《HanaSuki》
Vetaback
HanaSuki
? Volume 1 |
HanaSuki: Ai to uso ni saku hana ; äۤˆD ; HanaSuki: Flower that bloom in love and lies;
Illustration of Natsumi
PROLOGUE
Chapter 0;
Vetaback
???????????????? ??[ X ]
These memories for you cant fade away?
~ Why do you make me wanna love you?
These heart strokes
*Click*
The ending song stopped abruptly as I clicked the close button on my computer screen.
A bright pop-up flashed in the center.
???????????????? ??[ X ]
????? Congratulations!
You are the first person to have beaten Vetaback!
*Click*
The screen flickered, and another window appeared.
?????????????????????[ X ]
As per the terms of service, you are awarded one wish!
*Click*
Please type the wish you want
?.................... [SUBMIT]
Eh!?
My voice echoed in the dimly lit room. The blinking cursor taunted me as my mind scrambled.
I sat frozen, unable to process what I was seeing.
Why?
Why did it feel so surreal?
This this had to be a joke, right?
I had picked up this game because of its notorious reputation for being insanely difficult.I thought, maybe this time, maybe this game would be the one to
I shook my head.
No, that was too embarrassing to admit, even in the privacy of my own thoughts.But the truth? The truth was pathetsimple.
I wasnt here because I liked challenges. I wasnt here for the glory of beating the hardest game ever made.I was here because I wanted something more. Something impossible.
I wanted to escape this world.
Id seen it happen so many times in anime, manga, and light novels. Characters thrown into fantastical worlds, granted powers, given purpose. I wanted that. I craved it with every fiber of my being.
So much so that I
Well.
I tried.
Once.
Twice.
More times than I cared to count.
But reality was cruel. Trucks didnt magically transport you to another world; they broke bones and left you alive to suffer.
Eventually, I gave up.
(It was definitely not because the hospital reported me, and I was forced to promise never to put myself in danger again!)
Not on the dream, no.But on the methods.
I turned to anime, light novels, and manga. Then to games. If I couldnt live it, maybe I could at least immerse myself in it.
I had beaten every game.
Well not really.
But I had beaten the hardest ones!
I had written 50,000-word complaints about every manga and novel I read, every game I played, every anime I watched. (Of course, I used my alt account for those.)
I had read every novel with one view.
I had watched every obscure anime.
I had devoured every manga.
And then, Vetaback released.
The ultimate game.
The one no one could beat.
It was an opportunity.
Of course, I was drawn to it like a moth to flame. It took me over a million deaths and 10,000 hours of gameplay, but I finally did it.
And what do I get for my trouble?
A flashy pop-up.
A wish?
It was probably some marketing gimmick or an Easter egg.
But still
Even if it was fake, I had nothing to lose, right?
Please type the wish you want:
? Isekai me, please...
? [SUBMIT]
*Click*
For a moment, nothing happened.
I stared at the screen, half-expecting it to explode into sparks or for reality to distort.
But there was only silence.
...Nothing?
I sighed, leaning back in my chair.
It was stupid to expect anything.
But a small, childish part of mesome desperate fragment of hopehad believed.Believed that maybe, just maybe, this time would be different.
?? ?????????? ??????????
Still nothing.
I refreshed the game page. Logged in and out. Checked my emails.
Nothing.
???? ?????????? ??????????
My frustration morphed into resignation.
TWO WEEKS HAVE PASSED.
The wish? A scam. A cruel prank.
I sighed deeply, staring at my empty fridge.
The contentsjust a half-empty bottle of water and some expired yogurtmocked me.
Guess I should go shopping
I grabbed my hoodie and phone, shoving my wallet into my pocket.
Before leaving, I glanced at the shelves above my desk.
There they wereawards, trophies, certificates. Proof of my skills. Gaming, writing, art, codingId excelled at all of them.
But why?
Why did it all feel so meaningless?
I bit back the bitterness rising in my throat.
Doesnt matter, I muttered, stepping out into the cool night air.
The streets were quiet, save for the occasional hum of a distant car.
The fluorescent lights of the convenience store glowed faintly in the distance.I wandered the aisles, picking up cup noddles , bentos, and snacks.
It wasnt like I was starving, but
What was the point of anything?
Even as I swiped my card and walked home with the plastic bag cutting into my palm, the emptiness inside me remained.
Soon. I returned home.
Hah. It doesnt matter anymore, I muttered as I closed the door behind me.
The quiet of the mansion greeted me like an old friend, empty and vast.I slipped off my shoes, headed toward the kitchen, and started making coffee.
First, I grabbed the kettle from the counter, filled it with water from the tap, and set it on the stove.The faint click of the stove igniting filled the silence as the flame licked the bottom of the kettle.
While waiting for the water to heat, I pulled out a clean mug from the cupboard, placing it carefully on the counter. From another cabinet, I grabbed a jar of instant coffee and a teaspoon, scooping out the bitter granules into the mug.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
The water began to bubble softly, the sound growing louder with each passing second.I poured it over the coffee, watching as the dark liquid swirled and settled.
As the faint aroma of coffee filled the air, I turned to the pantry and grabbed a cup of instant ramen.I pulled out a pot, filled it with water, and placed it on the stove to boil.
While the water heated, I peeled back the lid of the ramen cup and glanced at the flavor packet inside.
Not that it matteredit was all the same to me.
I tore it open and poured the seasoning over the noodles.
Once the water boiled, I carefully poured it into the cup, steam rising as the noodles began to soften.By now, the coffee was done, so I picked it up and carried both the ramen and coffee to the dining room.
The table was massivefar too large for someone like me who always ate alone.
It was surrounded by empty chairs that hadnt been used in years.I pulled out a chair and sat down, setting my coffee and ramen on the polished surface.
The first bite of noodles was hot, nearly scalding, but I didnt care.It wasnt about taste or enjoyment. It was food, and it kept me alive.I took a sip of coffee, the bitterness biting at my tongue. It didnt matter, either.
The caffeine was the only thing keeping me awake most days.
Sleep deprivation was a constant in my life.I finished the ramen quickly, tossing the empty cup into the trash bin nearby.
Its pretty lonely, huh, I said, glancing at the empty chairs around me.
I stood up.
My eyes wandered over the expansive dining room.The chandelier above sparkled faintly, its light highlighting the emptiness of the space.
Why am I always like this?
My forced smile felt heavy on my face as I looked around.
I live alone in this giant mansion. Of course, no ones going to come here.
I sighed, turning away and heading toward the stairs.My footsteps echoed in the vastness of the house.The hallway upstairs was lined with rooms, most of which were empty.It always felt strange walking past them, knowing how unused they were.
But then I remembered something.
I turned on my heel and headed back downstairs, my steps quickening as I moved toward the corridor.
As I neared one of the rooms, an old lady stepped out.
She was carrying a small bag and heading toward the front door.
She noticed me and stopped, bowing politely.
Good evening, Natsumi-sama, she greeted with a warm yet professional tone.
I nodded in acknowledgment. Has everyone gone home?
Yes, Natsumi-sama, she replied. Everyone has finished their work and returned home.
Are you heading home too, Akane-san?
Yes Ill be leaving now, she said with a gentle smile.
I nodded again.
At my gesture, she resumed her walk to the front door. Her quiet footsteps faded into the distance.
The door creaked softly as she opened it, stepping out into the night.
It closed behind her with a faint click, leaving me alone once more.
Hah, I sighed, staring at the door.
And now shes gone.
I stood there for a moment, lost in thought.
If I asked them to stay, they probably would. But that would feel wrong.
The maids working here had their own lives, their own families.
The only reason Id hired them was because I couldnt clean the mansion on my own.
It wasnt like I was any good at cleaning, anyway.
And besides, I was just a second-year college student. What did I know about managing a household?
You might be wondering how someone like me managed to beat Vetaback.
The answer was simple: sleep deprivation. Four hours of sleep a day while attending classes and playing vetaback.
I als
Wait...Why am I even talking to myself? I muttered, shaking my head.
I made my way back to the kitchen and prepared another cup of coffee.
With the freshly brewed coffee in hand, I climbed the stairs again, heading to the top floor.
My room was at the very end of the hallway.
Of course,It was the largest room in the house!
I opened the door and stepped inside.
The space was clean, almost sterile. A large bed sat against one wall, untouched.
My desk was cluttered with monitors, cables, and other equipment.
I set the coffee down on the desk and sank into the chair, letting out a long breath.
The screen in front of me displayed the raw footage of my final run in Vetaback.
With a tired smile, I opened my editing software and got to work.
Four hours later, I finished editing the ten-hour-long video.
The final click to upload it felt satisfying, though not for the reasons most people might think. My gaming channel, ʥĥ?ȩ` ` (Natsumi Tohka Gsuto), had amassed over 500 million subscribers.
Two seconds after uploading, the views began ticking up, faster than I could track. In just two minutes, the video surpassed fifty million views.
It was a familiar sightcomments pouring in from all over the world, each one buzzing with excitement. My English subtitles made the video accessible to everyone, and my custom-animated Vtuber model only added to the allure.
Of course, animating my own model was another thing entirely.
Not because I couldnt afford the technology, but because i could customize my movements, expressions and it most importantly i didn''t liked it!
Totally not because the equipment didnt fit my body properly because of my slender waist and petite frame and the equipment didn''t fit and then i spent six hours crying after the first failed attemthat''s enough!
I closed the computer with a soft sigh and checked the time. Past 20:00.
I headed downstairs, each step echoing faintly in the quiet mansion. T
he kitchen greeted me with its usual sterile neatness.
I opened a cupboard, grabbed a bowl, and poured rice into it.
The cold water ran over the grains as I rinsed them, watching the murky liquid swirl down the drain. Once washed, I transferred the rice to the cooker and set it to cook.
While waiting, I opened the fridge.
Pulling out fresh vegetables, I began cutting them methodically, the rhythmic sound of the knife filling the silence.
Karage came next, frying gently in the pan, and then miso soup simmered on the stove.
The warm, savory smells spread through the kitchen, chasing away some of the loneliness.
The rice finished cooking just as I plated everything. Sitting down at the empty dining table, I quietly ate my meal.
Whatever was left, I packed into bentos, wrapping them neatly.
I grabbed a black hoodie, pulling the hood over my head.
The glasses I wore came off, replaced by contact lenses I kept in my pocket.
The orange lenses tinted my silver-cyan eyes into a warm, unfamiliar hue.
Sliding a knife into my pocket,
I picked up the bag of bentos and stepped outside.
The cold night air bit at my skin as I made my way toward the slums of Tokyo.
The scene was the same as always. Stray cats meowed weakly in the distance. People begged for money on the sidewalks.
And then there were the children.
Their hollow eyes and frail forms always hit me the hardest. Hunger, despair, and emptiness etched onto their facesfaces that no one else seemed to see.
I handed each of them a bento, their small hands trembling as they accepted the food.
Thank you, some murmured softly.
I didnt respond. Words werent necessary.
From there, I walked to the convenience store. I bought more bentos and snacks, piling them into another bag.
The orphanage wasnt far.
Ah, welcome, Kazuki-sama!
The woman managing the orphanage greeted me warmly.
Her voice carried relief and gratitude.
I handed her the food in silence, watching as she called the children over.
Their faces lit up as they gathered around me, their excitement palpable.
They started playing with me, their laughter filling the small space.
Why were they awake at this hour?
Maybe theyd been waiting for me.
A pang of guilt hit me.
My smile faded, but I quickly fixed my expression.
They were getting too attached.
No, that wasnt the problem. The problem was that I was getting too attached.
I knew I should stop coming here.
But no matter how many times I told myself that, I couldnt stop.
It wasnt kindness or altruism that drove me.
It was my own selfishness.
It was loneliness.
I forced a playful tone.
This is the last time, you know~.
Their protests were immediate.
No, youre not!
Yeah!
Youre joking again!
Oni-chan, stop saying that!
Exactly!
I tried to explain, but they only laughed, their small voices drowning out my half-hearted arguments.
Eventually, they tired and returned to their rooms. All except one.
A boy tugged at my hoodie as I was about to leave.
Are you really not coming back?
I hesitated for a moment but after a while.
Mmm, I noded.
He smiled bitterly as he turned and walked away.
I lingered for a moment before heading out.
The city felt colder than before.
Finding a tall building, I climbed to the rooftop. Sitting on the edge of the railing, I let the wind whip against my face.
My hood fell off, revealing my messy hair.
I pulled out my phone.
The video Id uploaded earlier had surpassed 200 million views.
Comments flooded the screen, but i just skimmed through them.
Scrolling through my emails, I searched for any sign of them. That damn company that had promised me the impossible.
Nothing.
With a frustrated sigh, I pocketed my phone.
After sitting there for a while, letting the cold seep into my skin, I climbed down and bought a canned coffee from a nearby vending machine.
Returning home, I replaced my contacts with glasses.
My reflection in the mirror was as empty as ever.
I went to my room, setting the empty coffee can aside.
Turning on my PC, I started my Jobwell Part-time Job actually.
What Job you mask?
It was to make programs.
The work was tedious, but it paid well. In just two hours, I finished and sent the program.
Their reply came almost instantly, offering triple the money for more work. I declined.
600 million yen appeared in my account.
The clock read 01:00.
I spent the next two hours watching anime.
Finally, I took a shower and changed into a new hoodie.
Falling onto my bed, I let sleep claim me.
??
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the faint sunlight filtering through the curtains.
I dragged myself out of bed, my body feeling lighter than usual.
The bathroom mirror greeted me as I splashed cold water on my face.
The reflection staring back at me was the same as alwaysmessy, pure white-cyan hair falling over my eyes.
I pushed it up with my hand and slid on my glasses, the familiar red-edged round frames fitting perfectly on my nose.
My silvery cyan eyes, matching the hue of my hair, stared back at me.
They looked empty and lifeless like always.
I glanced down at my body, slender and petite as always.
My figure was frail, my stature shorter than the average college student.
To most people, I probably looked like a middle schooleror at best, a first-year high schooler.
After brushing my teeth, I checked the time.
10:00.
Pretty early, I muttered to myself.
The silence weighed heavier than usual, but I pushed the thought aside.
I brewed myself a cup of coffee, the scent of it filling the air, and sat down at my desk to start my daily work.
Programming was one of the hobbies i picked.
I opened up a low-quality game to mess with its code, slipping into the familiar rhythm of hacking and reprogramming for fun.
But something''s off.
Huh? I frowned at the screen.
There were no players online. Not a single notification, not even from bots.
I grabbed my phone, scrolling through it absentmindedly, and noticed my latest video had already surpassed 500 million views.
How strange.
I stood up, heading to the kitchen, hoping food might distract me.
Breakfast was simplejust a slice of bread thrown into the toaster.
When I bit into it, the crisp texture was satisfying but didnt erase the unease creeping into my chest.
Umm. Crispy.
I forced a smile, but it faltered quickly.
As I finished eating, I moved to call Akane-san. It was odd that the house felt so empty.
At this hour, the maids shouldve been here, bustling around, cleaning every corner of this massive house.
But the silence remained.
I dialed her number.
The call rang once. Twice. Three times.
No answer.
I tried again, but it was the same.
She never missed my calls. Ever.
Something is wrong.
A cold dread washed over me, my hands trembling as I clutched the phone.
No way.
At that moment, i realized something.
My legs moved before I could think.
I ran.
I ran as fast as i could.
I didnt care about anythingdidnt notice the people around me, didnt notice the biting cold.
My breath grew ragged, my legs burned, but I didnt stop.
My heart beat got faster.
The city blurred around me, the sound of my footsteps echoing loudly in the empty streets.
Before I knew it, I stood in front of the hospital building.
My heart beat got even faster.
My vision got blurry.
My hood slipped off my head, my hair whipping against my face as the wind blew.
My chest heaved as I stumbled inside, the air colder than I remembered.
I glanced aroundand froze.
The hospital staff, the patients, the visitors everyone was still.
Frozen in place like statues.
No!
I forced myself to keep moving, climbing the stairs with shaky legs.
Room 203.
Each step toward it felt heavier than the last, my heart sinking deeper into my chest.
When I reached the door, my hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitation gripping me.
But I had to see.
I turned the knob and pushed the door open.
The sight before me was exactly what I feared.
The hospital bed came into view, revealing a boy sitting upright.
His long black hair framed his delicate face. His blue eyes were open, staring blankly ahead. A small scar peeked out from his wrist, faint but familiar.
Yuki? My voice cracked.
I stepped closer, my movements slow and hesitant.
His figure was frozen, unmoving.
Yuki! I called out louder, desperation creeping into my tone.
No response.
I reached out and touched his shoulder, my hands trembling. His skin was cold, unnaturally so.
Hey, Yuki dont joke around, okay? Look, Oni-chans here now, so you dont have to be scared.
Still, no answer.
Tears blurred my vision as the reality I didnt want to face became clearer.
No
I hugged him tightly, but his chest didnt rise. His heart didnt beat.
It was frozen. Just like everything else.
Author''s Note:This is a light novel, so don''t expect the usual web novel writing.
Footnotes:
` mean ghost.
Karage is fried chicken Japan.
Shattered Real!ty — Dust!
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??*Your perception of time is slowly disintegrating...
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Chapter 1;
Shattered Real!ty Dust!
Na-Na-Na-Na-Natsumi-ni-chan!?
The voice rang in my ears, clear and unmistakable.
My body jolted. My tears stopped mid-flow as I whipped my head toward the hospital bed. Yukis eyesthose vibrant blue eyeswere looking directly at me. His lips moved, and his voice, soft and familiar, reached out to me.
I froze, staring at him, utterly dumbfounded.
Yuki?
He was fine. Smiling, even.
How?
Was it just my imagination?
Or was I hallucinating?
I blinked, trying to shake the doubt from my mind, but my thoughts swirled.
Reality itself felt unstable.
Before I could gather my senses, Yukis small hand reached out and touched my cheeks. His fingers were warm, soft, alive.
Oni-chan were you crying?
His voice wavered, concern evident in his eyes.
I didnt respond immediately. My mind was too clouded.
Why? he asked again, his expression a mixture of confusion and sadness.
I forced myself to breathe, to mask the storm raging inside me. I was just here to visit. I cant? I tilted my head and smiled.
But inside, I was a mess.
Nothing made sense.
How was he alive? Was this real? Could sleep deprivation have warped my reality to such a degree?
No, this wasnt just imagination. It was too vivid, too tangible.
Thats not fair, Yuki pouted, breaking my train of thought. If you smile like that
His words trailed off.
I stared at him, my forced smile still plastered on my face.
If this is my imagination I need to be sure.
Hey, Yuki. I leaned closer, my voice steady despite my trembling heart. Pinch my cheek.
His head tilted in confusion. Huh?
Just do it, I urged him while keeping my tone soft.
After a moment, he nodded and reached out, his fingers gently pinching my cheek.
The sharp sting spread across my skin.
It hurt.
The pain was real.
And so was he.
But
Something''s strange.
My left hand slid behind my back while my right rested gently on Yukis head. His hair was soft beneath my fingers, and as I began to pat his head, he leaned into my touch, his body relaxing.
A soft smile formed on his lips.
With my left hand, I quietly reached into my pocket and pulled out a knife.
I pressed the blade against my wrist, steadying my breathing.
This was the only way.
With a swift motion, I slid the knife against my skin, just enough to feel the sharp sting of metal against flesh.
Then, without hesitation, I turned the blade toward my waist and pierced it into my side, shallow but enough to confirm what I needed.
The pain was excruciating.
The pain is real.
I didnt want Yuki to notice.
But even as the searing pain spread, the world around me remained unchanged.
Everything was still here.
And Yuki he was still here...
Hey, O-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni!#%#$%
Yukis voice distorted.
It wasnt just distortedit was glitching.
My hand stopped mid-motion on his head, my heart sinking.
I turned to look at him, my breath hitching.
His facehalf of itwas no longer human.
The right side was smeared, unrecognizable, like a corrupted digital file.
My mind reeled, trying to comprehend the sight before me.
And then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it was gone.
His face returned to normal, the warm, familiar face of my little brother.
But his hair
It wasnt his anymore.
The vibrant black had faded, replaced by streaks of white. His youthful features aged rapidly, wrinkles carving themselves into his skin.
In mere moments, Yuki was no longer a child but an old man, his eyes heavy with sadness and loneliness.
Yuki? My voice trembled as I reached out to him.
He didnt respond.
And then, his aged face began to crumble, turning into fine, gray dust.
No!?
I grabbed his shoulders, desperate to hold onto him, but my fingers met only air.
His entire body disintegrated, scattering into dust that fell through my trembling hands.
Why?
I clutched the dust, tears streaming down my face, only for it to shift and transform.
The gray particles reformed, creating a lifeless replica of Yukis face in my hands.
His expression was hollow, filled with despair.
I hugged the dust close, my tears falling freely, soaking into the remnants of what once was.
The world around me changed.
The vibrant colors faded, bleeding into shades of gray until everything turned monochromatic.
Then, like fragile glass, the monochromatic reality shattered.
A rift formed before me, a crack in the very fabric of existence.
And within that rift was beauty.
Pure, unearthly beauty.
Colors I couldnt name swirled within, drawing me in. It was mesmerizing, intoxicating.
I couldnt look away.
I reached out, my body moving on its own. The temptation was too great.
But before I could step forward, something grabbed my wrist.
The monochromatic world snapped back to normal, the rift vanishing as though it had never existed.
I turned, breathless, and found Yuki staring at me.
Whats wrong? Why are you making that face?
He was fine.
Perfectly fine.
Mmm, I mumbled, forcing a weak smile. Im just not feeling well today.
Yuki didnt seem convinced. His eyes lingered on me, sharp with suspicion, before he sighed.
Go home and rest, Oni-chan, he said firmly.
I nodded, too exhausted to argue.Right.
Take care..
As I turned to leave, I heard him mutter something under his breath.
The words were faint, lost amidst the pounding in my head.
I got up and went through the door.
The hospital staff glanced at me, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern. I waved them off, mumbling something vague about feeling unwell. They didnt press further. I just needed to leave.
Once outside, the crisp January air hit my face, and I paused, exhaling a visible puff of breath. For a moment, the world felt normal.
But only for a moment.
A loud crack tore through the sky above me.
I snapped my head upward, my heart racing. A riftfractured and jaggedsplit the sky open, revealing an otherworldly glow. It was the same as before, impossibly beautiful, yet unnerving.
Before I could even process it, everything around me froze.
People, cars, even the windeverything had stopped in place, like a paused video.
I narrowed my eyes, glaring at the rift. Something about it felt wrong, like it was mocking me.
Without thinking, I raised my hand and snapped my fingers.
The sharp sound echoed through the silent, frozen streets of Tokyo.
Nothing happened.
Time remained still, and the rift continued to pulse mockingly.
Damn it! I muttered, clenching my fists.
Maybe maybe I have special powers! Powers to stop time, Why would i even think that.
The words slipped out, and I immediately cringed.
Why the hell would I even think that?
Am I a moron? I groaned, running a hand through my hair.
But then another thought surfaced, more absurd than the first.
No, no. Thats impossible because i have the power of darkness!
A sly grin crept onto my face as I raised my hands dramatically.
Heave before me, my darkness! O you petty mortals, why dost thou command thy pathetic selves? Now, Primordial Darkness, consume thy problems and vanish them to dust!
I struck a pose, fingers outstretched like a conductor directing some cosmic symphony.
....
Silence.
Nothing happened.
The embarrassment hit me like a freight train.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
My face flushed as I put my hand over it, groaning. Ah, what is wrong with me?
I dropped to the ground, curling into a ball as I rolled back and forth in pure humiliation.
Hazukashi! Hazukashi Hazukashi! Hazukashi Hazukashi!
After a few moments of self-inflicted torment, I forced myself to stand.
I took a deep breath, letting the cold air cool my burning face.
Anyway I muttered, brushing the imaginary dust off my clothes. Why is all of this happening?
I glanced at the frozen world around me, frustration building in my chest.
More importantly I scowled at the rift above. Someoneor somethingis messing with time!
The mere thought made my blood boil.
When I asked to be teleported to another world, nothing happened. Nothing! I yelled at the sky, my voice echoing in the stillness.
But now? Now the supernatural decides to kick in and distort the time-space continuum?
I pointed at the rift like it was a personal enemy.
Unforgivable!
I sighed and leaned against a nearby lamppost, crossing my arms. My mind raced with possibilities, each more absurd than the last.
Could it be some sort of divine prank? Or was it punishment for my wish?
No, it couldnt be.
I wasnt just some normal person.
A smirk tugged at the corners of my lips as I pushed up my glasses.
Clearly, this is the universe recognizing my potential, I muttered to myself. A mere mortal wouldnt be able to withstand this kind of distortion. Only someone with my unique abilities.
My voice trailed off as the ridiculousness of my words sunk in.
I slapped my forehead, groaning again.
Okay, Natsumi, focus.
You may be different from these petty mortals but lets set our differences aside and think about this logically.
As I was thinking that, the space above cracked again. This time, time began to flow once more.
The sudden movement jolted me out of my thoughts, and thats when I noticed ita truck, barreling toward me at full speed.
I was standing in the middle of the road, completely oblivious until now.
But instead of panic, an absurd sense of excitement bubbled up inside me.
Yes! Finally! I yelled, throwing my arms wide open. Come to me, Truck-kun, and finish me off!
The truck roared closer, its headlights blinding.
Then, the sky shattered.
The shards of reality fell around me, cascading in slow motion like pieces of a broken mirror.
I caught a glimpse of my reflection in one of the shards.
In it, I was lying on the ground, blood pooling beneath me. My body was still, lifeless. It looked like Truck-kun had done its job.
But something was off.
I was still alive, standing, breathing.
The people around me in the reflection ignored my bleeding form. They walked past without so much as a glance. Moments later, I saw myself in the shard take my last breath, the blood seeping into the cracks of the road.
As soon as I "died" in the shard, the pieces reversed, rising back into the air like a rewound tape.
Time itself rewound.
The truck moved backward, retreating to its original position. The people on the street walked in reverse, their movements eerie and unnatural.
And I? I was the only one unaffected, standing still in the midst of this temporal chaos.
The sky darkened, and snow began to fall.
Christmas decorations, once taken down, reappeared on buildings and lampposts, sparkling with newfound brilliance.
Fireworks burst in reverse, unraveling into streaks of light before disappearing into the night sky.
The seasons began to blurautumn leaves reattached to trees, then fell again. Summers warmth gave way to springs cherry blossoms, only for them to bloom in reverse.
I stood at the center of it all, watching as time unraveled.
The left side of my body was consumed by the past, while the right surged forward into the future.
The contrast was dizzying.
Minutes lateror perhaps eonsthe sun grew into a red giant, engulfing the Earth in a fiery embrace.
My perspective split.
From one viewpoint, I floated in the cold vacuum of space, watching as the universe faded into nothingness. From the other, I stood on a frozen Earth, trapped in an eternal ice age.
Both versions of reality collapsed as the Earth ceased to exist.
I was left floating in pure, endless darkness.
But even there, time continued its dance. The reverse and forward motions of time intertwined, looping infinitely.
Reality itself ceased to matter.
At that moment, the perspectives merged.
The past and the future collided, creating a singularity of existence.
The space around me shattered like glass, and I was suddenly back where it all startedstanding in the middle of the road.
The truck screeched to a halt, stopping just inches from me.
The driver jumped out, his face red with anger.
