Akira POV
Two days had passed since my conversation with Dad in the park, and I'd spent every spare moment experimenting with my [Archive Magic]. The translucent interface had become easier to access, though it still left me mentally exhausted after extended use. I'd managed to create several data files: observations about my parents, theories about my reincarnation, and most importantly, a growing database of magical knowledge from my previous life.
This morning was different, though. Today, we were visiting the Yaegashi dojo.
"Are you ready, Akira?" Mom called from downstairs. I could hear the subtle tension in her voice—the same controlled alertness she'd shown whenever we ventured into unfamiliar territory.
"Coming!" I replied, taking one last look at myself in the mirror. My heterochromatic eyes stared back at me, one green, one red. I'd learned to keep the golden flashes that came with my dragon heritage suppressed, but it required constant conscious effort.
[You seem nervous.] Ddraig observed as I headed downstairs.
'Wouldn't you be? If Shizuku Yaegashi is really the same person from the Arifureta series, then meeting her could change everything. She becomes one of the most skilled swordswomen in her world.'
[And you believe this... overlap of realities is intentional?]
'It has to be. First I'm reincarnated into the DxD world, then I discover my parents have connections to legendary institutions, and now I'm about to meet another character from a completely different series? That entity definitely has a plan.'
Mom was waiting by the door, dressed in simple jeans and a sweater, but I could see the way she automatically checked the street before stepping outside. Dad had already left for work, promising to meet us at the dojo after his morning classes ended.
"The Yaegashi family has been running their dojo for over two hundred years," Mom explained as we walked through the residential streets. "Master Koichi is supposedly one of the finest swordsmen in Japan, though he keeps a very low profile."
"And his daughter?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casually curious.
"Shizuku is six, like you. From what I've heard, she's been training since she could walk. Very serious for her age, but... well, you'll see."
The dojo appeared as we rounded a corner—a traditional Japanese building that seemed to radiate an aura of discipline and ancient tradition. The wooden sign by the entrance bore elegant calligraphy: "Yaegashi Dojo - The Way of the Sword."
As we approached the entrance, I felt something strange. That tingling sensation I'd been experiencing around my parents suddenly intensified, and for a moment, my enhanced senses picked up something... different about this place. The very air seemed to hum with an energy I couldn't quite identify.
[Interesting,] Ddraig rumbled. [This place has been touched by power. Old power.]
Before I could respond, the door slid open, revealing a man in his thirties with kind but sharp eyes and callused hands that spoke of decades of sword work.
"You must be the Buné family," he said with a slight bow. "I am Koichi Yaegashi. Please, come in."
As we removed our shoes and entered the dojo proper, I was struck by the sense of history in the place. The wooden floors were worn smooth by generations of students, and the walls were lined with various weapons—swords, naginata, and other traditional arms that practically hummed with their own stories.
"Shizuku," Master Yaegashi called softly. "Come meet our guests."
A small figure emerged from behind a weapons rack, and my breath caught. Even at six years old, Shizuku Yaegashi moved with a grace and precision that was immediately recognizable. Her dark hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and her serious dark eyes took in Mom and me with an assessment that seemed far too mature for her age.
"Hello," she said with a perfectly executed bow. "I am Shizuku Yaegashi. Please take care of me."
"This is my son, Akira," Mom introduced. "He's very interested in learning martial arts."
Shizuku's gaze fixed on me, and for a moment, I felt like she was seeing more than a typical six-year-old. There was something in her eyes—a depth that reminded me of my own hidden knowledge.
"Would you like to observe our morning training session?" Master Yaegashi asked. "Shizuku was just beginning her kata practice."
"That would be wonderful," Mom replied.
As we settled on cushions at the edge of the training area, Shizuku moved to the center of the dojo. She picked up a wooden practice sword that was clearly sized for her small frame, but the way she handled it spoke of countless hours of training.
What followed was extraordinary. Even knowing what to expect from my knowledge of her character, watching six-year-old Shizuku perform her kata was mesmerizing. Every movement was precise, controlled, and flowed into the next with a fluidity that spoke of natural talent honed by dedicated practice.
[That child is remarkable,] Ddraig observed. [Her movements... there's something almost supernatural about her precision.]
'She's supposed to be prodigiously talented,' I replied silently. 'In her original story, she becomes one of the strongest fighters in her world.'
As Shizuku completed her kata and returned the wooden sword to its rack, her father nodded approvingly. "Would you like to try a few basic movements, Akira?"
