The morning sun cast a warm glow through my window as I blinked awake. I instinctively reached for my phone, squinting at the screen. 7:00
After a quick shower and breakfast, I rushed to school eager to check on Tsubasa.
As I stepped into the classroom my eyes immediately found her. Tsubasa was standing tall completely ignoring Sakura who was still trying to get under her skin. A smirk tugged at my lips. She should have done that a long time ago.
I walked up to Sakura and without hesitation said, "Don't bother her anymore."
She crossed her arms her lips curling into a mocking smile. Here we go…
"What are you now? Her boyfriend? Or her so-called bodyguard?" she sneered.
I shook my head. "She's my friend. Just leave her alone."
Sakura clicked her tongue in irritation and turned on her heel. "Whatever. Suit yourself," she muttered before storming off.
I turned to Tsubasa grinning. "Good job Tsubasa. Did you see her face? Priceless."
Tsubasa chuckled her gaze softer than usual. "Thank you Haruto."
"For what?" I asked.
"For everything."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "I didn't really do anything. You made the choice yourself. I just told you what I felt was right."
Tsubasa smiled but didn't say anything. There was something different about her expression something… shy? But I didn't dwell on it too much. I don't understand girls.
"Oi Haruto, what are you smiling about?" Yahiko's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Nothing. Just thinking about something," I replied.
Yahiko smirked. "Huh? Thinking about po..!
"Ahem! What are you two doing outside? Get inside the class!" our teacher barked.
"Yes ma'am," we both replied with exaggerated sighs before heading in.
As the bell rang for lunch break I sprinted to the canteen. Today was Wednesday. That meant the special Tarito was on sale. I hadn't eaten it in years and I was determined to get my hands on it.
But by the time I arrived the counter was empty.
I let out a deep sigh. "If only I had run faster…"
"Hm? Haruto, what are you doing here?" Tsubasa's voice pulled me out of my misery.
I turned to her defeated. "I wanted to eat the Tarito but it's already sold out."
She tilted her head slightly. "Oh? Well… do you want to share mine?"
I blinked. "No no, it's fine. It's really hard to get and you bought it for yourself."
Tsubasa crossed her arms. "Actually, I wasn't feeling well after this morning so I stayed at the nurse's office. That's how I got here first. And… it's kinda big for me to finish alone."
"…Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't," she huffed shoving half of the Tarito into my hands.
I chuckled. "Then… thanks."
She nodded before hesitating for a second. Then in a quieter voice she asked, "Hey Haruto… can we exchange contacts?"
I blinked in surprise before quickly nodding. "Yeah sure."
We exchanged numbers and she smiled slightly.
"Oh by the way… can we go home together? Like yesterday?"
I smiled."Why not?"
After class we walked home together. When I arrived my mom greeted me with a warm smile.
"What do you want for dinner?" she asked.
"Pork," I answered without hesitation.
She nodded. "Alright. But we don't have any. Can you go buy some?"
I grabbed the money and headed to the market.
On the way I noticed an old woman struggling with a heavy load on her back. Without thinking I stepped forward.
"Need help ma'am?" I asked politely.
She turned to me and said remember it who you are."
A cold chill ran down my spine. I spun around instantly nothing.
When I turned back the old lady was gone.
"…Where did she go?" I muttered. But before I could think too much about it I remembered the pork. If I didn't hurry it would be sold out.
As I reached the butcher's shop an eerie feeling washed over me. The air felt heavy and the shop owner stood silently behind the counter chopping meat with an unsettling precision.
"…Uh, can I get three kilograms of pork?" I asked.
He didn't respond. He simply wrapped the meat took the money I placed on the table and continued his work without a word.
I left the shop as fast as I could.
That night after dinner I lay in bed still thinking about the old lady's words.
"Remember who I am?."
Then
Next morning
A deep unease settled in my chest but I pushed it aside. Not thinking much of it..
"Wake up Haruto!"
I groaned. Mom's voice was way too loud this early.
"It's already 8! You're going to be late!"
"What?! 8?!"
I grabbed a piece of toast and bolted to school barely making it on time. Yahiko equally breathless smirked beside me.
"Cutting it close today huh?"
