The sun began to illuminate the buildings of Tokyo, painting the sky in warm tones. In a small room, a boy slept peacefully, tangled in the sheets, until the shrill sound of the alarm shattered the peace.
"Tsk…" Kurayami grumbled as he turned off the clock with a light tap and closed his eyes again, as if time would stop if he wished hard enough.
But then… knock, knock.
"Kurayami, wake up! You're going to be late for school!" —his mother's voice pierced through the door like an arrow.
The boy groaned and slowly sat up. His messy black hair fell over his face as if he had lost a fight against gravity. He rubbed his eyes, yawned, and half-asleep put on his glasses.
"I'm coming, Mom…" he replied in a dull voice.
He dragged himself to the bathroom, opened the door, and looked in the mirror. There he was: the same thin, lifeless boy, with the dark circles of someone who never slept enough.
"Thin and weak. Same as always," he thought while brushing his teeth.
When he finished, he noticed his hair was a complete disaster.
"I should fix it… but I'll be late," he muttered, wetting it slightly and trying to shape it. The result was… questionable.
"Perfect… ugly as always," he joked, throwing himself an ironic half-smile before leaving the bathroom.
He went downstairs and found Akane, his mother, in the kitchen, radiating the warm air that always made him feel at home.
"I'm heading to school, Mom," he announced, adjusting the strap of his backpack.
"Wait! I made you lunch," she said, handing him a carefully wrapped lunchbox.
Kurayami took it with a faint smile.
"Thanks, Mom."
"You're welcome, honey. Now run, you're going to be late!"
"Bye, Mom."
He stepped outside, feeling the morning breeze brush against his face. Tokyo was already awake, and he, though half a zombie, had to survive another day.
After several minutes of walking, he arrived at Nakotami High School, where a sea of students were chatting lively at the entrance. Among them, he spotted his friends: Ryota, Haruto, Ren, and Daiki, his best friend.
"Hey, guys!" he greeted, fist-bumping them before entering the building.
In class, Kurayami sat next to Daiki. Ren was right behind, Haruto to his left, and Ryota to his right.
"I'm so sleepy…" Daiki muttered, resting his head on the desk.
"What time did you go to bed?" Kurayami asked.
"Three in the morning. I stayed up watching videos," he replied drowsily.
"I went to bed at midnight…" Kurayami said, as if that was something to be proud of.
"Hey, Daiki, check this out!" Ren interrupted, showing him a funny video on his phone. Both burst into laughter.
Kurayami glanced at Haruto and Ryota, who were discussing training routines. Then an idea crossed his mind.
"Hey… rank the top five strongest among us," Kurayami suggested.
Haruto smirked confidently.
"Easy. Ryota is number 1, I'm number 2, then Daiki, then Ren… and you, Kurayami, number 5."
"Five? I shouldn't even be on the list… I've got no strength," Kurayami replied, raising his hands in surrender.
Ren laughed.
"Kurayami tries to lift something and breaks."
"I'd break my arm," Kurayami added dramatically.
Suddenly, the classroom door slid open, drawing everyone's attention. A girl stepped in with firm strides. She wore the immaculate school uniform, adorned with a purple scarf that stood out against the white and blue outfit.
Her jet-black hair flowed over her shoulders, but two streaks dyed deep purple framed her face, matching her eyes: large, violet with amethyst glimmers that held a silent determination.
"Attention!" the teacher's voice cut through the murmurs. "We have a new student. Please introduce yourself."
The girl walked to the center of the room. Her posture was straight, confident, and though she smiled, there was something else in her gaze: a promise, a goal that no one there could imagine.
"Hello. My name is Elisabeth Ishida," she said clearly, projecting confidence. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
A wave of whispers swept through the classroom:
"She's so pretty!"
"I want to sit with her…"
"Why isn't she coming this way?"
But then, when Elisabeth walked down the aisle and stopped next to Kurayami, the whispers changed tone:
"She… she sat with Kurayami?"
"Seriously? The weakest of all?"
"What's wrong with her? Doesn't she know he's a loser?"
"She must be blind…"
Kurayami heard every word like needles piercing his back. Yeah, I know… no need to shout it, he thought, staring out the window as if he didn't care… though it burned inside.
Ignoring the comments, Elisabeth naturally sat in the empty seat beside him.
"Is this seat free?" she asked with a calm smile.
Kurayami blinked, surprised.
"Uh? Ah… yeah."
As she pulled out her things, the whispers buzzed like a poisonous swarm:
"No way… why him?"
"He's a useless weakling. He can't even handle P.E."
"Hahaha, poor girl, she got stuck with the loser."
