The nice warm sunny day shined across the city of Tokyo. Pedestrians walked across the roads. People rushing to work and hoping to be on time. Students walking to their schools. Life was normal. The supernatural world we live in odd but normal for the most part. Tomorrow is my birthday. The day I get my Awakening. I wonder what it would be. I hope it's like the Swordsman, Ryoko Kiyushima. I rushed out of bed and proceeded to get ready for school. Dad must've left for work already. He usually passes out either on the couch or in his office. Mom is cooking breakfast for everyone. I feel bad for her since she doesn't see Dad much.
"So you're finally awake. Thought I would have to wake you up again."
"I'm starting to get up on my own thank you very much."
"Just teasing you that's all."
I went to the dining room, seeing mom serving breakfast. I decided to help her out.
"Are you excited to get your awakening sweetie?" my mom asked.
"Yeah I can't wait. I just wonder how it will turn out to be."
"Well hopefully it won't be like mine. All I really can do is just contract metal."
"Yeah I hope so"
Chika came in to the dining room, sitting next to mom as we began to eat. Waking up early does has it's upsides to it. Finally I can eat something before going to school, than just rushing to leave the house and get to school. Mom discussed about our plans for my birthday and to see what high school I want to enlist.
Of course, I want to join the best high school that scouts the Regiment Rangers.
The Regiment Rangers is another branch of the Armed Forces. Not many people enlist in it because the success rate in joining is awfully low, so most people join the Japanese Navy or Army. I've been practicing kendo, and karate ever since I was six so I think I have the skills to join the Regiment Rangers.
After breakfast, I rushed to get to school. Mom gave Chika and I kisses before we left. It feels so weird when she does it. I mean I'm thirteen and she still does it. I'm not six years old or what not.
"Hey Yami-niichan, do you think your Awakening will be any good? I mean what if it's based on genetics?"
"Whatever Awakening I get, I'll make the best out of it. Improvising is a thing ya know."
"I know but still. I don't want you to be disappointed about it"
"I'll be fine."
We walked through the neighborhood. It was strange not seeing my friend, Yato, walking with us. He's probably sick or sleeping in. I feel like he's getting it from me.
After some time walking, Chika and I reached our school, Tokyo Junior High School.
Chika is a grade lower than me so we parted ways from the different floors. When I reached my classroom, I felt this cold atmosphere surrounding the silent classroom. Strange. Usually the class will be at least noisy as everyone socializes with each other before class starts. I rushed to my seat and started reading my manga.
"Everyone please stand for the Class Rep. We have some very upsetting news that we shall address with everyone. You may all sit down."
Upsetting news? What the hell is going on? First the strange atmosphere, now upsetting news.
"As for some people may have heard, Yato Shigami was reported missing. Please have him in your thoughts and prayers."
I couldn't believe it. How can he be missing? He could've used his Awakening to fight off or to prevent this. I had this weird feeling in my gut. It's unbelievable.
For the entirety of the class, it was silent, not even a peep to be heard. All you could hear was the teacher giving out the assignments, the lecture, a project to be due. Yuka Sensei is trying too hard to get the thought of Yato disappearing. Yato was a popular guy, known for his athletic skills. Girls would die to even be his friend, even girls from other schools. Judging by his disappearance, some guy from our school, or another school is really jealous of him and decided to take action to be the number one guy girls will fall for. Popularity, girls obsession, and jealousy annoys the hell out of me. Why does it matter about popularity, reputation, or having girls fall for you being the number one thing to most people?
"Yami-kun, are you still with us?" Yuka Sensei asked.
"O..oh yeah sorry. Just spacing out hehe."
"Mind telling me what we discussed about for the project that will be due this upcoming Friday?"
"I'm sorry but I wasn't paying attention"
The worry in Yuka Sensei's face just gave the cold atmosphere and more denser feeling. I can feel the weight of it pushing down on my shoulders, as if I was doing squats with weights all over my body. The anxiety just thinking about it just made it worse. I don't want to be in this class right now. I just want to lock myself in my room, and forget about Yato being missing.
The chime of the school rang louder than I've heard ever in my four years of this school. The moment I heard the chime, I rushed out of class, going to the rooftop and rushing to the corner where I usually go to relax. I couldn't handle this feeling. The feeling of losing someone. The feeling of realization. Is Yato going to be gone for good? What's going on?
