As Shuuta ventured further into the heart of this mystic world, a chance encounter had left him pondering the true nature of his abilities. The encounter had been nothing short of surreal. On a seemingly ordinary day, he found himself caught in a peculiar conversation with Hanako, a ghostly girl who had become an unexpected companion.
"What's all that about?!" Shuuta exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with intrigue as he recalled his run-in with a deranged cultist and a mysterious, blonde figure wielding extraordinary powers.
"What, exactly, is a Mystic?" he inquired.
Hanako's ethereal form carried an air of knowledge as she began to enlighten Shuuta. "In ancient times, Mystics were revered superhumans, tasked by gods and devils to quell malevolent spirits, demons, and angels, and maintain the balance of the world."
Shuuta couldn't help but chuckle at the brevity of her explanation. "That's quite a condensed summary."
With a mischievous smile, Hanako pointed at him. "And you, my dear Shuuta, belong to their ranks."
The revelation shook Shuuta to his core. "Wait, seriously?"
His disbelief almost made him lose his composure. It was a revelation that could make anyone feel like a bona fide "wizard."
"Why such astonishment?" Hanako queried, raising an enigmatic brow. "You faced that man with determination."
Shuuta's grin turned triumphant, and he couldn't resist adopting a heroic posture. "With great power comes great responsibility! I shall be the savior of this world!"
But Hanako's reaction was far from what he expected; her countenance remained unimpressed, her brows knitted in skepticism.
"In any case, you've yet to unlock your Magic," Hanako reminded him, her voice tinged with an air of caution. "There's a long journey ahead of you. Do your best, and always remember to protect me."
Shuuta responded with unwavering determination, "I'll do my best, especially if it's for you, Hanako-chan!" His words resonated with honesty, nearly causing Hanako to swoon from the emotional intensity.
However, their touching moment was cut short as Shuuta reached out for a hug, only to find Hanako fading away, leaving him to tumble face-first onto the unforgiving concrete floor.
"That's hardly fair!" he protested.
Looking around in vain, Shuuta came to realize that Hanako had inexplicably vanished. She had either run away, or in her case, "floated away."
Still, Shuuta couldn't shake off the enchantment of the newly discovered realm of Magic. The existence of supernatural forces had shattered his mundane world and sparked an insatiable hunger for knowledge.
"I can hardly wait!" he exclaimed, his excitement escalating.
"I shall protect this world from impending calamity!" Shuuta declared with a passionate fervor, striking a dramatic pose that mirrored the legendary heroes of yore.
As the day wore on, Shuuta's insatiable curiosity led him back to Hanako, ready to bombard her with a barrage of questions.
...
"Huh?! You can't be serious!" Shuuta's eyes widened, and his enthusiasm waned.
Why was Hanako being so obstinate? Hadn't she been the one to entrust her protection to him?
"It's not a matter of willingness; it's beyond my capacity to reveal," Hanako responded with an air of mystery, her eyes reflecting her unwavering determination.
Stubbornness seemed to be her specialty.
"Please, you've got to give me something to work with! I'm doing this to safeguard both of us from those nefarious Mystics!" Shuuta pleaded, his voice laced with frustration.
"To protect me?" Hanako's cheeks flushed crimson.
"Absolutely! Since the first time I laid eyes on you, my feelings have been a whirlwind. When I'm around you, I find solace, and an unexplained urge to shield you engulfs me," Shuuta confessed with a hint of playfulness, his intentions unmistakable.
"Really? I-I see," Hanako stammered, her face resembling a ripe tomato.
Shuuta couldn't help but smile. This wasn't his first time confessing, after all, and his intentions were crystal clear.
"You're quite the easy one," Shuuta muttered under his breath, his demeanor suddenly turning nonchalant.
With a voice as sweet as honey, Hanako provided a glimmer of guidance, "There's one way to unlock your power - by yearning to protect someone when they're in peril."
"Only one way? Are there no other methods?" Shuuta inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes, but I won't divulge them," Hanako replied, her tone firm.
Shuuta let out a disheartened sigh. The pursuit of power was far more intricate than he'd imagined.
