ZERO SHIFT

The sun hung low over the quiet town of Soryu, casting long shadows over the narrow streets. It had been 15 years since the tragic death of Aiko and the fall of Ragnar, yet the town carried a strange air of unease whenever Josuke Akari walked through its streets. His defiance, his disregard for authority, and his casual mannerisms made him a figure of discomfort in a place where rules were sacred, and conformity was expected.

Josuke sat high in a tree, his legs dangling carelessly, eyes half-lidded as he watched the town below. His black hair, untamed and falling into his face, fluttered in the gentle breeze. To anyone looking up, Josuke seemed like the epitome of rebellion—always detached, always apart from the world around him.

"Josuke!"

The sharp voice echoed from below, cutting through the quiet afternoon. Josuke recognized the voice immediately, sighing deeply. It was Headmaster Shiro, the old man who ran the orphanage where Josuke had spent his entire life. His tone was familiar—stern, but with a trace of concern that Josuke never really acknowledged.

Without responding, Josuke leaned back and let himself fall from the branch. He hit the ground with a soft thud, rolling his eyes as he stood up and dusted himself off.

"You know, old man, I'm starting to think you're just out to get me," Josuke said lazily, a grin tugging at his lips.

Shiro stood over him, his 60-year-old face lined with years of worry and hard work. His once-black hair had long since grayed, but his sharp eyes still held a fire. He crossed his arms, a deep frown etched on his face. "Josuke, what are you doing in that tree boy And you skipping school now ?"

Josuke barely shrugged, uninterested. "It's my life , not yours," he muttered, his tone as indifferent as always. "I'll be fine. You worry about yourself."

Shiro's frown deepened. "You can't keep acting like this, Josuke. The Rangers are the elite force here in Soryu. If you pass the exam, you'll have a place in the world. You could make something of yourself."

Josuke smirked and turned away. "Make something of myself?" he repeated, rolling his eyes. "I'm already fine as I am." His rebellious nature was clear—he had no interest in being part of the town's carefully constructed society.

The truth was, Josuke never quite fit in with the people of Soryu. He was a figure of quiet defiance, always questioning the rules, always stepping outside the bounds of what was expected. The townsfolk resented him for it, though they couldn't place exactly why. He had no friends. He had never sought to make any.

The residents of Soryu simply didn't understand him. They saw a boy who didn't belong—a child who didn't respect authority and seemed to revel in his rebellious nature. His refusal to comply with social norms was more than just a phase; it was a part of who he was. His very existence was a reminder of something they couldn't forget, though they didn't know the full story.

No one in the town knew of Josuke's parentage—of Ragnar and Aiko. Josuke's origins were a mystery even to him. He had always been told by Headmaster Shiro that his parents couldn't afford to raise him, so they had dropped him off at the orphanage. It was a convenient lie, one that Shiro had clung to over the years, a way to protect Josuke from the harsh reality of his lineage. But the townspeople didn't know the truth. They only knew what they saw: a boy who refused to conform, who didn't fit into the orderly world they had built.

Josuke's Unacknowledged Legacy

The truth was that Josuke had never been told about his bloodline, about his father's dark past as Ragnar, the former King of Devils. He had never been told that his power, sealed within the pendant Aiko had placed around his neck, was something that could one day change the world.

But Josuke didn't care about any of that. He didn't ask questions, and no one dared to give him answers. He was too caught up in his own defiance to wonder about things he didn't understand.

A Glimpse of the Future

That night, after dinner, as the stars twinkled overhead, Headmaster Shiro sat alone in his office, staring at the old pendant that once belonged to Aiko. He hadn't told Josuke about the pendant's true nature, nor about the danger that loomed over his life. Shiro couldn't bring himself to do it—not yet. But as the old man sat there, his thoughts drifted back to the day he had found Aiko's body outside the orphanage, her lifeless form a tragic reminder of the past.

Shiro had promised her that Josuke would never know the truth. But he knew the boy's rebellious nature was like a ticking clock. Sooner or later, Josuke would come to realize who he was—and when that time came, Shiro feared for both the boy and the town.

The Town's Growing Fear

Despite Josuke's rebellious nature, the town's unease with him wasn't just about his attitude. There was something about him that made people uncomfortable. Children would whisper as he walked by, adults would exchange uneasy glances. But Josuke was oblivious to it all. To him, the world was just a series of obstacles to be ignored or overcome.

The town's judgment and forge his own path. But he also knew that Josuke's indifference to everything around him could either be his strength or his downfall.

The boy had potential—tremendous potential—but only if he could harness it.

"Josuke!" Shiro called again, watching the boy disappear into the distance, his back to the old man. "You'd better study, or you'll regret it!"

Josuke waved without looking back, his words drifting on the wind. "Yeah, yeah, I'll pass the exam. Don't worry about me."