SAK Chapter 5 The Oni Clan

Akihabara

Issei’s sneakers pounded against the cracked asphalt, the faint scent of smoke growing stronger with every step. His lungs burned—not from exhaustion, but from chasing after Mina. The miko’s long brown hair streamed behind her, swaying with each step, the red folds of her hakama flashing in the sunlight.

Yeah, sure, he could’ve just turned around, gone back to the station, and ignored this whole mess. But watching Mina charge into danger like that, knowing this entire “turf war” might’ve been sparked by Tohru’s arrival… it gnawed at him.

“Why are you following me?” Mina’s voice cut through the sound of their footsteps. She glanced back over her shoulder, her long hair whipping behind her.

“Because!” Issei shouted, ducking under a dangling power line that swayed from the earlier blasts. “If something happened to you, and I could’ve done something about it but didn’t, I’d feel like a jerk!”

Her eyes narrowed behind those glasses. “Not necessary. I’m strong enough to handle myself.”

Issei almost laughed. But instead he snorted, the memory of how easily he’d pinned her to the ground still fresh in his mind.

‘Yeah, sure. Strong enough that I had you pinned in under a minute?’

He didn’t need to say it out loud, but Mina’s head tilted just slightly, as if she could sense the doubt radiating off him. Her voice rose an octave, tinged with indignation. “I am strong! I only lost to you because you’re absurdly strong!”

Issei nearly tripped. …’If you know that, then why the hell did you even start the fight in the first place?’ Now he was even more worried.

Before he could voice that, the ground beneath them shook with a deep, thunderous boom. The sound of two forces impacting. 

Mina didn’t slow, vaulting over a shattered car and rushing toward the source.

The next turn opened into a small plaza, and Issei’s eyes went wide.

In the middle of the street, two figures were locked in combat.

One was a towering red Oni, his skin the color of fresh blood, muscles bulging beneath his torn, soot-stained garments making him look like he could lift a bus without breaking a sweat. Two black horns jutted from his forehead, curving slightly back. His eyes glowed like burning coals, and each exhale puffed faint trails of smoke from his nostrils.

The other…

Issei blinked, his brain struggling to process.

A Tengu. Its head was that of a jet-black crow, beady black eyes gleaming with razor-sharp focus. Black feathers framed its face, trailing down into a long neck that connected to a well-muscled human body clad in traditional martial attire. Massive, ink-dark wings flared out behind it, catching the sunlight before propelling it into the air.

Issei’s jaw slackened. ‘I’m actually seeing real youkai.’

The Oni roared, slamming his massive foot down. The pavement cracked, and the shockwave shuddered up Issei’s legs even from several meters away. Flames erupted around the Oni’s fists as he lunged forward, each punch accompanied by a blast of heat that warped the air.

The Tengu was faster. It darted around the Oni’s strikes, claws raking across the birdman’s arm, using bursts of wind to throw itself in unpredictable arcs. Its movements were precise, measured, every blow aimed at joints or places where the Oni couldn’t defend.

And every time they met in the center, the impact rippled outward, rattling the windows of the surrounding buildings. The ground groaned beneath their feet, tiny tremors shaking loose chunks of plaster from the walls.

Mina didn’t even hesitate. She darted forward, one hand already pulling talismans from her sleeve.

Issei grabbed her arm before she got too close. “You seriously plan on jumping into that?”

Her expression was steel. “Of course. That’s my job.”

“Yeah, and it’s also a good way to end up into a red smear on the pavement.”

“I told you—I’m strong.”

“And I told you—I’ve seen how strong you are.” His eyes flicked back to the brawl. The Oni had just caught the Tengu mid-flight, swinging him into the ground hard enough to send up a cloud of dust.

Mina shook off his grip. “Then stay back if you’re scared. I won’t drag you into it.”

Issei’s lips pressed into a tight line. ‘Scared? No. But this is really a bit too much for a regular human.’

Ddraig’s voice rumbled in his head. (Partner… those two are far above the level of your miko friend. She will not win.)

‘Yeah,’ Issei thought grimly, ‘that’s what I’m worried about.’

The Oni roared again, stomping forward, and the Tengu got up and spread his wings, wind swirling into a miniature cyclone around him. The next clash was inevitable.

Mina didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward into the cracked plaza, the wind catching the hem of her miko garb. Her voice rang out, loud and commanding, cutting through the clash.

“Enough!” She declared, chin lifted proudly. “By the authority of Susanoo-sama, I order you to cease this battle! You have broken the laws of the shinto pantheon by fighting openly before the world of humans. This is your only warning, surrender or face divine repercussions!”

The Oni stopped mid-swing, his molten eyes narrowing in clear irritation. The Tengu’s head twitched, his black feathers ruffling in annoyance at the interruption.

‘Oh no… here we go,’ Issei thought grimly.

The two yokai exchanged a look

The Oni practically said “Who does this tiny human think she is?”

Both turned their ire on Mina.

The Oni’s fists ignited with roaring fire. The Tengu’s wings flared wide, whipping up a cutting gale.

