Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtain.
Tobio opened his eyes.
For a moment, he forgot where he was. The wooden ceiling with the crack in the left corner—oh, right. Still here. Still in Hanyu village. Still in the DxD world.
He sighed.
Got up. Straightened the futon. A habit.
Beside him, the goldfish in its small aquarium was still swimming slowly. The fish had gotten used to Tobio's movements—every morning, Tobio gave it a little food. A small, calming ritual.
Tobio gazed at the fish.
'You don't know anything about the world out there, do you?'
'Just swimming. Eating. Sleeping.'
Simple.
Maybe that's what he wanted.
But he knew—that simplicity wouldn't last long.
In this world, there were Angels. Devils. Fallen Angels. Sacred Gears. And Trihexa, sleeping behind thousands of seals.
Sooner or later, something would happen.
He touched the bracelet on his wrist. Black stone with silver veins—still intact. Still strong.
For now, he was safe.
But for how long?
---
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.
"Morning, Tobio." Ageha smiled. "Sit down."
Tobio sat. Looked at the breakfast before him—miso soup, rice, grilled mackerel, tamagoyaki, pickles. The same as yesterday. And the day before that.
But he wasn't bored.
There was comfort in routine. Something he never had in the old world.
"Itadakimasu."
They ate slowly. Silent, but not an awkward silence. A comfortable silence.
After a while, Ageha put down her chopsticks. "Tobio."
Tobio looked up.
"Summer is only one week left." Ageha looked at him. "Are you ready for school?"
Tobio nodded. "Homework is almost done."
"That's not it." Ageha smiled faintly. "What Grandma means is... are you ready to meet your friends? Your teachers? After... all this?"
Tobio understood.
After he had changed, learned the world's secrets, gained a power.
'Will I be able to act normal?'
He thought for a moment. Then nodded.
"I can."
Ageha looked at him for a long time. Searching for something in his eyes.
Finally, she nodded. "Good. Grandma trusts you."
Tobio helped wash the dishes. Then returned to his room to continue schoolwork.
Math—easy. Japanese—easy. Science—easy.
History— He stopped at the page about the Sengoku Period. The era of civil war in Japan. Names like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
In this world, were they also involved with the supernatural?
Did Nobunaga have a Sacred Gear?
Or maybe he was helped by Devils?
There were no answers in the textbook.
Tobio continued reading. But his mind wandered.
'If only I could know more about this world.'
But Grandma only had a family notebook. And that was limited.
'How can I find information without attracting attention?' He sighed. Continued writing.
Homework finished.
Tobio stretched. His eyes turned to the window.
Outside, the sun was shining brightly. The rice fields were yellowing. Birds were flying about.
'Maybe I need to go out. Just for a bit.'
He walked to the living room. Ageha was weaving—cloth with traditional patterns. Her hands moved nimbly, inserting thread one by one.
"Grandma, I'm going out for a bit."
Ageha turned. "To the river again?"
"Yes."
"Be careful." Ageha returned to weaving. "Don't be too long."
Tobio nodded and went out.
Walking past the rice fields. Midway, he met Sae.
The girl was sitting at the edge of the rice field, staring at the water. In her hand, a blade of grass she was playing with.
Sae turned. Her eyes sparkled seeing Tobio. "Tobio! Where are you going?"
"To the river."
"Can I come?"
Tobio thought for a moment. Then nodded. "Sure."
Sae jumped with joy. "Wait!" She ran to her house—just a few meters away—to tell her mother. One minute later, she was back with a wide smile.
"Let's go!"
They sat under the same tree.
Sae took off her sandals, dipped her feet in the water. She laughed softly—the water was cold.
"So nice!" She tilted her face to the sun. "Summer is definitely best when you play in water."
Tobio sat beside her. Didn't dip his feet. Just enjoyed the view.
Sae turned. "What's wrong? Why are you so quiet?"
"Enjoying the view."
Sae pouted. "Boring."
But she didn't push. She went back to enjoying the water.
A few moments later, Sae spoke without turning:
"Tobio... I want to ask."
Tobio looked at her.
"You... changed, didn't you?" Sae's voice was soft. "After you fell from the tree."
Tobio was silent.
"I don't know how to explain it." Sae was still staring at the water. "But you're... different. Quieter. Thinking more." She turned. "Is something going on?"
Tobio looked into those green eyes.
She knew.
Or at least, she felt it.
That's what close friends do.
He could lie. Say everything was fine. But—
"Something is."
Sae blinked.
Tobio continued. "But I can't tell you yet."
Sae was silent for a moment. Then smiled. Not her usual cheerful smile. But a smile of understanding.
"That's okay." She looked back at the water. "When you're ready to tell, I'm ready to listen."
Tobio felt something in his chest.
