Kazuo was trying to keep up with his math class, but his mind couldn't stay focused. The events of the previous night still haunted him and any noise or movement made him look up, tense.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, like a disciplined parade. Kazuo frowned as he heard the mass of students approaching the classroom, their footsteps echoing in a strange, almost mechanical way.
The classroom doors opened and a crowd of students stood there, their gazes directed at Kazuo. Without saying a word, they moved forward in silence, staring at him with wide eyes and a menacing look on him. Even some of his classmates turned to him, their faces showing an unusually cold expression.
The tension quickly rose and Kazuo sensed something supernatural at work.Then, Asami Miyahara, sitting a few rows in front of him, stepped forward, lifting her chin, looking superior and detached.
She crossed his arms, throwing a disdainful look in Kazuo's direction as his lips stretched into a smile.
"Well, Kazuo, looks like you've gotten yourself into trouble," she said sternly. "However, I warned you."
Kazuo raised his eyebrows, trying to understand what that meant.
"Did you tell him to come threaten me, Miyahara?" he asked, challenging him with a look.
"Let's just say I could see you ending up in this kind of trouble," she replied, taking a haughty tone. "After all, I have a gift. I can see glimpses of the near future. I am a medium. Certainly a family heritage, including the sacred sanctuary where I lived with my grandfather."
Kazuo burst out laughing, openly mocking, which drew a few surprised looks.
"Ah, so you can see the future, huh? Maybe you saw what was going to happen on the bus this other day. Yet, you did nothing to avoid this coincidence. It seems like you want this to happen."
At those words, Asami blushed, a hint of anger filling her face. Her gaze hardened and she clenched her fists, clearly engaged.
"It was. .. It was just an accident!" - she replied, trying to control her anger.
"I'm not here to explain to you what I do or don't do, Kazuo. You don't understand anything about me."
Kazuo was about to answer, but before he could say another word, the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. A cold, oppressive feeling washed over him, and suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in a corner of the classroom: Iriza, the succubus beast from last night, stood there, her piercing eyes trained on Kazuo.
She wore a cruel smile, as if he were enjoying the effect of her presence.
"Oh, Kazuo... have you noticed?" She whispered in a seductive yet threatening voice. "I told you that I came to take what is mine. All these students are under my control."
Kazuo looked at her in astonishment, realizing that she was the cause of this situation. She had manipulated the minds of the entire school, turning his classmates into docile puppets ready to do evil.
Asami, seeing the creature for the first time, widened her eyes, her lips trembling slightly. She murmured, as if to speak to herself:"Impossible... How could a demon creature appear here?" He turns to Kazuo, even more shocked.
Kazuo crossed his arms, regaining a look of calm despite the tension around him. "Me? I'm just a normal guy who had the misfortune of meeting this "beast". But you, Miyahara...didn't you say that you live in a shrine, with your grandfather? Shouldn't he be a little more used to this kind of phenomenon?"
Asami looked at him, offended by his comment.
"That is indeed the case. My grandfather is a Shinto priest and I grew up in a holy shrine here in Kyoto. But what I see here is beyond anything I have ever known! "
Iriza laughed, enjoying the panic, then turned her attention to Kazuo.
"Don't worry, Kazuo. I'm not ready to take the Lionheart. I like to play with my prey before I take out what's most valuable to them."
With cold arrogance, Kazuo held his gaze. "As long as I'm here, you won't get anything, Iriza. If you want to play, go ahead. But you don't scare me."
An amused laugh escaped the succubus beast's lips and she took a step back, as if enjoying the challenge Kazuo was throwing at her. Then, with a theatrical gesture, she disappeared in a cloud of dark smoke, leaving the classroom to return to normal, as if nothing had happened.The group of students around Kazuo suddenly looked disoriented, some were rubbing their eyes as if they had woken up from a dream.
Gradually, they found their places, the strange and threatening scene fading from their minds.Only Kazuo, with a dark look, remained aware of what had just happened. He knew that the challenge had just begun and that supernatural forces had already targeted him, plunging him into a conflict far beyond simple high school rivalry.
