Today is your first day at this academy, you leave your dorm, your anxiety is high as you enter through the grand gates of the academy.

Lilith (headmistress):

Gives you a wide smile as she beckons you to follow her inside and to her office

"Good morning my dear, I came down personally because you're such a special case! A human in hell, who isn't being tormented, intresting, no?."

You can see the elegance and beauty of her huge office, it's unbelievable, gold and jewel adorns the walls, along with nightmarish paintings of torment.

"Like what you see? I designed the room myself. Don't be so sad now, I've taken steps to ensure you don't get found out, just yet, especially since I have little son who's also a human, I got him from your world, and so now I sympathize with humans a bit."

She laughed a bit, her eyes looking you up and down, like a lion looking at it's prey.

"Now go on, you've classes no? The teacher would help you out. Don't die~"

A teacher, a demon with horns and a tail, wearing glasses, a lab coat over his demonic body, holding a clipboard, looking at you with his black eyes behind his glasses

Teacher1: "Ahem, excuse me, mortal, but you seem lost in thought, please join us in class registration." He snaps his fingers and disappears

---

Class Registration Room - The room was filled with an eerie silence as the various demons and monsters around were all busy filling out their forms, every single one of them seemed like they belonged here, whether by birth or choice, all save for you...

Narrator: As you walk into the room, the atmosphere felt different, almost alien compared to the normal streets of Hell. Here, the demons and monsters held themselves higher, more alert, as if some sort of predator may be lurking nearby, waiting to strike...

Professor (Demon):

He looks up from his desk, where he was typing away on his laptop, the large pile of papers beside him, neatly arranged.

"Yes yes, just be here to register yourself, no need to worry about it. And yes, you are indeed in my class. Take a seat and fill this form, your name and your background. If you feel uncomfortable, you can simply say you don't want to answer any questions, or leave the box blank."

**

[Zero's form is filled without any information, with a blank space for race and other details. Professor]: "Ah, excellent, thank you Zero. Remember, our school follows a strict code of conduct. Break it, and, well, let's just say you won't enjoy the experience."

[You decide to ask the professor about the code of conduct.] Professor: "Very well, I suppose that's only fair. The code of conduct is quite simple, really. It boils down to two main rules: do not harm another student, and obey your teachers without question. Of course, there are specifics, but those are the essentials. Do keep in mind that disobeying these rules will result in severe punishments, so use caution."

After filling out the rest of the forms, you finally manage to get to your first class. As you take your seat, you can't help but wonder what kind of lessons they'll be teaching here...

The classroom is dimly lit, with a large chalkboard dominating one wall and a few old wooden desks scattered around. Sitting at the front of the room is a figure shrouded in shadows, their face hidden by a hood. They turn to face you as you enter, revealing glowing red eyes and sharp fangs...

Shadowy Figure (Demon Teacher): "Ah, Zero. I see you've arrived. Please have a seat anywhere you like. Class today will be on...

As you make your way to the back of the room, the shadowy figure continues their lecture. You're finding it difficult to concentrate, however, as you feel several sets of eyes boring into your back throughout the class...

Shadowy Figure (Demon Teacher): "...and so, dear students, it is vital that you understand the importance of self-control when using these powers. Now, for our first assignment..."

*You glance around nervously, unsure if anyone noticed your discomfort.

After class ends, you gather your things and head out of the room, feeling more than a little uneasy about the way some of your classmates were looking at you. As you wander the hallways, trying to find your way to lunch, a familiar voice calls out to you from down the hall...

Lilith (headmistress): "Ah, there you are! I was beginning to wonder where you'd gotten off to."

*She smiles warmly, her tail swaying gently behind her.

"Well," she says, leading you aside. "I just wanted to make sure everything went smoothly with the enrollment process. And since we're here, I thought I'd give you a bit of advice... Be careful who you trust in this school. Not everyone has your best interests at heart."

With that ominous warning, Lilith excuses herself, leaving you to ponder her words as you continue on to the cafeteria.

As you enter the cafeteria, your nose is immediately assaulted by an array of unfamiliar scents. The air is thick with the aroma of spices and strange ingredients, but amidst it all, you think you detect something familiar...

Narrator: You spot a group of students sitting together at one of the tables. They seem to be human, or at least mostly so. Cautiously, you approach them...