Kurayami felt a pang in his stomach but just took out his notebook. Doesn't matter… don't give them the satisfaction, he repeated to himself.
"By the way," Elisabeth said politely, leaning a bit toward him. "I'm new… could I borrow your notes?"
Kurayami swallowed hard and nodded.
"Sure," he said, trying to hide the trembling in his hands as he handed her the notebook.
She smiled, unaware of the tense silence around them.
Kurayami kept his eyes on the notebook, pretending to focus, while Elisabeth copied calmly. Behind them, the whispers grew, but he had already decided to ignore them.
Then he heard a familiar voice, low:
"Hey, Kura…" it was Daiki. "What the hell just happened? Did she sit with you?"
Kurayami sighed, eyes fixed on the notebook.
"I don't know, ask her…"
"Hahaha, this is historic!" Haruto said with a mocking grin. "The weakling Kurayami is now the most envied guy in class."
Ryota, arms crossed, muttered seriously:
"More than envied… now everyone hates him."
Ren adjusted his glasses.
"Statistically, the odds of a new girl sitting next to the student with the lowest popularity index are—"
"Ren, don't give numbers now!" Daiki cut in, both amused and nervous.
Kurayami let out a dry laugh.
"Thanks for reminding me, guys… I feel great."
Haruto smirked.
"Well, at least you've got a topic today. Enjoy it!"
Kurayami shook his head, turning forward.
Please let this day end fast… he thought.
The bell rang, freeing the class. Everyone left like prisoners set loose, and the crowd flowed into the courtyard. Kurayami grabbed his lunch, ready to sit with his friends in their usual corner—when a soft voice spoke beside him.
"Kurayami, are you coming?" Elisabeth asked kindly, holding her tray.
His heart skipped.
"M-me?"
"Of course." She smiled. "Mind if I eat with you?"
The murmurs rose again:
"Again with him?"
"Unbelievable! That guy's unfairly lucky!"
"Must be some kind of bet…"
Kurayami felt the weight of all the stares, but before he could refuse, Daiki appeared behind him with a mischievous grin.
"Of course you can!" he said, slapping Kurayami's back. "Let's all go together."
"Yeah, it'll be fun," Haruto added, winking.
"Interesting…" Ren murmured, like analyzing a social experiment.
Ryota just shrugged.
"As long as there's food, it's fine."
And so, the group sat at their usual table in the courtyard. Kurayami felt like he had stepped into another dimension: the weakest boy, eating lunch with the new most talked-about girl in school.
The group settled at a sunny table. Kurayami opened his lunchbox, trying to ignore the curious stares still fixed on him.
"So, Elisabeth," Haruto began with his usual grin, "where are you from?"
"Ishihara," she replied casually, taking a bite. "I moved here recently."
"Ishihara, huh?" Ren murmured, adjusting his glasses. "That area has good institutes… curious that you ended up here."
"Any problem with that?" she asked, raising a brow.
"None," Ren replied calmly, though he kept his theories to himself.
Daiki, always energetic, leaned over the table.
"So what do you like? Sports? Video games?"
"I like… training," Elisabeth said with a slight smile. "And running."
For the first time, Ryota looked genuinely interested.
"Training? Really? What kind?"
"Self-defense," she answered, without elaborating.
"Wow, that sounds awesome," Haruto said, trying to sound casual. "Are you strong?"
"Strong enough," she replied with a confident look that silenced the group for a moment.
Kurayami, who had been silent, felt his mouth move before he could think.
"I… I'm weak." He said it lightly, like a joke, but it hurt to admit.
Elisabeth turned to him, watching him for a moment before smiling softly.
"That's not a bad thing." Her voice was firm yet kind. "Strength isn't always what it seems."
Kurayami froze. No one had ever told him that.
"…Thanks," he murmured, lowering his gaze.
Lunch went on with laughter and casual talk, but those words stuck in his mind.
The final bell rang, dismissing the students. The group said their goodbyes at the entrance.
"See you tomorrow!" Daiki shouted, waving.
"Remember we've got practice, Ryota," Haruto added as they walked off.
Ren simply raised his hand silently and took another street. Elisabeth also left with a "see you tomorrow" and a kind smile that Kurayami barely managed to return.
Finally, the day's over… he thought, adjusting his headphones. He took his usual path home, hands in his pockets, eyes on the sunset-painted sky.
"Time to go home…" he murmured with a weary sigh.
Everything was normal. Too normal.
Until the ground shook.
A guttural, inhuman roar echoed in the distance. Birds scattered in panic. Kurayami froze, yanking off his headphones.