Both launched their elemental fury at her.

The twin attacks slammed into where she stood, erupting in a blinding explosion. The shockwave knocked loose chunks of concrete and sent dust billowing into the air.

Then the smoke cleared and it revealed that the area was damaged but the body of the girl was not there.

The Oni’s massive brow furrowed. The Tengu tilted his head, confused.

Then they both stiffened, realizing too late that someone was behind them.

“Are you okay?” Issei’s voice came from directly behind their backs.

The two whipped around to find him standing there, holding Mina effortlessly in a princess carry. She was very much alive and very much wide-eyed.

Her green eyes darted from his face to the arm under her knees, to the one supporting her back. Her cheeks lit up like fireworks. “W-What are you doing?!”

“Saving your life,” Issei shot back, a sharp edge of annoyance in his tone. “Seriously, you can’t just stand there and make speeches in front of guys who shoot fire and wind at people!”

“I… I didn’t think they’d—” She started, only for him to cut her off.

“Yeah, well, they did. Next time, try moving before the big scary monsters attack you.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she muttered something about being fine on her own, but her voice lacked conviction. “...Sorry. I almost got us killed.”

Issei exhaled through his nose, setting her down gently on her feet. “Just… be careful, alright?” Then he turned to face the two yokai, rolling his shoulders. “Alright… guess we’re doing this the hard way.”

A red light flared on his left arm. Metal scales emerged across his skin. A emerald gem blinked open in the center of the gauntlet.

“Boosted Gear!”

Mina froze, eyes wide. “A Sacred Gear…? You have that kind of power?”

Issei glanced at her over his shoulder. “Yeah. Which means you don’t have to worry about me.” His lips curved into a faint smirk. “We’re splitting them—Oni’s mine. You take bird-brain.”

Her pride flickered back into place. She snapped open her hand with several talismans crackling with powers appeared. “Fine. Whoever finishes first helps the other.”

“Deal.”

Boost!

The Oni roared, stomping forward and cracking the ground beneath him. Issei met him head-on, their fists colliding in a shockwave that sent shards of debris skittering across the plaza.

Overhead, the Tengu screeched and dove for Mina, only to be driven back by a flurry of talismans that erupted into explosions midair.

For a moment, the battle split neatly in two as Issei trading blows with the towering Oni while forcing back to not inconvenience Mina, each strike rattling his bones while Mina danced across the ground, her talismans forcing the airborne Tengu to keep his distance.

And in the back of Issei’s mind, Ddraig rumbled,

(Remember, Partner… don’t let it land a decisive blow, or you’ll lose all your accumulated power.)

“Yeah, yeah,” Issei gritted his teeth, blocking a haymaker. “Easy for you to say when I’m the one fighting!”

—--------------------------------

Saitama, Park

The sun was high in the sky, painting the park in golden light. Children’s laughter filled the air, parents chatted on benches, and the rustle of summer leaves swayed in the warm breeze. Among them, two figures stood out, Tohru and Kanna, though to the mundane human eye they looked like nothing more than a beautiful tall blonde woman in a maid outfit and a pretty quiet, white-haired teen.

Tohru clapped her hands excitedly, encouraging Kanna as the dragon girl zoomed down the slide for the fifth time. “Good job, Kanna-chan! You’re getting faster!”

Kanna landed with a thud at the bottom, her doll-like face blank as always, though the faintest tug at the corner of her lips betrayed her enjoyment. “Again.” She trudged back up the stairs, little red shoes tapping against the metal.

Tohru giggled, as she went with her friend to indulge in the playground as she wanted a turn as well. There was a warmth in her chest, this was what she loved most about living here: the peace, the chance to play, the freedom to be silly without fear of war or orders.

But suddenly, both dragons froze mid-motion.

A pulse. Issei’s aura flared wildly and unrestrained. It rolled across the city like an unseen tide, washing over both of them. 

Their eyes widened, and for a moment, Kanna’s expression cracked with surprise. “That feels like Issei,” She murmured softly, sensing him clearly.

Tohru’s lips curved upward in amusement, though there was also curiosity. “He’s letting out quite a lot, isn’t he? And it doesn’t feel like he’s in danger… no, it almost feels like…” She tilted her head, maid cap bouncing slightly. “…like he’s having fun.”

Kanna puffed her cheeks faintly in jealousy. “Fun? Without us?”

Tohru chuckled and met the girl’s eyes. “Did Issei tell you where he was going today?”

Kanna shook her head. “No. We left before he could tell us. It feels like he’s fighting.” The faintest pout tugged her lips. “…I wanted to fight too.”

Tohru blinked in surprise, then broke into a grin, placing a finger on her chin like she was analyzing a great truth. “My, my, Kanna-chan. Your instincts are acting up if that’s your first thought. But I know what you mean. A battle can be fun… especially when it’s alongside someone you care about.”

Kanna’s eyes softened as she thought of last night, playing games side by side with Issei, their laughter filling the quiet apartment. It wasn’t the kind of “battle” Tohru meant, but to her, it felt just as important.