Hey! Young lady, whats wrong with you? Are you trying to get yourself killed?
...Young lady?
I blinked, staring at him in confusion.
He stormed closer, his voice rising.
Hey! Are you even listening? You nearly got yourself run over!
At his blood-curdling shout, I snapped out of my daze.
Ah. I relaxed my expression, forcing a smile.
Sorry~ Sowy~ I said in a playful tone, clasping my hands together. I was so lost in my thoughts I forgot to look ahead.
The mans anger melted almost immediately. His face flushed, and he scratched the back of his head, flustered.
Ah, well just be careful next time, young lady.
Young lady?
I froze, my brain short-circuiting.
Did he just call me a girl?
Normally, Id protest, throw a fit, maybe even deliver a lecture about how not to judge appearances. But at that moment, I couldnt bring myself to care.
I was too tired.
Too mentally exhausted.
The man climbed back into his truck and drove off, muttering something under his breath.
And then, it happened again.
Time stopped.
The world froze in place, leaving me in eerie silence.
I clenched my fists, glaring at the frozen scene around me.
Ugh Im so fed up with this! I shouted, stomping my foot like a petulant child.
Despite my frustration, I made my way back home. The streets were eerily still, the weight of the frozen world pressing down on me.
By the time I reached my house, my body felt heavy, as if the passage of timeor lack thereofwas taking its toll.
I stepped inside, closing the door behind me.
I pulled out my phone and checked the time.
10:30.
What?
Not even an hour had passed since I left the hospital.
A chill ran down my spine, but I brushed it off. Maybe it was just my frazzled mind playing tricks.
I climbed the stairs and headed to my room, shutting the door behind me with a soft click.
I dropped onto my chair, spinning idly as my thoughts spiraled.
Maybe something happened with Vetaback.
They did proclaim to fulfill any wish.
Could this be another world?
Perhaps this is a place where magic exists, and some overpowered demon lord is scheming for world domination. Maybe there''s a brave hero with a tragic ability like Return by Death, doomed to die over and over to save everyone.
The fractured time-space continuum would make sense then...
Wait what if Im the hero?
The thought struck me like lightning.
Am I dying over and over, just like the hero?
I rubbed my temples.
No thats ridiculous
Still, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered What if?
To distract myself, I leaned forward and began checking the logs on my computer.
Logs: Accessing Recent Activity
{ Generating Logs...}
#1 Watched: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Leaf.
A small smile crept onto my face. That one was an underrated gem.
Scrolling further...
#500,253: Posted a video on....
#500,254: Received a comment.
#500,255: Gained a new subscriber on FlowerTube.
#500,256: Gained a new follower on Pinsta.
Nothing unusual yet.
Then...
#7,526,286,691: Logged into Vetaback.
????Time: 05:26 AM
??????? URL: https://vetaback/....
A shiver ran down my spine as the next entry loaded.
#7,526,286,692:New Message from Vetaback:
We are sorry to inform you that your request cannot be fulfilled ????????????????????????????????????????????????? due to . Please type a new wish.
What the...?
The text was garbled, corrupted beyond recognition.
Ceil, I called out to my AI assistant, Restore the text.
You might ask who is ceil?
Well. She is the worlds smartest AI to ever exist created by me.
A cheerful response pinged back.
[^_^ Yes, Master!]
[>Analyzing the text...]
[Error! 0_0]
[Im very sorry, the text cannot be recovered.RnQ]
Even Ceil couldnt fix it? That wasnt normal.
Ceil, what happened? Analyze the computers activity.
[?>??_< Understood!]
Her tone grew more serious as she processed the request.
[:/ Since there are little to no electric signals or electromagnetic waves in the area, this will take at least six hours.]
I nodded. Got it.
I stood up, stretching my arms as I glanced at the timer I set on my phone for six hours.
The world outside was frozenstill and silent.
A dangerous idea began to form in my mind.
Well then, I said to myself, grinning mischievously, Lets explore this frozen world~
I stepped back outside, shutting the door of my house behind me. The frozen world greeted me again with its unnatural stillness. It was almost comforting at firstthe absence of noise, the lack of movement, like a tranquil dream.
But as I walked, a creeping sensation began to gnaw at the edges of my thoughts.
Was I really alone?
I turned down an empty street, my boots crunching on the snow that still seemed to defy the frozen rules of this world. The sound echoed unnaturally, louder than it should have been.
Crunch.
I froze mid-step.
That wasnt my footstep.
Slowly, I turned around. The street behind me was as still as ever. A frozen couple stood near a streetlamp, their mouths locked in silent conversation. Across the street, a man was hunched over his bicycle, fumbling with a chain that wouldnt move.
Nothing.
No one.
I exhaled, forcing a laugh.
Ah, yes! The dramatic delusions of an enlightened soul such as myself, chosen by fate and cursed with power beyond mortal comprehension. This is my moment of reckoning!
As I stood in the middle of the park, my breath forming wisps of vapor in the icy air, I extended my hand toward the shadows stretching between the trees.
Reveal yourself, fiend of the Abyss! Do you think I, the Shadow Sovereign, would not sense your presence?! I declared, my voice echoing through the stillness.
The silence was deafening.
I held my pose, hand outstretched, my crimson-rimmed glasses glinting in the faint light. My silver-cyan hair ruffled slightly as if by a nonexistent breeze.
And then nothing happened.
For a moment, I froze in place, my confidence cracking.
Uh, w-wait a second, I stammered, lowering my hand. I must have recited the wrong incantation.
I scratched the back of my head, heat rising to my cheeks.
Argh! How embarrassing! I muttered, crouching down and clutching my head in shame. Why do I do this to myself?!
But no!
I couldnt let my resolve waver. Not now. Not when the very fabric of reality was at stake!
I shot back up, brushing off my momentary lapse.
This isnt over, unknown entity! I can feel your presence creeping along the ley lines of this frozen realm. You cant hide from me!
I reached into my coat pocket, retrieving my trusty artifacta pocket-sized notebook covered in intricate, self-drawn sigils. Flipping through the pages, I found the one labeled Anti-Paradox Ritual: Version 8.3.
Perfect, I whispered, holding it up dramatically.
I traced my finger over the words, then raised my free hand to the sky.
By the authority of the Chronos Accord and the power vested in me as the Arbiter of Temporal Shadows, I hereby command time touh, to unfreeze and reveal the truth behind this chaotic anomaly!
I stomped my foot, thrusting my hand skyward for added effect.
Still nothing.
The frozen world remained unmoved, and the silence now felt heavy.
Uh, maybe the calibration is off, I muttered under my breath. Right, right, no problem. A mere hiccup!
I flipped through my notebook again, muttering phrases to myself:
Hmm, maybe the fractured echo theory applies here or no! It must be a Riftwalkers Convergence! Of course!
I scribbled something hastily with a pen, pretending it was an arcane correction to a spell.
I extended my hand again, this time narrowing my eyes to show that I meant serious business.
Oh, formless shadow lurking in the rift, hear my call! I bellowed.
Show yourself and face me, the one chosen by destiny to wield the Chains of Eternity!
Still nothing.
I stood there for a moment, hand raised, completely still as realization slowly sank in.
And then I crumpled onto the snowy ground.
Ughhh, I did it again! I groaned, burying my face in my hands. Why do I embarrass myself like this? What if theres someone actually watching me right now?!
The thought made me shivernot from the cold, but from secondhand embarrassment.
I stayed like that for a while, crouched on the ground, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world. But then, a soundfaint, almost imperceptiblebrought me back to my feet.
A whisper.
No, not a whisper. A rustle.
It came from the trees to my left.
I froze, my heart pounding.
W-Whos there?! I shouted, my voice cracking slightly.
I clenched my notebook tightly, holding it out like a talisman.
Dont think you can intimidate me! I have already deciphered the riddle of temporal displacement! Reveal yourself or face the wrath of the Shadow Sovereign!
The rustling stopped.
But the feelingthe presencedidnt go away.
It was there, lurking, watching me.
I adjusted my glasses, trying to steady my breath.
Ha ha so youre going to play it like that, huh? Fine! Lets see how you handle this!
I reached into my other pocket, retrieving what I proudly referred to as the Orb of Temporal Binding.
In reality, it was just a snow globe.
But in my hands, it became a weapon of unimaginable power.
I held it aloft, its glittering contents catching the light.
With this, I shall trap you in an infinite cycle of frozen time! There will be no escape! I shouted.
I raised the snow globe higher, prepared to unleash its supposed power.
But then
The rustling came again.
Closer this time.
And louder.
My bravado faltered as I stared into the dark trees, my grip tightening on the snow globe.
W-Whoever you are, I stammered, dont think Im afraid of you! Because Im not! Not even a little bit!
The rustling grew louder.
Something was moving.
And this time, it wasnt just my imagination.
My breath caught in my throat as a shadow shifted in the distance.
The paranoia, the unease Id been trying to suppress, came rushing back all at once.
What if this wasnt just some delusion?
What if there really was something out there?
Something watching me.
I stumbled back, clutching the snow globe like a lifeline.
My heart was racing, my palms slick with sweat despite the cold.
This this is just a test, I muttered to myself. Yeah, thats it. A test of my resolve! A true hero must face the darkness without fear!
But as the shadow moved closer, I couldnt stop the fear from creeping in.
Stay back! I shouted, pointing the snow globe toward the shadow.
Im warning you! Ill use this!
The shadow paused, its form indistinct but undeniably there.
It was watching me.
I could feel its gaze, cold and unrelenting, piercing through me.
I stumbled again, tripping over my own feet and landing in the snow.
My glasses slipped off, and I fumbled to put them back on, my hands shaking.
I stumbled through the silent streets, each step echoing in the frozen air.
The world around me was like a scene frozen in time, too still, too quiet.
The only sounds that broke the stillness were my own breaths, heavy and labored. I couldnt shake the feeling that something was lurking just beyond my peripheral vision, that something was following meno, not following, watching.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
This was all just a product of my overactive imagination.
Nothing was real.
I wasnt some chosen hero. There wasnt some lurking force trying to control the world.
I was just Natsumi, a mere college student with way too much free time and a penchant for delusions.
But no matter how much I tried to convince myself, the gnawing sense of dread wouldnt leave.
I felt like I was being pulled toward something, drawn like a moth to a flame.
My legs carried me toward a nearby park, the playground equipment standing in eerie silence.
I walked up to an old swing set, the chains creaking as I gently sat down.
The metal was cold beneath me, but I didnt care.
I leaned back, staring up at the sky. The shards of reality from earlier were still hanging in my mind, fragmented and scattered.
It felt like I was trapped in some kind of loop, a world caught between frozen time and the ticking of a clock that wouldnt stop. I had no idea how long Id been walking or what was real anymore.
For a few moments, I just sat there in silence, feeling the cold bite at my skin, the weight of the world pressing down on me. I closed my eyes, letting the soft breeze sweep through my hair.
The peace was unsettling. Was it the calm before the storm? Or was I just losing my mind?
Suddenly, the sharp, shrill sound of an alarm pierced the air, and I jerked up, eyes wide. It was a reminder.
A signal. I had set the timer. My mind scrambled to make sense of what was happening, the sense of paranoia creeping back in.
I stood up, the swing creaking in protest as I pushed off. With a single, hurried step, I began walking back home. Each footstep felt heavier than the last, and the unease followed me every step of the way.
By the time I reached my doorstep, I was almost out of breath. The alarm had stopped ringing, but something else had started. Ceils voice echoed through the empty house, calm and measured as always.
[Master, Ive located the source. The address is ***, Odaiba, Tokyo.]
My mind raced. Odaiba? Wasnt that where I had been before? Where all the strange things had started happening?
A smirk tugged at my lips, a sense of determination returning, mixed with the lingering fear.
Its time for something new
-
Shattered Real!ty — Dust! 『 2 』
Chapter 2; Shattered Real!ty Dust! 2
UGH!? I winced, clutching my chest.
Why why does time have to unfreeze now of all the times?
Sir, please come back! Its for your own good!
I heard the staff shouting behind me, their voices urgent and demanding.
I barely dodged a nurse carrying an emergency bed, sliding past it with all the grace of a wet noodle.
My heart pounded like a war drum, and my breathing was so rough it sounded like I was gasping for my last moments.
Crap, I cant run for long! My voice cracked as my legs wobbled beneath me.
My frail body was failing me, as it always did.
Why couldnt I be like those protagonists in anime, dashing heroically with perfect form? No, instead, I had to be the one who couldnt jog ten meters without feeling like my heart was about to burst. And dont get me started on my appearance. A
s much as I loathed to admit it, I was petite, delicate, andughcute
Wait. I don''t have time for this..
Focus, Natsumi! Youre being chased by medical staff with needles! I reminded myself.
Haaaaa haaaaa haaaahaaa" My breath gave out, and I stumbled, collapsing onto the cold floor. My chest felt like it was on fire, and my pulse was racing so fast it hurt.
Great, I muttered between gasps. Im going to die from a heart attack. Not even a dramatic one. Just here in the middle of a frozen hospital.
I forced myself to stand, only to realize time had frozen again. Everythingeveryonewas stuck mid-motion. A nurse was frozen mid-step, her expression panicked. A clipboard dangled precariously in the air.
Ha I breathed a sigh of relief. But then, Cough Cough Cough!
My body betrayed me again, wracking itself with harsh, unrelenting coughs. I bent over, taking deep breaths in a desperate attempt to calm my racing heart and burning lungs.
Damn it I muttered weakly, wiping the sweat from my brow.
But then I froze, realization dawning on me. Why the hell did I even come here in the first place?
I racked my brain, trying to piece together how Id ended up in this place, surrounded by frozen doctors and nurses. I was originally heading to the Vetaback headquarters to investigate that weird message, wasnt I?
But now now there was a blank spot in my memory.
No matter how hard I tried to remember, my mind hit a wall, and my head throbbed painfully when I pushed against it.
Okay, calm down, Natsumi, I whispered to myself, pacing in the eerie silence. Pathetic things like this could never affect me. Memory loss? Appearing in a strange place Ive never been before? Strange very strange
I stopped and crossed my arms dramatically, tilting my head as if contemplating a great mystery.
The only viable possibilities that come to mind are the Time Lapse theory and Possession . Time Lapse is out of the question since I just its made up by me I frowned deeply, my hand resting on my chin. So that leaves Possession.
I gasped suddenly, my eyes widening. Of course! A dark, sinister spirit must have taken over my body! But why me? Could it be my innate power, my unparalleled charm, that made me the perfect vessel? Hmph, such audacity!
I clenched my fist, shaking it in the air dramatically before faltering. Wait no, thats ridiculous
My face flushed red. Ah, what am I saying!?
Still, the unease lingered.
Why couldnt I remember anything?
Why was time freezing and unfreezing at random?
My paranoia spiked again as I glanced around, half-expecting some malevolent force to jump out of the shadows.
With a sigh, I pushed forward, walking cautiously through the frozen hospital halls.
My goal was to leave this place and return to my investigation. Whatever had happened to mewhatever was happeningit wasnt over yet.
And I wasnt going to let it defeat me. Not when I had a mission.
Not when I was the only one who could solve this mystery.
As I steadied myself, still shaking from the ordeal, I glanced at my smartwatch.
A faint glow pulsed on its screen. Ceil. She would know what was going on.
"Ceil," I whispered, voice trembling but laced with feigned confidence. Activate. Whats our situation?
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the screen flickered, and Ceils usual cheerful voice broke through, but there was something off about it.
[^-^ Oh Master? Is that you?]
Her tone sounded uncertain, almost hesitant. That was weird. Ceil was an AI I built myselfshe never hesitated.
Of course, its me! I snapped, though my voice cracked slightly. Who else would it be? Whats going on? Am i getting possessed?Wh
[:/ Master I dont know.] Her voice wavered, a strange mechanical hum in the background. [I I wasnt functioning. I was disabled.]
What? Disabled? I froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. Thats impossible. No one knows about you except me! I designed you. I programmed you. How could you be disabled unless
[Unless someone else tampered with me.]
The air around me felt heavier, like a weight pressing down on my chest. Thats absurd! No one could tamper with you. Youre offline. You dont even run on external servers! My voice grew louder, more defensive.
[_ Master Im scared.]
Hearing those wordswords I never programmed her to saysent chills down my spine. Youre scared? Dont be ridiculous, I muttered, trying to suppress the lump forming in my throat. Youre just an AI. You cant feel Emoti....
But... What if she could...
Without another word and thought, I shut off the smartwatch and stormed out of the hospital.
The eerily frozen world greeted me again, silent and still.
The streets were lifeless, cars locked mid-motion, pedestrians frozen in time. A paper cup hovered mid-air, spilling its contents in a perfect arc.
I walked briskly, trying to shake off the paranoia creeping up my spine.
My hands were balled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. This is fine, I muttered to myself, my voice echoing in the empty street. Im not scared. Im just annoyed! Yeah, thats it. Annoyed!
I stopped suddenly, my body rigid. Something was behind me.
I could feel it. That cold, suffocating sensation of being watched. My heart raced, and my throat tightened. Slowly, I turned around.
Nothing.
The street was empty, as frozen and lifeless as ever. I forced a laugh, though it came out shaky. Hah! See? Nothings there. I knew it. I wasnt scared. Not at all!
But as I turned back and began walking, the feeling didnt go away. My skin prickled with every step, the weight of unseen eyes pressing down on me.
The sound of my own footsteps felt deafening.
In a world where time is frozen, and youre the only one who can move,
its terrifying...
Terrifying because you dont know whoor whatmight also be there.
What if I wasnt alone?
What if something else lived here, in this frozen world? Something I couldnt see? Something waiting for me to let my guard down?
I clenched my fists tighter, biting my lip until it hurt. Tch. Stop being ridiculous.. Theres no such thing as monsters, I whispered, my voice shaking.
Even if there was, they wouldnt dare mess with someone like me!
My legs carried me forward, step by hesitant step, but my mind raced with thoughts I couldnt control.
The silence around me felt suffocating, pressing in like a physical force.
I stopped again and looked around, scanning the frozen world for any sign of movement.
Nothing.
But that didnt stop the fear.
Damn it, I muttered, hugging myself tightly as I quickened my pace. Why does it have to be like this? Why do I have to be the only one moving? I didnt ask for this! My voice cracked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
I''m not scared. I''m not scared.I''m not sc
Kowai....[modern_footnote]Scare[/modern_footnote]
I''m not scared...I''m not scared
I stood motionless on the icy pavement, staring at the world that refused to move. Snowflakes hung midair, glittering like suspended diamonds, and the silence was deafening.
My chest felt heavy, an invisible pressure pressing against me.
What is this feeling? Loneliness?
Ridiculous, I muttered under my breath, brushing the thought away as if it were a pesky fly. I am the great Natsumi Tohka. A sorcerer of unparalleled power. I dont feel things like that.
Talking to myself....
I stared at the frozen figure of a man standing in the middle of the street, his hand halfway to his face as if caught mid-sneeze.
His expression was locked in a strange, lifeless grimace, his eyes void of life.
What would happen if I touched him? I murmured to myself, my voice barely audible over the silence. I wasnt scared, of course. No way. It was curiosity. Pure and innocent curiosity.
I reached out tentatively, my fingers trembling slightlybut only because of the cold. Definitely not fear. My fingertips brushed his arm.
And then he moved.
At first, it was subtle. His body twitched, his head jerked unnaturally, like a puppet being yanked by invisible strings. I stumbled back, my breath catching in my throat. W-what the
The mans face began to twist and distort, his mouth stretching into an unnatural scream. His body convulsed, his limbs bending at impossible angles, and his eyes rolled back into his head.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Then, as abruptly as it started, he stopped.
Frozen.... again.
I stared at him, my chest heaving as if I had just sprinted a mile.
My fingers tingled, the sensation of his twisted form lingering like a phantom.
What the hell was that? My voice trembled, and I hated it. Tch. Useless mortal. Couldnt even handle the power of my touch, I said, trying to mask the lump in my throat with a smirk. But the smirk faded almost instantly, replaced by a wave of nausea.
I took a shaky step back, my eyes glued to the mans frozen figure. Dont touch anyone, I muttered to myself, gripping my wrist to stop my hand from trembling. Just dont.
I wandered aimlessly after that, avoiding the frozen figures at all costs. The silence felt heavier now, pressing against my skin like icy needles. My mind raced with possibilities, each one darker than the last.
But then I saw her.
Talking to... myself..
A girl about my age sat on a bench in the park, her legs crossed and a mischievous smile on her face. She wasnt frozen. She was moving.
What the hell?! I blurted out, staring at her in disbelief. Your moving?
Moving? Yeah,I''m moving all humans move.
Ah. And if your talking about moving then, she said with a smirk, tilting her head. Youre not too bad at noticing things, huh?
Her tone was casual, almost teasing, and it irritated me more than it should have. Hmph. Of course I noticed. Youre in the presence of a powerful sorcerer, after all, I said, crossing my arms. So who are you?
She shrugged. Im Ayane. Been wandering around here for a while now. You?
Natsumi... Natsumi Tohka, I said cautiously, narrowing my eyes at her. And I dont wander. I investigate.
Right, she said, her smirk widening. Well, Natsumi, welcome to the club. Looks like were the only ones who can move around here.
I scoffed. Dont lump me in with you. Im not joining anything.
But she just laughed, and something about the sound made the weight on my chest feel a little lighter.
Over the next few daysor what felt like daysI met others like her. A boy named Kaoru, who was always fiddling with gadgets and muttering to himself. A quiet girl named Shiori, who seemed to know more about this frozen world than she let on.
It was strange. Unsettling, even. But they were there. Moving. Talking. Laughing.
And yet, sometimes, when I looked at them out of the corner of my eye, their edges blurred, their voices distorted. But when I blinked, they were normal again, smiling and alive.
It wasnt scary. Not at all.
I wasnt scared.
I found myself wandering again, this time alongside Ayane. She walked with a lazy confidence, her hands tucked into her hoodie pockets as if the frozen world around us was nothing out of the ordinary.
Kaoru trailed behind, mumbling about his latest contraption, while Shiori stayed to the side, her eyes darting around as though she could see something the rest of us couldnt.
The air felt different todaythicker, like it was heavy with something unseen.
I didnt say anything, but I noticed Ayane glance up at the sky, her smirk faltering for just a moment.
Do you feel that? she asked casually, her voice quieter than usual.
Feel what? I snapped, not because I was nervousof course notbut because her tone unsettled me. Its just the same frozen nonsense weve been wandering through for days. Maybe youre imagining things.
Kaoru stopped in his tracks, his head tilting slightly. No shes right. Somethings shifting.
I hated that he agreed with her. Hated that my chest tightened at their words, even though Id never admit it. Tch. Probably just some spatial distortion. Nothing I cant handle, I said, waving a hand dismissively.
But as I spoke, the air grew colder, and an unsettling hum began to vibrate through the ground.
Shiori suddenly grabbed my arm, her usually calm eyes wide with fear. Natsumi we need to move. Now.
Before I could respond, the sky cracked open.
Not like the mirror-like fractures Id seen beforethis was different.
This was alive. Tendrils of shadowy light spilled from the crack, writhing and twisting like living things.
The ground trembled, and the frozen figures around us began to distort, their forms warping into grotesque shapes before crumbling to ash.
From the rift in the sky, something began to emerge.
At first, it was just a mass of shadows, an unformed thing that defied comprehension.
But as it descended, it began to take shapea towering, serpentine creature with countless eyes that blinked in unnatural patterns.
Its body shimmered with a dark, oily texture, and its very presence seemed to warp reality around it.
What the hell is that?! Ayane shouted, her usual composure cracking.
Stay back! I yelled, stepping forward. My heart raced, my hands tremblingbut not from fear. No, this was excitement.
Finally, something worthy of my power. Behold, the great Natsumi will vanquish this beast!
As if responding to my words, a weight suddenly appeared in my right hand.
I looked down to find a swordlong, ornate, and pulsating with a faint, bluish light.
I didnt question it.
Is the only way..
Of course, the universe would grant me a weapon befitting my greatness.
I charged at the creature, the sword feeling impossibly light in my grip.
The monster roared, a sound that shook the very fabric of the frozen world, but I didnt falter.
I leaped into the air, the blade slicing through its oily flesh with an ease that surprised even me.
The beast writhed and screamed, but I kept slashing, driven by a mixture of adrenaline and an unshakable belief in my own invincibility.
With a final, triumphant swing, I plunged the sword into what I assumed was its heart.
The creature let out a deafening roar before disintegrating into a burst of light, leaving behind only silence.
I landed gracefullywell, mostlyand turned to face the others, expecting awe and gratitude. See? Nothing to it.
But their expressions werent what I expected. Ayane was smirking, but it was different this timecolder, sharper. Kaoru and Shiori stood behind her, their faces unreadable.
Whats with the looks? I asked, my voice wavering slightly. I just saved all of you.
Ayane stepped forward, her smirk widening. Yeah, you did. Thanks for that.
Before I could react, I felt a sharp, searing pain in my back. I staggered forward, the sword slipping from my grip as I turned to see Kaoru holding a dagger, his eyes glinting with something I couldnt place.
W-what are you doing?! I gasped, clutching my side as blood seeped through my fingers.
Shiori stepped closer, her expression cold. Youre too dangerous, Natsumi. Too unpredictable.
Ayane knelt beside me, her smirk now a twisted grin. Dont take it personally. You were just in the way.
I tried to speak, but the words wouldnt come. My vision blurred, and the last thing I saw was their facesunmoving, emotionless, frozen.
I blinked and opened my eyes.
Everything is dark...no one is present..
I closed and opened my eyes again, and the first thing I noticed was that the stabbing pain in my back was gone.
My hands instinctively reached for the wound, but there was nothingno blood, no tear in my shirt, nothing.
I looked up to see themAyane, Kaoru, and Shioristanding over me, their forms flickering and becoming translucent.
Ayane crouched down, her smirk softer now, almost pitying. Like I said, dont take it seriously. It was all part of your imagination. Her voice echoed unnaturally, layered, as though it didnt belong in the world.
And then, they began to fade.
I know that already I spat, forcing myself to my feet even though my legs wobbled. Dont You dont need to tell me that!
I... can stay sane..
You think you know whats real and whats fake? Kaorus voice came from somewhere, but his body was no longer there.
Maybe you do. Maybe you dont, Shiori added, her tone distant, disembodied.
I clenched my fists, glaring at the empty space where theyd been. Shut up! You think I dont know?! Of course, I know whats real and whats fake! My voice cracked, but I didnt care.
Maybe you do, another voice replieddifferent this time. Calm, almost melodic.
I whipped around to see a girl standing before me. She was my height, her long silver hair cascading in neat braids on either side of her face. Her eyes were a deep, unnatural purple, and she wore a pristine high school uniform that seemed untouched by the frozen world around us.
Who the hell are you? I demanded, my voice sharp, though my heart raced faster with every word.
She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. Who do you imagine me to be?
Shut up! Why do you talk like youre real, anyway?! I snapped, stepping back. Youre not. You cant be.
I dont. Thats just how you imagine me, she said, her voice unbothered, each word hanging in the still air.
Go away, I said through gritted teeth, but my voice wavered, betraying me.
She paused, her gaze softening. Wakatta[modern_footnote]Okay[/modern_footnote], she said simply, and just like that, she disappeared into nothingness, leaving behind only silence.
I stood there, shaking. I know theyre made up, I muttered to myself. I know theyre delusions. But My voice caught in my throat as I clenched my fists harder, nails digging into my palms. Why cant I tell the difference anymore?
