Chapter Five – Gym Class, Bentō, and Blood
Zael was not built for gym class.
Correction: he was built for gym class. His body moved with lethal grace, every muscle tuned like a predator's. The problem was—he didn't know how to tone it down.
"Kurayami-kun, your turn for the 100-meter sprint!" the coach barked.
Zael stepped to the line, looking mildly annoyed. Aiko, standing with her friends, crossed her fingers. "Please don't break the sound barrier. Please don't break the sound barrier…"
The whistle blew.
WHOOSH.
Zael blurred across the field, finishing the race in less than two seconds. The coach's stopwatch exploded. The entire class stood in stunned silence.
"…What the hell was that?" Haruto gaped.
Sayuri scribbled furiously in her notebook. "Speed exceeding human limits. Hypothesis: Kurayami-kun is an advanced military experiment. Or an alien."
Mika clasped her hands dreamily. "He's a god!"
Aiko slapped her forehead. He's a demon, you idiots!
Zael returned, expression calm. "Was that… adequate?"
The coach's eye twitched. "Adequate?! You broke physics!"
Later in the cafeteria, Zael sat quietly at the end of the table. Despite his aloof air, every girl in the room sneaked glances at him.
Mika shoved Aiko forward. "Go sit with him!"
"What? No!" Aiko hissed.
"Yes!" Mika shoved harder.
Aiko stumbled, tray wobbling, and nearly dumped her entire bentō on Zael's lap. "S-sorry!"
Zael caught the tray with one hand before it fell. Smooth. Effortless. Of course.
"You should be more careful, Hoshizora," he said softly.
Her heart tripped over itself. He remembered her name.
She sat across from him, cheeks burning. "Why are you… eating cafeteria food? Isn't it gross?"
Zael poked at the curry rice with chopsticks, studying it like an alien artifact. "It is… edible."
Then, as if sensing her skepticism, he took a bite. His eyes darkened slightly, then softened. "…Sweet."
Aiko blinked. "…That's curry. It's not supposed to be sweet."
Zael tilted his head. "Then why do I taste sugar?"
She realized with horror—he was tasting her presence across the table. His words weren't about the curry. They were about her.
She nearly choked on her miso soup.
That night, the dark adventure side of things returned.
Zael didn't walk Aiko home this time. Instead, he perched on the roof of her house, wings folded tight, watching.
Shadows shifted below. Another presence moved in the street. A group of lesser demons prowled, sniffing the air.
Zael's claws tightened around his sword hilt. "Persistent pests."
Before he could strike, a stronger presence appeared. A tall man cloaked in black armor, horns curling from his skull. His voice was deep, mocking.
"So, the great Demon Warlord hides in a school uniform now. Pathetic."
Zael's eyes glowed. "Kagehito…"
The armored demon sneered. "Come back to the underworld, Zael. Or we'll take the girl instead."
Zael's aura flared, black feathers scattering like knives. "Touch her, and I'll feed you your own heart."
The street rumbled with power as their auras clashed. Humans inside their houses stirred uneasily, whispering of earthquakes.
On the second floor, Aiko peeked out her window, rubbing her eyes. She gasped. "Zael…?"
Her groceries sat forgotten on the desk. And for the first time, she realized: her life had already changed forever.
Chapter Six – Suspicions
The next morning, school felt painfully ordinary. Students rushed between classes, teachers barked about exams, and the cafeteria ran out of melon bread by third period.
But for Aiko, nothing felt ordinary.
She sat at her desk, tapping her pencil against her notebook. Her mind replayed last night—the shadows in the street, the strange flicker of wings, Zael's silhouette against the moon.
She bit her lip. It couldn't have been him… right?
Zael sat two rows over, calmly reading a textbook as if he hadn't ripped the world apart hours before. His expression was cool, unreadable. But when she glanced at him, just briefly—his eyes met hers.
She swore they glowed for a split second. Crimson.
Her pencil snapped in half.
"Geez, Ai-chan, what's with you?" Mika leaned over. "You're acting like you saw a ghost."
"Or an alien," Sayuri added without looking up.
"Or a hot guy in your dreams." Mika smirked.
Aiko flushed. "N-no! I—It's not—! Just shut up!"
Zael turned a page in his book, the faintest smirk curling at the corner of his lips.
Later, during music class, Aiko sang her part for the competition. Her voice was steady, clear, but she felt a pressure—like someone was watching closer than normal.
When she finished, polite applause filled the room.
Except for Zael. He didn't clap. He only stared at her, sharp and intent.
"Um… Kurayami-kun?" the teacher asked. "Something wrong?"
Zael blinked once, his expression smoothing back into calm. "Her voice…" He paused. "It resonates."
The class giggled. Aiko wanted to sink into the floor.
That night, Aiko lay awake in her room, staring at the ceiling. She tried to tell herself it was just her imagination. He was just a weird new student. Maybe military-trained, maybe ridiculously athletic.
But deep inside, a whisper nagged her.
He's not human.
