Long, long ago

in the days when gods appeared to men...

Bread fell down from heaven.

Some lamented loudly that the bread was not meat.

Meat fell down from heaven.

Some lamented loudly that they preferred the bread.

God came down from heaven.

He will make water fall down for a time

until everyone knows what will make them happy.

- Frederica Berkastel


"Can't do it..." After taking the shot, the yakuza named Nishiki could take no more. "How could I ever shoot you?! Without you, I'll always be nothing. Not as a yakuza, I wouldn't even still be alive now if you weren't beside me! I'm useless..."

"That's not true."

Looking back up at the one Nishiki called his sworn brother, Kiryu gave him a small smile.

"Nishiki, you are strong, like me. We're one of the same. But...thinking that we can die to make things right. Forgot about whether we had what it takes to be yakuza, we're not even men yet."

Taking a second to process his brothers words, Nishiki giggled. "So much for talking all cool about ending it for you quick..."

"Yeah... but we can't be kids forever."

"That so, huh? Kiryu, if it's just you and me... maybe we could-!"

"Nishiki." Having stopped him mid-sentence, Kiryu turned around to the dark woods. "Forget you saw me today. I'll forgot you trying to kill me too."

"Huh?" Nishiki was confused, but started to become more so when he started walking off in the other direction. "Wait, what are you-?!"

"I've gotta go," the man simply answered without turning his back.

"But, where?" Nishiki asked with concern. "Do you even know where you're going?"

"No clue, but before I head back to Kamurocho, I need to lay low for a bit."

To Nishiki, it'd seemed like a pretty safe idea. Knowing if he'd try and go back there now he'd be surely killed... but... "Kiryu, are you actually thinking for once?"

"Maybe, but it won't be for long. After that, I'll head back and finish what I've started."

"Kiryu..." Nishiki still didn't like the idea of him going back to Kamurocho, but if he wasn't going to go in blind, then that at least gave the man some relief. "Okay, you got it. But, watch yourself bro. Who knows what lies outside of Kamurocho."

"Yeah, I will." Leaving his brother and the city Kamurocho behind for now, the man known as Kazuma Kiryu had undoubtedly change his fate for the better... and for the worse.


CHAPTER 0: ENTER HINAMIZAWA


"I think I'm lost."

Having wandered through the wilderness for a couple of hours, Kazama Kiryu was starting to have second thoughts on whether he made the right decision.

(To think that I thought that taking some time to lay low was a good idea... maybe I should just head back to Kamurocho like I originally planned.)

"Excuse me, sir."

At the sudden voice, Kiryu looked up to see a small young girl with long blue hair, looking at him with a curious smile.

(Who's this now? And what's with that hair color?!)

"Do you happen to be lost?" The girl asked.

Grunting, Kiryu looked off to the side. "Yeah."

Pointing to her right, the girls' smile grew. "Well sir, you happen to be very close to the village just beyond these woods."

"I am?"

(Hard to believe I've been wandering around the woods for this long to only now realize this...)

"Yes." Waving her hand in motion for him to follow, the girl ran in the other direction.

"Uh, hold up!" Running after her, it didn't take long before she stopped, allowing him to catch up. "You could've waited for me."

Turning back to the man, the girl giggled. "Hehe, I just wanted to have some fun with you! Nipah~!"

(Nipah? Is that supposed to sound cute or something?)

"Anyway, we're here."

"Hm?" Looking ahead, they appeared to be at a sort of shrine. "This is?"

"Furude Shrine, stationed here in Hinamizawa," the girl answered.

( Hinamizawa? That's a place I haven't heard of before...)

"I see... thanks."

While Kiryu was going to simply walk down the steps, the girl gave him a pout. "Mii..."

"What?" Kiryu asked with a tilt of his head.

"You're just going to leave without even telling me your name?"

Turning back, Kiryu gave her a small smile. "Ah, right. It's Kiryu; Kazuma Kiryu."

"Is that so?" Running down the steps, the girl waved back. "Mine's Rika! Hope to see you again mister!"

"Y-Yeah." Just like that she was gone, and he was once again moving on in going down the steps of Furede Shrine.

(Not much was said, but I have a feeling this won't be the last time we'll see each other...)


Taking the forest trail, Kazuma Kiryu seemed to be on the better path towards the village Rika spoke of, and hoped that he would find a place to sleep for the night.

(I'll have to give her a proper thanks once I get well rested.)

Just before he could continue further on, he heard a scream.

(Hm?)

