Shin woke with a start, his body drenched in sweat. His heart pounded against his ribcage, the remnants of the dream clinging to his mind like a stubborn shadow. He sat up, gasping for breath, and ran a trembling hand through his damp hair. The red eyes, the terrifying command, the blinding light—all of it felt so real.
He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands, trying to shake off the lingering dread.
"Arghh, this weird dream again. Why the heck do I keep dreaming of those weird things? It has been for 1 week already"
It was the same dream, the same nightmare that had haunted him for days. Each time, the details grew more vivid, more terrifying. He couldn't understand why he was having these dreams or what they meant.
He glanced at the clock on his nightstand. It was 7:40 AM.
"Oh shoot, I am late"
In a hurry, he pushed himself to his feet and headed to the bathroom. He also hoped a cold shower would wash away the remnants of the dream.
As the cold water hit his face, Shin tried to focus on the day ahead. He was a senior at Shinjuku High School, known for his extraordinary athletic prowess. Despite his abilities, he had never joined any of the school's sports clubs or teams. It wasn't that he lacked interest—on the contrary, he loved physical challenges—but something always held him back. Maybe it was the fear of drawing too much attention, or perhaps a deeper, unspoken reason that even he couldn't quite grasp.
He thought maybe all of that was because he was a teenager. Those teenagers' hormones may be the cause of all that feeling. Who knows, right?
His reluctance to join any club had always been a point of curiosity among his classmates. They saw him effortlessly excel in gym class, outperforming everyone in every sport, yet he remained a solitary figure, shying away from any organized activities. It added a layer of mystery to his persona, a puzzle no one had been able to solve.
Kind of cool actually. He liked it when no one tried to poke into his matters in life. Felt like a Batman.
As he dried off and dressed in his school uniform, Shin caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His dark hair fell in messy waves around his face, and his darkish eyes, usually so full of life, held a hint of the turmoil that brewed within him. He looked like any other student, but he knew he wasn't. There was something different about him, something he couldn't quite put into words.
Downstairs, the comforting aroma of breakfast greeted him. His grandfather, a stoic man with a gentle heart, was busy in the kitchen. He turned and gave Shin a warm smile as he entered.
"Morning, Shin. I made you some miso soup and rice. Ready for another day?"
Shin forced a smile, trying to match his grandfather's enthusiasm. "Yeah, thanks, Grandpa. It smells great."
His parents had died in an accident when he was young, or so his grandfather had told him. They had always been a distant memory, their faces fading over time. His grandfather had taken him in and raised him, becoming the rock in his turbulent life.
"Make sure you eat well and stay focused," his grandfather advised, his voice gentle but firm. "You've got a lot on your plate, but I know you'll do great."
Shin nodded, grateful for his grandfather's unwavering support. Even though he did not understand why even the phrase "a lot on your plate" was said.
"Is there even a lot of rice on that plate? Or am I looked that stressed today?" monologue him.
He finished his breakfast quickly, eager to get out of the house and clear his head.
Grabbing his backpack, he called out his goodbyes and stepped into the crisp morning air. The walk to school was usually a time for him to relax and mentally prepare for the day, but today, his thoughts were a jumble of confusion and unease.
As he approached the school gates, Shin noticed a crowd of students gathered around the bulletin board. Curious, he made his way over and saw a flyer announcing the arrival of a new transfer student. The name caught his eye: Emilia.
"Who's Emilia?" he wondered aloud, but his question was lost in the buzz of excited chatter around him. Transfer students were always a topic of interest, and it seemed Emilia's arrival was no exception.
However, it was still a wonder to him, why the school even needed to announce the incoming of a new student on the bulletin board. Kind of exaggerated, he thought.
Shin made his way to his homeroom, greeted by the usual chorus of "Good morning, Shin!" from his classmates. He responded with nods and smiles, but his mind was elsewhere. He took his seat by the window, his usual spot, and gazed outside, lost in thought.
The bell rang, and their homeroom teacher, Ms. Sato, entered the room. She was a kind woman in her mid-thirties, with a reputation for being both strict and fair.
"Good morning, everyone," she began, her voice cutting through the chatter. "We have a new student joining us today. Please welcome Emilia."