Chapter Seven – The Slip of Shadows
Saturday afternoons were supposed to be normal. Supposed to mean café stops, karaoke, and maybe too much bubble tea with friends.
But for Aiko Hoshizora, Saturday afternoon meant standing in the checkout line with a bag full of groceries… and the new, ridiculously handsome transfer student offering to carry them home.
"Kurayami-kun, you don't have to," Aiko muttered, trying not to blush as Zael easily lifted two heavy shopping bags with one hand. His grip looked effortless.
Zael tilted his head, expression calm. "They're heavy. You shouldn't strain yourself."
"Eh? Heavy?" She frowned, shifting the bag left in her hand. "They're not that—"
He glanced at her. Just a glance. And suddenly she felt her argument die in her throat. "O-okay. Maybe a little heavy."
Behind them, two elderly ladies whispered, trying (and failing) to be subtle.
"Isn't that Hoshizora Aiko-chan from down the street?"
"And that boy… my, he's tall. So polite, too. Good shoulders!"
"Her parents must be thrilled, a fine young man helping with groceries."
Aiko wanted to scream into her rice crackers. We're not dating! We're not—!
Zael said nothing. His quiet presence was worse than words.
By the time they reached her street, the sun had dipped low, shadows stretching across the pavement.
"Here," Aiko said quickly, taking the bags from him before her mother peeked out the window and started planning their wedding. "Thanks again, Kurayami-kun."
Zael inclined his head. "It was nothing."
She bowed slightly, awkwardly. He started to walk away. And that's when she saw it.
His shadow.
It stretched long behind him in the orange light… but it wasn't human.
The silhouette spread wide, dark wings unfurling across the street. A tail flicked behind him.
Aiko's breath caught.
She blinked—
And it was gone. Just a normal boy's shadow, calm and straight.
Her heart thundered in her chest. I didn't imagine that. I didn't… right?
Zael turned his head slightly, as if sensing her stare. For a second, his eyes caught the sunset—flashing crimson instead of brown.
Aiko stumbled back. "U-uh… s-see you at school!"
She darted inside before he could say a word, pressing her back against the door.
Her mother peeked from the kitchen. "Aiko? Who was that handsome boy?"
"Nobody!" she squeaked.
That night, during their group chat, her friends pounced immediately.
Mika: Ai-chan… did I just see you with Kurayami-kun? 👀
Sayuri: Suspicious.
Haruto: Whoa, is he carrying groceries for you?? Husband material.
Mika: Confess already! You'll be the cutest couple!
Sayuri: Or he's secretly an alien. Write that down.
Aiko slammed her phone face-down on the desk. "Baka-tachi (バカたち)… idiots," she muttered, face red.
But her mind wasn't on her friends' teasing. It was on that impossible shadow stretching across the pavement.
And the terrifying thought that maybe, just maybe—
Kurayami Zael wasn't who he appeared to be.
Chapter Eight – Too Fast, Too Strong
Monday morning.
The dreaded day of P.E.
"Alright class!" Coach Tanaka clapped his hands, whistle swinging on his neck like a weapon of war. "Today, we test stamina! Five laps around the track. No excuses! Run like your grades depend on it!"
The class groaned in unison.
Mika fell dramatically to the ground. "I'm already dead."
Sayuri raised her hand. "Coach, isn't it illegal to torture minors?"
Haruto looked genuinely panicked. "Five laps?? My ancestors weren't built for this!"
Aiko laughed nervously, tying her shoelaces. But her eyes drifted to Zael, who stood at the edge of the field. He wasn't complaining. He wasn't stretching. He wasn't even blinking. Just… standing.
Does he even sweat? she thought.
The whistle blew.
The class started jogging, groaning every step. Dust puffed under their sneakers.
And then there was Zael.
By the time the others had barely finished one lap, he was already on his third—running smooth, silent, like the wind itself obeyed him. His hair barely moved, his breathing steady.
"Oi, oi, oi!" Haruto gasped mid-stride. "What is he? A cheetah?!"
"Not fair," Mika whined. "He's not human. Definitely an alien."
Sayuri panted. "No. Secretly… government experiment. Super soldier. Like Captain Japan."
Meanwhile, Aiko's eyes widened. Zael wasn't just fast. He was… inhumanly fast. His feet barely touched the ground. And when the sun hit him just right, she swore she saw faint flickers of shadow trailing behind him like wings.
She bit her lip. It's happening again.
At the finish line, Zael stood calmly, arms crossed, not even a bead of sweat on his forehead. The others collapsed in piles of gasping teenagers.
Coach Tanaka squinted at his stopwatch. "…H-how…?" He checked it again, tapping the glass. "That time… that time is illegal! You—did you ride a motorcycle when I wasn't looking?!"
Zael's voice was calm, deep. "I ran."
Coach dropped his stopwatch.
The day only got stranger.
During lunch break, a stray baseball flew from the sports field straight toward Aiko's head. She barely had time to gasp.
Zael moved.
