancellor Cornelius: They are one of our most reliable primary sources. The anomalous ecosystem is in constant flux, so we…

Just like at the entrance ceremony, the chancellor’s explanation was a little long-winded.

Basically, the case reports the ghouls made after missions were an important source of information for the Institute.

Chancellor Cornelius: But our ghouls are going through a bit of a rebellious phase, you see…

Chancellor Cornelius: Their case reports are always riddled with inaccuracies!

Chancellor Cornelius: Our fact-checking processes simply cannot keep up. My superior’s hopping mad!

Luna: I see…

Chancellor Cornelius: Ordinarily, once all participants on a mission have confirmed there are no errors in the case report…

Chancellor Cornelius: they all sign it, and turn it in to us.

Chancellor Cornelius: However, we recently discovered that they have been abusing the Mesmer Matches.

Chancellor Cornelius: They were using them on the inspector and covering up details related to their investigations!

[flashback to the scene inside the train car at Kirisaki station]

Taiga: You see that?

Taiga: Whatever, I’ll just chuck you out.

[end of flashback]

Luna: (There certainly do seem to be some ghouls with bad intentions.)

Luna: (I’m sure that’s not true of all of them, but…)

Chancellor Cornelius: But due to a side effect of your curse, the matches can’t erase your memory.

Chancellor Cornelius: And you are an aide to the ghouls, chosen by the Sage’s Ring!

Chancellor Cornelius: That is to say…

Chancellor Cornelius: There is no one better suited to be the ghouls’ inspector than you, Luna!

Luna: …

Luna: (He told me the same thing yesterday. I guess I really am a convenient person for them…)

Chancellor Cornelius: Such a fortuitous twist of fate…

Chancellor Cornelius: I am sure we will find a cure for your curse in no time at all!

Luna: The curse that’s supposed to kill me in a year?

Luna: (There are way too many things I don’t know about this curse I supposedly have.)

Luna: (How much of all of this is true?)

Chancellor Cornelius: You’ve a look as though you don’t trust me! I’m rather hurt by that.

Chancellor Cornelius: I so genuinely wish to save you, I even prepared a scholarship for you… Boohoo…

Luna: S-Sorry…

Chancellor Cornelius: (sniffle) There is one piece of advice I wish to give you, for your own sake.

Chancellor Cornelius: Anomalies are to be captured, not destroyed.

Luna: (I just heard that on repeat during class this morning…)

Luna: Are you telling me that because capturing anomalies is the best way for me to find a way to break my curse?

Chancellor Cornelius: Bingo! Exactly! We cannot carry out research without a subject.

Chancellor Cornelius: Despite that, the ghouls keep destroying them… Honestly, it’s a real thorn in my side.

Chancellor Cornelius: As their inspector, I’d appreciate it if you could keep them in check. You’ll need to gain their trust first, of course.

Chancellor Cornelius: Have you been exchanging contact details with them?

Luna: I added Kaito on WickChat earlier.

Chancellor Cornelius: Wonderful! You’re making excellent progress! At this rate you can jump on a mission any time!

Chancellor Cornelius: Perhaps I should brief you on those too.

At the chancellor’s request, I took out the phone they had issued me. 

Chancellor Cornelius: During the mission, the mode of transport you will use most frequently is the Galaxy Express.

Chancellor Cornelius: There are other ways in and out of Darkwick, but you have to apply to use them, so I’ll skip them for now.

Chancellor Cornelius: Is Catsmo installed on your phone?

Chancellor Cornelius: It’s a transportation app developed by Darkwick for the Galaxy Express.

I scanned the apps on the home screen, and quickly found one labeled CATSMO. I nodded.

Chancellor Cornelius: Perfect. The Galaxy Express will be an important way for you to get around.

Chancellor Cornelius: Make sure that you carry that phone on you at all times during missions.

Luna: Um… When you say I’ll be joining missions, do you mean with Kaito, since he’s been helping me get around?

Chancellor Cornelius: Almost bingo! To start with, I’d like you to join the Frostheim ghouls on a mission.

