Dark energy crackled in the air as Akira's hand glowed with an ominous, violet light. Ren halted mid-strike, his predatory eyes narrowing as he realized the extent of the power before him. The rooftop trembled slightly, and Akira could feel the tug of his demonic nature beckoning him to let loose. But he wouldn't allow that."I told you, I don't use my power," Akira said, his voice calm but resolute. "But if you keep pushing me, I'll make an exception."Ren's lips curled into a feral grin. "So, the rumors are true. You really are the Demon Lord. But I wonder, Kurosawa… why hide? Why not reclaim your throne and plunge the world into chaos? It's your destiny, after all."Akira's expression darkened, his crimson eyes glowing for a brief moment before returning to their human brown. "Destiny doesn't interest me."With a flick of his wrist, Akira dispelled the energy around him, the crackling dark aura fading into nothingness. Ren's grin faltered, confusion flashing across his face."You're not going to fight me?" Ren asked, sounding both disappointed and intrigued.Akira shook his head. "If you're looking for a fight, you won't get one from me. I don't care about the past, and I'm not interested in whatever games you're playing."Ren stood silently for a moment, sizing up Akira. Then, with a slow chuckle, he backed away. "Interesting. Very interesting. But remember this, Demon Lord—others will come. You can't hide from what you are forever."With that, Ren turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Akira alone on the rooftop, the wind whispering through the silence. Akira exhaled, his body tense from the encounter. It was only a matter of time before Ren's words came true. If one hunter had found him, more would follow.The next morning, Akira returned to class as though nothing had happened, though a heavy weight lingered in his chest. He sat quietly at his desk, trying to focus on the teacher's lecture, but his mind kept drifting back to the previous night. Ren's words echoed in his head—others will come.Yumi leaned over from her desk behind him, poking him in the shoulder again. "Hey, you seem even more out of it than usual today. You okay?"Akira forced a smile. "Yeah, just didn't sleep well.""Mm, you do look a little pale," she said, her brow furrowing with concern. "Are you sure you're not sick? You've been acting strange lately.""I'm fine," Akira replied quickly, though he could see the doubt in Yumi's eyes.Before she could press further, the classroom door slid open, and Ren stepped inside, his presence sending a chill through the room. Akira tensed, watching as Ren casually walked to his seat at the back of the class, acting as though nothing had happened between them.Yumi noticed Akira's reaction and followed his gaze. "Oh, that's right. Aoyama-kun is pretty mysterious, isn't he? You've been staring at him a lot."Akira quickly looked away, shaking his head. "It's nothing."Yumi gave him a curious glance but shrugged it off. "If you say so. Just… be careful, okay?"As class continued, Akira kept one eye on Ren, who seemed to be observing him with equal interest. There was a tension in the air, a silent battle of wills between them. Akira knew that Ren wouldn't give up so easily, and the more Ren stayed close, the harder it would be to keep his secret.