April 23rd, 2012, Kuoh Town, Morning.
The early morning sun bathed the streets of Kuoh Town in a gentle, golden light, but it did little to soften the appearance of the formidable figure striding through its orderly suburbs.
Susano'o, the God of the Sea and Storms, saw no need for the subtlety of mortal disguises. He walked the pavement in his full, anachronistic glory, clad in the traditional armor and hakama of a ancient Japanese warrior, his wild, unbound hair framing a face set in a permanent scowl of divine assessment.
The legendary Kusanagi no Tsurugi rested securely in its sheath at his hip, its presence a silent challenge to any who might question his right to be there.
'If the devils have anything to say about my visit, let them come!' he thought, his arms folded firmly across his chest as his critical gaze swept over the quiet neighborhoods.
"Surely the human cities have changed," he muttered to himself, his voice a low rumble like distant thunder. He eyed the two-story homes with their tidy gardens and the occasional taller apartment building with a mixture of disdain and curiosity.
"I can barely recognize these constructions as man-made. The yokais are centuries behind, technologically speaking!" The straight lines, glass windows, and paved roads were a far cry from the wooden structures and dirt paths of the eras he most frequently recalled.
His musings were interrupted by a small, eager voice. "Hey, Mister! Are you a cosplayer? That sword looks so real!"
Susano'o looked down to see a young boy, no older than seven or eight, staring up at him with wide, unblinking eyes filled with pure, unadulterated admiration. The god's stern expression faltered.
"Uh? Kid, this sword is very real," Susano'o stated, bending at the waist to bring himself closer to the boy's eye level. The leather of his armor creaked with the movement.
"That's so cool!" the boy chirped, completely undaunted.
A genuine, amused smirk tugged at the corner of Susano'o's mouth. The child's fearless enthusiasm was refreshing. "You like swords, kid?"
The boy nodded vigorously, his entire body shaking with the motion.
"Good, good. The art of the sword is a great way to learn how to become a proper man," Susano'o commented, his tone taking on a lecturing, yet not unkind, quality. "It teaches discipline, respect, and the strength to protect what is important."
"I want to practice kendo, but my mother says no," the boy confessed, his face falling slightly. "What should I do?"
Susano'o placed a heavy, gauntleted hand on the boy's shoulder. "Just show her your resolve! Don't give up after a single 'no.' Ask her a second time, a third, a fourth! Prove your determination through your persistence. A true warrior never yields in the face of a minor setback!"
The boy's eyes shone anew, looking upon the armored god as if he were a legendary hero stepped right out of a storybook. "Okay! I will!"
"Now, I have duties to attend to, kid. Take care of yourself," Susano'o said, straightening up and offering a brief, stiff wave before continuing his march down the street.
'If the devils dare to harm one of the humans in this town, they will have to answer to me!' he thought, his chest swelling with a sense of righteous purpose.
'Ah, that child had spirit. A true warrior in the making.' The encounter left him with a surprisingly profound sense of satisfaction, a smile still playing on his lips as he walked.
It was then that a familiar, gurgling sensation emanated from his stomach.
'Oh, well. Makoto Yuki can wait a little longer,' he decided. 'What kind of man or warrior presents himself on an empty stomach? It is undignified.'
His mission to find the mysterious boy was momentarily set aside in favor of a more immediate need: breakfast.
His divine senses, attuned to the offerings of devotees, had little use in a modern town, but his eyes were sharp. It didn't take long for him to spot a small street vendor setting up for the day, the sweet, comforting aroma of freshly cooked pancakes wafting from his cart. Dorayaki.
He approached the cart, the vendor looking up with a start at the sight of the fully armed and armored man. "Three of the classic ones, kind man," Susano'o boomed, producing a few coins from a small pouch. "And keep the change."
He took the stack of warm, bean-paste-filled pancakes and continued his journey, eating one with appreciative gusto as he headed toward what he assumed was the center of the city.
'I should ask for directions,' he thought, licking a spot of sweet red bean paste from his thumb. 'Where do humans place a school in a settlement like this?'
He scanned the streets, now beginning to fill with more students and commuters. His gaze soon fell upon a tall, lanky boy with a mop of messy brown hair, walking with a relaxed, almost dreamy gait.
"Sorry, boy," Susano'o said, reaching out and tapping the student—Ryoji—on the shoulder. "Where is the school?"
Ryoji turned, his expression momentarily blank before focusing on the god. "Kuoh Academy? Just down this street and take the first right. You can't miss it."
"Thanks, boy. Have a good day," Susano'o replied, already picking up his pace, his armor clinking rhythmically as he marched off.
'What a strange person,' Ryoji thought, watching the retreating figure with a curious, unreadable expression before shrugging and continuing on his own way, the brief encounter already fading from his mind like a half-remembered dream.
April 23rd, 2012, Student Council Clubroom, Morning.
Within the impeccably organized Student Council room at Kuoh Academy, the atmosphere was one of focused efficiency.
The morning sun streamed through the large windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air above stacks of perfectly sorted paperwork. Sitri Sona, president of the council and heir to the Sitri family, adjusted her glasses as she reviewed a report handed to her by her queen, Tsubaki Shinra.
"President, a stray devil has been sighted on the eastern outskirts of town, near the old industrial park," Tsubaki reported, her voice calm and professional. "Should we intervene immediately?"
Sona let out a soft, weary sigh. It seemed the universe enjoyed testing her schedule. Dealing with stray devils—those who had succumbed to their evil nature and broken from their masters—was a task she undertook when necessary, but it was a duty she informally ceded to Rias and her more combat-oriented peerage.
Of course, a stray would appear precisely when Rias was secluded, deep in her special training.
'Fantastic,' she thought with a touch of irony. 'Simply fantastic.'
"Has it attacked any residents yet?" Sona asked, her mind already shifting from administrator to tactician.
"Not yet. It was spotted by one of our low-level familiars. It seems to be hiding, likely disoriented and newly fallen."
Sona pondered the situation. This was an inconvenience, but also an opportunity. Her peerage was built for strategy and support, but direct combat experience was invaluable. It was also a chance to continue the practical education of her newest member.
"Lessons haven't started for the day yet. We can resolve this quickly," Sona decided, her voice firm. "Tsubaki, call Genshirou and Ruruko. We'll handle this ourselves."
"Yes, President."
Within minutes, the two summoned pawns arrived at the clubroom. Saji Genshirou, ever the diligent if sometimes overly casual vice-president, entered with a slight bow. "President, you called for us?"
Following him was the petite first-year, Ruruko Nimura, who blinked her large eyes. "Lessons start soon, President. Did something happen?"
Sona stood, her presence commanding the room's attention. "A stray devil has appeared within our territory. We are going to deal with it promptly. I called you two specifically because I want to use this as a training exercise. Genshirou, you need to see how a pawn operates in a controlled combat scenario. Ruruko," she turned to the girl, "you will be the one to demonstrate. Your speed and agility as a pawn are your greatest assets. Is this acceptable to you?"
Ruruko nodded immediately, a look of determined concentration replacing her usual placid expression. "Yes, President. I won't let you down."
"Good. Then there's no time to waste." Sona raised her hand, and with a fluid, practiced motion, she traced a complex, glowing magic circle in the air.
The blue light expanded, enveloping the four of them—Sona, Tsubaki, Saji, and Ruruko. The familiar surroundings of the clubroom dissolved into streaks of light, and a moment later, they rematerialized on the gravel-strewn edge of the abandoned industrial park on the outskirts of Kuoh.