Well, let's move on to the chapter. I know how tired you are already of reading the bus scene, but here there is already the interaction between Ayanokoji and Victorique, so don't skip it.

I will do my best to deviate more and more from canon.

Chapter 1 - The Freedom of Two Persons.

Introduction:

"Ayanokoji/kun, do you have a moment?"

They arrived. They were here. The dreaded situation.

I was pretending to sleep during class, pondering the true purpose of society while pretending to nap, when the devil and the angel approached me.

In my brain, Shostakovich's 11th symphony was playing. The song perfectly described my current situation: the feeling of absolute hopelessness as people are chased by demons and how the end of the world was fast approaching. The only difference is that the demon is walking together with an angel this time, something that not even my brain could predict.

Even with my eyes closed, I could tell.

I could feel the alarming presence of the devil and the angel beside me as I waited for his slave/partner to wake up.

Now, as the devil's slave and the angel's partner, how can I escape this situation?

To avoid danger, use the computer in your brain to get the answer instantly.

Conclusion... Pretend you haven't heard anything. I am naming my strategy 'pretend to sleep'. My situation will be solved with this strategy.

If the people speaking were kind, they would ignore it after saying. "Well, it can't be helped. I'll have to forgive you."

Even if a pattern like 'I will kiss you if you don't wake up, okay?

I could feel the demon and the angel looking at each other.

"Your breathing is too irregular for someone who is sleeping peacefully," said the angel.

What the hell? Besides having monstrous observation skills, she can also do that?

"If you don't wake up in 3 seconds, you will face punishment." Said the demon.

"... What the hell do you want?" I asked as I looked at the two girls.

"He was really awake," said the angel.

She looked extremely bored, and I could understand why, after all, the only times she didn't show boredom was when she was discovering the secrets behind this school.

"Could we have some of your time?" The demon asked.

You say that when you have already forced my time on you?

"...What if I refuse?"

"Well, there's no way then." Angel replied.

As expected from the angel.

However...

"Well... I can't force you, but I will be grumpy if you don't refuse." The demon said with a frightening expression.

It then continued.

"And if I am grumpy, I will be a big obstacle to Ayanokoji-kun's normal school life. Hmm, for example, countless thumbtacks on your chair, spraying water on your head every time you go into the bathroom, and sometimes stabbing you with the needle of my compass. Those kinds of obstacles, I suppose."

"Do you plan to follow me into the bathroom? What the hell are you, a pervert? Besides, that last one sounds strangely familiar, I remember being stabbed before!"

My response seemed to affect her a little.

"Oh, you're a pervert?" The angel asked the Demon.

"What!? Of course not!"

"Ohohohohohohohohoho." The angel laughed in a very strange way...

"Was that supposed to be a laugh?" The demon questioned.

"Maybe?"

How the hell did these two end up getting along so well? No, they don't get along, they just have different goals that coincidentally lead to the same result.

I took a good look at their appearance.

A girl with beautiful, sharp eyes and long black hair was looking at me from the side. She was known as the "Devil".

Her name is Horikita Suzune. High school class 1-D, my classmate.

The other was a girl who looked like a doll, long blond hair and emerald green eyes. I think she was in the category that I recently learned from internet-sensei. If I am not mistaken, her name was loli, although she is not that small, being only a few inches below Horikita. She was known as the "Angel".

The angel looked at me with irritated eyes.

"Why do I feel that you had an irritating thought about me?"

"It's just your imagination," I quickly said.

Do these women have any paranormal powers?

She just looked at me suspiciously. To keep her from getting more suspicious I resumed to the main subject.

"Anyway, what do you want?" I sighed.

These two women...

I'll make you regret manipulating me like this.

...

...

Ayanokouji's Pov:

April.

The entrance ceremony.

Getting on the bus that would take me to the school I would be attending, I quickly started to look for a seat. It didn't take long to notice that the bus was practically packed. I could see that most of the people were wearing the same school uniforms that I was, which meant that they were new students, just like me.

I noticed a blond guy who was looking at himself strangely in the mirror while mumbling things to himself. Like me, he was also wearing a school uniform.

I really hoped that there were still some seats available. Standing for the entire bus ride would not be pleasant.

As I walked along, I noticed a girl who has long black hair with a braid tied with a pink bow, as well as gradient red eyes. She was reading a book called "Crime and Punishment".

It was interesting to see someone who liked those books nowadays. I just hope that she isn't planning any crime or punishment for someone else once she gets to school.

I quickly looked away before she could notice me looking at her. She is wearing the same school uniform as me, so, as unlikely as it is that we will be in the same class, I don't want to be labeled a pervert on my first day of school.

