The morning sun filtered through the leaves of a massive, ancient tree. The breeze was gentle, and with each movement of the foliage, a dance of light and shadow played across the path.
"Time to move!" said Reo Takemochi with a smile as he bent down to gather some wild fruits from the ground. A bag hung from his shoulder, and his steps were firm but relaxed. His pink hair swayed with every step he took along the dirt path leading to the city.
In his bag, he carried a few parts from monsters he had hunted earlier that morning. Small creatures, not too dangerous, but good enough to sell. As he approached the bustle of the city, he greeted merchants, children, and elders with ease.
"Good morning, Reo! How was the hunt?"
"Eh, pretty good!"
At the market, he dropped his goods off at the stall of an old vendor he knew well.
"Looks like more people from the other world arrived today," the vendor said as he weighed the monster parts.
"Again? Hmm… interesting. Maybe I'll go check them out," Reo replied as he picked up his coins. He turned to leave but paused for a second, thinking. "Maybe I'll even bring them some food."
As he made his way toward the reception center—where the newly arrived were brought—Reo spoke to himself casually:
"This world's different, you know? Here, magic is common. Almost everyone is born with it… or gains it when they're reincarnated here. Yeah, people from another world. I was born here, but those who come usually arrive from a place with none of this. Earth, they call it. A world with no magic, no monsters… and no demons."
He stopped walking for a moment.
"Monsters aren't that bad… if you know what you're doing. But demons… those are another level. Higher category, smart, malicious, powerful. If you run into one, better not be alone."
At last, he reached the building. There weren't many people outside, but something new had definitely happened.
"Only one this time?" he murmured, peeking in curiously.
And then he saw him. A boy with dark hair, serious expression, disoriented but steady. His eyes passed through the crowd as if they weren't there. He didn't show anger, just a kind of emptiness… like he didn't know where he was or why.
Reo approached with a smile.
"Hey! Welcome… I guess. First time in this world?"
The boy didn't even look at him. He simply kept walking, as if Reo were air.
"Well… that was awkward," Reo said, scratching his head. "Still… he seems interesting."
He sighed.
"Maybe I should leave him alone… He just got here, after all. Oh well."
Suddenly, Reo felt something heavy in his bag. He opened it and pulled out a small wrapped bundle.
"Ah, right! I bought food and… my new weapon!" he said as he slid it out for a moment. "What a beautiful shine."
He laughed to himself, visibly excited, and closed the bag again.
That was their first meeting. Simple. Quick.
But enough to catch Reo's attention.