The streets of Tokyo buzzed with their usual chaos—car horns blaring, neon lights flickering, and street vendors shouting their deals. But to 14-year-old Asahi Homura, this was just background noise. The real excitement lay in skipping his last class of the day.
"Catch me if you can, sucker!" Asahi yelled, laughing as he darted through a crowded alley, clutching a freshly snatched taiyaki. Behind him, a furious vendor shouted curses, waving a ladle like it was a weapon.
"You brat! Get back here!"
"Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of how delicious this is!" Asahi teased, taking a huge bite and dramatically moaning with delight.
He leapt over a stack of crates and slid under a parked bicycle rack, narrowly dodging a barking dog. The thrill of the chase pumped through his veins like an energy drink. The vendor's shouts grew fainter until they disappeared entirely. Asahi leaned against a wall, grinning triumphantly.
"It's not stealing if you run fast enough," he muttered, inspecting the half-eaten taiyaki like it was a trophy.
When Asahi finally made it home, he opened the door to the familiar smell of miso soup and grilled fish. It was warm and inviting—unlike the glare his mom gave him the second she saw him.
"Asahi," she said in a dangerously calm tone. "Why do you smell like trouble?"
"Trouble smells like victory today, Mom," he replied, grinning as he stepped inside.
Before he could take another step, a ladle came flying at his head. He ducked, barely avoiding it. "Hey! That could've killed me!"
"Good!" she snapped, hands on her hips. "You skipped class again, didn't you?"
"Define 'skipped.'"
"Don't get smart with me, Asahi!" She marched over and grabbed him by the ear, dragging him toward the kitchen.
"Ow, ow, ow! Okay, fine! I might've missed a few classes."
"A few?" She let go of his ear and crossed her arms. "What were you doing this time?"
"Uh, cardio?" he said, trying to back away.
"Cardio," she repeated, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She picked up her ladle again, and Asahi bolted.
"Mom, no! Not the ladle! Anything but the ladle!" he yelled, darting around the room as she chased him.
His younger sister, Yui, sat cross-legged on the floor, watching the chaos with an amused smirk. "Run faster, Asahi! Maybe you'll actually get some cardio in."
"Not helping, Yui!" Asahi shouted, narrowly dodging another swing of the ladle.
Finally, he managed to grab a chair and hold it up like a shield. "Truce! Truce! I promise I'll behave!"
His mom sighed, lowering the ladle. "You're lucky I'm too tired to deal with you properly. But one more stunt like this, and you're grounded for a month. Got it?"
"Crystal clear," Asahi said, breathing a sigh of relief.
After dinner, Asahi flopped onto the couch, exhausted. Yui sat nearby, scribbling furiously in her sketchbook.
"What's the masterpiece this time?" he asked, leaning over to peek.
"It's a Hiraishi! Like Papa!" Yui said proudly, holding up her drawing. The sketch showed a heroic figure battling a massive Ayakashi.
Asahi raised an eyebrow. "Not bad, but where's the cape? Every hero needs a cape."
"Papa didn't wear a cape," Yui said, puffing out her cheeks.
"Then he clearly wasn't fashionable," Asahi retorted, grinning.
"Not everyone needs to dress like a walking disaster," Yui shot back, glaring at his wrinkled shirt and mismatched socks.
"Whoa, okay, savage," Asahi said, clutching his chest dramatically. "But at least I don't spend my time drawing noodle-armed heroes."
"They're not noodle arms!" Yui snapped, holding her sketchbook protectively. "And at least I have talent. All you do is cause problems."
"Causing problems is an art," Asahi replied, smirking. "And I'm a master."
Before Yui could fire back, their mom entered the room, holding a broom. "Asahi, clean up the mess you left in the kitchen. Now."
"I was just about to—"
"Don't make me use this," she warned, brandishing the broom.
Asahi groaned, dragging himself off the couch. "Fine, fine. Slave labor. That's what I am."
Yui snickered. "Guess even the 'master of causing problems' has to do chores."
The next day at school, Asahi sat in class, bored out of his mind. The teacher droned on about equations, his voice a dull monotone that could put a caffeinated squirrel to sleep. Asahi doodled in his notebook, sketching exaggerated caricatures of his teacher with devil horns.
Suddenly, the school's alarm blared, making everyone jump.
"Attention! Ayakashi has been detected near the school grounds. All students proceed to the designated safe zones immediately!"
Panic erupted. Students scrambled to follow the instructions, their fear palpable.
Asahi, however, perked up, a grin spreading across his face. "Finally, something interesting."
Ignoring the crowd heading toward the safe zones, he slipped out of the classroom and headed toward the courtyard.
The air outside was thick with tension. The ground trembled, cracks forming as if the earth itself was breaking apart. From those cracks emerged a massive Ayakashi—a grotesque, spider-like creature with glowing red eyes.
In the middle of the chaos, a little boy stood frozen, tears streaming down his face. He couldn't move, couldn't even scream.
"Hey, kid!" Asahi shouted, running toward him. "Move it or lose it!"