Warm.
A friend.
Sae was a true friend.
'Not because I'm useful. Not because I'm a symbol.'
'But because I'm Tobio.'
"Yeah. Thanks."
Sae laughed softly. "You're welcome."
They walked home together.
The sun was beginning to descend. The air was cooler. Birds were starting to return to their nests.
Sae waved at the crossroads. Her short brown hair caught in the evening breeze. Her face—which had been full of smiles all day—now looked a little tired, but her eyes still sparkled.
"See you tomorrow!"
Tobio waved back. "See you."
Sae turned and jogged towards her house—near the shrine, as Grandma Ageha had once said. Tobio watched until her figure disappeared around the corner.
Then he continued his journey alone.
Tobio walked slowly.
The sun was beginning to set behind the hill. The sky changed—from bright blue to golden orange, with streaks of purple on the western horizon. Thin clouds stretched like brush strokes.
The rice fields on left and right were growing dark. The farmers had gone home. Only a few birds were still visible, flying low looking for their last meal before night.
The sound of crickets began to be heard—softly at first, then louder as darkness fell.
Tobio enjoyed this.
Walking alone at dusk.
No guards. No schedule. No cameras.
Just him, the path, and nature.
But his mind was never truly still.
'Sae.' He thought about that girl.
Tobio's friend. Maybe the only true friend in this village.
'She knows I've changed, or at least, she feels it.'
'But she doesn't push. She just... waits.'
That was more than most people could do.
In the old world, the people around him always wanted something. Journalists wanted interviews. Staff wanted reports. The public wanted a symbol. His father wanted the perfect image.
No one just waited.
No one said, "When you're ready to tell, I'm ready to listen."
Tobio stopped in the middle of the road.
By the roadside, there was an old tree.
A large banyan, with hanging roots extending everywhere. Beneath it, large rocks that farmers usually sat on during breaks.
Tobio sat on one of the rocks.
No particular reason. Just wanted to sit for a while.
From here, he could see the entire valley. Village houses were beginning to turn on their lights—yellow dots in the descending darkness. In the distance, the old shrine with its tiered roof was faintly visible.
A peaceful village.
Good people.
No conflict. No politics. No intrigue.
Just life.
'But— For how long?' That thought returned.
In this world, there were Angels, Devils, Fallen Angels. There were Sacred Gears. There was Trihexa, sleeping.
Sooner or later, something would happen.
Maybe not in this village. Maybe not this year. Maybe not in ten years.
But one day... And when that happened, what would he do?
He touched the bracelet on his hand.
This power—Forcing an Outcome—might be able to help.
But with a price to pay.
'How many outcomes can I force before this body breaks?'
'How many lives can I save before I myself die?' Tobio sighed.
Or maybe...
Maybe he didn't need to do anything.
Let Issei and the others handle it.
'I'm just a village child. No one expects anything from me.'
The sky grew darker. The first stars began to appear in the east.
Tobio stood up. Continued his journey.
---
Tobio knocked on the door, then opened it.
"I'm home."
From the living room, Ageha's voice answered. "Welcome back."
Tobio entered. Took off his sandals at the genkan.
Ageha was in the living room—not weaving this time, but sitting on the sofa, gazing at something in her hand.
A photograph.
However, Tobio didn't show any curiosity or ask questions. Just stayed silent.
Then, they had dinner in warm silence.
Not much talking. But there was peace between them.
After finishing, Tobio helped wash the dishes. Ageha sat in the living room, watching television—local news about a festival in a neighboring town.
Tobio finished washing. He sat beside Ageha.
On television, a reporter was reporting about "increased paranormal activity" in a neighboring prefecture. Some residents claimed to have seen strange lights in the night sky. The police dismissed it, but local residents were restless.
Tobio stared at the screen.
Maybe it was Angels. Or Devils. Or something else.
Ageha changed the channel.
"Don't think about it too much," she said. "That's normal. Sometimes things like that happen. The important thing is we're safe here."
Tobio nodded.
But his mind remained there.
If paranormal activity was increasing... Maybe the plot was getting closer.
Maybe Issei had already been reincarnated.
Or maybe this was just normal.
He didn't know.
But he knew one thing: he had to be ready.
---
Tobio lay on the futon.
The goldfish swam in its small aquarium—a gift from Ageha, because keeping fish in a plastic bag wasn't good long-term.
He stared at the ceiling.
The crack in the left corner—he already knew its shape by heart.
Tomorrow, summer would be only one week left.
Then school would start.
Normal life.
But with a huge secret on his shoulders.
A power that could destroy him.
And a world that could be destroyed at any moment.
He closed his eyes. 'But for now... For now, I just need to sleep.'
Because tomorrow is a new day.
Tobio fell asleep.