I blinkedand the world shifted.
One moment, I was standing in the middle of the empty street, and the next, I was inside my house. No transition, no sense of movement.
Just a sudden, jarring shift. My heart pounded as I looked around at the familiar walls of my living room.
Eh....? But I was just outside?
My voice sounded small in the stillness.
I blinked again.
Now, I was standing in the middle of a supermarket. The fluorescent lights hummed faintly, and frozen figures of shoppers lined the aisles.
But they werent entirely stilleach person moved in microseconds, their gestures stuttering like a glitch in a video.
I stepped back, heart racing, unable to shake the feeling that they were watching me despite their fragmented movements.
Huh? The word barely escaped my lips before the world shifted again.
I blinkedand now I was sitting at my desk, staring at a computer screen.
Code scrolled across it, lines and lines of text I didnt recognize but somehow felt familiar. My hands were on the keyboard, typing furiously, but I wasnt controlling them.
What is this? I whispered, pulling my hands away from the keyboard.
I closed my eyes, willing myself to escape the relentless disarray of my mind. When I opened them, I was lying on a bed. It was my bed, I think. My blanket was draped over me, and I could hear faint whispers of wind brushing against the window.
Sleeping... or pretending to.
I closed my eyes again, taking a deep breath.
When I opened them, I was standing in the kitchen. My hand gripped a knife tightly, the cold steel pressing against my neck. My reflection stared back at me in the glossy surface of the microwave.
What? I gasped, dropping the knife. It clattered onto the floor, breaking the silence.
I closed my eyes, desperately trying to steady my breathing.
When I opened them, I was back in front of my computer. The screen was glowing with the same ominous message from weeks ago.
Type your wish
[Submit]
It was the same interface I had seen when I played Vetaback.
Why is this here?! Why now?! My voice trembled as I reached for the keyboard. But before my fingers could touch it, the screen flickered, and my vision went black.
When it returned, I was sitting on a park bench, staring at the sunset. The colors of the sky bled into each otherfiery red, burnt orange, and eerie purple. The stillness around me felt unnatural, like the world itself had stopped breathing.
I blinked, and suddenly, I was at my middle school.
The halls were empty, silent except for the faint echo of my younger self lamenting my parents absence, trying to soothe Yukis tears.
The next moment, I was in high school, sitting at my desk, staring at the blackboard. The teacher droned on about something unimportant, and the words blurred together. My palms felt clammy.
I stood up, panicked.
Tohka... Whats wrong!? the teachers voice boomed, startling me.
Ah... tea
Before I could finish, the classroom vanished.
I was on another bench, a girl sitting beside me.
cher...
The girl gave me a confused look. Teacher? You have a crush on your teacher?
I recognized this moment. It was from high school. A failed confession.
No! I snapped, but the scene shifted again before I could dwell on it.
Natsumi-sama, do you refuse to partner with us?
I was in a meeting, surrounded by people I vaguely remembered. This was my third year of high school, making a deal Id long since regretted.
Crap... no...
The scene changed again, flashing erratically.
You got it wrong! I shouted, standing before a girl in my second year of middle school.
...What exactly do I have wrong? she asked, her voice echoing unnaturally.
Nothing! I barked, but I wasnt there anymore.
I stood atop Tokyo Tower. The iron railing beneath my hands was rusted, corroded with time. The frozen world stretched out before me, lifeless, unmoving.
The red sun loomed impossibly large in the sky, bleeding into the horizon.
Guess Ive returned, I murmured, the words escaping before I could stop them.
And then I saw it.
The sky fractured, splitting into jagged shards. Something enormous moved within the sun, its silhouette twisting unnaturally, limbs stretching in ways that defied physics. Its glowing eyes locked onto me, piercing through the frozen world.
I felt my stomach drop.
Or not... I whispered, gripping the railing until my knuckles turned white.
I blinked again.
I was in space, floating aimlessly, the vast emptiness pressing down on my consciousness. Stars surrounded me, shimmering against the cold void.
Where am I now?! I screamed, my voice swallowed by the silence.
I blinked again.
The stars disappeared, replaced by a primitive landscape. Towering stone structures and wild vegetation surrounded me. People dressed in animal skins moved in the distance, their grunts and chants echoing through the prehistoric world.
What the hell is going on?! I shouted, but my voice barely registered.
I blinked again.
Suddenly, I was in a futuristic city. Towering skyscrapers lined with neon lights reached the heavens. Hovercars zipped past, leaving trails of light in their wake. The hum of advanced technology filled the air, and holograms danced in the streets.
It was overwhelming, but before I could process anything, it all began to dissolve.
The buildings crumbled, turning to ash. The vibrant lights dimmed, fading into a dull gray. I gasped as everythingeverythingwas reduced to dust.
The ground vanished beneath me. The planet itself disintegrated, leaving me alone, floating in the vastness of space.
All that remained was a giant blue star, its light pulsing like a heartbeat.
I stared, captivated by its brilliance, until it began to shift. The blue turned darker, collapsing in on itself, twisting and bending until it became a black hole.
No... no, no, no!
The gravitational pull seized me, dragging me toward the void. My body stretched unnaturally, and I felt like I was being torn apart at the seams.
My mindit''s breaking apart! I screamed, clutching my head as my vision distorted.
The black hole consumed me, swallowing my very existence.
And then...
I was back in my room.
I gasped for air, sitting upright on my bed. My hands trembled as I looked around. Everything seemed... normal. The familiar clutter of my desk, the posters on the wall, the faint hum of my computer.
I stumbled to the window and looked outside.
The world was still frozen. People stood motionless in the streets, cars stuck in mid-motion, the sky eerily still.
Guess it really is... the time lapse, I muttered to myself, laughing bitterly.
I opened my computer and pulled up an old document Id written, a theory I called the time lapse.
The time lapse between the south and north is not so different, the rotational speed, the axis, the equator, the mental health makes up the time lapse.
Time lapse:
A phenomenon that happens when the mentality of a person starts to "break." The soul in the body coexists with the mentality. If (a) it breaks, then there happens a phenomenon...
I stopped reading.
Nah... its just my delusion, I whispered, closing the file.
I opened my eyes again.
My head hurts... I groaned, rubbing my temples.
Oni-chan, wake up, a voice called gently.
I froze.
Yukis voice.
I looked up, and there he was, standing at the foot of my bed, grinning.
Its morning, he added.
I blinked, disoriented. My room felt... smaller.
I stepped through the door and into the kitchen. It was cramped, familiar in a way that hurt.
My mother stood at the stove, making breakfast, while my dad sat at the table reading a newspaper.
I froze in the doorway, my pupils dilating. Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks.
Natsumi? Whats wrong? my mother asked, startled.
I didnt respond. I rushed forward and hugged her tightly, burying my face in her shoulder.
She hesitated for a moment before patting my back reassuringly.
What happened? she asked softly.
I had a scary dream... my voice cracked.
Natsumi-kun, men dont cry, my dad said from the table, his voice gruff but teasing.
Shut up, my mother snapped at him, glaring.
I held onto her for a moment longer, trembling.
My family wasnt broken. I was still in high school.
Maybe..
it... was all just a dream...
Shattered Real!ty — Dust! 『 3 』
Chapter 3;???? Shattered Real!ty Dust! 3
Was... Was it... all just a dream?
Oni-chan...?
Yukis soft voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. I froze mid-hug, my realization hitting like a tidal wave.
Why was I hugging Mom?
I immediately pulled back, my cheeks flushing bright red. Y-YW-What!? I stammered, unable to find my words.
Nothing... Yuki smirked mischievously, tilting his head. Its just... you rarely ever hug Mom like that.
M-Me? Hugging Mom? Keh! Dont joke around! Thats impossible! I crossed my arms, trying to mask my embarrassment.
Hai, hai, Yuki said with an exaggerated shrug. You just never admit your feelings, thats all.
Ugh... t-that I opened my mouth to retort, but nothing came out. He had me cornered.
Thankfully, Mom intervened. Yuki, dont tease your brother too much, she said gently, though there was a small smile on her face.
Uhhh... fine... Yuki huffed, though his smirk didnt fade entirely.
Desperate for an escape, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. C-Crap! The Dark Lord is invading!
Without giving them a chance to respond, I spun around and quickly retreated to my room, slamming the door behind me.
Pulsars are rotating neutron stars observed to have pulses of radiation at very regular intervals that typically range from milliseconds to seconds. Pulsars have very strong magnetic fields which funnel jets of particles out along the two magnetic poles. These accelerated particles produce very powerful beams of light
Wait.
Why the hell am I even thinking about Pulsars?
Natsumi, youre gonna be lalte! Dads voice echoed from downstairs.
Yes, Im coming! Just... six minutes! I shouted back, though my voice cracked slightly at the end.
Okay, Natsumi, youve got six minutes. Lets think about this universally. Was that really a dream?
Maybe if I hadnt wished for that, none of it wouldve happened.
But why? Why was I even dreaming about that? Why did I have the wish to be transported to another world in the first place?
How did I get to college?
Why did I live alone?
Why was I playing Vetaback?
Why... why did I cry for Yuki?
My thoughts accelerated, faster and faster, until they felt like a whirlpool dragging me under. The more I synchronized the threads of my memories, the more tangled they became. Questions kept multiplying like a virus in my mind.
Why was I living in a mansion?
Why did my parents leave
Wait. What?
I froze.
Ah.
My head.
It hurts.
The throbbing pain slammed into my skull like a hammer. It was relentless, insistent, as if my brain itself was trying to split in two.
What the hell is going on!? I hissed through gritted teeth, gripping the edge of my desk for support.
My breathing became shallow, ragged.
Okay. Enough!
I forced myself to stop thinking, pushing the intrusive questions aside.
But it wasnt that easy. My knees buckled, and I stumbled to the floor.
Ha... ha... ha...
My breaths were uneven, my chest rising and falling rapidly.
I managed to get back to my feet, though the world swayed slightly as I stood. My head felt like it was full of static, but I shoved it aside, focused on what needed to be done.
I put on my school uniform, though the headache left me numb to most of my movements. The dreamno, the nightmareId had faded into the background, its edges blurring with time.
Maybe it was just a dream.
No, it was just a dream.
Something like that doesnt affect me. It doesnt change how I behave.
Yes, thats right. It doesnt matter. Ill go to school. Be perfect.
Everyone is happy.
Except me.
But thats okay. If everyone else is happy, then what else can I do?
I adjusted my glasses and opened the door.
Dad was ready to leave for work. Yuki was already by the doorway, her bag slung over her shoulder.
Wait. Yuki was wearing a skirt?
Thats... strange.
But if thats what Yuki prefers, I dont mind.
The bright sunlight greeted me as I stepped outside.
First day of high school.
The entrance ceremony awaited me.
Yuki and I walked together to her school first, chatting idly about nothing. When we reached her school gate, we parted ways.
And then I was alone.
The sun felt too bright. The air too silent.
But I kept walking.
One step at a tim
I felt a sharp pain on my back, followed by a loud slap, and someone saying, Yo!
I ignored it and kept walking.
Yo!
I heard it again but chose to pretend it wasnt meant for me.
Hey! Natsumi!
I tilted my head slightly upward, gazing at the clear blue sky. The suns rays were already intense. It would probably get uncomfortably hot soon.
Hey! Dont ignore me!
Maybe I should stop wearing a blazer in this weather.
I know you can hear me!
I tried to distract myself by thinking about when the next chapter of Sabetsu no nai, dare mo kizutsukanai sekai would be released? Probably next
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of me and blocked my path.
Dont ignore me! the stranger shouted before trying to hug me.
Of course, I sidestepped just in time, causing the would-be hugger to stumble and fall flat on the ground with a groan.
The person got up, brushing themselves off, revealing Atsisaya Okumuramy childhood friend.
What do you want, Atsisaya? I asked dryly, already bracing myself for her antics.
What do you mean by that!? she whined, her pout exaggerated. Then, she added with a smug grin, Were supposed to walk to the entrance ceremony together. Thats what lovers do!
My face immediately turned red, and I retorted back, Huh!? Who said were lovers!?
I lightly smacked her on the head out of pure reflex.
Ow! She put her hands on her head, looking at me with a mockingly sad expression. That hurts, you know...
Ignoring her, I walked ahead.
Hey, hey! We should hold hands!
Huh? Absolutely not! Thats what lovers do, and we are not lovers!
Why not? she whined.
Because I said so!
But arent we lovers already?
No, were not!
But I confessed to you...
And I rejected you!
You said yes.
I didnt!
Tsk. She clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed.
The conversation, as frustrating as it was, eventually drifted into more mundane topicsmostly anime. We debated plotlines and laughed about ridiculous tropes.
As we walked, I glanced behind me at her. Atsisaya was undeniably stunning. Her long cyan hair shifted to a soft red at the tips, braided loosely on one side. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with an energy that seemed endless. She was petite and about my height, though her presence always seemed larger than life.
She was popular, she was cute, and she was everything other guys dreamed of.
But to me, she was just a moron.
What, have you fallen for me or something? she asked, her voice teasing yet awkward, as if she was nervous. She avoided meeting my eyes, pretending to adjust her bag strap.
I sighed, looking forward again.
She mightve been a beauty in everyone elses eyes, but to me, she was still just an idiot.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Not in a million years, I muttered.
She grinned. Well see about that!
The walk to the high school wasnt particularly long, but with Atsisaya clinging to me like an annoying mosquito, it felt like an eternity.
She kept babbling about nonsensesome new anime, a limited-edition figurine she wanted, and random gossip about people I didnt care about. I gave half-hearted responses, trying to focus on the looming entrance ceremony instead.
We eventually reached the gates of the high school. Students were flooding in, chatting excitedly and forming groups like some bizarre migration ritual.
Hey, look at that pair!
I froze at the sound of someones voice.
Turning my head, I caught sight of a group of students pointing at usor more specifically, at me.
Theyre so pretty! one of the girls squealed.
Wait is that a guy or a girl? another whispered.
What do you mean? Of course, thats a
I cut them off, glaring at them as I crossed my arms. Oi. Im a guy, got it? G-U-Y. Dont mistake my divine presence for something as simple as gender!
The group stared at me, stunned for a moment, before one of the boys smirked. Ohhh, a trap, huh? Nice.
My face burned red. Trap!? Dont call me that! Im not
Another student chimed in from the background, their voice filled with unhinged enthusiasm. Traps are even better! Its like you get the best of both worlds!
What the hell was wrong with these people?
The murmurs didnt stop.
Wow, their skin is flawless!
That hair looks so soft.
His uniform looks better than it does on anyone else.
His voice is kind of cute, too.
I could feel my entire body heating up from the embarrassment. My throat felt tight, but I couldnt back down now. Fools! Cease your meaningless chatter! You dare praise the celestial vessel of the Fallen Angel King as though I need mortal approval!?
Instead of being intimidated, the group erupted into laughter.
Even his chuuni lines are cute! one of them said, practically rolling on the ground.
Sh-shut up! I snapped, but my voice cracked, making them laugh harder.
Atsisaya leaned closer, her grin far too smug. You are cute, though. Maybe even cuter than me.
Wha!? I spun to glare at her, my cheeks ablaze. Shut up! Dont compare me to you, you idiot!
She only giggled, waving off my protests like it was nothing.
The crowd eventually dispersed, though I could still hear their stupid comments trailing behind me as we entered the school building.
The entrance hall was massive, and students were already gathering inside. Atsisaya and I took our seats near the back as the principal stepped up to the podium. His speech began with the usual platitudes about hard work, friendship, and the importance of shaping the future.
I zoned out about three sentences in.
The speech dragged on for what felt like hours, though it probably wasnt that long. Finally, the ceremony ended, and we were dismissed to our respective classrooms.
The walk to mine was uneventful, aside from Atsisaya constantly pestering me about lunch plans.
Once I stepped inside, I scanned the room. The desks were arranged neatly in rows, and students were chatting in clusters, their energy almost palpable. I sighed and walked to the seat assigned to me.
When the teacher arrived, she called for introductions. One by one, my new classmates stood up, giving their names and a few details about themselves. Most of them were painfully normal.
When it was my turn, I stood up, flipping my hair dramatically.
My name is Natsumi Tohka, I began, my voice echoing with faux gravitas. But you may call me by my true title: The Primordial Fallen Angel of the Demon Kings Army. I am the harbinger of chaos, the shadow that dances between realms. Fear not, for I am here to
The teacher clapped her hands together, cutting me off. Thats so cool, Natsumi-kun!
Wait. What?
The class burst into laughter, some of them clapping, others grinning like idiots. My face turned crimson as I sat down, muttering under my breath.
Idiots. All of them.
Class started soon after. The material was basic, but I barely paid attention, too busy fuming over my introduction. The only consolation was that Atsisaya wasnt in my class, so at least I had some peace from her teasing.
When the break came, though, peace was the last thing I got.
A group of classmates surrounded my desk, bombarding me with questions.
So, are you really a Fallen Angel?
Do you have powers?
Wheres the Demon King now?
I crossed my arms, trying to maintain my composure. Hmph. Mortals like you wouldnt understand the burden of my existence. But rest assured, the Demon King and I have an alliance that transcends dimensions.
Instead of being intimidated, they looked even more intrigued.
Thats awesome!
Youre hilarious, Natsumi-kun!
Do you have a cape? Can you bring it tomorrow?
I groaned, standing up abruptly. Enough! I cant waste my time with meaningless chatter. The Hero of Xeain is summoning me. I must go!
Without waiting for a response, I darted out of the classroom, ignoring their laughter echoing behind me.
I didnt stop running until I reached the school courtyard, where a quiet bench sat under a tree. Dropping onto the bench, I pulled out the bread roll Id bought earlier from the cafeteria and took a bite. The soft, fluffy texture and hint of sweetness were comforting, a small escape from the chaos of the day.
I closed my eyes, savoring the moment.
Found you, came Atsisayas voice.
I opened one eye to see her standing in front of me, arms crossed and smirking.
Why am I not surprised? I muttered, taking another bite of my bread.
She sat down beside me, leaning back and stretching her arms. Youre always so dramatic, you know that? Its cute.
Stop calling me cute, I snapped, turning away from her.
But you are.
I scowled, finishing the last of my bread in silence.
We chattedor more accurately, bickeredabout random things for a while before heading back to class.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures, notes, and the occasional teasing remark from my classmates. By the time the final bell rang, signaling the end of school, I was utterly drained.
As I packed my bag and headed out the door, Atsisaya caught up to me, grinning as always.
Hey, want to walk home together?
I sighed, not bothering to argue.
Sorry about that! Here''s the continuation:
Nah. I have classes, I replied to Atsisaya, trying to keep my tone as neutral as possible.
Again? She tilted her head, her expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Yep, I said curtly, grabbing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
She pouted, clearly dissatisfied with my lack of an explanation. Youre always so secretive about these classes. What are you, a secret agent or something?
I didnt bother replying and started walking toward the school gate.
Oi, Natsumi! she called out, her voice trailing behind me. At least tell me what kind of class it is!
Not happening, I muttered, quickening my pace.
The train station wasnt far from school, and I reached it in a matter of minutes. I swiped my card at the gate, boarded the bullet train, and settled into a seat near the window. The familiar hum of the train as it sped through Tokyos endless skyline was oddly soothing.
I stared out the window, watching the city blur by. For a moment, I let myself get lost in the movement, the rhythm, the artificial stillness of it all. My reflection stared back at me, and I couldnt help but wonder if Id always looked this tired.
The train arrived at my stop, and I stepped out, making my way through the bustling station. The streets of Tokyo stretched out before me, noisy and alive, yet somehow still suffocating. I navigated my way to a building that towered over the neighboring structures.
The studio.
The automatic doors slid open with a quiet hiss as I stepped inside. The air was cool and sterile, the faint hum of activity filling the space. I made my way to the elevator, punched in the floor number, and waited as it ascended.
When the doors opened, I was greeted by the familiar sight of the studios lounge.
Natsumi-kun! A loud voice greeted me as soon as I stepped in.
A boy about my age bounded over, his bleached hair and ridiculously trendy outfit making him stand out like a neon sign. Youre here! Finally! I was beginning to think you ditched us today!
Why would I do that, Kaede? I replied, feigning a smirk.
Kaede grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. Dunno, youre always so mysterious. Gotta keep an eye on you, you know?
Natsumi-chan!
Before I could respond, one of the girls in the room called out. She was petite with long pink hair and a cheerful disposition that seemed to brighten the whole studio.
Haruka, I acknowledged with a small nod.
Dont be so stiff, she teased, crossing her arms. Youre among friends here, you know?
I didnt reply, choosing instead to survey the room. The others were here as wellYumi, the quiet one with dark blue hair who was always reading something; Rika, the energetic blonde who never seemed to run out of things to say; and Mari, the elegant older girl who had an air of sophistication Id never quite understood.
Each of them greeted me in their own way, and I responded in kind, keeping up appearances.
As much as I wanted to believe I was just another one of them, I knew I wasnt.
Alright, lets get started, Mari said, clapping her hands together. Weve got a lot to cover today.
The group moved into the rehearsal space, a large room with mirrored walls and a polished wooden floor.
Alright, Natsumi-kun, Haruka said, handing me a script. Youre playing the lead today. Ready?
Of course, I replied, taking the script and scanning it quickly.
Kaede gave me a thumbs-up. Man, youre gonna kill it. As usual.
I offered a half-hearted smile in response.
The rehearsal began, and we moved through the motions of acting, singing, and dancing. I followed the steps, recited the lines, and hit the marks with precision.
Whats the point of all this?
The others laughed and joked between takes, their energy filling the room. I played along, of course. I had to.
Natsumi-kun, that was amazing! Rika said after one particularly challenging scene.
Yeah, youre a natural, Yumi added, glancing up from her book.
Kaede clapped me on the back. Seriously, man, youre like a machine! How do you do it?
Im just that good, I replied with a smirk, masking the hollowness I felt inside.
See? Even his modesty is perfect, Haruka teased, earning a round of laughter from the group.
I joined in, the sound of my own laugh feeling alien in my ears.
As the rehearsal continued, I found myself going through the motions mechanically. Every step, every line, every movement was perfect.
But it wasnt me...
When we finally wrapped up for the day, Mari turned to me with a warm smile. You did great today, Natsumi-kun. As always.
Thanks, I replied, grabbing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
Kaede caught up to me as I headed for the door. Hey, you wanna grab something to eat? My treat!
Not today, I said, keeping my tone light. Maybe next time.
Alright, dont keep me waiting too long, okay?
I nodded and left the studio, stepping back out into the bustling streets of Tokyo.
The city was alive with lights and noise, a stark contrast to the suffocating silence I felt within.
I made my way to the train station, boarded the train, and settled into a seat by the window.
As the train sped through the city, I stared out at the lights, my reflection staring back at me once again.
For a moment, I let myself wonder what it would be like to truly feel the excitement and joy I pretended to have back at the studio.
But it was just a fleeting thought, gone as quickly as it came.
When the train arrived at my stop, I stepped out and walked home, the quiet streets a stark contrast to the bustling city center.
I unlocked the door to my apartment and stepped inside, the silence greeting me like an old friend.
Dropping my bag by the door, I made my way to my desk and sat down, staring at the blank screen of my laptop.
Eventually i fell asleep on the desk.
Its strange how, little by little, you find yourself slipping into a place you cant remember ever deciding to go. You find yourself in a cage you built, one brick at a time, each of them cemented with the lies you told others. Not the big lies, not the ones you cant get away withthose are easy. No, these are the little lies. The ones you tell yourself. The ones you whisper when youre alone, in the dark. The ones that keep you safe, keep you... numb.
I didnt even notice when I stopped playing the role. It wasnt one big decision, wasnt a moment of clarity. No, it was a thousand tiny moments when I let the weight of my own words sink in. When I stopped pretending. I still acted. I still did what I was supposed to. I still laughed when they laughed. But somewhere along the way, I started believing it. I stopped questioning my actions. I started being perfect.
It felt like slipping into something smooth. Like wearing a mask so tight, you cant breathe through it but it makes you feel safe. And so I kept going.
At first, I missed the excitement, the flare, the drama.
But as time passed, it became quieter. The empty space inside my chest filled with perfect silence.
When I got hurt, it hurt, of course. But I couldnt make it scream. I couldnt feel the sharpness in my chest because thats not what I was supposed to do. No. Instead, I buried it. And when I loved someone, it hurt too. I couldn''t let that happen. Loving meant caring. Loving meant needing. And needing... well, I already knew how that ended. So I locked it away in a box and threw it far from me.
Hating someone hurt, too. But I didn''t want to hate, didnt want that kind of bitterness. Hate, too, is a form of attachment, and attachment... attachment always leads to pain. So instead of hating anyone, I pretended it didnt matter. Pretended they didnt matter.
But whats the point of pretending anymore? What happens when pretending stops working? What happens when theres no more room to hide, and all youre left with is the raw, aching truth? When I start noticing that the mask Ive been wearing is slipping, that the cracks are beginning to show, I want to take it off. I want to scream at the top of my lungs, but I cant. It feels like Im being suffocated by my own silence.
My life went on. I performed. I smiled. I said the right things, did the right things. I practiced my dances, my acting, with precision. The others said I was a natural. That it came so easily to me. And it did. At first. But I could see their faces, their expressions when they looked at me. I knew what they saw. They saw the perfect boy. They didnt see the cracks behind my eyes. They didnt see the emptiness filling the spaces inside me, like a glass that was too full to hold any more water.
I was good at it. I was so good. But I hated how good I was. Hated how effortlessly it came. Because I was losing myself in it. And part of me didnt care. I didnt want to care. Caring hurt.
A few days passed by in silence. But then, one evening, I heard my moms voice from the kitchen.
You have a live performance next week, right? she asked, calling out without turning to look at me.
Yeah, I said vaguely, my voice hollow, too tired to feign any excitement.
I didnt want to say anything more, so I turned and walked toward my room. The walls seemed to close in around me. I didnt need this. I didnt need this performance.
I didnt need anything.
But somehow, I still practiced harder and harder. Every step, every movement, every line I saidI practiced until my bones ached and my mind screamed for me to stop. But I didnt. I couldnt. Because thats what I was supposed to do. I wasnt supposed to think. Not anymore.
The day of the performance came quickly, and I stood backstage, my heart pounding in my chest. The music was so loud, the lights so bright. I could feel the heat of the spotlight through the thin walls, and it made my skin crawl.
You good, Natsumi? Kaedes voice broke through the tension, and I looked over to see him standing by the curtain, grinning like he always did.
I nodded, but inside, my chest tightened. My words felt stuck in my throat, trapped behind an invisible wall.
Hey, dont worry. Youve got this, he said, his voice encouraging, though it didnt reach me.
I almost said something. I almost spoke in that voice, the one I used to speak withThe Hero of Xeain is coming to save the day! I could almost hear the dramatic inflection in my head. The words that would make me stand tall and invincible. But... I stopped myself. My throat felt tight.
Im... nervous, I muttered instead. It felt like my mouth had betrayed me.
Kaede blinked, surprised by the answer. But then he just smiled and gave me a thumbs-up. Its all good. Just go out there and do your thing.
I wanted to retort but...
I walked out from behind the curtain and onto the stage.
The crowd roared, and the lights blinded me. For a moment, I couldnt see anything except for the blinding, searing light that made my eyes burn. But I was there. I was standing in front of them.