Suddenly, a peculiar sensation overcame Shuuta.
"Why am I feeling so hungry all of a sudden? I suppose I'll have to settle for some pudding," he mused.
"Hey! That's mine!" Hanako exclaimed, her eyes locked on the dessert.
Without hesitation, Shuuta reached for a pudding. The rich aroma of vanilla, its sparkly texture, and its perfect size enticed not just him but also Hanako.
"May I have one more?" Hanako pleaded, her eyes twinkling like a forlorn kitten's.
Shuuta swiftly turned away to resist her irresistible charm.
"Mmmm! It's incredibly delicious!" Shuuta savored the treat.
Shuuta couldn't help but smile. His tactics had worked, prompting her to reveal more information.
"You got me! Alright, I'll tell you another method, but please have another pudding!" Hanako conceded, Shuuta tossed a pudding to Hanako.
"Yay! Alright, another way involves danger," Hanako began, her tone growing serious.
"Danger?" Shuuta inquired, concern flickering in his eyes.
"Yes, facing the imminent threat of death, struggling to survive - that might awaken your powers," Hanako disclosed.
Shuuta's face turned grave. He wasn't eager to place himself in harm's way just yet. Unleashing his powers required a safer approach.
"Thanks for the food," Hanako said, her gratitude genuine.
"Thank you for the information, as well," Shuuta said with a sigh, though he couldn't help but feel it was a mixed blessing. He rose from his foam floor and headed toward his bed.
"I suppose it's time to turn in. Goodnight, Hanako," Shuuta said with a final sigh before succumbing to the embrace of slumber.
...
Yaaaawn!
Shuuta awoke, his vision slightly blurred, and he couldn't quite grasp his surroundings. However, an unfamiliar weight on him caught his attention. As he uncovered the source of his confusion, he was met with an astonishing sight: Hanako, dressed in nothing but her undergarments, was lying atop him.
Blushing furiously, Shuuta was acutely aware of the sensation of Hanako's body pressing gently against his. The warmth emanating from her was equally enticing and perilous. He tried to maintain his composure, silently imploring his body to cooperate.
Rustling.
Hanako shifted, giving Shuuta the opportunity to slip away. He leaped out of bed, breathing a sigh of relief.
"I thought I was a goner!" Shuuta exclaimed in a hushed tone. As he admired Hanako's beauty, he couldn't help but marvel at the complexity of his feelings. He felt bitter about her being a ghost, for no reason in particular.
Why had she chosen to sleep with him? It had been only two days since they met, and now they were sharing a bed. What kind of situation was this? Yet, despite the confusion, he couldn't deny the appeal of having a cute girl – even a cute ghost – sneak into his room.
In the end, Shuuta readied himself for the day ahead. After dressing, brushing his teeth, and consuming a quick sandwich, he left for school, his mind still reeling from the peculiar turn of events.
"I'm off!" Shuuta called out as he left his home, embarking on the journey to school.
His life had taken an unexpected, and increasingly peculiar, turn. But he welcomed it. Who wanted a mundane high school life when adventure and romance beckoned?
"Thank you, for this incredible gift!" Shuuta exclaimed, gazing at the sky with a grateful smile.
Yet, as he proceeded on his way, an eerie sensation settled upon him. He couldn't shake the feeling of being followed. He dismissed it, chalking it up to paranoia. Finally, he arrived at the school gates.
However, the unease that had been lurking in the background escalated, as an unexpected assailant pounced on him, causing Shuuta to let out a high-pitched yelp.
"Relax, it's just me, Hikaru. I didn't realize you were so jumpy!" Hikaru grinned.
"It was obvious, but I didn't expect you to ambush me like that!" Shuuta retorted, trying to regain his composure.
Hikaru examined Shuuta more closely in the daylight, and Shuuta couldn't help but be struck by Hikaru's striking features, well-groomed appearance, and a school uniform identical to his.
"You go to this school?" Shuuta asked, his curiosity piqued.
Hikaru nodded, his casual demeanor in stark contrast to his disorienting surprise. "Yeah, I'm a second-year here."