Recalling Kaito’s flat refusal to go on any missions, I began to feel uneasy.

Chancellor Cornelius: Let’s strike while the iron is hot, shall we?

Chancellor Cornelius: I’d like you to go and introduce yourself to the captain of Frostheim.

Luna: (The captain of Frostheim…)

Luna: (Come to think of it, I haven’t met him yet. I wonder what he’s like? I’ve got a bad feeling about this…)

Chancellor Cornelius: If you run into any trouble, you can talk to Professor Dante. He’s the Frostheim advisor, if you recall.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 7: The Like Dove And The Messenger Cat

[scene opens on the terrace]

We had some time to kill before our next class, so Kaito led us to a terrace on the second floor.

From the sunlit wooden deck you could look out over the campus and the surrounding woods.

It seemed to be a spot Darkwick students frequented when they wanted to take a break.

Lucas: Kaito, what’s that?

Luca was pointing at a pale pink dove, fluttering down toward us from out of the blue sky.

Kaito: No way… That’s the Like Dove!

Kaito: It’s coming over here, right? Toward me?! Yes! My time has come!!

Lucas: Like Dove? I’ve never heard that term before.

Kaito: Oh, seriously? You don’t have them in the UK?!

Kaito: When someone’s thinking about how much they like you, the Like Dove will sometimes fly over to you.

Kaito: It’s kind of like… the bird version of someone swiping right on you?

Lucas: Swiping right?

Kaito: It just looks like a normal dove though, right? Apart from the color I guess.

Kaito: That’s why I always miss it when it comes by.

Lucas: I see…

The Like Dove landed in front of us and began to coo and peck at the ground.

Upon closer inspection, I realized its beak was shaped like a red heart.

Kaito: Ah! It must be one of those girls!

Kaito pointed at a group of female students who were shooting us glances and whispering to each other.

Realizing they’d been noticed, they waved.

Kaito: It’s definitely them! I’m a gentleman, so I can’t leave them hanging.

Kaito: I’ll be right back!

Kaito sped off toward the group of girls.

Lucas: Our next class is in 10 minutes. I’m going to head to the room.

Luna: Oh, then I’ll go with you…

I turned to follow Luca.

Lucas: !

Cat: Meow…

Luna: A cat? Where did it come from?

The cat rubbed itself against my legs, then looked up at me. It had something in its mouth.

Lucas: It’s just a messenger cat. One came to me yesterday.

Luna: (It’s holding a letter? Is it for me?)

With some apprehension, I took the envelope from the cat and slowly opened it, pulling out the letter inside.

Letter From Chancellor Cornelius:

My Dear Luna,

I have something to discuss with you.

Please come to my office immediately.

Yours truly,

Cornelius

Luna: I’m supposed to go to the chancellor’s office. It seems urgent, so I’m going to go now.

Lucas: All right. Then I’ll head to class–

Kaito: Just gonna abandon me, huh?

Kaito appeared behind us, a scowl on his face and irritation in his voice.

Lucas: Are you finished already, Kaito?

Kaito: Ha. I should learn my place, huh? I’m an idiot after all, and I have allergies all year round.

Lucas: You mean hay fever? You can overcome that with a little training. To build up resistance to a variety of things, I–

Kaito: That’s not the problem! And why didn’t you deny the idiot part, huh?!

Kaito: And I don’t want advice from a guy living on easy mode with girls following him round just ‘cause of his looks!!

Lucas: I see. You’re right… I’m sorry for upsetting you.

Kaito: Damn it… You probably like Luca better than me too, right, Luna?

Kaito: You haven’t even given me your number yet… Kinda getting a little broken-hearted over here…

Luna: That’s not true…

[Recollection from the past]

[In the auditorium]

Chancellor Cornelius: If you want your time here to go smoothly, be proactive in exchanging contact details with the ghouls.

[End of recollection]

Luna: (The chancellor told me I should be proactive…)

Luna: Um… Would you like to exchange numbers?