Quickening his pace, the trail opened up until he spotted a large trash heap to his right. That was when he saw a few punks surrounding a helpless girl.

"Come on now, what's a pretty little thing doing in a place like this?" One of the punks asked before the other two snickered.

"Trash heaps are meant for trash, y'know?"

"Let's say you come with us for a little fun?"

The girl reeled back in disgust. "Leave me alone you creeps!"

Kiryu could only furrow his brows at the situation the girl was in.

(Those punks need to be set straight.)

"Don't be like that! We'll promise to be gentle~."

"Hey," Kiryu called out before making his way down the trash heap.

Noticing this newcomer, the punks turned around and laughed.

"What's this, a knight in shining armor?"

"Ha, don't make us laugh!"

"Yeah, and- wait... do you think this guy is one of those yakuza from the village?"

The main punk turned and gave him another snicker. "What, seriously? This guy? Pssh, no way!"

"Yeah, none of those guys come this far out into Hinamizawa!"

(Hmm... so there is a family stationed in this village. I'll have to give my respects if I happen to visit their estate.)

"Enough talk!" The main punk branded his fists, and the other two did the same. "Let's kick this guy's ass for ruining our fun!"

[ HINAMIZAWA THUGS ]

"Take this!" Swinging his fist, the main punk went in for the first attack.

That was when Kiryu made his first move. "Ha!"

*CRACK!

"Gah!"

Only to then get his arm broken by an elbow before the newcomer sent him flying with an uppercut.

"W-What was that...?" One of the punks asked before the other decided to scurry off.

This new guy also had a strange purple aura flowing through his body, as if it influenced how he fought.

"Come on," Kiryu taunted while making weaving motions.

Despite being scared shitless, this punk got really pissed. "You asshole!" Deciding to go in for a straight punch, his efforts proved futile to the moment he dodged and when right behind him.

"Let's go." Cracking his fists, his aura now became blue before his grabbed him by the back of his head and threw him down. "Hm!" Not being finished just yet, Kiryu grabbed the punk by the hair before delivering a fierce blow to the skull with his other fist.

Meanwhile,the girl watching all this was no less in shock and awe. He really was like a knight in shining armor!

"Y-You're finished!"

The girl gasped as she saw the last one that had ran off returned with a long metal pipe and was about to catch the man off guard.

"Watch out!"

Before Kiryu could make a move, the pipe already swung down...

"H-Huh?" The punk blinked in confusion.

Kiryu was suddenly shocked to find he didn't take the hit, but then soon looked and realized who did. "You..."

"Ow, ow, ow...!" It was the girl who took it head on with raised arms to block it.

"Are you alright?" Kiryu asked with concern.

"Yeah... it just stings a little...," the girl answered before her face contorted into one of fierce anger. "Like I said... leave us alone!"

*BAM!

"Guah!" Having been fiercely punched in the gut by the girl, the punk groveled to the ground.

"Mister, now's you're chance!" The girl called before stepping off to the side.

"Yeah, thanks." Not letting this chance slip by, his aura switched over to a fiery yellow before his viciously dug out a large object into his grip.

The punk stood back up before his eyes widened in horror. "I-Is that a statue of Colonel Sa-!"

"Rragh!"

*CRASH!

The punk didn't get to finish his sentence before it was thrown and crashed into him face first.

"So, we done?" Kiryu asked before all the punks that were knocked down came together feeling defeated.

"This guys' a monster!"

"Is he even human?!"

"L-Let's tail it out of here!"

Once all the punks climbed up and out of the trash heap, Kiryu looked back to the girl. "Doing alright?"

"Yes," the girl answered with a bright smile. "Thanks for saving me, umm..."

"Kiryu. Kazama Kiryu."

"Ah, right! Mine is Rena Ryūgū, but just call me Rena! It's very nice to meet you, Kiryu-chan!"

"Kiryu-chan?" The man asked with a raised eyebrow. "But we just met, shouldn't you just use the prefix 'san'?"

"I would, normally, but you really came when I needed it! That was something only a true friend would do, so I think it'd feel better to call you Kiryu-chan, right?"

"S-Sure..." Kiryu couldn't argue with that, but just for some reason it gave him a very odd sense of déjà vu...

Before he could ponder on the thought any further, Rena gasped. "Oh my gosh, Kenta-kun!" The girl called out rushing out before she hugged the statue. "Thank you so much for getting out Kenta-kun, Kiryu-chan!"

"You're welcome?" Kiryu thought it a bit odd that this random statue he pulled out happened to be something this girl wanted. "Wait, is that why you came here in the first place?"

