Ikebukuro was still the commercial giant as it was before the conception. But the buildings themselves were replaced by names unfamiliar to Naoki. Even the mall where he bought the jacket he last wore before everything went to hell had a different name now. Thinking about it, the Conception should have happened the day before. Naoki spent the day visiting Masakado's grave.
In the previous world, there was a massacre seemingly orchestrated by the Gaea cult. Naoki, like the general public, thought such was the case. It was only when he reached the Shinjuku memorial hospital where he learned it was all singlehandedly orchestrated by one man.
Hikawa.
But the general public suspecting the cult wasn't unreasonable. The Gaea cult had already been a notorious strong presence in Japan's underbelly for years. Open secrets of using occult rituals to get a drug-like high was being talked about since he was in grade school. Some even said the cult had a government presence, which explains how they've been so elusive for so long.
Since the two days Naoki had been in this world, however, he had never even heard of any news about them. Had Hikawa changed? Somehow it was doubtful. But Tokyo spoke for itself, if the man hadn't there would already be another conception. Or an attempt, at least. Hikawa was a high-ranking member of the cult. And nobody except some dodgy occult magazine was able to make the connection.
Truth be told, before the conception Naoki hadn't given any of the city's recent events any mind, not counting idle gossip thrown around classmates. He was just as clueless as everyone else.
'It was here.' Naoki supposed, finally arriving his destination.
Gremory Large, one of the largest corporate travel management enterprises in Japan. Or so his web search resulted in. Had this company always been here? Naoki had never travelled outside the country but he hadn't encountered the brand back in the previous world. He might not have known much about the secrets of the previous world, but he certainly would have noticed this towering building when he passed. He was standing in front of their main buildings, a towering skyscraper right at the heart of the district.
"One change among many, I guess." Naoki decided, no use overthinking every little thing.
"Quite right, young man." A voice cut through Naoki's thoughts. "One of the changes in this new world. Yet, like before, it is the same world that its inhabitants fail to harmonize with it."
Naoki turned to see Hikawa. The man still wore the same attire he used when they first met. Even the same ridiculous looking hair. Only difference now would be the metal case he was holding on one arm. He didn't feel any power from the case, but underestimating Hikawa was the last thing on his mind.
"The maiden always had a soft spot for you." Hikawa looked him in the eye. "I have answered her call. What do you want?"
"Give me access to the Amala."
The man closed his eyes. "It cannot be done."
Naoki's expression was unreadable. Hikawa made an even step towards the young man as he continued. "It has been two days since I have awakened in this world. I assume the same is also the case for you?"
Again, Hikawa couldn't read his face. But Naoki's black irises were locked into his, it was the same predatory gaze the cultist had seen back in the vortex world. The same leveled gaze demons use to gauge each other. It is the gaze that comes with the intentions and lies brough forth with dealing amongst each other.
With a sigh, Hikawa lifted his hand in resignation.
"I do not want any quarrel with you. My connection with the demons I have contracts with back then have dissipated. I can no longer summon them."
Hikawa had always hated his one-way conversations with this young man. He knew he could hold a conversation yet chooses not to do so. The reason being his experiences in the vortex world. Hikawa could imagine the young man being forced to get used to the company of many hostile demons for far too long that he would treat anything seemingly suspicious with the vigilance of a demon encounter.
"You have tried." Naoki said evenly.
"…and failed. Unfortunately."
"Something else happened." It wasn't a question, Hikawa gathered. It's either the young man was sharp, or the vortex world sharpened his senses.
"Yes. The results were… interesting." Hikawa crossed his arms. "I summoned human-looking demons, or devils, as they called themselves."
"Devils? They're different?"
"Semantics, I suspect. Though it should be noted they were extremely weak, even for demons usually summoned before the conception."
"The Gaea cult really does summon demons even back then?"
"I did almost send my Baphomet after you on our first meeting, did I not?"
Naoki thought Hikawa's was a unique case. So, demon summoning was not as uncommon as he initially thought. "I remember. Did the devils say anything?"
"Only the same fanfare of your first summoning. The rules and the like. I played along, who knows what system they work under. But I do plan on finding out."
"Is this why you wanted to meet here and not at the hospital?"
"The Shinjuku Medical Centre is no longer a territory of the cult. In fact, the cult doesn't exist in this world."
That got an arched brow from Naoki.
"Surprised?"
He didn't answer.
Hikawa continued, and here he thought he had gotten through to the boy. "From what I have gathered, the Messianic church exist. But the cult was either eradicated before they could get a higher position of power or had taken a different name and locations of operation."
"The messianic church…" Naoki was never one for religion. He would enjoy the traditional Japanese festivals and the occasional messianic winter holidays, nothing more. The only church he had been stepping in and out of for the longest time was the Cathedral of Shadows.
Thinking about it now, Naoki noticed something odd. "I have walked past a church on the way here. I saw magatsuhi gathering towards it."
"Oh?" Hikawa mused. "Have you not abandoned your demonic power then? You do not have your shamanistic markings."
"Shamanistic-?"
"Those glowing tattoo-like markings I saw you bear in the vortex world." Hikawa supplied. "They strongly resemble the tattoos of shamanism."
Naoki might have read something along those lines in a magazine somewhere. He answered Hikawa's prior question. "I didn't abandon my power."
Hikawa nodded in affirmation. "As to answer your question why I wanted to meet here…"
The man looked at the skyscraper. The top of the tower is attracting magatsuhi. "It is not as strong a conductor as the other structures in the vortex world."
"Not even close…"
"This building is a hub of the 'clan' the two demons I summoned belong to." Hikawa took something from his pocket. It was a length of prayer beads. "Apparently devils have set a great deal of human influence in comparison to the previous world."
"Now, will you join me?" Hikawa looked at Naoki.
"As a contract demon? Not on your life."
Hikawa managed to laugh at how he didn't skip a beat in answering. "I meant for some tea."
"These." He held his prayer beads. "Are for a different reason."
He held the beads close and a faint glow emanated from them. Was he going to summon the demons right here in the middle of Ikebukuro in broad daylight?
"If you're going to summon demons in the middle of the city, don't drag me into it." Naoki was about to walk away when he felt a noticeable concentration of magatsuhi in front of the building. Hikawa's words earlier slipped Naoki's mind.
He did say human-looking demons.
And the man wasn't lying. Two girls in high school uniforms walked out of the building and was eyeing Hikawa. One was blonde and the other silver. It wasn't until they stopped right in front of Hikawa completely and greeted him did the realization dawned to Naoki.
"This is the associate I was referring to," Hikawa gestured to Naoki. "Young man, these are the two devils I summoned and gained a contract with."
The golden colored one stepped closer and shook Naoki's hand.
'It's warm.' Naoki locked gazes with her and saw her earnest gleaming eyes.
"Pleased to meet you!" She said in the most genuine way Naoki has heard anyone say.
Slightly taken aback, Naoki watched as the silver haired one step closer. The golden haired one was keeping her smile as she waited for her companion to do her greeting.
"Pleased to meet you," The silver one bowed slightly. "We are the devils summoned by Hikawa-san. For the duration of our contract, we are associates, unless the terms are broken. You may call me Rook."
She gestured to her golden-haired companion. "And this is Bishop."
"Kashima." He answered. "I am one of the Fiends. I'm sure we'll get along."