"Hey Yami-kun, are you okay? You seem pail and I saw you storming through the hall as if you were running a marathon," a voice of a girl said.
It was my girlfriend, Naomi...
"Oh I didn't mean to worry you. Just feeling off after hearing Yato all of sudden disappearing. Just overthinking like usual."
"Hey hey its okay. I'm sure Shigami-kun will come back in no time. Through the things he has went through, he managed to pull out of it."
Her soft, calming voice, her bittersweet words coming out of her mouth calmed me down. I guess things will be okay for now.
After some classes later, it was time to go home. Luckily I don't have cleaning duty. I decided to walk home with Naomi. Naomi has been my girlfriend since the 8th grade. It's been over a year since we've been dating. Just hearing her words of reassurance always calms me down when I have my breakdowns.
"Hey Yami-kun, what are your plans on your birthday?"
"Probably just like last year, cake, food, and gifts. Nothing really. Are you planning on doing something then?
"Yeah, I was thinking of coming over and spend time with you. We've haven't hanged out together in a while. I guess starting the 2nd semester had us busy
"You're not wrong with that. Just all these projects the teachers are giving us are just wild. Just can't go one week without a project. I guess it'll be like that for high school."
"Yeah... about that." Naomi said in such a depressed tone.
"Hey what's wrong?" I asked with concern.
"I'll be moving to Kyoto after this school year. Dad got a new position for the Branch of Defence for the Regiment Rangers. I'm sorry."
First Yato is missing, now my girlfriend is moving away. Why is this happening to me?
"Hey it's fine. It's not your fault. You have no control over it. Yeah we'll be over a few hours away but we can work things out."
"I hope so Yami-kun. Hey I'm going to head to the library. I'll catch you later. Call me if you need anything."
"Oh okay, yeah have fun and I sure will call if I need something"
Naomi gave me a kiss to the cheek and walked towards downtown. I proceeded to walk home.
When I got home, Mom and Dad were home, talking like a happy couple. I just ignored them and walked to my room, locking myself in it, laying down, wishing things will go my way. Dad knocked on my door asking me if I was okay, but I just ignored and pretended as if I was asleep. I wasn't hungry. If I was to eat, my body will just won't accept. I scroll through social media, trying to get my mind of things and passing out asleep.
When I woke up, it was bright. The light fazing through my window blinded me as the rays shined in my eyes. It was 9:23 AM. It was my birthday. I walked outside my room and saw a note laying on the table.
"We'll be at the store to get some things for dinner tonight. I'm cooking your favorite. Love Mom."
Home alone, how fun. I went to grab some food because I was starving. When I grab some cereal, I heard this sharp pitch rang out loud. My eardrums just burst as everything was all of sudden louder. All of a sudden, I can smell things from across the house. I guess it's my Awakening manifesting? After a moment, it stopped. I proceeded making my cereal.
Throughout the entire day, Mom was busy getting things prepped for my birthday, Chika adoring me, and Dad telling me stories about his embarrassing times when he was my age. All of a sudden, the same thing happened when I was making breakfast, but this time it was stronger. I couldn't handle the pain in my ears. I balled up, hands covering my ears, grunting as the pain slowly faded. Dad was confused but probably caught on about the manifesting of my Awakening.
"Yami, you probably have better senses now that you have your Awakening. Later we'll send you to a specialist to see what it really is in depth."
"Thanks Dad. I just sucks hearing the loud ring."
"I bet"
After some time, Dad and I made our way to the specialist. It was in Osaka so it wasn't to far away. We got to the train station and the ringing started happening again. It wasn't as bad but why now. This time it was only longer. It didn't end until we got to Osaka train station. The entire ride was quiet. Dad noticed and caught on and thought if he spoke, it'll hurt more.
When we reached the office to see the specialists, I sat in the waiting room as Dad filled out paperwork. I looked at the TV and saw the news. It was saying the police has found a dead body of a student. It was awful. What happened to the poor kid? About five minutes later, they announced it was my friend Yato. I felt this rage overflowing me, the pain that surged across my body, feeling a pain in my gut, my heart dropping. Why? Why? Why would someone kill Yato? An innocent student, who minded his own business, just went through the day normally, causing no problems. The emotions differentiated in so many levels, it didn't know what to feel. Then everything went dark.