Chapter one: Arrival.

Kouga Yanagawa never thought much about Kuoh. It was just another place, another quiet town somewhere in Japan.

Yet, here he was, seated in the back of a luxury car, watching the unfamiliar streets pass by as he was taken to what was supposed to be his new home. The decision had already been made for him.

For most of his life, it had just been him and his mother. She wasn't rich, nor was she poor, just an ordinary woman who worked hard to raise him on her own. She never talked much about his father, and he never thought to ask. He didn't need to. Their life had been enough.
Until it wasn't. She was gone. Just like that.

What followed had been a blur of formalities, legal discussions he didn't even register. In the end, the answer had been simple: he would go to his father. A father who had never been part of his life.

He was a successful businessman, one whose name carried weight in the corporate world. His residence was in Kuoh, though calling it that was a stretch. Apparently, he was barely ever there. From what he heard, business demanded his father's presence elsewhere, meetings, negotiations, deals that never seemed to end... Still, he had made arrangements.

Kouga would enroll at some new school, have everything he needed, and be taken care of. Not by him, of course. His father had a trusted butler for that.

"Are you feeling alright, sir?"

The words came from the man behind the wheel—his father's butler—pulling Kouga from his thoughts. Kouga's gaze flicked up, catching the older man's eyes in the rearview mirror. Dark, steady, and just a little too probing for his liking. His brows furrowed, narrowing his stare as he held the butler's gaze for a beat longer than necessary. What's with that question? It grated on him, the assumption behind it, like he was some fragile kid who needed checking up on.

"What's your name again?" Kouga asked, his tone sharp enough to cut through the polite air.

The butler didn't flinch. "It's Hiroshi, sir. Hiroshi Tanaka."

"Right. Hiroshi." Kouga leaned back, crossing his arms. "I don't know what my father told you about me, but you don't need to sit there analyzing every breath I take. I'm fine. Or is that just how you kill time, watching me like I'm about to crack?"

The butler's expression didn't shift much as he adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. "Forgive me, sir. I meant no offense. It's merely my duty to ensure your comfort. Your father instructed me to see to your needs, and I take that responsibility seriously."

Kouga scoffed, a short, dry sound that didn't quite hide the edge in his voice. "Yeah, well, he's not exactly winning any awards for being around, is he? Sending you to play babysitter doesn't make up for it."

For a moment, the car was silent again. Then Hiroshi spoke, his voice softer this time. "If I may, sir… this must be a difficult adjustment for you. I only wished to be certain you weren't unwell. The move, the academy, it's a great deal to take in."

Kouga's jaw tightened. He didn't want this, some stranger digging into his head, acting like he understood. "You don't need to figure me out," he said, now refusing to meet the man's gaze. "I'm here because I have to be. That's it. Save the concern for someone who asks for it."

''... Very well.''

The car turned onto a wide, tree-lined avenue and Kouga's attention drifted from the window as a large building came into view ahead. It was a grand structure, one that was difficult to ignore.

Kouga sat up a little straighter. "What's that over there?" Hiroshi glanced at him through the rearview mirror, a flicker of relief in his eyes at the change in Kouga's demeanor. "That, sir, is Kuoh Academy. Your new school.''

''It used to be an all-girls academy until very recently, when they began admitting boys as well. The transition has been smooth, from what I hear, and the academy has maintained its reputation for excellence. You'll be starting there tomorrow, as per your father's arrangements."

Kouga stared at the building. It looked more like a mansion than a school. He didn't respond, but Hiroshi seemed to take his silence as an invitation to continue. Your father was quite particular about ensuring you'd have every opportunity to—"

"I'll take a look around the school, then."

Hiroshi glanced back through the mirror. "Sir, it might not be the best time—classes are already underway since the term started a few days ago, and it'd be a bit rude to barge in now. We can have someone show you around tomorrow when you start properly. I'll make sure we're there early so you don't fall too far behind—"

Kouga gripped the door handle, the car still speeding down the street as he flung the door open.

