In a part of Japan, more specifically in Tokyo, a boy with black hair and dark brown eyes was sleeping peacefully… until someone knocked on the door insistently.
—Who is it?
—Son, get up! You're going to be late for school.
—I'm coming, Mom!
Ryu sat up in bed, still half-asleep, and got dressed in his school uniform.
He went down to the kitchen, where his mother —a woman with brown hair and coffee-colored eyes— was preparing breakfast.
—Sit down and eat —she said.
—Okay.
Ryu dragged the chair out and sat down. He looked at his mother as she served him a plate.
—Here you go.
—Thanks, Mom.
Ryu looked up and asked:
—Hey, Mom, did Dad already leave for work?
—Yes. They called him this morning. He won't be back until next week.
—(Muttering) They're always calling him…
Akane looked at the clock with concern.
—It's getting late! Grab your stuff and go.
—Alright, I'm going. Bye, Mom!
—Take care, son.
Ryu grabbed his backpack, opened the door, and stepped out into the street. A new day had begun.
After walking through several streets, he arrived at school. Several students were entering through the main gate. Ryu walked up to one of them and tapped his shoulder.
—Hey, Daiki. You're early for once.
The boy turned and looked at him.
—Hey, Ryu. Yeah, I got here early. My mom drove me today.
—And the others? —Ryu asked.
—They're on their way, but they'll probably be late.
—Then let's go to the classroom and wait for them.
—Sounds good to me.
They both entered the classroom and sat together. A few minutes later, the rest of the students began to fill the room. Ryu and Daiki watched three boys in particular.
—They're finally here! —they said in unison.
—Hey, Ryu —greeted Ryota.
—Hey, guys —Haruto and Ren replied.
—Hey, Haruto. Hey, Ren —Daiki greeted.
—Hey —Ryu nodded.
Ryu observed his friends as they talked and laughed. Haruto, the flirt of the group, was always trying to charm some girl. Ryota stood out for his physical strength. Daiki and Ren kept everyone laughing with their jokes and antics.
Unlike them, Ryu felt different. He had never been good at sports or known for his strength. He often thought he was the weakest in school. Sometimes, he couldn't help but feel out of place, like he didn't truly belong.
Someone knocked on the classroom door. The teacher turned to it and opened it. Behind it stood the principal.
—What are you doing here, Principal? Did something happen? —asked the teacher, somewhat surprised.
—No, nothing serious —she replied with a calm smile—. I just came to give an announcement.
—Alright, everyone, be quiet, please. The principal has an announcement to make.
—We weren't even talking… —Ryu muttered.
—I literally didn't even move my mouth… —Daiki whispered.
—Shut up or we'll get sent to the office! —Haruto said in a low voice.
—Then stop talking too. —Ryu replied.
—Everyone shut up! —Ren said, already tired.
—Then you shut up too. —Ryu added.
The group finally fell silent, although many held back a laugh.
Ryu wondered what kind of announcement the principal was going to make.
The principal stepped to the front of the room.
—Hello, everyone. As you know, I'm Principal Shin Kaito. I'm here today to make a very important announcement… We have a new student joining this class, starting today.
The principal pointed to the door.
—You may come in.
A girl with jet-black hair and crimson red eyes entered the room, walking confidently until she stood before everyone.
—This is the new student. You can introduce yourself —the principal said kindly.
Ryu looked at her with curiosity.
—Another girl… —he murmured.
—She's cute, —Daiki commented, not looking away.
—We don't stand a chance with her, —Ren added, sighing.
—That remains to be seen, —said Haruto with his confident smile.
—She won't even talk to you, —Ryota said, arms crossed.
The girl looked around the classroom… with a cold, disdainful gaze.
—My name is Yuki Zevaroth. I'm 16. —Her voice was clear, but cutting.
Ryu frowned slightly. What kind of introduction was that?
The principal nodded with a slight smile.
—Now go find a seat.
—Hope she sits with us… —Ren whispered hopefully.
—She's coming toward me, —Haruto said, fixing his hair discreetly.
—No, she's coming toward me, —Ryota corrected confidently.
—Shhh… quiet, she's coming our way, —Daiki said in a low voice, eyes wide.
Yuki looked around the classroom with a neutral expression. There were several empty seats… and everyone —except Ryu— hoped she'd sit with them.
But without saying a word, Yuki walked directly to Ryu… and sat next to him.
A murmur swept through the classroom like an invisible wind.
—Alright, continue with class —said the principal, and then left, closing the door behind her.
The teacher resumed the lesson, but no one was paying attention. The murmurs grew.
—She's so pretty…
—What an intense stare…
—How did someone like her end up here?
Half the class's eyes were fixed on Yuki. And the comments kept growing, especially among the boys.
Meanwhile, Ryu stared ahead, his heart slightly racing.