One moment, he was standing by the vending machine. The next, he was in front of her, arm outstretched. He caught the ball with one hand.
The class gasped.
Aiko's heart stopped.
Zael opened his palm. The baseball crumbled like a crushed soda can, seams splitting from the pressure of his grip.
Everyone froze.
"…H-how did he—" Haruto stammered.
"OH MY GOD, HE'S A CYBORG!" Mika yelled.
Sayuri scribbled in her notebook. "Experiment confirmed. Definitely government property."
Zael glanced at his hand, frowning faintly, then dropped the ruined ball into the trash like nothing happened. "It was poorly made," he said.
The class erupted in chaos.
Aiko could only stare.
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
She knew. She knew. That wasn't normal. No human could do that.
And yet—Zael walked away as if he hadn't just crushed a baseball like paper.
She swallowed hard, whispering under her breath.
Kurayami-kun… what are you?
Chapter Nine – Blood on the Moon
Dinner at the Hoshizora household was… chaos.
"Aiko, sit straight," her mother scolded gently as she placed miso soup on the table. "A girl must carry herself with elegance."
Her father, already halfway through his rice bowl, added, "Bah, elegance doesn't win contests. Strength does! Look at me—I once arm-wrestled three men at once and—"
"You lost," her mother reminded him.
"Details!" he barked, waving his chopsticks.
Aiko groaned, sliding lower in her seat. "Can we not argue over rice?"
From the TV in the background, a variety show host shouted, "Sugoiiii! (すごいー!Amazing!)" while comedians hit each other with plastic hammers.
Her parents broke into laughter at the same moment.
They're hopeless, Aiko thought, hiding a smile.
After dinner, she retreated to her room, humming the melody she'd been practicing for the contest. The soft strum of her guitar followed her as she sat by the window, fingers plucking notes.
That's when she saw it.
Zael. The alley. The blood.
And suddenly, the comedy of dinner felt like it belonged to another world entirely.
Chapter Ten – Music and Whispers
Morning sunlight painted the music room golden. The faint smell of chalk dust and polished wood lingered as Aiko adjusted the strap of her guitar.
"Ready, Ai-chan?" Mika grinned, adjusting her violin. "If we mess this up, I blame Haruto."
"Oi!" Haruto shouted, hugging his drums protectively. "I've been practicing!"
Sayuri smirked. "Practicing what? Napping?"
"Rude!"
The banter lifted Aiko's spirits, but her mind still wandered. She couldn't stop replaying what she'd seen last night. Did I imagine it?
The door creaked open.
Zael stepped in.
The room quieted instantly. Even Haruto stopped mid-complaint.
Zael's presence was… different. Too still. Too sharp. Yet his voice was polite as always.
"Am I late?"
"N-no, Kurayami-kun!" Mika chirped. "Just in time!"
Aiko's eyes flicked to him nervously. His uniform was neat, his hair falling over his forehead. He looked—normal. Human.
But she remembered the blood.
Rehearsal began.
Aiko strummed her guitar, the melody weaving through the room like sunlight on water. Her voice—soft, vulnerable—filled the air.
Zael stood by the wall, watching.
And for the first time, his expression faltered.
His chest rose faintly, sharply, as if her voice struck something inside him. His crimson eyes flickered—just for a second—before dimming back to brown.
Aiko's gaze caught his.
He looked away quickly.
Her fingers almost slipped on the strings. He… reacted. Why?
When practice ended, she stayed behind to pack her things.
That's when she heard it.
From the hallway, a hushed voice. Male. Low. Whispering in Japanese.
"Akuma no ō… (悪魔の王…)"
The Demon King…
Her blood ran cold.
The words were spoken with reverence. Fear.
She crept closer, pressing against the wall.
Another voice replied, shaky: "Are you sure it's him? Here, of all places?"
"Yes," the first voice murmured. "Kurayami Zael… the blood carries his mark."
Aiko's breath caught.
Demon King? Blood?
She stumbled back, her guitar case clattering against the door.
Silence.
The voices stopped.
Her heart hammered as she forced a laugh, pushing the door open. "H-ha… I dropped something, sorry!"
The hallway was empty.
But Zael stood at the far end, his gaze locked on hers.
Sharp. Unblinking. Almost… knowing.
Aiko swallowed hard, clutching her guitar strap like a lifeline.
For the first time, she realized—
Her suspicions weren't just suspicions anymore.
Chapter Eleven – School Days and Laughs
Shibuya Academy on a Monday morning was chaos wrapped in uniforms.
Students ran down the halls clutching half-finished homework, couples argued by the lockers, and someone's portable speaker was blasting J-pop until a teacher confiscated it with a loud "yamete! (やめて!Stop that!)"
Aiko walked with her three best friends—Mika, Sayuri, and Haruto—down the main hallway.
"Did you hear?" Mika whispered dramatically. "The beauty contest is adding a talent round. Ai-chan, you'll destroy them with your guitar!"
Sayuri adjusted her glasses. "Or she'll trip and smash the guitar in front of the judges."
