The sun had just appeared on the eastern horizon when Tobio opened his eyes.
Not because of an alarm. Not because of a sound.
But because this body—somehow—knew that today was different.
First day of school.
He lay still for a few moments, staring at the wooden ceiling with the crack in the left corner. That crack was like an old friend—greeting him every morning, reminding him that he was still here. Still in Hanyu village. Still in the DxD world.
But today, something was different.
Today, he would meet new people.
Teachers. Classmates.
People who knew Tobio, who might see that Tobio was not the same as before.
He sighed.
Got up. Straightened the futon. A habit.
Beside him, the goldfish in its small aquarium swam slowly. The fish had gotten used to Tobio's routine—every morning, Tobio gave it a little food. A small, calming ritual.
Tobio fed the fish. Then walked to the window.
Opened the curtain.
The morning air of Hanyu village was fresh. Thin mist still shrouded the rice fields in the distance. Birds fluttered about, greeting the sun. Some farmers had already started their activities—their shadows moving slowly among the yellowing rice.
A beautiful day.
Hopefully today will also be beautiful.
Tobio took a warm bath.
Water flowed over this small body—Tobio's body, which he had inhabited for... how many weeks? He forgot. Time in the village flowed differently. Slower. Calmer.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
A twelve-year-old face. Gray eyes. Neat black hair. Nothing special.
But inside... Haruto.
The minister's son who died at the hands of terrorists.
Who chose to die.
And now living again.
In this world, with this power.
He stared at his own eyes in the mirror. 'Can I survive? Can I pretend to be Tobio?'
'Or will they see the difference?'
He didn't know. But he had to try.
The aroma of miso and grilled fish had been wafting from the kitchen since he was in his room.
Tobio walked to the living room. Grandma Ageha was placing bowls on the table. Her movements were slow but steady—the same rhythm every morning.
Today, there was something different on the table.
Beside Tobio's plate, a shoebox. New. The store label still on it.
"Morning, Tobio." Ageha smiled. "Sit down. Eat breakfast first."
Tobio sat down. Pointed at the box. "What's this, Grandma?"
"Just open it."
Tobio opened the box.
Inside—new school shoes. Shiny black. The standard model for Hanyu Elementary.
Ageha smiled widely. "Your old shoes were too small. Grandma bought new ones last week."
Tobio held the shoes. Still had that new smell. The leather was still stiff.
"This..." He looked at Ageha. "Thanks, Grandma."
"Of course." She stroked his head. "The first day of school should be special."
Tobio smiled faintly.
Special.
For Grandma, every day with him was special.
Something he didn't have in the old world.
They ate together.
Miso soup, rice, grilled mackerel, tamagoyaki, pickles. The same menu every morning. But Tobio wasn't bored. There was comfort in routine.
Ageha put down her chopsticks. "Are you ready?"
Tobio nodded. "Homework is all done. Books are in the bag."
"That's not it." Ageha looked at him gently. "What Grandma means is... are you ready? Mentally?"
Tobio was silent for a moment.
'Am I ready to meet people who knew Tobio?'
'Am I ready to pretend to be a child?'
'Am I ready to live a normal life in the middle of a world that is not normal?'
"Yes, Grandma. I'm ready."
Ageha looked at him for a long time. Searching for something in his eyes.
Finally, she nodded. "Good. Grandma trusts you."
Tobio put on his school uniform.
Short-sleeved white shirt. Gray shorts—the typical Japanese elementary school style. A white school cap with the Hanyu Elementary logo on the front.
He looked in the mirror. This was him now.
Tobio Ikuse. 6th grade elementary student.
Not Haruto. Not a minister's son.
Just an ordinary village child.
But beneath this uniform, there was a power that could change outcomes. There was a secret he couldn't tell anyone.
He touched the bracelet on his wrist. Black stone with silver veins—still intact.
A protector.
He took a breath. Opened the bedroom door.