My heart jumped. This was it—my first real step toward training that could help me control my growing abilities. "Yes, please!"
Master Yaegashi handed me a child-sized wooden sword, and immediately I could feel the difference in my hands. It was perfectly balanced, and something about holding it felt... right.
"Show me your stance," he instructed.
I tried to remember the basic stances I'd read about in my previous life, but of course, reading about swordwork and actually doing it were completely different things. I fumbled into what I hoped was a proper grip and stance.
"Hmm," Master Yaegashi mused, gently adjusting my posture. "You have good instincts, but your foundation needs work. Shizuku, would you demonstrate the basic standing position?"
Shizuku moved beside me, and I was struck by how naturally she fell into the perfect stance. "Like this," she said quietly. "Feel the connection between your feet and the floor. The sword is not separate from you—it is an extension of your body."
As she spoke, I felt that tingling sensation again, but this time it was different. Warmer. More... complete. And for just a moment, I could swear I sensed something from Shizuku too—a potential that went far beyond normal human capability.
"Try again," Master Yaegashi said.
This time, I let my enhanced physical conditioning guide me. My devil heritage provided better balance and coordination than a normal child would possess, and I managed to approximate Shizuku's stance much more closely.
"Much better!" Shizuku said with genuine enthusiasm. "You're a fast learner. Most people take weeks to get their stance even close to right."
Master Yaegashi nodded approvingly. "Natural athleticism helps, but you'll still need consistent practice to develop proper form."
We spent the next hour going through basic movements and stances. I was careful not to display too much unnatural ability, but I couldn't help notice that I was picking things up faster than a normal six-year-old should. If Master Yaegashi noticed, he didn't comment, though I caught him exchanging meaningful glances with Mom.
"That's enough for today," he finally said. "Akira shows promise, though he'll need regular practice to develop proper fundamentals."
"Can he join the children's classes?" Mom asked.
"I think that would be beneficial. We have sessions three times a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. Shizuku, would you be willing to help Akira learn the basics?"
For the first time, Shizuku's serious expression softened slightly. "Yes, sensei. I would like that."
As we prepared to leave, Shizuku approached me while the adults finalized arrangements. "Akira," she said with a small smile, "you did really well for your first time."
My tension eased slightly. "Thanks. You're amazing at this. How long have you been training?"
"Since I was three," she said matter-of-factly. "Papa says I have good instincts, but mostly it's just practice. Lots and lots of practice."
"Maybe you could help me with the basics sometime?"
"I'd like that," she said, her serious expression brightening. "It's more fun to train with someone else. Most kids my age think swordwork is boring."
Before I could respond, Mom appeared at my shoulder. "Ready to go, sweetheart?"
"Yes," I replied, then turned back to Shizuku. "I'll see you Monday?"
"Yes! I'll help you with your stance. You were close, but your feet need to be positioned differently."
The walk home was quiet, Mom seeming lost in thought. Finally, she spoke. "The Yaegashis are... interesting people."
"What do you mean?"
"Master Koichi moves like someone with real combat experience. Not just dojo training." She paused. "And his daughter... she's remarkable for her age."
'That's putting it mildly,' I thought, but aloud I just said, "She seems nice. A little serious, though."
"Serious children often have serious reasons for being that way," Mom replied cryptically.
When we got home, I immediately headed to my room, my mind churning with everything that had happened. The training session had gone well, and Shizuku seemed like she'd be a good training partner and friend. More importantly, I'd gotten my first real taste of martial arts training, which could provide excellent cover for developing my supernatural abilities.
Settling cross-legged on my bed, I closed my eyes and accessed my Archive interface.
{Archive Magic Active. User Level: Novice. New data input detected.}
'Create new file: Yaegashi Dojo training observations,' I thought.
{File created. Input data?}
I began organizing my observations: the traditional training methods, Shizuku's impressive but clearly natural talent, Master Yaegashi's teaching style, and how I could use the legitimate training to mask my supernatural development.
[You're thinking about the training potential,] Ddraig observed.
'Exactly. Having legitimate martial arts training will give me cover for developing enhanced physical abilities. Plus, Shizuku seems like she could become a good friend and training partner.'
[The girl is remarkably skilled for her age. Natural talent combined with dedicated practice.]
A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. "Akira?" Dad's voice called. "I'm home."
"Coming!" I called, quickly dismissing the Archive interface. I'd tell him about it, but I needed to be careful about what I revealed.
I found Dad in the kitchen, still in his instructor's uniform, talking quietly with Mom. They broke off their conversation when I entered, but not before I caught the tail end of something about "unusual potential" and "keeping watch."