"Sayuriiii!" Aiko groaned, smacking her friend's shoulder.
Haruto snickered. "Honestly, I'd pay to see that."
"You're all terrible," Aiko muttered, pouting.
They burst out laughing, drawing stares from other students. Even Zael, who was walking quietly down the opposite hall, glanced at them.
Mika elbowed Aiko. "Kurayami-kun looked over here again. Fufufu~ Ai-chan, your demon prince is watching."
"Shut up! He's not—" Aiko choked, cheeks burning.
Zael's eyes lingered just a second too long before he turned away.
Something about the way he moved—graceful, yet heavy, like someone carrying centuries of weight—made her shiver.
She forced herself back into the chaos of her friends' teasing. But inside, the questions grew.
Who are you really, Zael?
Chapter Twelve – The Festival of Lights
That Saturday, the city transformed.
Paper lanterns swung from poles, their warm glow scattering across Shibuya's crowded streets. Food stalls lined the sidewalks, selling takoyaki, yakisoba, candied apples, and skewers dripping with sauce. Children ran with sparklers, couples strolled in yukata, and fireworks exploded like jeweled flowers in the night sky.
Aiko adjusted the ribbon in her hair, trying not to drool at the scent of grilled squid.
"Ahhhh, matsuri! (祭り!Festival!)" Haruto shouted, already stuffing dango into his mouth. "This is heaven."
Sayuri smacked him with her fan. "You'll choke."
Mika grabbed Aiko's arm. "Come on, Ai-chan! Let's try the ring toss!"
They laughed, played games, won candy, and teased each other relentlessly. For a moment, Aiko forgot her fears.
Until she saw him.
Zael.
Standing at the edge of the festival, his dark hair catching the lantern light, his eyes scanning the crowd with unnerving calm. He wore simple clothes, but somehow, he looked like he belonged to another world entirely.
Aiko's heart leapt. Why is he here?
As the night deepened, the crowd thickened. Children squealed as fireworks burst overhead. Aiko turned to say something to Mika—
—and heard it.
A scream.
She whipped around. A man stumbled, clutching his side. Blood trickled between his fingers, glinting in the lantern light.
Her stomach dropped.
The scent hit the air. Metallic. Sharp.
Zael froze.
His pupils shrank. His jaw clenched. For the briefest moment, his shadow rippled unnaturally, wings stretching behind him like a phantom.
Aiko's breath caught.
No one else noticed—too distracted by the injured man, the chaos, the rushing voices shouting, "Kyūkyūsha! (救急車!Ambulance!)"
But Aiko saw.
Zael's fists trembled. His lips parted slightly, revealing the faintest glint of teeth—sharper than human.
He turned—eyes burning red—straight toward her.
Aiko stumbled back, her candy apple falling to the ground.
For a terrifying heartbeat, she thought he would leap into the crowd.
But then—
Zael vanished.
One blink, and he was gone.
The crowd screamed, fireworks thundered, and Aiko stood frozen, her friends tugging at her arm, shouting her name.
But she barely heard them.
Her mind repeated one thought, again and again:
He's not human.
Chapter Thirteen – Whispers in the Dark
The city didn't sleep, but Aiko couldn't rest either.
She tossed and turned in bed, the memory of Zael's burning eyes replaying behind her eyelids. She saw the lantern light, the blood, the way his shadow had stretched too far—like wings trying to burst free.
"Zael…" she whispered into the dark.
Her phone buzzed. Mika had sent a video of the festival fireworks with fifty heart emojis. Normally Aiko would smile. Now her stomach only tightened.
The night felt heavy, almost alive. And then—she heard it.
A shriek. Distant but sharp, cutting through the hum of cars and cicadas.
Aiko sat up. Her hands trembled, but her legs moved on their own. She grabbed her jacket, slipped out of the house, and crept down the street.
The alleys stretched like veins, shadowed and silent.
And then she saw it.
Zael.
His dark figure loomed in the moonlight, facing something twisted and snarling. A monster—its skin cracked like charcoal, its mouth splitting too wide, drooling black saliva.
"Yōkai…" she breathed.
Zael moved.
Fast. Too fast.
His double-ended blade sliced through the air with a metallic whisper. The demon lunged, claws flashing, but Zael spun with inhuman grace, the blade severing its arm before it even landed.
Blood hissed into smoke. The creature shrieked.
Zael's wings unfurled—massive, black, like a fallen god's. For a moment, the sheer force of them knocked trash cans down the alley. His tail coiled, ready to strike.
Aiko's knees buckled. She gripped the wall, terrified. Yet her eyes wouldn't look away.
Zael wasn't just fighting. He was toying with it. Every move was cruel, deliberate, beautiful in its deadliness.
When the monster collapsed, Zael plunged his blade through its chest. Black fire consumed the corpse, leaving only ash.
He stood over it, shoulders rising and falling. Then, slowly, he turned.
Straight toward her.