Kaito: Yeah I know, I’m just a–

Kaito: Wait, really?! No way! Seriously?!

[Dialogue choice]

1. Luna: Of course!

Kaito: Thank you… Thank you so much… You’re the only one for me…

2. Luna: Please calm down…

Kaito: S-Sorry! Damn, why do you always have zero chill, idiot? Um, is WickChat okay?

3. Luna: Well, this is my job, after all.

Kaito: Right, of course, you gotta do this stuff in the right order! Let’s start out as friends!

[end of dialogue choices]

Lucas: Kaito, we’re going to be late for class if we don’t hurry.

Kaito: I know! I’m not letting you mess it up this time! Quick, Luna!

After adding the first of the ghouls on WickChat, I waved goodbye and headed to the chancellor’s office.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 6: Hesitant Archer Raises His Bow

[scene opens at the training area]

At Professor Moby’s command, the students turned to their respective targets, readying their artifacts.

Kaito: …

With an exaggerated sigh, Kaito pulled something off the keychain hanging at his waist.

That something glowed brightly and expanded, forming the shape of a bow.

Luna: Wow… That was like magic…

Kaito: Oh, this?! Someone’d call the cops if I walked around the city with a bow, right?

Kaito: We usually shrink them and carry them around on artifact chains.

Impressed by the supernatural solution to such a mundane problem, I returned my gaze to the training ground.

Luna: (Some people have objects that don’t look anything like weapons.)

Luna: (Is that a swim ring…? The person next to him has a huge book…)

Professor Moby: Listen up, everyone.

Professor Moby: As a rule, you should aim to capture anomalies, not destroy them! Please keep this in mind at all times.

Professor Moby: Anomalous research is full of emerging disciplines! Wanton destruction is very problematic!

Luna: (I guess that’s why not everyone’s artifact is a weapon…)

Professor Moby: This is one of Darkwick’s flagship policies. Hee hee.

Kaito: How can they expect us to think about that when we’re up against monsters?

Luna: Kaito…

Remembering the trouble I’d dragged Kaito and Luca into by “borrowing” the veil, I felt a pang of guilt.

Luna: (Being told it’s for the good of humankind hardly makes facing monsters any less terrifying…)

Professor Moby: Come on now, don’t just stand there! Capture! Capture! Capture your target!

The students took a diverse range of approaches. Some appeared to make valiant efforts to capture their targets.

Others were considerably more destructive. And some seemed to just be standing there.

Lucas: …

Kaito: …

Lucas: Kaito. This is not a sparring exercise. Would you please stop holding my arms down?

Kaito: No!-I can see it in your eyes, you’re dying to stick up your arm and ask “Please, sir, how do I obliterate demons?”

Lucas: I’m not going to obliterate them. I’m going to subjugate them.

Kaito: Stop.

Lucas: I don’t understand the issue. If I can’t ask that question, there was little point in me coming to this academy.

Kaito: Listen, I do not go on missions. Not now, not ever.

Lucas: …

Kaito: You promised you’d protect me, didn’t you? And that you’d turn me back into a human?

Lucas: I did.

Kaito: Then stop dragging me into crap.

Kaito: If you want to obliterate or subjugate or whatever, that’s on you. I still want to enjoy being young and alive.

Lucas: Aren’t you ashamed to say things like that that?

Lucas: Possessing power yet acting as though you don’t is duplicitous.

Kaito: …

Suddenly, the bow Kaito was holding began to tremble violently, carrying his hand up into the air.

Lucas: Your artifact is a bow? Try shooting it. I know you can do it.

Kaito glanced over at me, and our eyes met. He immediately looked away. The silence became palpable.

Luna: …

Kaito: Fine. Is one arrow enough for you?

Lucas: Kaito…

Luna: Kaito…!

[Panel sequence]

Panel 1: Lucas and Luna are standing on either side of Kaito, who has a bow in his hand and is facing his target.

Panel 2: A close-up of Kaito’s face. A bead of sweat drops down his face. He’s looking serious.

Panel 3: Kaito reaches behind his back to take an arrow from his quiver.

