Convergence

Part 2 : chapter 2

September 2004

"Do you remember our first mission together?" Kashimo asked suddenly.

The three of them—Mei Mei, Utahime, and Kashimo—were sitting on the bleachers overlooking the school's training field. Their session had ended only a few minutes earlier.

Despite the end of September, the air was still heavy with heat.

"Of course I remember," Mei Mei replied in her usual calm, almost indifferent tone.

"Oh yeah!! What a disaster... Professor Gakuganji scolded us for like two months!" Utahime laughed.

"Actually, it was mostly Kashi - " Mei Mei began.

Utahime immediately gestured frantically at her to stop.

"What did you say?" Kashimo asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Nothing!!" Utahime cut in quickly.

......

Their first mission—at that abandoned psychiatric hospital—had indeed been a complete fiasco.

Without thinking, Kashimo had rushed headfirst at the first curses he saw.

Utahime had tried to stop him but it was useless.

Among those "curses," there had also been civilians - a group of middle school students who had entered the building out of curiosity, hoping to witness something paranormal.

Kashimo had unleashed a massive surge of electricity.

In seconds, it had annihilated the curses - 

and severely injured the civilians.

They had been completely electrocuted.

And traumatised for life.

Professor Gakuganji had punished them for more than a month.

........

After that incident, Utahime had devoted herself to improving her team dynamic.

For the sake of their missions - and her grades - it was absolutely necessary.

With time, she came to understand Mei Mei better. Beneath her cold and detached exterior, she was actually quite straightforward.

Utahime even suggested that Mei Mei could monetise her skills as an exorcist after graduation - an idea that immediately caught her interest.

Since they shared a room, Utahime quickly learned how Mei Mei thought and operated.

They weren't exactly friends...

But they worked well together.

..........

Kashimo, however, was another matter entirely.

He was unpredictable.

One wrong word - one wrong move - and he would snap.

He was both sensitive and quick to anger.

When Utahime asked second-year students about him, they all said the same thing:

Kashimo was skilled - but impossible to work with.

Every mission he participated in ended in chaos.

Eventually, the teachers decided he needed to learn teamwork.

That was why he had been held back - 

and placed in Utahime's class.

.........