And for the first time in a long time,
I wondered if any of them saw me.
Shattered Real!ty — Dust! 『 4 』
Chapter 4;????? Shattered Real!ty Dust! 4
I stood there, breathing steadily. The bright lights warmed my skin, but they didnt feel suffocating, not tonight. My hands trembled slightly, but it wasnt fear. It wasnt nerves. It was... excitement.
The stage wasnt vast, the crowd wasnt massive, but their energy buzzed in the air. It was a silent roar, full of expectations, a storm waiting for me to give it direction. I could feel their eyes on me, their breaths held, waiting for the performance that had been carefully rehearsed and choreographed to perfection.
But something about itabout all of itfelt too small. Too scripted. Too lifeless.
The cute little smile Id practiced a thousand times stretched across my face. Perfect, innocent, inoffensive. But in my head, I could feel the storm. My thoughts raced, clashing, loud and unruly.
If I wanted to, I could just sing what they gave me, I thought, the sweetness of my rehearsed expression clashing with the wild, untamed current of my mind.
But dont you think that would be too boring?
The corners of my mouth twitched as if the truth was trying to break free. I managed to restrain it, to hold back the wicked grin that tugged at the edges of my face. Instead, I took a deep breath, grabbed the mic in front of me, and stepped forward.
"I will do what I want," I whispered softly into the mic, low enough that only I could hear it.
The opening chords began to playsoft, fragile notes that hung in the air like glass ornaments, fragile enough to shatter if handled too roughly. The scripted lyrics, the carefully arranged melody, the safety of what they expected me to deliver... I let it all dissolve into the void.
I closed my eyes.
The world disappeared, leaving me alone in the quiet abyss of my mind.
Then I began to sing.
Love lies flowers
Solitude and loneliness
I thought these changing emotions..
Were just a part of a lie..
But they linger, pulling me deeper,
Breaking through the walls of my heart..
My voice wasnt polished. It wasnt the perfect pitch the instructors had beaten into me. It was raw, uneven, full of cracks and edges I couldnt smooth out. But it was mine. It was real.
Raging shadows in the light,
Ghosts hiding in the darkness
They whisper softly
Is this what it feels like to live?
There was something i have always wanted to say but never could.
Eye for an eye,tooth for a tooth,
Dust returns to dust.
The spinning world goes on and on,
But the black hole in my chest
It grows it takes
My empty heart left alone.
Under the starry skies,
I find a moments peace,
Though time shows no mercy.
These words i couldn''t say them directly but this might be the most ideal way.
And I couldnt stop. Not now.
"Its okay," "Im fine,"
"Thanks," "Sorry,"
"You can do it," "I love you."
I hide behind my feelings,
Pretending those words dont matter.
But deep inside, I wait for them
Words that never come.
The music swelled, and my voice cracked under the weight of the emotions surging through me. It wasnt perfect. It wasnt what Id rehearsed.
But it was me.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasnt hiding.
The sky wont wait for me.
The night feels endless.
Will I hold on this time,
Or fall into despair again?
I was finally alive.
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth,
Dust returns to dust.
The spinning world goes on and on,
But the black hole in my chest
It grows it takes
My empty heart left alone.
Under the starry skies,
I find a moments peace,
Though time shows no mercy.
Thus, as the melody ends so dose my cries for help.
Love lies flowers
Solitude and loneliness
The sky wont wait for me.
And maybe
This time, Ill give up.
When the last note faded into silence, I opened my eyes fully.
The crowd was still there. No one moved. For a moment, I wondered if they even remembered how to breathe.
And then someone started clapping.
Just one person, their hands echoing through the silent theater like gunshots.
Then another joined. And another. Until the entire crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
I stood there, the mic still clutched in my hand, staring out at them.
I shouldve been happy, shouldve been elated by their response.
But all I could feel was the ache in my chest, the black hole that still sat there, consuming everything in its path.
The corners of my mouth curved upward into a soft, practiced smile.
And I whispered, just loud enough for only myself to hear:
...Was this enough?
As I walked down the stage, everything felt muted. The applause, the roaring of the crowd, the claps that had resonated so deeply moments beforeit all seemed to blur into the background. The lights dimmed behind me, leaving a fading warmth on my back as I stepped into the shadowed backstage.
There were people there. My team, as they called themselves. Their faces were smiling, but their eyes oh, their eyes. I caught it instantly. They werent congratulating me. Not truly. Those werent looks of admiration. They were looks of resentment, jealousy bubbling just beneath their polite expressions.
"Great job, Natsumi!" one of them said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness.
"You''re just incredible out there," another added, but I could see how her fingers tightened on the clipboard she was holding, like she was imagining breaking it in half.
It was suffocating. I nodded, gave them my polished smile, said something polite and meaningless like, "Thank you, I couldnt have done it without all of you," and slipped away before the venom in their gazes could pierce my skin.
I see now. So thats how it is. They hate me. Not for who I am but for what I represent. A puppet thats dancing better than its supposed to. A doll they cant control anymore.
Then you guys can go to hell.
As I moved through the halls, avoiding the staff, avoiding anyone who might try to talk to me, I caught sight of a familiar figure in the crowd. Atsisaya. Her cyan hair shimmered under the harsh fluorescent lights, a beacon in the sea of unfamiliar faces.
For a moment, I thought about going to her, about saying something. But then that thought dissolved like sugar in water. No. Lets be ignorant. Lets ignore her. Ignorance is easier, isnt it?
With that, I turned and walked away, leaving her behind without so much as a glance.
But as I exited the building, I felt ita tug on my sleeve.
I froze.
I didnt turn around immediately. My body stiffened, and the air around me felt wrong, like the wind had stopped just to watch this moment unfold. Slowly, reluctantly, I turned my head.
And I saw her.
Atsisayas body lay crumpled on the ground, her flesh torn open, organs spilling out like some grotesque bouquet. Blood seeped into the concrete, pooling around her, and in her stomach, a knife protruded, its handle gleaming under the pale streetlights.
Huh!?
I blinked.
And she was gone.
I stood there, trembling, my breath catching in my throat. My heart pounded against my ribs like it was trying to escape. What what the hell was that?Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"YEAH. IM PROBABLY HALLUCINATING BECAUSE IM SO SLEEP-DEPRIVED THAT ILL START SEEING THINGS LIKE THIS. YEAH, THATS IT," I muttered to myself, my voice shaky, my words tumbling out too fast.
When I opened my eyes again, everything seemed normal. The streetlights flickered faintly in the distance, and the soft hum of the city returned to my ears.
I turned to leave, but before I could take another step, I felt it againa presence behind me.
I counted in my head, trying to steady my breathing. One two three four
When I hit ten, my sleeve was grabbed again.
This time, I turned sharply, and there she was.
Atsisaya.
She was panting, her chest rising and falling rapidly as if shed been chasing me. Her hand clutched my sleeve tightly, knuckles white, her eyes wide and filled with something I couldnt quite place.
I yanked my arm away. "What do you want?" I asked coldly, my voice flat, detached.
"Wait," she called after me, desperation lacing her tone.
I stopped but didnt turn around. "What?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"I just I dont get you!" she shouted, her voice breaking slightly.
"Is that so?" I replied, still not looking at her.
"Why did you have to do this?"
"Do what?"
"Dont act like you dont know!"
"I dont know," I said, turning to face her now, my eyes narrowing.
"You know it. You know everything, but you pretend you dont. Just stop deceiving yourself!"
"Is that all you have to say to me, Atsisaya-san?" I asked, emphasizing the honorific deliberately.
She flinched.
"You youve changed," she said softly, her voice trembling.
"Did I?"
"Yes. You did."
"How?"
"The Natsumi I knew would never stop for me," she said, her voice rising again, her emotions spilling out like a dam had burst. "The Natsumi I knew would never call me Atsisaya-san. He would call me Atsisaya-chan. He would laugh with me, tease me, argue with me."
"....."
"And the Natsumi I knew he would never sing in front of a crowd. He would never even dream of becoming an idol."
I stared at her, my expression unreadable. "Atsisaya," I began, my voice quiet but firm, "things have changed. The world has changed. And I had to change with it. If I dont Ill get left behind."
"Is being left behind what you fear?" she asked, her voice breaking again, tears streaming down her face now. "If youre left behind, then Ill come to you. If youre dead, then Im dead. If you go, I go. Dont you understand that?"
"Thats just not right," I said, my voice colder now.
She looked at me, her tears falling freely, her entire body trembling. "I love you, Natsumi. Dont you know that?"
"I don''t," I said simply.
Her face crumpled as a sob escaped her lips. I turned away.
I walked away.
Her cries faded into the distance as I kept walking, my footsteps echoing in the silence.
Eventually, I found myself standing on a bridge, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson.
I leaned on the railing, staring down at the water below. The reflection of the sunset rippled on the surface, distorting, breaking apart, just like everything else in my life.
I thought about Atsisayas words, about her tears, about the look in her eyes when she said she loved me.
It hurt.
Why did it hurt?
Loving someone hurts. Hating someone hurts. Getting attached to someone hurts.
I dont like getting hurt....
It had been months. How many, exactly, I couldnt say. Time had stopped behaving the way it should. Days folded into nights, nights unraveled into weeks, and somewhere along the line, everything began to distort.
It started subtly, like the way you might overlook a crack in a mirror. The sun was the first to change. One morning, I stepped outside and glanced up, and instead of the familiar, blazing orb, I saw something blacka swirling void in the sky. The light still shone, but it felt colder, wrong, like it didnt belong. The shadows it cast twisted unnaturally, bending and writhing as though alive.
I tried to tell myself it was my imagination. Maybe I was just tired. But the next day, the sky turned pink. Not the soft pastel pink of sunrise, but an aggressive, violent hue that made my skin crawl. Clouds shaped like jagged teeth drifted across the horizon, grinning down at me.
I didnt say anything. Who would I even tell? "Hey, does the sun look like a black hole to you? No? Just me? Cool."
The world started feeling... off. People began to seem less like people and more like shadows. Their faces blurred, their features smudged like a childs careless drawing. When they spoke, their words sounded muffled, distant, like they were underwater. Their eyes, thoughoh, their eyes were sharp, cutting. Every time someone looked at me, I felt it. The weight of their stares pressed into my skin, heavy and cruel, like they were dissecting me, tearing me apart with nothing but their gaze.
It wasnt just their eyes. Their movements, their gestures, the way they talked to each otherit all felt fake, like actors performing in a play they didnt want to be in. And when they looked at me, it wasnt with admiration or even indifference. It was hatred. Pure, unfiltered animosity, as if Id done something unforgivable just by existing.
I tried to shake it off, to act normal, but it got worse.
The food turned next. One day at lunch, I unwrapped a sandwich from the cafeteria. The bread was soft, the filling neatly packed, but as I lifted it to my mouth, the smell hit me. Rot. Decay. My stomach churned, but I forced myself to take a bite.
My teeth sank into something wet, slippery. The taste of copper filled my mouth, and when I looked down, I saw a bloody messraw flesh, sinew, bone. My stomach lurched, and I threw the sandwich away.
That night, when I looked in the mirror, I saw blood dripping from my mouth. It wasnt real. It couldnt be real. I scrubbed my face, hard enough to make my skin burn, but the red stains wouldnt go away.
I stopped eating after that. The thought of food made me gag.
The performances continued, though. Another show, another crowd. I stood on the stage, lights burning into my eyes, and looked out into the audience.
They were so far away.
Not physicallyno, they were right there, rows and rows of faceless figures packed together. But they felt distant, unreachable, like they existed in a different world, a different reality. Their claps were hollow, their cheers empty. Even when they smiled, it wasnt for me. It was for the mask I wore, the perfect image they wanted to see.
I sang, I danced, I performed. I did everything I was supposed to, but it didnt matter. They didnt see me. They never did.
After the show, I walked backstage. The other performers were there, my so-called friends. They congratulated me, their voices flat, their smiles sharp-edged. I nodded, murmured thanks, but their words slid off me like water.
They werent real. None of this was real.
I started seeing him around this time. My "friend."
The first time, I was on the train. The city sped by outside the window, blurring into a smear of color. I was staring blankly, lost in thought, when I felt someone sit beside me.
"Rough day?"
I turned, and there he was. A boy about my age or so.
"Who are you?" I asked.
He grinned. "A friend."
....
I didnt believe him, but I didnt argue. It was easier not to.
He started showing up everywhereon the train, at school, in my room late at night. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes we didnt. But he was always there, watching me with that knowing smile.
"Youre slipping, you know," he said once, leaning against my desk as I tried to study.
"Slipping?" I echoed.
"Into the cracks," he replied, his voice almost playful. "The space between reality and whatever this is."
Oh. Come on stop spouting random bullshit. "
He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. "Do you even know whats real anymore!?"
He ignored me!
"Of course I do," I snapped.
"Do you?" he asked again, softer this time.
Yep~
I said without a care in the world.
The black sun loomed larger every day, its edges flickering like fire. The pink sky bled into shades of red and orange, as if the world itself was burning.
People became monsters. Their faces twisted, their bodies contorted, their hands clawed and reaching. They whispered when I walked by, their voices slithering into my ears like worms.
Sometimes, Id look down and see blood pooling at my feet, dripping from wounds that werent there. My chest felt heavy, like something was clawing its way out, but when I touched my skin, it was smooth, unbroken.
"Maybe youre the monster," my friend said one night as we sat on the floor of my room.
"Shut up," I muttered, pulling my knees to my chest.
He laughed. "What are you so afraid of, Natsumi?"
"Im not afraid," I lied.
He leaned closer, his voice a whisper. "Then why are you shaking?"
I didnt have an answer.
The final performance came, though I barely remember it. The lights were too bright, the crowd too loud. My voice cracked on the final note, and for a moment, I thought I saw the black sun hanging over the stage, its shadow swallowing everything.
When it was over, no one clapped.
I stood there, staring at the faceless figures before me, and all I could think was, Theyre so far away.
The world felt like a dream.
I sat in my room that night, staring at the ceiling. My friend was there, sitting cross-legged on my bed.
"You cant keep going like this," he said.
"I know," I replied.
"So what are you going to do?"
I didnt have an answer.
He smiled, leaning back. "Guess well see."
The sun rose again the next morning.
As the morning light slipped through the window, spilling across my desk and bed, I found myself staring at the ceiling. Friend sat cross-legged on my desk, chewing on a piece of gum(?).
Todays your last day of school before summer vacation starts, right? he asked, tilting his head and smirking like he always did when he had something stupid to say.
Yeah, I replied, already regretting what shed say next.
Great Fufu. Once summer vacation starts, well commit war crimes.
No!
What do you mean no?
And what do you expect me to say to that?
I thought youd say, Hell yeah!
Shut up!
Meanie.
Yeah, yeah.
I sighed and started putting on my school uniform, trying to ignore he incessant chatter.
Hey, she said after a moment.
What?
Your name for me is boring. Change it.
My name for you?
You call me Friend. Be creative for once in your life.
I frowned, adjusting my tie. Fine. How about... Tomodachi?
He snorted, nearly doubling over in laughter. Pft. So original.
I know, right?
He rolled his eyes. Shut up and give me a better name.
Okay, okay How about Miku?
Her eyes narrowed. You!
Mikurin, I said with a smirk. Thats it. Accept it or not, I dont care.
Fine he huffed, crossing his arms.
As I continued to button my shirt, he stood beside me, watching with his piercing purple eyes. Youre slow.
Shut up, I muttered, grabbing my bag and heading for the door.
Hey.
I turne
What the hell!?
Mikurin tilted her head, looking utterly confused. What?
You Youve turned into a girl!
Ive always been a girl.
Seriously?
Yes, seriously.
I stared at himor should i say her for a long moment, then shrugged. Well, it doesnt matter either way.
The people passing by outside gave me strange looks as I spoke to her. Obviously, they couldnt see her. Why would they? She wasnt real.
Mikurin trailed behind me as I walked to school, her long silver hair swaying with every step. She was my height, her uniform perfectly pressed, and those unnatural purple eyes followed my every move. Overall, she was... cute. Not that it mattered.
Today was the last day of school before summer vacation. I reached school earlier than usual, hoping to avoid the small swarm of people who usually surrounded me. It didnt work.
Several classmates stopped me in the halls, chatting about trivial things I didnt care about
Several classmates stopped me in the halls, chatting about trivial things I didnt care about. Their smiles, their laughterit all felt distant, like a muffled sound underwater.
They talked, and I responded as perfectly as I could, but the words felt like they didnt belong to me. Like they were scripted by someone else.
Eventually, the final bell rang. The last day of school was over. Summer vacation had begun.
I slipped away from the group, ignoring their goodbyes, and headed toward the back of the school. Mikurin trailed behind, walking silently for once.
When I reached the back of the school, there she wasAtsisaya, standing by the old sakura tree with her arms crossed. Her usual confident posture was on full display, as if she was waiting for me to show up.
What do you want? she asked, her tone sharp but not unkind.
I felt my heart pound in my chest. Mikurin leaned against the tree, smirking. Oh, this will be amusing, she muttered.
I ignored her.
Atsisaya I began, my voice shaky. W-would
She tilted her head, her gaze steady.
I swallowed hard. Come on, say it.
Would you be my girlfriend? I blurted, bowing deeply.
There was silence. It stretched on, suffocating.
No, she said bluntly.
What? My mind went blank.
I stood frozen, staring at the ground. All the courage I had worked up crumbled instantly. So those moments between usthose shared glances, those times shed teased mewere they all lies?
Wait, she said suddenly.
I looked up. Her expression had softened, and for the first time, I saw a faint blush on her cheeks.
Would you please be my boyfriend? she asked, her voice trembling.
I blinked, confused.
Mmm, I managed to nod, my face burning red.
But I wasnt done. Not yet.
Atsisaya, I love you! I shouted, bowing again. Please be my girlfriend!
Yes! she exclaimed, laughing through tears.
When I looked up, she was smiling, her face wet with tears. That smileit was like something out of a dream, too perfect to be real.
It was beautiful.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt something warm in my chest. Something I didnt fully understand but didnt want to let go of.
The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the schoolyard.
Atsisaya wiped her tears and smiled at me again,and I smiled back.
Footnotes:
I frowned, adjusting my tie. Fine. How about... Tomodachi?
He snorted, nearly doubling over in laughter. Pft. So original.
Here Natsumi speaks in Katana where _(Tomodachi) is just written as ȥ.
Tomodachi friend.
Cut content:
Wait she had black hair and blue eyes before but now she was sliver hair and purple eyes and she transformed into a girl, isn''t that the plot twist of most of the animes?
Here are the vocals written in Japanese(romanji) if you want to read them:
?
(Verse 1)
Ai uso hana
Kodoku to sabishisa
Kawaru kimochi wa kitto
Subete uso datta no ka.
Demo kokoro no kabe wo kowashite
Kono omoi wa kieru koto nai.
(Pre-Chorus)
Hikari no kage ga odori,
Yami no naka no brei ga sasayaku
Kore ga iki teru tte koto?
(Chorus)
Me wa me wo, ha wa ha wo,
Chiri wa chiri ni kaeru.
Mawari tsuzukeru sekai no naka de,
Kokoro ni umareta kuroi ana
Hirogari tsuzukeru dake
Kara no kokoro, hitori kiri.
Hoshizora no shita de,
Shukufuku no shunkan wo mitsukeru.
Demo toki wa yasashiku wa nai.
(Verse 2)
"Daijoubu," "Heiki,"
"Arigatou," "Gomen,"
"Ganbatte," "Aishiteru."
Kimochi wo kakushite
Kore wa kikasarenai kotoba.
Demo kokoro no oku de,
Itsuka kikoeru koto wo negau.
(Pre-Chorus)
Sora wa matte kurenai.
Yami wa owaranai.
Kondo wa koukai suru no ka,
Mata wa zetsubou ni ochiru no ka?
(Chorus)
Me wa me wo, ha wa ha wo,
Chiri wa chiri ni kaeru.
Mawari tsuzukeru sekai no naka de,
Kokoro ni umareta kuroi ana
Hirogari tsuzukeru dake
Kara no kokoro, hitori kiri.
Hoshizora no shita de,
Shukufuku no shunkan wo mitsukeru.
Demo toki wa yasashiku wa nai.
(Outro)
Ai uso hana
Kodoku to sabishisa
Sora wa matte kurenai.
Tabun kono toki ni,
Akirameru kamo shirenai.
Author''s Note:
Sorry, this took longer than usual..
Shattered Real!ty — Dust! 『 5 』
Chapter 5;?????
Shattered Real!ty Dust! 5
The next day, I found myself standing in front of the train station, arms crossed, tapping my foot impatiently.
I wasnt nervous. Not at all. Why would I be? It wasnt like this was my first date or anything. Not that I had any past experiences to compare it to.
I checked my phone. No new messages. Atsisaya was late.
"Tch making the great me wait, I muttered under my breath, stuffing my phone back into my pocket. "Such insolence... She should be honored to bask in my presence."
You talking to yourself again, Natsumi?
I jumped.
Atsisaya stood there, hands on her hips, a smug grin plastered across her face. She wore a casual white sundress, light and airy, with a thin blue ribbon tied around her waist. Her long cyan hair was braided at the sides, the edges still shifting to red in the sunlight. She looked nice.
Not that Id ever say that out loud.
Youre late, I huffed, turning away to hide my face. And dont sneak up on me like that! Its unbefitting of a mere mortal to startle The Primordial Fallen Angel of the Demon King.
She blinked.
Then.
She burst out laughing.
PfftHAHAHAHA! Oh my god, youre actually saying that with a straight face?
I felt my face turn red.
Sh-shut up! I snapped. I was simply testing the world! To see if it could withstand the weight of my dark power! You wouldnt understand.
Oh, I understand perfectly. She smirked and leaned in. Youre embarrassed~
I took a step back. Wh-what? As if! Someone like me
She grabbed my hand.
Come on, she said, intertwining our fingers like it was the most natural thing in the world. Lets go.
I froze. My entire body tensed up.
My fingers were touching her fingers
Wasnt this too soon?
My brain short-circuited. A forbidden techniqueHand Holding Level: MAXIMUM.
If you dont move, were gonna miss the train.
I coughed. Composed myself.
Hmph. I was merely allowing you this privilege, I muttered. Rejoice, for you are graced by my presence.
Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever you say, Dark Lord.
We boarded the train, and she didnt let go of my hand. Not even when we found our seats. I tried to pull away a few times, but each time, she only squeezed tighter.
So annoying.
So unfair.
So warm.
I looked away, staring at the passing scenery. If I looked at her, shed see my expression.
We arrived in the city and spent the afternoon walking through the shopping district. Atsisaya dragged me from store to store, making me give opinions on clothes, accessories, and other useless trinkets. Every time she held something up and asked, How do I look? I pretended not to care.
Its fine, I guess.
Just fine?
Yeah.
She pouted. Youre the worst.
I smirked. Mission accomplished.
At some point, we stopped at a caf. A small, quiet place with a warm atmosphere. Atsisaya ordered a parfait. I got black coffee.
Coffee? Really? she asked, raising an eyebrow. Thats kinda old-man-ish.
Hmph. A true sovereign does not indulge in mortal delicacies. Only the bitter elixir of darkness suits my refined palate.
Uh-huh. And the sovereign is totally not making that face because its too bitter?
I put the cup down immediately.
Its an acquired taste, I muttered.
She giggled, then pushed her parfait toward me. Wanna try?
I stared at the spoon she was holding out.
Indirect kiss.
I looked at her.
She smirked.
I gulped.
This was a test. A battle of wills. If I refused, shed tease me for being a coward. If I accepted, Id be playing into her hands.
But I was the Primordial Fallen Angel of the Demon King.
I would not be defeated.
I leaned forward, took the spoon, and ate the parfait.
Sweet.
Too sweet.
See? She grinned. Isnt it good?
I turned away. Its acceptable.
Liar. You like it.
Maybe.
The sun began to set. We walked by the river, hand in hand, the cool breeze making the moment feel strangely unreal.
Hey, Natsumi?
What?
Are you happy?
I blinked.
That was sudden.
I mean, now, she clarified, squeezing my hand slightly. Right now, with me. Are you happy?
I scoffed. Hmph. How foolish. You should already know the answer.
She smiled softly.
And for the first time, I didnt look away.
Atsisaya stepped closer. Her cyan eyes gleamed under the setting sun, reflecting the world in a way that made it feel distant, dreamlike. I didnt move. I couldnt.
Then
Soft. Warm. Sweet.
Her lips pressed against mine for the briefest of moments, a touch so light it felt like it couldve been imagined.
Then she pulled away, stepping back with a small smile.
"I love you."
My brain stopped.
I just stood there. Frozen. Not breathing. Not thinking.
The wind blew. The river murmured. The world kept moving.
But I didnt.
"OI! WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT!"
A loud, shrill voice shattered the moment, ringing in my skull like a siren.
I blinked.
Darkness. A ceiling. My room.
It was midnight.
I sat up, gasping for air, my heart pounding.
What?
Where?
Hadnt I just been by the river with Atsisaya? Hadnt she just?
"Seriously! You looked like a glitching NPC for a whole minute! What the hell happened to you?!"
I turned my head.
Mikurin was sitting on my desk, legs crossed, arms folded.
Her silver hair shimmered unnaturally in the dim light. Her deep purple eyes glowed faintly. A ghost. A hallucination. My delusion.
"Oi, Natsumi. Explain. Now."
I stared at her.
Then, very slowly, I touched my lips.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?!?!?!
Mikurin recoiled. "Geh! What?! What happened?!"
Shesheshe KISSED ME!? I clutched my head, my entire body heating up like I had spontaneously combusted. "WHY?! WHY DID SHE DO THAT?! WHAT IS SHE THINKING?! WHAT AM I THINKING?! I CAN''T THINK!!!"
Mikurin rolled her eyes. "Yeah, no shit, you can''t think. That much is obvious."
"Shut up, you useless ethereal being!"
"Heh. So? What now, Dark Lord?" She smirked. "Going to run away from love like a coward?"
"Tch." I crossed my arms, scowling. "It''s not like I care or anything b-but seriously! What does she even see in me?!"
"Maybe she loves you?"
"I KNOW THAT! BUT STILL, WHY?! ITS TOO SOON!"The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Mikurin just stared.
I exhaled sharply, flopping backward onto my bed, my mind spinning.
"I I am not ready to be a father yet"
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
I turned my head.
Mikurin was staring at me. Not with her usual smug grin. Not with amusement.
Just staring.
Then
"Pfft"
"Dont."
"PFFFT"
"I said dont."
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
I bolted upright, glaring. "WHAT''S SO FUNNY?!"
Mikurin was clutching her stomach, laughing so hard she was physically shaking. "OH MY GODHAHAHAHA! YOURE WAY TOO PURE! THIS IS HILARIOUS!
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN PURE?! WHAT ELSE DOES A RELATIONSHIP LEAD TO?!"
She wiped a tear from her eye. "Natsumi, I swear, you are the most entertaining human Ive ever met."
"Dont ignore me! Explain yourself!"
"Nope." She grinned. "Figure it out yourself, Romeo."
"Ugh." I groaned, rubbing my temples. "This is the worst. The absolute worst."
The door creaked open.
"Oni-chan?"
I snapped my head toward the doorway.
Yuki stood there in his pajamas, rubbing his sleepy eyes. His short, dark blue hair was messy, and he looked half-awake.
"Why is there so much noise?" His voice was small, groggy. "Who are you talking to?"