Without time for the butler to react, the teenager leapt out, his sneakers hitting the pavement with a sharp sound, landing perfectly on his feet, completely unbothered by the car's momentum.

"Y-Young Master!?" Hiroshi shouted, slamming the brakes.

The car jolted to a stop as he stumbled out. "W-What…!?" But Kouga was gone. Hiroshi stood next to the open door, scanning the street. But there was no sign of him, as if he'd just vanished into thin air.

[ . . . . . . ]

Kouga perched atop the brick wall, standing between two of the pointed metal rods lining the top. From there, he could see the sheer size of Kuoh Academy stretching out below. "This place is massive… nothing like the schools I'm used to."

A faint grin broke through as he nodded to himself. "Plenty of students here. That could play to my advantage." With a quick push, he jumped, launching into a flurry of flips. His body spun mid-air, legs curling tight before snapping out in a crisp, fluid arc—once, twice, three times in rapid succession.

He dropped from the three-meter wall as if weightless, landing softly on the grass inside. His knees flexed briefly to catch the fall, then he rose effortlessly, standing as though he'd just stepped down from a low ledge.

He glanced around, noting the thick cluster of trees dotting the grounds. "There's a ton of trees here, could even tuck a building in there somewhere," he said. "That'll work too. Doubt anyone would notice a couple new ones popping up."

With that, he walked toward the main school building, keeping close to the treeline as he moved. When he neared it, he tilted his head back, staring up at its height. "This is a good spot," he whispered. "It's near the classrooms too, so there's bound to be a lot of emotions swirling around here."

He clapped his hands together, the sharp sound slicing through the air. A heartbeat later, unnatural blue sparks erupted between his palms, flickering to life like tiny lightning bolts, crackling with a faint hum as they danced in the space where his hands had met.

Slowly, he drew his hands apart, and a small seed materialized in the space between them. The size of it was roughly equal to a golf ball, veined with delicate silver lines that pulsed faintly, like a beating heart. The seed dropped to the dirt, bouncing twice with a soft tap before settling into the earth.

Kouga knelt in the dirt, not caring if his pants got stained, and leaned close to the seed. Then, using his fingers like a makeshift shovel, he began digging into the dirt, scooping out a hole and pushing the loose earth to the side.

His hands grew smeared with soil, but he paid it no mind. After a few moments, he nodded to himself. "That should do it," he said, deeming the hole deep enough. Carefully, he placed the seed inside, filling the hole with the dirt around it.

"I've got high hopes for you, so don't let me down."

For good measure, he patted the ground firmly, smoothing it over until it looked undisturbed, as if nothing had happened. As he pressed a hand to the earth to rise from his kneeling position, two voices cut through the silence behind him.

"Is this him?" / "Young Master!" The first voice was calm and measured, unmistakably female, while the second rang out with urgency, Kouga didn't need to turn to know it belonged to Hiroshi, his father's butler.

A faint smile tugged at Kouga's lips as he stood. He turned around, his expression shifting to amusement at the sight of Hiroshi. The butler was a mess, out of breath, hair disheveled, glasses sitting at an odd angle on his nose, hands braced on his knees as he panted heavily.

"Wow, Hiroshi, you look like you've run a marathon," Kouga teased, crossing his arms. "Did I really scare you that much?" Hiroshi opened his mouth to respond, still catching his breath, but Kouga's attention shifted to the other figure before he could.

Standing beside the butler was a teenage girl, her posture composed despite the situation. She had a slender frame, her black hair cut into a neat bob that framed her face, and her violet eyes studied him through a pair of glasses with an unreadable intensity.

She wore the Kuoh Academy girls' uniform: a white long-sleeved button-down shirt with vertical linings, a black ribbon tied at the collar, a black shoulder cape paired with a matching corset, and a magenta skirt with a white underskirt peeking out beneath.

"... Young Master…'' Hiroshi caught his breath enough to speak, his words coming out in a rush between pants. "... This isn't a joke… You could've been hurt—jumping out of a car like that!"