Aiko gasped and ducked. Her pulse pounded so hard it made her ears ring.
Silence.
When she dared to peek, the alley was empty. Only the ash remained, floating like gray snow.
Her legs gave out. She sank to the ground, whispering shakily:
"He's… not human…"
Chapter Fourteen – A Heart That Trembles
Morning came, but Aiko barely noticed.
Her friends chattered about the beauty contest, about which boy liked which girl, about how Haruto ate too many yakisoba skewers at the festival.
"Ai-chan?" Mika waved a hand in front of her face. "Hellooo? Earth to Aiko."
"Eh? Ah! S-sorry!" Aiko laughed awkwardly, nearly knocking her chopsticks across the cafeteria table.
Sayuri narrowed her eyes. "You've been spacing out a lot. Don't tell me… you're in love."
"Wh-what?!" Aiko slammed her hands on the table, drawing stares. "I-I am NOT—!"
Haruto snorted into his drink. "Right. Totally not. Except you blush every time Kurayami walks by."
"Shut up!!" Aiko whined, hiding her face.
As if summoned, Zael passed their table, tray in hand. His gaze flicked to Aiko, soft and unreadable. For one terrifying second, she remembered the wings, the sword, the glowing eyes.
And yet… when he gave the smallest hint of a smile, her heart flipped.
After lunch, she found herself walking beside him in the hall.
"So…" she began, clutching her books too tightly, "do you… ever notice weird things around here?"
Zael tilted his head slightly. "Weird things?"
"Y-you know… noises… um… shadows… monsters maybe?"
Zael stopped walking. His dark eyes met hers, sharp and deep. For a moment, Aiko thought she saw red flicker in them.
Then he chuckled softly, the sound warm and dangerous all at once.
"You watch too many horror movies, Aiko."
Her name in his mouth made her cheeks burn.
Before she could answer, the bell rang, and he turned away, leaving her clutching her chest like an idiot.
Why am I like this?! He's terrifying… but…
Chapter Fifteen – The First Oath
The night was quiet. Too quiet.
Aiko walked home from cram school, hugging her bag. Her friends had taken the train, but she lived close enough to walk.
Halfway through the alley shortcut, the hairs on her neck rose.
She wasn't alone.
A figure slithered from the shadows, its body twisted, its grin too wide. Another demon. Its tongue lashed the air like a whip.
Aiko stumbled back. "N-no…"
The thing lunged.
But before it could touch her—steel flashed.
Zael.
His double-bladed sword cut the creature's tongue in one swing. His wings unfurled with a violent rush of air, knocking Aiko to the ground.
The demon shrieked, but Zael only smirked—feral, merciless. He slashed again, tail whipping like a serpent. His movements were too fast, too graceful, too monstrous.
Aiko covered her mouth, trembling. This wasn't the quiet boy in her class. This was something ancient. Something deadly.
The fight ended with a single brutal strike. The demon fell, burning into ash.
Zael turned, his eyes blazing crimson. His chest heaved, breath heavy, his fangs glinting in the moonlight.
For a moment, Aiko thought he might kill her too.
But then—he lowered his blade.
His voice was soft. Almost… gentle.
"Boku wa kimi o korosanai. (僕は君を殺さない.) I will not kill you."
Her lips parted, words lost in her throat.
Zael looked at her one last time, wings folding against his back. Then he vanished into the shadows.
Aiko sat frozen in the dirt, tears stinging her eyes. Her heart screamed in confusion—fear, awe, and something far more dangerous.
Love.
Chapter Sixteen – The Distance Between Us
Aiko hadn't slept in two nights.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him.
Zael's wings stretching against the moonlight. His crimson eyes. The sword that gleamed like a nightmare and a dream at once.
"Ughhh, Aiko, stop thinking about it!" she groaned, burying her face into her pillow. "You're not in love with a… with a monster! Right?"
The alarm clock screamed at her. She screamed back.
By the time she dragged herself to school, her friends were already gossiping in the courtyard.
"Ai-chan!" Mika waved frantically. "Guess what, guess what? Haruto totally tripped in P.E. and ripped his pants!"
"Oi! Don't tell her that!" Haruto yelled, turning red.
Aiko laughed, a little too loudly. "Hahaha—w-whoa, that's… tragic."
Sayuri squinted at her. "You've been weird lately."
"I'm always weird," Aiko shot back.
But she froze when she spotted Zael walking across the courtyard. Quiet as always, his books tucked under his arm, his presence colder than the autumn wind.
Her heart leapt into her throat.
Don't look, don't look, don't—
He looked.
Just for a second. Their eyes met. His expression unreadable, distant. Then he turned away.
Aiko clutched her bag so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Her friends stared at her.
"You liiiiike him," Mika sang.
"NO I DON'T!" Aiko squeaked, tripping over her own shoelaces.
The entire class burst out laughing. Even Haruto smirked.
"B-baka…" she muttered, hiding her face.
Chapter Seventeen – Fang and Heartbeat
That night, Aiko followed him.
