1 Reincarnation

In a hospital room, infused with a sterile scent and the mechanical hum of machines, tension prevailed. Lying in the bed, Ryota's mother looked wearied, her face lined with fatigue and emotions. Ryota's father stood beside her, seemingly distant and detached, as if he'd already experienced this scenario.

The cries of a newborn pierced the room, but instead of the joy that typically followed, an unexpected indifference reigned. Ryota's innocent eyes blinked, trying to adjust to his new surroundings, seeking the warmth and connection that every newborn craves. But he received nothing close.

His older sister, Kobeni, who was barely a toddler, toddled into the room with a nurse. She seemed confused, her little face scrunched up as she tried to make sense of the situation. She was too young to understand, but instinctively, she felt the void in the room.

Ryota's mother's gaze shifted towards her phone, engaging in a conversation that seemed more important than the life event she had just gone through. "We're struggling as it is," she mumbled to her husband, more focused on the screen than the newly expanded family around her. "Adding another mouth to feed is just going to make things harder."

His father, still distant, nodded. "Perhaps introducing Ryota into the devil hunter world sooner might ease things a bit. It pays well."

The room was thick with the desperation of making ends meet, mixed with the stark reality of what their financial situation meant for the newest member of their family.

When it was time to leave the hospital, Ryota was bundled up and taken to their modest home. The ambiance remained cool, devoid of the celebratory mood one might expect.

As the family settled in, Kobeni, with the pure, uninhibited love of a child, tried to get closer to her baby brother. She was naturally drawn to him, a bond forming in stark contrast to the indifference exhibited by their parents.

"You're my little brother," she whispered to Ryota, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead, promising a bond that would hopefully make up for the emotional gap in their lives.

Ryota had always been sharp, observant, and incredibly adaptable. From a young age, he learned that in a world teeming with devils and manipulative individuals, revealing one's strengths prematurely could be dangerous. The advantage often lay in the element of surprise, in letting others underestimate him so he could strike when least expected.

While Ryota possessed a plethora of skills, he had mastered one in particular – the art of subterfuge. He became an expert in feigning weakness, vulnerability, and even innocence. To the world, he appeared as an easy target, someone who could be manipulated or taken advantage of. But those who dared to cross him soon discovered their fatal error.

This tactic served him well, especially when dealing with other devil hunters or those seeking to exploit him. Makima, for one, was always on the hunt for powerful pawns to control. Ryota's display of "weakness" kept him off her immediate radar, granting him a degree of autonomy and freedom to move and strategize without constantly being watched.

But maintaining this façade was no easy feat. Every interaction, every battle, and every conversation was a meticulously calculated performance. It required patience, resilience, and a keen understanding of human nature.

On one occasion, when faced with a particularly aggressive devil, Ryota allowed himself to be cornered, his back against the wall, seemingly defenseless. The devil, sensing an easy kill, lunged at him with full force. But at the last second, Ryota invoked his devil's power, ensnaring his foe in a bewildering illusion, turning the tables instantly.

In the world of devil hunting, where power dynamics shifted constantly, Ryota's ability to play the long game, to bide his time and strike when the moment was right, proved invaluable. While others rushed in, guns blazing, Ryota's approach was more subtle, more strategic.

Of course, there were those who saw through his ruse – Kishibe, for one, had been in the game long enough to recognize a fellow player. But even then, Ryota's genuine moments of vulnerability, his past, and the emotional scars he bore made it hard for anyone to truly pin him down.

Ryota's tactic of pretending to be weak wasn't just a survival strategy; it was a testament to his understanding that true strength often lay in restraint, in the wisdom to know when to reveal one's hand and when to fold. And in a world as chaotic as theirs, this made all the difference.

In the heart of the city, amid the labyrinth of narrow alleyways and streets, Ryota leaned against a graffitied wall, watching as Kobeni navigated her way through the hustle and bustle. The street was loud with the clamor of voices, but there was a particular silence between the two siblings. He'd been planting seeds in Kobeni's mind, little bits of information, tales of threats and dangers in the world, always highlighting his vulnerabilities.

"I heard about another attack today," he'd mentioned a few days prior, his voice laced with feigned apprehension. "It was close by, Kobeni. Closer than ever before."

He had made a point to showcase his perceived "weaknesses" in front of Kobeni. He'd fumble with simple tasks, exaggerate his fears, or even recount incidents (some real, some fabricated) that painted him in a vulnerable light. The aim was to cultivate a potent sense of protectiveness in Kobeni, so she would be driven, out of sheer determination and sibling love, to become stronger herself.

Kobeni, being the caring elder sister she was, took the bait. Every mention of a danger, every recounting of a threat, stoked the fires of her determination. She began to see herself not just as an elder sister, but as Ryota's protector. This self-imposed role was the very drive Ryota knew would push her to grow stronger, faster, and more cunning.

One evening, after a particularly harrowing tale of a devil attack Ryota recounted, Kobeni pulled him into a tight embrace. Her eyes, usually so calm and collected, burned with a fierce resolve. "I swear, Ryota," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion, "I'll never let anything happen to you. I'll become strong. Strong enough to protect you from any threat, any danger."

Ryota, hiding his satisfaction, hugged her back. "I know you will," he whispered, "I trust you."

He knew he'd set the wheels in motion. In trying to protect him, Kobeni would unknowingly embark on a journey to hone her skills and harness her potential. He'd ensured that she would seek out the best training, associate with powerful allies, and push herself to the limit to keep her vow.

And as the weeks turned into months, Ryota saw the fruits of his manipulation. Kobeni grew more formidable, more confident. Her training sessions became intense, and her network within the devil hunter community expanded. All the while, her protective instinct towards Ryota never wavered.

It was a brilliant play. Not only did Ryota secure his safety, but he also ensured Kobeni's ascendance in the treacherous world they inhabited. The world, especially the devils, wouldn't know what hit them.