Before I could respond we both noticed something interesting Sakura and her boyfriend were arguing.
We exchanged amused glances.
"Haha, look at them," Yahiko snickered. "That's why I don't do relationships."
I grinned. "Nah, you just can't get the girl you like."
"Shut up Haruto."
"It's the truth accept it."
"Ehhh just shut up already."
I laughed.
Then our teacher entered the classroom with an announcement.
"Today we're selecting the class representative."
I didn't give any attention cause I never got selected and wasn't even interested
I tuned out immediately until I heard my name.
"Haruto will be the class representative."
"…What?"
"Oi Mr. Haruto, did you hear me?" the teacher asked.
"…No ma'am."
"You are the class representative."
"…Why?"
"It's final."
I groaned. "Yes ma'am."
Yahiko smirked. "Hello Mr. Representative."
"Shut up Yahiko."
That evening as I walked home alone I saw her.
The old lady.
I rushed towards her but she disappeared into the crowd.
I searched frantically eventually spotting her heading down a small valley. Before I could follow I heard something that made my blood run cold
Two men holding knives cornering a woman.
I hesitated. I was scared.
But then I remembered I won't live with regrets.
"Stop it!" I shouted.
One of them scoffed. "Kid go home."
I grabbed a can of paint from nearby and hurled it at their faces before grabbing the woman's hand and running.
"Thank you," she gasped.
I nodded. "Just get home safe."
As I arrived home my phone buzzed. An unknown number.
"…Hello?"
A distorted voice whispered, "If you want to know come to the city bridge at 9 PM tomorrow."
Then the call ended.
The night before I couldn't sleep a wink. My mind kept going back to the mysterious call I received.
Sigh
My eyes were begging for sleep. Dark circles formed under them and I could barely keep them open.
Still I went to school.
As I entered the classroom Yahiko smirked at me.
"Oi Haruto you look lifeless! Haha didn't sleep? Thinking about me huh?"
"Yahiko would you shut up? Hah you're acting gay." I gasped.
He suddenly replied in a girly voice. "Haha Haruto don't say that! I'm feeling bad hmmp~."
I stared at him blankly. No reaction. My eyes were full of disappointment.
"Get some help."
He burst into laughter.
The teacher entered and started class but I couldn't pay attention. My presence was in the classroom but my mind was somewhere else.
Who was that person that called me yesterday?
Suddenly a duster came flying toward me! I barely dodged at the last second and then...
SMACK!
A satisfying sound echoed behind me. I turned and saw Yahiko's face painted in white chalk. As he sneezed a small cloud of dust came out.
I burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Now you look good."
"Haruto you bastard!" Yahiko shouted.
"Both of you get out of my class!" the teacher roared.
Sigh With a lazy bow we both left.
"This is because of you Yahiko."
"Huh?! Now you're blaming me you dckhead?"**
"Shut up Yahiko."
We kept arguing until the teacher saw us again.
"Both of you! Principal's office! If you keep acting this way!"
Sigh "Yes sir ," we both replied.
As soon as the bell rang I rushed home still curious yet scared about the mysterious caller.
I kept watching the time.
8:40 PM I should go.
8:59 PM I reached the city bridge waiting anxious.
I saw a man with a hoodie and a mask walk up the stairs of the bridge.
"Who are you?" I asked my voice filled with curiosity.
"I'll tell you everything. Just follow me," he said in an emotionless tone.
As we walked he simply swiped the air and a door appeared!
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A cold chill ran down my spine.
"Come," he said.
We stepped inside.
I asked again. "Now tell me. Who are you and what do you know?"
"Very well," he replied. "I am Kuno Urehara. And I am like you."
"What do you mean like me?"
"What do you think? Did you really believe they just gave you a se..."
His words cut off.
Suddenly it felt like a video game glitch. His voice distorted and I couldn't hear anything.
I felt a strong presence. An eerie sensation filled the air.
Then a voice whispered. "You aren't supposed to learn this."
One minute later Kuno vanished into nothingness.
Fear overtook me. I ran without looking back.
As I walked through the streets people's faces began glitching. The surroundings flickered like a broken screen.
I reached home panting.