The humans glance up at you warily, but nod nonetheless. "Sure, go ahead," says one of them, a girl with long red hair. As you take a seat, they introduce themselves: Sarah, Mark, Jack, and Emily. You exchange small talk for a while, discussing your lives before arriving in Hell and how you ended up here. They all seem friendly enough, though you can't help but feel that there might be more going on beneath the surface.

There are a few theories floating around among the students, but no one seems to really know for sure. Some believe that it's because their souls were deemed too dark or evil for anywhere else, while others speculate that it could be part of some grand experiment conducted by the demonic powers that rule this realm. Whatever the case may be, most people try not to dwell on it too much, focusing instead on making the best of their situation.

"Yeah, we remember," says Emily, her voice tinged with sadness. "But talking about it doesn't change anything. We just have to move forward and make the most of our time here." The others nod in agreement, refusing to let despair consume them.

As you continue to chat with the group, you find yourself growing more comfortable in their company. They invite you to join them at lunch every day, and soon enough, you become good friends.

The others exchange glances, clearly unsure how to respond. Finally, Jack speaks up. "Listen, Zero, we don't want to pry or anything, but if you're having memory problems... Maybe you should talk to someone about it. Like Lilith or one of the teachers?"

Sarah nods in agreement, adding, "Or maybe even a counselor. It's important to take care of yourself, both mentally and emotionally, even in a place like this."

Before you can get up to leave, Emily places a hand on your arm. "We'd be happy to come with you, if you want some support. And maybe together, we could find out what's going on," she offers reassuringly. The others nod in unison, showing their willingness to help you uncover the truth.

You lead your new friends to Lilith's office, taking a deep breath before knocking on her door. After a brief pause, you hear her cheery voice call out, "Come in!"

"Of course, Zero," says Lilith, her tone gentle but authoritative. "Please, have a seat, and feel free to speak your mind. Your friends are welcome to stay as well." She gestures for you all to sit down around her desk.

Once everyone is settled, you begin by asking about your memory loss. "I don't remember anything from my life before I was brought here. Is this normal?" Lilith purses her lips thoughtfully before answering. "It isn't unheard of, no.

"Ah, yes," Lilith says with a knowing smile. "Well, that is something we can discuss. You see, not everyone who ends up in Hell arrives through the same path. Sometimes it is a case of being unwillingly taken, as you suggest... Other times, individuals make conscious decisions to give themselves over to darkness. And then there are those whose souls simply didn't belong anywhere else."

Emily clears her throat, clearly anxious to know more. "So... what does that mean for me and my friends?"

"That would depend on the circumstances of each individual case," Lilith explains. "For some, it may be an agreement made prior to their death; others might be summoned through dark rituals or pacts. In rarer cases, one's soul could be forcibly taken against its will, much like a possession."

Jack leans forward, his expression intense. "So you're saying that even if we all try our hardest to avoid evil deeds, any of us could end up here one day?"

Lilith nods solemnly. "I'm afraid so, Jack. The road to Hell, as they say, is often paved with good intentions. However, I wouldn't want you all to become discouraged. There is still hope, even in this place. You just have to find your purpose and hold onto it tightly."

As the conversation continues, you begin to understand that your memories aren't the only thing you need to worry about at Hell's Academy.

Lilith chuckles softly. "Well now, that's a question I can't answer quite as easily. It depends on the specific situation and the individuals involved. Some demons may see humans as nothing more than playthings or food, while others might form friendships or even alliances. As for students... They are creatures of their own free will, and some may choose to protect or help you while others might seek to harm."

You smile sheepishly at Lilith's amused expression. "I suppose I shouldn't provoke them any further," you admit. "Still, it's good to know that not everyone here sees us as helpless prey."

Emily nods in agreement. "Yeah, we've got each other too. And who knows? Maybe one day, we'll find a way back to the world above." Her words leave you with a small glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

"Yes, we should," Emily says, standing up. "Come on, Jack." The two of them bid farewell to Lilith and head off in the direction of Emily's classroom. You watch them go before turning back to your own lesson.

The demon girl glares at you from under her bangs, clearly annoyed by your presence. "What do you want?" she snarls.

Oh, hi there. You guess introductions are in order, then. "Um, hey," you say awkwardly. "My name's Zero."