Then a thought tugged at Tohru’s mind. A mischievous gleam entered her dragon eyes.

“Kanna-chan,” She said in a sing-song tone, leaning closer, “You like living with Issei, don’t you?”

Kanna blinked, cheeks warming just slightly. She hesitated, then gave a small nod, her usual monotone cracking into something softer. “…Yes. It’s fun. I don’t want to leave.”

Tohru’s smile widened knowingly. ‘Just like me with Kobayashi-san,’ She thought. ‘Once you’ve tasted that kind of happiness, it’s impossible to give it up.’

“That’s good.” She patted Kanna’s head, her hand lingering affectionately on the little horns. “Very good.”

But then her grin sharpened into something more devious. “Say, Kanna-chan… do you like Issei?”

Kanna tilted her head, lips pursing. The question hung in the air like a stone dropped into still water. She thought long and hard, recalling his smile when he offered her a place to stay, the warmth of his hand patting her head, and the way he said she’d never be a burden.

Finally, Kanna nodded, her cheeks faintly pink. “…I do. I like Issei a lot.”

Tohru clapped her hands together dramatically. “Excellent! Then let me give you some advice.” Her tone lowered conspiratorially, like she was sharing forbidden knowledge.

“You have to keep him close. Don’t let other girls get too near him, especially Kobayashi-san.”

Kanna blinked, confusion clear on her small face. “…Why?”

Tohru leaned closer, voice dropping in agitation. “Because Issei is a male dragon now. Do you know what that means? There will be lots of girls around him, Kanna-chan. They’ll see his power, his aura, his potential. And you know what they’ll want?”

Kanna shook her head, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“They’ll want to breed with him.”

Kanna’s eyes went wide. “…Breed?”

Tohru nodded solemnly. “Yes. To have strong, powerful dragon children. And if he spends all his time with them, how much time do you think he’ll have left… to spend with you?”

The words sank deep into Kanna’s chest like a weight. She pictured Issei surrounded by strangers, laughing with them, giving them his time, his warmth. A sharp pang of jealousy—strange and new—stabbed through her heart.

“…No.” She whispered, fists tightening in her lap. “I like being with Issei. I won’t let anyone take him away.”

Tohru smirked, clearly pleased. “That’s the spirit! Make sure you keep him close, Kanna-chan. Dragons fight fiercely for what they love… you should do the same.”

Kanna’s small lips pressed into a firm line, and for once, the girl showed a flash of possessiveness in her eyes.

She made a quiet promise to herself: ‘No one will take Issei away from me. Issei is mine.’

—---------------------------------

Mina frowned in frustration as she struggled to keep pace with the Tengu’s speed. 

Every talisman she hurled into the air was blown away by a gust of wind before it could land, the crow-headed youkai sneering down at her from above. His black wings beat like war drums, each flap sending waves of cutting air that shredded her talismans before they could reach him.

“Tch—damn it!” Mina hissed, frustration etched across her face as another handful of papers burst into useless sparks. She adjusted her stance, feet planted firmly on the cracked stone as she took out more talismans.

‘He’s too fast, and too good with his wind magic. My attacks are useless against him.’

Instead of going after him head-on, Mina began quietly planting talismans around the plaza. Each one shimmered faintly as they turned invisible in the dirt and rubble. She drew the Tengu in with feigned desperation, waiting until he swooped closer.

The moment he dipped into range, she clapped her hands together. “—Explode!”

A chain of remote blasts rippled through the battlefield. The shockwaves forced the Tengu to flap back wildly, his screech splitting the air. His feathers smoldered where fire caught, and his wings faltered for a second.

“Got you,” Mina whispered fiercely, readying another set.

But the Tengu wasn’t a fool. His black eyes narrowed with sharp cunning, and he abruptly pulled away, circling high above where her traps couldn’t reach.

“You thought to ensnare me?” He croaked mockingly, “Pitiful human! Let me show you what happens when you try to clip the wings of a tengu!”

He pulled the winds tight around himself, then slashed a gale downward. The force ripped through the plaza, scattering the talismans she’d set like autumn leaves in a storm. Mina had to raise her arms to block, her sleeves whipping violently.

‘Not good. If he keeps this up, I won’t be able to pin him down…’

Her mind raced. Her talismans wouldn’t cut it—not if he was controlling the wind itself. She needed something that could move with him, chase him and adapt to his movements. Her lips curved into a determined smile. “Fine. If you won’t play fair, then let’s see how you handle this.”

She dug into her sleeve and pulled free a bundle of folded paper dolls, simple, flat effigies etched with faint sigils. Holding them out in front of her, she whispered an incantation under her breath. Her spiritual energy pulsed, filling the lifeless dolls with a subtle glow.

The papers twitched—then burst apart into a flurry of tiny paper swallows. Their wings flapped with life as they rose into the air, hundreds of white specks swirling like a storm of snowflakes.

The Tengu tilted his head back and laughed, his crow’s caw echoing mockingly. “Toy birds? You insult me!” He batted one aside with a lazy swipe of wind, scattering it into harmless scraps.

