The year is 1995. Kenji has turned 15. He no longer attends school but arrives in a pristine black suit specially tailored by Makima. His azure eyes, having absorbed years of advanced learning, are hidden behind thick-rimmed dark glasses. Kenji steps into the Tokyo Headquarters of the Public Safety Division 4 Special Section, a place devoid of any warmth.
There, another young man stands near a tall window. He has long, dark, shoulder-length hair and stands motionless like a statue. His face bears an intensely frightening determination. This is Aki Hayakawa, aged 16, who recently joined the organization with a singular desire: vengeance against the Gun Devil that killed his family.
Makima: (Stepping forward elegantly) "Aki-kun, allow me to introduce our new personnel."
Aki turns, staring at Kenji with suspicion. Aki expected to meet a formidable Hunter but instead saw a thin boy wearing glasses that looked too large for him.
Makima: "This is Hirachi Kenji. Kenji is not a typical Devil Hunter, but rather a Key Asset under my direct supervision."
Kenji bows politely, as Makima had taught him.
Kenji: "Hello, Hayakawa-san. My name is Kenji. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Aki did not return the bow. He simply exhaled a breath of dissatisfaction.
Aki: "Key Asset? A 15-year-old kid who hasn't completed official basic training?"
Makima: "Kenji has undergone intensive training in a format more specialized than anything you've experienced, Aki-kun." She turns to Kenji. "Kenji... starting today, you are assigned to be Aki-kun's partner until you become accustomed to the division's field operations."
Kenji paused upon hearing the order. In his objective view, Aki was not just human, but something complex. Kenji could see the intense and constant emotion (vengeance) that was the force continually propelling Aki.
Kenji internally calculated: Aki's existence is defined by his confrontation with every Devil he encounters. He is the person with the highest probability of fatality in this room.
Aki: (Turning back to Makima) "I don't need a spoiled intern to be a liability to me."
Makima: (A small, cold smile appears) "Aki-kun, you are not in a position to refuse an order. Kenji will make your work easier. You can utilize the abilities he has developed to support you in missions so that you can get closer to what you requested from me."
Makima did not wait for an answer. She handed the first mission file to Aki.
Makima: "Your first mission is to eliminate a Devil causing trouble in an abandoned building in the suburban district. You may leave, Aki-kun. You have three hours."
Aki gritted his teeth in anger. He picked up his katana, slung it over his shoulder, and walked out of the room without a word.
Kenji quietly followed Aki. He adjusted his glasses and muttered, ("I don't particularly want to partner with you either,") as he matched Aki's stride. Suddenly, Aki stopped and turned to Kenji.
Aki: "Don't be a burden to me."
Kenji: "I won't be a burden, Hayakawa-san. Your stride exhibits irregular force application, which increases the probability of error in combat by 23.4%. My presence will serve to reduce that uncertainty value."
Aki raised an eyebrow, surprised by the boy's extremely dispassionate and academic reply. He didn't understand what the boy was talking about but acknowledged that it wasn't flattery.
Aki: "Follow me! If you waste my time, I'll leave you there."
Kenji: (His azure eyes shining with determination) "Understood. I will follow every order you give, as long as it does not conflict with Miss Makima's primary command."
The Hayakawa Rules
After completing the low-level Devil cleanup mission that night (during which Kenji used his power to 'Stop' the Devil's movement, making him look merely like someone with fast reflexes), Aki brought Kenji back to the old apartment used as a barracks for the division's Devil Hunters.
Aki: (Shoving the door open forcefully) "Miss Makima says we're temporary partners. This room only has one bed and one sofa. Choose."
Kenji: (Quickly surveying the room, taking only 0.5 seconds) "I choose the sofa."
Aki frowned in annoyance but didn't argue. He put his katana down on the kitchen table and immediately lit a cigarette.
Kenji: "Hayakawa-san, smoking causes lung cancer, resulting in a probability of death 12 years earlier than average."
Aki: (Exhaling smoke out the window) "Shut your mouth if you want to survive working with me."
Aki: We have rules for living together here. Watch, I'll write them down on paper.
Aki quickly wrote down the coexistence rules in a sloppy, strict handwriting and taped it to the refrigerator with a carrot magnet.
The Hayakawa Rules
Do not talk to me about personal matters.
If I speak, only respond with "Yes, sir/ma'am." (Aki assumed Kenji would use a polite form).
Your role is to provide support on the battlefield, not to be a health consultant.
I cook, you do the dishes. Do not touch the kitchen utensils.
Be as quiet as possible. If I do not order it, do not use your strange powers.
Kenji: (Finishing reading the rules) "Rule 5 is ambiguous, Hayakawa-san. Does 'strange powers' refer to the defensive use of Mūkagen, such as stopping movement, or does it also include the use of Mūkagen to create Singularities?"
Aki: (Angrily crushing the cigarette in the ashtray) "It means everything! If I don't order it, do not use any power at all, understood!"
Kenji: "Okay." (He makes an okay-sign with his hand.)
The Contradictory Goal
Three days later, their relationship remained tense. Aki started cooking dinner—rice and miso soup.
Kenji: (Staring intently at his miso soup) Is it edible?
Aki: "Eat."
Kenji: "Yes, sir." (Kenji carefully used his chopsticks to pick up the seaweed in his bowl, then ate.)
Kenji ate slowly and silently for a moment.
Kenji: "You possess a very high degree of determination compared to an average Devil Hunter, yet that focus makes you neglect your own safety, based on my analysis."
Kenji: "In conclusion, you desire death more than survival for the sake of vengeance. Your actions contradict your true goal."
Silence fell over the room. Aki stared at Kenji with eyes so fierce they could kill him instantly, while Kenji looked back with vacant eyes, as if looking through him.
Aki: (Low and cold voice) "Do you... want me to kill you right now?"
Kenji: (Unflinching) "If you do that, Miss Makima will certainly punish you, and your vengeance mission will be permanently revoked. Are you sure that aligns with your motivation?"
Aki clenched his fist tightly but couldn't deny the truth spoken by the boy.
Aki: (Trying to regain composure) "Eat your food and don't criticize me again."
Kenji: "Understood. Yes, sir."