Chapter 1: Since She Was Playing Hooky, I Decided to Drag Her Back

"Hey—Hidaka! Hidaka Luna! Are you even here?"

Fifth period, just after lunch break.

The teacher standing at the podium called out the name across the classroom.

But no answer came—only hollow silence.

Nobody cared.

Clicking his tongue at the indifferent atmosphere, the teacher called the name a few more times.

"If you mean Hidaka, she hasn't come back since lunch."

Perhaps realizing class wouldn’t start like this, a girl finally spoke up. The teacher sighed in exasperation.

"How many times is this since second year started? I heard her behavior took a nosedive last semester, but…"

Grumbling under his breath, he moved on to the next student’s name, ready to write off the truant.

But I raised my hand, redirecting his attention.

"Sir."

Not just the teacher—the entire class turned to look at me.

"I’ll go find Hidaka."

"H-Hey! Kurosaki!"

"If she doesn’t come back, just mark her absent."

With that, I hurried out before anyone could stop me.

As expected, I found Hidaka on the rooftop.

Normally, the roof was locked—off-limits due to safety concerns. But that didn’t mean much to her.

"So this is where you were."

Sitting on the ground, staring at the sky, she jolted slightly at my voice before turning.

Her long, shimmering silver hair reflected the sunlight.

In contrast, her exotic, sun-kissed skin.

Every part of her—her slender limbs, her striking features—was unmistakably un-Japanese.

If not for the blazer uniform, nobody would believe she was a student here.

She looked like a foreigner who’d wandered in from another world.

Her piercing blue eyes glared at me.

"…Oh. It’s just you, Haruto."

But the sharpness didn’t last.

Her gaze softened, and she turned away again.

"'Just me'? Rude."

"Whatever. Thought you were a teacher."

"Sure."

"…You not going back?"

Ignoring her annoyed tone, I flopped down beside her.

"Well, if you go to class, I’ll go too, Youta."

"Tch."

She let out a bored scoff and fell silent.

Minutes passed—maybe.

I wasn’t checking the time.

A glance to the side showed Youta squinting comfortably against the breeze.

She’d probably already forgotten I was here.

The fullness from two servings of cup noodles was making me drowsy.

Lately, my body’s been sluggish—not good.

Just as I relaxed and closed my eyes—

"You… came looking for me on purpose?"

Her voice cut in.

"Yeah."

"…How many times is this since second year started? You an idiot?"

I couldn’t help but laugh.

She was the one skipping class constantly.

"What’s so funny?"

Glare.

Her stare was sharp enough to practically make the sound effect.

Not that her eyes were naturally fierce—if anything, they gave a gentle impression.

But the intensity behind them was overwhelming.

"You don’t get to say that."

"Urk—"

Unfazed, I shot back, and she faltered.

Back when I first transferred here over a year ago, she was the one who chased me around all day when I tried skipping.

"Didn’t take long. I knew you’d be here."

The roof was locked—no way anyone would find her.

Meaning, if you could get past the lock, it was the perfect spot to ditch class.

"…You’re the only one who calls me Youta anymore."

Muttering quietly, she lowered her eyes.

—Hidaka Luna.

Her situation… was complicated.

The final battle of Hidaka Youta—also known as the silver magical girl Silver Witch Luna—was not a complete victory where evil was vanquished with a simple "and it's over."

The leader of the Legion Brigade, Savaros, had fixated on humanity’s negative emotions. His goal was to gather and condense them, transforming that energy into the ultimate weapon.

Its name: "The Dark Seed."

A bio-weapon that grew by feeding on emotions, multiplying with immense energy.

Its sheer destructive potential caused fierce infighting even within the Legion Brigade. If mishandled, it could wipe out the very humans whose emotional energy they sought to harvest—completely defeating the purpose of their invasion.

Some demanded its development be halted. Others proposed toning it down for controlled use. Though they were still invaders, some had even grown fond of Earth...

With so many dissenters, the debate grew chaotic.

In the end, everyone but Savaros turned against him, effectively marking the Legion Brigade’s downfall.

But Savaros’s madness knew no bounds. He was willing to sacrifice everything for power.

In truth, he acted purely for his own greed. Even alone, he forced The Dark Seed into completion and unleashed it.

The battle only escalated.

Yet, as mentioned earlier, Luna had defeated the Legion Brigade. With the help of the defectors, a single boy brought down a great evil.

But the real problem came after.

In his final moments, leader Savaros, as a last act of spite, sent The Dark Seed into overdrive. A desperate attempt to drag the world down with him. A pitiful end for a man already lost to insanity.

Left unchecked, The Dark Seed would have consumed Earth in an instant.

But the world did not end.

For one reason alone: Luna shouldered all the negative energy, suppressing the rampage.

For a single person to absorb the negative emotions of millions was impossible from the start. Hidaka Youta was crushed under the torrent of hatred, his existence all but obliterated. That even a fragment of him remained could be called a miracle.

Moved by pity, the Sacred Beasts moved to save him. The defectors joined as well, united in repaying their debt to the kindhearted boy who had stopped their brethren.

—A miracle must have occurred.

Though the Sacred Beasts perished, spent from their efforts, they succeeded in preserving his life.

And so, Hidaka Luna was born.

A girl with Youta’s mind, Luna’s body—and The Dark Seed buried within her.