The next morning, the sun broke through the curtains of Sam's small apartment, casting golden lines across the cluttered floor. Empty takeout containers from the night before, his school bag tossed carelessly onto the table, and the strange panel interface—now dormant—served as reminders of the new life he had been thrust into.
Yesterday had been anything but normal. A fight with a stray low-class devil. Near death. A mysterious system interface calling itself the Chaos Gacha System. And, of course, Tiche—his silent, imposing companion forged from that very system. Now, just over a day into this strange world, Sam dressed with cautious purpose. The Chaos Gacha System had granted him an ability: Lightning Claws, which he had not yet tested. Still, a hum pulsed in his arms, like static waiting to surge. His fingers tingled, but it felt almost alien, as if something was unsettlingly new inside of him.
The mirror in his bathroom was small, but it was enough for Sam to examine his reflection. The face staring back at him was familiar, but sharper, more refined, like a version of himself he hadn't quite met yet. His skin had a clearer, more polished look, almost unnaturally so. The change wasn't drastic, but Sam knew something had shifted. He wasn't just Sam Barnes anymore, not in the way he used to be. He wasn't sure how to feel about it.
"Great," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Just great. If this is a dream, I'm not waking up anytime soon."
The small hum of the fridge in the background was the only sound in the apartment as Sam went through his morning routine. It felt almost surreal, the mundane clashing with the strangeness of his new world. Brushing his teeth, he eyed his reflection. The Vial of Lifeblood had worked. His body was healing faster than it should. The aches from last night's fight—the bruises, the soreness in his ribs—were dulling. He could feel it, but it wasn't quite enough to make him feel whole again. **Enhanced Vitality made him feel more alive, but it also felt like a stranger's gift — like someone else's strength wrapped around his own broken edges. There was no comfort in it, only the reminder that survival had a price.
The toast popped out of the toaster with a satisfying click. He grabbed it and slathered on some jam without really tasting it. Sam ate without thought, mechanically. His body was functioning better than ever, but his mind was a mess of questions he couldn't answer.
"If this is a plot," he muttered to himself, staring at the cluttered kitchen, "I'd like to see the damn script."
After finishing breakfast, he grabbed his bag and headed out the door. The sound of his sneakers tapping against the concrete was a familiar comfort, but the weight of what he was walking into, and who he was becoming, hung over him. The morning felt still, quiet—a momentary lull before the next storm.
Kuoh Academy – Morning Arrival
The gates of Kuoh Academy loomed ahead, the sun reflecting off the tall building, casting long shadows across the entrance. Students flowed through the gates like a current, talking in small groups, laughing, and gathering in cliques. Sam couldn't shake the feeling that he was an outsider, a spectator to a world he didn't yet understand.
Subtle stares followed him—lingering glances, the eyes of students tracking his every movement. Among the crowd was Momo Hanakai, her silver hair glowing faintly in the morning light. She was with Tsubaki Shinra, the taller girl with a calculating gaze. Sam didn't recognize them, but they definitely knew him. And he could feel it.
Nearby, Genshiro Saji strolled into the courtyard. His tousled blond hair, lazy grin, and the way he carried himself screamed too polished for someone who wasn't part of the Student Council. Sam wasn't sure of his exact role, but he clocked him—there was something about Saji that felt too comfortable in a world Sam didn't understand yet. Still, there was a strange familiarity about the guy, and Sam couldn't shake the feeling that he would see more of him down the line.
One girl in the crowd, tall and elegant, carried herself like a swordswoman. Her posture screamed discipline, but Sam couldn't place her.
He sighed, muttering under his breath, "Okay. Cool. Everyone's staring again. Definitely not the protagonist of the school rom-com."
Occult Research Club – Third Floor, Old School Building
Rias Gremory stood near the window, her long crimson hair catching the light as she gazed outside, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Akeno Himejima stood beside her, arms crossed beneath her chest, eyes flicking to Sam as he walked by the building.
"That boy," Akeno said, her voice soft but laced with something deeper, "he's different today."
Rias nodded slowly. "There's a light around him. Holy in nature. Controlled, but unmistakable."
Akeno tilted her head. "He didn't have it during the battle. I'm sure of it."
"He didn't," Rias agreed. "But it's there now. It wasn't divinity—not like anything I've sensed before. It's not typical, not like what I know. It's controlled, but still... raw."
Akeno smirked. "A holy aura, yet... different."
Rias was silent for a moment, her gaze following Sam. "He didn't come here by chance. That much is clear. We need to be careful."
Akeno's expression softened into curiosity. "We'll have to keep a close eye on him. A human carrying holy energy in this town… That's bound to ruffle feathers."
In Class
Sam sat quietly, trying his best to tune out the eyes that were trained on him. Rias and Akeno exchanged glances again. He felt them watching, though their eyes were trained on the board. Was it curiosity? Or something else?
"They're too pretty to be NPCs," Sam muttered. "Definitely plot-important. But what plot?"
He glanced at Momo again, then to the tall girl with a sword. Something was off. There were too many people watching him, too many players in a game he didn't sign up for.
"I swear," he whispered, "why do I feel like I'm one episode away from being dragged into a supernatural dating simulator?"
Tiche's voice whispered into his mind: "You likely are."
He stiffened, blinking. "You can do that now?"
"I have always been capable. You are only now paying attention."
Sam jumped in his seat. "Don't do that!"
"I am merged with your shadow. You're the one who invited commentary."
He glanced at the teacher—no one else had noticed. "Great. Now I'm the guy talking to himself in class."
Lunch – Stairwell Retreat
Sam found a quiet stairwell near the old music room, away from the staring eyes. He leaned against the railing, feeling the cool breeze wash over him. His hands were shaking slightly—not from fear—but from the tension of trying to keep it all together.
"They continue to track your presence," Tiche's voice echoed from his shadow.
"No kidding," Sam muttered, rubbing his temples. "I feel like I've stepped into a mystery story without reading the first few pages."
"You radiate energy that does not belong here," Tiche said. "They will investigate."
Sam nodded. "Cool. Can't wait to be interrogated by the pretty girls who probably shoot lasers."
End-of-Day Rooftop
By the time the final bell rang, Sam had bolted up to the rooftop. The wind tugged gently at his shirt as he sat near the edge, overlooking the town. The aches in his body had faded to background noise, but the weight of attention still pressed down on him.
Down below, Rias, Akeno, and Momo were talking. Then, all at once, they looked up.
Right at him. For a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of recognition in Rias's expression — not fear, not suspicion, but a subtle alertness, like she'd just confirmed something she'd hoped wasn't true.
Sam gave a sheepish wave. "Yep. Totally normal guy. Definitely not radiating divine light like a firefly with self-esteem issues."
Tiche stood silently beside the door.
"I'm not even trying to cause trouble," Sam muttered.
"You are the disturbance. That is enough."
"Great." He laid back against the rooftop tiles. "Next thing you'll tell me is angels and demons are fighting a secret war."
Tiche didn't answer.
Sam blinked. "Wait… are they?"
Still no answer.
He groaned. "I miss video games. At least those come with tutorials."
Elsewhere…
On the far edge of Kuoh, beneath the shadows of a disused church, a lone figure watched the town from the belfry. Cloaked in a long black coat, their face remained hidden beneath a hood. A soft static charge lingered in the air, curling around their form like mist from another realm. Only a faint glint of sharp violet eyes caught the last rays of twilight.
Wings of darkness stirred once, then vanished beneath the coat.
"Interesting," the figure whispered, voice androgynous, echoing faintly. "So this is where the pieces begin to move."
The figure stepped back into the dark, vanishing completely.