"My name is Izumi Yuu. I hope we get along."
Why do people always have to say that? Wouldn't it be way more interesting to say "I hope we end up hating each other"? At least that'd be original. Yuu grumbled inwardly.
The entire class watched him with curiosity as he gave a slight bow. A few girls sighed at his appearance, while some of the boys frowned. The standard transfer student routine was complete.
Honestly, if we counted how many times this scene has played out throughout human history, we'd probably hit astronomical numbers.
"You can take the seat by the window, Izumi-kun," said the teacher, pointing toward the empty desk.
'Oh, the seat by the window. Am I the protagonist of some school story now?' Yuu walked over to his spot calmly. Some things never changed. These kinds of clichés somehow remained entertaining.
During the break, as if they'd been holding their breath, a group of girls immediately surrounded him.
"Izumi-kun! Where are you from?"
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"What kind of girls do you like?"
'Ah. Next they'll ask about my blood type. Guaranteed.'
"What's your blood type?"
Called it.
"Actually, I come from really far away. So far, you wouldn't believe it. A girlfriend? No, I'm single for now. Although..." He brought a finger to his lips thoughtfully. "I like girls who are interesting. The ones with that special personality that makes them stand out."
A yandere. He wondered if the girls in front of him would freak out if he said that out loud.
Yuu answered each question with a kind smile, though his eyes kept drifting toward the door. He could feel a sharp gaze coming from that direction, but whenever he looked, there was no one there.
"Sorry, ladies," he said, rising with graceful ease. "But my stomach's been growling. It's been quite a while since my last meal."
A few hundred years, to be exact.
In the cafeteria, Yuu eyed the food with curiosity. Would his tongue still remember the taste of human cuisine? Or had millennia of existence dulled his taste buds?
He picked a wide variety of dishes, ignoring the surprised stares at the sheer amount of food.
With his tray stacked full, he made his way up to the rooftop. The wind tousled his hair as he gazed at the endlessly stretching blue sky.
For a moment, he considered flying up and lying on top of one of those giant white clouds.
He kicked that thought aside.
"The sky's different in every world," he murmured to himself, biting into a melon bread. His eyes lit up. "I can taste it! Fantastic!"
If he had lost his sense of taste, now he would've been a truly tragic existence.
That's when the door opened quietly. A small figure slipped through like a shadow and sat down beside him without a word. Snow-white hair, expressionless face, and a toriyaki skewer in her hands.
'Huh?'
The girl ate in silence, not even glancing his way, as if he didn't exist. Yuu watched her with interest. He could say with certainty that the presence he'd felt earlier at the classroom door belonged to this girl. The presence of a non-human person.
After several minutes of silence, he finally took another bite of food. Then, with his mouth still full, he said:
"Normally, people introduce themselves before invading someone's personal space."
The girl kept eating, unfazed.
"So… you should introduce yourself." After what felt like five, maybe ten seconds, the white-haired girl finally responded, staring at him with those amber eyes. "This is my space…"
Yuu blinked. Technically speaking, if she used this spot regularly for lunch, he was the one invading here. The logic was flawless.
"Ah, my apologies then. I'm Izumi Yuu, transfer student and apparent invader of private lunch zones," he said with an easygoing smile, making no move to leave. "Mind if I share your space today? The view's spectacular."
The girl chewed another bite of her toriyaki before replying: "Koneko."
A girl of few words. Huh? Koneko?
Yuu raised an eyebrow. The name echoed through the depths of his memory. Koneko… Koneko… Ah, right. That character.
It was fascinating how, even after experiencing countless eons of existence, certain details still stuck in his memory.
"Koneko," he repeated. "Nice to meet you. Do you eat here every day?"
The only response was a small nod as she focused on her food.
Yuu watched her for a moment, noting how her eyes kept glancing toward his tray. A mischievous smile crept onto his face, and he sprang to his feet.
"Hey, want to see something interesting?"
"!!!" Koneko looked at him warily, subtly pulling her toriyaki skewer closer as if she feared he was about to steal it.
'I wasn't going to steal it, girl...'
Rolling his eyes, Yuu pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket with a fluid motion. He spread it over his open palm. Koneko paused her chewing to watch.
With an elegant flick of his wrist, the handkerchief vanished, transformed into a white dove, and flew freely through the air. In its place, a lacquered box appeared in his hand. The lid clicked open with a soft sound, releasing an aroma that made Koneko's pupils dilate instantly.
"So? What did you think of my magic trick?"
Creating something from nothing—now that was a pretty handy trick.
