《Awareness》 Prologue three cars are chasing after a black car on a busy road, a helicopter and black clouds following them from above, sound of car engines and helicopter wings along with thunder audible. Gunshots hitting the black car, along with screams can be heard, graffiti on walls and destroyed buildings in the background, seen by a man sitting on a small building, a pistol and cigarette gripped in his hand. A complete masked man in a black costume is driving the car at high speed, gunshots hitting his car several times, he looks at the side mirror and speeds up even more, his hands clenching the steering wheel tighter, eyes narrowing. "hold on Ryuzo, just a little more"the masked man says to the wounded person sitting on the seat beside him. The masked man jerk rotates his steering wheel, the car taking a sudden turn, now in an abandoned street with demolished buildings surrounding the street, Ryuzo lets out a shaky sigh while he adjusts himself on the seat. the masked man changes the gear once more"Special force Falcon, Execute! Now!"masked man shouts in the microphone beside his mouth. the cars behind him go blowing as a bomb from above drops on them. "Okay Ryuzo, just the hospital now, hold on a little more"the masked man says, his feet pushing harder against the accelerater, his eyes more focused on the path ahead. "Stop it, Eleven... just take me to a nice comfy bed...I really miss the comfort"Ryuzo says with a warm smile on his face and coughs after, slight blood coming with the cough. Eleven''s eyes widen in surprise at the moment, the time stops between them, as Eleven turns his head to face Ryuzo "what the hell is he talking about" kaduri thought to himself as he looks at Ryuzo. "No, I''ll... I''ll not do such a thing!" Eleven says with a hint of hesitation. A flashback runs through Ryuzo''s head:Two children are eating at a restaurant."So, Ryuzo, what''s a thing you wish for, maybe a superpower or anything... I''ll love flying though!! It''s so cool"one child says while eating."Oh, I have no wish, I''m fine as I am"the other child says while eating. "Seriously? C''mon bro, there''s gotta be something" the first kid replies to the other one. "Hmm... I wish I was able to crack funnier jokes," the other teenager says after finishing the food and sliding the plate away. "Of course, it''s Ryuzo I''m talking to after all" the first teenager says while still eating. Ryuzo laughs and says, "I guess I''m that easy to expect" "It''s not Eleven I''m talking to" Ryuzo whispered, his voice trembling. "It''s you... Kaduri. Will you really deny me my final wish?"The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Ryuzo''s smile faltered, and tears welled in his eyes. For a moment, the name felt foreign, as if Kaduri was a long-lost echo. Eleven''s grip on the wheel tightened, but in Ryuzo''s dying gaze, Eleven faltered. Kaduri resurfaced, breaking through the mask." eleven leans his head down, his forehead against the steering wheel, he lets out a shaky sigh "you promised to end this war together" Kaduri whispers, his voive shaking and barely audible as his hands grip the steering wheel even tighter. "i''m sorry"Ryuzo says as he turns his gaze towards the window beside him. Kaduri lets out a shaky sigh as he struggles to carry his head back up, his hands shaking, he can hear his heart screaming at him to do something. Kaduri finally looks at the path ahead "no..i..i can''t do this" Kaduri says, his hand gripping the steering wheel while shaking, tears building up in his eyes. "no, you can Kaduri, you can, it''s the first thing i ever asked of you, please, Kaduri..just one last time" Ryuzo says turning his gaze back towards Kaduri. for a moment Kaduri''s hand clench the steering wheel tighter, his expression hardening as he fights with himself, he lets out a sigh and rests his back against the seat, his hand now loosely gripping the steering wheel. "i understand...Ryuzo" Kaduri says before