Chapter 2: A Devil's Eye
---
☀️ Morning – Kuoh Academy Courtyard
Kaizen arrived earlier than usual.
The school grounds were still quiet, the air crisp with dew. He walked alone, blazer unbuttoned, gaze thoughtful as he passed under blooming cherry blossoms. His presence was subtle, almost forgettable to those not paying attention—a deliberate effect of Sensory Reduction layered by Great Sage's influence.
> 「Current Aura Suppression: 89% efficiency. Perception dampening successful.」 「Rias Gremory has attempted to scan you 3 times in the past 24 hours.」 「Success Rate: 0%. Your existence currently registers as a minor anomaly.」
"She's persistent," Kaizen muttered.
> 「Affirmative. Host is considered an unregistered variable within the school's supernatural grid. High risk, high curiosity target.」
Not unexpected. Kuoh Academy wasn't just a school—it was a devil stronghold disguised as one. Every hallway had silent eyes. Every student had a role to play. Kaizen just hadn't revealed his card yet.
But it was coming.
And he was ready to start drawing attention… just the right kind.
---
🔔 Homeroom – Second-Year Class B
Issei dragged himself into class, bruised, bandaged, and exhausted. The classroom murmured with curiosity, but Issei gave little explanation.
"Bike accident," he muttered.
Kaizen watched him from across the room, observing the subtle shift in his aura. Something had changed. No… someone had marked him.
> 「Target confirmed. Revived by Devil-type resurrection sigil. Contracted to Rias Gremory.」 「Boosted Gear resonance at 12%. Stabilizing.」 「Host will begin manifesting gear partially within 36 hours.」
"Just like that…" Kaizen whispered under his breath. "Now it begins."
Rias Gremory's pawn had been claimed. The first piece had moved. And the board, at last, had shifted.
---
🧃 Lunchtime – School Roof
Kaizen took his lunch alone that day, seated cross-legged atop the school roof. A bento box rested beside him—one he hadn't made, but acquired from a kindly local vendor he occasionally helped. He didn't need to eat, not truly, but it helped him observe.
And besides, someone was coming.
> 「Presence detected. Rias Gremory.」 「Approach vector: North staircase. Intent: Interrogation, reconnaissance.」
"She moves fast," he said, smiling.
A gentle breeze pushed open the rooftop door.
"Kaizen Amos," came the voice—silken, confident, faintly imperial.
Kaizen didn't look up immediately. "Rias Gremory," he said, turning slowly. "To what do I owe the honor?"
She stepped forward gracefully, her crimson hair catching the wind. Her eyes gleamed with both curiosity and calculation.
"You're new," she said. "But not just to the school. You're not on the grid."
"Grid?"
She narrowed her gaze. "Don't play dumb. I know you feel it—the supernatural pulse here. You're not a normal human."
Kaizen tilted his head. "Neither are you."
Rias blinked. "You're not surprised."
"Should I be?"
They stared at each other for a moment.
Kaizen studied her—her posture, her microexpressions, her energy flow. It was regal and restrained, but laced with pride and a need for control. A devil born and bred, yet young enough to make mistakes.
> 「Scanning complete. Rias Gremory: Pure-blood Devil. High Magic Affinity. Potential: Queen-class. Current Peerage Position: King.」 「Emotional state: 61% curiosity, 23% suspicion, 9% attraction. Remaining: uncertain.」
Attraction?
Interesting.
"Let's stop pretending," Rias said. "You're hiding something. I'd like to know what."
Kaizen stood slowly, brushing imaginary dust from his pants. He walked toward her—one step at a time—until he stood just close enough for tension to spark.
"Careful, Rias," he said. "You're not the only one who watches."
Her pupils dilated. A chill passed between them.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Kaizen smiled. "But I'll play your game. For now."
And he turned, walking past her—leaving her standing on the roof with the wind and her thoughts.
> 「Observation complete. Rias Gremory's interest has shifted from hostile to intrigued.」 「Recommend continued ambiguity. Threat level: Moderate. Potential alliance: Possible.」
"Let her wonder," Kaizen whispered.
---
🌘 Evening – Hidden Alleyway, Kuoh
Kaizen's night walk took a different route. Not to the woods. Not to the parks. Tonight, it was the alley behind the old church—the one abandoned after the fall of the Holy Faction's grip on the town.
Except… it wasn't abandoned anymore.
Kaizen stood still, watching the glow of faint barrier magic flicker across the building's entrance.
> 「Detected: Four Fallen Angels. Names: Raynare, Dohnaseek, Mittelt, Kalawarner.」 「Barrier stability: Weak. Energy leakage: High.」 「Probability of recent resurrection attempts: 87%. Target: Sacred Gear users.」
"They're hunting still," Kaizen said.
He placed a hand on the wall, extending a thread of Corrosion into the foundation—subtle, undetectable. Just enough to leave a seed.
> 「Seed planted. Observation tether established. You may now monitor this location remotely.」
He turned to leave, only to stop mid-step.
A presence approached—fast, erratic, untrained but determined.
He sighed. "You can come out now, Asia Argento."
A girl emerged from behind the corner, clutching a book to her chest.
"You… you know my name?" she asked, voice soft as trembling leaves.
> 「Subject identified: Asia Argento. Former nun. Possessor of Twilight Healing.」 「Alignment: Holy. Status: In danger.」 「Mental condition: Isolated. Conflicted. Innocent.」
"I know a lot of things," Kaizen said gently.
Asia stepped closer. "Are you… one of them?"
"One of what?"
She hesitated. "A devil."
Kaizen didn't answer.
Instead, he stepped forward, knelt slightly, and looked her in the eye.
"No," he said. "But I'm not human either."
Her lip quivered, but she didn't run. "Will you hurt me?"
Kaizen smiled softly. "No, Asia. I'll do the opposite."
> 「Twilight Healing registered. High compatibility with Sacred Gear ecosystem.」 「Potential future fusion route detected: Support Branch – Divine Regeneration.」
"Go home," he said gently. "This place isn't safe tonight."
Asia nodded, eyes wide, and disappeared down the street.
Kaizen stood, the wind brushing his coat.
So many players on the board.
So many pieces to study.
---
🧠 Power Gained: Sacred Gear Support Analysis
> New Sub-Skill: Twilight Link – Preliminary Sync Pathways Description: You've begun to map the interaction systems of healing-type Sacred Gears, allowing advanced simulation and prediction of restoration-based powers.
Limitations: Observation-only. Cannot mimic divine healing yet.
> 「Skill stored under Great Sage > Gear Tree > Support Branch.」 「Would you like to synthesize a theoretical prototype for simulation?」
"Yes," Kaizen said.
And a ghostly green symbol shimmered in his palm, fading into code.
---
🌙 Closing Scene – Kuoh Academy Courtyard
Later that night, Kaizen stood again beneath the moon.
Rias Gremory now suspected him.
Issei was officially awakened.
Fallen angels were stirring the waters.
And Asia Argento was in play.
Kaizen stared at the sky, eyes alight.
"The board is set," he whispered. "Now let's see who makes the first mistake."
Behind him, a red bat wing shimmered in the darkness.
And vanished.