The boy didn't budge, so Asahi grabbed his arm and pulled him away just as a tendril slammed into the ground where the boy had been standing.
"Run to the safe zone!" Asahi yelled. "Now!"
The boy hesitated, then took off running. Asahi turned back to face the Ayakashi, gripping a discarded broomstick.
"This was such a bad idea," he muttered. "Why am I like this?"
The Ayakashi screeched, lunging at him. Asahi dodged, swinging the broom with all his might. It barely grazed the creature, but it bought him a few seconds.
"This is fine. Totally fine," he said, panting. "I just need a better plan. Or a miracle."
Just as the Ayakashi's tendrils closed in, a blinding golden light enveloped Asahi, and the world around him vanished. When he opened his eyes, he wasn't in the courtyard anymore.
He stood in an endless expanse of pure white. The ground beneath his feet shimmered like glass, and the air felt both heavy and weightless, like he was floating.
"What the hell…?" Asahi muttered, spinning around. There was no horizon, no landmarks, just an infinite void. His voice echoed eerily in the emptiness.
"Am I… dead?" he whispered, panic creeping into his voice.
"Not yet, kid."
The casual voice startled him. He turned sharply to see a man standing a few feet away—a tall, muscular figure with fiery red hair, piercing golden eyes, and a mischievous grin. A golden staff rested lazily on his shoulders.
"Who the hell are you?" Asahi demanded, taking a step back.
The man smirked. "The name's Wukong. Great Sage Equal to Heaven. The Monkey King. Ever heard of me?"
"Wukong…? Like, from those old legends?" Asahi frowned. "Okay, either I'm hallucinating, or I actually am dead."
"Not dead," Wukong said, tapping his staff against the ground. "You're in the Plain Between."
"The what?"
Wukong gestured around them. "This place. It's where souls go when they're caught between life and death. Think of it like… customs at an airport. Except here, we decide whether you go to Heaven, Hell, or get tossed back into the reincarnation lottery."
Asahi stared at him, wide-eyed. "You're kidding."
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Wukong asked, raising an eyebrow.
"So… what's my deal? Am I going to Heaven? Or Hell?" Asahi's voice wavered slightly. "I mean, I'm not that bad, right?"
Wukong chuckled. "Relax, kid. You're not getting judged today. You're here because I brought you here."
"Why?"
"Because you're dying," Wukong said bluntly, leaning on his staff. "An Ayakashi's about to turn you into mincemeat back in the real world."
"Oh, great," Asahi muttered. "So, what, you brought me here to watch me kick the bucket?"
"Actually, I brought you here to give you an offer."
Asahi folded his arms. "What kind of offer?"
"Let me put it this way," Wukong said, stepping closer. "You're gutsy, kid. Jumping in to save that boy when you knew you didn't stand a chance? Not many humans would do that. And I like guts. So, I'm offering you a chance to live—and not just live, but live as my avatar."
"Avatar?" Asahi tilted his head. "I've heard that word before, but I don't really get what it means. Like, isn't it just a character in a video game?"
Wukong groaned, rubbing his temples. "Kids these days. No, it's not a video game thing. An avatar is someone who becomes the vessel for a god's power. Basically, you'd be sharing your body with me. I'd give you my strength, my skills, my essence. In return, you use those powers to kick Ayakashi ass and keep the balance between the living and the dead."
Asahi frowned. "So… I'd be possessed?"
"Possessed? No, no, no," Wukong said, waving his hand dismissively. "It's more like… teamwork. Think of me as a really cool roommate who just happens to live in your soul."
"That doesn't sound creepy at all," Asahi said dryly.
"Hey, it's better than dying," Wukong shot back. "And it's not like I'm freeloading. You get some serious perks out of this deal."
"Like what?"
Wukong grinned. "Super strength, lightning-fast reflexes, immortality—well, partial immortality. Plus, you get this." He twirled his golden staff effortlessly, making it shrink and expand with a flick of his wrist. "The Ruyi Jingu Bang. Best weapon in the cosmos."
Asahi's eyes widened. "Okay, that's actually pretty cool."
"Damn right it is," Wukong said, tossing the staff over his shoulder. "But being an avatar isn't just about the power. It's about responsibility."
"Responsibility?" Asahi echoed, raising an eyebrow. "I'm 14. Responsibility isn't exactly my thing."
"Well, it's about to be," Wukong said, his tone turning serious. "Being my avatar means protecting humanity from Ayakashi. They're not just random monsters—they're spirits twisted by greed, anger, and hatred. Left unchecked, they'll drain the life out of your world."
"So, I'd be like… a superhero?"
"Sure, if that helps you wrap your head around it," Wukong said with a shrug. "But this isn't a game, kid. People's lives are on the line. Including yours."
Asahi hesitated, his mind racing. "Why me? I'm not strong, or smart, or… anything special. Why not pick someone who actually knows what they're doing?"
"Because you've got heart," Wukong said, poking Asahi's chest. "You've got the guts to stand up when it counts, even if it's stupid and reckless. That's what I need. Besides, you're fun. I haven't been this entertained in centuries."