Panel 4: Kaito draws the arrow.

Panel 5: A close-up of Kaito’s face as he releases the arrow.

Panel 6: The arrow flies through the air.

Panel 7: A shot of the trio from behind. The arrow makes an arc away from the target and completely misses it.

Panel 8: Lucas and Luna look surprised, while Kaito has beads of sweat dropping down his face.

[end of panel sequence]

Kaito: See?! I told you!!!

Lucas: …

With that, our second class drew to a close.

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 5: Knight Chosen By Twin Sword

[scene opens at the training area]

Professor Moby: First-time students, nice to meet you. Returning students, welcome back.

Professor Moby: I am Professor Moby, and I specialize in anomalous law.

Second period was practical. We were asked to practice using anomalous items called “special artifacts.”

Professor Moby: Special artifacts are handy objects that Darkwick has permitted the use of due to their utility on missions.

Professor Moby: But with great power comes great responsibility–they are heavily regulated via a strict licensing system.

Professor Moby: Today’s class doubles as an opportunity for you to renew your licenses or apply for new ones.

Professor Moby: Please take it seriously.

I wonder if the more specialized the classes were, the more unique the professors became.

Nobody seemed surprised by Professor Moby’s appearance, so I decided it was best not to ask.

Luna: (I guess this must be totally normal in a place like this…)

Professor Moby: You’re the new honor student, correct?

Luna: Whoa?!

I let out an unwitting yelp when Professor Moby suddenly appeared right beside me.

Professor Moby: Oh, I didn’t mean to frighten you. My apologies, hee hee.

Professor Moby: You’ll have to sit this class out and just observe, I’m afraid. Because of that.

Professor Moby used the tentacles protruding from his body to point at the ring on my right hand.

Professor Moby: This has been officially recognized as yours, and newly registered as a special artifact.

Professor Moby: Whether it was a special artifact to begin with, I’m not sure.

Professor Moby: Darkwick’s licensing system limits the possession of special artifacts to one per person.

Professor Moby: On paper, you have already acquired one.

Professor Moby: Though as special artifacts don’t work for just anyone, it would be more accurate to say it acquired you.

Luna: Oh, okay… I understand.

Professor Moby: Sorry about that. Now, who’s next… Mr. Errant? Is Mr. Lucas Errant from Frostheim here?

Lucas: Yes, I am Lucas Errant.

Professor Moby: There you are. Good.

Professor Moby: Since you just transferred here, you’ll be applying for a new special artifact alongside the first years.

Professor Moby: You’ll find them in the storeroom over there.

Lucas: I can choose any one I like?

Professor Moby: Well, it may be one you like. It may not.

Professor Moby: A picture’s worth a thousand words. Why don’t you take a look?

Luca disappeared into a room at the back of the training area. After asking for permission, I followed him inside.

[scene changes to inside the storeroom]

Luna: (Wow… I didn’t think there’d be so many…)

Luca made a beeline for a section dedicated to swords, seeming to know exactly what he wanted.

The swords on display varied greatly–some small and single-handed, others even bigger than Luca.

Luna: (He seems to be taking this really seriously… Maybe I should go back out so I don’t distract him.)

I turned around and made my way back to the door, careful not to make any noise.

But before I reached it, I heard glass shatter behind me, back where Luca was.

Luna: Luca! Are you okay?!

I hurried back. Luca was standing in front of a shattered glass case. Two swords lay inside.

Professor Moby: Well well… These twin swords have been waiting a long time for a new master. Hee hee…

Professor Moby: They’re so pleased to see you, they smashed through reinforced glass! Hyaha! Hyahaha!!

Professor Moby had come running when the glass broke.

He seemed delighted by the turn of events as he used his tentacles to skillfully collect the broken shards.

Lucas: I can hear the sound of a child crying from these swords… They must be asking for my help.

Professor Moby: A crying child, hmm? That is certainly an unusual one.

Professor Moby: No surprise this special artifact chose a ghoul for its master.

Luca picked up the unusual swords, one in each hand. Apart from their color, they were identical.

