Not all jobs are admirable, and most of them are done out of the need to survive, not out of passion. Not everyone is blessed with the favorable circumstance of following their passion. And Fujima Shintaro is a part of that said population.Â
The Dark Souls, is a notorious underground organization who dedicated themselves solely for the purpose of eliminating "pests". The organization is disgusting as it can be. People from the underground would call them servants of justice but that certainly is not the case. They serve this so-called justice by demanding a lot of money from clients before killing a target. They don't do this for justice, they solely do this for money. As disgusted as he can be, Fujima is a part of this organization.Â
He's been under the organization for 11 years ever since he got adopted from an orphanage. Fujima just turned 15 a day ago. He started killing people at the age of 9, a brutal youth indeed for someone. Being deemed as a prodigy, he was the youngest to get his first kill in the most elegant way possible. He killed a politician without any traces that could lead to the organization. He left a rose on the chest of his prey everytime a kill was made. This became a signature earning himself the nickname "Phantom Rose". Even the higher ups were amazed by his potential saying that he has the gift to become the best assassin this organization has ever bred. Despite getting all those unwanted praises for his "gift", Fujima has never met the head of this organization. Nor does he even know his name. Only a handful of people know his identity.Â
During the day, Fujima would live life as a normal kid trying to blend in with society to avoid unnecessary suspicions that might lead to his true identity as an assassin. He's been attending school ever since he got adopted by the organization. He never had any friends. But this year, he aims to at least have one or two acquaintances. Yes, an acquaintance not a friend. He deprived himself of friendship and love as he doesn't want people to get dragged into his own mess. He deemed himself unworthy of such things knowing how dark his soul already is.Â
Today marks the opening ceremony of his first year in high school. Fujima woke up early as the cool breeze that passed through his window blew the curtains. His apartment is indeed simple. No wasted spaces since the furniture is only a handful. A dining table close to the apartment door, a single bed, a cabinet, a book shelf, and a working desk beside it.Â
He got up slowly and went straight to the bathroom and looked up at the mirror. His dark black hair was covering his red pupils. His face, smooth like silk and his body, well built for a 15 year old kid.Â
He brushed his teeth and went straight for a cold shower. As the water poured down on his face and body, he thought to himself "I better lay low on getting high grades. It might raise some suspicion. I'll be an average student, on the outside at least.".Â
Fujima is smart. Not only does he excel in combat and killing but also in studies. The organization trained him this way when he was adopted just after turning 4 years old. He was trained in every aspect that may contribute to him being a top class assassin for the organization. In its own way, Fujima made himself believe that he was at least taken care of even just for the sole purpose of being a tool for the organization.Â
Fujima put on his uniform as he looked at the huge mirror just beside the dining table. He looked spectacular, a handsome kid that most girls would die for. He arranged his hair in a way that his facial features would be shown. He is indeed a handsome boy but he certainly is not aware of this fact.Â
An hour and a half before the opening ceremony, Fujima arrived at his new high school. There was no one within the vicinity and the gates weren't even opened yet.Â
"I want to survey the area just in case. I want to be familiar as well. I'll be attending this school for three years so might as well get used to the ins and outs of this area. It might come in handy." He thought to himself.Â
Fujima went to the back of the school as he climbed the high walls swiftly with ease.
"There we go. Now we're in."Â
Fujima scanned every corner of the campus starting from the first floor and up to the roof deck. There he laid down face up to admire the clouds as he felt the cool breeze offered by the perfect morning weather.Â
He took a nap and woke up 30 minutes before the opening ceremony.Â
"Now let's get out of the campus and enter through the front gate."Â
Sneakily, Fujima made his way to where he entered from and circled around the campus to enter at the main gate. This way, he can blend in with other students like a normal one.Â
He went straight to the gymnasium where the opening ceremony was held. As groups were being formed, Fujima just stood there like a typical loner. He was listening to the speech of the student council president instead of talking to the person sitting beside him.Â
"I hope you all have a wonderful year". Said the student council president Makoto before ending his speech.Â
After the opening ceremony, they all went to their respective classrooms for their homeroom. Fujima sat at the very back seat by the window and pulled out his favorite book from his bag, the book Laws of Human Nature. He loves reading the same book over and over as if trying to understand everything there is about humans. At first, he started reading this as a tool that can aid him for his line of work. But after reading it a few times, he found himself being fond of how the human mind functions emotionally. This made him long for feeling emotions that he had never felt before.Â
A few minutes later, their homeroom adviser arrived as the students stood up to greet him.Â
"I am Kiyoshi Takamura, your homeroom adviser. I don't have any speech that may sound uplifting but I hope that you tackle everyday of your high school life to the fullest and without any regrets."Â
"No regrets huh?" Fujima thought to himself knowing that he most likely won't be able to enjoy his high school life freely. His choices are bound to be limited as he is chained to an organization that can impose danger to this very school.Â
They started with a self introduction to get themselves familiar with everyone in the classroom. Afterall, they'd be spending a whole year together as a class.Â
As the class started introducing themselves, Fujima attentively listened and tried to understand the personality of everyone from his own class. He found no one suspicious which made him sigh in relief.Â
When his turn arrived being the last person who hasn't introduced himself, his heart pounded. He was never afraid of anything, he's an assassin after all. But also being an assassin, he works in silence. So what he fears the most is speaking in front of a crowd. And self introduction in a class is pretty much nerve wracking for him.
He stood up slowly putting the book he was holding atop his desk.Â
"H-h-h-h" Fujima stuttered as the rest of the class laughed silently. His face turned red out of embarrassment.Â
"Don't be too afraid young man. Just introduce yourself to us." Said Mr. Takamura.
As Fujima slowly lifted his head up to face everyone in his class, his gaze suddenly fell on Mr. Takamura and Fujima's face turned serious. As if into kill mode. He felt an immense killing intent aura from Mr. Takamura who's smiling at him.Â
"What is this? He's not a normal teacher. That I am sure of. What is he? Someone from the organization? An assassin? A watcher for me? Who is he? He's strong. Someone I probably can't handle." These thoughts flooded Fujima.Â
"I am Fujima Shintaro. Nice to meet all of you."Â
Fujima went back to his seat, still bugging his mind on who Mr. Takamura really is. Fujima has a great sense when determining people's strength from their looks and from the aura alone. He's a talented assassin after all. He knew that his homeroom teacher is not a normal one. He kept his guard up the whole homeroom.Â
After the period as Mr. Takamura left the classroom, Fujima stood up to follow him sneakily. He followed his homeroom teacher up until to the hall leading to the faculty office. To his surprise, Mr. Takamura stopped.Â
"You don't have to be so wary of me Phantom Rose. Or should I call you Fujima Shintaro. This is school grounds after all. You may come out now."Â
"Who are you?"Â
"Like I've said earlier, You don't need to be so wary of me. I am merely a watcher sent by the organization assigned to watch you."Â
"No watcher can be this strong."Â
"Oh you flatter me. There's no need to be worried, I won't meddle with your school life nor would I act like you're Phantom Rose. I will treat you as a normal kid, this is my day job after all. You don't want to miss out on your next class, Fujima , so you better go back."Â
"Then what was that killing intent earlier?"Â
"I'm just trying to test you. I'll be your watcher for the next 3 years after all." Said Mr. Takamura with a smile before going inside the office.