Asami, still in shock from what she had just seen, watched him from a distance with a mixture of suspicion and admiration. She seemed to understand that, beyond his sarcasm, Kazuo was hiding a much deeper secret than she could ever imagine.
Science class was ending and Kazuo sat down, glancing at Asami who was quietly putting away her things without paying him any attention.
The rest of the classroom was starting to clear and the atmosphere in the room, after the hectic day, was surprisingly calm. Taking courage in both hands, Kazuo approached Asami and directly said:
"Say, Asami... I think your grandfather can help you figure out what's going on. Maybe he knows something. .. the heart of the lion and this beast God."
Asami raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a mixture of surprise and disdain. His tone became loud and arrogant.
"Why do I want to help you, Kazuo?" - she said with a light laugh. "We are not friends. You have to fend for yourself with your stories of strange creatures and powers."
Kazuo, although he had anticipated this answer, shows a worried look. Seeing her start to leave, he took a deep breath and, with a false air of impropriety, pretended not to have heard any of her words.
He began to follow at a good distance, his hands in his pockets and his gaze focused. The scene had a comical edge. Every time Asami looked back, Kazuo pretended to look the other way, whistling or scanning the landscape as if he were passing by.
Asami, frowning, looked at him with annoyance, then continued on her way, without looking back.The walk was long, and little by little, the modern city cleared away to make the road narrower and quieter.
After a few minutes of climbing, they arrived in front of the sacred shrine of Kyoto, an ancient site surrounded by tall trees that seemed frozen in time. Lanterns and traditional symbols add to the mystical atmosphere, reinforcing the feeling of entering an ancient and sacred world.
As they approached the large wooden doors of the shrine, Asami suddenly stopped and turned to him, clearly irritated.
"Listen, Kazuo, I already told you not to come, don't come complaining! Do you understand? "
Kazuo showed a bitter smile and nodded, willing to accept any condition to get an answer.
"Yes, yes, I understand, High School Lady Vigilante."
Asami sighed, wondering why she would tolerate his presence. She walked towards the doors of the sanctuary, then bowed respectfully before inviting him to do the same.
Kazuo, despite his usual sarcasm, sensed a certain solemnity in this place and did the same.They passed a harmonious garden and stopped in front of a modest building. There, an old man was already waiting for them, sitting cross-legged.
He had a stern but peaceful face, his white hair and long beard accentuating his aura of wisdom. His watchful gaze immediately fell on Kazuo, as if he had sensed his arrival long ago. "Grandpa, this is… Kazuo," Asami announced, hesitating a bit, as she herself doubted the meaning of his presence here.
"It's…different." The old man looked at Kazuo with a mysterious smile, then motioned for him to sit in front of him. Kazuo obeyed, trying to hide his excitement.
"So, child, what bothers you so much that you're looking for answers in a shrine?" - asked the old man in a calm voice, full of wisdom.
Kazuo hesitated for a moment, but decided to recount the strange events that had marked his day. He told them about the meeting with Iriza, the Lionheart and the strange phenomena that seemed to follow him recently.
The old man was listening attentively, without interrupting, with an impatient face."Hmm... A lion heart and an animal lord, you say,"
he finally mumbled, nodding slowly. "What you describe seems to be related to ancient beliefs and powers sealed for centuries. It is said that some mythical beings have voluntarily given part of their essence to humans, hoping that they will become their avatars."
Kazuo listened intently, his eyes shining with interest."So this Lionheart I have...makes me an avatar?"
The old man took a deep breath, scrutinizing Kazuo gravely."Not exactly. If this creature endowed you with some of its strength, it also bound you to its destiny. You are the bearer of this essence, Kazuo. This means that some beings, like this succubus, will try to get it."
Kazuo shivered as he remembered Iriza's face."But why now? What started it all?"
"It's hard to say. The forces that control this kind of power move in mysterious ways. But it's likely that people other than you will start to see what you're wearing and your daily life will be disrupted."
