Akira POV

I sigh and run my hand through my hair, shoving the loose black curls away from my gray eyes. Sitting up, I swing my feet over the bed and onto the cold wood tile. When I stand, my small feet come into my view, and I wiggle them, just to get a grip on reality.

My eyes drift over to my desk again, where the letter from True Cross Academy is. Not even a week ago yet had the letter arrived, and I still hadn't opened it. Today was the orientation for the school, that much you could look up online.

A school for elites, the wealthy, and the impeccably smart. A school where I wouldn't belong. A school where, in most probability, I would be hated.

Just like the last one, then.

I'm not wealthy or an elite, nor am I smart in any way, but there are these little creatures, little animals, everywhere, who help me. And to my knowledge, I was the only one who could see them. Small black ones with pointy tails and little beady green eyes, to ones the size of a medium dog, with great big red arms and green bodies. They helped me, they guided me, they even went as far as to make food for me (However that was just a unique one, so far I've never seen another like him, and he stays to my kitchen).

I was troubled, they would tell me. I'm just insane, they would say. But I'm not. These little creatures are physical, they take up space around me, they eat real things, I can touch them, pet them. Sighing, I look down at the slip of paper setting on my desk that I tower over, a shadow engulfing it.

Soon my shadow leaves the envelope, sloping this way and that until it pulls off of the desk and becomes a form. These little demons I like best, they come from my shadow, become an animal (most often times a cat), and follow me around for hours, sometimes days depending on how large they are.

This one becomes a bird, chirping and fluttering around, it bends down to pick up the envelope, and it rips off a corner. I yet again sigh, and pick up the envelope, pulling out my chair and then petting the little bird that hops to my shoulder.

I rip off the rest of the sealing, and open it. Inside is a simple piece of paper, and a paper key. The little bird chirps, and some more demons come to crowd around the letter.

"Should I read it aloud to you all?"

My voice is soft, questioning. Many of the little demons crowd closer, and the bird chirps an affirmative. I straighten out the paper and clear my throat, my eyes testing the first line.

"Dear Akira Hinobura, It is my great pleasure to tell you that you have been accepted into the True Cross Academy of Tokyo. A scholarship has been awarded to you through a random drawing of the top forty students, ten of which were chosen. It is a great honour to welcome you to my school, and you must be proud to know that you were chosen. If you do not wish the scholarship, please simply contact us through the school website. Enclosed in this envelope is a paper key mock up, you will use this key to signify that you are eligible for the cram school, hosted every Monday through Friday from after school to six o'clock. To receive real keys, both for cram school and dormitories, at administration simply present this letter and key, and state your name. I hope to see you at my school this coming year. With great expectations, John Faust the Fifth."

I place the paper down, letting the little demons crawl over it, and pick up the paper key.

"Cram school, huh? Might be fun to see people that arent smarter than me, for once. Whadday say guys?"

Chitters come from the demons who crowd around me, and a few tweets from the bird on my shoulder. Looking at the clock, I see the time.

"Well if I want to go I might want to hurry. Alright guys, go along, I need to get ready."

0+-_-_-+0

I sigh, for what seems like the fifteenth time today, and walk into the school campus, wearing a not-too-flashy-not-too-casual outfit, consisting of black skinny jeans, a white button down shirt, and a pair of forest green sneakers.

The little demons, although less now than when I left home, are still following me, and crowding around my shoulders and ankles. My feet keep moving to the Grand Hall, where signs are pointing to. That's the room where orientation is going to take place in twenty minutes.

Not even two minutes later, I arrive at a grand set of doors with a sign next to it saying Grand Hall. Cautiously stepping forward, I feel a little overwhelmed with the size of the door. My hand is about to reach out for the handle when someone from behind me startles me.

"Excuse me, could you hurry up? I kinda wanna get a good seat before they're all taken!"

I jump and look behind me. There's a girl with long purple hair and angry maro eyebrows, with a very short pink skirt on. I assume that that's the girls uniform, and not just casual wear, because right behind her is a girl with a chin length brown bob wearing the same thing. I mutter sorry and step out of the way, and the girls walk forward and open a smaller door in the large one. Just before it closes, I stick my hand out and open the door a little for myself, stepping inside.

Past the doors I just walked through, are many rows of plush velvety seats, all facing towards a stage with a podium on it. Taking a second to marvel, I realize that there are more little demons in here than out on the campus. I feel at ease, strangely, knowing that they're everywhere and not just congregating around me.

I walked forward a few rows, stopping around the center, and I walk towards the middle of the row, taking a seat and looking towards the stage, looking at every detail of the beautiful room.

What feels like hours later more students come pouring into the room, batches of tens and twenties. Soon, the room is mostly filled, save for a few chairs on either side of me. My demons suddenly flee, leaving me very quizzical. Somebody from behind me taps my shoulder, and I turn to look at them.

Its a boy with pink hair, and he looks a little awkward.

"Hey, uh, sorry to bother you miss, but do you think me and my friends might be able to sit next to you? Everywhere else is full. Hehe..."

"Oh no," I quietly say, "That's completely fine, your friends can sit here, no one else is, after all. Do you need me to move so you can all sit together?"

"No,no! That's okay, we can sit around you, there's only three of us!"

He hops the chair and lands with an 'oomph', and two other boys start to get into the row from the end, causing a little commotion.

"C'mon Bon! Koneko! The seats are over here!"

A scoff is heard from the taller boy, along with something unintelligible. When he finally gets to where we are, he has to scoot across in front, and then he sits next to me.