pushing the accelerator with force, tears slowly building in his eyes. "thank you, Kaduri, you never disaapoint" Ryuzo says with a warm smile as he turns his gaze towards the path ahead, his hand on the wound tightening. thoughts of expecting this to be a dream and a feeling of helplessness utterly consumes Kaduri as he drives towards his house. Kaduri finally pushes brake, parking the car beside a house, he gets out of car and rushes to the house with Ryuzo in his arms, the weight rising heaveir with each step, Kaduri bursts the door open and rushes towards the bed infront of him, he lays Ryuzo down the bed and searches the drawers with shaking hands. "Look, Kaduri... it''s raining again"Ryuzo whispers, his voice barely audible. His gaze drifts to the window, where rain traces jagged paths on the glass. Kaduri''s hands tremble as he fumbles with the bandages, the blood seeping through faster than he can stop it. "Yes it is.... But it''s heavier than ever"Eleven says, his voice cracking, while sitting beside Ryuzo, tears come down from his face every once a second. "Yeah, I feel it too Kaduri"Ryuzo with a warm smile."Man... look how majestic it is today... or is it just me?"Kaduri adds, his voice slowly fading away as his eyes drift to close. Tears dropping from Kaduri''s eyes as he watches Ryuzo close his eyes "hey now Ryuzo, look at me just once"Kaduri says with trembling and cracking voice while shaking Ryuzo''s shoulder gently, unable to form words, Kaduri looses his grip on Ryuzo''s shoulder as he lets his head fall down in grief, rain hitting the window, thunder roaring every once a minute, as if itself mourning Ryuzo, Kaduri stands there motionless, feeling nothing a hollow ache in his chest. A sound of gunshot reaches Eleven''s ears, his eyes completely widen, his hands and mouth shaking as he sits beside Ryuzo''s corpse. Kaduri''s head snapped toward the doorway, his eyes bloodshot and wild. The sight of the gunman pulled him from his sorrow, replacing it with a searing rage. "You..."His voice cracked, and for a moment, his hand reached for his own weapon, but it hung limply by his side, paralyzed by the weight of everything he had just lost. beginning of the past and the present Another morning in the city of Shahr, as usual Kaduri, is late for school, still sleeping like he does not have a care for the world, his room a complete mess , curtains broken, books scattered over the floor, sunrays invading the room through the window beside his bed, fan moving in a slow rythm, just another room of a 15 year old teenager. As kaduri sleeps carelessly, his mom rushes to his room and bursts the door open. " Kaduri! look at the clock! GET UP ALREADY! YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL!!¡°His mom says standing in the doorway, her voice and face dripping with anger, hands clenching into a fist. upon hearing the words, Kaduri¡¯s eyes flutter open as the door bursts open, jolting him awake. He stumbles to his feet, still dizzy, only to slip on a book lying on the floor. ¡± that hurts" Kaduri mumbles to himself as he sits on the floor, helpless, adjusting his glasses with his hand. His mom comes towards him and helps him get up ¡±oh, thanks mom" Kaduri says with a warm smile on his lips. "Kaduri you really need to grow up now, look how messed up your room is, you need to fix your routine, seriously can you start taking care of yourself. one day...I-" Kaduri immediately interupts his mom¡±oh cmon now mom, not right now" and starts to go towards the door, his hand going to adjust his glasses as he does. "oh god, this boy" Kaduri¡¯s mom says to herself with a warm smile after Kaduri leaves the room. the door suddenly opens,¡±i¡¯ll have a pizza for lunch" Kaduri says in a teasing tone standing in the doorway. "YEAH, LIKE I EARN MONEY! ASK YOUR FATHER!" Kaduri¡¯s mom says as she watches him leave the house, Kaduri waves goodbye with a wide smile before sitting in the school bus.