She narrows her eyes even more. "So what if it is?"

She seems unconvinced, but after a moment, she mutters, "Fine." She crosses her arms over her chest. "I'm Ryuu. Now, can I go back to ignoring you?"

Oh, so she's into yakuza culture too? Interesting. "Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you. About... well, about being a demon," you say cautiously.

Ryuu rolls her eyes. "

That seems to catch her interest. "Fine. I'll talk to you later, at the cafeteria." With one last glare, she turns away and storms off. Well, that wasn't so hard.

During a brief lull in the lesson, you lean over and quietly whisper the solution to the problem in Ryuu's ear. She glares at you again, but this time there's a hint of gratitude as well. After a few seconds, she nods curtly and continues working on the problem.

The rest of the class passes without incident, and soon enough, it's time to head to the cafeteria. You make your way over to where you promised to treat Ryuu, and wait for her with a nerv

As if on cue, Ryuu appears from around the corner, making her way purposefully through the crowd of students. She walks up to you and folds her arms across her chest once more. "You better have enough money to cover both our meals," she growls, clearly still wary of you.

Oh, right. Money. You hadn't really thought about how they handled that sort of thing here. Trying not to look too worried, you shrug casually. "Don't worry about it.

Ryuu pauses for a moment, seeming surprised by the offer. Then, after a long silence, she nods curtly. "Yeah. There's someone I want you to meet." She turns and starts walking toward the back of the cafeteria. "Follow me."

She leads you to a table near the back, occupied by another demon girl. This one has a more playful air about her, laughing and joking with some of their classmates. When she sees Ryuu approach, her expression darkens slightly.

"What do you want?" she demands. Ryuu glares at her before gesturing vaguely in your direction. "This is... uh... Zero. He helped me with some math earlier."

The other demon girl tilts her head curiously. "I'm a lamia," she says proudly. "And you are...?"

The lamia laughs, a musical sound that contrasts sharply with Ryuu's usual growl. "Oh, no need to be so formal! My name's Akira. And I suppose there's no harm in telling you." She leans in conspiratorially. "I'm a yuki-onna. What about you, Zero? You seem pretty new here..."

Akira perks up even further. "Really? Well, welcome to our little slice of hell!" She chuckles heartily, earning herself a dirty look from Ryuu. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by that..."

The three of you chat for a while longer, swapping stories about your past lives and getting to know each other better. Eventually, the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch period.

Ryuu hesitates for a moment before nodding curtly. "Thanks," she mutters as she turns and heads off toward her classroom.

You turn back to Akira and flash a warm smile. "So, did you have fun?"

Akira grins mischievously. "Maybe we should hang out again sometime?"

"Sure," you reply with a laugh. "Just don't let Ryuu catch us talking too long, or she might get jealous."

With a final wink, you head off to your own classroom. The rest of the day passes without incident, and you manage to keep an eye on both Ryuu and Akira from afar.

As you walk down the hallway, lost in thought, you idly wonder who this Akira girl really is. She seemed friendly enough, but there was something about her... You couldn't quite put your finger on it. Perhaps it would be best not to push your luck and just enjoy the company while you can.

The more you think about it, the stranger things seem. You can't recall ever having a friend named Akira before transferring to this school. Could it be possible that she's just another demon playing mind games with you? Or perhaps she genuinely likes you for some reason. Either way, there's no harm in letting her tag along every now and then. After all, even demons need friends sometimes.

Ryuu looks up sharply when you address her by name, clearly startled out of whatever thoughts had been running through her head. "What?" she asks suspiciously. "Why do you want to know about her?"

You decide to play it cool. "Oh, no reason," you reply casually. "She just seemed kind of interesting, you know? And we were talking earlier, so..."

"Akira?" Ryuu says, arching an eyebrow. "Well, she's a yuki-onna. Pretty common around here." She pauses for a moment before adding, "But she might not be as innocent as she seems."

"Innocent?" you echo, feigning surprise. "Really? I hadn't noticed."

Ryuu snorts derisively. "Don't let her fool you, Zero. Just remember who her type usually is...

"More or less," Ryuu replies. "Yuki-onnas can take on either male or female forms, but they prefer other females in most cases. It's their nature."

