Yumi sat at her desk in hell's high school, lazily doodling pentagrams in the margins of her notebook as the teacher droned on about demonic history. She wasn't paying attention—she rarely did—but the sound of the bell jolted her out of her thoughts.
As students shuffled out of the classroom, she grabbed her bag and headed to the cafeteria, only to run straight into the person she least wanted to see: Stryker.
"Well, if it isn't Hell's favorite virgin," Stryker sneered, leaning against the wall with his usual cocky grin. His posse of equally obnoxious demons snickered behind him.
Yumi rolled her eyes. "Oh, look, it's Hell's biggest dumbass. Don't you have anything better to do than obsess over me, you freak?"
Stryker's grin faltered for a moment before he stepped closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. "You think you're so tough, don't you? Just because your dad's the Prince of Hell doesn't mean shit to me."
"Good," Yumi snapped. "Because your opinion means even less to me. Now move, asshole."
Stryker's face darkened, and before Yumi could react, he shoved her back. She stumbled but quickly caught her footing, glaring up at him.
"Really? That's all you've got?" she said, flipping him off. "You're pathetic."
That was the last straw. Stryker's fist came out of nowhere, connecting with Yumi's cheek in a forceful punch that sent her sprawling to the ground. Pain shot through her face, and for a moment, the world blurred around her.
Before she could get up, another punch landed, and then another. Stryker was relentless, his fists raining down on her as she tried to shield herself. The jeering voices of his friends faded into the background as her head spun from the assault.
"Stop!" someone finally shouted, and the weight of Stryker's body was pulled off her. Blinking through the pain, Yumi saw the school principal—a hulking demon with glowing red eyes—dragging Stryker away.
"This is *unacceptable!*" the principal bellowed, his voice booming through the hallway. "Stryker, you're coming with me. NOW."
Yumi didn't hear the rest of the exchange. She was too busy trying to gather herself, her body aching from the blows.
---
When the school day finally ended, Yumi walked home in silence. Her usual confident swagger was gone, replaced by a hesitant, almost defeated shuffle. Her face was bruised, her lip split, and her pride shattered.
When she reached the castle, the familiar sight of Ere'ana waiting for her at the door usually brought her comfort. But today, the moment her mother opened her arms for a hug, Yumi flinched.
Ere'ana froze, her hands hovering in the air. Her warm, welcoming smile faded into a look of concern.
"Yumi... what happened?" she asked softly, her angelic voice tinged with worry.
"Nothing," Yumi muttered, avoiding her mother's gaze as she tried to push past her.
But Ere'ana wasn't having it. She gently grabbed Yumi's arm, careful not to startle her further. "Sweetheart, talk to me. Who hurt you?"
Yumi's eyes filled with tears she refused to let fall. "It's fine, okay? Just let it go."
Ere'ana crouched down to Yumi's level, her blue eyes filled with sadness. "Yumi, I'm your mother. You don't have to hide anything from me."
At that moment, Kikidori appeared, stepping out of the shadows with his usual unreadable expression. "Who was it?" he asked bluntly, his voice calm but carrying an edge of danger.
Yumi looked up at her father, her lips trembling. "It's nothing, Dad. Just a stupid fight."
"Doesn't look like *nothing,*" Kikidori said, his crimson eyes narrowing as he noticed her bruises.
Ere'ana placed a gentle hand on Yumi's shoulder. "Yumi, you're safe now. We're here for you."
The words were meant to comfort, but Yumi couldn't shake the fear that had taken root in her. Every time Ere'ana moved her hands, Yumi flinched, the memory of Stryker's fists still fresh in her mind.
Seeing this, Ere'ana's heart broke. She wrapped Yumi in a gentle hug, careful not to touch her too suddenly. "No one has the right to hurt you," she whispered. "No one."
Kikidori, meanwhile, was already planning his next move. He didn't say anything, but the glint in his eyes was dangerous. Whoever had done this to his daughter would regret it.
As Yumi stood there, sandwiched between her protective parents, she felt a small sense of relief. She wasn't alone—not entirely. But the trauma lingered, and she knew it would take time to heal.
The End of Chapter 24