Everyone was watching him, but that didn't really concern him. What troubled him was something else. There was something about Yuki that made his instincts scream. Sitting next to her felt… dangerous.
It wasn't fear. Nor nervousness. It was something deeper. More instinctive. As if a part of him knew there was something in her that didn't belong in that place… or this world.
He tried to shake off the absurd idea and focus on what the teacher was saying. But he couldn't. Not with that presence… so heavy, so unsettling, so abnormal, just inches away.
After a few minutes, the lunch bell rang. Ryu and his friends went to the stairs where they usually sat to eat together.
—Hey, Ryu —Daiki said as he opened his lunchbox—, what's it like having a pretty girl sitting next to you?
—Well… it feels weird —Ryu replied, shrugging.
—What do you mean? —Ryota asked curiously.
—I mean… when she's near me, I feel something strange. Like she's going to stab me in the back.
—Don't be paranoid —Haruto chimed in—. She's just a regular girl, like everyone else here.
—Haruto's right —Ren added—. You're exaggerating. Maybe you should talk to her, and you'll stop feeling that way.
—Or a dragon wanting to eat you —Ren added with a mocking smile.
—You're not helping…
—Don't scare him, or he's going to pee himself —Haruto joked.
—I don't pee myself! —Ryu protested, indignant.
Everyone burst out laughing.
—Alright, let's leave him alone, or he'll get mad —Daiki said between laughs—. Lunch is almost over anyway.
—Yeah, alright —Ren nodded.
—Then let's go back to class —Haruto suggested, standing up.
—Back to that boring classroom again… —Ryota grumbled as they walked.
One by one, Ryu's friends left. He stayed behind for a few more seconds, sitting on the stairs.
—Those guys and their dumb jokes… —he murmured with a small smile—. I like them.
Suddenly, Yuki passed by him. Her mere presence changed the atmosphere. It was like a lion had just walked past him. The air became heavy.
—Tsk… damn, that presence again…
Ryu clenched his fists. He thought:
I just have to ignore it. Don't let it get to me.
He stood up and returned to the classroom with his friends.
Hours later, the bell rang again. Finally, the school day was over.
—Well, that's all for today —the teacher announced—. See you tomorrow. Don't forget to study for next week's exam.
Ryu and his friends left school, walking through the city as the sun began to set.
—Alright guys, see you tomorrow —Ren said, waving as he turned down another street.
—I have to go too. Take care —Haruto added, walking away casually.
—I'm going with him —Ryota said, following him without looking back.
—I need to pick up my little sister —Daiki said, adjusting his backpack—. See you later, Ryu.
—Yeah, see you later, guys —Ryu replied with a slight smile.
One by one, his friends said goodbye and disappeared into the streets.
Ryu was left alone, walking down the sidewalk as the city sounds began to fade.
His footsteps echoed clearly.
The air felt colder than usual.
And even though he didn't turn around… he had the feeling someone was following him.
In the shadows, a figure moved between the alleys, invisible to the average eye.
But not to Ryu.
He kept walking down a lonely street when something whistled past his ear.
CLANG!
A rusty sword fell from the sky and struck the ground in front of him, violently embedding itself and kicking up dust and concrete shards.
Ryu immediately stepped back, his heart pounding.
What… was that?
He looked at the blade carefully. It was old, dirty, with black marks like it had been pulled from a grave.
It didn't look like a toy. Or a practice weapon.
It was real. And dangerous.
—A sword…? But whose…?
A familiar, cold voice answered from above:
—It's mine.
Ryu looked up.
Yuki Zevaroth was floating in the air, arms crossed, her black hair drifting in a breeze that didn't exist. Her crimson eyes pierced him like an invisible spear.
Ryu's eyes widened in disbelief.
—You're… Yuki Zevaroth? The new girl at my school…
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
She wasn't just floating.
She hadn't just thrown a rusty sword from the sky.
She had changed.
Her aura was different. Dark. Unnatural.
Yuki slowly descended until her feet touched the ground, never taking her eyes off Ryu.
—Today is your last day alive… human —she said coldly, almost without emotion.
Before he could react, Yuki appeared in front of him in a blink and punched him directly in the chest.
BOOM!
The impact was brutal. Ryu flew several meters and crashed into a light post, bending it with the force.
He collapsed to the ground with a groan and lay there, dazed.
Tsk… that hurt… a lot. How can such a skinny girl be that strong…?
Yuki extended her hand, and the rusty sword she'd thrown earlier lifted off the ground and flew straight to her. She caught it effortlessly.
—Since you're so weak —she said with disdain— I'll give you a sword. It's perfect for you.
With a smooth motion, she threw the rusty blade toward him. It stuck in the ground right in front of Ryu's face.
Ryu slowly sat up, looking at the weapon.
