Morning sunlight spilled into Yūto's room long before he was ready to face it.
He barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the creature from the shrine—those dozens of shifting eyes—replaying in his mind.
And Sayo's words kept ringing through his head:
"Ikari's vessel will come for you."
Yūto groaned and pulled a pillow over his face.
He wanted to pretend today was normal, but the faint glow of the fear sigil beneath his shirt made that impossible. Osore's presence was quiet this morning, like a storm resting before another surge.
Finally, he dragged himself out of bed.
School felt pointless now… but skipping would only draw attention, so he shoved his books into his bag and left.
As he walked through the streets, normal life moved around him—students laughing, shop owners sweeping dust from the front of their stores, bikes whizzing past.
No one knew a god was trapped inside the quiet kid walking among them.
No one knew a war between vessels had already begun.
---
A Hunter in Disguise
When he finally reached school, he almost didn't recognize her.
Sayo stood near the entrance gate wearing the school uniform—skirt, blazer, ribbon, the whole thing—though she kept her hunter's jacket tied around her waist. She blended in just enough… except her expression was way too serious for a high school student.
"What," Yūto whispered, "are you wearing?"
"A disguise," she said flatly. "I got transferred."
"You WHAT?"
"I said I'm assigned to watch you. You think I was joking?"
She crossed her arms.
"You attract danger. I stay close."
Yūto stared blankly.
"So you're… in my class now?"
"Unfortunately."
He groaned into his hands.
This day was already unbelievable.
---
First Lesson
Lunch break came fast, and Sayo dragged Yūto to the empty music room.
"Your training starts now."
He blinked. "…In school?"
"Monsters don't wait for after school, Yūto."
She closed the curtains and locked the door.
Talisman papers flickered around her fingers like sparks.
"Sit."
He sat.
"Now breathe," she instructed.
He took a long breath, but it came out shaky.
"No. Not like that."
She knelt in front of him, placing two talisman strips on his wrists. "You can't control Osore if you can't control yourself. Close your eyes."
He swallowed and obeyed.
At first, all he heard was the faint hum of the air conditioner.
Then—
Osore's voice echoed inside him, low and ancient.
"She wants to tame fear. How amusing."
"Shut up," Yūto whispered.
Sayo raised an eyebrow. "Talking to him already?"
He nodded nervously. "He won't stop commenting."
"Good. That means the link is active."
She placed her palm gently over his chest—right on the sigil beneath his shirt.
Yūto flinched.
"Relax. This helps me sense the state of your seal."
Her touch was warm.
But the sigil pulsed cold.
A dark, sharp sensation crawled up his spine.
Then—faintly—Osore's power stirred, like black ink swirling beneath his skin.
Sayo pulled her hand back quickly.
"Your seal is… unstable," she muttered.
"Every emotion spikes it."
"That's… not good, right?"
"No."
Her voice was tense.
"It means even fear itself can trigger an overflow."
Yūto's stomach tightened.
"So if I panic—"
"You could unleash Osore again," Sayo finished.
He felt cold all over.
---
Uninvited Presence
A sudden knock hit the music room door.
Yūto and Sayo froze.
Another knock—this time slower, heavier.
Sayo's fingers drifted toward her talismans.
"Stay behind me."
The doorknob rattled.
Yūto's heartbeat climbed violently, and the sigil throbbed with it.
"Something ancient is nearby…" Osore whispered.
"A familiar fury…"
The door slid open.
A boy stood there.
Tall.
Sharp eyes.
Burning red irises—like embers refusing to die out.
His presence felt like heat pressing against the walls.
He smiled slowly, like someone who had already chosen their next victim.
"Sorry for interrupting."
His voice carried a strange, simmering anger beneath the words.
"I just transferred today. They told me I'd find the class representative here."
Sayo's grip tightened.
Yūto couldn't breathe.
Because the moment the boy's gaze landed on him—
The fear sigil on Yūto's chest erupted with icy pain.
Osore snarled inside him.
"Rage walks in flesh."
The boy tilted his head, eyes glowing faintly red.
"I'm looking for someone…"
His smile widened.
"…Someone like you."
Sayo stepped in front of Yūto instantly.
"Back off."
The boy's red eyes flickered—recognition, hunger, something violent restrained.
"Oh," he murmured.
"So you're protecting Osore's vessel."
Yūto's blood ran cold.
He knows.
The boy leaned against the doorway casually, but the air trembled with heat around him.
"My name," he said, "is Ryusei Kurogane."
The temperature in the room spiked.
"And I," he continued softly,
"am the Vessel of Ikari."