Shin's eyes snapped to the front of the classroom as the door opened. In walked a girl with long, flowing blonde hair and striking blue eyes. She moved with a grace that seemed almost unnatural, and the room fell silent as everyone took in her presence.
Emilia smiled nervously and gave a small wave. "Hello, everyone. My name is Emilia. I hope we can all get along."
Ms. Sato gestured to the empty seat next to Shin. "Emilia, you can take the seat next to Shin. Shin, could you help Emilia get settled in?"
Shin nodded, feeling a strange mix of emotions. As Emilia approached, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his head. He winced, gripping the edge of his desk as the pain intensified. It was as if a thousand needles were stabbing into his brain.
"Shin? Are you okay?" Ms. Sato's voice sounded distant, muffled by the throbbing in his head.
He looked up, his vision blurring. Emilia was standing right next to him, her eyes filled with concern. As their eyes met, the pain grew worse, and he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
"Begone," a voice echoed in his mind, the same voice from his dream. The same red eyes flashed before his eyes, and the world around him seemed to spin out of control.
"Shin!" Emilia's voice was the last thing he heard before everything went white. The same blinding light from his dream enveloped him, and he let out a scream as the world faded to nothingness.
"AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!"
When the light finally receded, Shin found himself back in the classroom, his classmates staring at him in shock and confusion.
"Dude, what happened? Are you okay?" asked Kazuma, Shin's best friend who sat in front of him.
Shin shook his head, trying to clear the lingering pain.
"I... don't know."
His head was still in a little bit of pain. However, he thought it was best for him to avoid making it a big deal as the thing was not even known to him.
"I guess maybe I accidentally..... dozed off just now. Hahaha"
He brushed off the thing that happened just now with a slight joke. Even though all of the class thought that was still a lame joke to do.
"Shin, you really need to behave once in a while. You may scare our new student, Emilia, you know?" Ms. Sato slipped some usual nagging to him.
"Emilia, you may sit now and.... Shin !!! I don't want to hear you tease or bully Emilia, okay?"
"Actually, Shin may fall in love with Emilia, sensei." added Kazuma, trying to make his usual silly joke. The whole class burst into laughter upon hearing the joke from Kazuma, the top 3 most crazed students in school.
Yeah, Kazuma was one of the most popular students in the entire school. Some people also said in the entire region. What an exaggeration for only an 18-year-old student.
Kazuma was Shin's best friend since kindergarten. The friendship began with a splash of milk on Kazuma's clothes, which led to the kid's fist fight between them. Eventually, the magic of the quarrel did its job and led to the friendship.
After the teasing from the Kazuma, Emilia started to move to her seat. The lingering voice from the flash of a dream before still made Shin suspicious of Emilia's identity. Why would a person that he barely knew would come to his mind suddenly and all of that felt so real? As if it came from his memories.
Those thoughts kept weighted Shin's mind. However, he decided to abandon that thought in merely seconds.
"Nah, why should I burden myself with all of this complex thinking? Let's just forget all of this for now." Shin talked to himself.
The class started and went on as usual. Nothing particularly weird happened. Even, those nasty flashes of memories or dreams and the pain that came with them also started to subdue.
When the class ended, as usual, the tradition of high school students, they filed out of the room, buzzing with excitement about the new transfer student and the typical after-school plans. Shin gathered his books slowly, still feeling off-kilter from the strange episode earlier. The lingering, vague sense of familiarity surrounding Emilia bothered him, but he forced himself to shrug it off, convincing himself it was nothing more than the echoes of his weird dreams.
Kazuma swung around to his desk, throwing his bag over his shoulder. "Shin, come on! Don't tell me you're actually skipping the arcade today," he teased, a wide grin on his face.
"Nah, I'm coming for sure. I can't wait to utterly destroy you again in the game" Shin replied, trying to sound like his usual self. "Just… need a second."
Kazuma raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing something was up but knowing better than to push. "Alright, well, hurry up! And if you get a chance, bring Emilia along," he added, winking mischievously. "Maybe she'll be impressed with your legendary gaming skills."