—Hey, but this sword is all rusty and dirty! That's not fair!
—Don't worry —Yuki replied with a cold smile—. I'll use a sword too.
A black light formed in her hand, and out of nowhere, a perfect sword appeared: shiny, sharp, and with a threatening presence.
—Now it's fair…
He sighed and grabbed the rusty sword embedded in the ground.
—Alright… I'll fight like this…
Yuki looked at him indifferently.
—Then… let's begin.
In an instant, Yuki vanished from her spot. A faint hum was all Ryu heard before seeing her right in front of him, sword raised high.
CLANG!
Her blow struck directly. Yuki's sword clashed with Ryu's rusty blade and broke it instantly, shattering it like glass.
CRACK!
Ryu stepped back, surprised.
—Damn it!
He knew it would break… but not that fast!
The rusty pieces of his sword fell to the ground, useless.
Yuki looked at him in silence, as if everything was going exactly as she had planned.
She smirked mockingly, twirling her shining sword in her hand.
—Oops… I broke your sword. I guess that means I win.
So now… die.
Yuki rushed at him with terrifying speed.
Ryu, without thinking, grabbed the hilt of his broken sword and tried to block the attack.
But it was no use.
The impact launched him into a building wall.
The concrete cracked, and Ryu collapsed to the ground, semi-conscious.
—Did you really think a mere human like you could defeat me? —Yuki said, laughing cruelly—
You're a fool to think that was even possible.
She began walking slowly toward him while Ryu, bleeding, tried to stand.
—I'd love to keep beating you up… but I was given an order: kill you.
Although, they didn't say how I had to do it.
She appeared next to him in a blink.
She grabbed his arm and lifted him with one hand… then slammed him to the ground multiple times.
CRACK! THUD! CRACK!
Ryu's bones were breaking.
—I'll beat you to death! —Yuki screamed, with a sadistic smile.
Is this how I die…? Ryu thought, barely conscious.
Beaten to death by a superpowered girl…
Damn it. I don't want to die like this. I have to do something… or I'm going to pass out.
With one final effort, Ryu landed a punch on Yuki.
But it did nothing.
She didn't even flinch.
—That punch was so weak… it didn't even tickle —she laughed with scorn—
You're almost dead.
What a shame… I wanted to hit you more, but I guess I can't.
She gripped her sword tightly.
And without hesitation, she stabbed it into Ryu's chest.
The blade went through him. Blood burst out violently and Ryu coughed up blood as his vision blurred.
I don't want to die… he thought.
I didn't even get to graduate high school…
I never had a cute girlfriend who cared about me…
Nor was I ever popular…
And with those thoughts…
Ryu collapsed unconscious on the ground. His body motionless, his blood staining the pavement, his bones shattered.
Yuki observed her work in silence, wiping her sword with indifference.
"My mission is complete," she murmured coldly. "Time to return."
She turned around and began walking away, calmly.
But then…
Ryu's body moved.
First, a slight twitch. Then, his fingers tensed.
His chest rose with a dry gasp…
And slowly, he began to get up.
Yuki stopped immediately.
She slowly turned and watched him closely.
Her expression wasn't one of surprise.
It was of annoyance.
"You should've stayed on the ground…
That way you would've suffered less."
A green magic circle appeared beneath Ryu's body.
Within seconds, his wounds began to close, and his broken bones realigned and healed as if they had never been damaged.
Yuki narrowed her eyes, surprised.
"Well, well… I didn't know you could use healing magic."
Still weak, Ryu slowly stood up. With a groan of pain, he pulled out the sword embedded in his chest.
The wound closed instantly, as if the steel had never touched him.
Without saying a word, he threw the rusty sword at Yuki.
She dodged it easily, barely moving at all.
"How interesting…" she murmured.
She grabbed her own sword and began walking slowly toward him, raising the weapon, intending to stab him again.
But just before she did, a voice echoed in her mind:
"Stop."
Yuki's eyes widened slightly.
Father…? Is that you?
"Do not kill that human."
But… Father? You were the one who ordered me to kill him.
"That human holds the power of a demon… a very weak one.
He poses no threat. There's no need to kill him. Return."
But…
"Understood?"
Yuki clenched her teeth… and sighed.
"Understood, Father…"
With a gentle gesture, she opened a red portal before her. A dark, glowing vortex formed in the air.
Before crossing it, she turned to look at Ryu one last time.
"We'll meet again, human. And when we do… I will kill you."
She stepped through the portal, and it closed behind her in a red flash.
Ryu collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Tsk… My whole body hurts… and I don't even know how it healed so fast…"
That girl… said something about magic. And she didn't kill me either. Said someone ordered her not to…
Maybe that person thought I wasn't worth killing…?
Who is she…? And who was the person who sent her to kill me?