Morning light spilled across Kuoh Academy's pristine hallways, bouncing off polished floors and freshly cleaned windows. A soft breeze rustled the curtains of the open classroom, carrying the scent of spring and sakura blossoms.
Perfect setting for something abnormal.
"Alright, quiet down," the teacher called out, clapping once. "We've got a new transfer student today. Come in."
The door slid open.
He stepped in—calm, composed, wearing the standard male uniform with just enough looseness to suggest he didn't care much for dress codes. Jet-black hair framed his face in sharp layers, and his eyes…
His eyes made the room freeze.
They weren't hostile. They weren't even cold.
Just deep.
Like staring down a well that didn't reflect light.
The girls whispered instantly. The boys stared. And yet, something in the air felt…tense. Like their instincts were reacting before their minds could.
"I'm Kurozai Ren," he said plainly. No bow. No smile. "I'll be here for a while."
He scanned the room once, gaze touching each person. Not studying—measuring.
"Take the empty seat near the back, by Hyoudou."
He moved, each step measured like a silent rhythm. Sat down. Rested one hand on the desk, the other on his lap. Relaxed posture. Unshakable focus.
Issei, seated next to him, gave a quick glance and forced a casual smile.
"Hey, welcome to the class. I'm—"
"I know."
Issei blinked.
Ren didn't look at him. Just kept watching the chalkboard.
The silence between them dragged out, thin but heavy.
Rias Gremory, sitting near the window, hadn't looked away from him since he entered. Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly. She didn't recognize him—but something gnawed at her senses. The same instinct that let her feel pressure from higher beings was nudging her spine.
Akeno, ever-smiling, tilted her head curiously. She didn't say anything either.
The day moved on, ordinary on the surface. But around Ren, the classroom felt… different.
Every time someone tried to speak to him, it fell short. Not because he was rude—but because being near him was like brushing against a storm that hadn't broken yet.
Lunch Break. Rooftop.
He sat alone, leaning against the fence with a bento he didn't touch. Wind tousled his hair, eyes closed, body still.
But every sound—the footsteps on the stairs, the buzz of students talking, the rustling leaves—registered.
He was listening.
Waiting.
Later, Club Room – Occult Research Club
Rias tapped her pen on the desk.
"No files. No records. Not even a paper trail from his previous school."
Akeno stood by the window, arms folded, her tone playful but edged.
"Strange, isn't it? I could swear I felt something on him during homeroom. Faint. Controlled. But... dangerous."
"Suppressed," Rias agreed softly. "Like it's asleep."
"But not gone."
They exchanged a glance.
Rias leaned back in her chair, crimson hair spilling over the armrest like liquid silk.
"Keep an eye on him," she murmured. "No contact. Not yet. Let's see what happens."
After School – Hallway
As students funneled out, Ren remained behind. He stood near the shoe lockers, motionless, watching the last rays of sun touch the floor.
Behind him, a group of delinquents had cornered someone. Laughing. Posturing.
He turned his head slightly. Not to intervene.
To watch.
The way they moved. How they handled threats. The structure of their instincts.
Weak.
He kept walking.
But the moment he stepped outside, the system flickered softly in his mind.
[Monsterization Sync: 4%]New traits detected nearby. Not worth devouring... yet.
He smiled to himself, barely a flicker of emotion.
This world really is full of prey dressed as people.