She knew it was stupid. Her brain screamed, Bad idea! Dangerous! But her feet ignored it, tiptoeing behind Zael as he slipped into the alleyways after school.
"Just… a peek," she whispered, crouching behind a vending machine. "If he's… you know… totally normal, then I'll stop thinking crazy stuff…"
Her plan lasted exactly thirty seconds.
Because Zael stopped in an abandoned lot. Two shadows crawled from the darkness—hideous demons, their skin molten, their eyes glowing with hunger.
"Human scent…" one hissed.
Zael smirked. His voice was low, dangerous. "Kono yo wa ore no ryōchi da. (この世は俺の領地だ.) This world is my territory."
The monsters lunged.
Zael's wings burst out, slashing the air with black feathers. His double-bladed sword spun like fire, slicing the first demon's arm clean off. He moved with impossible speed, vanishing and reappearing in blurs of shadow.
Aiko's jaw dropped. "Holy—he's—he's like an anime character!!"
The second demon slammed Zael against the wall. For the first time, he staggered. Blood dripped from his shoulder.
Without thinking, Aiko ran. "ZAEL!"
He snapped his head toward her, eyes blazing red. "Aiko?! Baka!! Get back—"
Too late. The demon swiped at her.
Zael roared, moving faster than her eyes could follow. His sword tore the demon apart in a storm of black fire. The creature dissolved into ash.
He collapsed to one knee, clutching his bleeding arm.
Aiko fell beside him, panic flooding her chest. "Y-your arm! You're hurt!"
"It's… nothing," Zael growled.
She grabbed her handkerchief and pressed it against the wound. "Idiot! You saved me, now let me save you!"
His breath hitched. Their eyes met, closer than ever.
Aiko's cheeks burned. Her heart pounded like a drum.
Zael froze too, staring at her as if she were the strangest creature he had ever seen.
Chapter Eighteen – A Dangerous Promise
The night was quiet again. The ash of the slain demon drifted away like gray snow.
Zael stood, pulling away from her trembling hands. His sword lowered, his wings folding against his back.
He looked at her with something between anger and sorrow.
"Aiko… you shouldn't be here. Ore wa akuma da. (俺は悪魔だ.) I am a demon."
The words hit her like a blade.
Her lips trembled. She should scream, should run. But instead—she whispered:
"Soredemo… watashi wa anata o shinjitai. (それでも…私はあなたを信じたい.) Even so… I want to believe in you."
Zael's eyes widened. For the first time, his cold mask cracked.
He turned his face away, fangs glinting in the moonlight. "You're a fool."
"I get told that a lot," Aiko muttered, hugging her bag to her chest.
Silence. Only the faint sound of crickets, and the heavy beating of her heart.
Finally, Zael spoke again, low and dangerous.
"If you stay near me, you'll suffer. The hunters will come. The other demons will come. And one day…" His claws curled tight. "…I might not be able to stop myself."
Aiko swallowed hard. Then she smiled—shaky, but stubborn.
"Then I'll just have to keep reminding you. That you're not only a demon. You're Zael. You're… you."
For a moment, he stared at her as if she had spoken in another language.
Then, with a sharp turn, he vanished into the shadows, leaving her heart racing and her knees weak.
But she knew one thing now.
The distance between them was shrinking.
And that was more terrifying—and more wonderful—than anything else in the world.
Chapter Nineteen – Whispers of Hunters
Aiko yawned, clutching her bento box as she shuffled toward class. She hadn't stopped thinking about that night—Zael's blood, his words, his warning.
Her friends noticed immediately.
"Another late night?" Sayuri teased. "Are you watching too much K-drama again?"
"I-it's research!" Aiko blurted.
"Research for what? How to look like a zombie?" Mika poked her cheek.
Before Aiko could argue, the classroom door slid open. A group of unfamiliar students walked in—transfer students, according to the teacher. They were tall, sharp-eyed, and strangely intimidating.
The tallest bowed. "Hajimemashite. We are honored to join your class."
Aiko's stomach twisted. She couldn't explain why, but their presence felt… dangerous.
Later, during break, she overheard one whispering in the hallway.
"Akuma no ō wa kono machi ni iru. (悪魔の王はこの町にいる.) The Demon King is in this city."
Her chopsticks clattered onto her desk.
Chapter Twenty – Rival Demon Appears
The night air was heavy, humid. Aiko followed the sound of wings again, heart hammering.
Zael stood on a rooftop, his gaze sharp.
"You shouldn't be here," he said without looking.
"Y-you always say that, and yet I keep ending up here," Aiko muttered.
Before he could reply, a mocking laugh cut through the darkness.
From the opposite rooftop, a tall figure appeared—black feathers trailing like smoke, his smile cruel.
"Kurobane…" Zael hissed.
"Still hiding among humans, Zael?" the demon sneered. "How pathetic. Hand over this city, or I'll paint its streets in blood."
Aiko's knees shook. The pressure of Kurobane's aura alone nearly suffocated her.