"My name is Ryuji Sugaro, it's nice to meet you. Thanks for letting us sit here, the rest of these damn elites are all being snobbish. The boy with the pink hair is Shima, and This guy over here is Konekomeru."

"You're very welcome, Ryuji. My name is Akira Hinobura. We'd best quiet down now, the orientation should start any minute." Me and Ryuji shake hands, and I lean back into my seat, pulling my satchel into my lap. A few seconds later, the lights dim and the stage spotlight is directed at the side of the stage, where a tall man with purple hair and almost all white clothing struts out. He reaches the podium, and taps the mic.

"Welcome! to True Cross Academy! It is my great pleasure, as chairman and principal, to welcome you all to this school year," his arms extend with a flourish, and his cape flutters behind him animatedly, "My name is John Faust the Fifth, and it is so exciting to see some new faces. But, with new faces, means a new representative, and now, jumping right into it, I present to you your new student representative, Yukio Okumura!"

Many claps came from the audience as a very proper looking boy with glasses walks onstage. He introduces himself and begins talking about the new school year. Slowly, he delves into school rules and expectations, delivering the speech with great enthusiasm and confidence. When he is done, he stands off to the side and bows, thanking the audience before leaving the stage.

Soon the lights come back on, blinding a few unprepared students, and the doors open at the back of the room. I wait for the boys next to me to stand before I do, and we all shuffle out. Reaching into my satchel that was previously sitting on my lap, I pull out the acceptance letter and dig in, pulling out the paper key.

"Do you boys happen to know where the administration is? I need to see them to get a few things."

Konekomeru speaks up from beside Ryuji.

"We're just about to go there, too. Do you want to come with us?"

"Yes please. What are you guys going up for? I'm going up to get a key for cram school."

"Us too," Shima says, "We didn't expect you to be going to cram school, so that's pretty cool that we'll see a familiar face in there!"

Ryuji gives me a side look as we're walking, but I barely notice as Shima and I are talking the entire way there. Eventually though, we make it to the administration and we all walk in, heading to the desk. Shima steps up to ask the lady about the keys, and we all stand back awkwardly as he flirts with her. As soon as he gets his keys, the other one presumably to a dormitory, I step up and pull out my key.

"Hello miss, I wish to get a cram school key?"

"Hello! If I could have your paper mock up please?"

I hand her the mock up key, but I also handed her the envelope, stating that it was stated in the letter to give it to administration as well. She quickly reads it over and hands it back to me, typing something down on her computer and asking me to wait just a moment.

She stands from her seat and rushes to the door behind her, using a large jingling keyring to unlock it and steps inside.

"What's she doing," asks Ryuji.

"I don't know exactly, but I'm guessing its something to do with my key."

We're all silent for a moment more before she comes out of the door, someone following her. As soon as he is fully out of the door, I recognize him as Mr. Faust, the chairman and principal who spoke at orientation.

She waves me over to the side of the desk and opens a little door, letting me in.

"Come with me, Mr. Hinobura. All will be explained shortly."

I follow Mr. Faust into the door, being met with a large room decorated in an.... interesting way. He steps behind the desk that's positioned center in the room and sits down, morning for me to take a seat in a chair in front of the desk.

"Mephisto Pheles, Samael, Demon King of time. Be wary of him, Akira," a deep voice says from all around me. I paused and glanced around before sitting meekly in the chair in front of Mr. Faust.

"I suppose I should start off with the basics then, Akira! My name is Mephisto Pheles, or John Faust the Fifth."

"Samael, Demon king of time, oh my gods," I mumble under my breath, furrowing my brows at what the voice had said. He looks at me with a suprised face, and affirms what I had said. If what the voice had said was real, then should I be wary of him? What in the Hell is happening?

"You have been accepted into True Cross Academy, but only because of the cram school. You see, you can see demons. Others can as well, but what you choose to do with this ability is up to you. The cram school is for exorcists in training. There, they can hone their skills in killing and hunting demons. You can choose to do so as well, but you were chosen because of who your family is. They have been the most powerful Exorcists in history, and if you choose to become an exorcist, you very well may follow in their footsteps. It is, of course-"

"My family's dead," I state, looking up at him, staring into his eyes. "My family has been dead since I was five. If I follow in their footsteps I will end up like them. And what's the point of becoming an exorcist? I like the little things. They help me, they guide me. Hell, they guide me better than some of the damn CPS. If I become an exorcist to get rid of the little guys, what's in it for me?" My quiet little voice quivers a bit at trying to speak louder than its normal volume.

He looks at me after what I said, and props his head up on his hands, staying silent for a moment.

"You will get to figure out what happened to your family. There is no guarantee you will end up like them, but with that attitude, you might as well. You still have the option to become an exorcist, and I suggest you take it. Its useful information, and it can help you in the long run. What do you say, Akira? Do you want to find out what happened to your family? Do you want to become an exorcist?"

I look at him silently, before bending my head down, letting my long hair fall in front of my face. The little guys are my friends, why would I want to kill them? But if I do this, I'd find out what happened to my family, I'd finally have an answer to why I'm all alone. My lip quivers. There are boys who I know, although briefly, who would be able to help me. I'd be able to make friends. I'd have a group of people who can see them, just like me.

If I take this offer, I'd be.... normal. For once in my life, I'd be normal.

I look up at Mr. Faust.

"I can leave at any time, right?"

"That is an option, yes."

I am silent for another moment, before answering.

"I accept the offer."

"Wonderful." He smiles sickeningly sweet, with pointy teeth flashing at me.

Gods, I hope I don't regret this.

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Thank you for reading! I really hope you enjoyed this!