the bus starts to move forward as Kaduri still stands there hoping to find a free seat, the sound of gossips mixing up with bus engine, as usual. a wide smile appears on Kaduri¡¯s face as he spots an empty seat beside a girl, he adjusts his glasses with one hand as he goes ahead and stands beside the girl ¡±can i sit there?" Kaduri says with a smile. Kaduri''s eyes slightly widened and mouth open upon hearing the words ¡±no!? go away already". "sorry to bother" Kaduri says as he turns his back towards the girl, the voices of giggling hitting his heart like a bullet as he stands there looking at the world outside the bus. "hey, Kaduri, you can sit beside me, the seat¡¯s empty" a girl says, gesturing him to sit on the window seat beside her. Kaduri smiles warmly and turns toward the girl, he goes ahead and sits beside the girl ¡±thank you, Rin" Kaduri says as he adjusts himself on the seat, ¡±you¡¯re welcome Kaduri" Rin says with a smile, Kaduri smiles back. Kaduri sits beside Rin, Kaduri stared out the bus window at the world beyond. It felt lifeless, like a faded picture hung in a frame. "can i ask you something though, Kaduri?" Rin says, her gaze fixed on Kaduri, Kaduri''s gaze still fixed on the world outside, words of Rin doesn''t seem to reach him. After a moment, Rin taps Kaduri''s shoulder, Waking Kaduri back to reality, he turns his gaze towards Rin, "yes? Rin?" Kaduri says, his gaze now towards Rin. " i was wondering if, i can ask you a personal question" Rin says, her head resting against the seat. A faint blush appears on Kaduri''s face, "y-yeah, sure i guess" Kaduri says, his eyes locked on the floor beneath. " whenever i see you, you seem distracted towards something, and it seems like something, big and intense... what is it that keeps you distracted, huh? Kaduri?" Rin says, her words touching Kaduri''s heart as a hollow ache, he moves his gaze towards Rin. " it''s just...i mean..i-i...dont really know..." Kaduri says, his words distant, as if he''s surprised by his own answer. "hmm...okay" Rin says, her head still resting against the seat."so you don''t know either huh" Rin thought to herself as she rested on the seat. "what is it i''m distracted towards? the world? my home?..or... or is it nothing? am i just pretending to be distracted towards something? damn it, i don''t know" Kaduri thought to himself, his gaze fixed towards the window beside.
¡± it¡¯s here, Kaduri" Rin says sitting beside Kaduri, students getting off their seats and leaving the bus.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Kaduri carry¡¯s the bag on his back and leaves the bus along with Rin. sound of laughter and chatter echoing off the walls, as they both walk through the vast and busy halls of school,"im sorry about that girl¡¯s behaviour on the bus though, Kaduri" Rin says, walking beside Kaduri. "n-no you don¡¯t ha-" Kaduri¡¯s words interrupted and eyes completely widen, his hands clenching in a fist, as he suddenly gets dragged aside by another student. " here you are, think tank" the student says, his eyes closed and arm wrapped around Kaduri¡¯s neck as he smiles. ¡±hey, Ryuzo, don¡¯t call me that!" Kaduri says as he tries to set himself free. ¡±oh cmon think tank" Ryuzo says, trying to hold Kaduri in place, Ryuzo opens his eyes, his gaze dragged towards Kaduri after taking in the sight of Rin, his smile unhinged ¡± Perhaps i disturbed sum important, so, sorry for that" Ryuzo says while dragging Kaduri away with him. "sorry Rin, see you later" Kaduri calls out as he walks along with Ryuzo, Rin still standing there, smiling nervously.
sound of whisper and ticking of clock, an empty look in teacher¡¯s eyes, as usual, those familiar faces filling the classroom, behind all this, sits Kaduri. Ryuzo leans back in his chair, glancing at Kaduri with a half-smile. ¡° C¡¯mon, thinktank, everyone wears them. They¡¯re just... part of life, you know? ....and this is how it all works, So stop overthinking it." Ryuzo says, still leanning back in his chair. " yeah, you''re right, it was a stupid topic to bring" Kaduri says, his eyes locked on the page opened infront of him. "okay Kaduri, now you read" the teacher said, catching Kaduri vulnerable, he immediately starts to wander his finger on the page, adjusting his glasses with the other hand, he slowly stands up, just when he''s about to stand up, Ryuzo''s finger taps beneath a specific phrase written on the page. "....so surely it is his majesty''s unpayable favor upon us to give us these divinely comfortable glasses" As Kaduri read the words aloud, a chill ran down his spine. His heart raced. the sight of students dutifully scribbing the words into their notebooks and noding at the phrase he just read slowly faded away into something stirring in the back of his mind¡ªa memory he couldn¡¯t place, blurred and fragmented, surged forward without warning. a six-year-old child, standing in a dimly lit room. Shadows of unfamiliar figures surrounded him, something felt unusual and haunting, their voices a murmur of indistinguishable sounds. ¡°surely it is his majesty¡¯s unpayable favor upon us to give us this free..eee...ee..e...¡± The last word, corrupted and fragmented, echoed in his mind like a broken record. His small form trembled with confusion and fear, with trembling hands poor six year old went to adjust his glasses, only to realize nothing like that existed. The vision dissolved as quickly as it had come, leaving him in a state of shock, his heart pounding in his chest. Kaduri blinked, his gaze finally tearing from the words, the room felt heavier, whispers grew louder, blending with the lazy ticking of clock, now felt like an unexplainable ache to hear. "wh-what was that!" Kaduri thought, his breath uneven. He gripped the edge of the desk with trembling hands, trying to steady himself. a memory¡ªif it was a memory¡ªfelt distant and unreal. A sudden scrape of the chair against the floor jolted Kaduri from his trance. ¡°you can sit now, bell¡¯s about to ring¡± Ryuzo said, his words pulling Kaduri back to reality completely. ¡°or are you gonna be thinking about the end of world a little more?¡± Kaduri glanced up at Ryuzo, his hands still trembling, drops of sweat racing on his face. The buzz of movement around the classroom signaled the end of the lesson¡ªstudents packing their bags, chairs squeaking against the floor. With a sigh, Kaduri closed the book and slipped it into his bag. the bell rang. Even as the lesson ended and the classroom emptied, the memory lingered. Kaduri couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the shadowy figures weren¡¯t just part of a dream¡ªthey were part of something he had forgotten, something he wasn¡¯t supposed to remember.