Zael's sword shimmered into his hands. "Over my dead body."
The rooftop cracked beneath them as they clashed—steel on steel, wing against wing. Sparks lit up the night.
Chapter Twenty-One – The First Kiss, The First Blood
Zael staggered, blood dripping from a slash across his chest.
"ZAEL!" Aiko cried, rushing toward him before she could think.
"Idiot, stay back!"
But she was already there, pressing his shoulder, her hands trembling. "You're bleeding too much—"
Kurobane lunged for her.
Zael roared, unleashing a burst of shadow that hurled the demon back. His body shook, his fangs glinting, eyes burning red.
Aiko looked at him, terrified… and yet, her hand refused to let go.
"Why… why do you keep saving me?" she whispered.
Zael's breath came ragged. His lips parted—then before he could stop himself, he pulled her close.
Their lips brushed—just a moment, fleeting and desperate.
Aiko's eyes widened. Her cheeks flamed. Her heart nearly exploded.
Zael froze, realizing what he had done. He pulled back instantly, his face hard.
"You're making me weak," he growled.
But Aiko's trembling smile said everything.
For the first time, she knew her feelings weren't just suspicion. They were love.
And that terrified her more than any demon.
Chapter Twenty-Two – Hunters Close In
The hunters had begun their sweep. Dressed like ordinary transfer students by day, they prowled the streets at night.
Aiko didn't know which was scarier: Kurobane's cruel smirk… or the hunters' cold, calculating eyes.
At school, one almost caught Zael after class.
"Yare yare… you're skipping kendo practice again?" the hunter asked casually, blocking Zael's path. His hand brushed the hilt of a concealed blade.
Aiko panicked, bumping into them with her lunch tray. "A-Ah! Sumimasen! (Sorry!)"
Rice spilled everywhere. The hunter glared, annoyed, while Zael slipped away in the confusion.
Later, Aiko's friends cornered her.
Sayuri: "Aiko… are you dating someone?!"
Mika: "Yeah! You've been sneaking around at night. Spill it!"
Aiko: (flustered) "W-Wha—No! I'm just… studying… for… science class?"
Sayuri: "At midnight? With lipstick marks?!"
Aiko: "That's jam!!"
Chapter Twenty-Three – Festival of Fire
Lanterns floated into the sky, their warm glow painting the city golden.
The festival was one of Aiko's favorite times of year—music, food stalls, friends laughing. Yet her heart ached with worry.
To her shock, Zael appeared in the crowd, dressed simply, blending in. For once, he didn't look like a warlord—just a quiet boy watching the lanterns.
"You came…" Aiko whispered.
Zael glanced at her, eyes softer than usual. "I wanted to see… the light."
For a brief, stolen moment, they walked side by side. Aiko laughed at his awkward attempts with festival food (he bit the stick of candied apple instead of the apple).
But just as she felt peace…
The air cracked. A scream pierced the night.
Kurobane descended, his wings spreading wide, crushing lanterns mid-flight. Flames burst as stalls collapsed.
"ZAEL!" Aiko cried.
The crowd scattered in terror, lanterns falling like burning tears.
Chapter Twenty-Four – Wings in the Flames
The square became a battlefield. Citizens fled, shrieking as fire spread. Hunters scrambled, unsure whether to attack Kurobane—or Zael.
Zael's black eagle wings unfurled, his double-bladed sword gleaming under the burning lanterns.
"You dare attack here?" Zael growled.
Kurobane laughed, his feathers like knives cutting through the air. "This is the perfect stage for your funeral!"
Steel clashed. Shadows and flames danced wildly.
Aiko screamed as a falling beam nearly crushed her—but Zael dove, shielding her with his wings. Smoke and heat choked the air.
In that fiery chaos, she clung to him, eyes wide. "You'll die if you keep fighting like this—"
Zael smirked, blood running down his cheek. "Then watch closely, Aiko. This is who I am."
With one mighty sweep, his blade split the flames, creating a path of shadow and light.
The city would never forget that night.
Chapter Twenty-Five – Web of Blades
The hunters closed their net.
They disguised themselves as normal students, some even charming Aiko's friends. One in particular, Hayato, smiled too warmly, his hand never far from the hilt of his hidden blade.
Zael knew. He could smell the steel, the intent. But to strike first would expose himself to Aiko.
One evening, while Aiko walked home, she noticed three men trailing her. A flicker in the shadows, a glint of knives—hunters.
Before she could scream, Zael appeared, silent as a storm. His blade intercepted theirs, sparks flying in the night.
"A child walking home," Zael growled, eyes flashing. "And this is your hunt?"
The hunters sneered. "You've grown soft, Warlord."
Aiko froze. Warlord?
Chapter Twenty-Six – The Blood of Kings
Zael fought savagely, wings beating the air. His blade spun, severing steel like paper. Yet he did not kill. Not in front of Aiko.
But their words pierced her heart:
"Once you ruled us in fire and shadow."
"Now you hide as a boy. Pathetic."