Kouga laughed again, waving a hand dismissively. "Don't be so dramatic. There was nothing dangerous about it." His gaze shifted back to the girl, who had chosen to remain silent. "And who's this? Don't tell me you dragged her into looking for me. Didn't you say it would be rude to bother them with classes already underway?"

''It was no bother at all.'' The girl said, stepping forward. "Ensuring there are no issues on school grounds is part of my responsibility as Student Council President." Kouga raised an eyebrow, a grin spreading across his face.

"Oh? Well, look at that, Hiroshi. You dragged the Student Council President right to me—such an efficient butler. Now I can ask her to show me around school myself. Isn't that perfect?"

Hiroshi straightened up, attempting to protest. "Young Master, I don't think that's—" But Kouga shot him a sharp glance, silencing him mid-sentence. The butler's mouth closed, his expression tightening as he stepped back.

Kouga turned back to the girl, his tone light but edged with confidence. "There shouldn't be a problem, right? Guiding new students is part of the Student Council President's duties too, isn't it?"

She paused, her violet eyes locking onto his for a moment, studying him once more. "Indeed, that's also within my duties. I was planning to give you a personal tour tomorrow, but since you're so eager, I can make time to guide you now."

Kouga's smile widened, a touch too sweet, almost mocking. He glanced at the butler. "Hear that? The Student Council President doesn't mind. You're dismissed, Hiroshi. Wait for me in the car outside."

He took a step closer to the girl, the two of them standing less than a meter apart as he extended his hand for a handshake, the dirt still smudged across his fingers from earlier. She paused, her gaze on his hand, then accepted the handshake.

"Kouga Yanagawa." he said. "A pleasure to meet you."

"Sona Shitori."

[ . . . . . . ]

Sona adjusted her glasses and gestured toward the main school building. "We'll start with the school house, it's where most of your classes will be, along with the offices and council room. This way."

Kouga followed, hands in his pockets, his eyes scanning the area with mild curiosity. As they walked, Sona pointed out other parts of the grounds. "Over there's the gymnasium, and beyond it, you'll find the sports fields. There's a football field, baseball diamond, even tennis courts."

"I see," Kouga said, taking a look over to the fields in the distance. "Football and baseball, huh? Guess this place has everything a jock could dream of." He turned his head to Sona. "Must be tough, showing me around when you've probably got a million other things to do. Thanks for taking the time, President."

"It's no trouble. Your father is one of our top contributors, so this is the least I can do."

''Oh?'' Kouga raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

Sona studied him, curious at his reaction. "You weren't aware of it?"

He shrugged, kicking at a pebble on the path. "I've only met the guy twice—once in a custody hearing, so I don't know much about him. But it tracks. No way I'd get into a school like this with my grades, especially after arriving a few days late."

''I see.'' Sona nodded, pausing for a moment as they continued walking toward the school house. Her violet eyes studied him, curiosity breaking through her usual composure. "Speaking of your arrival… I wanted to ask something, Yanagawa-kun.''

''What is it?''

''How did you manage to get onto the school grounds earlier?"

''I'm not sure I follow, President.'' A faint smile tugged at Kouga's lips. ''Care to elaborate?''

Sona stopped, turning to face him, her hands clasped behind her back. "I happened to be at the main gate when your butler found me, frantic about you entering the school. I assured him that wasn't possible, I'd been there for several minutes and saw no one come through.''

''Yet, somehow, he was right. You were already inside when we checked. You're a student here, so I don't mind you familiarizing yourself with the school grounds. But I have to admit, I'm curious. How did you pull it off?"

"I'm good at climbing.'' He rubbed his hands together, a casual shrug following. "I know it's not exactly the school's proudest moment, someone hopping over like that. Sorry about that. I was pretty far from the gate, though, and… well, I was trying to shake off dad's butler.''

Sona gave a short nod in response, her expression stoic, whether she truly accepted his explanation or simply chose not to press further, it was hard to tell. "I'll let it slide this time," she said. "But in the future, please use the main gate like the other students."

Kouga hooked his hands behind his head, stretching slightly. "Will do, President."