Shuuta was taken aback; he was Hikaru's junior. He wasn't thrilled about calling him "Hikaru-senpai," especially since he'd be fine doing so with a girl, but a guy... What did that say about his pride?
"Do I have to call you Hikaru-sen—" Hikaru was cut off before he could finish.
"No way!" Shuuta declared, his competitive spirit aflame. "Aren't we supposed to be rivals?"
Hikaru chuckled, the tension easing between them. "I guess you're right, Shuuta-kun. Hehe."
With the matter settled, Shuuta prepared to head to class.
"Just a moment," Hikaru interrupted, gripping Shuuta's arm firmly.
Shuuta was taken aback. "I don't swing that way, dude," he thought, his mind racing to make sense of the situation.
Leaning in, Hikaru whispered, "Here's a word of advice from one Mystic to another. If you breathe a word of our existence, I'll have to take care of you. Remember, you're one of the very few Mystics I've met outside of school. Please don't force my hand."
Shuuta nodded awkwardly. Hikaru's demeanor shifted drastically, a rollercoaster of emotions that left Shuuta bewildered.
Nonetheless, Shuuta's thoughts began to clear as he made his way back to class. He'd taken his time, and now he was in danger of being late.
Finally, he reached his classroom and settled into his seat. Fatigue washed over him, sapping his energy. He couldn't resist the allure of a short nap.
His eyes closed, and Shuuta slipped into the realm of the abyss.
...
"Huh? Where...?" Shuuta's eyes slowly fluttered open, met with the sight of an expansive room that resembled the opulence of an ancient European castle.
Rattle!
"Master!" A high-pitched, concerned voice echoed.
"Shuuta-sama!" Another voice chimed in with equal worry.
"Shuuta-Kun!" A familiar voice called out, ringing in his ears.
"Shuu-Kun!" A gentle yet resolute voice reached him, laden with concern.
"Shit-Kun!" A mature, tsundere voice joined the chorus, hinting at genuine care.
"Shuuta!" A sweet voice cried out, invoking the sense of being saved.
Cages of various sizes dangled from the meticulously crafted ceiling. A plush red carpet stretched across the vast expanse of the room, leading his gaze to a looming figure at the end.
A sinister, dark grin contorted the figure's face as it menacingly fixed its gaze on the bewildered boy.
"You're here, Shuuta. I've been expecting you."
An army of demon-kin gradually encircled him, a teeming horde of hundreds, no, thousands, inching closer with ominous intent. Panic surged through Shuuta; something crucial was missing. He glanced back at the girls who had called out to him, but they were shrouded in shadow, like hidden characters in a game.
The only discernible figure was Hanako. More startling than that, Shuuta could identify their voices, yet some remained elusive.
"What in the world is happening?!" Shuuta yelled the words echoing in his mind. He desperately sought an escape but found himself paralyzed, unable to wake from this bizarre nightmare.
Inevitably, a demon closed in, delivering a brutal blow that sent Shuuta hurtling across the room and crashing through the grand doors. As Shuuta lay there, blood dribbling from his mouth, pain coursed through his body.
"That's excruciating!" Shuuta groaned, the agony transcending the confines of his dream and manifesting in his physical body as well.
Struggling to his feet, he found himself stripped of his magical powers, defenseless against the horde of demons. He clenched his teeth, helpless and despairing. "Is this how it ends? Without unlocking my powers... I'm sorry, Hanako," a tear fell and splashed on the polished wooden floor.
Just when all seemed lost, Shuuta's friend, Kazuma, intervened, shaking him awake just in the nick of time.
"Shuuta, are you alright? You've got a nosebleed...were you having lewd thoughts?" Kazuma teased, a smug grin on his face.
Shuuta, dazed and disoriented, touched his throbbing head. His body felt heavy, and a painful sensation radiated from his stomach. As he unbuttoned his school shirt, his breath caught at the sight of a sizable bruise marring his abdomen.
"What...?" Shuuta's vision dimmed, and he collapsed onto his desk, unconscious.
"Shuuta? Shuuta!" Kazuma called out, but his best friend remained unresponsive. Surveying the bruise, Kazuma sought help and had both of them promptly sent to the school infirmary.