"Mom?"
She turned to me and repeated over and over...
"You weren't supposed to know that." "You weren't supposed to learn that."
Panic surged in my chest.
I slowly move back and ran without looking anywhere
But then
Suddenly a strong gust of wind carried an object straight into me BAM!
Everything went dark.
A Dream? No...
I jolted awake my entire body drenched in sweat.
It was just a dream?
Still breathing heavily I entered the bathroom to take a shower.
The moment the water hit my back an intense pain shot through me.
I turned to check in the mirror a mark.
Something had hit me.
My hands shook. My eyes widened in fear.
"What the hell is happening?!" I shouted.
Then the voice returned.
"Don't try to do anything against the rules of the world."
"What rules?! What do you mean?!"
Silence. No response.
I went to school just to find out ...
No one was there.
I ran around searching every hallway. Empty.
Panic built up.
I left the school only to find the entire city deserted.
As I walked I heard a static-like sound the kind of noise a radio makes when it has no signal.
The world itself started glitching.
At the far end of the street I saw it complete darkness.
Like a video game corrupted beyond repair the blackness spread...
Slowly it swallowed me whole.
The Other Side
Pain pierced through my skull. My eyes went blank.
Then suddenly JOLT!
I woke up.
A man stood before me. The same mysterious man from before.
Kuno.
He gazed at me in silence.
"What is happening?" I asked.
"I can only show you this. I fooled them by showing them another version of us talking where I vanished. But in reality we're here in my dimension."
"Your dimension?! Who are they?"
Kuno frowned. "Sorry. That's all I can show and tell. If we keep talking they'll find out."
"But you called me. Wouldn't they know?"
"No. To them you never got a call from me."
His body began to fade.
"Wait! Who are they? What's happening?!"
His voice echoed. "A girl will find you and tell everything .."
Then he was gone.
My mind felt like a storm of confusion.
I reached home.
"Mom?"
She answered normally.
So... was it all a vision? A dream that Kuno showed me?
I sat at my study table my thoughts tangled in chaos.
I sighed. I don't understand anything anymore.
As I was tired
I closed my eyes.
And fall asleep on the chair
Then JOLT!
I woke up again.
Wait school!
I quickly got ready.
As I rushed out Mom raised an eyebrow.
"Where are you going Haruto?"
"Obviously school!" I replied full of confidence.
She sighed. "You dumb. Today is Saturday."
A pause.
Oh.
Shame filled my entire being.
I quickly changed my clothes and sat back down thinking about Kuno's words.
Then my phone rang.
Yahiko.
"Hello Haruto! Wanna hang out?"
"Hmm... I guess not."
"Don't be like that. Look outside your window."
I turned and saw him standing there waving with a bright smile.
I had no choice.
"Mom I'm going out!"
"Okay just don't be late," she replied.
Haruto Tsubasa is coming too
Why would she go out with a Pervy person like you yahiko
Shut up Haruto I called her and she said
She would be happy to join us
As we picked up Tsubasa.
So where should we go? Yahiko asked
Let's go to the arcade I replied
Alright let's go
As we reached the arcade
Yahiko challenged me.
"Bowling. Loser pays for food?"
I smirked. "Alright. Ready to lose?"
"Can I join too?" Tsubasa asked.
"Sure!"
No exceptions. The loser must pay.
Sigh I lost.
Sigh Yahiko lost too.
"Hehe I won!" Tsubasa cheered.
We agreed to split the bill but then
As we reached the restraunt
I saw him.
Kuno.
"I'll be right back," Got to use the toilet you guys order I'll join you soon.
I rushed and followed him through an alley... until he disappeared through a wall.
I hesitated then touched the wall I passed through.
Inside a massive mansion stood alone in the void.
As I entered a figure greeted me.
But it wasn't Kuno.
The person removed his hood and mask.
I froze.
A beautiful woman.
White hair. Blue eyes.
"Wait... are you Kuno?"
She smiled.
"No. Kuno is missing since he met you."
Are you the girl he mentioned? I asked
" Yes I am the girl he mentioned about and told me to tell you everything so I came to get you"
I'll tell you everything what is happening and who you actually are