Years Ago – Back Alley, Tokyo
A young Tatsuya stood in a dirty alley, looking up at a much larger bully who grinned down at him menacingly.
”You think you’re tough, brat?
Hand over the money,” the bully sneered, cracking his knuckles.
Tatsuya gripped his fist tightly, anger burning in his eyes.
The moment the bully stepped closer, he exploded forward and threw a straight punch with all his strength.
CRACK!
The bully was lifted off his feet and slammed hard into the wall behind him, unconscious before he even hit the ground.
Tatsuya blinked, staring at his own fist in surprise.
“Tsk… too weak,” he muttered angrily.
He walked over and sat on the bully’s back like it was a chair, still fuming.
“Always picking on smaller kids… pathetic.”
Suddenly, a calm female voice echoed from the alley entrance.
”Not bad at all.”
Tatsuya looked up sharply.
A tall, beautiful woman with long dark hair and sharp, confident eyes walked toward him.
She placed one hand on her hip and grinned.
”You’ve got real talent for someone so young.
That punch had real weight behind it.”
Beside her stood a tall, intimidating figure wrapped in black robes — a Shinigami, its skeletal face partially hidden under a hood, scythe resting on its shoulder. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Its presence radiated cold deathly energy.
Tatsuya’s eyes widened in fear.
He scrambled backward.
“W-what the hell is that?!”
The woman raised her hand calmly.
“Easy.
He won’t kill you unless I want him to.
Forget about my Shinigami for now.” She smiled warmly.
“My name is Miyako.
What’s yours, little powerhouse?”
Tatsuya hesitated for a moment, still wary of the death god standing beside her.
But something about Miyako’s confident grin made him relax just a little.
”…Tatsuya,” he answered.
“Tatsuya Kurogane.”
Miyako’s grin widened.
I like it.
You’re different from the other street kids.
Most would’ve run away crying after seeing my partner here.” She chuckled softly.
“You’ve got raw physical talent.
With the right training, you could become something terrifying.”
Young Tatsuya stood up slowly, dusting himself off.
He glanced once more at the silent Shinigami, then back at Miyako.
”Are you… some kind of exorcist?” he asked.
Miyako laughed lightly.
“Something like that.
I recruit promising talents.
Kids like you who were born with unnatural strength.” She tilted her head.
“How would you like to stop getting into pathetic alley fights and start crushing real monsters instead?”
Tatsuya’s eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and caution.
Back in the present, Tatsuya finished demonstrating a basic stance to Akira, unaware that the memory had briefly surfaced in his mind.
He shook his head slightly, refocusing on the training.
”Alright, new kid.
Let’s try that punch again.”
On the sidelines, Kairo watched with a knowing smile, as if he understood exactly what kind of path Tatsuya had walked.