Ageha was already waiting in the living room. She smiled when she saw Tobio.
"Handsome." She stroked Tobio's head. "Come on, Grandma will walk you."
They walked together.
The path between the rice fields. A bright morning. Birds singing. Some farmers greeted them—"Oh, Ageha-san! Taking Tobio-chan to school?"—and Ageha replied warmly.
Tobio walked beside his grandmother. Blue backpack on his back. New shoes on his feet—still a little stiff, but comfortable.
From a distance, he could already see the school building.
Hanyu Elementary.
A two-story wooden building, white paint peeling in some places. Red tile roof. A large yard with cherry blossom trees at the edge—not the blooming season now, but the leaves were lush green.
In the yard, some children had already gathered. They were running, laughing, playing tag before the bell.
Their voices could be heard from here—cheerful laughter that Tobio had never experienced as Haruto.
This was an ordinary school.
Not an elite school with guards on every corner.
Not a school where everyone knew who your father was.
Just... school.
Ageha stopped at the gate.
"Grandma will only walk you this far." She bent down, straightened Tobio's collar. "Can you manage?"
Tobio nodded. "I can, Grandma."
Ageha smiled. Then suddenly, she hugged him.
Warm.
Tobio was surprised—but didn't pull away.
"Be careful at school," Ageha whispered. "If there's any problem, tell Grandma, okay?"
Tobio nodded in her embrace.
"Yes, Grandma."
Ageha released the hug. Her eyes were slightly wet—but she quickly wiped them.
"Now, go in. Don't be late."
Tobio smiled. Waved. Then walked into the schoolyard.
Tobio walked through the gate.
The schoolyard was spacious. In the center, a flagpole with the Japanese flag fluttering slowly. On the left, the ceremonial ground—hard-packed earth where children lined up every Monday morning. On the right, some park benches under the cherry blossom trees.
Children ran around him.
Tobio observed.
Patterns.
All the children moved in groups. Groups of boys—playing tag. Groups of girls—sitting on benches, chatting while playing with their phones. Some children reading books in the corner. Some just sitting alone, waiting for the bell.
This was the same pattern at any school. Even at the elite school where Haruto used to attend, the pattern was the same. The only difference—there, all the children had drivers and guards. Here, they came alone, or were dropped off by parents on bicycles.
Tobio looked for a place to sit.
On a park bench near the cherry blossom tree, there was an empty spot. He sat down. Placed his bag beside him.
Waiting.
"Tobio!" A squeaky voice from a distance.
Tobio turned.
Sae ran towards him. White and blue uniform—same as his. Short brown hair flowing, a white ribbon on the side. Pink backpack on her back. Her face was beaming.
She stopped in front of Tobio, slightly out of breath.
"You're early for once!" Sae laughed. "Usually I'm the one waiting for you."
Tobio smiled. "Grandma walked me here."
Sae sat beside him. "Oh, I see." She took out her water bottle from her bag. "Did you have breakfast?"
"Yes."
"Good." Sae drank. Then looked at Tobio. "Are you... nervous?"
Tobio blinked. "What?"
"Nervous. First day of school." Sae smiled. "You're usually super calm, but today you've been quiet."
Tobio was silent for a moment. She noticed.
Close friends are like that.
They see the little things.
"I'm just... thinking." Tobio chose his words. "About the new class. New teacher."
Sae nodded. "Oh, right. I wonder who our homeroom teacher will be this year? Don't know yet."
"We're in the same class?"
"Yes!" Sae was excited. "We've been in the same class since first grade. I asked the teacher last year to keep us together."
Tobio smiled.
A true friend, from first grade to sixth grade.
Together all along, and the old Tobio must have been happy too.
Because Sae is Sae.
A friend who wouldn't leave him.
Ding-dong...
The sound of the school bell echoed across the yard.
The children who were running immediately stopped. Those sitting on benches immediately stood. Everyone began moving towards the entrance.
