Chapter 2: Shadows Stir at Kuoh Academy
The morning sun streamed through the open window, casting golden light across the small bedroom.
Birds chirped outside, and somewhere in the house, the sound of clattering pans hinted at breakfast being made.
Yuuji Hyoudou groaned as he peeled himself off the bed, his entire body aching from last night's brutal training.
Muscles he'd forgotten he had screamed in protest.
Even lifting his arms felt like a challenge.
But when he sat up and stretched, a small, satisfying chime echoed in his mind.
> [Passive Skill Acquired: Pain Tolerance (F)]
Reduces all physical pain by 5%.
He grinned.
At least the system wasn't heartless.
Dragging himself out of bed, Yuuji threw on his uniform—crisp black blazer, white shirt, red tie—and stumbled downstairs.
In the kitchen, a warm scene greeted him.
A woman with light brown hair and a motherly smile was bustling over the stove.
A man, slightly overweight with thinning hair, sat at the table reading the newspaper, occasionally glancing toward the TV.
And sitting at the end, scarfing down breakfast like a man starved, was Issei Hyoudou.
"Morning, Yuuji!" chirped Issei's mom.
"You slept in a bit, huh? First-day nerves?"
Yuuji managed a sheepish smile.
"Yeah. Something like that."
Issei looked up, his mouth still half-full of rice.
"You sure you're ready, dude? Kuoh's full of... uh... opportunities."
Yuuji raised an eyebrow.
"Opportunities?"
Issei wiggled his eyebrows exaggeratedly.
"Girls, man! Girls everywhere! Beautiful, soft, sweet—"
THWACK.
Issei's mom didn't even look up as she smacked the back of his head with a frying pan.
"Finish your food before you start fantasizing!"
Yuuji chuckled under his breath.
The warmth of this family, the easy dynamic between them—it was genuine.
He wasn't just some reincarnated outsider anymore.
He was Yuuji Hyoudou.
Part of this home.
And he would protect it.
No matter what.
---
Kuoh Academy — Midmorning
The classroom buzzed with energy as students filed in, chatting animatedly.
Yuuji found his seat near the window, the sunlight casting patterns across his desk.
He watched the room with casual interest, his enhanced senses picking up whispers of conversation.
"-Did you see Rias-senpai today? She's like a goddess..."
"-I heard some new guys transferred in, hope they aren't weirdos..."
"-Man, I wish I had the balls to talk to Akeno-senpai..."
Yuuji rested his chin on his hand, hiding a small smile.
The normalcy of school life was almost comforting—almost enough to make him forget the dangers lurking beneath the surface.
Almost.
> [Hidden Quest Unlocked!]
Blend In With Normal Students.
Objective: Attend classes, make social connections, avoid suspicion.
Reward: +10 Charisma, +5 Intelligence.
Penalty: Increased threat detection by supernatural forces.
Interesting.
It seemed the system encouraged him not just to fight, but to live.
A sudden commotion near the door broke his thoughts.
A tall, lean boy with dyed blonde hair swaggered into the room, followed by a shorter boy with glasses.
"Sup, everyone! The dynamic duo is here!" the blonde crowed.
Matsuda and Motohama.
The perverted duo.
Issei's best friends.
Sure enough, Issei barged in right behind them, grinning like a fool.
"Yo, Yuuji!" he called, sliding into the seat next to him.
"You ready for the greatest year of your life?"
Yuuji gave him a sidelong glance.
"With you around? I'm terrified."
Issei burst out laughing, clapping him on the back hard enough to nearly knock the breath out of him.
"Don't worry, cousin! Stick with me, and you'll have a front-row seat to greatness!"
Yuuji smirked.
If "greatness" meant getting peeped on, beaten by angry girls, and chased by supernatural assassins, he supposed he was in for a wild ride.
---
Later — Gym Class
"Alright, Hyoudou! You're up!" barked the gym teacher.
Yuuji tightened his grip on the dodgeball, facing down half the class.