[scene changes back to the training area]

Professor Moby: Are you ready, everyone?

Professor Moby: Please think of these moving targets as anomalies, and disable them with your special artifacts. Ready… Begin!

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 4: Truant Teacher Fails To Deter Overeager Student

[scene opens in darkwick classroom]

First period ticked around, and I sat down in an unfamiliar room for my first-ever class at Darkwick Academy.

Kaito: (Thank you, free seating!! This is my chance to sit next to Luna!!)

Kaito: (Argh!! Luca!! How'd he get there so fast?! Why is he always third-wheeling us?!)

Perhaps because it was the first class of the new year, excited chatter filled the second-year classroom.

Luna: Is everyone in this class Frostheim House?

Kaito: Nah, the classes are split up by year and electives so everyone's from different houses.

Kaito: You can tell by the color of their lapel pins. I'm in Frostheim, so mine's blue!

Lucas: Mine is blue too. This class seems to be mostly general students. How many second-year ghouls are there?

Kaito: Not sure. They haven't officially said which ghouls moved up a year.

Kaito: There's only a few in each year though, and they stick out like sore thumbs, so we'll find out pretty quick.

Lucas: There are quite a few ghouls at Darkwick. I was the only one at Emrys.

Kaito: Seriously?

Kaito: I did hear the number of new ghoul students shot up over the last few years.

Kaito: Apparently they're gonna build new ghoul-only classrooms and add more specialized classes.

Lucas: Why hasn't the teacher arrived yet? Class should have started by now, shouldn't it?

Kaito: This is Hyde's class, though. I don't know if he's ever been on time...

Professor Hyde: (yawn) Mornin', sorry I'm late. First class of the new year, huh? Let's get the ball rolling.

Kaito: Oh, right on cue.

Professor Hyde swaggered over to the lectern and surveyed the class, absently scratching his head.

Professor Hyde: I think you all know me, but just to be sure—I'm Professor Hyde, and I specialize in anomalous biology.

Professor Hyde: Today's just gonna be a review of what you learned last year, so you can take it easy.

Luna: (Phew... It seems like a regular class...)

Luna: (When they told me I'd be studying anomalies and handed me a stack of textbooks, I panicked a little.)

Luna: (It's strange to think there are people studying something so fantastical in such an ordinary classroom setting.)

[flash of dark, presumably a time skip through class]

Professor Hyde: ...That about sums up the main points from last year.

Professor Hyde: There's a couple of ghouls in our midst today. You guys are considered a type of anomaly too.

Luna: (Ghouls are anomalies...)

Professor Hyde: Demonic pacts, possessions, and curses are also all categorized as anomalies.

Professor Hyde: Our world is overflowing with curiosities.

At first glance, ghouls look just like ordinary people.

If you passed one in a train station, you wouldn't bat an eye.

Luna: (Are they really not human? Since I'm cursed, does that mean I'm--)

Lucas: Excuse me, sir.

Professor Hyde: Oh... Sorry, I'm not really taking questions right now.

Kaito: (Oh god... I thought people only stood up to ask questions in movies...)

Lucas: Sir, what type of training do I need to do in order to learn to subjugate demons as quickly as possible?

Kaito: What...

Lucas: I came to this academy so that I could learn to subjugate demons.

Kaito: (What the fuck?! Oh my god, everyone's staring at us!!)

Professor Hyde: Hm... You're the transfer student, right?

Lucas: Yes, my name is Lucas Errant.

Professor Hyde: Gotta give it to you, Lucas. I love a can-do attitude.

Professor Hyde: But I can't really give you a good answer for that, sorry.

Lucas: ...

Professor Hyde: Even to us researchers, demons are charted territory. We're still unable to define them.

Professor Hyde: However, through your missions you'll very occasionally encounter things that are clearly the work of demons.

Lucas: ...!

Professor Hyde: If you capture the anomalies involved in those incidents and study them...

Professor Hyde: you may find the answer to your question.

Lucas: I understand. Thank you.

