The morning was warm and hazy as usual in Hell, the faint red glow of the eternal fires illuminating the streets. Yumi adjusted her messenger bag strap over her shoulder and checked her reflection in a cracked, soot-covered window on the way to school. Her black ripped jeans, oversized band tee, and spiked choker were all on point. Her combat boots clinked against the uneven stone path as she walked. She gave herself a small nod of approval, adjusting her bangs to fall perfectly over one eye.
"Perfect," Yumi muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with her usual mix of sass and confidence.
Hell's high school loomed ahead, a massive, gothic structure with jagged spires that reached for the blood-red sky. Gargoyles perched on every corner of the roof, their eyes glowing faintly as they watched the students arrive. Yumi didn't bother looking up at the building. She'd walked through these gates so many times it barely registered anymore.
As soon as she stepped foot on school grounds, however, the buzz started.
"Yumi!"
"Hey, Yumi!"
"Can I walk with you to class?"
Yumi rolled her eyes as the usual swarm of students began to form around her. They came from all directions, like moths to a flame, their voices overlapping as they vied for her attention.
"Yumi, your eyeliner is so perfect today!"
"Where'd you get that necklace?"
"Do you want to come to my party this weekend?"
She kept walking, her expression a mixture of mild annoyance and amusement. She didn't mind the attention—it was part of being Yumi. But at the same time, it was exhausting.
"Guys, give me some space," she said, waving her hand dismissively as she continued toward the school doors.
The crowd thinned slightly but didn't entirely dissipate. A few particularly bold students stayed close, their eyes wide with admiration.
"Yumi, can we sit with you at lunch today?" one of them asked.
"Sure, whatever," Yumi replied, barely looking in their direction.
As she entered the school, the familiar chaos of the hallways greeted her. Demons of all shapes and sizes jostled one another, their conversations blending into a cacophony of noise. Some carried books; others dragged chains or tridents. The scent of brimstone was thick in the air.
Yumi made her way to her locker, her boots thudding against the stone floor. When she opened it, a small, handwritten note fluttered to the ground. She picked it up, her darkly painted nails brushing against the parchment.
"Hey Yumi, you're amazing. From: Your biggest fan."
She sighed, stuffing the note into her bag without a second glance. This kind of thing happened all the time. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate it—she just wasn't sure how to deal with it.
As she closed her locker, she noticed a familiar face down the hall. Elnora.
Elnora was leaning against the wall, her curly hair bouncing as she laughed at something a friend had said. Her delicate features and soft smile stood out among the chaos of the school. Yumi felt her heart skip a beat, but she quickly brushed it off, putting on her usual indifferent mask.
Yumi walked toward her, shoving past a few students who tried to strike up conversations.
"Move," she said bluntly, not even bothering to look at them.
When she reached Elnora, she gave a small, lopsided smile.
"Hey, El," Yumi said, her voice more casual than she felt.
Elnora turned, her eyes lighting up when she saw Yumi. "Hey, Yumi! Ready for first period?"
Yumi shrugged. "As ready as I'll ever be. Mr. Brimstone's class is a snoozefest."
Elnora laughed, the sound making Yumi's chest feel warm. "Yeah, but you always make it more interesting."
Yumi smirked. "That's because I'm amazing."
Elnora rolled her eyes playfully. "And modest too."
They walked to class together, side by side, while the rest of the students watched them enviously. Yumi could feel the stares but ignored them. She was used to being the center of attention, but when she was with Elnora, it didn't matter.
As they entered first period, the chatter in the room quieted slightly. Yumi's reputation preceded her. She slid into her usual seat at the back of the classroom, propping her boots up on the desk in front of her.
Elnora sat next to her, pulling out her notebook and smiling softly. "Don't get us in trouble today, okay?"
"No promises," Yumi replied with a smirk, already pulling out a pen to doodle on the desk.
The bell rang, and Mr. Brimstone, a towering demon with glowing red eyes, stomped into the room. He glared at the class, his voice booming as he began the lesson.
But Yumi wasn't listening. Her mind was elsewhere—on the note she'd stuffed into her bag, on the way Elnora's laugh echoed in her head, and on the strange feeling in her chest whenever Elnora looked at her.
For the first time in a while, Yumi felt like she might not have all the answers.
The End of Chapter 6