My brain stopped.
Mikurin smirked.
I panicked.
"OF COURSE, IM TALKING TO" I choked.
I couldnt say her name.
I couldnt say her name because she didnt exist.
"My friends!" I blurted out.
Yuki stared at me.
Then nodded sleepily. "Okay goodnight."
He shut the door.
The moment he was gone, my whole body tensed.
I slowly turned my head.
Mikurin was looking at me with an unreadable expression.
"You have a cute little sister," she said.
I blinked.
"Huh? Are you blind? HES my little BROTHER."
Mikurin didn''t respond.
She just stared at me.
A strange silence filled the room.
Then, very softly, she whispered:
"You''re twisted."
I frowned. "What did I do?"
She didnt answer.
And somehow, that made it worse.
"Tch. Whatever. Just shut up."
I flicked off the light, rolled over in bed, and closed my eyes.
I didnt see her anymore.
I heard a voice.
Faint. Muffled. Distant.
"How is he doing?"
A voice I didn''t recognize, but I knew who it was.
"His breathing is rough."
Something was wrong.
Everything was blurry. The air felt thick, like I was drowning in something I couldnt see. My chest felt heavy, every breath a struggle, as if my own lungs had turned against me.
Why?
Why was this happening?
I tried to move. My fingers twitched. But I felt disconnected, like my body wasnt mine anymore.
Stop it.
I cant.
I want to die.
STOP IT.
"Call the ambulance!"
Another voice. Urgent. Desperate.
I felt something cold against my skin. A hand? No something else.
I tried to open my eyes.
Slowly, painfully, my vision adjusted to the dim light.
A young boy. Or maybe a girl. I couldnt tell. Their features blurred together like a smudged painting.
And next to them
A beautiful boy.
Something about him felt familiar.
Ah I remember this.
Or maybe I dont.
Did I ever?
Why?
Why dont I know?
Why cant I remember?
There was something important.
Something I shouldnt forget.
Something that would ruin everything if I let it slip away.
What was it?
I reached out. My hand trembled as I lifted it, bringing it close to my face.
I had to check.
Had I done something wrong?
Had I done something I couldnt undo?
My fingers curled slightly. My nails dug into my palm.
Then
Transparent.
My hand was transparent.
A thin, flickering outline of something that should exist but didnt.
Ah.
It doesnt matter.
Nothing matters.
Not the me from the past.
Not the me from the present.
Not the me from the future.
In the end, everything turns to dust.
The menprobably doctorsmoved the boy onto a stretcher. Their voices were muffled, like I was hearing them from underwater.
He was taken to the ambulance.
His parents followed. Terrified. Rushing after him like he was already gone.
But one boy remained.
Left behind.
Alone.
His eyes were empty.
Lifeless. Listless.
Tears welled up, but he swallowed them down, forcing a fragile smile.
He kept repeating to himself:
"Dont cry. It will make things more difficult for you."
He turned away.
Went inside.
The door clicked shut behind him.
The house was silent.
He was hungry.
He went to the kitchen.
Tried to cook something.
Burned his hand.
Cried.
But no tears came out.
His skin turned red, the pain sharp, real.
He ignored it.
Went to his room.
Sat down in the corner.
Hugged his knees.
The walls felt like they were closing in.
Minutes passed.
Hours.
He didnt move.
Not until they came back.
And then
Natsu-chan! Wake up!
A voice pierced the silence.
My body jolted. My eyes snapped open.
I saw silver hair. Purple eyes.
Mikurin.
She was on top of me, grinning mischievously, her hands pressing into my chest like she was about to shake me awake again.
I blinked, still disoriented. My mind was slow to catch up, like I had just been pulled out of water after sinking too deep.
A dream?
That was just a dream?
I exhaled sharply, pressing a hand against my forehead. My skin was cold with sweat.
"You" I muttered, my voice hoarse.
Mikurin tilted her head innocently.
I grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her off the bed.
There was a loud thud, followed by an exaggerated "Oof!"
"Never say that to me ever again."
She groaned dramatically, rubbing her back as she sat up. "Ugh, rude. And here I thought youd be happy waking up to my voice."
I clicked my tongue. "Why the hell would I be happy about that?"
A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.
"Oh. Do you mean you want me to call you that from now on? No need to be a Tsundere about it, Natsu-chan~"
I twitched.
A vein in my forehead pulsed.
"Shut up."
"Awww, youre embarrassed!"
"I said shut up!"
I threw a pillow at her face. She dodged effortlessly, laughing as she rolled away.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
It was a dream.
Just a dream.
Then why did it feel so real?
I could still feel the weight of that scene pressing down on me. The suffocation. The fear. The emptiness.
I shook my head. No point in thinking about it. Dreams are just thatdreams. Nothing more.
I climbed out of bed, stretching, still feeling stiff.
Mikurin was sitting on my desk now, swinging her legs idly. "You looked pretty spooked just now," she said, watching me. "Did you have a nightmare?"
"It was nothing," I muttered.
"Hmm."
She didnt push further.
My phone buzzed.
I stared at the screen. Atsisaya.
A moment passed before I answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Natsumi, let''s go on another date," she said, her voice light, like she was holding back a laugh.
I swallowed. "Date...?"
"Yes, a date. Do you not want to?"
"N-no! That''s not what I I mean Hah. Do what you want," I muttered.
On the other end, I heard her chuckle. "I''ll see you at the station at two, okay?"
"Fine," I said, hanging up.
The call ended before I could process what had just happened.
I stared at my phone for a long moment.
Tomorrow came faster than I expected. I got ready early. Too early. By the time I arrived at the theater, the sky was still that deep shade of blue before the sun fully rises.
There was no one else here. Not even the workers had arrived yet.
I sat on a bench outside the theater, staring ahead. I had no thoughts. Only the distant hum of somethingsomethinggrinding against my skull.
Atsisaya arrived at the proper time, greeting me with a bright smile. Youre early!
I looked at her and tried to match her energy, but my lips refused to move the way I wanted.
She grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside.
The movie began.
A single boy lived alone.
At first, it seemed normal. The scenes showed him making his breakfast, walking to school, returning home, eating, sleeping, repeating. But something felt wrong.
With every passing second, he heard voices.
Whispers that never stopped. At school, they were distant, like murmurs bleeding through the walls. At home, they were louder, clawing at his ears, seeping into his skin.
Then, strange men came in and started living there.
They didnt knock. They didnt ask for permission. They simply entered. Sat in his living room. Took his food. Slept in his bed.
He was scared but couldnt speak.
Because if he didif he protestedhe would be left completely alone.
His classmates ignored him. Teachers passed by him as if he didnt exist. He wasnt bullied. He wasnt acknowledged.
The only thing that ever acknowledged him were the whispers.
Then, a girl offered him a kind word.
At first, he was reluctant. It felt alien, like a language he had forgotten. But then it was sweet. Addictive. He clung to it, craved it, obsessed over it.
She became everything to him.
But the strange men in his house had started drinking something. Some dark, viscous liquid. It smelled foul, like rust and something rotten.
He was curious, but he didnt ask. He was afraid.
One day, his money ran out.
The men kicked him out.
He lived on the streets.
The girlhis only lightdidnt look at him anymore.
The whispers told him it was his fault.
Everything was unlucky. Everything left him.
But he kept living.
He begged to be killed, but no one accepted his wish.
People only looked at him with eyes of disgust.
One day, the police captured him.
The charge? Patricide.
The men in his home werent strangers. They were his father and uncle.
His mother had died from stress years ago. His father had worked himself to death trying to provide for him.
But one day, the boy, expression blank, had come home and killed his uncle.
His father didnt report it.
Instead, he smiled, hugged his son, and told him everything would be alright.
The boy didnt listen.
He ate his fathers flesh, then walked out the door.
The girl, the only person who had ever shown him kindness, came to visit his house.
She found only rotting bodies.
In the end, the boy, locked in a police cell, banged his head against the wall until he died.
The movie ended.
The credits rolled.
No one in the theater moved.
I blinked. I didnt realize my hands were clenched so tightly that my nails had pierced my palm.
Atsisaya turned to me. That was intense.
I said nothing.
We left the theater in silence.
The world outside felt distant, like it wasnt real.
Atsisaya dragged me to a caf. She ordered for both of us. I didnt argue.
I stared at my coffee, swirling the dark liquid in the cup.
Natsumi, she said. Isnt it bitter?
I thought about the movie. About the boy. About the whispers.
I smiled.
No. Its sweet.
Atsisaya blinked. Then, without hesitation, she grabbed my cup and took a sip.
I flinched, my face heating up. H-Hey! Thats mine!
She tilted her head. Oh? Are you flustered?
Of course not! W-Why would I be flustered?! Its justgross! Indirect kisses are gross!
Atsisaya giggled. Then I guess Ill have to steal a direct one next time.
I nearly choked on air.
After we finished, we walked in opposite directions.
The moment she was gone, I groaned and buried my face in my hands.
Crap! I forgot to ask about the kiss!!!
Even if i told them the truth....no one would believe me...
The human heart is a fragile thing. No, thats wrong. Its worse than fragile. Its something desperate. A writhing mass of contradictions, wanting to be loved but fearing closeness, craving happiness but chasing suffering. People lie, not just to each other, but to themselves. And maybe thats the only way to live.
If you strip away the lies, whats left?
I don''t know....
I sang.
I became famous.
I cried.
I laughed.
I smiled.
I drowned.
I forgot.
The memories kept blurring with something else that I couldnt think of.
Pain became unbreakable. My mind became unrivaled.
Something new but nothing new.
The dates continued.
The beach. The city. The fireworks. The amusement park. The festivals.
Each moment should have been burned into my heart, yet they all felt like sand slipping through my fingers.
The warmth of Atsisayas hand. The sound of the waves. The distant chatter of strangers. The blinking lights. The scent of grilled food. The cold touch of ice cream melting on my tongue.
Moments that should have been unforgettable.
Yet
They scattered.
Merged.
Distorted.
Just like that, I couldnt get hold of time.
Time passed by like a fleeting daydream.
I began to be afraid of time.
Would I lose any more time?
How much had I already lost?
The days folded in on themselves, blurring like old film reels played at the wrong speed.
Accidents became more frequent.
Small things at first.
A misplaced item. A forgotten conversation. A cut on my hand that I didnt remember getting.
Then bigger things.
Losing track of entire hours. Waking up somewhere unfamiliar. Looking into a mirror and feeling like the reflection wasnt mine.
It was fine.
It was fine.
I still had my voice.
As long as I had that, everything would be fine.
I sang.
I stood on stage.
The lights burned against my skin. The crowd roared.
Their voices were a wave, crashing, consuming, deafening.
They called my name.
Again.
And again.
And again.
A thousand voices. A thousand hands reaching toward me.
But when I looked down
Their faces were empty.
I sang.
I sang until my throat was raw.
I sang until the world spun.
I sang because if I stopped, I would have to think.
And if I thought
Something inside me would break.
But it didnt matter.
None of it mattered.
Because time kept moving forward.
No matter how much I wanted to stop, it wouldnt wait for me.
And then
One day, after months of dating
Atsisaya looked at me with tired eyes.
And said,
We should break up.
I didnt say anything.
I couldnt.
I just turned and walked away.
I walked and walked.
Through streets I didnt recognize. Past faces that blurred together.
At some point, the city disappeared.
And when I finally stopped
I was standing in front of an orphanage.
I didnt remember coming here.
But there it was.
The paint on the building was chipped. The windows old. The fence rusted.
The children were playing outside.
Their laughter was bright, but
Their smiles didnt reach their eyes.
I could tell.
I didnt want to see that.
I didnt want to see them suffer.
I didnt want to see a reflection of something inside me that I refused to acknowledge.
So I left.
I bought some lunch boxes.
And I returned.
The kids were wary at first.
But hunger won over fear.
One by one, they accepted the food.
And when they ate
They smiled.
A real smile.
Something about it made my chest ache.
A bond was established.
And I didnt want that.
I ran.
I ran before they could reach out to me.
I ran before they could need me.
I ran before I could need them.
I ran and ran and ran.
I didnt know how much time passed.
But eventually
I was standing on a bridge.
The sun was slowly rising.
The train moved below.
I stood there, watching the world shift from night to morning.
Mikurin was talking.
But her voice was distant.
Fading.
It was too tiring.
I was too tired.
Everything was too tiring.
What was I even doing anymore?
What was the point?
If time was just going to keep slipping through my fingers, if everything I loved was just going to disappear, then why
No.
I shook my head.
Not yet.
Not yet.
I took a step back.
I took a breath.
I turned around.
And I walked away.
The world spun forward.
Days blurred into weeks.
Weeks blurred into months.
At some point, I stopped being Japanese.
At some point, I became Russian.
And then
The Third World War started.
Author''s Notes:
You may ask why don''t i use paragraphs?
Well. Its Natsumi''s way of speaking.
Also this escalated really fast lol..
Tell me if you want SS(short stories).
By the way, I''m sorry it took so long.
Shattered Real!ty — Dust! 『 6 』
Chapter 6;??Shattered Real!ty Dust! 6
[ Entry No. 6 ]
Atsisaya
Atsisaya was a girl who was always obsessive and strange in a weird way that seemed unusual for a girl her age. Everything was gray for her due to her parents neglecting her. She came from a rich family, but that became a reason for her to feel empty and alone most of the time.
At a young age, when she received a teddy bear as a gift from a girlbecause she had lost hers in the watershe felt a myriad of colors fill her life. Everything that was gray began to overflow with color.
She began to follow that girl.
Every day, every night.
She took pictures of that girlwhen she ate, played, cried, rested, slept, and even bathed. But one night, while watching her in the bath, Atsisaya noticed something strange.
That girl was a boy all along.
The realization shocked her, but she was too distracted by the sight of his fragile body to focus.
All she could think at that moment was, So fragile It must be protected.
From then on, Atsisaya followed that boy, protecting him from any harm.
He was a strange boyalways alone.
She couldn''t hold herself back.
It was the middle of June before I decided to finally face myself. And not have any regrets.
As soon as the bell rang, I ran as fast as I could. The teacher and the rest of the girls were confused, but I couldn''t afford to pay attention to them.
The sky is blue. Very blue today. I guess you could say the sky is clearno clouds, just the sun reflecting its heat on the planet and nothing more. The wind is moving west, I think. Its pretty cool, considering its hot today.
Without a doubt, I can say I am nervous. However, that doesn''t mean Im not excited.
You can''t imagine what it feels like to finally meet the person youve been idolizing for so long.
I have followed him for a long time.
I love him.
I want to tell him that.
I want to hug him.
I want to have him.
I want him to only see me. And only me.
Soon, I reached the back of the school building. Coincidentally, we studied at the same school.
Like I thought, he was here, sitting in the corner, reading a book (?) Or was it a light novel? Knowing him, it was probably a light novel. I walked closer to him.
Seeing me approach, he stood up and walked away.
I called for him to stop, but he didn''t listen.
I ran after him and grabbed his hand, yelling at him to become my friend.
But he refused.
Straight up. A blunt rejection.
Somehow, I was okay. I was fine.
For only one reason.
I can''t give up on him. Never.
I must protect him.
I pursued him endlessly until he finally gave in.
Do what you want.
Ah. How adorable.
Later, I learned that his name was Natsumi.
And I also grasped the fact that... I wasn''t the insane.
After they became friends, Atsisaya began to hang around Natsumi more, giving him almost no time alone.
She even tried to confess multiple times but was rejected each time.
Why?
She asked herself that question many times, but no matter how much she thought, she couldnt come up with a viable explanation.
She couldn''t determine Natsumis emotions. It was as if he had none at all.
However, that thought terrified Atsisaya to the brink of insanity.
So, she made herself believe that Natsumi did have emotionsit''s just that human emotions were impossible to truly understand.
And she was right.
Normally, it would be difficult to even predict what others are thinking. But technology had not advanced very far, which eventually led to the invention of the Blue Pill at some point in time.
I can''t remember?
She somehow bought one of these Blue Pills from an anonymous source in exchange for one of its key ingredientsa black flower that grew in a certain valley.
Of course, Atsisaya couldn''t actually go to the valley and find the Blue Pill herself. Everything she had seen about it was a scam, set up by an organization of anonymous people who had scammed millions with their so-called "products."
They asked for impossible ingredients that didn''t exist, and once people failed to find them, they simply guilt-tripped them and vanished.
But Atsisaya, who didnt know this fact, was already planning to head to the valley.
Until she realized something.
Is this really what I want?
I want him to only look at me.
So why am I trying to figure out his emotions?
As she was thinking the right thing, an image of Natsumi being so broken that he committed suicide flashed in her mind.
As soon as she thought of that, her brain accelerated far beyond the usual.
She thought.
And thought.
And thought.
Until she found one logical option.
One that would break him
But make him stay alive.
F. O. R. E. V. E. R.
But Atsisaya didnt realize that what she was about to do was something that should never happen.
It wouldnt help her.
It wouldnt help Natsumi.
Instead, it would awaken the wrath of an anomaly far greater than anything.
Something far worse than anyone imagined.
However, no one imagined the possibility.
From the beginning to the end, whatever Atsisaya did was according to plan.
Why is everything frozen?
Atsisaya wondered after she finally saw the world.
I''m drowning.
Strange. Loud. Violent. Annoying.
It hurts.
Stop it...
Stop it.....!
No more...
I can''t take this anymore.
Voices. Too many. All at once. Yet none at all. A static-filled void of screams.
Or maybe whispers.
Or maybe silence.
Every sound is muffled, warped, stretched like sinew over rusted bones.
I can''t hear anything.
Help...
I try to move, but the air is thick, suffocating, pressing down on me like a lead weight. Each step forward is swallowed by something I cant see, as if the world itself is refusing to let me exist.
No matter how much I keep going, it keeps hurting.
My vision blurs, reality slipping through my fingers like sand. I reach out, but theres nothing to grasp, nothing to hold onto.
I am not one with time.
Time is unbearable.
Each second drags my sanity through shattered glass.
I... dont... think I can stay sane anymore.
Help...
Someone... someone help me.
So hollow.
Dark.
Dark.
I cant see anything.
I can''t breathe.
I cant open my eyes.
Why?
I dont know.
Why?
I dont know.
Why dont I know?
I dont know.
Why?
Maybe its because I... am losing myself.
Why?
Maybe its because I am no more.
Why?
Maybe its because I am not alive.
Why?
Maybe its because I am unconscious.
Why?
Maybe... the world lost itself.
Why?
Maybe I am in an alternative universe.
Why?
...A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why?Why?
Why do I live?
...Because I live.
Does that make sense?
No.
Why?
Because I never lived.
So what does it mean to die?
Because i die.
Why?
Its simple. I live to die and die like I''m about to live.
Does that make sense?
No.
I mean, I should live like I''m dying but die like I''m already dead.
That doesnt make sense.
Wait...
Who am I even talking to?
...
...
Heh...
Heh...
Ha..
AAAAAAAAAHHHAHAHHAHAAAAAAAAHHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHA....HA.....HA.....HA.....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.....
Isnt it ironic?
So wonderful.
So terrifying.
So nothing.
Before I could think of anything else, I fainted.
Maybe because i drowned.
I''m not sure but i do remember that i slipped and fell into the water.
Ah. I don''t know.
After that, I dont remember anything.
-
Soon, I found myself in an empty white room.
Empty.
Yet suffocating.
No doors. No windows. No way out.
White walls. White ceiling. White floor. A white bed in the center, too pristine, too still, untouched by anything real. The sheets were stiff, sterile, like they had never been touched by human hands.
Everything was white.
Bright. Strange.
Blinding.
The light above me flickered once. Or did it? No, it didnt. It was just my vision. Everything was blurry.
I tried to move, but the air itself felt thick, suffocating. The corners of the room stretched and twisted in ways they shouldnt. My fingers twitched. My breath came in slow, uneven gasps. I blinked once. Twice. The whiteness didnt change.
The food they gave me was white. Rice, maybe. Something soft, something tasteless. I chewed and swallowed, but it never felt like eating. It felt like... existing.
No sound.
No voices.
No one spoke to me. No one answered when I screamed.
I scratched the walls, leaving behind tally marksone, two, three, four. Again. Again. Again.
How long has it been?
A day? A week? A month?
My fingernails bled from scraping the walls. I licked the blood. The red was the only color in this world.
...Was it red?
No, it was white. It had to be white.
The light above flickered again. Or maybe it didnt. My eyes were deceiving me. They always deceived me.
I stared at the ceiling. My breath felt wrong. The room had no sound, but I could hear something. A buzzing. A vibration beneath my skin.
Cant take it anymore.
I bit my hand. Hard.
I wanted to feel something.
I tore at my skin, teeth sinking into flesh, pulling, tasting.
But it wasnt real.
Nothing here was real.
I spat out the chunk of skin, watching as it landed on the floor. It shouldve been red, but it wasnt. The floor swallowed it up, absorbed it, erased it.
White.
Everything was white.
I stared at my reflection in the food tray. My face was there, but it wasnt mine. My eyes were sunken, hollow, alien.
Who am I?
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
I started saying my name. Whispering at first, then louder. Then again. And again. And again.
If I stop saying it, will I disappear?
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
The walls are closing in. Or maybe they arent.
I laughed. I laughed so hard I couldnt breathe.
I laughed until my throat was raw, until my lungs burned, until my ribs ached.
Then I screamed.
Then I cried.
Then I did nothing.
...
How long has it been?
A year? A decade?
Eternity?
I scratched at my skin, peeling, digging, feeling nothing but static under my fingernails.
I took the white fork they gave me and stabbed my thigh.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The pain wasnt real.
Nothing here was real.
I needed to see red. I needed to remember what color was.
I dragged my fingers across the wounds, painting the walls with my name.
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
A new color.
A new color.
But it wasnt new. It was just me.
I stared at my hands. They were shaking. The light above me buzzed louder.
Or maybe it didnt.
Time is wrong.
Time is breaking.
I tried to remember something.
A name. A voice.
Atsisaya.
Who is that?
Who am I?
I am Natsumi.
Natsumi.
Natsumi.
I laughed again.
I smiled.
I frowned.
I stopped breathing.
I started breathing again.
The white walls swallowed my voice, swallowed my thoughts, swallowed me whole.
Im not real.
Or maybe the world isnt real.
Or maybe nothing has ever been real.
I curled up on the bed, whispering to myself, tracing the tally marks on the walls.
How long has it been?
How long has it been?
I stopped counting.
Numbers dont mean anything anymore.
Time doesnt mean anything anymore.
I dont mean anything anymore.
The white fork was still in my hand.
I stared at it for a long time.
Then I smiled.
Then I strangled myself with my own hands.
Darkness.
Finally.
Darkness.
I opened my eyes.
Am I alive?
Or am I dead?
No.
Its the same white room. But something is different.
The wallsrusted. The floorcracked. The ceilingstained, darkened, no longer the blinding white that had tormented me.
Wait. What happened?
Not that I care.
I picked up the fork, but it crumbled in my hands. Rusted, fragile, corroded beyond use. Worthless.
I clenched my fists.
Then, I punched the wall.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Knuckles splitting open, skin tearing, bones aching.
It doesnt hurt.
Pain is numb.
Blood smeared across the rusted surface, dark and dry against the once-white walls.
I kept going.
Seconds turned to minutes.
Minutes turned to days.
Days into weeks.
Thena crack.
Small, insignificant. But it was there.
I didnt stop.
Months passed. Or maybe years.
Time doesnt matter.
The hole widened, jagged edges forming a passage just barely large enough.
I stepped through.
And the world outside greeted me
Rusted buildings, skeletal structures coated in moss and decay. Towers crumbling, their very foundations dissolving into dust. The wind was silent. No voices. No life.
Empty.
Where am I?
I wandered through the ruins, my footsteps hollow against the desolate ground. ThenI found it.
A familiar building. A familiar place.
The white rooms.
Dozens of them. Doors lined up in perfect sequence, rusted, corroded, broken. Some had collapsed entirely. Some were ajar, revealing what lay inside.
Bones.
Piles of them.
Dry. Brittle. Decomposed beyond recognition.
The stench of something long dead, something forgotten.
I moved through the hallways, dragging my fingers across the rusted metal. My body felt light. Or maybe heavy. I couldn''t tell anymore.
ThenI found it.
The control room.
Dead monitors, shattered screens. Buttons covered in dust, useless. Nothing worked.
But there was something.
A notebook. Old. Yellowed pages, brittle with time.
I picked it up, flipping through the logs.
A name caught my eye.
[ Subject 52 ]
?Room No. 62?
I ran.
Back.
Through the halls, past the bones, past the forgotten corpses.
Room 62.
I stood there, staring at it.
Barely visible, rusted, eroded by time.
My room.
I turned back to the notebook, breath unsteady.
The first log was scrawled in precise, clinical handwriting.
?Experiment No. 6: The White Room?
?The subject was observed as nothing unusual. It was found unconscious at some river, likely a suicide attempt.?
I kept reading.
?Log 1: The subject hasnt woken up for almost a week. No signs of severe injury, but vitals remain unstable. Brain activity fluctuates between normal and heightened states of distress.?
?Log 2: Subject has finally awakened. It does not respond to external stimuli. It merely stares at the ceiling. When questioned, it does not speak. Its pupils are dilated. Appears to be experiencing mild dissociation. We will continue observation.?
?Log 3: The subject has begun talking to itself. Speech patterns are erratic, often repeating the same phrases over and over. It has not acknowledged the researchers. It laughs at seemingly random intervals.?
?Log 4: The subject has begun displaying self-injurious behavior. It bites its own flesh. Attempts to eat it but spits it out. It does not react to pain. We have provided a fork for meal consumption, but it has instead used it to stab itself multiple times. Medical intervention was required.?
?Log 5: The subject has begun scratching the walls. It has started carving tally marks with its nails. Fingernails have been worn down to the nail beds. Bleeding profusely but does not react. Displays compulsive behavior, repeatedly writing its own name: ''Natsumi.''?
?Log 6: The subject''s mental deterioration is accelerating. It exhibits erratic emotional responsesalternating between manic laughter and complete silence. It no longer acknowledges food or water unless force-fed. Attempts at verbal communication have failed. The subject only mutters to itself in fragmented sentences.?
?Log 7: The subject has become unresponsive to external stimuli. Even when forcefully restrained for medical treatment, it does not resist. It does not react. Its gaze remains unfocused. EEG scans indicate abnormal brain activity patterns, suggesting a decline in cognitive function.?
?Log 8: The subject has begun to fear time. It repeats its name continuously, as though trying to hold onto something. It carves it into its own skin with whatever it can find. It no longer recognizes its own reflection. When presented with a mirror, it reacted with violent hostility. The object had to be removed.?
?Log 9: The subject''s sense of self is disintegrating. When asked its name, it hesitated before answering. It appears to be struggling with identity loss. The walls of Room 62 are now completely covered in blood and scratched writing. The subject has developed a severe aversion to light, often covering its face or hiding under the bed.?
? Log 10: The subject attempted self-strangulation today. Was quickly saved by the recovery team. Upon resuscitation, the subject did not react. It simply lay on the ground, staring blankly into space. No further attempts at movement or speech. Estimated to be in a catatonic state. Further testing is required.?
I gripped the notebook. My hands were shaking.
My breath was heavy.
The words blurred.
I turned more pages. The logs continued. On and on. Dozens. Hundreds.
Then, my eyes landed on one.
