The Scarlet Duality- Ichinose's twin

Chapter 2- Half Oni!

A sharp gasp echoed through the quiet room.
The sleeping girl jolted upright, heart pounding as she looked around in confusion. For a fleeting moment, everything seemed fine — the soft sheets, the filtered morning light, the faint smell of antiseptic.

Then it all came crashing back. She screamed jolted up and looked at her hands.

“Why would… someone want to kill us?” she whispered, her voice trembling as memories clawed their way to the surface. “Papa never had any debts to pay, and—”

Her rambling was cut short by a low, steady voice.

Across from her stood a man dressed entirely in black — black shirt, black pants, black hair slicked neatly back. Two vertical black stripes marked his right cheek, sharp against his pale skin. His eyes were pitch black, unreadable, almost inhuman.

“Shinzhi, right? Ichinose Shinzhi.”
He straightened as he said her name, tone cold but oddly respectful.

Shinzhi’s eyes widened. “W–Where is Shiki? My papa—what happened to him? It was a dream, right? I know Papa and Shiki are fine—”

“Your father is dead.”
The words hit like a hammer.
“His body is safe,” the man continued, calm as if reciting a report. “And your brother… he’s been selected for Rasetsu Academy.”

She lunged forward, grabbing his collar. “What the hell are you talking about? What have you done to my brother—”

Before she could finish, he caught her wrist and, with effortless strength, pushed her gently but firmly back onto the bed.

“Another brat,” he muttered under his breath. “Unlike the others here, you have no oni blood. Once you meet your brother, you’ll be sent back to the normal world.”

For a second, Shinzhi just stared, stunned. Then she shoved the sheets aside and ran.

“Shiki!! Oni-chan!!” she screamed, her voice echoing down the sterile corridor.

The man sighed — a deep, weary sound — and followed. Catching up to her, he gripped her arm and led her toward a classroom. “I’ll call him out,” he said, trying to keep her steady.

She didn't wait and pushed the door open

“Shi—” Her call was cut off as all eyes in the classroom turned to her.
And then—

“Zhi!!”
The voice was unmistakable.

Her brother, Shiki, rushed toward her, relief flooding his face. But Shinzhi froze. Her gaze was locked on the two curved, gleaming horns sprouting from his head.

“Wh–what’s that on your head?” she whispered.

“Oh, these?” Shiki gave a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “They’re oni horns. see?” He grinned, ruffling her hair like he always did.

Their teacher — a tall man on skates, of all things — rolled over with a sigh. “Your sister doesn’t have any horns,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “Then why is she here?”

Ikari Yaorishi, a loud-mouthed student in the back, chimed in. “Yeah! Why bring a normal human into our class?”

“Shiki,” the teacher — Naito Mudano — said firmly, “take her out. Talk to her. I’ll have someone escort her home afterward.”

Shinzhi’s confusion boiled over. “Oh, hello? What the hell is happening? What’s with the horns—”

Shiki grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her out of the room before she could finish. They stopped in an empty hallway, the air heavy between them.