And here I was, in a cssroom filled with crying and despair. I mean, I get it—they’re little kids, and most of them have never been away from their parents. But just from their cries, you’d think they were being tortured. Well, how did I end up in this situation? Surrounded by despair (note how dramatic that sounds)... It all started this morning.

  Today is the first day of school.I’m not going to lie—I’m excited to finally talk to other kids my age. Since I was reborn, I haven’t talked to other children, just adults and old dies who pinch my cheeks. Thanks to my little sister, they don’t do it as often, but they’re still around. I’m not letting my guard down.

  Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been practicing with Haniel, and I got a surprise. I discovered that I can change its appearance when I summon it. I made it transform into a scepter and a wand so it’s easier to use than a broom. I also started experimenting with the things I transform. If they’re not alive, they’ll stay transformed forever (or for more than a year). On the other hand, animals and insects stay transformed for a week if I don’t revert them. Even when I used the minimum amount of spiritual energy, I have a theory that the greater the ego, the faster the transformation. I think a human would take 1 to 2 days. I already want to transform Isei Momo, a doll, whenever he does something perverted.

  Miki: Shido, are you ready? Today’s your first day of school. Last night you were so excited.Shido: I’m ready, Mom! And I’m still excited. Poor me, who had no idea about the cage of crying and despair I was diving headfirst into.

  Miki: Then let’s go.With those words, my mom put me in the car and we headed to school.

  All the following week, I spent time next to the teacher, named Okuda, trying to get the 5-year-olds to stop crying for their mommies, as if they were being abandoned. Our primary school teacher looks like she’s aging, and it’s clear this is her first year teaching on her own. I tried to help her as much as I could to calm the kids, but they only calm down when they sleep, and when they wake up, they cry again. Seriously! They never seemed to run out of tears.(Haha, it was the longest week of my new life.)

  By the next week, they finally stopped crying. I think God heard my prayers. (I forgot that in DxD, God is dead, but whatever... It was a miracle, no matter what anyone says.)

  As I said, I made friends with many of the kids by the fourth week. I try to talk to the rest whenever I can, but the two I spent the most time with were a boy named Satoshi and a girl named Aika Kiryuu. Aika is a bit shy but really good with numbers.(Hahaha, that friendship? I made friends with a Pokémon champion and a future pervert. Haha, don’t tell them... shh, don’t tell them.)

  Satoshi: What are you doing, Shido?Shido: I’m helping Aika draw, I say as I show him the almost-finished drawing.

  Satoshi: Can I join? I want to try drawing.Satoshi says, with no small amount of excitement in his voice, looking in Aika’s direction, since she’s the one holding the colors and papers.

  Aika: A-ah, it’s okay if you want to.Aika replies, handing him a sheet.

  When we finished drawing, we showed each other our work. I drew a house and a tree. Aika, I think, tried to draw us, and Satoshi (ugh!)... I think it looks like a rodent—it has a Pikachu face. Maybe I’m just imagining things, but Satoshi’s drawing turned out the best. It even has well-drawn lightning bolts.

  I hope this year calms down and improves because those weeks surrounded by crying were hell.

  The next chapter will be when I’m eight years old.

  jeromaro