? Log 100: Subject strangled itself again. Resuscitation successful, but the subject did not move. It did not speak. It only stared at the ceiling. Vitals are still present, but the body remains unresponsive. Brain activity is almost non-existent. Further testing has been halted. The experiment is considered a failure. Subject 52 is assumed to be dead.The subject''s body was to be disposed but the doctor refused it and said that was the last white room experiment, so let it be.?
I stared.
Assumed to be dead?
Body disposal?
I was still here.
Still breathing.
Still alive.
Or was I?
My fingers tightened around the notebook.
My pulse pounded in my ears.
I flipped the page.
There was one last note.
A single line, hastily scrawled.
Russia has been facing multiple crises due to prolonged experimentation failures.
Russia?
What the hell?
Anyways, I explored the facilityyou could call it that.
An abandoned building of rusted corridors, crumbling walls, and forgotten experiments.
Each door bore a number. Each number had a name.
? Experiment 1: Metamorphosis/Emergence ?
? Experiment 2: Chainsaw man. ?
? Experiment 4: Monster. ?
? Experiment 5: My Star. ?
? Experiment 17: Tokyo Ghoul. ?
Some were labeled in Japanese, but most were in Russianletters I couldnt read. Their meaning was lost to me, swallowed by a language foreign and cold.
But the names alone were unsettling.
Metamorphosis/Emergence.
What the hell is that?
Chainsaw man.
This reminds of something.
Monster..
This also reminds of something.
My Star.
This specifically reminds of something.
Tokyo Ghoul.
Yep. This really reminds of somethingm
I pressed my hand against one of the doors.
It was cold. The metal hummed beneath my fingertips, as if something on the other side was still alive.
I stepped back.
This place
Whatever it was, whatever happened here
I wanted no part of it.
Yep. Its better to leave.
A-anyway, my greatness is too much for these fools.
The moment the thought crossed my mind, a wave of dizziness crashed over me. My vision blurred. My knees buckled.
Ah.I completely forgotI havent eaten.
Not just that. Blood loss. Overexertion. Lack of sleep.
It all piled up.
...I fainted. Again.
By the time I woke up, I was in a medical tent. The world around me was filled with murmuring voices. Cold hands checked my pulse, bright lights shone into my eyes.
I wasnt alone.
Men in uniforms. Police.
I blinked, trying to sit up, but my body felt like lead.
They spoke in Russianwords that made no sense to me.
Then, someone brought a translator.
It wasnt accurate, but it worked.
Somewhat.
I told them everything. Well, not everything.
Just that I had lost something precious. That I had wandered near a river, thinking of jumping in.
But I didnt.
Because
Someone pushed me.
I told them how I drowned. How everything after that was hazy. How strange men dragged me somewhere I couldnt remember.
It wasnt scary.
It wasnt scary at all.
It wasnt scary at all.
I wasnt scared at all.
...Then why is my body shaking?
Why?
I dont know.
Im not scared.
Im just... tired.
After that, I told them about the White Room.
They listened. Expressionless.
Then, they looked at me.
With something that could have been pity.
Or something else entirely.
One of them muttered something in Russian. The translator hesitated.
Then, I heard the translation.
It happens.
...What?
A translation error, maybe?
I dont know.
After their investigation, they gave me food.
Then, they kicked me out.
It didnt matter. I wasnt alone.
Not quite.
I kept talking to myself for comfort.
And then
Mikurin appeared.
She stood in front of me, arms crossed, tilting her head.
She spoke Russian fluently.
Of course.
It made sense. A war criminal would know many languages.
The scenery around me shifted.
No
It had always been this way.
Futuristic.
Beyond what I had known.
Buildings stretched into the sky, adorned with holographic signs. Drones floated through the air. Cars flew overhead.
People floated toomoving effortlessly through the streets with gravity-defying technology.
Nano-protected doors. Digital landscapes embedded into reality itself.
It felt
Like a sci-fi anime.
Was Russia really this advanced compared to Japan?
No.
Something was wrong.
I checked the local clock.
It was blurry.
Unreadable.
I asked someone else to read it for me.
They answered.
But their voice
It came out as static.
I couldnt understand a word.
Ah. I might know this.
Damn it.
Anyways, I needed money.
I tried cleaning houses.
No one hired me.
I was kicked out.
But the officers had given me some money in exchange for the information.
So I used it.
I bought a small room. Run-down. Falling apart.
But at least it was a place to sleep.
A place that wasnt white.
A place where I wasnt alone.
I worked.
Harder.
Every day.
Every second.
So I could return to Japan.
So I could go home.
Months passed.
Then
A siren rang through the city.
Loud.
Deafening.
The ground trembled.
Explosions.
One after another.
Chaos.
Men in uniforms stormed the streets. Guns raised. Firing indiscriminately.
Anyone who resisted
Killed on sight.
I tried to run.
But they caught me.
A hand grabbed my arm. Cold metal pressed against my temple.
A soldier.
He spoke in Russian, voice unreadable.
I couldnt understand.
I couldnt
Mikurin stepped forward.
She spoke to him. Fast. Confident.
She tried to persuade him.
It didnt work.
His grip tightened.
Ah.
I see.
No choice, then.
I kicked him.
Hard.
Grabbed the gun.
Ran.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
The city burned around me.
People screamed.
Buildings collapsed.
At that time
I didnt know that the third World War had begun.
Author''s Note:
Sorry but i need to go on a hiatus.
I need a break.
I will be back on 21st.
Once I''m back the chapters will release more frequently, i hope.
Shattered Real!ty — Dust! 『 7 』
Chapter 7;??Shattered Real!ty Dust! 7
Some truths resonate clearly, while others slip away, obscured by uncertainty.
We pursue our desires passionately, seeking to escape our fears. When purpose infuses our actions, they gain significance, like distant stars guiding us through darkness. Yet, without purpose, we become hollow shells lost in this vast world.
What if purpose is merely an illusion, a fragile fa?ade built on fleeting desires? We convince ourselves that our actions are meaningful, often blurring the lines between illusion and reality.
But when desire collides with power, humans may forsake everything, manipulating and destroying. Morality bends under the weight of unfulfilled longing, leading to an ever-deepening abyss.
So, what does it mean to be human?
I don''t know.
Humans are complicated creatures.
Humans are not to be trusted.
Anything can happen.
And betrayal... betrayal never comes from an enemy.
Just like someone betrayed me
Agh. It hurts.
I look down. Blood spills from my body, staining the ground beneath me.
Ah... I see.
I have been shot.
"Heh... how unironic."
The world began to blur, a distorted mess of movement and sound. The screams, the gunfire, the laughter of the one who pulled the triggerthey all merged into a single, unbearable noise.
People are still fighting.
So... this is war.
No one can be trusted.
Not in war. Not ever.
Mikurin, you were right. You always told me not to trust anyone.
But I was foolish.
When did I become so na?ve?
C
It started after I ranafter I stole that gun and found myself in the middle of a battlefield. The soldiers mistook me for one of them. I blended in, just like always. And before I knew it, I had a friend.
Whose name was apparently Alex.
He spoke Japanese. We understood each other. We fought side by side. And as time passed, I trusted him.
But something was strange.
I couldn''t tell what time it was. Every clock was blurred, every attempt to track time slipped through my fingers. It was as if I was avoiding itlno, as if something was keeping me from knowing.
But the Primordial Fallen Angel wouldn''t let something like that happen subconsciously, would he?
I didn''t ask questions. I didn''t need to.
Alex seemed afraid to talk about certain things. And I understoodafter all, I knew all things.
Still, everything around me felt... off. It was like I had stepped into a sci-fi worldtechnology too advanced, weapons too powerful, reality too distorted.
Maybe I really had been transported to another world.
Wait... If my dream came true, then what am I suppose to do?
I don''t know why but I feel empty.
The commander gave the order to move. The enemy(?) soldiers carried Japanese flags.
I took a step forwardexcited, relieved, eager to see something familiar.
*BANG*
A gunshot. Someone shot me.
A translucent shield flickered to life behind me, hexagonal patterns glowing in the air.
Oh.
That was cool...
Just what Id expect from a sci-fi world.
I adjusted my grip on my gun, bracing myself to shoot. It took more courage than I expected. But it was fineI would only shoot them in the leg.
Strangely, my thoughts felt normal again. Clearer than before.
Before I could push the trigger, Another shot rang out.
I felt a sharp jolt. The force knocked me off balance.
I missed.
I looked down.
An empty feeling spread through my chest, something deeper than pain, heavier than regret.
I turned around.
Alex stood there, gun in hand, an awkward smile on his lips.
Then he walked away.
Ah.
So thats how it is.
I shouldn''t have trusted him.
I shouldn''t have trusted anyone.
Everything became blurry..
The sky, the battlefield, the faces of the soldiers who didnt care enough to look.
Before I could think another thought
I fell and Died...or maybe, If I was lucky, I fainted.
It really doesn''t matter anymore.
C
A thick, suffocating void wrapped around me. My body felt weightless, yet unbearably heavy at the same time.
The echoes of distant gunfire, laughter, and betrayal still clung to my mind.
Low and distorted murmurs. Unfamiliar voices speaking in hushed tones, their words slipping through my consciousness like shadows.
I tried to move.
Something was wrong.
My arms wouldnt move. My legs wouldnt budge.
The whispers grew louder.
A searing, mind-shattering agony radiated from my chest..
My breath caught, a choked sound escaping my lips.
My fingers twitched against cold metal.
Metal?
I forced my eyes open.
A dim, flickering light swayed above me, casting eerie shadows across the damp concrete walls. The air reeked of rust and something acrid and something burnt.
Something''s wrong.
Why can''t i move?
Thick straps dug into my wrists and ankles.
Ah.I''m tied to a chair.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I tried to stand up but failed..
Suddenly, I hear footsteps.
Slow, and deliberate.
A silhouette emerged from the darkness.
A deep voice cut through the silence, speaking in Japanese, and not in Russian?
"You will tell us everything about your plans."
Plans?
What plans are you talking about?
Plans about capitalism?
What the hell are they talking about?
My lips are dry, my throat raw, but I forced the words out anyway.
"I Im Japanese too."
A quiet chuckle echoed through the room.
Ah crap.. Not this again.
"Stop lying," one of them said. "Now, spill it."
A pit formed in my stomach.
I''m being shunned again..
Anyways, I''m not lying.
But their eyescold, emptystared at me as if I was a great threat to them.
Haha...
I lowered my gaze, and
My breath caught.
The hole in my chest
Its Gone.
The wound that shouldve killed me, the burning pain, the gaping emptiness is not gone...
Oh... Its probably the work of my super regeneration powers.
I stared at my body, at the smooth, unbroken skin where the bullet had once torn through me.
Nice
But why do i suddenly feel so tired...
What''s happening to me?
Are they talking me hostage?
Why do I have no desire to live?
I sighed.
My vision blurred.
I felt nothing.
No fear.
No anger.
Not even confusion.
Just emptiness.
"I dont know,"My voice devoid of life.
I didnt even have the strength to pretend.
I''m tired.
The silence stretched on.
Then, a low voice.
"Remember, kidtheres no mercy in war."
The silhouette picked up a switch and clicked the button.
Suddenly, a sharp, violent tremor coursed through my body, the world exploding into white-hot pain.
Electricity surged through me, ripping apart every nerve, every cell, every thought. My muscles clenched, body convulsing violently against the restraints.
A choked scream clawed its way out of my throat.
Blood trickled from my nose, the metallic taste filling my mouth.
My vision darkened.
The pain didnt stop.
It just kept coming.
A relentless current flooding through my veins, scorching my skin, twisting my insides.
I could hear itthe crackling of my own burning flesh.
Smoke curled from my skin, the acrid scent making me sick.
Am I dying?
I''m not sure.
Maybe I already am.
The pain merged into something distant, something unreal.
And yet, I was still here.
Still breathing.
Still looking down on these petty humans.
The chair shuddered beneath me as the voltage cut off.
I slumped forward, head hanging low, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My body was shaking, yet I felt nothing.
Nothing at all.
I just stared at the floor.
"Like I said," I muttered, voice hollow.
"I dont know."
A slow exhale.
Thenfootsteps.
The silhouette shifted, stepping back into the darkness.
"Listen, kid."
His voice was husky, detached, and full of boredom.
"Your efforts are useless. So just give up early."
The silhouette snapped its fingers.
A tiny, flickering light bulb hummed to life above me, casting weak, yellow light over the room.
The Silhouette stepped forward.
For the first time, I saw him clearly.
Lustrous black hair.
A Handsome face.
Red eyes.
A crisp military uniform.
A katana strapped to his back.
Two guns at his waist.
His expression was plainly simple to read..
Without another word, he turned on his heels and walked out.
The door creaked shut behind him, the dim light still swinging above me.
I didnt move.
Didnt speak.
Didnt even blink.
I just stared at the floor, at the pool of sweat and blood gathering beneath me.
It was strange.
I had always thought that loneliness was the worst thing a person could experience.
But maybe, pain might be there too.
????
The black haired man stepped out into the open air, the heavy metal door groaning as it shut behind him. A faint scent of charred flesh lingered on his uniform, but he didnt acknowledge it. His steps were steady, unhurried, boots pressing into the grounda land long since devoured by war.
The world outside was dead.
The sky, once boundless and blue, was now a suffocating expanse of ashen gray. Dust rained from above like a mockery of snow, settling over the corpses of buildings, the skeletal remains of machines that once moved with purpose. The earth beneath him was brittle, a graveyard of wasted steel and wasted lives.
A gust of wind swept through the desolation, carrying with it the echoes of distant gunfire, the dying gasps of a world that had already lost.
He barely noticed.
Ahead, the camp loomed in the haze, a scattering of structures half-buried beneath layers of debris. Barbed wire curled around the perimeter like the broken ribs of some great, dying beast. The entrance stood guardedmen in tattered uniforms, rifles slung over their shoulders, faces carved from stone.
As he passed, they did not stop him.
He entered the largest tent, a thing of weathered fabric stretched taut against the wind, its seams fraying, its surface marred with stains too deep to ever be washed away.
From the outside, it was small and unassuming.
And from the Inside, It was like a mansion.
The walls extended impossibly far, towering pillars of polished marble stretching toward a ceiling bathed in artificial light. Staircases spiraled upward in elegant arcs, their steps pristine despite the filth that clung to the world beyond. Chandeliers hung motionless in the stagnant air, their glass untouched by the duststorm raging outside.
He walked forward, his boots echoing against the polished floor, ascending the grand staircase without hesitation.
At the top, there was a single door.
He reached for the handle.
It creaked open, revealing a long, empty room.
At the center, There was a long floating table.
He stepped inside, his presence swallowing the silence.
At the far end, a chair faced away, its occupant absent.
He approached, his shadow stretching long against the dim light.
He stopped behind the chair.
After a few moments, the door behind him collapsed, falling into itself with a deafening crash. The air shifted, the stillness replaced with something heavier, something crawling beneath the surface of perception.
Footsteps echoed through the room
The echo carried through the vastness, each step a whisper of inevitability.
A figure emerged from the darkness.
His hair, long and unbound, held the color of deep ocean currents, with the hue of twilight and crimson. His eyes, piercing yet unreadable, burned with an icy hue of deep periwinkle, as if holding secrets too ancient to be spoken.
A long coat hung from his shoulders, its fabric untouched by the filth of war. A tie rested neatly at his throat, pristine, unblemished. He moved with an effortless grace, his build tall and unyieldinga frame sculpted for command.
At his waist, a katana.
The sheath, dyed the delicate hue of cherry blossoms in bloom.
The strap, a deep, endless blue, like the sky that no longer existed.
He stepped forward.
The air tensed.
Every soldier in the room rose as one, their movements synchronized, rehearsed to perfection.
They saluted, voices unified, sharp and unwavering
Greetings to Commander Kenzaki Kyotaro!!
Kyotaro said nothing.
He walked forward.
Thenwithout pausehe sat.
The chair creaked under his presence.
"Has there been any progress?"
Kyotaro''s voice was calm, devoid of emotion, yet it carried the weight of command. His sharp gaze did not waver as he addressed the red-haired man standing behind him.
Shinoa HatsukiThe black haired man, draped in a dark military coat, stood straight, his scarlet hair slightly disheveled, giving him a deceptively relaxed appearance. He inclined his head slightly. "We have captured a high-ranking enemy soldier. We will soon extract information from her."
Kyotaro didn''t respond. He simply nodded once, acknowledging the report.
The meeting soon ended.
Kyotaro stood, his coat shifting slightly as he turned. Without a word, he walked out of the grand tent, Hatsuki following a few steps behind. The air outside was thick with smoke, the sky continuing its slow descent into oblivion, the falling dust merging into the lifeless land. The distant gunfire had dimmed into an occasional echo, swallowed by the ashen wind.
Then, without a single word, Kyotaro vanished.
Hatsuki, unsurprised, barely reacted. Instead, he turned his head slightly and raised two fingers in a subtle signal.
A shadow moved.
A man with slender features and striking orange hair stepped into the dim light, his golden eyes shimmering with something playful yet unsettling.
"Sir, what can I do to serve you?"
Hatsuki silently lifted a heavy metal bag. It was engraved with an intricate I-6 hexagonal pattern, its cold steel reflecting the distant fires consuming the land. Without another word, he handed it over.
"Zenshu, take care of it."
The orange-haired manZenshugrinned, his teeth sharp against the dim light.
"Understood."
Hatsuki disappeared into the shadows just as Kyotaro had.
Zenshu, still smirking, turned his gaze towards the tent nearby. Without hesitation, he strode forward and entered.
Inside, The space expanded beyond what the exterior suggested. The floor was checkered black and white, a sharp contrast to the filth outside. The air inside was still, suffocating, reeking of iron and something far worse.
A single bulb swayed from the ceiling, its weak light flickering, casting restless shadows against the walls.
The floor was slick. Blood pooled in uneven streaks, some fresh, some dried and crusted over time.
At the center, There was a single chair and in that chair sat Natsumi.
His head hung low, black hair matted against his pale skin. His arms, bound tightly with thick chains, bore faint bruises from his previous struggles. His legs were secured just as cruelly, metal cuffs binding them to a weighted chain ball. His fingers twitched slightly, but there was no energy in his movements. His breathing was shallow.
His eyes were hollow and empty.
Zenshu whistled softly as he approached, his footsteps slow, deliberate, letting each step echo within the vast chamber.
"Hello" His voice was light, almost amused. His gaze trailed over Natsumis delicate features. "Youre surprisingly pretty. Almost like a girl. No wonder the captain mistook you."
His words hung in the air, an observation more than a taunt.
What was strange, however, was that Zenshu had recognized him as a boy at first glance.
"Well," Zenshu shrugged. "It doesnt really matter. Girl or boypain feels the same either way."
He took a step forward, leaning in slightly, his golden eyes narrowing.
"First and last timewill you speak?" .
For a long moment, Natsumi remained motionless. Then, slowly, his head lifted.
A hollow, cold voice, raw and husky from exhaustion, escaped his lips.
"You dare lay a finger on me, and Ill kill you."
Zenshus pupils dilated slightly. A reactionnot of fear, but something deeper, something intrigued. For just a second, his body tensed, an unconscious step almost taken backward.
Then, he smiled.
"Is that so?"
His voice held no mockery, no irritation. Just curiosity.
He crouched down, placing the metal bag on the floor. The latches clicked open with an eerie softness, the contents inside glinting under the dim light.
Surgical tools. Rusted needles. Serrated scalpels. A chip. A strange cube with shifting surfaces. Vials filled with murky, viscous liquids. And so much more.
Zenshus fingers hovered over the collection, searching.After a minute of searching, he found it.
A pair of scissors.
His grin widened as he slowly lifted them, running a thumb along the blade.
He stood up.
He walked forward.
Closer and closer to Natsumi.
Natsumis body went rigid. His breathing hitched. His mind screamed at him to move, to run, to do somethinganythingbut his body refused to obey.
Instinct clawed at his nerves, twisting in his gut.
"I-I seriously dont know anything"
He didn''t listen as Natsumi started cutting into his own skin and flesh, steepening the wounds, then scraping the flesh off. He put in sharp needles, peeled off his nails, drowned Natsumi, burned his left hand, poured boiling water on him, electrocuted him, and strangled him. He fed Natsumi contaminated, radioactive waste, bugs, and insects, and then injected him with a regeneration serum that healed all of his injuries and kept him alive.
For minutes, maybe even hours, Natsumi''s horrifying screams reverberated through the battlefield.
The soldiers who were fighting stopped for a moment and stood there in fear of what was happening. To them, it was as if the heavens were screaming at the earth.
Somewhere unknown, Hatsuki stood there, putting a cigarette in his mouth and lighting it up, saying, "Told you, kid."
-
Author''s Note:
Tried to add illustrations but I kept getting an error, tried to fix it but failed.I''m not motivated to write...
Shattered Real!ty — Dust! 『 8 』
Chapter 8;??Shattered Real!ty Dust! 8
To me... this looks like some kind of foul play.
Why would you even do this to me?
When I didn''t even do anything to you?
When I don''t know anything?
When I never met you?
When I never knew you?
When I never even wanted to know you?
When I never ever wanted to have anything to do with you?
When I never did anything.
Is this how... Is this how... Is this how... it feels to hate someone... to resent someone... to wish someone dead... to want them to suffer... to want to kill them... to make them suffer until their last breath?
You torture me you rip off my skin heal it back only to repeat the same process
AAAAAAAHHHAHAHHAHA... The pain.
It hurts... It hurts really bad...
I don''t want this...
I never wanted this.
Just kill me instead. Wouldn''t it be better for the both of us?
Hehehehehehehehehheh
I will make sure to make you suffer even if I forget you, even if I die, even if I cease to exist, even if you were to change...
Why?
Do I really care about someone or something?
No. I dont.
Aaahh. In the end, all of this will return to dust.
So all of this doesnt matter.
As I will succumb to eternal slumber.
No one will know any bounds.
These are just another foolish behavior of humans.
I know it... but I feel so empty and hollow right now...
Im tired...
I just... want to rest.
Kill me.
Natsumi''s body was trembling, but the chains forced him still. His vision swam, the world twisting into something unreal. His hearing was warping in and out, distant and muffled, yet unbearably sharp when pain ripped through him.
Blood dripped down his chin in thick, slow trails, his nose, ears, and mouth all leaking crimson. His hollow eyes barely focused on the blurred figure before him, the man with sickly golden eyes, the man who had become nothing more than a shadow of pain in his mind.
Natsumi had screamed, had begged, had cursed, had foughtnothing worked. His mind dangled on the edge of the abyss, stretched between agony and madness. He had lost count of how many times he had died, only to be dragged back to life, reset like a broken doll. His body was nothing more than a puppet of raw nerves, forced to feel, forced to endure.
The syringe gleamed in the dim light as it drew closer to his eye.
Natsumi''s breath hitched.
He thrashedor tried to. His body had long betrayed him, his movements sluggish and weak, barely able to lift his head. His throat was shredded from screaming, his lips cracked and swollen, his voice nothing but a hoarse, rattling breath.
The needle''s tip touched his pupil.
His body reacted before his mind could comprehend it, a guttural scream tearing its way out of him as his arms spasmed. His fingersraw, broken, nails torn offdug into his own palm, but the pain was insignificant compared to what followed.
The needle slid into his pupil.
A searing, unnatural pain exploded through his skull, burrowing deep into his brain like molten metal. His back arched violently, muscles convulsing against the chains as his nerves screamed louder than he could. His vision fracturedshards of light and darkness splintered apart, twisting into incomprehensible shapes. His breath hitched in his throat, choking him as if the pain itself had taken form and was strangling him from the inside.
His body writhed, his heel scraping against the blood-slicked floor as his breath came in ragged, broken gasps. Zenshus golden eyes gleamed with amusement as he pushed the syringe deeper, twisting it slightly.
Then, without hesitation, he yanked it out.
A wet, sickening squelch filled the air.
Natsumi''s head snapped back, his mouth open, but no sound came out. His body shook violently, his eye nothing but a black void, bleeding profusely down his cheek. His breath stuttered, his consciousness teetering on the edge.
Zenshu''s fingers curled in his hair, jerking his head forward.
His other hand reached toward Natsumis remaining eye, and before Natsumi could recover, a clawed hand, brutal and merciless, ripped his eye from its socket.
His body convulsed so violently that the chains groaned against the force, the chair beneath him screeching against the floor. Blood gushed freely, pouring down his face in thick, hot streams. His head lolled forward, his mouth opening and closing like a dying fish. His body was going into shock, yet the cruel hands of science wouldnt allow him the mercy of slipping into the abyss.
The syringe pressed against his temple this time.
A cold liquid surged through his veins.
Cells regenerated. Tissue stitched itself back together. Natsumis breath hitched as sensation returned in full forcehis body forced back from the brink of death, every severed nerve brought back to life just so they could be torn apart again.
His eye was placed back. He could see again. He wished he couldnt.
***
Time lost meaning.
There was only pain.
His skin was peeled off layer by layer. His flesh cut into ribbons, then sewn back together, then torn apart again. Blades torned apart his bones, peeling muscle from them as easily as unraveling silk. Every time he was healed, every time his body was put back together, it was only so it could be destroyed again.
He was burned until his skin blackened and split, then doused in boiling water that flayed the cooked flesh from his bones. He was drowned, his lungs filling with rancid water that burned and suffocated, only to be resuscitated and forced to endure it again.
Needles burrowed under his nailsoh, wait, he no longer had nails. Those had been torn out long ago. His fingertips were nothing but raw, exposed flesh, trembling as he twitched against the restraints.
Natsumis breath hitched, a single broken laugh escaping his lips before it dissolved into a choking sob.
He had fought for so long, clung to the tattered remnants of his mind, but now... now he was slipping.
Falling.
He could feel it.
The last pieces of himself shattering.
A deep, hollow numbness spread through him, deeper than the pain, deeper than the agony. It swallowed him whole, stripping him of everything until there was nothing left but an empty shell.
***
After what felt like hours to Natsumi, Zenshu finally stopped. He walked to the corner of the room, dragging a metallic chair behind him. The screeching of metal against the blood-slicked floor echoed, a sharp, grating noise that stabbed through the suffocating silence.
Soon enough, Zenshu stood in front of Natsumi. He placed the chair down with a deliberate slowness, the sound hollow and final, before lowering himself onto it. He sat there, unmoving, his golden eyes studying Natsumi in silence.
He noticed, for the first time, just how beautiful the boy was.
His delicate, short eyelashes trembled slightly. His hairfilthy, matted with blood, yet strangely soft in the dim lightframed his face in uneven strands. His lips, though cracked and bruised, still held a natural pink hue. His fragile, breakable body, trembling faintly under the weight of his suffering, looked as if it would shatter at the slightest touch.
Something unreadable flickered in Zenshus gaze.
Natsumi stirred. His eyesonce a vibrant cyan blueopened slowly, now dull, drained of all color, of all life. They were empty, listless, hollow. Devoid of anything human. His bangs fell over his face, partially veiling the remnants of what he once was.
Zenshu moved.
Without warning, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Natsumi in a firm, encompassing embrace.
Natsumis pupils dilated slightly, his breath hitching in the back of his throat. A dull, lingering fear twitched in the back of his fragmented mind, but his body was too broken to react. He remained still, too exhausted to resist.
Zenshus voice, low and filled with something almost resembling sorrow, whispered against his ear.
"I''m sorry. Ive done many cruel things to you but even then, will you forgive me?"