Kaito: Idiot! What did you do that for all of a sudden?!

Lucas: ...

Luna: (They may look ordinary on the outside, but I guess that doesn't necessarily hold true for the inside...)

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 3: First Day Of Classes At Darkwick

[scene opens in front of the cathedral]

Kaito: Ahem...

Kaito: Oh? Luna, is that you?

Kaito: Good morning! Fancy meeting you here! Oh right, this is where you live now, isn't it?

Kaito: Fancy meeting you here is a bit of a reach...

Kaito: Wait, I'm supposed to be showing her around. It's totally normal for me to come pick her up.

Kaito: Ahem!

Kaito: Morning. Did you sleep well?

Kaito: All right, let's go with that. She must be nervous about her first day. I should show her how generous I can--

Luna: Kaito?

Kaito: Ah!! Mo-Mo-Morning!!

Kaito: Sleep! Well, did you?!

Luna: Oh, um, yes. Thank you for your help yesterday.

Luna: I still haven't quite processed everything that's happened, to be honest...

Kaito: I totally get that.

Kaito: Being dragged here out of the blue is pretty shocking, right? It was really tough for me at the start too.

Kaito: There's a lot to get used to, but I've got you! If you need anything, just ask!

Kaito: I could come pick you up like this every--

Lucas: Kaito, there you are.

Kaito: AAAAARRRGH!!!

Lucas: What's wrong? Is there an anomaly?!

Kaito: You're the anomaly, dude! Don't sneak up on me like that!

Kaito: Geez, you're as bad as Romeo...

Lucas: ...?

Lucas: I'm Lucas. I'm not your enemy. Have you forgotten already?

Kaito: I know who you are!

Kaito: What are you introducing yourself with your full name anyway? Didn't you tell us to call you Luca?

Lucas: You remembered. I'm impressed.

Kaito: What? Let's just move on. What are you doing here, Luca?

Lucas: I was just pulling your leg. Today is my first day of classes since transferring here.

Lucas: I thought I'd have a better chance of making it there without getting lost if I went with you.

Kaito: Right, of course you did!

Kaito: Why do you have to be so on the ball at times like this, huh?

Lucas: No one's ever said that about me before.

Lucas: Oh, good morning, Luna! That uniform suits you well.

Luna: Thank you. Yours suits you too, Luca.

Kaito: Hey!! That's exactly what I'm talking about!

Luna: (Luca remembered my name.)

Luna: (He seemed kind of distant when we parted ways yesterday, so I was worried I upset him. I guess I was imagining it.)

Kaito: Shoot, we don't have time to stand around talking.

Kaito: This campus is stupidly big, so the classrooms are pretty far from here. We should get going.

Lucas: Good idea. Let's go. Could you show us the way, Kaito?

[scene changes to one of Darkwick's sidewalks on campus]

Kaito: Are you living in that huge cathedral by yourself, Luna?

Kaito: You're so lucky! What does that place look like inside, anyway? What's your room like?

Lucas: The room they prepared for me is similar to my room back home, so it's quite comfortable.

Kaito: Yeah yeah, we get it, rich boy.

Kaito: If something off-brand was discovered in Frostheim, the students would probably faint from shock.

Kaito: And here's me lying in that double bed missing my futon. I might as well be from a different planet.

Kaito: And I was asking Luna, not you!

Lucas: Don't you find it tiring to be so irritable this early in the day? Perhaps you need to burn off some of your excess energy.

Kaito: You're the one who's making me irritable!!

Luna: Um... So the houses are all pretty different, then?

Kaito: Yeah, totally different! Not just the buildings and furniture either.

Kaito: The grounds around them and even the climates are all over the place.

Luna: The climates?

Kaito: Yeah, apparently the weather over in Jabberwock changes all the time.

Lucas: I am curious as to why you were placed in Frostheim, Kaito.

Lucas: Somewhere with rustic charm like Jabberwock would suit you better, wouldn't it?

Kaito: Are you being serious right now?! I wouldn't wear that tragic jumpsuit if they paid me!