[ . . . . . . ]

Kouga tugged on a black hoodie, pulling the hood up as he knelt to tie his shoelaces, making sure the knots were tight. His new room was quiet, the night wind pressing against the windows, but his thoughts were already on his plans for tonight.

After his walk with Sona ended, his dad's butler—whose name he'd already forgotten—drove him to his new place, a massive mansion on the edge of Kuoh. The size of it hit him hard: high ceilings, shiny floors, and more rooms than he could count. He'd figured his dad was loaded, but seeing a house this big—and knowing the guy barely lived in it—really drove it home.

Still, as night fell, Kouga's mind was focused on only one thing: The seed he'd planted earlier near the treeline. He wanted to see if the emotions around the school had been sufficient to kick it into gear.

Sure, he could wait until tomorrow, play it safe, and avoid risking getting caught sneaking around at night. But honestly, being cooped up in this giant room was driving him up the wall. Boredom won out, and he decided to toss caution aside.

Half an hour later, Kouga stood before the closed gate of his new school, the cool night air brushing his face. A grin tugged at his lips as he eyed the tall metal bars. He'd promised Sona he'd use the gate from now on, but he hadn't specified how.

He stepped back, gauged the height—three meters, maybe more—and leapt, clearing it with a smooth jump, landing softly on the grass inside. He straightened up, shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets, and started walking toward the treeline.

"Woah." As he reached the spot where he'd planted the seed earlier, he froze, letting out a low whistle. In front of him, he saw a massive tree now standing tall, perfectly camouflaged among the others, its size matching the surrounding trunks as if it had always been there.

He tilted his head, sweat beading on his forehead. "Seriously?" It was the first time he'd seen a seed grow this much, fueled by emotions alone. What kind of weirdos were hanging around this school to churn out enough excess emotion to feed it this fast?

He crouched, inspecting the tree closely.

No fruits yet, disappointing, but not surprising. He'd have to wait a bit longer for those, though at this rate, a few days might do it. Once they ripened, he could pluck them and devour the benefits. It was not as potent as his "other method," but still a solid way to tap into his power without hurting anyone. That was a win in his book.

Satisfied, Kouga stood and turned back toward the gate, leaping over it again with the same effortless grace. He'd seen what he came for, so there was no point lingering. He started walking, his footsteps taking him through the streets for what felt like a good stretch, minutes ticking by as the night deepened around him.

''Hm?''
After a while, he stopped, his gaze catching on something in the distance.

A few minutes further ahead, a church came into his view. A frown settled on his face as if a memory or thought tugged at him. He stood there, considering something for a moment, then nodded to himself, as if coming to a decision.

[ . . . . . . ]

Kouga tilted his head, eyeing the church. "Huh… Looks like no one's been here in ages." The building certainly showed its wear, with faded paint, and a sagging roof that hinted at better days long past.

He stepped closer and gave the door a push, but it didn't budge—locked tight.

"Sorry, but a locked door doesn't mean much to me." He smiled, lifting his leg, focusing a surge of power into it, ready to kick the door down. But at the last second, he hesitated, lowering his foot with a shake of his head.

He could smash it to pieces easily enough, but if his mom were still around, she'd probably give him an earful for wrecking a church, even one that was abandoned. The thought made him smile, though a pang of something softer lingered.

Still, the idea of getting inside stuck with him. Maybe he'd find a way later. For now, he could lean on his dad's butler, what was his name again? Shirahoshi? No, wait, that was some giant mermaid from that pirate story.

Whatever, his name didn't matter. What's important is that he could be useful to him. Perhaps he could have him ask around about this place for him, look for a way for the boy to enter and save him the trouble.

With that plan in mind, he turned around, leaving the church behind and heading back toward the mansion.

However…

High above, tucked against the church ceiling, something stirred. No, someone. A shadow with jet-black, feathered wings, its gaze fixed downward. It wasn't the teenage boy himself that held its interest, but something deeper, a fleeting pulse it had sensed within him.

''...A Sacred Gear…?''

End of chapter one.