The words were soft, filled with regret and remorse.
But to Natsumi, they meant nothing.
He stared blankly, his vision hazy, his thoughts scattered. His mind was no longer functioning properlythoughts came in slow, disjointed fragments, flickering in and out of focus. He was contemplatingor at least, he thought he was. But in truth, his mind was already one flick away from breaking completely.
There was no space for forgiveness.
But... I still wanted to hate you.
I hate you.
I hate you the most.
The pain you inflicted on me You think Ill forget it? That Ill simply accept a meaningless apology?
Ahahahhahahhahahhahhahahh... Ohhh dont dont joke with me you waste of air.
You think its that simple?
Ah. The foolishness of these creatures called humans.
They chase after empty desires, even when they dont need them, simply for the sake of fun.
Do they think its fun? Messing with someones life?
Do you think its fun? Making someone suffer, subjecting them to inhumane horrors, only to turn around and ask for forgiveness?
If it were that simple, so many creatures wouldnt have been slaughtered. Murderers wouldnt kill without mercy. Hunters wouldnt carve their prey open with hollow eyes. Would you let them go if they begged for their life? If they pleaded, wept, screamed for mercy?
I don''t want this.
I never wanted this..
I...
But
I feel tired.
I feel empty.
Hollow.
Empty..
I cant keep up anymore...
The first thing it all started from that time freeze then to this?
Its too much.
I cant.
You...
Natsumi slowly lifted his head, pulling himself away from Zenshus embrace.
His lifeless cyan-white eyes met Zenshus golden ones.
Are
His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to speak, but no words came out. His head slumped forward, his bangs falling over his face, obscuring his expression. But it didnt matter.
Because to Zenshu, Natsumi was already broken beyond repair.
So
Then, in a voice so hollow it barely sounded human, Natsumi spoke.
"That... isn''t fair."
Pitiful.
At that moment, an immeasurable emptiness swallowed him whole.
His head fell forward again, shoulders sagging, breath slow and uneven.
Zenshu smirked.
He leaned in, wrapping his arms around Natsumi once more.
His hand found Natsumis head, fingers threading through his blood-streaked hair. Slowly, he began stroking it, the motion gentle. Rhythmic. Almost affectionate.
Natsumi, who had not felt warmthtrue warmthfor so long, instinctively relaxed.
His body melted into the touch, his broken mind grasping onto the fleeting comfort.
My body is hot
Zenshus fingers combed through his hair.
My mind is blank
"You did well."
Zenshus voice was soft. A whisper against the silence.
Something inside Natsumi cracked.
Tears welled up.
Not of blood. Not of pain.
But tears.
And for the first time in what felt like eternity Natsumi cried.
Zenshu leaned back slightly, still cradling Natsumis head with a touch that was neither cruel nor kind. His fingers combed through the boys blood-matted hair, slow and deliberate, as if handling something fragile. Something breakable. Something already broken.
"Okay," Zenshu murmured, voice as soft as silk.
"Now, can you tell me your name?"
Natsumis lips parted slightly, but no sound came out at first. His throat was raw, ruined by screams that had long since lost their strength. He struggled, his tongue feeling foreign in his mouth, his mind sluggish, thoughts like static crawling beneath his skull.
After a long pause, his voice came, barely more than a breath.
"..... Natsumi Tohka."
Zenshu smiled warmly.
In that moment, something shifted inside him.
Something fragile. Something desperate.
Something that should have never existed.
A need.
A longing.
A desire.
Zenshu leaned in closer, his lips hovering near Natsumis ear, his breath warm against his cold, battered skin.
"You did well, Natsumi," he whispered, and the way he said his nameso soft, so careful, as if it matteredsent something sharp and painful through Natsumis chest.
It hurt.
But it was a different kind of pain.
A pain he wanted.
A pain he needed.
Because in that moment, Zenshu was the only thing real.
The only thing that existed.
Everything elsehis past, his suffering, his identitywas distant, blurred, washed away in the presence of the man before him.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Zenshu had become his world.
He spoke to Natsumi for hours.
Softly. Gently. His voice never rose, never carried the sharp edges of cruelty. It was soothing. Lulling.
At first, Natsumi barely responded.
His head remained bowed, his eyes dull, his voice lifeless.
But Zenshu knew how to work around that.
"Natsumi," he said, voice almost affectionate, "you dont have to suffer anymore."
Natsumis fingers twitched.
"You dont have to feel pain. You dont have to be afraid. You dont have to be alone."
Alone.
Something inside Natsumi ached.
"You just have to listen to me," Zenshu continued, his voice weaving through the cracks of Natsumis fractured mind, finding the weak spots, the vulnerable places.
"You trust me, dont you?"
Natsumi hesitated.
Zenshu smiled.
"Of course you do."
His fingers stroked Natsumis hair again, a rhythmic, comforting motion, and Natsumi unconsciously leaned into it.
"You dont trust them, do you?"
Natsumi blinked slowly.
"The ones who left you here. The ones who abandoned you. The ones who let this happen to you."
Zenshus voice was like honey. Like poison wrapped in silk.
"They never cared about you. You were just a tool to them."
Something flickered in Natsumis blank eyes.
"They would have let you die. But I saved you, didnt I?"
Natsumis throat tightened.
"You belong with me, Natsumi."
The words sent a shiver down his spine.
"You dont belong to them. You never did."
Zenshu leaned in closer, his lips brushing against the shell of Natsumis ear.
"You belong to me."
The way he said itso sure, so certainmade something inside Natsumi snap.
Because he was right.
The world he once belonged tohis country, his comrades, his purposeit was gone.
And Zenshu was the only thing left.
Zenshu pulled back slightly, tilting Natsumis chin up, forcing him to meet his gaze.
"Now," he murmured, voice still gentle, "tell me everything you know."
Natsumi parted his lips.
And whispered:
"I dont know."
The words were automatic, ingrained. A reflex from a past self that no longer existed.
For a moment, Zenshu simply gazed at him.
Then, he sighed.
A soft, disappointed sound.
He rose to his feet, stepping back, his warmth suddenly gone.
"Thats unfortunate," he murmured, and turned away.
A sharp, cold panic clawed through Natsumis chest.
Wait.
No.
No...
He didn''t want him to go.
His body moved before his mind could catch up.
He lurched forward, the chains biting into his bruised wrists, his breath hitching.
"Wait"
Zenshu stilled.
But he didnt turn back.
"I dont have time to waste on something useless," he said, his voice empty now, devoid of the warmth from before. "If you have no value, then theres no reason for me to keep you."
The words sent a horrifying, ice-cold terror through Natsumis veins.
No.
No, no, no
He needed him.
The realization hit like a bullet to the skull.
He needed Zenshu.
More than anything.
More than air, more than life, more than himself.
He couldnt let him leave.
"Please" Natsumis voice cracked, his breathing ragged, desperation bleeding into every word. "Please dont go"
Zenshu turned his head slightly, golden eyes unreadable.
"You want me to stay?"
"Yes."
"Then prove your worth to me."
Natsumis breath hitched.
"Tell me what I want to know."
A war raged inside him.
A past self clawed at him, screaming, reminding him of who he was, what he stood for.
But that self was weak.
That self was nothing.
Zenshu had taken everything from him.
Slowly, Natsumi lifted his head.
Zenshu tilted his head, watching Natsumi with mild curiosity.
"You were about to say something."
Natsumi opened his mouth.
"I"
But before he could speak, Zenshu turned and slowly walked away and time froze.
Something inside Natsumi snapped.
His breath hitched. His pupils dilated. His body trembled, not from fear, not from painbut from something that familiar phenomenon.
He started laughing.
Soft at first. Then louder. And louder. A manic, guttural sound, raw and broken, echoing off the cold, blood-stained walls.
The chains rattled as he thrashed, his head snapping back, slamming into the chair. Crack. A fresh wound split open, blood seeping down his neck. He didn''t stop. Again and again and again and again and again and again and again ans again....
The chair groaned under the strain. The chains tore into his flesh, deep, jagged gashes forming as he ripped himself free. Skin peeled. Bone cracked. But it didn''t matter.
Pain no longer meant anything.
He stood up.
His body swayed, his limbs barely holding together, but he moved slowly toward Zenshu.
And then, he stared.
A long, heavy silence stretched between them.
But thenreality shattered.
Like glass, it fractured into infinite, cascading shards, each one reflecting something that shouldn''t exist. Small pieces of the world fell, spinning, twisting, distorting as they descended into nothingness.
And in one reflection
Natsumi saw himself.
A knife lodged deep in his stomach. Another piercing his heart. One jammed between his teeth, splitting his throat apart. His skull cracked open, exposing the fragile tissue of his brain.
His corpse lay still, eyes hollow, lips curved into a final, mocking grin.
The world twisted.
The laws of time and space bled together, no longer distinct. No longer bound. The third dimension cracked as something vast and unknowable ripped through the seams of reality. Atoms wavered, behaving in patterns beyond comprehension.
The universe itself stood before him, casting no shadow.
At that moment, something clicked in the shattered fragments of Natsumis mind.
A memory flashed through his mind..
He memory of him almost dying to the truck and this same phenomenon happening.
His thoughts spiraled. His mind, already fragile, fractured further.
Zenshu spun backwards sensing Natsumi''s presence and threw small knifes.
Natsumi out of pure instincts ducked left, his body reacting before his consciousness could catch up.
Zenshu looked at Natsumi, twin knives flashing in his hands.
"That..expression..your perception of time is disintegrating... Huh?"
Zenshu spoke as Time froze, again.
Natsumi felt emptiness.
His body crumpled, limbs too weak to hold him up. Blood poured from countless wounds, staining the floor beneath him. His heart pounded, erratic, desperate, struggling to keep up.
His thoughts distorted.
His consciousness swayed as everything became chromatic, and his thoughts grew fuzzy.
He couldn''t remember how long it had been since he dated a certain girl. But what was her name? He couldn''t rememberhis family, his life.
Each thought that slipped away sent a pulse of sheer panic through him.
His breathing grew rougher.
His heart slammed against his ribs, frantic, a desperate rhythm that could not last.
The world distorted further.
Colors bled into each other, shifting from vibrant hues to endless monochrome.
His vision darkened.
The excessive blood loss made his heart stopped pumping blood as thier was almost no blood left.
His blood Coagulated and cells froze in time.
As Natsumi''s eyes slowly closed as his consciousness faded until everything went blank.
To me... this looks like some kind of foul play.
Why would you even do this to me?
When I didn''t even do anything to you?
When I don''t know anything?
When I never met you?
When I never knew you?
When I never even wanted to know you?
When I never ever wanted to have anything to do with you?
When I never did anything.
Is this how... Is this how... Is this how... it feels to hate someone... to resent someone... to wish someone dead... to want them to suffer... to want to kill them... to make them suffer until their last breath?
You torture me you rip off my skin heal it back only to repeat the same process
AAAAAAAHHHAHAHHAHA... The pain.
It hurts... It hurts really bad...
I don''t want this...
I never wanted this.
Just kill me instead. Wouldn''t it be better for the both of us?
Hehehehehehehehehheh
I will make sure to make you suffer even if I forget you, even if I die, even if I cease to exist, even if you were to change...
Why?
Do I really care about someone or something?
No. I dont.
Aaahh. In the end, all of this will return to dust.
So all of this doesnt matter.
As I will succumb to eternal slumber.
No one will know any bounds.
These are just another foolish behavior of humans.
I know it... but I feel so empty and hollow right now...
Im tired...
I just... want to rest.
Kill me.
Natsumi''s body was trembling, but the chains forced him still. His vision swam, the world twisting into something unreal. His hearing was warping in and out, distant and muffled, yet unbearably sharp when pain ripped through him.
Blood dripped down his chin in thick, slow trails, his nose, ears, and mouth all leaking crimson. His hollow eyes barely focused on the blurred figure before him, the man with sickly golden eyes, the man who had become nothing more than a shadow of pain in his mind.
Natsumi had screamed, had begged, had cursed, had foughtnothing worked. His mind dangled on the edge of the abyss, stretched between agony and madness. He had lost count of how many times he had died, only to be dragged back to life, reset like a broken doll. His body was nothing more than a puppet of raw nerves, forced to feel, forced to endure.
The syringe gleamed in the dim light as it drew closer to his eye.
Natsumi''s breath hitched.
He thrashedor tried to. His body had long betrayed him, his movements sluggish and weak, barely able to lift his head. His throat was shredded from screaming, his lips cracked and swollen, his voice nothing but a hoarse, rattling breath.
The needle''s tip touched his pupil.
His body reacted before his mind could comprehend it, a guttural scream tearing its way out of him as his arms spasmed. His fingersraw, broken, nails torn offdug into his own palm, but the pain was insignificant compared to what followed.
The needle slid into his pupil.
A searing, unnatural pain exploded through his skull, burrowing deep into his brain like molten metal. His back arched violently, muscles convulsing against the chains as his nerves screamed louder than he could. His vision fracturedshards of light and darkness splintered apart, twisting into incomprehensible shapes. His breath hitched in his throat, choking him as if the pain itself had taken form and was strangling him from the inside.
His body writhed, his heel scraping against the blood-slicked floor as his breath came in ragged, broken gasps. Zenshus golden eyes gleamed with amusement as he pushed the syringe deeper, twisting it slightly.
Then, without hesitation, he yanked it out.
A wet, sickening squelch filled the air.
Natsumi''s head snapped back, his mouth open, but no sound came out. His body shook violently, his eye nothing but a black void, bleeding profusely down his cheek. His breath stuttered, his consciousness teetering on the edge.
Zenshu''s fingers curled in his hair, jerking his head forward.
His other hand reached toward Natsumis remaining eye, and before Natsumi could recover, a clawed hand, brutal and merciless, ripped his eye from its socket.
His body convulsed so violently that the chains groaned against the force, the chair beneath him screeching against the floor. Blood gushed freely, pouring down his face in thick, hot streams. His head lolled forward, his mouth opening and closing like a dying fish. His body was going into shock, yet the cruel hands of science wouldnt allow him the mercy of slipping into the abyss.
The syringe pressed against his temple this time.
A cold liquid surged through his veins.
Cells regenerated. Tissue stitched itself back together. Natsumis breath hitched as sensation returned in full forcehis body forced back from the brink of death, every severed nerve brought back to life just so they could be torn apart again.
His eye was placed back. He could see again. He wished he couldnt.
***
Time lost meaning.
There was only pain.
His skin was peeled off layer by layer. His flesh cut into ribbons, then sewn back together, then torn apart again. Blades torned apart his bones, peeling muscle from them as easily as unraveling silk. Every time he was healed, every time his body was put back together, it was only so it could be destroyed again.
He was burned until his skin blackened and split, then doused in boiling water that flayed the cooked flesh from his bones. He was drowned, his lungs filling with rancid water that burned and suffocated, only to be resuscitated and forced to endure it again.
Needles burrowed under his nailsoh, wait, he no longer had nails. Those had been torn out long ago. His fingertips were nothing but raw, exposed flesh, trembling as he twitched against the restraints.
Natsumis breath hitched, a single broken laugh escaping his lips before it dissolved into a choking sob.
He had fought for so long, clung to the tattered remnants of his mind, but now... now he was slipping.
Falling.
He could feel it.
The last pieces of himself shattering.
A deep, hollow numbness spread through him, deeper than the pain, deeper than the agony. It swallowed him whole, stripping him of everything until there was nothing left but an empty shell.
***
After what felt like hours to Natsumi, Zenshu finally stopped. He walked to the corner of the room, dragging a metallic chair behind him. The screeching of metal against the blood-slicked floor echoed, a sharp, grating noise that stabbed through the suffocating silence.
Soon enough, Zenshu stood in front of Natsumi. He placed the chair down with a deliberate slowness, the sound hollow and final, before lowering himself onto it. He sat there, unmoving, his golden eyes studying Natsumi in silence.
He noticed, for the first time, just how beautiful the boy was.
His delicate, short eyelashes trembled slightly. His hairfilthy, matted with blood, yet strangely soft in the dim lightframed his face in uneven strands. His lips, though cracked and bruised, still held a natural pink hue. His fragile, breakable body, trembling faintly under the weight of his suffering, looked as if it would shatter at the slightest touch.
Something unreadable flickered in Zenshus gaze.
Natsumi stirred. His eyesonce a vibrant cyan blueopened slowly, now dull, drained of all color, of all life. They were empty, listless, hollow. Devoid of anything human. His bangs fell over his face, partially veiling the remnants of what he once was.
Zenshu moved.
Without warning, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Natsumi in a firm, encompassing embrace.
Natsumis pupils dilated slightly, his breath hitching in the back of his throat. A dull, lingering fear twitched in the back of his fragmented mind, but his body was too broken to react. He remained still, too exhausted to resist.
Zenshus voice, low and filled with something almost resembling sorrow, whispered against his ear.
"I''m sorry. Ive done many cruel things to you but even then, will you forgive me?"
The words were soft, filled with regret and remorse.
But to Natsumi, they meant nothing.
He stared blankly, his vision hazy, his thoughts scattered. His mind was no longer functioning properlythoughts came in slow, disjointed fragments, flickering in and out of focus. He was contemplatingor at least, he thought he was. But in truth, his mind was already one flick away from breaking completely.
There was no space for forgiveness.
But... I still wanted to hate you.
I hate you.
I hate you the most.
The pain you inflicted on me You think Ill forget it? That Ill simply accept a meaningless apology?
Ahahahhahahhahahhahhahahh... Ohhh dont dont joke with me you waste of air.
You think its that simple?
Ah. The foolishness of these creatures called humans.
They chase after empty desires, even when they dont need them, simply for the sake of fun.
Do they think its fun? Messing with someones life?
Do you think its fun? Making someone suffer, subjecting them to inhumane horrors, only to turn around and ask for forgiveness?
If it were that simple, so many creatures wouldnt have been slaughtered. Murderers wouldnt kill without mercy. Hunters wouldnt carve their prey open with hollow eyes. Would you let them go if they begged for their life? If they pleaded, wept, screamed for mercy?
I don''t want this.
I never wanted this..
I...
But
I feel tired.
I feel empty.
Hollow.
Empty..
I cant keep up anymore...
The first thing it all started from that time freeze then to this?
Its too much.
I cant.
You...
Natsumi slowly lifted his head, pulling himself away from Zenshus embrace.
His lifeless cyan-white eyes met Zenshus golden ones.
Are
His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to speak, but no words came out. His head slumped forward, his bangs falling over his face, obscuring his expression. But it didnt matter.
Because to Zenshu, Natsumi was already broken beyond repair.
So
Then, in a voice so hollow it barely sounded human, Natsumi spoke.
"That... isn''t fair."
Pitiful.
At that moment, an immeasurable emptiness swallowed him whole.
His head fell forward again, shoulders sagging, breath slow and uneven.
Zenshu smirked.
He leaned in, wrapping his arms around Natsumi once more.
His hand found Natsumis head, fingers threading through his blood-streaked hair. Slowly, he began stroking it, the motion gentle. Rhythmic. Almost affectionate.
Natsumi, who had not felt warmthtrue warmthfor so long, instinctively relaxed.
His body melted into the touch, his broken mind grasping onto the fleeting comfort.
My body is hot
Zenshus fingers combed through his hair.
My mind is blank
"You did well."
Zenshus voice was soft. A whisper against the silence.
Something inside Natsumi cracked.
Tears welled up.
Not of blood. Not of pain.
But tears.
And for the first time in what felt like eternity Natsumi cried.
Zenshu leaned back slightly, still cradling Natsumis head with a touch that was neither cruel nor kind. His fingers combed through the boys blood-matted hair, slow and deliberate, as if handling something fragile. Something breakable. Something already broken.
"Okay," Zenshu murmured, voice as soft as silk.
"Now, can you tell me your name?"
Natsumis lips parted slightly, but no sound came out at first. His throat was raw, ruined by screams that had long since lost their strength. He struggled, his tongue feeling foreign in his mouth, his mind sluggish, thoughts like static crawling beneath his skull.
After a long pause, his voice came, barely more than a breath.
"..... Natsumi Tohka."
Zenshu smiled warmly.
In that moment, something shifted inside him.
Something fragile. Something desperate.
Something that should have never existed.
A need.
A longing.
A desire.
Zenshu leaned in closer, his lips hovering near Natsumis ear, his breath warm against his cold, battered skin.
"You did well, Natsumi," he whispered, and the way he said his nameso soft, so careful, as if it matteredsent something sharp and painful through Natsumis chest.
It hurt.
But it was a different kind of pain.
A pain he wanted.
A pain he needed.
Because in that moment, Zenshu was the only thing real.
The only thing that existed.
Everything elsehis past, his suffering, his identitywas distant, blurred, washed away in the presence of the man before him.
Zenshu had become his world.
He spoke to Natsumi for hours.
Softly. Gently. His voice never rose, never carried the sharp edges of cruelty. It was soothing. Lulling.
At first, Natsumi barely responded.
His head remained bowed, his eyes dull, his voice lifeless.
But Zenshu knew how to work around that.
"Natsumi," he said, voice almost affectionate, "you dont have to suffer anymore."
Natsumis fingers twitched.
"You dont have to feel pain. You dont have to be afraid. You dont have to be alone."
Alone.
Something inside Natsumi ached.
"You just have to listen to me," Zenshu continued, his voice weaving through the cracks of Natsumis fractured mind, finding the weak spots, the vulnerable places.
"You trust me, dont you?"
Natsumi hesitated.
Zenshu smiled.
"Of course you do."
His fingers stroked Natsumis hair again, a rhythmic, comforting motion, and Natsumi unconsciously leaned into it.
"You dont trust them, do you?"
Natsumi blinked slowly.
"The ones who left you here. The ones who abandoned you. The ones who let this happen to you."
Zenshus voice was like honey. Like poison wrapped in silk.
"They never cared about you. You were just a tool to them."
Something flickered in Natsumis blank eyes.
"They would have let you die. But I saved you, didnt I?"
Natsumis throat tightened.
"You belong with me, Natsumi."
The words sent a shiver down his spine.
"You dont belong to them. You never did."
Zenshu leaned in closer, his lips brushing against the shell of Natsumis ear.
"You belong to me."
The way he said itso sure, so certainmade something inside Natsumi snap.
Because he was right.
The world he once belonged tohis country, his comrades, his purposeit was gone.
And Zenshu was the only thing left.
Zenshu pulled back slightly, tilting Natsumis chin up, forcing him to meet his gaze.
"Now," he murmured, voice still gentle, "tell me everything you know."
Natsumi parted his lips.
And whispered:
"I dont know."
The words were automatic, ingrained. A reflex from a past self that no longer existed.
For a moment, Zenshu simply gazed at him.
Then, he sighed.
A soft, disappointed sound.
He rose to his feet, stepping back, his warmth suddenly gone.
"Thats unfortunate," he murmured, and turned away.
A sharp, cold panic clawed through Natsumis chest.
Wait.
No.
No...
He didn''t want him to go.
His body moved before his mind could catch up.
He lurched forward, the chains biting into his bruised wrists, his breath hitching.
"Wait"
Zenshu stilled.
But he didnt turn back.
"I dont have time to waste on something useless," he said, his voice empty now, devoid of the warmth from before. "If you have no value, then theres no reason for me to keep you."
The words sent a horrifying, ice-cold terror through Natsumis veins.
No.
No, no, no
He needed him.
The realization hit like a bullet to the skull.
He needed Zenshu.
More than anything.
More than air, more than life, more than himself.
He couldnt let him leave.
"Please" Natsumis voice cracked, his breathing ragged, desperation bleeding into every word. "Please dont go"
Zenshu turned his head slightly, golden eyes unreadable.
"You want me to stay?"
"Yes."
"Then prove your worth to me."
Natsumis breath hitched.
"Tell me what I want to know."
A war raged inside him.
A past self clawed at him, screaming, reminding him of who he was, what he stood for.
But that self was weak.
That self was nothing.
Zenshu had taken everything from him.
Slowly, Natsumi lifted his head.
Zenshu tilted his head, watching Natsumi with mild curiosity.
"You were about to say something."
Natsumi opened his mouth.
"I"
But before he could speak, Zenshu turned and slowly walked away and time froze.
Something inside Natsumi snapped.
His breath hitched. His pupils dilated. His body trembled, not from fear, not from painbut from something that familiar phenomenon.
He started laughing.
Soft at first. Then louder. And louder. A manic, guttural sound, raw and broken, echoing off the cold, blood-stained walls.
The chains rattled as he thrashed, his head snapping back, slamming into the chair. Crack. A fresh wound split open, blood seeping down his neck. He didn''t stop. Again and again and again and again and again and again and again ans again....
The chair groaned under the strain. The chains tore into his flesh, deep, jagged gashes forming as he ripped himself free. Skin peeled. Bone cracked. But it didn''t matter.
Pain no longer meant anything.
He stood up.
His body swayed, his limbs barely holding together, but he moved slowly toward Zenshu.
And then, he stared.
A long, heavy silence stretched between them.
But thenreality shattered.
Like glass, it fractured into infinite, cascading shards, each one reflecting something that shouldn''t exist. Small pieces of the world fell, spinning, twisting, distorting as they descended into nothingness.
And in one reflection
Natsumi saw himself.
A knife lodged deep in his stomach. Another piercing his heart. One jammed between his teeth, splitting his throat apart. His skull cracked open, exposing the fragile tissue of his brain.
His corpse lay still, eyes hollow, lips curved into a final, mocking grin.
The world twisted.
The laws of time and space bled together, no longer distinct. No longer bound. The third dimension cracked as something vast and unknowable ripped through the seams of reality. Atoms wavered, behaving in patterns beyond comprehension.
The universe itself stood before him, casting no shadow.
At that moment, something clicked in the shattered fragments of Natsumis mind.
A memory flashed through his mind..
He memory of him almost dying to the truck and this same phenomenon happening.
His thoughts spiraled. His mind, already fragile, fractured further.
Zenshu spun backwards sensing Natsumi''s presence and threw small knifes.
Natsumi out of pure instincts ducked left, his body reacting before his consciousness could catch up.
Zenshu looked at Natsumi, twin knives flashing in his hands.
Time froze, again.
Natsumi felt emptiness.
His body crumpled, limbs too weak to hold him up. Blood poured from countless wounds, staining the floor beneath him. His heart pounded, erratic, desperate, struggling to keep up.
His thoughts distorted.
His consciousness swayed as everything became chromatic, and his thoughts grew fuzzy.
He couldn''t remember how long it had been since he dated a certain girl. But what was her name? He couldn''t rememberhis family, his life.
Each thought that slipped away sent a pulse of sheer panic through him.
His breathing grew rougher.
His heart slammed against his ribs, frantic, a desperate rhythm that could not last.
The world distorted further.
Colors bled into each other, shifting from vibrant hues to endless monochrome.
His vision darkened.
The excessive blood loss made his heart stopped pumping blood as thier was almost no blood left.
His blood Coagulated and cells froze in time.
As Natsumi''s eyes slowly closed as his consciousness faded until everything went blank.
Shattered Real!ty — Dust! 『 9 』
Chapter 9;??
Shattered Real!ty Dust! 9
Zenshu didn''t knew what was going on as he wondered what he was doing here.
He walked oustide and saw Hatsuki standing, his silhouette sharp against the dim, overcast sky.His eyes, narrowed as Zenshu approached. Without a word, he handed him the suitcase.. Hatsuki''s brow furrowed in confusion but he accepted it as concluding that he must have given to him for some reason.