Shin rolled his eyes, but inside, he felt another strange pang. Emilia. There was something about her. It was like trying to remember the details of a half-forgotten melody or a place he'd only dreamed of.
He packed up and made his way down the hallway, half-expecting Kazuma to keep pushing him about Emilia. But surprisingly, Kazuma was waiting at the stairwell, ready to change the subject.
"So, you're still not joining the soccer team?" Kazuma asked as they headed down the stairs. "I mean, you know Coach Tanaka would really kill people to have you on the lineup, right?"
Shin shrugged, as he always did when people brought up sports. "I don't really see the point," he muttered. "I'd rather keep things simple. Being into the soccer team just like adding an unnecessary burden on my carefree life"
Kazuma looked at him sidelong, clearly skeptical. "Man, you really are something. Most people would kill to have half your talent."
"Then they can have it. If this so-called talent is transferable, then I am more than happy to give it for free. " Shin replied with a smirk, stepping outside and squinting into the afternoon sun. The two of them walked toward the main gate, where students were still milling about, chatting, and laughing.
As Shin and Kazuma made their way toward the lunch area, they noticed Emilia standing near one of the benches, looking a little uncertain about where to go. Shin's heart skipped a beat. The image of her eyes—the way they'd looked at him in that brief, strange moment of pain in class—flashed in his mind. He didn't know why, but something inside him kept pushing him to approach her.
However, without Shin being able to make a decision in his mind, Kazuma, never one to miss an opportunity, nudged Shin with a mischievous grin.
"Hey, why don't we invite the new girl? You know, so she doesn't end up eating alone on her first day."
Before Shin could answer, Kazuma called out, waving his hand to catch Emilia's attention. "Emilia! Over here!" he called with his usual enthusiasm.
Emilia turned, looking a little startled at first, but when she recognized them, she managed a small, shy smile. Kazuma grinned widely, gesturing for her to join them. "Come on, we're all headed to lunch. You might as well join us."
Shin gave a small nod of encouragement, and Emilia hesitated for a moment before slowly making her way over. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gave them a soft, grateful smile.
"Thanks. I… wasn't sure where to go," she admitted quietly.
"Well, you're with the pros now," Kazuma said confidently, flashing her a grin. "We'll make sure you're in the know about all the best places to eat around here. Especially, with this pro food critique, Shin, you will know in no time what and where the best food places are."
Just then, another voice called out, cheerful and unmistakable. "Hey, you two! Got room for one more?"
Turning around, they saw Hana Fumiko approaching with her lunch tray in hand. She was a lively, petite girl with short, dark hair that framed her face, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. Hana was a constant source of energy, always bantering with Kazuma and adding a bright presence wherever she went.
Kazuma smirked. "Oh, great, just what I needed—my lunch break getting hijacked by Hana's bad jokes."
Hana rolled her eyes. "Bad jokes? You're the one who thinks calling me a 'pocket-sized power pack' is hilarious," she shot back with a playful glare, sitting down beside Kazuma. "Honestly, Kazuma, we all know who's got the bad jokes here."
Kazuma chuckled, unabashed. "What can I say? I live to entertain."
Shin laughed, already accustomed to their bickering, and noticed that Emilia seemed a little more at ease. They settled at one of the tables in the courtyard, with Shin and Kazuma on one side, and Hana and Emilia sitting across from them. Emilia seemed content to observe, her presence quiet but attentive.
As they began eating, Hana turned her attention to Emilia, curiosity lighting up her face, just like a child that was excited to get a candy.
"So, Emilia, where are you from? Shinjuku's not exactly known for transfer students." ask Hana.
Emilia hesitated, her eyes darting to her food before answering. "Oh, I've actually moved around quite a bit. My family just recently settled here."
Kazuma leaned forward, looking impressed. "A traveler, huh? That's cool. I have been dreaming of travelling around the world. You know, seeing and learning new things"
Emilia smiled a little, looking relieved. "Thanks."
"Seeing new things may be acceptable, but learning? I think that is not healthy for your brain hahaha." Shin tried to lighten up the mood with silly jokes.
"Well, I am just following your steps, Shin sensei." Kazuma replied, trying to counter back his best friend's joke.
