The school bell had just rung, and it was time to leave.
Ryu made his way to the Occult Club. It seemed as though Rias wanted to show him something.
"Hello, Ryu~" Akeno greeted Ryu as he entered. "I hope you'll be excited about today. We're going to be talking about familiars."
"Familiars?" Ryu pretended to not know what those were.
"Yes, companions that us Devils have. This right here is my companion" Akeno said, revealing a small green tiny demon.
"Exactly" Rias continued on. "If you see right here, this is my familiar"
Suddenly, a small bat-like creature appeared. However, it soon transformed into a hot girl he had seen before.
"Woah," Ryu replied.
"You have seen her before, from the day of your date with Raynare" Rias continued.
"And in the following few days, we hope to get you a familiar.
Even though you aren't a devil, I'd like to see you try to obtain one"
Ryu nodded his head.
"How exactly would I do that?" Ryu asked, trying to keep his voice steady, even though he already knew how.
Akeno smiled playfully, her usual mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, it's quite simple, Ryu~," she said, her voice light.
"There's a special dimension where familiars dwell, waiting to bond with those worthy enough to claim them."
Rias stepped forward, her tone more serious now. "The familiars choose their masters based on compatibility, and while it's something that devils naturally excel at, I believe you have the potential."
Ryu blinked, unsure what to say. He had heard legends about familiars, magical creatures bound to a master for life, but to actually attempt to get one?
"You'll need to prepare," Rias continued, her voice calm but firm. "The familiar world can be dangerous, especially for someone who isn't a devil. But, with guidance, I think you'll manage."
"Dangerous?" Ryu raised an eyebrow. "What kind of dangers are we talking about?"
Akeno chuckled softly, stepping beside Rias. "Oh, just some little surprises here and there, but don't worry, Ryu, we'll be right there with you. Consider it a test of sorts."
Ryu swallowed hard. He could feel a twinge of unease, but the thought of adventure stirred something in him. "Alright. When do we start?"
"In about four days," Rias said confidently. "We'll open the portal to the familiar realm then."
As Ryu left the Occult Club, his mind raced with anticipation. He wondered if he would get any familiars.
Ryu made his way to Ryozanpaku in hopes to train.
Ryu arrived at the entrance of Ryozanpaku, feeling the familiar sense of calm that always settled over him before training.
However, this time something was different. Standing just outside the gates was a young man who looked out of place—nervous, even.
His hands fidgeted with the straps of his bag, and his eyes darted around the entrance, as though he was second-guessing whether he should even be there.
The young man had short black hair and wore a simple tracksuit, but what stood out most was the tense expression on his face.
Ryu could tell immediately that this guy was new and he recognized him immediately from the anime.
As he walked closer, the boy noticed him, standing up straighter but clearly uneasy.
"Uh, hi there," the young man greeted with a shaky voice, forcing a smile. "I'm, uh, Kenichi. Is this… is this Ryozanpaku?"
Ryu couldn't help but smile slightly at how nervous Kenichi seemed. "Yeah, this is the place," he replied, his voice calm. "You new here?"
Kenichi nodded quickly.
He glanced at the gates like he was debating, turning around and leaving. "I mean, I've never done anything like this before. Training with real martial artists? It's… kinda intimidating."
Ryu chuckled, understanding the feeling all too well. "Yeah, I get it. When I first started, I thought I was in way over my head too. But trust me, once you get started, you'll learn a lot more than you expect."
He paused, giving Kenichi a reassuring look. "The masters here are tough, but they know what they're doing. You'll be fine."
Kenichi seemed to relax a little, though the uncertainty didn't completely leave his face. "Thanks," he said quietly.
"I'm just... worried I won't be able to keep up. I mean, I'm not exactly the strongest or fastest guy around."
He reached for the gigantic gate, opening it with one blow. Kenechi was shocked at the strength of Ryu.
Kenichi hesitated for a second before stepping forward. Ryu motioned for him to follow, and together they walked into the dojo grounds.
As they moved toward the main building, the sounds of intense training echoed through the open-air halls—shouts of exertion, the clanging of weapons, and the rhythmic thud of punches landing on practice dummies.
Kenichi's wide eyes took in everything. His nervousness had now turned into awe. "Wow… this place is incredible," he murmured, looking at the training grounds.
"Everyone! There's a new student!" Ryu shouted.
Just then, a figure appeared, blocking their path. It was Apachai, the towering, child-like Muay Thai master.
Ryu felt Kenichi grab the back of his shirt, and he stifled a laugh. "Hey, it's alright," Ryu said, turning to give Kenichi a reassuring smile. "Apachai just excited to meet you."