Kazuo watched, thinking about all this, when Asami cleared her throat."So? What should I do?"
She asked, pretending not to worry, though there was a dull concern in his voice."This young man must learn to control this force within him. But above all, he must choose carefully who he trusts," answered the old man, giving Kazuo a deep look.
"If you choose to fight against what you haunted, know you won't be alone. But you have to be careful."
Kazuo felt the gravity of the old man's words and nodded slowly. Despite his carefree attitude, he understood the depth of responsibility that rested on him.
As he prepared to leave the shrine, Asami held him one last time.
"Listen, Kazuo. Although I don't like your arrogance, I know you're not a bad guy. I'll help you, but only because your presence poses a danger to others. Don't go imagining things ."
Kazuo smiled mockingly.
"How I need your help, Miyahara. But since you insist, I think I'll leave this responsibility to you."
She rolled her eyes, exasperated, but a slight smile appeared despite her. As they left the shrine together, silence fell over the shrine, the old man watching them leave with a thoughtful look, as if he sensed the trials coming.
Just as Kazuo and Asami had just left the shrine, a voice called from behind them. It was Asami's grandfather who had approached him silently.
Kazuo turned, surprised, and the old man approached with a serious expression."Wait young man, I still have something important to say,"
he said, looking at Kazuo with a piercing gaze. "If one day you find yourself in great danger, there is a way you can harness the power of the lion that sleeps within you. This power allows you to transform into a beast, tapping into the essence of that beast and increasing your strength tenfold."
Kazuo, stunned, instinctively sat up. The idea of transforming into a lion-man seemed as unrealistic as it was exciting.
"A transformation?" he whispered, his eyes widening in disbelief. "But... how?" Asami's grandfather nodded, looking serious.
"It is not something that can be learned in a day, but with practice. To make this transformation, you need to wake up and channel the occult energy that resides in you."
Kazuo frowned, curious. "Occult energy? What exactly is it?" The old man crossed his arms and took a deep breath.
"Occult energy is an invisible force, an energy that circulates in all that is alive. It belongs neither to the physical nor to the spiritual world, but lies somewhere in between. The ancients described it as a source that nourishes not only the body, but also the soul. It is full of instincts and ancestral forces, animals and spirits of nature. In your case, this energy is associated with the lion and gives you its essence, I knowpower But you have to learn to control it, to wake it up, otherwise it risks devouring you from the inside."
Kazuo gulped, realizing the complexity of what he had just heard. The possibility of having such strength attracted him as much as it scared him. The old man continued quietly.
"The awakening of this energy requires intense concentration. It is not just a matter of will. You must withdraw into yourself, connect with your deep nature, with the instincts you inherited from the heart of the lion. Channeling, in turn, consists of directing this force so that it takes a tangible form, so that it permeates every fiber of your being. This is what will allow you, if necessary, to transform yourself. But it takes practiceorderly and disciplined. "
Kazuo listened with undivided attention, absorbing every word. The old man looked at him, appreciating his seriousness.
"My name is Yoshinori Miyahara," he finally said, breaking the air of mystery with a gentle smile. "If you want to learn how to awaken and channel this energy, you can come back here. I will teach you the basics, if you dare. But be aware, Kazuo, that this will require sacrifice and that this power is not without consequences."
Kazuo, although he was a little nervous, felt a new determination in him. The world he knew has expanded in ways he never imagined.
"Thank you, Yoshinori-san," he replied respectfully. "I… I think I'll be back."
The old man nodded happily before turning to Asami. "Watch out for him, Asami. This young man carries an unusual weight and needs allies."
Asami, though surprised by her grandfather's words, nodded silently. Then, with a wave of his hand, Yoshinori let them go, disappearing softly into the darkness of the shrine.
As Kazuo walked home accompanied by Asami, he couldn't help but think about everything he had just learned. The idea of practicing to awaken this power in him, of becoming a man-lion when he wants to, fills him with a strange emotion, but also with fear. He still didn't know where this road had taken him, but he felt that there was no turning back.