I was losing hope of finding an empty seat, but I quickly noticed.

A doll?

A girl who looked like a doll was also reading a book. I quickly approached, the seat next to her was available, and I didn't want to miss it.

As I approached, I quickly began to wonder how I should start a possible conversation with her? She was also wearing the same school uniform as me.

For now, let's just go with something I don't need to think about too much.

As I approached, I could feel my nervousness reaching high levels.

Taking a deep breath, I asked.

"Excuse me, may I sit here?"

She didn't answer anything for a short while, until she took her eyes off her book to look at me. She just nodded her head as she resumed her book.

I couldn't help but think how strange this interaction was, but I put those thoughts aside and sat down.

I looked at the book she was reading. When I saw the title I couldn't help but mutter.

"The Baskerville dog... From Sherlock Holmes, huh."

"You know it?" The girl spoke for the first time.

It seemed I had started a conversation without realizing it.

"Yeah, I've read it for a while." I said. "If I'm not mistaken, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson travel to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville, a millionaire found dead in a swamp near his home, right?"

"Yes." She confirmed.

"Is that the first one you're reading?" I asked.

"No, I've read 'A Study in Red,' 'The Sign of Four,' 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes,' and several other books by him." She replied. "It's the only way I could think of not to die of boredom until I got to school. Luckily, there was still this one book I didn't read from his saga."

"You seem to really enjoy reading," I said.

"Yes, I've read thousands of books."

Thousands of books, right? Sounds a bit like me, although she might be exaggerating in saying 'thousands' since she hadn't read this book.

"I know what you are thinking, and the reason I didn't read this book before was simply because I leave the Sherlock Holmes books to read only on certain occasions, such as this one now. If it weren't for this book I'm sure I would die of boredom."

"I'm sure no one could simply die of boredom."

"It is possible yes." She said, but it sounded like an assertion.

"What are you basing that statement on?"

"Let's see. Let's say someone is very bored, that person tends to fall into less healthy habits, such as smoking and drinking, which can significantly decrease a person's life expectancy."

Well, when she puts it that way, it really is true. Especially for older people.

"Do you like the mystery theme?" I asked.

"Yes, especially books solving cases as is the case with the Sherlock Holmes books."

"Solving cases, right? Maybe you want to become a detective when you graduate?"

"I already solve cases," she said.

Hm?

I looked at her, who was reading her book with a calm expression. It looked like she was near the end of it. However, what she said made me think for a moment. Just as I was about to ask what she meant, a voice reached my ears.

"Excuse me, but shouldn't you offer your seat?" The voice asked.

I moved my gaze toward the source of the voice. It was a frustrated office lady, and she seemed to be addressing a stout young man who was wearing our red school uniform. It was the same blond man that I had spotted at the beginning. There was also an unsure elderly lady who was standing right in front of us - she was staggering so much that I thought she was going to fall. It seems that the salary woman was trying to get the old lady a spot with that guy.

"That's a really crazy question, lady, offer my seat?"

He had a relatively imposing aura and exuded an air of arrogance. A smile appeared on his face as he crossed his legs and looked at the salaried worker.

"Why should I offer my seat? There's no reason for me to do that," he continued in a condescending manner.

"You are sitting in a priority seat. It's natural to offer those seats to the elderly."

"I don't understand, priority seats are just that: priority seats. I have no legal obligation to move. Since I am occupying this seat, I should be the one who determines whether or not I should move. Should I give up my seat just because I am young? Ha! That reasoning is outrageous for someone like me."

He was not speaking like a normal scholar. He had now captured the attention of almost everyone on the bus. From my side, I could see Victorique still reading her book. She didn't seem to care about the commotion that was going on inside the bus. Looking to the side, I could see the same black-haired girl who was still reading Crime and Punishment. And just like Victorique, she seemed to be reading quietly without looking disturbed.

I quickly averted my eyes, turning them back to the commotion that was going on.

"I am a healthy young man who certainly would not find it inconvenient to stand. However, I would obviously expend more energy standing than sitting. I have no intention of doing such a useless thing. Or are you suggesting that I should act a little more animated, I wonder?"

"W-what kind of attitude is that to have toward your superiors?" The woman shot back, yet it didn't seem to have any effect on the blond man.

"Superiors you say? Well, obviously you and the old woman have been alive longer than I have. There can be no doubt about that. However, the word 'superior' implies that you are referring to someone in a higher position. Besides, we have another problem. Although our ages are different, don't you agree that you have an impertinent attitude and are being extremely rude?"

