Four years had passed, but right now, standing on the battlefield with my katana drawn, none of that mattered. I had a mission—one no one else understood.
"Private Yuichiro Hyakuya!" My commander's panicked voice sliced through the chaos. He sprinted toward me, desperation etched across his face. "What are you doing here? Run! That's a Four Horsemen of John!"
The creature crashed through a nearby wall with a thunderous roar, towering above us all. Its grotesque form radiated death, its presence suffocating. Everything it touched crumbled beneath its immense weight.
I smiled.
"Run? Why run when I can kill it?" I said, my voice cutting through the noise.
Without waiting for a reply, I tightened my grip on my katana and launched myself forward, my body vibrating with energy. I moved faster than the eye could follow, delivering calculated, precise strikes. In seconds, the beast lay in pieces, its massive body reduced to scattered chunks of flesh and bone.
A heavy silence fell over the battlefield. Shocked faces stared at me, disbelief in their wide eyes. I could feel the intensity of my commander's gaze—he was both awed and horrified. No one had expected this.
Except for me.
I hadn't disobeyed orders out of arrogance. I knew the consequences, and that was the point. Killing that monster on my own would lead to repercussions—ones that would send me exactly where I needed to go.
I wasn't just a soldier. I had a plan. I'd seen the future, lived through it once already, and while I intended to rewrite it, I had to let certain things play out first. My disobedience was just one step toward that.
The commander stormed toward me, face red with fury. "What the hell was that, Hyakuya? You disobeyed a direct order!"
I sheathed my katana calmly, meeting his rage with a level gaze. "I killed the monster. Isn't that the objective?"
His fists clenched, jaw tight. "This isn't just about killing the enemy! This is war, and in war, you follow orders!"
I shrugged. "Orders won't save you from death."
His eyes narrowed, frustration mounting as he fought to keep control. He wanted to scream at me, punish me right then and there, but I had already made my move. I had proven my worth. All that was left was to let the next part of the plan unfold.
"You're reckless, Hyakuya. You're going to get yourself killed—or worse, someone else killed," he muttered, voice low. He shook his head, clearly torn. "I'm reporting this. You'll face consequences for your insubordination. Don't think you'll get away with it."
"I understand, sir." I gave him a mock salute, then turned and walked away, his glare burning into my back.
The next day, sitting in the classroom dressed in the gray uniform of a student, I found the contrast striking. I listened quietly as the teacher droned on, reflecting on how different this experience was from what I remembered. The "me" from the manga version of this world—Yuu—was impatient, prone to frustration and anger. But here, this was a rare chance to live through something almost normal.
Almost.
In my previous life, there were no ordinary schools. I was enrolled in an elite training facility where survival was a daily battle. Status and power came at a steep price, one most wouldn't have been willing to pay.
But that world was behind me now. I had to focus on the present. Though a small part of me felt guilty for manipulating the commander, I knew it was necessary. He was a good man, just doing his job, but I had to do what needed to be done for the greater plan.
The lunch bell rang, students rising from their desks, heading toward the cafeteria or unpacking their lunches. I remained seated, my gaze drifting to the desk behind me.
Shinoa Hīragi.
She was striking, with shoulder-length ashen hair and a large magenta bow tied behind her head. Her amber-red eyes gleamed with amusement, as though she silently judged everything around her. Despite her beauty, it wasn't her appearance that caught my attention—it was her role.
My surveillance officer.
I caught her eye, and her lips curled into a mischievous smile. "What? Is there something on my face? I know I'm stunning, but you're staring a bit."
I smirked back. "Actually, I was thinking about how obvious you've been all morning."
Her playful expression faltered slightly. "Oh? Do explain."
"You've been watching me all class. Didn't think I'd notice?"
Shinoa's demeanor shifted subtly. She crossed her arms and leaned back, scrutinizing me. "You're sharper than I gave you credit for. I was going to keep an eye on you regardless, but now, you've definitely made things more interesting."
Leaning back in my own chair, I replied, "I'll take that as a compliment. Since you've been watching me so intently, why don't you just say what's really on your mind?"
She tilted her head, her gaze thoughtful. "You're pretty confident for someone in your position. Most people would be intimidated by the kind of scrutiny I represent."
I leaned forward slightly, a teasing smile on my face. "Oh? And what position would that be? I thought you were just a girl who fell for me at first sight."
For a second, she looked genuinely shocked, then she laughed. "Bold assumption, but no. I'm your surveillance officer."
"I figured as much," I shrugged. "You're not exactly subtle. I suppose you've read all the reports about me, huh? So, what do I have to do to join the Moon Demon Company and clear this suspicion?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Lieutenant Colonel Guren mentioned something interesting about you," she said, her voice softening slightly. "When they found you, covered in scars and barely alive, the first thing you asked was for help… not for yourself, but for your family. Even when you woke up, your thoughts were with them. And when you couldn't save one of your brothers… it tore you apart."
Her words hung in the air.
"I think," she continued, "you're afraid. Afraid to let anyone close, afraid to make friends… or even find love."
I was momentarily stunned. I hadn't expected her to reveal so much, nor had I anticipated that Guren would share such detailed information. The old man was more devious than I thought.
