Chapter Text
Ryoumen Sukuna. A figure said to have appeared in Hida during ancient times, in the era of Emperor Nintoku, a being described as a monstrous entity or a demon god.
This demon god, with four arms, four eyes, and two mouths, exists solely within the realm of legend. In other words, everyone who knows of it asserts that it is a fictitious being. But that is not the truth. Ryoumen Sukuna was not some mythical demon god but a real "human" who once existed.
However, regrettably, while I’ve explained a part fundamental to the story, that only pertains to a tale from a different "phase" and not the world of this story.
The being of this world is Ryoumen Sukuna, yet he is not Ryoumen Sukuna. While his appearance and abilities are undeniably those of Ryoumen Sukuna, his character can hardly be called that of Ryomen Sukuna himself.
He possesses a kindness that belies a life guided solely by his own likes or dislikes, yet he is too cruel to be called a good person. If anything, it feels as though a faint trace of the original Ryoumen Sukuna has bled into this complete stranger.
Perhaps this is why his name is Ryoumen Sukuna.
"Boring."
Academy City
In this city, where cutting-edge science converges, there exists a group of armed powerless individuals known as "Skill-Out."
Those without powers, Level 0. In Academy City, where the development of abilities is driven by science, these are the ones who either lack superpowers entirely, emitting only a meagre AIM field or have abilities that cannot be controlled or adequate measured.
Unable to wield their powers as true abilities, they are often subjected to discrimination or persecution by those of higher levels, driving them to turn to self-defense.
This armed group of level zeroes "Skill-Out" is, in essence, a delinquent gang formed for that very purpose.
And there they were, piled up like a mountain in a back alley, reduced to nothing more than a makeshift throne.
Raising a hand to brush back peach-colored hair, a figure with sharp eyes, doubled by an equally piercing gaze beneath, stood there, radiating an unmasked disdain for everything around them. With a harsh step, they pressed their foot down onto a part of the human pile.
"I thought for a moment, that anyone daring to raise a hand against me must be exceptionally skilled. Turns out I was the fool for expecting anything exciting."
"Guuh…"
"You idiots honestly believed that sheer numbers would let you land even a single blow? For that naive stupidity, I’ll spare your lives. But there won’t be a second chance."
Descending the heap, the demon god cast a glance back with a look of utter exasperation before leaving the alley.
"Oi, did you that again!?"
There is a certain fool who willingly involves themselves with such a cursed being.
"…Haa, what a drag."
"Your first words are ‘what a drag’!? This Kamijou-san didn’t raise you to be like that!"
A high school boy with spiky hair scolded Sukuna like a nagging parent, but Sukuna brushed it off with a bored "what a drag."
Kamijou Touma. One of the literal handful of humans that Sukuna, who rarely interacts with people, bothers to associate with.
"I don’t recall being raised by you, fool. Why the hell are you here?"
"Well, uh… I was just heading back from school when, unfortunately, I tripped. And right ahead, there were some Skill-Out guys… They tried to take my wallet, so I ran—and that’s when I ran into you…"
"…Pfft! As usual, your luck’s absolute trash, Kamijou. How about this? If you treat me to a meal, I might just help you out."
As Sukuna laughed heartily with amusement, Kamijou raised his voice, "This isn’t a laughing matter!"
Kamijou Touma’s defining trait is his sheer lack of luck. In other words, it’s simply "misfortune." The kind where even taking a single step might shatter his debit card and brick his phone.
"So, what’s it gonna be?"
"Uh, this Kamijou-san is broke…"
"Then just take it from that pile of trash over there. You know what they say about fools and scissors."
"That’s a crime! And what you’re doing is pretty criminal too, you know!? Your violence is way over the top!"
"It’s self-defense. Why should I care about weaklings anyway?"
"You’re just owning it now!? It’s because you pull stuff like this that you’re treated like a wanted criminal!"
Treated as an urban legend and a wanted criminal, what a harsh existence that must be.
For Sukuna himself, though, it didn't bother him at all, which is something else entirely.
For Touma, having a friend treated like a wanted criminal is a real problem.
"That stuff doesn’t matter. So, what’s it gonna be?"
"Ugh, fine! Alright, I get it! But when I say I’ll treat you, it’s just my home cooking, okay? Just some meat and veggie stir-fry! You good with that!?"
"I don’t mind."
"Huh…? I thought about it every time, but aren’t you a gourmet? Is my cooking that good or something?"
"No way it’s good. It’s the epitome of average."
"Then why do you still eat it?"
"Somehow, it never gets old. Now, shall we go hunting?"
"Hunt them… Don’t hunt them..., don’t kill them too okay!? Sukuna-san? Sukuna-saaan!?"
The boy’s cries faded into the void, unanswered. The demon merely laughed, thoroughly amused.
Kamijou Touma
The main character of a Certain Magical Index. An ordinary highschool student that one can find anywhere.
The kind of person whose body moves before his brain kicks in. The moment he spots someone in danger, he doesn't sit around pondering or hesitating, he dives headfirst into the incident to help them. This single trait is the root cause of him constantly ending up in massive peril, landing him in the hospital practically every day. He holds no grudges against former enemies who opposed him; if they need help, he's willing to offer it without hesitation.
He's into manga with decent otaku knowledge (JJBA exists in his world), nitpicking flags and routes like in dating sims. Once argued (then fist-fought) with Tsuchimikado and Aogami Pierce over whether Alice-themed bunny girls were better than masked bunny girls, only to get headbutted by Fukiyose and dragged to the faculty office.
Born outside Academy City, the only son of Kamijou Touya and Kamijou Shiina. It's unclear when he acquired Imagine Breaker or if he was born with it, but evidence suggests he's had it since early childhood. Exactly when he became aware of its power is unknown, but by last August at the latest, he already knew.
Due to something seemingly tied to Imagine Breaker, though the exact cause remains a mystery, he has endured a string of unfortunate accidents and incidents from a young age. These misfortunes harmed no one except him, but simply because he was "unlucky," he was branded a curse-bringer, a harbinger of bad luck, and ostracized.
It wasn't just kids, adults treated him like a plague too, calling him a jinx while thoroughly despising him. He suffered beatings multiple times with one particularly harrowing incident where he was stabbed by a debt-evading adult who screamed "This is all your fault!", and was even forcibly dragged onto occult TV shows for "interviews."
In the end, society couldn't handle him, so he was sent alone to Academy City, away from his family. According to his mother, it was right after his kindergarten graduation.
His Imagine Breaker negates most supernatural powers. If the attack has too much mass or continuously regenerates at a speed too fast for its negation rate, it won't be erased outright but it still works. In those cases, he can physically grab or deflect the attack. Such as Accelerator's Black Wings, Index's powered up Dragon's Breath, Fiamma's Holy Right. If the attack is of a bombardment type, he can use IB to create a safezone for himself by swatting away attacks that aimed at him.
He has a form of danger perception + intuition that activates whenever a supernatural ability is used. It also works on unconscious physiologic movements made by the attacker.
Unlike other shounen characters, he uses hair gel to give his hair that spiky look. His signature catchphrase is "such misfortune." Has once skipped several classes in one semester and according to him, a week of remedial classes is just a light punishment.
As A Certain Magical Index was released in 2004, Touma experienced art style evolution overtime as Haimura Kiyotaka's drawing skills improved.