"What-You are a high school student, aren't you!? You should be quiet and listen to what the adults say!"

"It's okay, whatever ..." the lady interrupted in a muffled voice.

"Apparently, this old woman is more perceptive than you, which is good. Besides, I haven't given up on Japanese society yet. Please enjoy your remaining years," the boy said with a vigorous smile, and with that he stuck on his headphones and began listening to his music while looking at himself in the mirror.

The lady in the office gritted her teeth in frustration. She tried to irritate the boy by arguing further, but her smug attitude remained fixed.

In any case, I couldn't blame the boy, since I didn't disagree. His tone was condescending, but nothing he said was wrong - if you ignore the question of the moral imperative, it is true that he was not legally obliged to give up his seat. And I can tell that the student girl sitting next to me has a similar thought.

After a little while, a student girl wearing the same school uniform as mine, started trying to convince someone to give up her seat to the elderly woman. After a while, someone finally raised their hand and gave up their seat, bringing all the commotion to an end.

"It's finally over." The girl next to me said.

"You talk in a different way than you seemed to when you were reading the book. It didn't even seem to affect you."

"Although you are right, it is still annoying."

"I am Ayanokouji Kiyotaka from Class 1-D, nice to meet you." I decided to introduce myself.

We've been talking for a while, so I guess you shouldn't have a problem introducing me.

The girl looked at me, and after a while she spoke.

"Victorique from Blois, I am also in Class 1-D. Nice to meet you, Ayanokouji." She replied and went back to her book.

I decided not to interrupt her any longer and let her continue with her book. She seemed to want to finish before we got to school.

Victorique de Blois, huh. That didn't sound like a Japanese name, so maybe she was a foreigner? And she was also in the same class as me, which was very fortunate. The school I am going to is the best government-funded school in Japan, and it sure has a lot of students. To find someone from my class so easy like this was something I didn't expect.

Maybe the buses transported the students from their particular classes?

Before long, I arrived at my destination and all the high school students began to disembark.

I got off the bus next to Victorique, who seemed to finish her book. Her expression was completely different from when she was reading the book. You could see the complete boredom on her face. So she wasn't kidding when she said she would be very bored if she didn't have the book, huh.

Looking ahead, I saw an agate formed out of natural rock waiting just ahead. All the boys and girls dressed in their school uniforms were passing through this gate.

Tokyo Metropolitan High School. The Japanese government had created this school with the express purpose of developing future leaders. For the next three years, this would be my home.

"I think we'd better go soon. I hope this school can really take away my boredom," Victorique, who was standing next to me said this.

So she came to this school just to get rid of her boredom?

It seems that this girl knows more about this school than other people.

"Okay, let's go." I said.

We started walking.

I was actually a little happy that I was able to talk to someone from my class so soon. I hope she can become my first friend, after all, I'm under the impression that I won't be able to make friends that easily.

This will be the place I stay for the next three years.

I ask myself...

Would I be able to change?

I came to this place to find many answers that I couldn't find in this place.

I wanted to have a peaceful life in these 3 school years.

And I will be sure to achieve this, even if I have to protect this entire school from him in the process.

We both retrace our steps towards the school. The place that will be our new home for the next 3 years from now on.

I will also make sure that I make good use of my time at this school.

And if anyone stands in my way, aiming to get in the way of this...

I will make him experience what it is like to be in hell.

What did you think? Yes, this beginning was very similar to the novel, especially the "Introduction". I decided to do this since I personally haven't seen anyone else do this, so I thought it would be interesting.

Since Ayanokoji didn't look at Horikita much, since he was talking to Victorique, the conversation between them at the end that you are already tired of reading, didn't happen. :)

For those of you who think that this will just follow the novel to the letter, you are very wrong. Victorique's presence will rock from the 1st volume. Come on, the name of the story is "The Manipulative Demon and the Detective Angel," you may already know what will happen later on.

I also plan to have Victorique solve some mysteries unlike anything else, such as murder. Yes you heard right, expect some chapters in this format from time to time.

Before you ask me about Ayanokoji's personality, I'm sure I don't need to explain it to you, assuming you've already read the novel, right? But don't worry too much about him staying that way for too long, I guarantee you that there will be several twists and turns in the story.

And Ayanokoji, with Victorique's presence is going to be forced to act differently much sooner, although he still remains in the shadows most of the time. I really don't want to make him stand out too soon, since it is Victorique who will do that. Besides, the saga of Ryueen chasing "X" is one of the most entertaining in LN, and I plan to make my own version of that as well.