Asahi couldn't help but smirk. "So, I'm basically your entertainment?"
"Pretty much," Wukong said with a grin. "So, what do you say? Ready to kick some Ayakashi ass and become a legend?"
Asahi looked around the empty expanse, then back at Wukong. The idea of sharing his body with a god sounded insane. But the alternative—dying and leaving his sister, his mom, everything—was worse.
He extended his hand. "Alright, Monkey King. You've got yourself a deal."
Wukong grinned, gripping Asahi's hand. "That's the spirit, kid."
Golden light erupted from their handshake, engulfing Asahi. He felt a surge of energy coursing through him, like his veins were on fire. The light grew brighter and brighter until everything around him disappeared.
The Ayakashi loomed before Asahi, its spider-like body bristling with dark, writhing tendrils. Its glowing red eyes locked onto him with predatory hunger. The ground trembled as it screeched, a bone-chilling sound that echoed through the empty courtyard.
Asahi tightened his grip on the golden staff, the Ruyi Jingu Bang. The weight felt alien yet oddly comforting in his hands, like it had always been meant for him.
"Alright, Monkey King," he muttered, mostly to himself. "Let's see what this thing can do."
The Ayakashi didn't wait. It lunged, its tendrils slamming into the ground where Asahi stood. He leaped back instinctively, the staff twirling in his hands as though it had a mind of its own. The air around him crackled with energy, his body moving faster and more fluidly than he'd ever thought possible.
"Whoa," he whispered, staring at the crater the Ayakashi's attack had left behind. "This is kinda awesome."
"Focus, kid!" Wukong's voice rang in his head, sharp and impatient. "You're not invincible yet."
"Yeah, yeah," Asahi muttered, rolling his shoulders. "Time to test this out."
The Ayakashi lunged again, its massive form blurring with speed. Asahi dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a swipe from its clawed tendrils. He spun the staff and swung it upward with all his might, aiming for the creature's exposed underbelly. The staff connected with a thunderous crack, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
The Ayakashi screeched in pain, stumbling back. Black ichor dripped from the gash Asahi had inflicted, sizzling as it hit the ground.
"Hell yeah!" Asahi cheered, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Did you see that? I just smacked that thing into next week!"
"Don't get cocky!" Wukong snapped. "It's not done yet."
The Ayakashi's body began to shift, its wounds sealing as it regenerated. Its tendrils multiplied, writhing like a nest of serpents as it hissed angrily. It reared back and slammed its claws into the ground, sending jagged cracks racing toward Asahi.
"Oh, come on!" Asahi yelped, jumping onto a nearby bench to avoid the attack. The cracks erupted into jagged spikes of shadow, tearing apart the ground where he'd been standing.
"You're fast, but you're not thinking!" Wukong chided. "Use the staff! It's more than just a big stick!"
"What, you couldn't tell me that earlier?" Asahi snapped.
"Consider this a learning experience!" Wukong said with a laugh.
The Ayakashi lunged again, its tendrils coiling like whips. This time, Asahi held his ground. He spun the staff in front of him, the motion creating a barrier of golden light. The tendrils struck the barrier and recoiled, sparks flying on impact.
"Okay, that's new," Asahi muttered, staring at the glowing staff.
"Try this!" Wukong's voice urged, a surge of knowledge flooding Asahi's mind. Instinctively, he slammed the staff into the ground. It extended rapidly, shooting upward like a golden pillar. The Ayakashi screeched as it was launched into the air, its body flipping uncontrollably.
"Now, finish it off!" Wukong commanded.
Asahi grinned. "With pleasure."
The staff shrank back to its normal size, and Asahi leaped high into the air, higher than any human should have been able to. The world seemed to slow as he descended, the staff glowing brighter with golden energy.
"Take this!" he shouted, bringing the staff down in a powerful arc. The impact was explosive, a shockwave ripping through the courtyard as the staff connected with the Ayakashi's core. The creature shrieked one last time before its body dissolved into black smoke, the energy dissipating into the air.
---
The Aftermath
Asahi landed gracefully, panting as he leaned on the staff for support. His heart raced, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. The courtyard was in ruins—cracked pavement, shattered benches, and scorch marks everywhere.
"I just… I just beat that thing," he said, his voice trembling with equal parts exhaustion and amazement. "I actually won."
"Not bad for your first fight," Wukong said, his voice brimming with pride. "But don't let it go to your head. That was a low-level Ayakashi."
"Low level?" Asahi gaped. "That thing almost killed me!"
"Yeah, and you almost died tripping over your own feet this morning," Wukong said dryly. "Point is, you've got potential. But you've got a long way to go, kid."
Asahi exhaled deeply, staring at the golden staff in his hands. The weight of what had just happened—and what it meant—finally began to sink in.
"So, this is my life now?" he muttered. "Fighting monsters, saving people, and… sharing my body with a monkey god?"
"Sounds fun, doesn't it?" Wukong said with a laugh.
Asahi smirked. "Yeah. I think I can handle that."
With the staff shrinking into a small charm that clipped onto his belt, Asahi turned and walked away, ready to face whatever came next.