The next day, Akira sat at his desk in class, listening as the teacher droned on about world history. His mind wandered, but his attention snapped back when he felt a strange presence nearby. It was subtle, like a ripple in the air, but unmistakable to someone like him.He scanned the room, his eyes narrowing as he focused on a new student seated in the back. The boy, Aoyama Ren, was tall and lean, with sharp, almost predatory features. His eyes, a shade of yellow that seemed unnatural, flickered toward Akira for just a moment before looking away. There was something off about him, something dangerous.Akira's instincts screamed at him that this boy was no ordinary human."Yo, Kurosawa!" Yumi's voice broke through his thoughts as she poked him in the shoulder. "You okay? You've been zoning out a lot lately.""Sorry," Akira replied, forcing a smile. "Just thinking.""Well, stop thinking so hard! You're gonna hurt yourself," she teased with a grin. "By the way, did you hear? That new guy, Aoyama-kun, apparently transferred from some elite academy. Pretty mysterious, huh?"Akira glanced back at Ren, who was now quietly scribbling in his notebook. He didn't like it. There was something unsettling about the boy's aura, like a beast hidden beneath human skin."I guess," Akira murmured, though his mind was racing. If Ren was a threat, what kind of danger had followed him to this school?Later that evening, Akira found himself standing on the rooftop of the school, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He had felt Ren's presence following him after class, and now he waited in the shadows, anticipating the confrontation."You're not as human as you pretend to be, Kurosawa Akira," came a low voice from behind him.Akira turned slowly to see Ren standing at the edge of the rooftop, his yellow eyes glowing faintly in the darkness."And neither are you, Aoyama Ren," Akira replied, his voice calm but firm. "So, what are you?"Ren smiled, but it wasn't a friendly expression. "Sharp, aren't you? I'm something of a hunter, and you, Kurosawa... you're the prey."Akira's heart pounded in his chest, but not from fear. He had suspected something like this, and now it was confirmed. Ren wasn't just a student—he was after Akira's power, drawn to it like a moth to flame."You should know," Akira said quietly, "I don't use my powers. Not anymore."Ren tilted his head, intrigued. "Oh? And why is that? You, the great Demon Lord, forsaking your own power? How noble."Akira's eyes narrowed. "I have no intention of causing harm to this world. I left the Underworld behind for a reason."Ren laughed, a harsh sound that echoed across the rooftop. "You think you can escape what you are? Demon Lord or not, power like yours will always attract attention. And I'm not the only one hunting you."Akira tensed. "What do you want from me?"Ren's smile widened. "Simple. I want to see just how powerful you really are. Let's see if the rumors about the Demon Lord are true."Before Akira could respond, Ren lunged at him, his body moving with unnatural speed and precision. In that instant, Akira felt the weight of his old life pressing down on him. He had sworn never to use his powers again, but if he didn't fight back, this boy would tear him apart.With a sigh of resignation, Akira raised his hand, and for the first time in years, the air around him crackled with dark energy."I didn't want this," Akira muttered, his voice low and filled with regret. "But if you insist…"