"So, how did the dojo visit go?" Dad said, turning to me with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, "I hear you met the Yaegashi family. What did you think?"
"Master Yaegashi seems really skilled," I said honestly. "And Shizuku... she's amazing. I've never seen anyone our age move like that."
Dad and Mom exchanged another look. "The Yaegashis have a reputation for producing exceptional students," Dad said carefully. "Their training methods are quite traditional."
"And effective," Mom added. "Though I suspect their daughter has natural talent that goes beyond normal training."
I nodded. "She said she's been training since she was three. That's a lot of practice."
"Indeed," Dad said. "Dedication from such a young age often produces remarkable results."
"By the way," Dad continued, "you have been quieter the past few nights. Are you sleeping better?"
"A little," I lied. The truth was, I'd been practicing dream control, using techniques I remembered from lucid dreaming guides in my previous life. Combined with my [Archive Magic], I could now organize and store dream memories more effectively, preventing the kind of sleep-talking that had worried my parents.
"Good," Mom said. "Though if the martial arts training helps you burn off excess energy, that's even better."
After dinner, I excused myself to do homework—a convenient cover for more magical experimentation. Back in my room, I decided to try accessing another magic system.
[Fire Dragon Slayer Magic] seemed like the logical next step, especially given my Buné heritage. I closed my eyes and reached inward, past the dormant Boosted Gear, past the familiar warmth of the [Archive Magic], toward something deeper and more primal.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, I felt it—a different kind of warmth spreading through my chest. This wasn't the controlled energy of Archive Magic; this was wilder, more instinctive.
I opened my eyes and looked at my hands. Carefully, very carefully, I tried to channel that warmth into my fingertips.
A tiny wisp of actual flame flickered to life above my index finger.
[Extraordinary,] Ddraig breathed. [You're accessing dragon magic without my power. That should be impossible for someone your age.]
The flame guttered out almost immediately, leaving me feeling drained, but the implications were staggering. If I could access Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, then the other systems might be possible too.
A soft knock on my door made me freeze. "Akira?" It was Mom's voice, but something was different about it—more alert, more dangerous. "Is everything alright in there? I thought I smelled... something."
My blood went cold. Had she detected the magic? "I'm fine, Mom. Just reading."
"Okay, sweetheart. Don't stay up too late."
I heard her footsteps retreat, but something told me she'd stopped just outside my door. I quickly grabbed a book and pretended to read, my heart hammering in my chest.
After what felt like an eternity, I heard her footsteps continue down the hallway. But the incident had driven home an important point: I needed to be much more careful about when and where I practiced. My parents' enhanced senses were clearly more acute than I'd realized.
[That was foolish,] Ddraig scolded. [Magic leaves traces that those with experience can detect. You must be more cautious.]
'I know, I know. But did you see what happened? I actually produced dragon fire without using the Boosted Gear.'
[Yes, and it nearly exposed you to parents who are clearly more observant than you realized. Your mother reacted to magical traces the way a trained warrior responds to threats.]
He was right, of course. I needed to find a better place to practice, somewhere away from my parents' supernatural senses.
As I lay in bed that night, my mind raced with everything that had happened. Meeting Shizuku, discovering my growing abilities, the confirmation that my parents were far more than they appeared—it was almost overwhelming.
But there was something else too. A growing sense of unease from Ddraigs's comment about the dojo being touched by an "old power" suggested she might be dealing with her own supernatural circumstances or that she wasn't aware of it. And if that was true, then perhaps we could help each other navigate whatever was coming.
[You're planning to confide in the girl.] Ddraig observed.
'Maybe. Eventually. If I can confirm my suspicions about this.' I rolled onto my side, staring out at the night sky. 'But first, I need to get better control over my abilities. And I need to figure out why that entity brought us all together.'
[All?]
'You don't reincarnate someone into a world full of crossover characters by accident. There's a pattern here, a purpose. And I have a feeling meeting Shizuku was just the beginning.'
As sleep finally claimed me, my last conscious thought was a determination to make the most of this training opportunity. The martial arts would help me develop better control over my supernatural abilities while building genuine friendships with people like Shizuku.
Tomorrow, I would start Monday classes at the Yaegashi dojo. And maybe, just maybe, I would begin to find the balance between my supernatural destiny and the normal relationships that made life worth living.
[Sleep well, young dragon emperor,] Ddraig rumbled softly. [Tomorrow, your real training begins.]