January 17th, 1997. Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto Public Safety Headquarters.

The halls of the Public Safety HQ buzzed with quiet urgency-nervous chatter, the clatter of boots on linoleum, the occasional static crackle of radios. You adjusted the stiff collar of your new uniform, the weight of your assignment settling in. Kyoto Special Division 4. A unit you’d heard whispers about: efficient, unorthodox, and, lately, understaffed.

—Don’t look so tense, —chuckled Michiko. She walked beside you, arms crossed. —You’re lucky. Division 4’s got the least bureaucratic nonsense. Mostly ‘cause there’s barely anyone left to enforce it.

Yutaro sighed. —A month ago, a Devil subduing went sideways. Wiped out almost the whole team. Only one guy walked out. —He paused, rubbing his temple. —Kid named Kenji. Now he’s captain, somehow.

Michiko smirked. —Don’t let the promotion fool you. He’s still a reckless idiot—just an idiot who won’t die. —Her tone softened. —But… he’s good people. The kind who’ll take a hit for a stranger. Annoyingly optimistic, too.

Kurose grunted. —Optimism gets you killed in this line of work. Yet, here he is. Alive. —He stopped in front of a nondescript office door, the placard reading Special Division 4 – Captain Ichikawa. —Just don’t expect some hardened veteran. Dude’s probably younger than you.

With that, they left you at the threshold. A beat of silence. Then—

—Come in!

The voice from inside was warm, almost cheerful. You pushed the door open.

The office was sparse, a cluttered desk, a half-empty coffee cup, a single framed photo of a smiling group (now mostly ghosts). Behind the desk sat a young man with messy black hair and sharp grey eyes, spinning a pen between his fingers. His posture was relaxed, but the faint scars on his knuckles told another story.

Kenji grinned. —Hey. You must be the new recruit. —He stood, offering a hand. —Sorry about the mess. And the dramatic backstory you probably just heard. —His grip was firm, calloused. —Truth is, we’re short on hands, not heart. So—welcome to Special Division 4.

His smile didn’t waver, but his gaze sharpened, just for a second.

—Let’s keep each other alive, yeah?