Barring the fact we were walking through a place that defied natural laws, their exchange seemed so ordinary.

Luna: (I was pretty scared when they said I couldn't leave campus...)

Luna: (But hopefully I can at least enjoy being a student here until I can break this curse.)

Kaito: Did you eat breakfast, Luna?

Kaito: I didn't see you in the cafeteria.

Luna: Oh, I got a little sidetracked looking around the cathedral and everything.

Lucas: That's not good. You shouldn't skip breakfast.

Luca pulled a small packet from his pocket and handed it to me.

Kaito: hey! Are you trying to score points?!

Luna: Oh, thank you... "Shortbread Biscuits"? Do you like these?

Lucas: My brother does, yes.

Lucas: Ah, I can see the main building now. Looks like we'll make it to class on time.

Luna: (So Luca has a brother...)

Luna: (It must be hard for the ghouls to be separated from their families.)

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode 1 "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Chapter 2: The Cathedrale Terminale Has A New Resident

[scene opens in cathedral bedroom]

Luna: So bright...

Warm sunlight tickled my eyelids, gently coaxing them to open.

Luna: (This isn't my pillow... I guess it wasn't all a dream, then.)

Luna: (I found this bed in the attic after the chancellor brought me here yesterday.)

Luna: (I must've fallen asleep right away.)

Cat: Meow...

I heard a noise outside the window.

I slowly sat up, my body feeling heavy as lead, and peered through the window.

Luna: The weather's so nice...

Luna: (This is the second floor, but that cat sounds really close... Maybe it's on the roof?)

I tried to open the window, but it was jammed shut.

Luna: (It's not locked... It must not be fitted very well.)

[comic sequence of the construction cat repairing her window. this is the dialogue.]

SPLAT

Cat: Meow!

Cat: Meow!

Luna: Um...

Luna: Are you going to fix the window?

BZZT KII RAT-TAT-TAT

Luna: You want me to push it?

Luna: It opened!

Cat: Meow!

Luna: Thank you so much--

Luna: ?!

[comic sequence ends]

Luna: (It's hard to believe I'm still in Tokyo... This feels like a fantasy world.)

Luna: (I couldn't really believe I was cursed when they first told me, but...)

Luna: (A cat just fixed my window. I better look into it properly.)

Luna: (Can I really handle being an honor student at such an elite academy, though...?)

I stuck my head out the window and took a deep breath. The scent of sun-warmed leaves filled my lungs.

Suddenly my throat tightened, and my nose stung.

A dry breeze gently caressed my cheeks.

Luna: (I better get ready.)

Luna: (The chancellor gave me a phone yesterday... Ah, there it is.)

Luna: (Good, it's only 6:30. I just have to get to class by 9.)

Luna: (The chancellor said I should have pretty much everything I need here.)

Luna: (I guess I should take a look around.)

[scene changes to the downstairs of the cathedral]

I descended the staircase from the attic and emerged into a hallway lined with solemn statues.

I passed in front of them somewhat nervously, and placed my hand on the heavy door in front of me.

[scene changes to the sanctuary in the cathedral]

Luna: Wow... Is this a church...?

Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting glittering rainbows all around the room.

It was like a scene from a fairy tale.

Luna: (The benches, the pipe organ... Everything is damaged and dusty...)

Luna: Whoa?!

Luna: That scared me... My foot went straight through the floorboard...

Luna: (The chancellor did warn me to watch my step. I guess this is what he meant.)

[scene changes to a flashback of last night outside the cathedral]

Chancellor Cornelius: This is the Cathedrale Terminale. It was vacated quite recently.

Chancellor Cornelius: It's a little big for one person, but you'll find everything you need to live comfortably inside.

Chancellor Cornelius: Oh, but there's a little damage in some places, so do watch where you step.

Chancellor Cornelius: I'll get someone on the repairs as soon as possible.

[scene returns to the sanctuary]

Luna: (The statues in the hallway were damaged too... And that table over there is smashed in two...)

Luna: (It's almost like something went on a rampage in here... I wonder what happened?)