"What… was that?"
BOOM! A car crashed down from the sky, smashing into the asphalt barely two meters from him. Smoke, sparks, and shards of metal exploded everywhere.
Kurayami staggered back, heart in his throat.
"That almost crushed me! What the hell's going on?!"
Before he could react, another car flew through the air and slammed into a storefront, shattering glass in a storm of fragments.
"Who… who's throwing cars?!" Kurayami shouted, his voice cracking in panic.
Then… a deafening roar shook everything.
A flood of people began to run, screaming, colliding with each other. Some fell, others dropped their bags, phones—anything to escape.
And out of the smoke and shadows emerged the nightmare.
A colossal monster stepped forth. Its skin was black like obsidian, cracked with glowing red lines like molten lava. Two curved horns jutted from its head, and its yellow eyes blazed with murderous hunger.
The demon opened its jaws, revealing sword-sized fangs, and roared with such force that windows rattled. Heat radiated from its body, as if hell itself burned beneath its skin.
"I-it's… a demon?" Kurayami stuttered, his legs trembling.
Police sirens wailed. Two patrol cars skidded onto the street, officers rushing out with weapons raised.
"Everyone back! Now!" one shouted, unleashing a volley at the beast.
Gunfire echoed through the street… but the bullets bounced off its skin like raindrops. Not a scratch.
"We're not… we're not hurting it!" another officer cried in terror.
The demon slowly turned its head toward them. In its throat, red energy began to swell, glowing brighter like a blazing sun. Sparks filled the air with a rising hum.
"Take co—"
BOOOOOOM!
A beam of fire erupted, tearing across the avenue, obliterating a row of buildings. The explosion was catastrophic: windows shattered, columns collapsed, and concrete crumbled in a thunderous roar. Heat waves ignited cars, poles, and anything in range.
Kurayami was hurled by the blast, rolling across the asphalt until he crashed against a pole. Coughing, dust and smoke burned his throat. When he looked up, hell surrounded him: flames devouring everything, black smoke columns rising, people trapped in rubble, desperate screams for help.
"N-no… this can't be real…" Kurayami whispered, trembling, as the demon's roar shook the city.
Then a desperate scream cut through the chaos.
"Help! Please!"
Kurayami turned and saw a woman trapped beneath collapsed debris. Beside her, two children cried, trying in vain to free her. And they weren't the only ones—others were trapped, begging for their lives.
His heart pounded like a drum. He could run. He could save himself…
But he took a step forward.
"I have to help them!" he cried, voice breaking, running toward them though his legs shook like leaves.
He stumbled over rubble, lungs burning with dust, but reached the woman.
"Hang on! I'll get you out!" he shouted, trying to lift a chunk of concrete far heavier than his frail body could handle.
His arms burned. His nails cracked. Sweat and blood mixed on his hands.
"Move… damn it, move!" he roared with everything he had, as screams and the demon's roar filled the street.
Then a shadow loomed over him. Kurayami looked up… and saw it.
The demon had noticed him.
It roared, raising its massive claw, bringing it down like a living guillotine. Kurayami barely turned his head before the impact struck.
CRASH!
His body flew like a broken doll, slamming into a wall that cracked on impact. Air was ripped from his lungs, the world spun, and blood filled his mouth.
He tried to move… but couldn't.
The demon closed in, fangs dripping molten saliva.
It was going to devour him.
Kurayami shut his eyes, breathing ragged.
I'm… going to die…
But then, the impossible happened.
BOOM!
A blinding ray of light descended from the sky, enveloping Kurayami just before the demon struck. His body was carried by the energy and gently set down several meters away, safe from the beast.
Kurayami blinked, dazed, and watched as the same light rescued the woman and children, placing them in a safe spot. Then, in an instant, others trapped in rubble were saved too.
"W-what… what's happening?" he whispered, vision blurry, struggling to stand.
The ground trembled with a new sound—not the demon's. A figure emerged from the smoke and flames. Tall. Imposing. Clad in light armor glowing with golden sparks, draped in a white cloak inscribed with radiant runes.
Kurayami's heart stopped for a beat.
"Who…?"
The figure pulled back the hood, revealing a serene, beautiful, lethal face. Silver hair flowed like moonlight strands under the glow of the flames. Two heterochromatic eyes: one emerald green, the other sky blue, both shining with supernatural light.
Kurayami barely managed to whisper:
"Who are you…?"
But his lips only formed the last word before the world faded to black. His body collapsed, unconscious, as the mysterious warrior watched him with calm determination.
The demon roared, and the figure drew a sword of light that shook the earth.