After successfully copying Rias' Power of Destruction (POD), Ryusei took a deep breath, feeling the overwhelming energy coursing through her veins.
"I have to get going now," Ryusei finally said, brushing the remaining embers of destruction from her hands.
"Aw, are you sure you can't stay a little longer?" Rias pouted, her voice carrying a playful lilt. She stepped closer. "I... want to see what else you can do with my demonic power."
Ryusei paused, tilting her head slightly. "...Are you asking me to help you train?"
Rias smiled. "Maybe~"
Ryusei sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "As much as I would like to stay here with you..." she hesitated, her voice lowering. "...I have to go get my Hunter Rank evaluated."
Rias raised an eyebrow. "Hunter Rank? OH, I forgot that your an awakened."
"Yeah. It's something I have to do for myself," Ryusei explained, finally turning back to face Rias properly. "So... see ya!"
Before Rias could press further, Ryusei pivoted on her heel and dashed off, her footsteps kicking up dirt as she disappeared into the trees.
Left alone, Rias sighed, placing a hand on her hip. "She always leaves so quickly..." she muttered to herself. Then, a small smile played on her lips. "I suppose that just makes me even more interested in her."
With that, she turned and walked back toward the academy, already thinking of ways to make Ryusei spend more time with her next time.
As Ryusei stepped into Japan's Hunter Association, she couldn't help but be in awe of the massive building. The inside was bustling with awakened individuals—hunters of all ranks coming and going, discussing missions, and checking out equipment.
"Whoa, this place is huge…" she muttered under her breath, scanning the towering walls lined with digital boards displaying hunter rankings and active missions.
Before she could take in more of her surroundings, a voice called out to her.
"Excuse me, young lady."
Turning toward the voice, she saw a middle-aged man in a sleek suit, his identification badge confirming he was an association employee. His sharp eyes studied her curiously.
"Are you an awakened? If you're here to get your rank evaluated, then follow me."
Ryusei nodded, feeling a small wave of nervous excitement. "Yeah… I'd like to get evaluated."
The man gestured for her to follow, leading her through a hallway and into a room with a large, high-tech machine positioned in the center. The chamber itself had reinforced walls—likely for safety purposes—while several monitors and recording devices were set up to document results.
"This is the Awakening Measurement Device," the man explained. "Simply place your hand on the scanner, and it'll analyze your mana output, physical attributes, and potential rank. Once the results are in, you'll be assigned a hunter rank."
Ryusei took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Alright… let's see what I get." She pressed her palm against the scanner, and the machine immediately lit up with a soft hum.
The room fell silent as the device began its analysis.
Ryusei places her hand on the machine, feeling a slight vibration beneath her fingertips as it scans her abilities. She takes a deep breath, making a conscious decision.
"I'll go for E-rank and be a carrier for now. Don't want to draw too much attention from major guilds. Besides, I'm still in school, and I won't be the only E-rank at Kouh Academy."
The machine hums, its screen flashing with numbers and symbols before settling on a result. Ryusei removes her hand and steps back.
The employee glances at the screen and shakes his head with a sigh. "E-rank... Feel bad for ya, kid," he says, patting Ryusei's shoulder. "Not much money to be made at that level, but work is work, I guess."
Ryusei forces a smile, playing the part of a weak, low-ranked hunter. "Yeah, I figured as much."
"Alright," the man continues. "I need you to fill out some paperwork for your hunter's license and take an ID picture. Follow me."
Ryusei nods, suppressing a smirk.
She let's out a small, nervous chuckle as the man patted her shoulder, playing along with the idea that being an E-rank was a rough hand to be dealt. In truth, she had deliberately suppressed her true abilities to avoid unnecessary attention.
"Yeah… tough break," she muttered, scratching the back of her head.
The man handed her a clipboard with a few sheets of paper attached. "Just fill these out—basic information, emergency contacts, and agreement to the Hunter Association's terms. After that, we'll get your ID picture taken."
Ryusei took the clipboard and walked over to a nearby table, scanning through the paperwork. It was all standard stuff—name, age, address, and any affiliated guilds. She left the guild section blank since she wasn't planning on joining one.
After a few minutes, she handed the forms back to the employee, who gave them a quick once-over before nodding. "Alright, follow me to the photo booth."
Ryusei stepped into a small booth with a plain white backdrop. She adjusted her hoodie, making sure she didn't look too sloppy, and stared at the camera. A quick flash later, her ID was processed.
The employee handed her a temporary card. "Here you go. Your official license will arrive in a week. Until then, this works as proof of your status. Try not to lose it."
Ryusei took the card and tucked it into her pocket. "Thanks."
"Welcome to the Hunter Association. Just stick to gathering and low-risk jobs, alright? E-ranks don't last long if they get too ambitious."
Ryusei smiled slightly. "Got it. I'll be careful."
"Oh, and one more thing." The man says. "You're surname, it's Okkotsu correct? You wouldn't happen to be related to someone who's higher up the Hunters Association, would you?"
"Uh, I wouldn't know." Ryusei shrugged, barely glancing at him as she started to walk away.
The man watched her, his sharp gaze following her as she walked toward the exit. He didn't believe her response for a second, but something about her demeanor struck him as genuine. Was she really unaware of the significance her surname carried?
The doors to the evaluation room slid open with a soft hiss as Ryusei stepped out, already planning her next move. The man continued to stare at her, deep in thought.
"Hmm..."
Another employee, a woman with brown hair tied up in a neat bun, approached him. Her expression was casual, though there was a certain sharpness in her eyes. "Yo, Hanami. What are you looking at?" she asked, her tone more curious than anything.
"This kid just came in for her evaluation." Hanami turned his attention to the woman, the suspicion still heavy in his voice. "Her surname is Okkotsu."
The woman's eyebrows raised. "Okkotsu? Like the Chairman?"
"Yeah- oh shit..."