Everyone at the table bursted into laughter hearing the exchanges of those two, including the quiet Emilia who had been obviously awkward since the start. Seeing her smile and laugh, Shin felt relieved and a little bit happy knowing that Emilia slowly accustomed and blended in with their conversation.
After a few more bites, Hana set down her chopsticks and looked around the table with a mischievous grin.
"Hey, you know, since we're all here… have any of you heard the stories about those extraterrestrial beings they say started showing up 18 years ago?"
Kazuma's eyes sparkled, and he immediately jumped on the topic, grinning as he leaned in, clearly eager to share. "Oh, come on, Hana, who hasn't heard of those?"
Emilia looked intrigued, and Shin couldn't help but notice how her eyes widened just a little as she listened.
"Spill it, Kazuma," Hana said, grinning and resting her chin in her hands. "I bet you've got some wild take on it."
"Of course I do," Kazuma said, flashing his trademark grin. He lowered his voice as if he were about to share a secret.
"Let me take you back eighteen years," he began, his tone conspiratorial. "It was during an eclipse—an eerie one where the sky turned red as blood. Out of nowhere, this… thing appeared. At first, people thought it was just another human, but they quickly realized it wasn't. It was something else entirely."
Emilia leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed on Kazuma, though her expression betrayed a growing unease.
"This being," Kazuma continued, "had extraordinary strength—like nothing anyone had ever seen. It could crush steel with its bare hands and move faster than the human eye could follow. And its power… well, they said it wasn't natural. It was like the very essence of evil itself, something straight out of humanity's darkest nightmares. Wherever it went, it brought destruction—entire cities were left in ruins. The ground burned where it stepped. No one could stop it."
He paused, letting his words sink in, before adding with dramatic emphasis, "At least, not at first."
"What do you mean?" Hana asked, her curiosity palpable.
"No one really knows how it was defeated," Kazuma said, leaning back as though he were narrating a mystery novel. "But the stories say the country deployed everything they had. The most advanced technology, weapons, soldiers… everything. And even then, it wasn't enough. Whatever this thing was, it didn't just have strength—it had some kind of devilish power that made it almost unstoppable."
The table fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"And why did it appear?" Hana asked, breaking the quiet.
Kazuma shrugged, his grin fading slightly. "No one knows. There was no warning, no pattern, nothing to suggest why it came—or why it chose that specific time and place. All anyone knows is that it came during the eclipse and wreaked havoc until it vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared."
Shin frowned, the vivid descriptions sparking a faint unease within him. "Vanished?"
"Yeah," Kazuma said, nodding. "Poof. Gone. Some say it was killed, others think it just left after causing enough destruction. Either way, the government and the military were so tight-lipped about the whole thing that no one could get any solid answers. But..."
Kazuma lowered his voice even further, his tone laced with suspense. "There's one theory that keeps popping up. Some people believe that it wasn't a random attack. They think it was here for a reason. That it was looking for something—or someone."
The others exchanged uneasy glances, but Emilia remained still, her expression unreadable.
Kazuma's grin returned as he delivered the climax of his tale. "And that's when people started calling it the 'Demonoid.' A demon in human form, with powers no mortal should ever possess."
The silence that followed was almost tangible. Even Hana, who usually laughed off Kazuma's dramatic flair, seemed lost in thought.
"So, what do you think?" Kazuma asked, breaking the tension with a playful nudge at Hana. "Pretty good story, huh? Or are you gonna say it's just another one of my 'bad jokes'?"
Hana scoffed, though there was less bite in her usual teasing. "I mean, it's definitely wild. But... I don't know, Kazuma. Something about it feels a little too real, you know?"
"Exactly," Kazuma said, grinning. "That's what makes it so great. The best stories are the ones that make you wonder if there's a sliver of truth in them."
Shin, however, couldn't shake the feeling that Emilia's silence during the story wasn't just shyness. Her knuckles were white as she gripped her chopsticks, and her eyes remained fixed on her tray. Whatever the story of the Demonoid was, it had clearly struck a nerve.
Shin's mind wandered back to his dream—the voice, the red eyes, the blinding light. He couldn't help but feel that Kazuma's tale was more than just a story.
"The demonoid, huh?"