"Yes, yes!" The girl happily answered. "I've been trying to get Kenta-kun for so long!"

"And why is that?" Kiryu asked with a small sweat drop.

"Because he's so cute!" She once again answered while continuing to hug the statue. "Hauu~! So cute, I want to take it home~!"

(Guess everyone's got their own sense of cuteness.)

Dismissing the weirdness of this situation, Kiryu decided to just roll with it."So, how are you going to get Kenta-kun home?"

"Umm..." Rena made a complete pause before she looked down. "I... never really gotten this far. I really want to take him home, but it's just that he's super heavy!" The moment those words came out of her mouth, a light bulb lit up before looking back up. "Hey, Kiryu-chan! Can you help carry Kenta-kun home with me?"

"Yeah," Kiryu answered with a smile before frowning. "But on one condition."

Blinking, Rena began to look a bit nervous. "And... what would that be?"

"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to get a better look around Hinamizawa," Kiryu requested with a light bow. "I'm fairly new to the area, and would like to see if there is anywhere I can settle down for the night."

"Ah, is that all?" Rena looked a bit surprised by that but shook it off with a bright smile. "Sure, I can do just that! Since you're helping me with Kenta-kun, how's about you stay at my house for the night?"

"Really?" Now this was a surprise. "Aren't there any nearby apartments I can rent?"

"Hmm, not that I'm aware of. This is mostly a village, so we tend to not get many visitors."

"I see..." This girl was being too kind and generous for a complete stranger, but he didn't seem to have a lot of options by what she just told him. "Guess I've got no other choice, so sure. If it's not too much trouble, Rena-san."

"Hey, I said Rena was just fine!" Rena said with a pout before dismissing it with a sigh. "Oh well, let's get going!"

"Right, here we go Kenta-kun." Taking the chicken mascot onto his shoulders, Kiryu followed the girl back to the main road before continuing on in silence.


"Here we are!"

Just as night fell upon the village of Hinamizawa, Kiryu and Rena both had made great time in making it to the ladders home. At first glance it didn't look too fancy compared to Kamurocho, but it still had the feel of a comfy summer home.

"Not too bad," Kiryu commented while setting the statue down.

Rena took note of this before realizing something. "Kiryu-chan, could it be that your from the city, like Tokyo?"

"You could say that," Kiryu answered. "But it's always nice to appreciate the countryside every once in a while."

"Thanks," Rena thanked before she noticed the doors opening. "Ah, wait-!"

"Rena, it's late!" A man with black hair and glasses had come out of the house with a slightly annoyed expression, who likely was the father of Rena from his presumptions. "I thought I told you to be back by-, huh?"

Before any misunderstandings were made, Kiryu promptly gave the man a small bow. "Pardon my intrusion, but my name is Kazuma Kiryu. I'm new here to this village, and your daughter helpfully guided me here in the hopes that I could stay the night. If there is any reason that you don't want me to stay here then I will take my leave."

The man soon had to readjust his glasses just to process all the information the man in the odd business suit just told him, but decided to look back to his daughter for more clarification.

"Rena, is what he's saying true?"

"Yes, dad!" Rena answered before also bowing. "He had nowhere else to go, so would you please let him stay? Please?"

Taking one last glance at the man by his daughters side, he took a long sigh before scratching the back of his head. "I'll accept it, but you'll both have to talk to me and your mother a bit more on this matter, okay?"

"Yes!" Both Kiryu and Rena exclaimed at the same time.

Two minutes later...

Seated in what seemed to be the living room, Kiryu and Rena looked at the two in front of them. One being Rena's father from before, and the other a woman with long brown hair who was likely her mother. It was a tense atmosphere for the both of them, but Kiryu was ready for anything.

"Kiryu-san, are you sure you're not here because you have feelings for our daughter?"

Almost anything. "W-What?"

"Mom!" Rena said with a bright blush while slamming her hands on the small coffee table. "Why are you saying that?! It's not like that at all!"

"I don't know sweetie," Mr. Ryūgū said with a hand to his chin. "Bringing a man to our home this late at night has got to mean something."

"Right?" Mrs. Ryūgū agreed with a nod before smiling. "He's certainly a looker to say the least..."

"No, no, no!" Rena couldn't stop feeling embarrassed at how casually her parents where assuming things, especially that last comment which made her puke on the inside. "Kiryu-cha- ...I mean Kiryu-san looks fine enough, but not romantic in the slightest!"

(This is just getting out of hand. I need to do something to calm them down.)


You've come to a choice, what do you do?