Zael's silence was heavier than any roar.
After the hunters fled, Zael's shoulders trembled. For the first time, Aiko saw not just the demon—but the weight of his past.
She whispered: "Zael… who are you really?"
His back turned, voice low:
"Ore wa akuma no ō da. (俺は悪魔の王だ.) I am the Demon King."
Chapter Twenty-Seven – Broken Masks
The truth sat between them like a blade.
At school, Aiko could barely look at him without her heart racing—fear and affection tangled in knots. Her friends teased her endlessly, oblivious.
At night, she replayed his words. Demon King. Warlord. Killer.
Yet she also remembered his wings shielding her, his quiet voice at the festival, his rare smile when she laughed.
Citizens whispered louder now: "The monster is real." Online blogs spread photos of shadows in the fire.
The city was preparing for war… and Aiko was caught between her world and his.
Family Expansion
The Takahashi household was lively in its own way. Aiko's mother, Keiko, was a graceful woman obsessed with fashion magazines, while her father, Daichi, was an old-school martial arts instructor who tried (and failed) to act like a strict samurai at home.
One morning at breakfast:
Keiko: "Aiko-chan, eat more salmon or your skin will lose its glow."
Aiko: "Kaa-san! (Mom!) I'm going to be late!"
Daichi: (slams table) "No daughter of mine will skip breakfast! A samurai faces the day with a full stomach!"
Aiko: "I'm not a samurai! I'm just late!!"
She dashed out with toast in her mouth like an anime heroine. Keiko sighed, turning to Daichi.
Keiko: "You know… she's acting strange lately."
Daichi: (serious) "Boys."
Keiko: (serious too) "Definitely boys."
Meanwhile, Aiko's younger cousin Riku, a mischievous gamer, kept teasing her during family dinners.
Riku: "Nee-chan, I saw you with a tall guy near the festival. Your boyfriend?"
Aiko: (nearly spits miso soup) "H-He's just… a friend!!"
Riku: "Sure. A friend with wings?"
Daichi: (choking on rice) "WHAT DID HE SAY?!"
Aiko storms out, face red. Her family laughter follows her down the hall. She both loves them and fears the day they discover the truth.
Chapter Twenty-Eight – The Gathering Storm
Tokyo whispered with fear.
Lanterns still burned from the festival's scars, but now hunters stalked openly, some posing as police, others hiding in alleys. And darker still—rival demons prowled the city, drawn to Zael's power.
Aiko sensed the tension. At school, whispers followed her:
"She's always near that transfer student…"
"Creepy."
"Maybe they're both cursed."
She tried to ignore it, but one evening, as she walked home, a shadow unfurled across the pavement.
A massive demon emerged, scales glistening like oil, eyes red. Not a man in disguise—this was no half-hidden predator. It was war walking.
Zael appeared silently, sword gleaming. His voice was cold:
"Step back, Aiko."
The fight was brutal, Zael moving faster than human eyes could follow. Steel against claws, wings tearing through smoke. Aiko could only clutch her chest, trembling.
When the monster finally fell, Zael turned. His eyes glowed, not soft this time, but pure, ancient hunger. For a heartbeat, she feared him too.
Chapter Twenty-Nine – The Hunter's Net
The hunters struck at dawn.
Aiko woke to police sirens outside, only to realize they weren't police at all. Black-coated figures moved with perfect precision, surrounding her neighborhood.
Keiko peeked through the curtains. "Strange… the police don't usually carry swords…"
Before Aiko could react, a figure landed on her balcony—Zael, bleeding, wings half-spread.
"Aiko," he rasped, "come with me."
Her parents burst in, horrified.
Daichi: "WHAT IS THIS?!"
Keiko: "He has WINGS!"
Aiko: "M-Mom, Dad, wait—!!"
But Zael couldn't stay. Hunters stormed the street, arrows tipped with sacred steel. He smashed the window, pulling Aiko into his arms.
The last thing she heard before they vanished into the sky was her father's roar:
"AIKO!!"
Chapter Thirty – The Demon King's Truth
Hidden in an abandoned shrine outside the city, Zael finally stopped. His body was a map of wounds, yet his gaze was steady.
Aiko, breathless, demanded: "Tell me everything. No more secrets."
Zael was silent, then drew his double-bladed sword and drove it into the ground. Shadows rippled outward.
"You see me as a boy," he said, "but once I was the scourge of this world. Zael, the Black Warlord. Armies burned in my name. Cities drowned in shadow."
His wings spread fully now, magnificent and terrible.
"I thought the age of demons was finished. I thought I could… fade into this human world. But they will never stop hunting me. Or anyone near me."
Aiko trembled, torn between terror and the ache in her chest.
She whispered: "Then why protect me? Why not let me go?"
Zael's lips curled into something between a smile and a wound.
"Because, Aiko… you are the first light I've seen in centuries. And even a demon king can be greedy for light."
Aiko's heart broke and healed in the same breath. She finally knew: loving him meant risking everything.