But then another got close. And another.

“Boom.”

One swallow exploded, knocking him off balance mid-flight. His eyes widened as the pain burned across his shoulder.

“You—!” he screeched, twisting to regain control.

But the air was thick with Mina’s shikigami. Dozens of swallows encircled him, darting in and out like kamikaze pilots. Every time he tried to swat them away, another dove at his blind spot.

“Explode!” Mina’s voice rang out as she clapped her hands in sequence, triggering her traps. The sky lit up with bursts of flame and smoke as swallow after swallow detonated against his wings, his chest, his back.

The Tengu shrieked in fury, his wings singed and ragged, his flight wobbling with each hit.

Mina didn’t waste the opening. She flung another spread of talismans into the air. This time, without his winds to protect him, they flew true. The paper seals clung to his feathers and body before erupting in chain detonations.

The crow-headed youkai reeled, feathers raining down like black snow, his once-proud wings flapping desperately to stay aloft.

“Not so high and mighty now, are you?” Mina panted, fire in her green eyes despite her exhaustion. Her voice carried both her pride and the sting of her family’s expectations. ‘I won’t fail. Not here.’

From below, Issei, locked in a brutal fist fight with the red Oni, managed a quick glance upward. He saw Mina’s explosion-filled strategy take shape and let out a low whistle.

“Damn,” he muttered between gritted teeth as he blocked another flaming punch. “Guess Mina really isn’t powerless after all.”

Ddraig rumbled in his mind with amusement.

(Not bad. She may not have brute force, but she’s clever. But keep your eyes on your fight, Partner.)

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Issei muttered, refocusing on the hulking Oni before him.

The ground continued to shake with each clash of fists. Issei’s knuckles burned, his arms ached, but his grin only widened. 

Boost!

The second Boost echoed in his ears sent a fresh surge of power through his body, and he could feel it—his muscles tightening, his reflexes sharpening, his body moving faster than he’d ever imagined possible.

The red Oni snarled, his hulking body a furnace of rage, but no matter how much brute force he threw out, Issei met him blow for blow. The crowd of sparks and shockwaves from their punches cracked the pavement beneath their feet. Issei ducked low under a wild swing, his dragon instincts screaming at him before the Oni’s fist even moved. He countered with a sharp uppercut to the jaw, the satisfying thwack echoing through the street.

‘This… this feels incredible!’ Issei thought, his heart pounding in exhilaration. His usual fantasies of oppai were gone, at least for the moment. His body, mind, and soul were completely absorbed in the thrill of combat. 

The Oni’s eyes widened as his flaming fists failed to leave even a scorch mark on Issei’s skin. Heat waves shimmered off the monster’s body, but Issei stood unfazed, the fire burning his shirt but never harming him. His dragon blood roared in delight, demanding more.

“Boost!” 

Issei’s power doubled once more. He surged forward, slamming punch after punch into the Oni’s ribs, his shoulder, his gut. The creature staggered back, moaning in pain and disbelief.

‘Impossible…’ The Oni thought, spitting blood. ‘This human, he’s not normal. He’s a beast in human skin!’

And then, for the first time, the Oni hesitated. His massive form trembled, his flames flickered. When his gaze locked with Issei’s, his chest tightened. Gone were the warm brown eyes of a goofy teenage boy. In their place gleamed emerald slits, sharp and unrelenting, the eyes of a predator.

The Oni’s throat tightened. ‘He’ll kill me.’

His legs twitched. Instinct screamed at him to run. He staggered backward, raising trembling hands.

Issei saw it. He smelled it. The fear. The weakness. And something inside him—something primal, surged in joy. His lips pulled back in a feral grin. His legs coiled like springs as he rushed forward, fist cocked back, ready to end it.

But then—

Every instinct in Issei’s body flared. Danger. Immediate. Close.

He barely had time to glance to the side before a crimson blur shot toward him. A smaller, faster fist slammed into his chest like a battering ram.

“GAAAHHH!”

Reset! 

The impact hurled him backward, his body smashing through the brick surface of a building. Glass shattered around him as he crashed through a window, tumbling into darkness and debris. The walls groaned, dust billowed, and silence followed.

The Oni he had been fighting collapsed onto one knee, clutching his bruised chest and gasping in disbelief. Around him, several other Oni of varying skin tones—blue, gray, even green—appeared, drawn to the noise of battle. They crowded around their battered comrade, patting his shoulders, checking his wounds.

“You did well, brother.”

 “Are you alive? Stay strong!”

 “Damn human had you cornered…”

“Don’t worry Boss Akami is here.”

But the Oni didn’t respond. He simply shook, his eyes wide, lips trembling. “H-his eyes… those weren’t human eyes…” He muttered, voice breaking. The others exchanged uneasy glances.

Above the murmurs, a cheer erupted from a group at the front. “Boss Akami got him! Hah! Didn’t stand a chance against her!”

All heads turned to the newcomer who had sent Issei flying.