[tokyodescriber]

S1 Episode One: "The Man Who Grants Wishes"

Ch 1: Orphaned Boy--What Did He See?

[scene opens in comic sequence of a group of children celebrating a birthday. this is the dialogue.]

Children: Happy birthday to you…

Children: Happy birthday to you…

Children: Happy birthday dear…

Children: …Riku…

Children: Happy birthday…

Children: …to you…

Riku: It's so late, but I just can't sleep..

Riku: Today was the best day ever.

Riku: I never thought I'd get to have a birthday party like a rich kid.

Riku: It's all because of Mr. Long-Legs. I'm gonna thank him again tomorrow.

Riku: For sure.

Riku: Is someone else awake?

Riku: Mr. Long-Legs…?

Riku: What…?

[scene changes to comic sequence of inside Frostheim with students approaching tohma]

Frostheim Student: Tohma! There you are!

Frostheim Student: I've been looking all over for you.

Frostheim Student: This is the son of Saionji Trading.

Frostheim Student: He helped us out the other day. He's very interested in meeting you.

Tohma: I had no idea we had such a distinguished guest here this evening.

Tohma: Its a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Tohma: Welcome to Frostheim.

Tohma: Please…

Tohma: …Do enjoy the festivities.

[comic fades to black. scene opens in frostheim main hall]

Yumiko Sumitomo: Honestly…

Yumiko Sumitomo: Where on earth is Jin? I really wanted to speak with him…

Frostheim Student: Well, he hasn't been seen at all lately, has he?

Frostheim Student: From what I hear, he hasn't even been on any missions for quite some time.

Yumiko Sumitomo: Oh my, that's troubling. I wonder what happened?

Yumiko Sumitomo:  I ordered a dress all the way form Italy so we'd match...

Frostheim Student: What on earth for? The space at Jin's side is already taken by Tohma, isn't it?

Yumiko Sumitomo: I'm quite aware, thank you. It's a relief to know Jin has his support.

Yumiko Sumitomo: There seems to be an unshakeable bond of trust between them.

Frostheim Student: I was quite shocked by Jin's behavior after his friend disgraced himself.

Frostheim Student: Then Tohma stepped in to fill the void, almost as though it was planned...

Yumiko Sumitomo: Well actually, from what I hear...

Yumiko Sumitomo: Tohma had something to do with his transfer to--

Stranger With a Monacle: Good evening, I hope you're enjoying the party. Oh? Yumiko, I didn't know you were here.

Yumiko Sumitomo: Tohma?!

Stranger with a Monacle: I thought I heard my name just now...

Stranger With a Monacle: but it appears I was mistaken. Please excuse me.

Frostheim Student: Oh no, we were just...

Yumiko Sumitomo:  Just discussing how unfortunate it is that Jin couldn't join us this evening...

Stranger With a Monacle: I see. My deepest apologies.

Stranger With a Monacle: The captain is very busy, so I am here on his behalf. Can I help you with anything?

Yumiko Sumitomo: We're quite all right, thank you! Please give our regards to Jin.

Stranger With a Monacle: I certainly will.

Stranger With a Monacle: Oh? Yumiko, you look a little pale. Are you feeling unwell?

Yumiko Sumitomo: No...? Quite the opposite, in fact.

Stranger With a Monacle: Is that so?

Stranger With a Monacle: I assumed you must be feeling quite anxious.

Stranger With a Monacle: I heard that your father might step down from his post at Saionji Trading next fiscal year.

Yumiko Sumitomo: H-How do you know that?!

Stranger With a Monacle: Just a vicious rumor, I'm sure.

Stranger With a Monacle: After all, an executive wouldn't resign unless they'd been involved in some sort of major scandal.

Yumiko Sumitomo: ...I really must get going.

Stranger With a Monacle: Yumiko, don't tell me that rings a bell?

Yumiko Sumitomo:  ...

Stranger With a Monacle: You poor thing.

Stranger With a Monacle: If you're in trouble, perhaps I could be of some assistance?