Renji woke to the sound of running water.
For a moment, he thought he was back home, in his normal apartment, where mornings began with his noisy neighbor's shower. He yawned, stretched—
—and realized he wasn't in his own room.
"…Oh, right," he muttered, sitting up in the unfamiliar bed. The events of last night came crashing back. Dying. Being revived. Devils. Wings. Sacred Gears.
His stomach twisted. "Nope. Still not a dream."
Groaning, he stumbled toward the bathroom door. Without thinking, he pushed it open.
Steam billowed out.
And standing at the sink in nothing but a towel, drying her hair, was the voluptuous girl from last night.
Her eyes widened. "Oh?"
Renji froze, every brain cell shutting down at once.
A drop of water slid down her collarbone, trailing lower—
"AAAAAHHHHHH!"
Renji slammed the door shut, his face bright red. "I-I-I'm sorry! I didn't know—!"
Her laughter tinkled through the door like wind chimes. "Ara, ara~ Such a bold wake-up call. You'll get used to it, you know. Living with us girls."
Renji slid down the wall, clutching his chest. This is hell. This is hell with soft towels and dangerous women.
Breakfast was an elegant affair, courtesy of another peerage member—a quiet girl with silver hair and a knack for cooking. Renji stared at the neatly plated meal, then at the group of beautiful devils surrounding him, and muttered, "I feel like the ugly protagonist in a harem anime."
The ponytailed girl smirked. "Ugly? Don't sell yourself short. You're at least… average."
"Wow. Thanks. My self-esteem is skyrocketing," Renji deadpanned.
Sona cleared her throat, drawing the room's attention. She sat across from him, perfectly composed even at the breakfast table. "Renji, today you will learn the fundamentals of your new existence. The duties of a reincarnated devil."
Renji stabbed his omelette nervously. "Duties? You mean… paperwork?"
Sona adjusted her glasses. "Contracts."
Renji blinked. "…Like cell phone contracts? Because I already regret those."
The voluptuous girl giggled. "Not that kind of contract. We fulfill the wishes of humans. They summon us with a magic circle, and in exchange for compensation, we grant assistance."
Renji frowned. "So… wish-granting? Like a genie?"
Sona's lips curved slightly. "In a sense. Though less… generous. Devils are bound by certain rules. We cannot give what we do not have. But power, wealth, love—there are many ways to grant such things."
Renji leaned back, skeptical. "And you want me… to be part of this devil delivery service?"
"Correct," Sona said. "It is how devils maintain balance with the human world. And as my Pawn, it will be your responsibility as well."
Renji sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Great. I die once, and now I'm working customer service for the underworld."
The ponytailed girl smirked. "Don't worry. The customers are usually too desperate to complain."
"That's… not reassuring," Renji muttered.
The day passed in a blur. Sona introduced him to Kuoh Academy as a transfer student. The moment he walked into the classroom, whispers erupted.
"Eh? Who's that?""New guy, huh? He's kinda plain…""But he's sitting near the student council president!"
Renji hunched over his desk, hiding his face. Why does everyone look at me like I'm a rare zoo animal?
By the time classes ended, he was drained. But his ordeal wasn't over.
That night, Sona summoned him and the ponytailed girl to the clubroom. "It's time you experienced your first contract, Renji."
Renji blinked. "Already? I barely passed math today!"
Sona's gaze was steady. "Experience is the best teacher. Don't worry—Tsubasa will accompany you."
The ponytailed girl waved casually. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
Renji groaned. Too late for that.
The contract circle glowed beneath their feet. Renji blinked, then found himself inside a modest living room.
A middle-aged man in pajamas greeted them nervously. "Ah, you came. Thank you. Please, over here."
Renji stepped forward, trying to look professional. "S-so, what's the request?"
The man rubbed his neck. "It's… pests."
Renji blinked. "You called a devil… for pest control?"
"They're not normal pests," the man muttered. "They… talk."
Renji's stomach dropped. "Talk…?"
A screech echoed from the kitchen. Something small and twisted darted across the floor. Its eyes glowed red.
Renji yelped. "That's not a rat, that's a demon hamster!"
Tsubasa cracked her knuckles. "Stray familiars. Figures. Alright, newbie. Your move."
Renji flailed. "M-my move?! With what?!"
The creatures lunged. Renji threw up his arms—
—and power surged through him. Crimson-black symbols blazed across his arm, releasing a shockwave that sent the pests screeching against the wall.
Renji stared at his arm in horror. "…It happened again…"
Tsubasa whistled. "Not bad." She dashed forward, kicking one creature into dust.
The others scrambled up. One lunged for Renji's throat. Panic surged—his arm glowed, and a jagged blade of energy burst forth, slicing the creature cleanly in two.
Renji froze. "I… I did that?"
The last familiar shrieked and dove for him. Renji stumbled back, tripped—and fell straight into Tsubasa. They tumbled to the ground, Renji's face burying in the worst possible place.
Her smirk was audible even before he looked up. "Oh? Handsy already?"
Renji's soul left his body. "I-it's not what it looks like!"
She blasted the creature into ash with a flick of her hand. "Relax, newbie. You'll fit right in."
Renji covered his face, groaning. Just kill me again. Please.
Later that night, back in the student council room, Renji slumped in a chair. "So that's it. First day on the job, and I nearly got eaten. Twice. I want a raise."
Sona's gaze lingered on the faint glow pulsing beneath his skin. "No, Renji. What you want is control. That Sacred Gear… it is no ordinary weapon. And until you master it, every contract, every battle, will put you at risk."
Renji groaned. "Why me? I just wanted a part-time job and maybe a girlfriend…"
The voluptuous girl giggled. "Careful what you wish for. Around here, both might come true."
Renji's face turned crimson. "…Hell really is full of temptations."
POV Shift: Sona Sitri
Sona dismissed the peerage, but remained behind as Renji dozed off on the couch. His breathing was uneven, his arm glowing faintly in rhythm with his pulse.
She folded her hands, her mind sharp.
A Sacred Gear of that magnitude… falling into her hands by chance. It was rare. Almost unthinkable. Yet he was no warrior. Not yet.
And still… he had acted. Clumsy, panicked, reckless—but he acted. He faced danger with no training, no preparation.
Sona allowed herself the faintest smile.
"A wild card indeed," she whispered.
Her eyes softened, just for a moment, as she adjusted his blanket.
"You will not be alone, Renji. I promise you that."