(1984 - 1990)
Kenji's elementary school life was uneventful. He was a naturally gifted student, and his striking appearance made him popular among his peers. Teachers often praised his light blue eyes as "the eyes that see the hope of the future."
Physical Training
Kenji knew he had no special powers, so he had to push his human body to its absolute limit. He began jogging around the park every dawn before his parents awoke. At first, he was so exhausted he nearly vomited, but over time, his endurance increased dramatically.
He secretly practiced basic martial arts from old textbooks in the library and spent his afternoons after school climbing trees, scaling school walls, and training for fast, silent movements. Every stumble, every scrape on his body, was carefully concealed to ensure his parents' smiles remained untroubled.
Intellectual Education
Kenji developed an intense interest in Devils. He spent hours in the local library, claiming to be working on reports. He wasn't interested in folklore but focused on:
Fear: Devils grew stronger from human fear. Kenji sought to understand which types of fear created the most dangerous Devils.
Demon-Hunting History: He read records of hunters from previous eras to study the weaknesses of known Devils and battle strategies that did not rely on special powers.
Contracts and Limitations: He began to realize that many Devil Hunters relied on "Contracts" to exchange power with a Devil. Kenji memorized all the conditions and limitations of these various contracts as if they were invaluable treasures.
When Kenji was 11 years old (1989), he began observing locations where Devil attacks had been reported. He could sense the residual chill left by Devil energy more clearly, even though he couldn't see the entities themselves.
One night, as he crept out of the house after midnight for a training session, Kenji saw a flash of light in a dark alley near the park. He ran toward it silently and witnessed a scene that drastically intensified his resolve:
A weary-faced female Devil Hunter was making a contract and quickly dispatching a small, lurking Rat Devil.
Kenji saw:
True Violence: Splashing blood and the intense metallic smell.
The Hunter's Ability: The young woman dealt with the Devil quickly and mercilessly.
The Gap: He was only a few meters away, yet he remained a powerless spectator in the fight against the Devil.
After spying on the Devil Hunter, he rushed home with only minor bruises from his own training, but his light blue eyes were filled with urgency. He knew his "normal" life was running out of time, and aimless solitary training might not be enough to improve, but he persisted.
By age 12 (1990), Kenji was a boy with physical capabilities rivaling some adults and an extraordinary knowledge base about Devils, but he still lacked the Weaponry and the Opportunity to truly enter the world of combat.
Junior High Years: The Acceleration (1990 - 1993)
At age 12, Kenji entered junior high at the local school. His life became more intense; the academic load grew heavier, but the necessity for training increased with the looming feeling that the world was becoming more dangerous.
In school, Kenji was a top student. He was beloved by teachers and classmates alike, owing to his elegant looks, excellent intelligence, and gentle personality. He always scored well with seemingly little effort, all to maintain the "perfect son image" for his parents' peace of mind.
He deliberately avoided time-consuming club activities to save all his after-school hours for private training.
The Training
Kenji did not train to build an athlete's bulk but to develop exceptional Reaction Speed and Precision to compensate for his lack of supernatural power in Devil combat.
He spent hours in his backyard or an old, abandoned gym. He began practicing various martial arts that focused on speed and counter-attack, particularly Karate and Kendo (using a bamboo shinai for practice).
Speed Training: He ran on inclines with hidden weights under his clothes to push his heart to the limit. He practiced bare-handed parrying against pebbles thrown by an oblivious training partner.
Visual Training: Although his eyes couldn't see Devil Energy, he trained them to be as Detail-Oriented as possible to predict enemy movements based on air currents, vibrations, or overlooked footprints.
Pain Endurance: He started training his mind to tolerate pain. He realized that, as a regular human, any attack from a Devil could be fatal, so he must be able to fight even with severe injuries.
He trained this way until he was 15 years old (1993). Kenji finished reading dozens of books and secret documents on Devils. He summarized all his knowledge into a private journal hidden beneath his floorboards:
Weakness Analysis: He noted that many Devils were born from specific fears, such as the Bat Devil fearing light or the Spider Devil disliking movements too fast for its eyes to process.
Hunter Psychology: He studied the mindsets of famous Devil Hunters, both Public Safety and Private Hunters. He realized the best hunters were often the most reckless or those willing to abandon humanity to achieve their goals.
Combat Strategy: He began drawing attack diagrams and evasion tactics using the environment as a weapon, such as luring a Devil into flooded areas or tight spaces.
Close Call (Age 15)
During the winter of 1993, regional tensions heightened with widespread rumors of a Snow Devil appearing in a nearby prefecture.
One day after school, as Kenji walked home, he felt an unusual, sharp cold spreading in the air. His eyes narrowed. He saw a few people walking quickly as if being pursued. Kenji immediately chose to follow.
He arrived at an isolated alley and saw a frightened woman near a lamppost. On the ground, ice was forming rapidly.
The Devil was not clearly visible, but it was causing the fear in the area to solidify into ice.
Suddenly, a short knife flew out of the darkness and accurately struck the point Kenji believed was the center of the Devil's energy.
"Don't come any closer!" a rough voice shouted from atop the wall.
Kenji looked up and saw a rugged Private Devil Hunter dressed in a tattered leather jacket, holding a blood-stained short sword.
The Devil Hunter's presence caused the Devil to retreat quickly, leaving a trail of coldness behind. Kenji stood motionless. His body was ready to fight, but his mind was processing rapidly.
He thought to himself: Should I approach this man? What could I learn from a real Devil Hunter? If I decide to step into this world, would I have to abandon the "normal" life my parents built for me?