She stood at the center of the plaza, small compared to the hulking men around her. Her figure was lithe, her horns longer than the red Oni’s, her features sharp with long black hair. Crimson skin glowed faintly in the firelight of the battle’s aftermath. Her eyes, though smaller, burned with confidence and authority.

The Oni leader, Akami.

She ignored the praise from her clansmen, her gaze fixed firmly on the jagged hole in the building where Issei had disappeared. Her clenched fist still smoked from the power of her blow, and yet she didn’t relax.

“Don’t celebrate yet,” She muttered, her tone low but carrying enough force to silence the others. “He’s not dead.”

The plaza grew quiet. Even the wounded Oni stopped shaking long enough to follow her stare.

Dust drifted lazily from the shattered window. Inside, faint echoes stirred.

And Akami’s eyes narrowed. ‘That boy… whatever he is, this fight isn’t over.’

The air thickened, so heavy that every Yokai present felt their chests tighten as if an invisible weight pressed down on them. Conversations died. Even the crackling fires from the earlier battle seemed to shrink under the suffocating pressure.

From the jagged hole in the ruined building, twin emerald lights flickered in the darkness like a predator’s gaze. The glow grew sharper, angrier, until it felt as though those eyes alone pinned the Oni clan in place.

Step. Step.

Issei emerged, slowly, dust falling from his shoulders, each footfall making the earth groan. His shirt was torn, his body covered in cuts and bruises, but his expression, his glowing dragon eyes was enough to make the Oni hesitate. The aura he gave off was thick, raw, and murderous.

Some of the younger Oni staggered back, clutching their chests as if suffocating. The female Oni boss grit her teeth, forcing her legs not to tremble. What is this boy?

Boosts!!

Before the clan could recover, Issei blurred forward. His fist collided with hers, as Akami reacted quickly, the shockwave ripping through the plaza and rattling windows. Cracks spider-webbed beneath their feet.

The clash escalated instantly. Blow for blow, fist for fist—her experience and technique against his raw strength and instincts. Each strike shook the ground in mini-quakes, small stones bouncing across the plaza as though the earth itself was trying to flee.

Issei’s mind was a storm. ‘She’s fast and skilled. Way more than her size should allow. But… I can keep up.’ His body moved before he could think, guided by that primal instinct Ddraig spoke of. Every time she tried to throw a feint, his emerald eyes read her intent. Every time she pushed him back, his body surged forward with a strength that only grew.

Around them, the remaining Oni clan members saw no choice but to intervene. Several charged at once, clubs and fire bursts filling the air. Issei snarled, twisting aside from the female boss’s kick to slam his fist into another Oni’s stomach, folding him in half.

Another tried to flank him with a club, but Issei caught the weapon mid-swing, snapping it in two with one hand before headbutting the Oni into unconsciousness. His movements were brutal, direct, yet impossibly efficient for someone so untrained.

The boss Oni clicked her tongue, forcing herself to press harder, raining blows against Issei’s guard while her clansmen tried to overwhelm him. 

Boost!!!

But instead of falling, Issei rose higher, roaring with each strike. Bruises bloomed across his skin, blood dripped from cuts, but he refused to falter.

Mina, who had just finished binding the battered Tengu with glowing paper talismans, froze mid-breath. The ground shook beneath her feet from the clash. She turned toward the plaza—and her eyes widened.

There was Issei.

Her earlier doubts, her claim that she was strong, all shattered watching the scene unfold. Dozens of Oni, each a terrifying force on their own, lay broken on the ground. Some groaned weakly, others couldn’t even be bothered to make a sound as they were unconscious. And at the center of the chaos stood Issei, locked in battle with the female Oni boss, his body moving like a storm incarnate.

‘Issei… he’s fighting them all at once… and he’s not losing.’

The Akami panted, her crimson skin glistening with sweat. 

Her clansmen, those few still standing, exchanged uneasy glances. “Too many are injured.” One of them whispered, clutching his injured arm. 

Another nodded grimly. “We can’t win this fight. If we keep going, we’ll all die.”

The words hung heavy. The boss Oni’s eyes narrowed in frustration. Every part of her screamed to keep fighting, to crush this human and reclaim her clan’s pride. But then she glanced back at the field to her clansmen littered across the ground, broken and bloodied.

Her pride clashed with her responsibility.

Finally, with a sharp snarl, she turned her back to Issei and barked, “Retreat! Take the wounded—NOW!”

Her followers obeyed instantly, scrambling to lift their unconscious comrades. The plaza filled with the sound of heavy footsteps and pained groans as the Oni began their retreat.

Issei’s breath came in ragged bursts, his fists clenched. His emerald eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, ready to chase them down. His blood screamed for him to finish the fight, to hunt.

But then—

“Issei!” Mina’s voice cut through the haze. He turned, his gaze snapping to her. She stood a short distance away, her talismans glowing faintly in her hands, but her face…

Her face wasn’t angry or proud. It was scared.

Not of the Oni. Of him.

Her body trembled ever so slightly as her green eyes met his dragonic ones.