Sweat dripped down foreheads. Eyes gleamed with competitive fire.
He hadn't expected so much attention, but apparently, being a "new face" made him a target.
The ball thudded into his hands.
He weighed it thoughtfully.
"Alright. Let's see what my new body can do."
With a smooth, easy movement, he launched the ball.
It sliced through the air like a bullet, nailing the lead player squarely in the chest and sending him sprawling.
A stunned silence fell over the court.
Even the teacher whistled lowly.
"...Damn, Hyoudou. You play baseball?"
Yuuji shrugged nonchalantly, ignoring the amused beeping of the system in his mind.
> [Strength Check Successful: +2 Reputation Among Classmates.]
One by one, he dodged, weaved, and counter-attacked, wiping out the other team with surgical precision.
By the end, his side was cheering him on, even Matsuda and Motohama gaping at him in awe.
Issei clapped him on the back again, nearly knocking him over.
"Dude! You're amazing! I knew we were destined for greatness!"
Yuuji just laughed it off.
Inside, he was thinking:
"Every little thing counts. Friends. Allies. Reputation. It'll all matter later."
Because sooner or later, he would have to choose sides.
And the more he blended in, the more options he would have.
---
Evening — Hyoudou Residence
Dinner was a lively affair.
The clatter of chopsticks, the scent of miso soup, the sound of Issei ranting about girls—all filled the cozy kitchen.
Yuuji listened, smiling faintly.
He didn't remember much of his old life, but something about this felt... precious.
Afterward, as Issei retreated to his room (probably to drool over something he shouldn't), Yuuji found himself sitting with Issei's mom at the table.
She poured him a second cup of tea, her smile gentle.
"You've grown so much, Yuuji," she said softly.
"We're lucky to have you with us. Especially since... you lost your parents so young."
A pang of guilt stabbed through him.
The real Yuuji's memories were faint, but the grief was real.
"I'm lucky too," he said quietly.
"Thank you... Auntie."
She smiled warmly, patting his hand.
"You're family. Always."
Family.
The word settled in his heart like a sacred promise.
He would protect them.
No matter what monsters lurked in the shadows.
No matter what worlds he would have to cross.
---
Midnight — Rooftops of Kuoh
Yuuji crouched atop a darkened rooftop, the cool wind ruffling his hair.
The city stretched out below him, lights twinkling like stars.
His system interface floated before him.
> [Level 2]
[EXP: 45%]
Strength: 18
Agility: 17
Vitality: 16
Intelligence: 15
Perception: 22
Charisma: 14
Slowly, steadily, he was growing.
Another beep sounded.
> [Daily Quest Complete!]
[Reward: 1 Random Skill Book.]
A small, glowing book materialized before him.
He grabbed it instinctively.
> [Skill Book: Shadow Extraction]
Allows the user to extract the shadow of defeated enemies and turn them into loyal summons. Shadow soldiers gain stats based on the original enemy.
Yuuji's breath caught.
"Shadow Extraction."
The legendary ability of Sung Jin-Woo.
He opened the book without hesitation.
The knowledge poured into his mind like a flood, dark and thrilling.
> [Skill Acquired: Shadow Extraction (F).]
He clenched his fists, excitement thrumming through his veins.
He wasn't just leveling up.
He was becoming something else.
A hunter of shadows.
A king of the dead.
A force that even gods would come to fear.
And this was only the beginning.
Somewhere beyond the horizon, he felt it:
The first ripples of chaos.
The first enemies stirring.
He smiled darkly to himself, silver eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
"Come find me," he whispered to the night.
"I'm ready."
---
Far Across the City — Abandoned Church
Four figures knelt in the darkness, their black wings shivering in anticipation.
"Target located," hissed a woman's voice.
"The Hyoudou boy. He's more... interesting than we thought."
A low chuckle answered her.
"Then let's make sure he doesn't live long enough to become a problem."
Outside, the winds howled.
And the first true battle of Yuuji Hyoudou's new life began to stir.
---
[End of Chapter 2]