Yumi stood in front of the large mirror in her room, inspecting her outfit for the day. It was her birthday—seventeen years old. She still couldn't quite believe it. She was almost done with high school, ready to leave the strange world of Hell's school behind and move on to whatever chaos the future had in store for her. The thought made her smirk.
"Seventeen and still kickin' ass," she muttered to herself, pulling on her signature black, oversized hoodie with a pentagram on it and some ripped-up jeans. Her boots clicked against the floor as she grabbed her phone and backpack.
She heard Cerberus yipping from the hallway. She could tell he was already eagerly waiting by the door, probably trying to play fetch with her or do something equally annoying. She smiled at the thought.
When she opened the door, Cerberus bounded up to her, his tiny Chihuahua legs working overtime as he jumped at her knees. "Morning, buddy," she said, bending down to pet him. "It's my birthday, you know. Don't screw it up."
Cerberus barked happily in response, his little tail wagging as if he understood everything she said.
"Alright, alright," she grumbled, standing back up. "Let's get this over with. School, more bullies, the usual."
---
At Hell High School, the day was like any other. The hallways were filled with loud voices, cliques of demons and other students huddled in groups, talking about things that had nothing to do with schoolwork.
Yumi walked down the hall with a slight smirk on her face, her head held high. It wasn't because it was her birthday, but because she was getting more and more popular. She had stopped relying on her father's name for popularity, and it felt damn good.
Her social circle had expanded, and she had the protection to go with it. Two of the biggest troublemakers in school—both demons—had somehow taken an interest in her, sticking close to her side when trouble started brewing. They were like walking bodyguards, but Yumi didn't mind. In fact, she kind of liked the extra attention.
As Yumi made her way to her first class, she saw Stryker—the bully who had once caused her all kinds of grief—standing by his locker, looking noticeably different. His usual attitude, the one that had him bullying anyone he deemed weak, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Stryker was staring at the ground, occasionally glancing at Yumi and quickly looking away.
Yumi arched an eyebrow as she approached him. "Stryker, what's up? Too busy sucking up to your new friends to be a total jerk to me?"
Stryker glanced at her, his jaw clenched, but he didn't reply. He shifted uncomfortably, then muttered, "Just… stay out of my way, Yumi. I don't wanna fight anymore. Not now, not with the way things are going for you."
Yumi cocked her head to the side, confused. "What do you mean? I'm still me, Stryker."
Stryker hesitated. "You're different. You're not just the girl everyone thought you were anymore. You're… popular, I guess. And with that comes more people who want to protect you."
Yumi smirked, crossing her arms. "That's right. People are starting to recognize what a badass I am. So, maybe you should rethink throwing punches my way, huh?"
Stryker let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. "I'm not messing with you anymore, Yumi. Not with all the people you've got behind you now."
Yumi raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful grin. "Are you afraid of me now, Stryker? Scared I'm gonna unleash hell on you?"
Stryker looked at the ground, his face turning a slight shade of red. "Yeah, maybe I am. Things are different, okay?"
Yumi snorted. "Well, that's a change I can get behind. But just know, if you ever do decide to try and throw a punch at me again, you better have a backup plan. I'm not afraid of you anymore, and I've got a whole crew to back me up."
With that, Yumi turned on her heel and strutted down the hall, her bodyguards close behind her.
---
After school, Yumi made her way back to the castle, the usual banter and chaos of Hell High fading into the background. She was ready to get home, to be around people who didn't care about her status. She was ready to be with her family.
As she entered the grand hallway, Kikidori appeared, holding a small wrapped package in his hands. His face was lit up with that rare, warm smile that he only showed to his family.
"Happy birthday, Yumi," Kikidori said, handing her the gift.
Yumi took the package, raising an eyebrow. "You actually remembered this time?"
"Of course I did, kid. It's your birthday. You're my daughter, after all."
Yumi smiled, tearing open the wrapping paper. She gasped when she saw the contents—an old but polished pocket knife, one that she knew had belonged to Kikidori since his earlier days as Prince of Hell.
"I thought you might want something… a little more personal than just some regular gift. It's a keepsake, Yumi," Kikidori said with a wink.
Yumi looked up at him, her expression softening for a moment before she quickly masked it with her usual sass. "It's perfect. Thanks, Dad."
"Well, it's your birthday. I'd say go on and do whatever you want, but I'll probably end up hearing about it from your mom, so don't do anything too reckless, alright?" Kikidori smirked.
Yumi rolled her eyes, but a small chuckle escaped her. "I'll try not to, but no promises."
As she made her way to her room, Cerberus hopped onto her bed, rolling around in circles before curling up into a little ball. Yumi sat next to him, watching the tiny Chihuahua with affection.
"Seventeen, huh?" Yumi whispered, gazing at the ceiling. "Well, I guess I'm one step closer to being unstoppable."
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She grabbed it quickly, seeing a message from Elnora:
*Happy birthday, you old hag. See you tonight for cake and some fun, yeah?*
Yumi couldn't help but grin.
"Yeah," she murmured to herself. "This year's gonna be great."
The End of Chapter 28