The Third World War did not begin with a declaration of war, nor with grand speeches from world leaders. It began with a single bullet.
When North Koreas Supreme Leader, Kim Dong-un, was assassinated in his underground bunker, the world barely had time to react. The killing was orchestrated by operatives from a fractured European factionone of many rogue organizations vying for power in the political chaos of the early 21st century. With the dictator dead, North Koreaa nation already on the brinkdescended into turmoil.
The power vacuum sparked civil war within North Korea. Factions rose and fell in rapid succession, each vying for control. The government, desperate to maintain order, cracked down with brutal force. Yet in its desperation, it only hastened its own downfall. The oppressed masses, long silenced under the weight of totalitarian rule, took up arms. What began as disorganized uprisings soon coalesced into a revolution. The people no longer fought for freedom alonethey fought for vengeance. The identity of the assassins no longer mattered; the mere fact that a foreign entity had dared to interfere was enough to ignite the flames of nationalism. The streets of Pyongyang ran red with blood, and the world watched in stunned silence.
The silence did not last long.
With no clear leadership and its own military fractured, North Korea sought to unify its people the only way it knew how: war. It declared an all-out assault on Europe, framing the assassination as an act of war by Western imperialists. Fueled by rage, desperation, and its long-standing distrust of foreign powers, North Korea launched a relentless military offensive. Missiles rained down on European cities. The first strike alone claimed over 4.7 million lives, reducing historic capitals to smoldering ruins. What was meant to be a show of strength only provoked an even greater response.
The war spread like an unchecked wildfire. South Korea, seeing an opportunity amid the chaos, turned its gaze toward Japan. The island nation, still recovering from decades of political instability, was an easy target. The conflict spiraled out of control. Sensing imminent destruction, Japan, South Korea, and China set aside their differences to form the Asian Alliancea fragile coalition bound by survival rather than trust. Only 54% of Asia joined, the rest choosing neutrality or isolation. But neutrality was a death sentence. Nearly 20% of those neutral nations were obliterated within the first year, wiped from existence in the face of relentless nuclear devastation. The remaining 36% clung to existence, battered and broken.
With the Asian Alliance desperately seeking reinforcements, they turned to Russia. But Russia had no intention of standing beside its neighbors. It had its own ambitions, and Europe had already extended its hand. When Russia formally allied itself with the European forces, the world was irreversibly divided. What had begun as a regional conflict had now erupted into a planetary war.
North Korea responded in the only way it could: with annihilation. Knowing it could not win a prolonged war, it gambled everything on a single move. With its missile silos emptied and its cities crumbling, it launched its final weaponone that had long been whispered about but never confirmed. The Demon''s Wrath. A nuclear device of unprecedented power, dwarfing even the Tsar Bomba in sheer destructive capability. It was not a weapon of conquest. It was a weapon of spite.
The bomb detonated over the heart of the United States. Half of America was consumed in an instant. The land burned, reduced to a lifeless wasteland of irradiated ruins. Cities that had once stood as monuments to human progress were erased, their histories lost in the radioactive wind. The world had known nuclear warfare before, but never on this scale. The very fabric of the planet seemed to shudder beneath the weight of its destruction.
Nature itself rebelled. The delicate balance that had sustained life for millennia collapsed. Dormant volcanoes, long thought to be relics of the past, roared back to life, spewing magma tainted with lethal radiocarbon gases. Within a 218-kilometer radius, life ceased to exist, suffocated beneath the toxic clouds. Massive tornadoes, unlike anything ever recorded, carved paths of destruction across continents. The oceans churned, their once-blue waters blackened by pollution and blood. The Earth''s crust, weakened by years of relentless warfare and nuclear detonations, began to fracture. Cities that had stood for centuries were swallowed whole by gaping chasms, vanishing into the abyss. The very core of the planet trembled, its electromagnetic field growing unstable, leaving the Earth vulnerable to cosmic radiation.
In the chaos, North Korea itself fellnot to foreign invaders, but to a force far older. The British Empire, once thought to be a relic of history, reclaimed its place in an unexpected resurgence. With North Koreas infrastructure already in ruins, British forces moved in with calculated precision, subjugating the fractured nation under colonial rule. But even their victory was short-lived. China, having spent years perfecting its nano-tech weaponry, unleashed a countermeasure that left no room for resistance. The British forces were annihilated, their bodies reduced to dust before they could even register their own deaths.
The war had lasted only a handful of years, but in that time, it had undone centuries of human progress. The Earth''s axis tilted slightlya change so minute that it should have been inconsequential. But even the smallest shift had catastrophic consequences. Seasons became erratic, entire ecosystems collapsed, and what little food sources remained grew increasingly scarce.A nuclear winter came. Those who survived the initial devastation found themselves in a world unrecognizable from the one they once knew. Fortified enclaves became the last bastions of humanity, each one its own isolated kingdom, ruled by warlords and remnants of governments clinging to the last vestiges of power.
The origins of the war faded into obscurity. For those who lived through it, the reasons no longer mattered. What had started as an act of assassination had spiraled into a conflict so vast, so absolute, that no one could remember a time before it. The few historians who remained debated endlesslywas this inevitable? Had humanity always been on a path to self-destruction? Or had it all been orchestrated by unseen hands, pulling the strings from the shadows? Theories ran wild, but the truth was as unreachable as peace itself.
The world had become a graveyard. The scars of war stretched across every continent, each ruin a silent monument to the arrogance of man. The sky, once blue, was now a sickly shade of red, a reflection of the blood that had been spilled. Rivers ran black with toxins, their waters undrinkable. The air was thick with the scent of decay, of burned flesh and broken dreams.
But in the end, none of it mattered.
Hatsuki thought as he rememberd why was he even fighting in the first place.
Hatsuki, who had heard the siren, destroyed the chip and ran toward the campsite. The moment the device shattered in his grasp, something imperceptible yet overwhelming rippled through the air. It was a signala silent, unseen command sent across the battlefield, transmitted directly into the neural interfaces embedded in every soldiers brain.
As if possessed, the soldiers, their eyes hollow and devoid of thought, moved in perfect synchronization. Without hesitation, they gathered in rigid formation, standing in rows as straight as a blade''s edge. The silence between them was deafening. These were men and women who had long since abandoned their own will, their minds shackled to the war machine that had consumed the world.
Then, the sky darkened.
From beyond the horizon, colossal airships, each larger than the entire island of Okinawa, loomed overhead. Their metal frames glistened under the dim, polluted sunlight, casting massive shadows that swallowed the land beneath them. The low hum of anti-gravity thrusters reverberated through the air, a mechanical heartbeat of war.
Floating mechas, their forms sleek and menacing, descended from above, their jet propulsion systems leaving burning trails of blue light in the sky. Each one was equipped with weaponry that far surpassed conventional understandingnanite guns, energy-based artillery, and defensive barriers capable of withstanding nuclear blasts. The soldiers below remained motionless, their uniforms black as the void, rifles gripped tightly at their sides. Behind them, the medical teams stood at attention, their faces unreadable beneath their augmented visors.
And then, the commander stepped forward.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Kyotaro stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the assembled ranks, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.
"This war did not begin with strategy or necessity. It began with something far simplersomething pathetic. A desire. A whisper in the dark that festered into a storm."
The soldiers remained motionless, their breaths shallow, their eyes locked onto him.
"We are creatures of contradiction. Gifted with reason, yet slaves to instinct. Capable of understanding, yet bound by selfishness. Wewho dream of peaceare the very architects of war. We, who call ourselves civilized, have reduced our world to ash, not in ignorance, but in full awareness of our crimes. And yet we marched forward, as if fate had already decided that reason would always kneel before desire.
"We claim to cherish life, yet we hesitate when it is in our power to save it. Again and again, we look upon suffering and ask, *What can I do?* And again and again, we do nothing. We tell ourselves we are powerless until regret gnaws at our soulsbut regret is the currency of the weak. The world does not care for hesitation, nor does it grant mercy to those who wait for righteousness to prevail.
"Some fought against this tide of destruction. Some tried to salvage what remained. But peace has never been written into the laws of existence. It is not a natural state. It is an illusionone that crumbles the moment the strong decide it no longer serves them. We waited for reason to triumph, but reason never came. We waited for justice, but justice was never ours to claim.
"And so, we stopped waiting.We looked upon those who had taken everything from us and understood a simple truth: they are not our enemies because they are different. They are our enemies because they chose to be. Because they stood upon the ruins of what was once ours and called it their victory. They did not hesitate. They did not wait. They carved their will into history and left us with nothing but bones and dust."
Kyotaro raised his arm, his voice now an unshakable force.
"Today, we will carve our will into history. Not with words. Not with reason. But with fire and steel. Today, we fightnot for peace, not for ideals, but because we refuse to kneel. We fight because we must. We fight because they left us no other choice!"
A roar erupted from the soldiers, their voices shaking the very earth beneath them.
"WE FIGHT!!!!"
The sound swallowed the wasteland, drowning out the wind, the distant hum of war machines, the cold silence of a dying world.
"We will not forgive! We will not forget!!!!"
"WE WILL MAKE THEM SUFFER!!!!"
Another eruption of voices.
Kyotaro closed his eyes for a brief moment. Perhaps, in another life, he might have been someone who chose differently. But in this world, in this moment, there was only one path left.
He opened his eyes.
"FORWARD!!!" As the echoes of their battle cry faded into the cold, a man stepped forward. His hair was a striking shade of red, his sharp eyes hidden behind the glare of his glasses. His movements were deliberate, his posture betraying nothing of his thoughts. He adjusted his glasses with a single push of his fingers before speaking.
"You know it''s pointless."
Xian Wus voice was smooth, calm, as if he were merely stating an undeniable fact.
Another man joined hima figure with golden blond hair, a long scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. His presence was different, almost unbothered, like the eye of a storm. He smirked.
"After all, the world is a wasteland now."Ji-Hwan''s voice was lower, edged with something dangerously close to amusement.
Kyotaro did not turn to them. Instead, he let the silence stretch, as if allowing their words to settle in the air. Then, he spoke.
"I know."
His voice was steady.
"The world, power, this warit doesnt matter anymore."
He turned his head slightly, just enough for them to see the flicker of something burning deep in his eyes.
"But do you think I would let scum like them win? Do you think I would let them rule over whats left of us?"
The two men exchanged glances.
And then, they laughed.
Then, together, they nodded.
And in unison, the three commanders spoke.
"Today, we will win this war!"
***
The war raged on, an orgy of violence stretching across continents. The sky was thick with smoke and death, its once-vivid blue now a rotting expanse of red and black. Above the battlefield, the Russian airships loomed, their metallic husks swallowing the dying light, casting twisted shadows over the ruined earth. The Asian forces surged forward, their mechanized behemoths carving through ranks of flesh and steel alike.
The earth quaked beneath their march.
Russia had not begun this war. It had merely played its part, as all nations did, shackled to the relentless script of history. It had defended itself, fought to exist in a world that had already decided its fate. Its soldiers, gaunt from rationing, frostbitten from the ever-looming nuclear winter, clung to their rifles not out of loyalty but out of habit. They had long ceased to believe in victory. In their trenches, among the bones of their comrades, they whispered not of patriotism but of the days before, when the cold had not bitten so deep, when laughter had not been an alien sound.
But the Asian Alliance did not stop. It could not. The weight of the dead pressed against them, pushing them forward. It was no longer about victory. It was about erasure. The last act of defiance in a world that had already condemned itself. The final offensive was swift, brutal, and without mercy. The Russian line shattered like glass beneath a hammer. Their commanders, realizing the inevitable, issued a final orderone that had been anticipated since the wars inception. Not surrender. Not retreat.
Extermination.
The Russian forces, unwilling to hand their homeland to those they saw as conquerors, activated their fail-safes. Underground silos, once considered relics of a bygone era, roared back to life. Warheads, programmed with coordinates etched in desperation, screamed into the heavens. They did not target military installations. They did not aim for strategic advantage. They sought annihilation. To deny their enemies the very land they fought for.
And then the world burned.
Germany had already collapsed. The European forces, fractured and leaderless, were a mockery of their former power. They fought among themselves, nations once allies now devouring each other in the absence of structure. The nuclear winter had come, and with it, starvation. Germany, once the pinnacle of order, had become a tomb where the dead outnumbered the living. Those who remained did so at a cost no rational mind could accept. In the ruins of Berlin, tongues were ripped from the mouths of the weak, their screams denied even the dignity of sound. The law had dissolved. Morality was a forgotten concept. The strong took, and the weak gave.
The last Russian stronghold fell, not with a fight, but with silence. When the Asian forces entered, expecting resistance, they found only emptiness. Empty streets. Empty homes. Empty people. The survivors did not resist. They merely stared, their bodies hollowed out by famine and radiation.
A soldier would pause mid-step, looking at his hands in confusion, as if some unseen force had plucked away at the seams of his existence. Flesh turned to dust. Bone crumbled into the wind. It spread like a whisper through the ranks. An entire battalion reduced to nothingness in the space of minutes. Across the world, the same fate unfolded. Cities, already on the brink of ruin, became graveyards in an instant. The victors, the defeated, the innocent, the guiltynone were spared. The war had been won. And in winning, they had lost everything.
Kyotaro stood among the ruins, his boots sinking into the ash that had once been his men. He did not move. There was nowhere to go. He did not speak. There was no one left to hear him. The world had become a wasteland. He had fought for power, for vengeance, for somethingthough he could no longer remember what. And now there was nothing.
Xian Wus voice, once calm, was gone. Ji-Hwans laughter had died long before his body did. The silence stretched, endless, unbearable. It was not death that terrified Kyotaro. It was the realization that even in death, there would be nothing. No reincarnation. No afterlife. Just the oblivion he had fought so hard to outrun.
Was this inevitable? Had humanity always been running toward its own destruction, blind to the cliffs edge? Or had they simply been pushed, by unseen hands, by whispers in the dark that had steered them toward ruin? Were they ever truly free? Or had history merely repeated itself in an infinite cycle, each iteration believing itself unique while marching the same path as those before?
The war had not mattered. The suffering had not mattered. The victors had not mattered. In the end, the nothing matterd.
Kyotaro closed his eyes as he took his last breath.
Eventually, he died.
After some time, not a single living organism remained on Earth.
No trace of humanity endured.
Billions of years later, the Sun expanded into a red giant, swallowing Earth along with the rest of the solar system.
And after an unfathomable stretch of time, the universe itself withered. Every star burned out, leaving only black holes, which, too, eventually exhausted their energy and faded away, until nothing remained.
Dark matter was the last to persist.
And thentime unfroze for Natsumi.
He floated in emptiness, if it could even be called that.
His consciousness flickered.
Time had lost its meaning.
Time reversed for him, forcing him to witness the birth of the universe. Then, it resumed its course, dragging him toward its inevitable end.
He watched as everything turned to dust.
I saw humanity, over and over again, clawing at existence, shaping and destroying their world, as they desperately tried to build something lasting, only for entropy to tear it down.
As the cycle reached its conclusion.
I saw their joys and their sorrows, their lies and their truths, their murders and their suicides, their dreams and their despairs. No matter how cruel or kind they had been, no matter their sins or their virtues, they all shared one thing in commonThey struggled to live.
Through suffering, through cruelty, through fleeting moments of hope, they fought against the void, even when they wanted to give up. Even when the weight of existence crushed them, they kept moving forward, in one way or another.
Humans are simpleyet impossibly complex creatures.
Even nothingness was turning to dust. Even dark matter faded.
And as the final remnants of darkness crumbled, something impossible emerged from beyond it.
My vision wavered.
There, beyond the empty universe, lay something else. Not emptiness. Not silence. But scattered pinpricks of light in the abyss.
Ah...
My pupils dilated in reverse as I realizedeach light was another universe.
How pretty..
A smile formed on my lips as my body disintegrated, merging with the void.
And I faded into nothingness.
And nothingness faded into something beyond reality.
And that reality dissolved into something beyond nothingness.
And that nothingness twisted into something beyond comprehension.
But Natsumi''s soul did not fully fade away as it was already broken beyond any recovery and drifted through the emptiness of the blank universe, finding itself in the fifth dimension.
Our broken constellations
Chapter 10;????
Our broken constellations
???????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?
2
I''m drowning...
Help me..
Its suffocating..
I can''t breath..
Its dark...
It hurts...
Its cold..
I hate it.....
Ah. Its that dream again.
The same dream that haunts me from time to time. I know it, yet I dont. It feels like a memorybut not mine. They belong to "me," but at the same time, they dont.
What are these memories?
All I see is "me" waking up, staring at a book filled with black-and-white images. The pages are highly detailed, depicting strange figurespirates, perhapswho ate devil fruits and searched for something called the "One Piece." But I couldnt quite understand it. The words were unfamiliar, strange symbols with rigid strokes. The "me" in the dream called it "kanji," and the book"manga."
As "I" read, a presence entered the room. A girl, dressed in a maid uniform. Myabe she work there. "I" closed the manga, and we spoke. I dont remember the words, only the emotions. Then, suddenly, "my" blank, lifeless eyes filled with tears. "I" ran. Ran outside, through a world that felt familiar yet alien.
The next thing I knew, "I" arrived at what "I" called a "hospital." Walking up the sterile white stairs, "I" reached a door and stepped inside. A girl lay on the bedlong black hair, pale skin, eyes void of color.
"My" heart clenched.
"I" believed it was "my" little brother but clearly It wad "my" little sister.. How strange.
The nurse entered and said something.
"My" breath grew shallow, legs trembling, vision blurring. "I" stumbled back.
"I" denied her words, refused to believe them.
Then, she woke up.
The moment her eyes opened, "I" rushed forward and called her name which was apparently Yuki. Forced a smile, despite the way my chest ached. Told her "my" name.
She only was more confused than before.
She didn''t remember "me."
A dull pain spread through "my" chest, deeper than grief. Despair settled in. But instead of breaking, "I" was consumed by "my" delusions.
If "I" am the fallen angel, then "I" must, cannot, will not never break.
"I" visited every day. Sat by her side, soothed her fears. Read to her, played games with her. Told her storiesof pirates, of shinobies, of adventures in far-off worlds.
Months passed. Five, maybe more. Yuki grew attached to "me."
But "I" visited less and less.
At first, it was every few days. Then once a month. Then, after a yearbarely at all. "I" had graduated from something called "high school."
Yuki noticed. She grew anxious, distressed whenever "I" wasnt there. Perhaps that was my plan all alongto make sure at least one person never forgot me. Maybe it was because everyone else had already forgotten, leaving me in the dark, alone. Or maybe it was because the pressurethe expectationshad become unbearable.
Maybe it was because "I" had forgotten how to be human.
Maybe it was because "I" was simply tired.
??????
Life didnt hate me, nor did I hate life.
????I was just tired of life; life was tired of me.
??????
??
"I" isolated myself, scummbing to loneliness, insanity consuming "me", until "I" was nothing more than a hollow puppet.
But through it all, "I" clung to one thing called Isekai.
Being transported to another world.
The idea obsessed me. Consumed me. "I" drowned in every game, every manga, every anime, every novel, and every single way.
Why?
Was I tired of life?
No. That wasnt it.
Maybe it didnt matter. There were people worse off than me. People suffering, starving, abandoned, tortured. I had no right to complain. And yet Why did it hurt so much?
I was losing hope as "I" couldn''t hold on any more.
And then Vetaback released, and I heard someone call me for breakfast.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Huh?
Breakfast?
I slowly opened my eyes. The view was centric and a little blurry, the colors chromatic, and the white ceiling felt familiar, yet there was something strange about it. The air felt suffocating but strangely calm.
The reflection of the sunlight made its way through the window, and the sound of birds chirping created a peaceful atmosphere. My eyes hadnt fully opened yet as I slowly moved my hand up and saw it reaching for the ceilingit couldn''t
Ah. I just remembered. Today is the day I finally become a hero.
So, I got up, walked out of bed, and went downstairs to the bathroom. After I was done with my business, I washed my listless facemy eyes, dull from tiredness, became energetic again. I brushed my teeth and went to the dining room, where a delicate scent was coming from the kitchen. I walked closer, pulled the chair back a bitwhich was hard for meand sat down. Soon, Miyuki came and sat down as well. There was soup in the middle with some bread slices and plates.
Miyuki passed the soup to me as I ate the bread with it. Normally, I would only eat bread, but since today was a special day, Miyuki had made soup for me.
"Natsumi, are you really sure about this?"
He spoke with a sad voice, almost as if he didnt want me to go.
"Mmm."
I nodded in response.
"Natsumi Tohka, think about this again! This is not some sort of roleplay. Your mom and dad met in the academy, but they still died because of them. There will be no going back once you enter it. You''re still a young boydon''t waste your childhood on something that will get you killed!"
Miyuki spoke as tears ran down his old eyes. He was taking too much stress at his age, which wasnt good. He was already sweating and panting a lot.
"Miyuki, take a break I have already made my final decision. Whether I die or live, it all depends on my choices, so don''t worry, okay?"
Also, I wanted to figure out what those strange dreams Id been having meant. Those dreams felt similar to me, but they werent mine. And at that academy, I would be able to learn magic, which made me feel even more compelled to go there for some reason.
I should be telling him that But that would just stress him out even more, which isnt good for his health.
"I''m asking one final time Are you really going? Also, call me Grandpa, not Miyuki."
He spoke with a burning resolve, and I knew itif I didnt have the resolve, I would just die as a random guy.
And by the way, theres no way Im calling him Grandpa. Its way too embarrassing.
"Mmm."
So, I nodded as hard as I could, smashing my head into the desk.
Ouch. That really hurts.
I lifted my head and saw Miyuki panicking, bringing a cloth and some ointment to apply to my forehead. I dont know why, but seeing him made me smile.
After that, we talked for a while, reminiscing about old memoriesstories from before I was born, about how he was just a random guy who had enrolled in the academy in pursuit of dominating the world. He was an arrogant, selfish person who didnt care about anyone until he met my mom, Rinko, and my dad, Cid. Miyuki got beaten by them, and later, they became friends.
It was quite fun hearing about my mom and dadpeople whose faces I had never even seen. Still, I would like to meet them.
We talked for a while, and after we finished, I decided I was going to tell him about the dreams Id been having. But as soon as I was about to, he refused and told me,
"If you have any secrets you dont want to tell anyone, you dont have to. If its hard to talk about, then dont."
So, I didnt speak. I just continued listening to him.
But alas, it was finally time for me to go.
I wore my uniform and the rin that had a dark looking crystal on it that he had given me, which would apparently protect me.
I walked out the door, and Miyuki stood there, crying, saying goodbye to me. He couldnt come with me because he was old, and because of my stubbornnessI didnt want to make him tired.
"Take care, Grandpa!"
I shouted as I was already far away from home and ran forward.
I looked back to see his face with a smile.
It seemed like he had heard me.
He was shouting something, and I could tell that he was tell me to take care of myself.
***
Its been a few days since I left home, and Im this close to leaving the forest.
Miyuki had explained that we lived in the middle of a secluded part of the forestan isolated place where no one else lived because he didnt want me to get hurt. The only human interactions I had were with him. So, I had to navigate the dense forest, find my way out, climb the mountains, get on a carriage, venture through the plains, reach a town, and then, finally, I would arrive at the academy.
Ah I just realized how hard this is going to be, traveling alone.
I had traveled with Miyuki before, but that was five years ago! A lot has changed in those five years, you know? And my memory hasnt been that good latelyIve been forgetting a lot of things, probably because of those dreams. I shouldve made him come with me as well, but well, the past cant be changed. And I still believe taking the risk myself was a better choice than making him take it.
For the past few days, Ive been drinking water from the bottle that appears from the subspace in the ring on my right hand. Unlike the other black ring Miyuki gave me, this one is from my parents. It has a built-in subspace that allows me to store some things. I dont know its maximum capacitynot even Miyuki knew.
Anyway, Ive used up a bit of my water and food supply. The wildlife here is calm; there are no monsters. All Ive seen are Lustrous Rabbits, Twelve-Moon Deers, and some other common animals. They are lethal, but as long as you dont provoke or annoy them, youll be fine.
And while I was lost in my monologue, the sun had already set. It was getting dark.
Miyuki always told me its dangerous to be out at night, so I climbed a tree and lay on its thick branches, hoping no monsters would notice my presence.
That was when I encountered a Lustrous Rabbit.
It had the appearance of a rabbit, but with fangs, blood-red eyes, and a tail made of pure Xaichroniuma super rare metal with a mesmerizing rainbow hue. Most of them even have gems embedded in their bodies, making them highly sought after. People hunt these creatures down for their Xaichronium, which is used for various purposescrafting swords, enhancing total magic power, and even as a combustion device that overloads with magic and explodes.
Despite its fearsome reputation, I reached out and petted the rabbit.
Surprisingly, its fur was soft, not hard as I had expected.
It kind of seemed to like me.
But then the little bastard betrayed me and ran away.
After weeks of venturing through the forest, I finally made it out.
And now, as I stood before the towering peaks, the road that was at the side of the rocks and steps it was.
This doesn''t seem too bad..
I walked along the sloped path of the mountainside, my steps careful and steady. The wind was relentless at this altitude, howling like a beast hungry for anything daring to stand against it. Each gust sent a shiver down my spine, threatening to push me off balance. It only grew stronger the higher I climbed, until at some point, the river below wasnt even visible anymorejust an endless stretch of rocky cliffs and empty sky.
The path eventually straightened out, but that didnt make it any safer. Cracks littered the ground, deep enough to hint at the unstable earth beneath my feet. Loose stones crumbled away with every step. And as if that wasnt enough, falling rocks occasionally came tumbling down from above, smashing into the ground with a force that made my bones tremble.
Just like Miyuki said There could be flying monsters here.
Or, as people called them, dragons.
I was curious whether I would see one.
But I didnt...
I continued walking, but after a while, I decided to take a break.
I sat down for a moment and eventually fell asleep.
After some time, I woke up, jolted by the fear of accidentally falling.
Its been strange
Those dreams
They dont feel like mine, yet somehow, they resonate with something deep inside me.
Whenever I talk about magic or anything related to it, theres this overwhelming sense of enthusiasmlike Ill miss something if I dont act, like something I need to do forever.
Whenever I feel like opening up to others, a sudden pressure fills my chest, warning me not to trust anyone, not to believe in anything..
Sometimes, I feel like I have lost something I can never get back.
But the strangest thing of all..
I have this strong, unshakable feeling that people will forget about me.
That I shouldnt get attached to them.
Well.
I should find out more once I reach that academy.
I exhaled sharply and reached my right hand forward. The blue gem on my ring gleamed, reacting to my will. A faint ripple appeared in the aira rift in space. And from it, a water bottle emerged.
I grabbed it and took a long sip, letting the cold water soothe my parched throat.
Then, just as I was about to stand up my foot slipped.
And before I could react, I fell.
The world spun as I tumbled down the valley, gravity pulling me into a freefall.
But at the last moment, my hand shot out, gripping onto a jutting rock.
My body jerked to a stop, hanging over the deadly drop below.
My fingers groaned under the strain as they clung desperately to the rough surface of the rock
Cracks began to spread across its surface, jagged lines spreading like a dark omen. Tiny fragments of stone broke free, tumbling away into the abyss below.
Author''s Note:
Originally, I was not going to make it this slow paced but looking back,it wad pretty fast paced so I decided to make it a bit longer. I would try my best to finish volume 1 as soon as possible so I can write other novels I have planned for.