Sae grabbed Tobio's arm. "Come on! Hurry!"
They walked together into the school building.
---
6th Grade Class, Hanyu Elementary.
A simple classroom. Green blackboard at the front. Wooden desks lined up in three rows. On each desk, the student's name was taped on the corner. Large windows on the left side—a view of rice fields and hills. A ceiling fan turned slowly.
Sae sat at a desk near the window—second row from the front. Tobio saw the desk next to hers had the name "Ikuse".
Next to each other.
Since first grade.
Sae patted the desk beside her. "Sit here!"
Tobio sat down. Put down his bag.
Not all the students had entered yet. Many were still coming in late—a village child habit.
Sae was already engrossed in conversation with two girls in front. Tobio wasn't listening—he was busy observing.
In the back row, a group of boys were gathered. They were laughing, probably talking about their vacations.
One of them—a chubby boy with a crew cut—pointed towards Tobio. Whispered to his friend.
Tobio caught it.
They were talking about him. Or... talking about Tobio.
The chubby boy stood up. Walked towards Tobio.
Sae stopped talking. Her eyes widened—like she knew something was about to happen.
The boy stopped in front of Tobio's desk.
"Hey, Tobio." His voice was loud. "I heard you fell from a tree during vacation."
Tobio looked at him. Didn't answer.
The boy smiled—not a friendly smile. "Really fell? Or did you do it on purpose so you wouldn't have to join the swimming competition?"
Some kids behind him laughed.
Sae stood up. "Hey, Kenji! Don't mess with him!"
The chubby boy—Kenji—ignored Sae. He was still staring at Tobio. "Why so quiet? Scared?"
Tobio observed him.
This kid—Kenji—probably liked to bully.
Probably had bullied Tobio before.
Maybe the old Tobio always stayed silent.
But I'm not the old Tobio.
Or... maybe he should act like the old Tobio.
No need to attract attention.
He chose to stay silent.
Kenji waited. Tobio didn't react.
Finally, Kenji snorted. "Scaredy-cat." He returned to his seat, followed by his friends' laughter.
Sae sat back down. Her eyes were worried.
"You okay?" she whispered. "Sorry about Kenji. He's really annoying."
Tobio shook his head. "It's okay."
But inside his head, he noted:
Kenji. Potential bully.
His friends—followers.
And Tobio—the target.
Common school pattern. The same anywhere.
The classroom door opened.
A young woman entered. Around twenty-five years old. Long black hair tied in a ponytail. Round glasses on her face. A floral print dress—casual, not too formal.
She smiled widely.
"Good morning, children!"
All the students answered in unison, "Good morning, Sensei!"
The woman walked to the teacher's desk. Put down her bag.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I'll be your homeroom teacher this year—Yamada Saki." She wrote her name on the blackboard. "Just call me Saki-sensei. I'll be teaching Japanese and be your homeroom teacher until graduation."
Some children cheered—probably happy their teacher was young and pretty.
Saki observed the class. Her eyes stopped at Tobio.
"Oh, Ikuse-kun?" She smiled. "I heard you fell during the vacation. Are you better now?"
Tobio nodded. "Yes, Sensei. Thank you."
"Good, good." Saki continued checking the class. "If anyone is sick, don't push yourself, okay?"
She then began the lesson—an introduction to the new school year. Class rules. Schedule. Extracurricular activities.
Tobio listened half-heartedly. His mind wandered.
Nice teacher.
Ordinary classmates.
Ordinary school.
Everything ordinary.
But he was not ordinary, and this world was not ordinary.
Behind the scenes, Angels and Devils might be fighting.
And somewhere, Issei Hyoudou might be dreaming of becoming a harem king.
Or maybe—he had already died and been reincarnated.
'I don't know.'
'But for now... For now, I just need to be an ordinary student.'
Attend lessons. Make friends. Live.
Like a kid this age should.