Issei froze. The fury pounding in his veins cooled like water dousing fire. The silence that followed was suffocating. The Oni retreated into the shadows. Mina stayed still, her eyes never leaving him.

Reset!

The Boosted Gear faded from Issei’s left arm and he lowered his fists, shame creeping into his chest. ‘She was scared of me…’

The tension in the air slowly eased as Issei forced his breaths to calm and his emerald eyes faded back into their natural honey-brown. The dragonic aura dispersed like mist, leaving only the boy standing there, battered but steady. He blinked at Mina, his voice softened.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

Mina’s shoulders relaxing as if a heavy weight had just been lifted from her chest. The bloodlust that had nearly suffocated her a moment ago was gone. Her grip on her talismans loosened.

“I should be the one asking that,” She replied, her voice quieter now. “You were fighting multiple Oni at once. You should be hurt right now.” She frowned, tilting her head.

Issei scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Eh, it’s not that bad. I’ve been through worse… well, maybe not worse, but I’ll manage. Honestly, these are just scratches.”

That only made Mina narrow her eyes in disbelief. She stepped closer, close enough that Issei instinctively straightened up. Without asking, she reached out, her fingers brushing over his arm before moving down to his torso.

“Oi—w-wait, what are you—”

“Checking,” She cut him off, her tone clinical as she inspected every part of his body. Her hands pressed against his chest, his shoulders, and then much to his horror and her growing fascination, in the end it rested firmly against his abs and would not let go.

Issei’s face went red. She’s… she’s holding them way too long! Does she even realize what she’s doing?

But Mina’s brows furrowed as she realized something stranger than his physique. The cuts, bruises, and burns she had seen just minutes ago… were gone. The skin under her fingertips was smooth, the injuries erased as if they never existed.

“This… this doesn’t make sense,” She muttered, more to herself than to him. “You should be full of bruises and cuts, but you’ve already healed. Did you even—” She stopped abruptly, realizing how long her hand had been on his stomach.

Issei cleared his throat loudly. “Uh… you done yet?”

It was only then Mina realized what she was doing. Her face went bright red, and she immediately pulled her hands back as if burned. “I-I-I wasn’t staring! I was—! It was to make sure you weren’t injured! Strictly medical! Nothing else!”

Issei couldn’t help it. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. She looked so flustered, waving her hands as she tripped over her excuses, that the dangerous atmosphere from moments before was completely gone. He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

“Relax, I get it. You were just worried, right? It’s fine. Honestly… you’re kinda cute when you get all embarrassed.”

Mina froze, her face heating even more as she turned away sharply. “D-Don’t say weird things like that! Idiot.”

Issei laughed softly, then asked the more important question, “So… what now? What’s the plan?”

Mina took a steadying breath, regaining her composure, and gestured toward the direction of the earlier fight. “I managed to bind the Tengu before everything… escalated. He’s still tied up. If we interrogate him, we might get some answers.”

“Answers? About what exactly?” Issei asked, tilting his head.

“About everything,” Mina said firmly. “Why was he fighting that Oni? What’s happening in Tokyo. And most importantly…” Her green eyes sharpened, a flash of disdain crossing her features. “…if he knows anything about Saitama.”

At the mention of Saitama, Issei’s stomach dropped. Sweat prickled at the back of his neck. ‘Crap… Saitama… She's connecting it back to when Tohru showed up. If she ever finds out…’ Honestly he doesn't know but he had a gut feeling that it wouldn’t be anything good.

Mina, oblivious to his inner turmoil, crossed her arms. “Once we get what we can out of him, we’ll hand him over to the local authorities. Hmph. As useless as they are, protocol demands it.” Her tone was dripping with disdain at that last part.

Issei forced a nervous laugh, scratching his cheek. “R-right… authorities. Sounds… fun.”

The two of them made their way back toward the half-ruined plaza, where the battered Tengu still writhed weakly against the glowing talisman bindings Mina had left. His crow-like eyes glared hatefully at them, but the restraints pulsed with spiritual energy, holding him in place.

Issei folded his arms, frowning. ‘Now we’re interrogating birdmen. This day just keeps getting weirder.’

Mina knelt in front of the bound Tengu, her miko robes brushing the ground as her sharp green eyes fixed on him. The talisman ropes glowed faintly with spiritual energy, each pulse reminding the bird-man that resistance was useless.

“Why did you start fighting the Oni?” She asked flatly, her voice calm but carrying the weight of command.

The Tengu’s crow-like beak twisted into what could only be described as a sneer. “Tch. Why should I tell you anything, human?”

Issei, standing a little ways behind her, winced. ‘Oh no… wrong answer. I haven't known Mina for long but something tells me she is quite trigger happy with her explosions.’

Mina’s eyes narrowed. She repeated the question once, her tone sterner. “Why. Did. You. Start. The fight?”

The Tengu only fluffed his wings, stubbornly silent.

Mina exhaled through her nose, as though already tired of the game. “I don’t have the patience for this.” She pressed her hands together in a practiced seal. “Kai.”