A) Inform them how you save their daughter from some thugs.

B) Tell them your a real estate agent.

C) Strike a pose.


Option A

"If I may for a moment," Kiryu interrupted with furrowed eyebrows. "I had met your daughter at the land fill when she was being harassed by some local thugs. I promptly helped her out and got them to back off before anything got out of hand."

"What?!" Rena's father spurted out with widened eyes. "Is that true; you're not hurt are you?!"

"Ah, no!" Rena answered with a wave of her hand. "I'm fine! Kiryu-san really saved me!"

"How sweet of you!" Rena's mother exclaimed with a smile.

"Kiryu-san, thanks for looking out her for us, it really means a lot," Mr. Ryūgū thanks with a small bow.

"It's no problem," Kiryu said with a smile while his mind did a thumbs up for his efforts.

(Looks like I managed to diffuse the situation pretty well.)

Getting back on track, Mr. Ryūgū looked back to Kiryu with a smile. "Anyways, Kiryu-san, I hear you're new to Hinamizawa, am I right?"

"Yes sir," Kiryu answered with a nod. "I'm not a local of this area, and would like to learn more about it in my time here."

"Wait, does that mean you're not staying here for long Kiryu-san?" Rena asked with a frown.

"Unfortunately, yes," Kiryu answered once more. "I'll be heading back in about a week or so, but I'd least like to enjoy my stay here if you'd let me."

Both of Rena's parents looked back to each other before taking a nod.

"Alright, we'll let you stay."

"Really Dad?!" Rena happily exclaimed. "You're really going to let him stay with us?!"

"I don't see why not," Rena's mother said with a raised finger. "In return, he can make sure our daughter stays safe, right Kiryu-san?"

"Yes, I'll do my best," Kiryu answered with another small bow.

"Alright, with that said, you two should get some rest," Mr. Ryūgū said while he and his wife got up. "It's going to be a busy day showing him around, especially with what you have planned tomorrow."

"Ah, I almost forgot!" Rena said while looking back to Kiryu. "Kiryu-san, after school tomorrow, I'm going to be inviting my friends for lunch at the local shrine. I'll not only be showing you around, but you can get to meet my friends too!"

"Sounds like a plan," Kiryu said before realizing something. "But, by the local shrine, you wouldn't mean Furude Shrine?"

"Wait, you've already been there?" Rena asked.

"Yeah, I happened upon it before I found you," Kiryu answered.

Looking away for a brief second, Rena frowned before smiling. "Well that's all the better then, good night Kiryu-san!"

Seeing Rena run off upstairs, Kiryu waved before he frowned.

(Looks like I kind of spoiled the surprise. Oh well, better to get some sleep.)

And with that, Kiryu spent his first night in Hinamizawa under the roof of the Ryūgū household, unknown to what the coming days will hold for the future...


[END]


Hi guys, quick note here, yes I haven't updated the other stories, but I felt I wanted to start on another because it's been at the back of my mind for so long. Anyways, I'll be re-watching the series as I go, so I hope this gets good reception.

This is Matt3265 signing off.


Option B

Taking out a business card, Kiryu presented it with a small bow.

"Kazama Kiryu, I am with Tachibana Real Estate."

Raising a eyebrow, Rena's father frowned. "Look, we're currently not in the state of selling our home, so we'll have to pass."

"I'll pay whatever amount you need for me to stay here," Kiryu immediately said with a serious expression.

"What?!" Rena exclaimed with a small sweat drop.

"Here that honey, looks our daughter is a gold digger~," Rena's mother said with a grin.

"Mom!" Rena embarrassingly exclaimed while looking down.

Looking to the side, Kiryu mentally slapped himself.

(I think I might've made things worse.)


Option C

Taking a stand, everyone looked at him in confusion.

"Kiryu-san?" Rena asked before she saw him smile at her.

In the next moment, Kiryu stroked a pose while pointing at her with a fierce grin.

"Yes. I am."

With the small bit of English mixed in with the odd pose, the two parents looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"Kiryu-san," Rena's mother started. "I get that you want impress us, but do you think you could do it in a more preferred way."

"I agree," Rena's father continued with a nod. "Looking cool is nice and all, but I think you need to work on making it feel more... what's the word... genuine?"

"Kiryu-san!" Rena quietly whispered so that only he could hear her. "What are you doing?!"

Kiryu slumped back down into a seated position and sighed. "I... am not so sure..."

(There could have been a much better way to handle that.)


Next Time:

CHAPTER 1: BOUND BY FATE

The beginning has only just begun...