Peeking out from behind Ryu's shoulder, Kenichi's voice trembled. "Excited? He looks like he could crush me with one hand…"
Apachai, noticing Kenichi's reaction, blinked in confusion.
His expression softened even more as he leaned down slightly, trying to make himself seem less intimidating.
"Apachai no crush! Apachai gentle!" he said earnestly, his eyes wide with concern. "Fight together! Not hurt!"
Ryu chuckled, patting Kenichi on the shoulder. "See? He's harmless. As long as you don't ask him to hold back during sparring."
Kenichi gulped, slowly stepping out from behind Ryu, though his legs were still shaky. "S-Sparring?"
Apachai, misunderstanding Kenichi's reaction, grinned broadly again and gave a thumbs-up.
"Yes! Sparring soon! You get strong, like Apachai!" His enthusiasm was impossible to dampen, but it only made Kenichi's nerves worse.
"Uh… great," Kenichi muttered weakly, unsure whether he should feel comforted or more terrified.
Ryu couldn't help but laugh, giving Kenichi a gentle nudge. "You'll get used to it. Just… try not to spar with him right away."
Kenichi laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Uh, yeah, maybe? I'm still just getting used to the place."
Apachai patted him on the back with surprising gentleness for someone of his size, though it still made Kenichi stumble forward slightly.
"Apachai, ease up," Ryu said with a grin. "He's just getting started."
The next person they encountered was Shigure, the quiet weapon master. She appeared as if from nowhere, standing by the doorway with her sword resting across her shoulders.
Kenichi swallowed hard, intimidated by her cold gaze and the effortless way she held her weapon.
"You… will learn," she said in her soft, almost whisper-like voice. Her words were few, but her presence was enough to silence any further doubts Kenichi might have voiced.
She gave him a subtle nod before disappearing into the shadows as swiftly as she had appeared.
Ryu placed a hand on Kenichi's shoulder, guiding him further inside. "Don't worry, you'll get used to her too."
Next, they entered the main dojo room, where Master Akisame and Master Kensei were busy discussing something over tea. They both looked up as Ryu and Kenichi approached.
"Ah, a new disciple, I see!" Akisame smiled warmly, standing up to greet them. "Welcome, young man. I hope you're ready to work hard."
Kensei waved his hand dismissively but smiled knowingly. "Hard work, hard work! But it'll pay off! You'll be in tip-top shape in no time."
Kenichi nervously bowed to both of them. "Thank you for having me."
Akisame studied Kenichi for a moment before nodding thoughtfully. "You look a bit nervous. Don't worry, everyone here started off the same way. You just need to show up, do your best, and we'll help you with the rest."
Kenichi smiled a bit more, feeling a slight boost in confidence from Akisame's calm, encouraging demeanor.
Ryu leaned in and whispered, "Master Akisame's pretty strict when it comes to training, but he's also one of the best teachers you'll ever meet."
"Strict?" Kenichi's eyes widened slightly, but before he could say more, a loud crash echoed from outside.
Sakaki, the karate master, appeared in the doorway, laughing loudly. "What's this? A new student?" he asked, his voice booming with enthusiasm.
Kenichi flinched slightly at Sakaki's volume, but Sakaki waved it off, striding over and giving Kenichi a rough pat on the back. "Don't worry, kid, you'll toughen up soon enough. Just follow my lead, and you'll be punching through walls in no time!" He laughed heartily, clearly enjoying Kenichi's nervous expression.
Kenichi could only smile awkwardly, unsure how to respond to such a claim.
Ryu grinned, enjoying Kenichi's reactions to everyone. "See, I told you. It might seem overwhelming at first, but it's actually not so bad once you meet them."
Ryu discussed how Miu likely recommended Kenechi to everyone.
As the introductions wrapped up, Master Akisame stepped forward again. "We'll officially begin your training tomorrow morning, Kenichi. Get a good night's rest—you're going to need it."
Kenichi nodded, clearly relieved that he had some time to mentally prepare. "Thank you, Master Akisame. I'll do my best."
As Ryu walked Kenichi out of the dojo for the day, he couldn't help but laugh softly at Kenichi's still slightly shocked expression. "So… what do you think?" Ryu asked, knowing exactly what kind of response he'd get.
Kenichi shook his head with a mix of awe and nervousness. "I think… I'm in for a lot more than I bargained for."
Ryu chuckled, giving him a pat on the back. "You'll be fine. Just take it one day at a time."
Ryu immediately left Kenechi alone as he left the masters to strangle him for his money.