The talisman ropes flared, arcs of blue lightning crackling across the Tengu’s body. He screeched, feathers scattering as the current ran through him. After a few seconds, Mina released the technique and leaned closer, her expression as steady as stone.

“Are you ready to talk now?”

Inside Issei’s mind, Ddraig chuckled. (I like this girl. She doesn’t waste time.)

Issei groaned, whispering under his breath. “I better not make her mad at me.”

The Tengu’s chest heaved, smoke rising faintly from his feathers. His sharp eyes flickered with reluctance before he finally broke. “Fine! Enough! I’ll talk.”

Mina raised an eyebrow. “Then start.”

Grinding his beak, the Tengu spat out the truth. “It all began when those damn Oni started invading our homes. They were originally from the outskirts of Saitama. Two months ago, Oni clans  among others started spreading and seizing whatever they could after losing their home.”

Issei stiffened at the mention of Saitama.

Mina, stone-faced, nodded. “So you were defending your territory. Not surprising. But why escalate it in the middle of the city?”

The Tengu gave her a glare. “Because it’s our home. I own a shop not far from here. If I don’t defend it, everything I had built will be destroyed.”

Issei blinked, tilting his head. “…Wait, you own a store? With… with that face?” He gestured vaguely at the crow’s beak and feathers.

The Tengu turned his head sharply, glaring at him. “Are you stupid?”

“Wha—hey!” Issei shot back.

With a frustrated huff, the Tengu’s form shimmered. His feathers folded into his skin, wings dissolving, beak retreating into a perfectly human jawline. In a matter of seconds, a tall, sharp-featured man in a black suit stood before them. His hair was jet black, slicked back stylishly, and his jawline looked like it had been carved by gods themselves.

“My name,” He said with a frown. “is Kazetaka. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Issei stared. Then his brow twitched, his fists tightening. “…Die.”

Both Mina and Kazetaka blinked. “Eh?”

“I said DIE,” Issei growled, glaring at him. “Why the hell do handsome guys like you even exist? You just make life harder for the rest of us regular dudes. Girls only ever look at your perfect hair and stupid sharp chin! You make finding a girlfriend impossible!”

Kazetaka blinked in disbelief. “That’s your reason?! And why is that my fault!?”

Issei jabbed a finger at him. “Yes, that’s my reason! Guys like you ruin everything!”

Mina, still kneeling nearby, could only stare blankly as the two men argued. At first she thought Issei was being ridiculous. But then her eyes lingered on him—his messy spiky hair, his boyish grin even when he was annoyed, the way his shirt tugged slightly against his chest after their earlier fight, not to mention his hard abs.

‘He’s… not so bad-looking himself.’ She thought..

Her face flushed instantly. ‘W-What the hell am I thinking?!’ She quickly turned away, fanning herself with one of her unused talismans, blaming the heat of the ruined plaza for her embarrassment.

Meanwhile Issei and Kazetaka continued to glare at each other like schoolboys.

Mina exhaled slowly, her sharp green eyes settling back on Kazetaka. She needed to take control again if she let the flow keep slipping into ridiculous bickering between Issei and the Tengu, they would get nowhere. Straightening her back and smoothing the creases of her miko robes, she spoke with a firm, clear voice.

“Enough banter. Kazetaka, what’s happening to Tokyo as a whole? Why is there so much unrest? Why are these youkai spilling into the city streets like this?”

Kazetaka, folded his arms and tilted his head slightly, his sharp black eyes regarding her with a mixture of annoyance and weariness. He gave a small shrug.

“Honestly? I don’t know much. Just rumors. Something spooked the supernatural community in Saitama—whatever it was, it was strong enough to scatter clans, spirits, even some of the minor gods. They fled, and in fleeing, they started pushing into Tokyo, claiming space, fighting those who already lived here. That’s why you’re seeing this chaos. At the moment, I only know for sure about that group of Oni…” He glanced toward the direction his defeated rivals had retreated. “But word is that others—kitsune, ayakashi, even wandering spirits—are stirring up trouble.”

Mina’s brows furrowed. She tapped a talisman against her palm, her frustration mounting. “…So nothing concrete. Just the same we’ve already pieced together.” She sighed, shaking her head. “That doesn’t help.”

Standing off to the side, Issei rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. ‘So, basically, Tohru scared the crap out of everyone, and now the whole city’s a mess… great.’ His stomach twisted with guilt, but he didn’t let it show.

Trying again, Mina asked with more intensity, “Then tell me this: do you know who made this barrier? Whoever did needs to be held accountable. This separation between humans and the supernatural is causing trouble for business.”

Kazetaka blinked at her, then sighed heavily, running a hand down his face. “I did.”

Issei blinked. “Wait—you?!”

The tengu nodded, brushing imaginary dust from his immaculate suit. “Yes. Me and the Oni. Before we started that little… disagreement. I made it to keep my neighbors safe. Tourists, workers, regular people—none of them deserved to get caught in our quarrel.”

For a moment, there was silence. Issei’s mouth fell open, then he whistled low. “Damn. So you can just… make a whole space like this? That’s actually… really impressive.”