...
"Again?! What did that Mikazuki do this time?!" The nurse shouted in frustration, her voice filled with anger.
"Ummm...actually, he just passed out. He was asleep when I found him, and when I woke him up, he started bleeding from his nose. Then he checked his stomach and found a massive bruise," Kazuma tried to explain to the best of his abilities.
"What? That's strange...he checked for a bruise after waking up? It can't be because of sleep, can it? I doubt it...could it be..." The nurse trailed off, lost in thought.
"Mmm...Noara-san, I have to go to class now. Please take care of Shuuta." With that, he waved and left the infirmary.
Noara examined the bruise on Shuuta's abdomen and was taken aback. It was large, far larger than any ordinary bruise, resembling the shape of a fist. She realized that something powerful had struck him to leave such a mark.
"Are you..." Noara began, but her words were cut off by a knock on the door.
"Come in."
A blond boy entered the room; it was Hikaru.
"Hikaru? What brings you here?" Noara inquired patiently, her gaze still fixed on Shuuta's bruise.
"I sensed a dark aura nearby, and it led me to him," Hikaru replied.
"Wait. So, he's a Mystic?" Noara questioned, now even more intrigued.
"Yes, he's a good guy. Please take care of him," Hikaru replied before turning to leave, but Noara stopped him.
"Do you remember when you had those visions, before the Mazumi incident?" Noara asked, her pink eyes glowing softly.
"Yeah...why?" Hikaru responded with a puzzled expression. 'Mazumi...'
"Do you remember the injuries you sustained? You only had some cuts and a small bruise."
"Yeah, what about it?"
Noara showed Shuuta's bruise to Hikaru, and he was left speechless, his eyes wide with shock.
"Is this his first vision?" Noara asked. Hikaru thought for a moment and realized that it likely was Shuuta's first vision. "If his first vision was like this, he had a significant risk of dying from it."
Noara remained silent, but her excitement was evident. Shuuta had the potential to bring about a monumental change in the Mystic society, much like discovering a mythical creature or winning the lottery.
"This guy..." Hikaru's smile faded as he contemplated the significance of their meeting. He had encountered someone extraordinary, yet he didn't know what to make of it.
"Hikaru, as the vice-leader of your Mystic branch, take care of him. Having him in our branch could elevate our status," Noara instructed, believing that Shuuta had the potential to revolutionize the Mystic world.
Finally, Shuuta stirred, and both Hikaru and Noara turned their attention to him. Shuuta sat up, cradling his head in his hands, as if he was enduring searing pain.
"Are you alright, Shuuta-Kun? What happened?" Hikaru asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"I had a dream...I don't know why, but I felt incredibly drowsy. I passed out, and then I found myself surrounded by thousands of demons, a demon king, and a group of girls in a cage," Shuuta recounted, trying to piece together the fragmented memories.
"What about your bruise?" Noara inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"I was struck by a demon and sent crashing through massive doors into a large room that resembled a castle," Shuuta said, but a searing headache suddenly overcame him. He clutched his head and cried out in pain.
"Demon king? A castle? Don't tell me..." Hikaru was left speechless again.
Shuuta looked at Hikaru's expression and sensed that something was terribly wrong. He was likely in grave danger.
"You're a carrier! I can't believe it, Shuuta, you possess the power to slay deities!" Noara exclaimed, her excitement palpable. She knew that Shuuta hadn't unlocked his powers yet, but she was determined to help him achieve his potential.
"A carrier?" Shuuta winced from the pain in his head, and a fleeting image of a person with a warm smile flashed before his eyes.
"Hold on... What happens if I die in my dreams?" Shuuta asked, a deep concern in his voice.
"You die," Hikaru replied bluntly, causing a palpable shift in the room's atmosphere. Shuuta couldn't fathom the idea that his incredible power came with such a significant vulnerability.
"Nevertheless, I'll assist you with your dreams, but there's one condition," Noara said with a coy smile.
Shuuta nodded wryly, sensing that there was more to this situation than met the eye.
"You're going to..."