"So, I only need to find some friends or a lover, right?" I asked, regaining my composure.
Nodding, she said, "Yes, that's correct."
I smirked. "So, beautiful Shinoa, would you become my lover? Of course, we can break up the moment I join the Moon Demon Company, and you'll be rid of me as soon as possible. How about it?"
She looked taken aback for a moment before laughing. "You're a bit too much of a virgin for me, so no," she said with a teasing smile. "Besides, it might not be such a good idea to make such an offer. I could report your little plan and extend your suspension, you know."
Hearing this, I mumbled, "Aren't you also a virgin?"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you say, and how do you know that?"
Realizing my mistake, I stammered, "Well, although you're beautiful," I glanced her up and down, "there are a lot of missing details. It's not too hard to guess-."
Before I could finish, there was a bang as the classroom door burst open. A boy flew in, crashing to the ground, followed by three others. The boy on the ground groaned, "P... please stop."
One of the boys, standing in the middle, sneered, "Stop what? Are you making it sound like we're picking on you or something? We just asked a friend to buy us some drinks. What's with the attitude?"
The boy on the ground was Yoichi. I looked at them and said, "Yo."
The bullies turned to me with sneers. "What do you want?"
I smiled calmly. "I planned to buy drinks for the whole class since I got transferred here. It seems you're in need of some as well, so you wouldn't mind if this guy helpes me carry them, would you?"
I knew how to handle such situations without resorting to violence. It was a diplomatic approach that would serve both to diffuse the immediate tension and to gain the cooperation of my new classmate.
A bit later, Yoichi and I were carrying bags full of drinks, with Shinoa trailing behind us, watching silently.
"Okay, seriously, stop crying already," I muttered, glancing at Yoichi, whose face still showed traces of fear.
Yoichi looked at me, sniffling but smiling. "Thank you for helping me back there."
"No problem, but why were they bullying you?" I asked casually, though I already had my suspicions.
Yoichi hesitated for a moment, then said, "They weren't really bullying me."
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Yeah, sure. All bullied kids say that."
He looked down, kicking at the ground as we walked. "Maybe… but I wasn't really being bullied, to be honest."
"Huh." His response caught me off guard.
He fidgeted before explaining, "I, um... actually asked Yamanaka for a favor."
I glanced back at Shinoa for some clarification. "Which one of the three was Yamanaka again? I didn't exactly memorize everyone's names."
Shinoa rolled her eyes, her usual teasing smirk returning. "The leader of the bullies, obviously. You really have a monkey brain, don't you?"
"Yeah, yeah, that's on me," I said with a shrug, not bothered by her jab. "Didn't exactly put much effort into learning names."
Turning my attention back to Yoichi, I asked, "So, what favor did you need from him?"
Yoichi shifted uncomfortably before answering, "I... um, I tried to apply to the Imperial Demon Army, but I failed the application test. I really want to join, though." His voice grew quieter as he added, "Yamanaka said he's joining that famous unit… the Vampire Extermination Unit. You know, the Moon Demon Company."
Yoichi's voice was still uncertain as he spoke. "S-so I thought… maybe Yamanaka could help me retake the test, get another chance."
I glanced at Shinoa, raising an eyebrow. "How come you let trash like Yamanaka join, but not me?"
Without missing a beat, Shinoa gave me that familiar smirk. "Perhaps because you're a virgin."
I chuckled, knowing what was coming but playing along anyway. "So, I just need to lose my virginity to join, huh?"
Shinoa's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Exactly. Who knows, maybe that's the key to unlocking your full potential," she teased, not missing a beat.
I smirked at Shinoa, still teasing. "How about I lose it with you, Shinoa? How about it, huh?"
Shinoa's expression didn't falter, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Yoichi's voice interrupted.
"But it'd be weird, wouldn't it?" Yoichi mumbled, his voice shaky. "I mean, someone like me joining the army... I know I'm not strong enough. But I have to do it... I want revenge for my sister."
My playful demeanor shifted. I looked at him with a calmer, more serious gaze. "Revenge, huh? I assume your sister was killed by a vampire?"
Yoichi lowered his head, his voice barely audible. "Yes. My sister died protecting me from vampires. I… I was too scared to do anything." His fists clenched, trembling slightly. "I regret it every minute of every day. I regret not having the courage to save her."
Seeing Yoichi in such a pathetic state, I sighed and gave him a light slap on the back of his head. "Idiot. Don't think like that. Even if you tried to save her back then, you would've died too. And that's the last thing your sister wanted for you, right?"
Yoichi looked up at me, eyes wide with shock, rubbing the back of his head where I hit him. "B-But..."
I cut him off. "No buts. She protected you for a reason, so stop drowning in regret and start living in a way that honors her sacrifice. Feeling guilty won't change anything, but you can still do something with the life she saved."
I continued, my voice firm but not unkind. "Of course, that's only if you stop being so wimpy. Maybe then you'll be strong enough to get your revenge."
Yoichi's eyes widened at my words, his hands tightening into fists. For a moment, he looked down, but then he nodded slowly, his resolve visibly hardening. "You're right... I need to be stronger if I want to avenge her."
before we could speak more the arlams got on and we hear a big bang.
[Continue]