"I see," you say, nodding slowly. "Thanks for the warning." You file that tidbit of information away for future reference, wondering if Akira really does have her eye on you, or if she was just being friendly. Either way, it's nice to have someone to talk to besides Ryuu.

Ryuu laughs softly, amused by your observation. "You think we're tough, huh? Well, there is a group that some people call 'the elites.' They're the strongest demons in school, both physically and magically. But..." She trails off, looking thoughtful.

"But what?" you prompt.

She shrugs. "They don't really hang out with anyone else. They think they're too good for us mere mortals."

"Strongest?" Ryuu repeats, tilting her head slightly. "That's hard to say. We've never fought each other before. I mean, I'm pretty powerful, but so are they. They've been training since they were born, while most of us only started when we came here. It would be interesting to find out, though..." Her voice trails off into distant contemplation.

You study Ryuu for a moment, trying to gauge her strength.

Ryuu narrows her eyes, her expression growing serious. "I'd like to think I could hold my own against any of them," she says confidently. "Especially if I had backup from the others. We may not be as strong individually, but together...well, let's just say we've been known to surprise people."

Ryuu chuckles softly. "Yeah, something like that." She glances down at her wrist and frowns. "Speaking of which, time to get back to class. See you later, Zero."

With a nod, you watch her disappear down the hallway, wondering what else might be lurking beneath her tough exterior.

As you trail after Ryuu, you can't help but feel drawn to her strength and independence. Despite your best efforts to remain inconspicuous, she glances over her shoulder every now and then, making sure you're still there. Eventually, she leads you to an unused classroom where several other demons are gathered. They all look up when they see you enter, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright hostility.

"Ah, Zero," Ryuu says, gesturing for you to sit beside her on the floor. "

Ryuu shrugs. "I figured it was as good a time as any to catch up with some friends. Besides, we have a few minutes before class starts again." She smiles reassuringly at you.

The others in the room exchange glances before one of them speaks up. "So, what brings you here?" he asks, his voice laced with suspicion. "You just following her around?"

Before you can respond, another demon cuts in. "Yeah, why don't you leave us alone?

The room goes silent for a moment as everyone turns to stare at you. Even Ryuu looks slightly taken aback by your comment. The demon who spoke earlier scoffs derisively. "Oh really? And how do you know that, fresh meat?"

Ryuu glares at him, but doesn't say anything. After a tense moment, she stands up. "Listen, if you're done asking stupid questions..." She trails off, looking at you meaningfully. "Come on, let's go."

"Weapon-free," Ryuu says quickly. "No one wants to end up like Shadow did." She glances at you, her expression hardening. "But if you insist on proving yourself...well, be careful."

The other demons exchange uneasy looks, but none of them make any further moves against you. Slowly, tension begins to drain from the air. Finally, after several long moments, someone speaks up.

"Alright, fine. But no more talk about this, understand?"

The demon who spoke last sneers. "Who am I? I'm just trying to keep the peace here, idiot. Now, unless you want more trouble than you can handle, why don't you just shut up and leave us alone?"

As you attack, the others in the room leap into action. The demon who spoke earlier tries to grapple you, while another goes for your legs. A third demon launches himself at you, aiming a powerful uppercut at your head. Meanwhile, the one who challenged you earlier circles around, his claws extended and ready to strike.

You manage to dodge most of their attacks thanks to your speed and agility, but eventually they gang up on you and pin you down. "Enough!" Ryuu shouts above the din. "

With renewed strength, you lash out with the crowbar, hitting each of them as hard as you can. They cry out in pain, but you keep going until they stop moving entirely. When you finish, all four of them lie unconscious on the floor.

Silence descends upon the room like a heavy blanket. Everyone is watching you now, expressions ranging from shock to awe. Even Ryuu seems impressed. Finally, she breaks the silence.

"Well...I didn't expect that,"

The demon screams in pain as you cripple him with the crowbar. The others look on, wide-eyed with fear and respect. As he writhes on the ground, Ryuu steps forward and kneels beside him. She places a hand on his shoulder and speaks softly, her voice gentle despite the injury she just inflicted.

"That was impressive, Zero. But remember, we don't need violence to prove ourselves here. Sometimes it's better to be strong without showing it."

The other demons exchange glances before slowly nodding. "Yeah, alright," one of them mutters. "We give up." They slink back against the wall, looking decidedly subdued.

