Without a second thought, he followed the others toward the dining hall.

“Ryuichi-san?”

He turned at Kasumi’s call. She walked toward him with an unreadable expression that made him nervous.

As she drew closer, he saw she had concealed her tail.

Bowing before her, he lowered his head respectfully. “Did I do something wrong, Kasumi-sensei?”

“No.” She handed him a small cup of rice. “Eat and follow me. There’s something we need to take care of before you join the others for practice.”

He took the rice and followed her into a building he thought would be an armory.

It wasn’t.

Inside, it appeared to be more of an odd storage structure, lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves. The shelves were filled with hundreds of strange objects. There was no rhyme or reason to them, nor any order to how they were stored. Teapots were crammed next to shoes and daggers. Belts with ribbons and cups.

But the most peculiar item was the small circle painted at the center of the floor. Someone had decorated it with highly stylized symbols he didn’t understand.

It might be some form of writing. Or just someone’s idea of a joke.

“What is this place?”

Kasumi narrowed her gaze at him. “This is where your own unique totem will come to you. Almost every student here has a yōkai he or she commands.”

“For what purpose?”

She smiled. “In battle, it helps to have a friend. One who will stand at your back and not betray you.” She gestured toward the items. “One of these will bond to you and make sure you never fail against any mortal or his weapon. Only another with a similar or stronger yōkai will be able to defeat you.”

A friend who will stand at your back and not betray you. That sounded wonderful. Even if it meant his friend was a yōkai.

“How do I pick one?”

She laughed. “You don’t. They pick you.” Her tone turned ominous. “Eat your rice, Ryuichi.” She stepped back and closed the door behind her, leaving him alone in the room.

Was she supposed to do that?

Eyes wide, he held his breath.

Waiting.

And waiting some more.

Time ticked by slowly, with nothing happening, so he began to do as she said. He ate his rice.

As he ate, he looked intently at the shelves, willing his companion to make itself known.

Dead silence. No movement whatsoever.

Guess even the yōkai don’t want me.

Why should he be surprised? It was all quite boring.

Until the last grain touched his lips.

The moment it did, he heard a deep rumbling. One that echoed all around him like an earthquake. Every item on the shelves started to shake and rattle.

The yōkai seemed angry and belligerent. Scared.

Ryuichi wanted to run from the room. Instead, he held his ground. I’m not a coward. I will not flee.

Run, idiot! Run!