Maiden of the Radiant Sun Arc

Chapter 1: The Daily Life of Issei Hyoudou

- Issei Hyoudou's POV -

My name is Issei Hyoudou. My parents call me "Ise".

I am currently a second-year High School student. Despite having a tutor for three years, I'm still not what you can call a role model kind of a student.

My grades suck although I have some improvement in other subjects. I'm still not good at sports despite having been subjected to spartan training daily. Heck, while I had managed to minimize my accidents involving staircases I'm still clumsy as ever.

So even if I am now seventeen years old, I am still the "No Good Ise" that everyone knows.

Today is Saturday. That means there's no school.

That means there is no need for me to get up early from my bed—is what I am supposed to say.

BANG!

"Ahhhh!"

"Arf! Arf!"

"You're too slow. Run faster, No Good Ise."

It is still early in the morning and here I am, chased by a dog in the middle of the neighborhood with a 5-year-old baby dressed in a fitness instructor attire on its back.

That baby's name is Reborn.

He was known as the greatest hitman in the mafia world.

He has been living with us for the past 3 years, tutoring me to be the next heir of the largest and strongest mafia family to exist in the history of humanity.

BANG! BANG!

"HIIIIII!"

"Not good enough, faster!"

"Arf! Arf! Arf!"

"Waaaahhh!"

Screaming, I ran faster as I could so that my butt won't be chewed out by this rabid dog chasing me.

I don't know how Reborn did it but it seems he managed to tame this dog that had been chasing me since middle school and turned it into his lackey.

How did it come to this!?

All I ever want is to be a normal kid like everyone else. I never wanted to be the leader of a notorious criminal organization! Let alone have some connections with it!

BANG!

"HIIII!?"

"Stop thinking about not being fit to be a mafia boss, because you are one."

"Ahhh! Stop invading my thoughts!"

"You're just too easy to read. Now, run faster!"

BANG! BANG!

"Arf! Arf! Arf!"

"Waaahhhh!"

When will this torture end!?

"It won't."

WAAAHHHHH!

A couple of minutes later...

"Haa...haa..."

Huffing, I lied awkwardly on the living room's floor with my bruised butt sticking out in the air as I try to catch my breath.

I hate to admit it but my poor butt cheeks were being grazed by the presence of that dog's sharp fangs despite running at my top speed.

While I managed to slap a band-aid on it, the bruise still stings.

It feels like my butt is on fire.

"It does."

Reborn commented nonchalantly as he entered the house.

There is more that I wanted to say to him. But I don't have the energy to do so.

So I'll let him have his day.

"Heh."

Don't give me that "heh" of yours. It doesn't make me feel any better.

"Ise-kun!"

Entering the living room from the dining room, my mom called out to me. She was wearing clothes meant for cleaning the entire house.

"Can you go to the market in my stead? I'm still busy cleaning the house. I'm not sure if I can make it in time in the Super Sale though."

"Ugh... But I'm tired..."

I was trying to protest, I mean I'm so tired I need time to rest but Reborn step in and said something stupid.

"Don't worry, Mama. Ise will do it."

Then Leon, his green chameleon pet, rested in his hands. Its eyes were gazing at me.

Oi, I don't like what's going to happen next!

"Wait! Reborn!"

As I said that, I tried to move my body but I couldn't do it. My whole body feels very heavy from the exhausting running I did earlier.

The green chameleon then morphed into a handgun in an instant.

Crap, this is bad! I don't want to experience it again! Anything but that!

Reborn then aimed the gun at me and then pulled the trigger...

BANG!

In an instant, I felt the impact of the bullet directly on my forehead.

Just like this past 3 years, that sensation dwells on me again.

All the regrets that I shove down at the back of my mind and the bottom of my heart—

I want to excel in something.

I want to confess my feelings to senpai.

I want to be the best that I can be.

But right now, I am dying. So I don't have any chance to do those things.

No. I can't let that happen! I can't allow myself to end it here!

"WOOOOOOOOO!"

With a mighty roar, I stood up following this swelling energy in my chest!

My clothes were shredded in the process but I don't care! As long as I have my beloved teddy bear boxers and this flame burning brightly in my head, I'm roaring to fulfill anything with my dying will!

"REEEEEEBOOOOOORRRN!"

Grabbing the shopping bag and the list from my mother's hand, I declared with full conviction:

"I WILL GO TO THE MARKET AS IF MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!"

Then feeling the energy coursing through my body, I sprinted out of the house!

"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!"

- Third Person's POV -

"Will he be fine though?"

Ms. Hyoudou asked as she watched the fading figure of her half-naked son dashing through the neighborhood's streets.

"Don't worry Mama, Ise will be fine."

Reborn responded as he hopped on Mrs. Hyoudou's left shoulder.

"I've been training him for 3 years now, so he will be fine."

"I hope so, Reborn-san."

Somewhere within the marketplace...

"GIVE ME THAT! AND THAT AND THAT!"

"Y-Yes!"

"ORRAAAAAAA! I NEED SOME FISH, MISTER!"

"Y-Yes!"

"MADAM! I NEED SOME VEGGIES!"

"T-Take all you want, please!"

"AND I NEED SOME OF THESE TOO!"

A half-naked young man with a bright, burning orange flame on his forehead can be seen buying things "aggressively" at the marketplace.

And all throughout Kuoh Town's market, this has been a common phenomenon since three years ago.

"ORAAAAA! I NEED TO GET SOME FRESH EGGS!"

This phenomenon is dubbed by all customers and store owners alike as "The Boxer Shorts Phenomenon".

There is no specific date on the said phenomenon. The store owners tried to anticipate such an event but to no avail due to how random "The Boxer Shorts Phenomenon", as everyone calls it, occurs. Sometimes it happens 2 to 3 times a month. At other times, 5 times a month.

There is also a time that such an occurrence did not happen.

To sum it up, it was a pretty random phenomenon that no one can predict.

There are people who were complaining about such an event, stating that it "Contradicts the very principle of Japanese tradition."

While there are others who were very fond of the phenomenon, arguing that it "Demonstrates Japanese youth's vigor and vitality like spring in the new era."

Despite the differences of opinions, one thing is certain...

There is a pervert running amok throughout Kuoh Town.

Thus, the legend of the Boxer-Wearing Pervert of Kuoh came to spread all over town and its neighboring towns.