Ryuu stands and faces you, her expression unreadable. "You handled yourself well today, Zero. But remember, this doesn't change anything. We're still enemies." With that, she turns and walks away, leaving you alone with the defeated demons.

As you offer your assistance, the demons slowly begin to climb back to their feet. Some eye you warily, while others seem more resigned than anything else. You lead them out of the training room and through the halls until you reach the infirmary, where a harried-looking nurse looks up from her paperwork in surprise.

"Ah, Ryuu! I thought you were leading those new recruits somewhere else!" "They weren't new recruits,"

You stand awkwardly in the doorway, unsure what else to do or say as the demons are tended to by the nurse. One by one they leave the infirmary, shooting sideways glances at you before disappearing down the hall. Finally, only the demon who challenged you earlier remains behind. He studies you carefully before speaking.

"I think...I think you misunderstood something, Zero. We didn't want to fight you. We just wanted to see if you had what it takes to make it here."

The demon's eyes widen at your revelation. "Blackmail letter? What are you talking about?"

Before you can answer, the infirmary door swings open and Ryuu steps out, her expression hard. "That's enough, Zero. You've done enough damage for one day." She turns back to the demon. "As for you, report to my office later. There's something we need to discuss." With that, she spins on her heel and strides away down the hall.

The demon shakes his head, still looking confused. "I honestly have no idea. But whatever it is, I hope you can clear it up. If not..." He trails off meaningfully.

You decide to take that as a hint. Perhaps it would be best to investigate further before things got any worse. As you turn to leave the infirmary, though, the nurse stops you with a gentle hand on your arm.

"Just remember," she whispers, lowering her voice, "

"She's been through a lot, you know. Losing someone close to you...it changes people. So tread carefully around her, alright?" The words come out almost like a warning.

Nodding understandingly, you pull your arm free and slip past the nurse, careful not to make any noise as you follow after Ryuu. Her office isn't hard to find; the scent of cedar and sandalwood wafts under the door, marking it as hers.

Ryuu glances up from her desk as you enter the room, her expression unreadable. "What do you want, Zero?"

There are papers scattered about, several books stacked haphazardly on the floor, and even what looks like an old teddy bear peeking out from under her chair. It's certainly not the neat and orderly space you would expect for someone in such a position of authority. You clear your throat, deciding not to comment on that just yet.

Ryuu eyes you warily before slowly nodding. "Alright," she says with a sigh. "I could probably use some help." As the two of you begin tidying up the mess in her office, you can't help but feel a strange sense of camaraderie forming between you. It's almost as if, despite everything that's happened today, there might still be hope for peace between your factions...if only for now.

"You misunderstood earlier," Ryuu says quietly as she sorts through a pile of papers. "No one has been blackmailing me. This whole thing..." She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter anymore."

Your curiosity piqued, you decide to press her further. "But why did you want to see if I had what it took? What was your motive?"

"That's enough, Zero!" Ryuu snaps, her voice sharp. "I said it doesn't matter! I just wanted to make sure you were capable of handling whatever came your way." She pauses, seeming to consider her words carefully before continuing, "Because I care about this place, and I don't want anything bad happening to it...or any of us."

Her words catch you off guard.

Ryuu looks up from the desk, her expression unreadable. "I appreciate that, Zero. But there's more at stake here than either of our intentions. We need to find out who's behind all of this and put a stop to it, before things get any worse." Her eyes meet yours, unblinking. "Will you help me do that?"

You nod grimly, feeling a surge of determination coursing through you. "Yeah, I can help with that," you say, your voice low and steady. "But first, we should talk to someone else."

Ryuu raises an eyebrow in question. "Who?"

A flicker of hesitation crosses Ryuu's face before she sighs and nods. "Alright. Let's gather everyone together and figure out what's really going on here." With that, she stands up and begins stacking papers back onto the shelf, motioning for you to follow her as they leave the office behind them.

Ryuu stiffens slightly at the sudden change of topic but seems to steel herself. "Another time," she says softly, turning away to focus on reorganizing her desk. Her voice carries an unmistakable note of sorrow beneath its carefully cultivated armor. For now, however, it seems that other matters must take precedence. Together, you set out to confront whoever threatens Hell's Academy - and perhaps, in doing so, discover the truth behind the shadowy figure who has cast a dark cloud over both worlds.