Note: I have nothing to do with Haunted Junction and its characters except to be a fan who enjoys the series a lot. This story is my extrapolation of the storylines as seen in Bandai's subtitled release of the series. I apologize if the subject matter is inconsistent with the original intent of the creators or the original Japanese. Note: episodes during which specific events took place are identified in brackets.
The demon gave one last furious and agonized scream before it exploded, its physical form bursting as it returned to the netherworld that had spawned it.
Hokujo Haruto, President of the Holy Student Council, waited until the roar from the blast subsided to a minor ringing in his ears before opening his eyes and looking around at the damage done by the explosion. Except for all the windows in the sides facing them being shattered, the school buildings had escaped unharmed. There was a huge crater in the middle of the soccer field, but otherwise the grounds had also escaped unscathed.
Satisfied that the school hadn't sustained any lasting damage--not that that meant a whole lot given the nature of Saito High--Haruto looked around to see how his friends and comrades had faired.
The Giant of the Gym Hall was stomping out the fires the explosion had caused on the field. His efforts were hampered by the antics of Bones Suzuki and Haruo Sato--the walking skeleton and the walking anatomical model--who were struggling to pull themselves together. The explosion had scattered their bones and organs all over the place, and the two were forced to scramble before the Giant inadvertently crushed one of their wayward pieces.
Off to the right, Mirror Girl and Nino-Kun were tending to the Shinto member of the council, Asahina Mutsuki. It had been one of the girl's special, powerful spells that had destroyed the demon, and she'd had to be extremely close to use it. As a result, she'd caught the brunt of the blast. Mirror Girl was wrapping bandages around Asahina's burns while Nino-kun--actually a stone statue of Ninomiya Sontoku--pressed a damp cloth to her forehead.
On his left side, Toilet Hanako tended to the Ryudo Kazumi, the Buddhist member of the council. Normally, Hanako could snap Kazumi out of any trance, being the prettiest and sexiest of the spirits who haunted the boys' restrooms. Just calling his name was usually enough to snap him out of most of the spirit possessions Kazumi seemed prone to. Judging by the goose egg on Kazumi's temple, however, Haruto doubted that Hanako would have her usual success. For now, though, she seemed content simply to cradle Kazumi's head on her lap.
The Chairman was, as usual, busy taking pictures of everything: the Giant stomping around the field...the scramble for bones and organs under his feet...the spirits tending to the humans...everything.
That made six spirits. That meant...
"Arigato, Red Mantle," Haruto said, looking up. "You saved me again."
"Are you all right, Mr. President?" the masked spirit asked.
"I'm fine," Haruto said. He started to stand, but his right leg buckled and he began to fall.
A red cloak-wrapped arm caught him across his chest and another held his back, stopping his fall almost before it began, and he found himself pressed tightly against a firm, strong body. "Mr. President!" Red Mantle cried, concern in his voice.
Haruto shook his head and stood up, more slowly this time. "I'm all right," he said. "I think the explosion frightened me. I'm all weak in the knees."
Red Mantle nodded, but he kept hold of Haruto's shoulders, making certain that he made it completely upright.
"Is everybody all right?" Haruto called out. A chorus of "Hai" answered him, along with a pair of groans as Kazumi and Asahina regained consciousness.
"Itai," Kazumi groaned, opening his eyes and starting to sit up.
"Chotto," Hanako said softly, pushing him back down. "You shouldn't get up yet."
Kazumi sank back down, unable to resist the pressure on his arms. Then, his eyes widened, and he jumped up, stars shining in his eyes. "Miss Hanako!" he cried, lunging for the beautiful spirit.
"Hai?" she called in a pretty, sexy voice as she prudently floated up out of his reach. Kazumi crashed face-first into the ground, but he was up almost immediately, gazing eagerly after his favorite spirit.
"So, it looks like Kazumi's back to normal," the Chairman said sagely as he sank down to float beside Haruto and Red Mantle.
Haruto nodded, then glanced over towards Asahina. She was sitting up with Nino-kun's help, wincing as Mirror Girl tied off another bandage. "Is she all right?" he called.
Nino-kun turned and nodded. "She's fine," the boy called back. "She's just weak from the spell."
"I'm fine," Asahina said weakly. "And what are you doing back in those hakama? I told you to wear shorts!"
"Asahina's fine, too," the Chairman said.
Haruto sighed and shook his head. His friends were back to normal all right: Kazumi was back to chasing Miss Hanako, and Asahina was back to enjoying her Shouta complex and bossing Nino-kun around. He turned his gaze back to the school. "How long do you think it will take to repair the school?" he asked.
"Not long," the Chairman said. "See?"
Haruto looked. His jaw dropped. As he watched, the windows were steadily reforming in their places, the cracks shrinking and fading even as he watched, and the crater in the field was filling in before his eyes. "How..."
The Chairman turned to Haruto and rapped on his forehead.
"Itai!" Haruto said, drawing back and clutching at his head. "What was that for?"
"Don't you remember where this school is?" the Chairman chided. "It lies in the direct center of the triangle formed by the Saint Marine Church where you live, the Senryu Temple where Kazumi lives, and Asahina Shrine. As a result of the great spiritual power sent to this site by your three homes, the school itself is more than capable of repairing itself." The Chairman grinned. "The school itself is almost a spirit, when you think about it."
Haruto's eyes went wide. "I don't feel so good," he moaned, starting to fall back. Fortunately for him, Red Mantle was still holding him up.
"Don't worry about it, Mr. President," the masked spirit told him gently. "Nothing's changed. Just do the same things you do every day, and everything will be fine."
Despite himself, Haruto couldn't help smiling up at the tall spirit. "Remember who you're talking to?" he said. "I'm the one who wanted a normal life."
Red Mantle smiled back at him, and Haruto felt his pulse quicken. Red Mantle might be a man, but there was no denying that the spirit was extremely handsome, and anybody would be gratified to see his beautiful smile.
Haruto blinked as a flash of light nearby distracted him. "Nani--"
"Don't stop, don't stop," the Chairman said, snapping another picture. "You two make a perfect couple!"
Haruto felt himself flushing. "Why, you--" He stopped as the flash went off right in his face.
"I think I'll call this next picture 'Presidential Panic on a School Night,'" the Chairman intoned.
Haruto, rubbing at his eyes, abruptly froze. "School night?" he said, horror filling his features. "I have to get home and study!"
"Three, two, one," the Chairman counted, then pressed the button on his camera.
"Oh, my God!" Haruto shouted.
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