Gulp!
The petite nekomata swallowed hard, her eyes locked on the box. Her mouth hung open, and the toriyaki in her hand slipped from her fingers, landing on her lap.
For someone with heightened senses like hers, the smell of a perfect meal had to be pure torture.
Inside the box, neatly arranged, was a selection of snacks that looked like they were glowing: glazed toriyaki, sushi, steaming hot takoyaki, and a variety of other mouthwatering treats.
Koneko instinctively reached out, seemingly hypnotized by the aroma—but stopped halfway. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she pulled her hand back.
"Go ahead," Yuu said with a gentle smile, offering the box to her. "Magicians always need an audience that appreciates their tricks."
Koneko hesitated a moment longer before murmuring,
"…Thanks," and accepted the box with an almost reverent gesture.
She picked up one of the snacks and took a tentative bite. The moment the flavor touched her tongue, her eyes went wide. Her cheeks puffed up as she chewed quickly, looking like a squirrel devouring a nut.
"You like it?"
Yuu watched with amusement as the snacks disappeared one by one.
"Um…" Koneko gave a tiny nod, her cheeks still full like a hamster's.
The bell rang, cutting off whatever Yuu was about to say. Koneko glanced at the box, still containing a few remaining snacks, with a sad look in her eyes.
"You can keep it," Yuu said as he stood up, brushing off the crumbs. "See you tomorrow, yeah?"
Another silent nod was her reply.
×××
Koneko waited until Yuu had disappeared down the stairs before taking a different route. Her steps carried her toward the old school building, where the Occult Research Club had its base.
The scent of the snacks still lingered in her nose, mixing with that strange scent she'd picked up from Yuu. She tilted her head, puzzled.
Inside the clubroom, Rias Gremory looked up from her desk. Her crimson hair shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the gothic windows.
"Koneko, what did you find out about the transfer student?"
"He's supernatural," she answered flatly as she sat down on one of the couches. Her fingers stroked the snack box—she really wanted to pull it out and keep eating. But she also wanted to treasure it.
"Were you able to identify his race?"
"No…"
"Ara, has my cute rook finally found something even her nose can't classify?"
Rias leaned forward with a curious smile.
Before becoming a Reincarnated Devil, Koneko had been a nekomata. A type of Youkai, cat-like in nature. And as such, she had the sharpest senses in the group.
She could tell the scent of a fallen angel pretending to be human from miles away. Vampires, devils, angels, even other yokai like herself—every race had a distinct smell.
But this time, the boy didn't fit into any known category.
"Can you describe his scent?"
"His scent…" She paused for a moment, trying to recall. "It was like being in an ancient forest…"
That was the best comparison she could come up with.
"Do you feel threatened by him?" Rias voiced her concern for her precious rook.
Koneko shook her head. "No… I felt calm and at peace around him. Like being home."
That last part even surprised her.
And maybe that was the most unsettling thing of all. Because in her experience, things that seemed too good to be, usually were.
"I see…" Rias rested her elbows on the desk, eyes narrowing.
"Koneko, I want you to keep observing him. Get closer. Become friends with him, if possible."
"…Friends? Why?"
She felt uncertain. What if that boy tried to tame her with delicious snacks? Could she resist?
Definitely! She nodded several times. She would totally resist!
Rias's eyes gleamed, and the corners of her lips lifted. "Because someone with such a peculiar scent and a presence that can slip past even your senses… is someone I want to understand better. For now, we don't know if he's a friend—or a potential threat. I need more information before I decide."
Koneko fell silent for a moment, then tilted her head slightly. "Are you planning to recruit him?"
"That depends. If he has abilities that complement the team and fit what I'm looking for—yes. But first, I need to know exactly what he is."
"…And if he doesn't fit what you're looking for?"
"Then at least I'll know what to do if he becomes a problem. I'd rather not act in the dark."
After a second or two, Koneko stopped stroking the snack box and looked up at her master. "I'll get closer to him."
Rias gave her a warm expression. "Thank you, Koneko. If he tries anything against you, let me know—and I'll handle it."
The white-haired girl nodded once more before rising from the couch. Without another word, she walked toward the door.
When it closed behind her, Rias leaned forward again, her gaze fixed on the courtyard outside the gothic window.
"A scent like an ancient forest…"
Hours later, a vibrant red magic circle flared to life on the floor. Its light filled the room, and a melodic voice echoed within.
"Buchou, we lost track of Izumi Yuu. He just… vanished."
She set the papers aside and looked earnestly.
"…Tell me everything, Akeno."
×××
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