When I was a child, my mother always told me that life was full of surprises. She said that even the most mundane days could change our lives for the better, and I never stopped believing in that.
My name is Daku Ito, an 18-year-old high school student, just an ordinary boy with an average life. I live with my twin siblings, both college students, and my father, who rarely comes home, preferring to stay in his condo near his workplace. Our home is quiet and uneventful, quite unlike how it used to be when Mom was still alive.
Back then, as a kid, I used to eagerly anticipate the fifth of each month. It was the day I got to visit my mom in the hospital. She had once been a famous idol but gave up her career for the sake of family. After giving birth to me, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which kept her in the hospital.
I was too young to understand the details. All I knew was that every fifth of the month, I'd get to see my beautiful mom, and it filled me with joy. I had questions, of course, about why she couldn't come home and why Dad often cried when he saw her. But my sister always came up with excuses like, "She just has a cold, and it's infectious, so she has to stay at the hospital." I believed her, being the innocent kid I was.
However, everything changed on my eighth birthday. I was looking forward to seeing Mom again, dressed in my best outfit and birthday hat. But instead of surprising her, I received the shocking news:
"Dina Ito died on November 5th, 2***, at exactly 10:30 AM."
My mom, my bear, was gone, and I'd never see her again. Her smile that made my heart race, her warm kisses when I was hurt or upset—all gone.
---
It was 5 in the evening, and the sun was setting as I prepared to leave the classroom. I had the responsibility of tidying up the room today, ensuring it was spotless before departing. As I walked down the quiet hall, I heard a familiar voice call my name from behind.
"Hey, Weirdo!" shouted a slender girl in a uniform similar to mine. Her brown chestnut hair was tied in a short ponytail, and her green eyes locked onto my blue ones.
"Tana, what do you want?" I asked, somewhat taken aback.
Tana folded her arms and replied, "I don't want anything from you, Weirdo. I just wanted to remind you about the club trip our adventurous club is having tomorrow. You'd better be at school early, or you'll be left behind!"
With that, she turned and left, not giving me a chance to respond. I had almost forgotten about the club my homeroom teacher had forced me to join last term. I even thought they had disbanded. Why were they suddenly planning a trip?
---
I arrived home half an hour later, my house just a short walk from school. I turned on the lights, removed my shoes, and placed them in the cupboard before entering.
"I'm home!" I called out, even though it hardly mattered since no one ever greeted me when I returned.
"Finally, your dinner is in the fridge. I have to sort some things out, so I'll be back tomorrow night. You can handle making breakfast yourself, I'm sure!" Ayano said hastily as she headed outside.
"Wait..." I began, intending to tell her about the club trip, but she had already left. I sighed, realizing that none of them would be interested.
I glanced at my brother's always-closed bedroom door, then resigned myself to keeping the trip a secret from my family.
---
The next morning, I woke up at 5 AM, packed my lunch and breakfast, and rode my bicycle to school since I needed to arrive early. Fortunately, I made it just in time to board the bus with the other students.
I found Tana and the other club members busy loading their equipment onto the bus.
"You made it, that's good. Help us distribute these flyers to the other members," Tana said, handing me a box filled with flyers detailing the day's activities.
Once all the students were on the bus, we began our journey to our destination. I sat alone at the back, as usual. I had no friends in the entire school, except for our homeroom teacher, who could be quite annoying at times.
Suddenly, our club's host, Miss Rina, stood up, holding the flyer.
"Hello, students! I'm sure you're all excited for this trip we've been planning for two months now!" She said, and the students erupted in excitement.
"I'm happy to see everyone so energized. Our first location for the day is Haru Mountain," she announced.
Excited murmurs filled the bus. I found myself curious about Haru Mountain and the mythical "night cave" that Miss Rina mentioned.
"Well, the night cave is considered a myth according to our history," Miss Rina continued. "Legend has it that various Demon Lords joined forces to capture the soul of the most powerful Demon Lord ever, sealing it inside this cave. Whoever finds the cave and releases the Demon Lord's soul..."
Before she could finish, the bus abruptly stopped, causing everyone to sway.
"What's wrong?" Miss Rina asked as students murmured in confusion.
"The tire is busted; we need some time to fix it," the bus driver explained.
"But it's so sunny and hot outside!" some students complained.
Miss Rina glanced out the window and smiled, "It seems we've already arrived at Haru Mountain. Let's get our things and explore!"
With that, she opened the door, and everyone eagerly exited the bus, delighted to have reached their destination. I followed the crowd up the mountain, waiting for an opportunity to explore.
---
"Okay, students, listen carefully. Don't wander alone; go in pairs, and shout if you see anything dangerous. Keep your flyers with you, so you know where you are and what you might find," Miss Rina instructed.
I stood up and joined a group of students, although I was accustomed to being alone. I walked up the mountain, lost in thought, until I stumbled upon a cave entrance.
I ventured bravely into the foreboding cave, the air heavy with an unsettling energy. As I navigated the darkness, an irresistible force drew me deeper.
My curiosity peaked when I discovered a mysterious, glowing orb in a small alcove. I reached out and touched it, and in that moment, a surge of intense power overwhelmed me. My body was engulfed in conflicting sensations.
The burning heat on my skin contrasted sharply with the bone-chilling cold that permeated my core. Dizziness consumed me, and my muscles twitched as if possessed by an unseen force. The orb's dark energy intertwined with mine, causing excruciating pain.
Unable to endure the torment, I succumbed to unconsciousness. When I awoke, I found myself suspended in an empty void, devoid of light and sound, overwhelmed by isolation.
A haunting voice, dripping with power and ancient knowledge, echoed from within me. I realized that I had unintentionally awakened the Demon Lord.
(to be continued...)