化物狩団

School was finally over, and that meant he could now go get his sword. He almost ran out of the classroom as the bell rang. He still couldn't believe that the teacher had taken it that morning, not that his old school would have allowed it, either. He just would have been expelled on the spot, probably.

He found his way to the school office and walked in. Inside, there was just one teacher sitting at a desk near the front of the room. He walked straight up to her.

"Excuse me."

She looked up at him.

"I have come to reclaim an item that was confiscated from me this morning."

The teacher stared at him wide-eyed for a moment, then a look of realization came across her face. "Oh! You must be that new student. The principal wanted to see you; come with me, he should be free now." She stood up and gestured for Ezra to follow her.

Is that who took his sword this morning? He'd probably get in trouble for this. Maybe if he was expelled here, he would be allowed to return to Tokyo. He followed silently after the teacher.

They reached the principal's office and she knocked on the door. "Sir? That transfer student is here to see you."

Ezra didn't hear a response, but it must have been all right to enter because she opened the door a moment later and gestured him inside. He entered and sat down across from the old, balding man.

"Hello, again."

Ezra stared at him. "I would like my sword to be returned to me, sir."

The principal pointed to the corner of his office, where the sword, wrapped up still, was leaned against the wall. Ezra moved to stand up. "Wait," the principal gestured for him to keep sitting.

He sat back down.

"It's against school rules, like most schools," he added with a careful glare, "to bring weapons onto school grounds."

"I'm sorry, sir, I was not made aware of this rule."

"Well, I will excuse it this one time." Damn it. "But please remember  from now on." Time for plan B then.

"Sir, is there no way to permit me to bring it to school?"

The principal raised his eyebrows. "Is there a reason you need it?"

"I'm afraid it would be stolen or otherwise while I am out, sir."

The principal glanced at the sword. "Do you have permission from your parents-"

"I live alone, sir."

The principal sighed and looked away for a few moments. "All right, every morning you will bring it straight to me and leave it here for the duration of classes. As soon as class is over, you may come retrieve it, understand?"

Ezra nodded. It was better than nothing.

"If I or any of the staff ever see it unsheathed or unwrapped, even, I will confiscate it indefinitely and possibly turn you over to the police."

"Yes, sir." Talking to police was definitely not part of his plan, ever.

"All right, you may take it now."

He stood up and took the sword from the corner and strapped it to his back. He excused himself from the room and walked into the hallway.

Ezra reached into his bag and withdrew the flier the kid with the glasses gave him that morning. It certainly seemed interesting, but he had no idea where this room was in the school. He spent a few minutes wandering and asking around.

Eventually he found himself in front of what seemed like an extra storage room. Certainly, this is the room the flier referred to, but he was a bit skeptical. Well, whatever; if anyone was meeting in here, it was probably the Monster Hunting Brigade.

He threw the door open with the force of a million men.

Inside, sitting at a table, were three people: the kid from this morning, a girl he didn't know, and a boy he assumed was the leader, thanks to his armband. They all stared at him, probably due to his amazing entrance.

"Am I correct in assuming that this is where the Monster Hunter Brigade is meeting?"

The glasses kid and the leader didn't move, but the girl jumped up and ran over to him.

"You must be Ezra! I've heard a lot about you," she said excitedly.

Ezra smiled at that. "Oh, really? Hopefully it's all been flattering, Miss..ah.."

"I'm Chihaya Kanachi!" She bowed. "You know Kintarou, right," she gestured towards him, "and that is the Commander," she gestured towards the leader. "Come in and sit!"

The Commander had regained his composure by now. "Are you here to join?"

Ezra nodded. "Yes, your group seems very promising to me." He took off the sword and sat down.

"Well, we aren't doing much at the moment, since we just started."

"That is fine." He leaned onto the back legs of his chair. "I understand that you plan on actually fighting monsters? I could be of service with that, you know." The sword wasn't just for show, after all.

"Ah, something like that."

Ezra laughed at this.

Everyone was quiet for a bit after this. Chihaya looked as if she was about to say something, when a quiet knock on the door echoed through the room.

"Excuse me," came a soft voice from the other side, "Is anyone in here?"