I Am The Strongest Ghost Hunter

Chapter 13

“Yeah,” she murmured. “We don’t talk about last year.”

James shot a sideways look at Raito, who was pretending not to eavesdrop a few paces back.

“What’s with the weird energy off this kid?” he muttered, not even trying to be quiet.

Sina arched a brow. “You feel it too?”

“Don’t you?”

She smirked. “All I see is a scrawny newbie. But Peace swears he’s special.” A soft scoff. “Same thing she says about every recruit who doesn’t survive the first month.”

James shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out if this one breaks the streak.”

They reached the elevator bank. James gave a lazy salute. “Catch you next week. Maybe.”

He disappeared into the crowd topside.

Sina turned to Raito, arms crossed, that breathtaking smile now sharp enough to draw blood.

Time for the real talk.

Sina spun on her heel, already walking back toward the dim corridor like she expected the world to follow. Which, let’s be real, it usually did.

“And you are Raito Kobayashi, correct?” she tossed over her shoulder, voice light but sharp.

“Yes, but…” Raito hurried to keep up. ‘How the hell does everyone here know my full name? I haven’t used Kobayashi in years.’

“But?” She glanced back, one perfect eyebrow arched.

“How do you even know my surname? I’ve never met you. I dropped that name ages ago—after my dad turned into a drunk mess and divorced my mom. I took hers instead.”

Sina didn’t slow down. “Don’t worry about it. Peace told me everything.”

‘Everything?’ Raito’s stomach twisted. ‘How did Peace even dig that up? I never told her.’

Sina finally stopped under a harsh overhead light, arms crossed, looking down at him like he was a puzzle she hadn’t decided to solve yet.

“Details like that? Irrelevant. What matters is you’re here now. And newsflash, kid—no room for weakness. No special snowflakes. Follow the rules, get strong, or get crushed. The only real rule? Don’t be weak.”

Raito let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, I’ve heard that on repeat since I got dragged into this place. Guess I don’t have a choice.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “So… when do I get a uniform?”

Sina actually laughed—short, amused, and a little cruel.

“Uniform? Sweetie, this isn’t high school. We’re a private organization. No dress code. Our ‘uniform’ is whatever lets you blend into society without looking suspicious. Wear what you want.”

“I’ve seen everyone rocking black,” he muttered. “Figured that was the vibe.”

“Black’s just popular. Dramatic. Hides bloodstains.” She smirked. “But you’ve got full freedom. Pick whatever color screams ‘I’m not hunting ghosts tonight.’”

She stepped closer, smile fading into something colder.

“But that’s not why I called you out here, Raito Kobayashi.”

‘What now?’ he thought, pulse kicking up. ‘What does the ice queen want?’

“Okay,” he said, trying to sound steady. “Ask away.”

Sina didn’t blink.

“What do you know about Ralph?”

Straight for the throat. No warning.

Raito exhaled, words tumbling out fast.

“Ralph? Just the school bully who loved picking fights. But that day he came after me… something was off. Way off. He was forcing it—smiling like it hurt, acting all weird. I felt it too—a faint ghost signal coming from him. But of course it was the old hag ghost that showed up later. Peace saved my ass, but Ralph and his crew… they didn’t make it.”

He swallowed hard, remembering the blood, the screams, the dust.

Sina’s eyes narrowed. She whispered under her breath, barely audible:

‘Poor soul didn’t even know he was bait.’

“Actually,” Sina cut in, voice dropping low and deadly serious, “that whole thing was a trap, Raito. You were led straight into it—probably to free that ghost from its location bounds.”

She folded her arms, eyes locked on him like lasers.

“We’re hunting Ralph down as we speak. He’s a walking threat to public safety now, and he needs to be neutralized. Fast.”

Raito blinked. “Location bounds? What’s that?”

Sina didn’t roll her eyes, but it was close.

“Every ghost is chained to one specific spot they can’t ever leave on their own. Most of them possess humans just to take a quick field trip outside their cage—scout around, stretch their legs—before they’re yanked back. Short leash only.”

Raito’s mind raced. “So… what if Ralph’s possessed right now?”

Sina snorted. “Highly unlikely. A possessed body burns out quick. Push it too far outside the bound zone? Poof. Ghost vaporizes into nothing. No comeback. Ever. Possession tops out at three minutes—max.”

She stepped closer, voice turning icy.

“Our current theories on Ralph? Either he’s awakened—can see ghosts—and decided to team up with them. Or, slim chance, he’s still possessed and somehow beating the clock. But here’s the kicker: intel says he targeted you on purpose that day. His real goal was freeing that hag ghost from its prison, and we still don’t know exactly how he planned to pull it off.”

She let that hang in the air like a guillotine.

“Now you get why we’re moving heaven and earth to find him.”

“Yes,” Raito muttered, throat dry.

Sina’s expression softened—just a fraction. “Thanks for the info. Seniors are already chasing leads. You? Focus on training. Don’t die before the exam.”

With that, she spun and walked off, heels echoing like final punctuation. Dismissed.

Raito wandered the dim corridors alone, head spinning, until he turned a corner and walked straight into a scene that made his blood boil.

There was Subarashii—flanked by his little posse: silent Rizen, sneering Sarah, and disgusted-looking Ohma. And on the floor in front of them? Akito. On his knees. Rag in hand. Frantically scrubbing mud off Subarashii’s pristine shoe while dirty water pooled around him.

“S-s-sorry,” Akito stammered, voice small, eyes glued to the floor.

Sarah laughed, high and cruel. “Stupid brat. You should feel lucky you even get to touch Subara’s shoe.”

Ohma shook his head. “People these days have zero manners.”

Rizen just stood there, bored, like this was beneath him.

And that was it.

Raito didn’t think. He stormed forward, grabbed Akito by the arm, and yanked him up mid-scrub.

“Come on, Akito. Let’s go.”

Ohma’s voice rang out, dripping fake outrage. “How absurd. Can’t you see he’s not finished?”

“I don’t care,” Raito shot back, already walking.

Akito stumbled after him. “Raito, it’s fine—I can handle it—”

Raito ignored him, dragging him down the hall.

Behind them, Subarashii’s face went scarlet—rage boiling under that perfect mask. No one disrespected him. Ever.