smell of dust, sound of nearby traffic and sunlight blending together in a usual and familiar enviornment, as always both Kaduri and Ryuzo walk through the empty streets, sound of their laughter and chatter heard by noone but them,¡°seriously though, Kaduri, what is it you keep thinking all the time, like your life depends on it....it¡¯s not your girl friend is it?¡± Ryuzo says with a wide smile while walking beside Kaduri, Kaduri lets out a faint laugh. ¡± Nah, you know it''s nothing like that¡± ¡°you know what, Ryuzo, i don¡¯t really know myself" Kaduri said adjusting his glasses as they continued to walk alongside eachother. Ryuzo looks at Kaduri, his expression serious and unhinged. after a while of silence, Ryuzo bursts out laughing, his hand playfully hitting Kaduri¡¯s shoulder as he laughs. ¡± oh cmon Kaduri, i thought it would be an intresting question to ask someone like you¡± Ryuzo says, his voice loud and joking, his arms wrapped around still stood Kaduri¡¯s shoulders, Kaduri also lets out a faint laugh, but it felt hollow, as if the weight of Ryuzo''s words holding him down. ¡°you know, Kaduri, you ask too many questions, even if you don''t ask them, i hear them. See you tomorrow¡± Ryuzo says before going towards the house in a distance, his hands waving goodbye at Kaduri, and a wide smile playing on his lips. Kaduri waved back, but his steps felt heavy. Ryuzo¡¯s words clung to him, echoing in his mind like a riddle he didn¡¯t know how to solve. The wind whipped through the empty street, and for a moment, Kaduri felt as though the world itself was waiting for an answer he didn¡¯t have.
thoughts The fan rotated in a slow rhythm. Sunlight tore through the window beside the bed, spilling unevenly across a crumpled bedsheet. Kaduri¡¯s leg dangled off the edge of the mattress, his body half-buried beneath the thin blanket."" The shout shattered the stillness, His eyes snapped open.
Kaduri stepped onto the bus, The sound of chatter and laughter filled the space, yet it felt distant¡ªmuffled, He froze for a moment, feeling the weight of their stares. Whispered words buzzed around him, punctuated by giggles and sly glances. He sighed, adjusting his glasses. The bus jolted forward, and Kaduri stumbled, barely catching himself on a pole. A few snickers reached his ears. He ignored them, gripping the pole as he steadied himself. Each step down the aisle felt heavier than the last, the whispers like a weight pressing on his back. Finally, his eyes landed on her. Rin sat by the window, her head resting against the seat. Her eyes were closed, and a faint blush warmed her cheeks. The empty spot beside her felt like a sanctuary. "Oh, here you are," Kaduri thought as he slid into the seat. Rin opened one eye lazily, glancing at him. "Kaduri." "" he replied, his gaze fixed on the window. "" Kaduri blinked and looked down. His stomach twisted. He was wearing bathroom slippers. Heat rose to his cheeks as he clenched his jaw, his lips trembling as he struggled to contain the stream of self-recriminations bubbling inside him. Rin, still leaning back against the seat, glanced at him,"" Kaduri rested his head on his palm, his narrowed eyes fixed on the passing buildings outside. "yeah, It happens," he thought bitterly. "Just not to anyone else."