Kazetaka looked at him with genuine confusion, then burst out laughing. “Impressive? This? Boy, don’t embarrass yourself. This false world is child’s play. A flimsy bubble. Any half-trained magician could pull it off in their sleep.”

Issei froze, cheeks reddening. “…S-seriously?”

Kazetaka smirked. “Of course. It’s already shrinking. I can barely maintain it for long. To compare—proper magicians can create entire domains, complete with altered laws of physics. What I’ve made here is a cheap imitation.”

Issei’s confidence crashed like a building in an earthquake. ‘And here I thought it was the coolest thing ever…’

Inside his mind, Ddraig’s booming voice rumbled with amusement. (He’s right, partner. Compared to real magi, this is little more than a paper tent. Still, don’t let it bother you. You’re not a magician—you’re a dragon. Your power will never rely on such tricks.)

“Gee, thanks,” Issei muttered under his breath, scratching the back of his head. “That makes me feel so much better.”

Mina, watching the exchange, exhaled sharply. “Whether it’s impressive or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that it exists, and that it needs to end before anyone else stumbles in. Kazetaka, turn it off. Now.”

Kazetaka gave her a long look before sighing again, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll dismantle it. But on one condition.”

Mina’s eyes narrowed, hand hovering near her talismans again. “…What condition?”

“I want to go back to my shop. You’ll come with me, and you’ll see for yourself that I wasn’t lying. If you’re going to keep throwing accusations, then at least verify the truth with your own eyes.”

Mina studied him carefully, then gave a small, reluctant nod. “Agreed. I want to make sure you’re not feeding us a story.”

Kazetaka straightened his suit jacket as he was allowed to stand and was released from his bindings. He glanced around the ruined street—walls cracked, lampposts bent, the pavement shattered with scorch marks and deep dents like meteors had struck it. His lips pressed into a thin line.

“…Strange,” He muttered aloud, scratching his chin. “I don’t recall causing this much damage in my scuffle with the Oni.” He narrowed his eyes, calculating. “Plus my fight with the girl alone… no. This scale of destruction is far beyond her.”

Turning sharply, he fixed his gaze on Mina and Issei. “So. What happened after you tied me up? What in the world… did I miss?”

Mina crossed her arms, her expression firm but slightly exasperated, as though she still couldn’t believe what she’d seen herself. “While I was handling you, my partner here.” She gestured toward Issei with a tilt of her chin.“Was dealing with the Oni. He defeated him, but then the rest of the clan showed up in defense of their comrade. Before I could even intervene, Issei was left fighting the entire group by himself.”

Kazetaka blinked, his face briefly blank before he let out a dry chuckle. “…By himself? You mean he stalled them?”

Mina shook her head, her eyes narrowing with emphasis. “No. He fought them. All of them. And he didn’t just survive—he managed to scare them off. Their leader had to call a retreat after taking too many casualties.”

The Tengu froze. His calculating composure cracked as his gaze slid slowly to Issei, who shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. Kazetaka’s voice was low, almost disbelieving: “A whole Oni clan… forced to retreat… by a single human boy?”

Mina corrected sharply, “By my partner. Don’t underestimate him just because he looks harmless.”

The word “partner” made Issei flush faintly, but he quickly scratched his cheek and tried to play it off. “W-well, it wasn’t like I did it perfectly. I mean, they roughed me up a bit.” He gave an awkward laugh, eyes darting away. “It’s not like I’m some… invincible hero or something.”

But the truth of it hung in the air, undeniable.

Kazetaka’s astonishment deepened as his mind replayed the scene Mina described. His sharp black eyes swept over Issei again, this time not with scorn but with cautious wariness. 

“…Unbelievable,” the Tengu whispered, more to himself than anyone else. “A mere boy drove them off…”

Issei noticed the way Kazetaka was staring at him now, and it made the pit of his stomach tighten. He shifted his weight letting his shoulders droop a little, trying to look less threatening.

He raised both hands in front of him, palms open in what he hoped was a non-hostile gesture. “H-hey, don’t look at me like that, alright? I’m not here to pick fights. I just didn’t want Mina-chan to get hurt by a bunch of Yokai.”

Mina’s cheeks burned faintly at being called Mina-chan, but she didn’t correct him. Instead, she looked at Kazetaka with pride in her voice. “See? So don’t think of escaping, Issei here would quickly take you down.”

The Tengu’s eyes flicked between them, still incredulous, but his thoughts were spinning faster than his tongue. ‘If this boy really is what he seems… then what kind of future storm is coming to Tokyo?’

Issei, on the other hand, was desperately trying not to meet Kazetaka’s piercing stare, his inner thoughts spiraling.  To break the silence, he scratched his head and forced a laugh. “S-so, uh… how about we just… go look for that store of yours.”

Kazetaka didn’t answer right away, but the wary respect in his eyes said more than words.

Finally done. What do you think of the new characters we have just met?  Comment and tell me if I made any mistakes and do say thank you to Luis for this commission.