The school hall buzzed with faint chatter. Students moved in loose groups, their conversations overlapping, while teachers passed through the corridors with a faint sense of purpose. Kaduri leaned against a wall, arms crossed, watching the chaotic rhythm with disinterest. "What did I do?" Ryuzo¡¯s voice broke the monotony as he appeared beside Kaduri. Kaduri turned to him in silence. The bell rang. the hallway exploded with movement¡ªlaughter, screams, and chairs scraping against the floor as students poured out of classrooms. "" Ryuzo said, rubbing his ear as he walked towards the door. Kaduri followed, his expression blank.
Kaduri sat alone on the edge of the playground, away from the chaos of running children and bursts of laughter. He rested his chin on his hand, staring into the distance as his thoughts spiraled.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "That vision," he thought, his chest tightening. "I wasn¡¯t wearing Hoteps in it," his hoteps unnoticably vibrating as he thought "and it felt so real. Should I tell anyone? Mom would think I¡¯m cursed. Maybe even crazy." his hoteps starting to vibrate a bit more, almost noticeable to Kaduri, but suddenly sent back to normal upon the next thought. " No. It was nothing... just a random dream." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. His thoughts drifted. "Dad¡¯s coming home today. Mom said she¡¯s making a surprise cake for him. But he didn¡¯t sound excited on the phone. Did he lose his job at the royal castle? No, that¡¯s stupid. He would¡¯ve told us... right?" Ryuzo¡¯s voice pulled him from his reverie. "" The words felt sharper than usual, more pointed than teasing. Kaduri turned to Ryuzo, who had taken a seat beside him. "Am I?" Kaduri muttered, more to himself than to Ryuzo.
The streets were quiet. Leaves drifted lazily from the trees, carried by the slow rhythm of the wind. Kaduri walked alone, his hands in his pockets, his head down. "Dad¡¯s coming home today," he thought again, the words looping in his mind. "But he didn¡¯t seem excited... Did something happen at work? Did he¡ª" Kaduri¡¯s thoughts were cut short as he collided with someone. The impact sent him stumbling back, and he fell to the ground with a thud. "" Kaduri stammered, looking up. The man in front of him dusted off his coat with sharp, deliberate movements. He adjusted his hat, glancing down at Kaduri with a frown. "" the man said, his tone clipped. Kaduri froze, his gaze lingering on the man¡¯s face. The man walked away without another word, disappearing into the shadows of the street. Kaduri remained on the ground for a moment, staring after him.
Dinner was uncomfortably silent. The warm glow of the dining room bulb cast soft light over the table, but it couldn¡¯t mask the tension in the air. Kaduri glanced at his mother, her expression distant as she pushed her food around her plate. "" she asked finally, breaking the silence. "" he replied cautiously. The words hung in the air for a moment. Kaduri hesitated before speaking again. " The sharp bang of her fist on the table made him flinch. "" she said, her voice cold and clipped. She stood abruptly and left the room without another word. Kaduri stared after her, his mind racing. "Why is she so angry? Did something happen between them? Is Dad even home yet?"
The rooftop was quiet, bathed in pale moonlight. Kaduri climbed the stairs slowly, his thoughts heavy. there was nothing more than a chair sitting in a distant. Kaduri looked around him, finally his eyes caught a faint orange glow in a distant. Kaduri hesitantly took a step forward. a familiar figure stood near the edge, leaning against the boundary wall. A lit cigarette between his fingers. "" Kaduri¡¯s breath caught. "" The man chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on the starry sky. "" Kaduri approached cautiously, standing just behind him. "" "Pretty fine. How¡¯s school?" his father replied. "." His father sighed, exhaling a plume of smoke. "" he said dismissively. Kaduri frowned, stepping closer. "." His father chuckled again, but there was no humor in it. He flicked the cigarette away, and Kaduri¡¯s eyes followed its path before turning back to his father. His father finally turned to him, Moonlight fell across his calm but distant face. His glasses¡ªhis Hoteps¡ªtrembled faintly. The cracks in the lenses spread like spiderwebs, refracting the light into fractured patterns. Kaduri''s breath hitched a bit, his heart raced. His lips trembled as he raised a shaking hand to his mouth."" his voice cracked and shaking.
The cracks on his father¡¯s Hoteps shimmered, vibrating as though they might shatter at any moment.