The golden glow of the setting sun filled the hallway as Anne walked towards Haruto's room. A nervous flutter churned in her stomach. Her hand, trembling slightly, reached for the door, but her thoughts kept spinning.
"I— I hope he isn't rough with me," Anne murmured quietly, cheeks turning pink. She rubbed her face in embarrassment, shaking her head. "Why am I thinking like this? What am I even saying? He wouldn't—"
She sighed deeply, brushing the thoughts away. "Get a hold of yourself, Anne."
Her knock echoed through the quiet room. Moments later, the door creaked open. Haruto stood there, a towel draped loosely over his body, steam rising from his hair and skin as if he had just stepped out of a bath. The sight made her heart skip a beat.
Anne swallowed nervously, her gaze darting anywhere but at him. "Um... Mister Takeda," she stammered, voice barely above a whisper.
He glanced at her, then without a word, he turned and walked to the bed. "Come in," he said, his voice low, almost detached.
Anne hesitated, stepping inside as the door shut softly behind her. Haruto sat on the bed, his back to her, towel still in hand as he started to dry his hair. The silence between them was thick with awkwardness.
"Start explaining everything from zero," Haruto's voice broke the tension. His tone was firm but not unkind, and Anne, feeling the weight of the moment, nodded.
Taking a deep breath, she sat down, trying to steady herself. "When you were seven," she began slowly, "you suddenly fell ill. You were playing with your friends when it happened. You couldn't even stand up." Her voice faltered slightly. "We rushed you to the hospital, and the doctors… they told us something no parent would ever want to hear." She paused, looking down at her hands before meeting his gaze again. "They said you had been diagnosed with 'Mana Stifled.' It means your Mana lines are blocked, and without them, you can't use any Mana."
Haruto's gaze remained fixed on the wall in front of him, but she could see his jaw tighten slightly. He didn't speak, so Anne continued, her voice steadying as she explained the years that followed. "Your father, Koji Takeda, poured all his resources into trying to help you. But despite countless treatments, nothing worked. Your Mana never returned, and as you got older, you began to withdraw. The doctors couldn't explain why it happened, or how to fix it. It was like your life was on hold."
She swallowed, her own emotions threatening to surface. She had witnessed his struggle, his frustration, and the way his family had tried to keep it together. "You became… you became distant from everyone. It wasn't easy for you, I know. For a while, we thought… we thought you might never wake up from it."
Haruto's fingers clenched the towel in his lap, and Anne could feel the weight of the silence between them. "How did it feel?" she asked quietly, unsure if he even wanted to talk about it.
He didn't answer at first, and for a long moment, Anne feared he would remain silent. But then, in a voice almost too soft to hear, Haruto murmured, "I don't remember. I don't remember any of it."
Anne looked at him, eyes searching. His back was to her, but she could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hand gripped the towel. "That's… that's okay," she whispered. "You're not alone in this, Mister Takeda."
Haruto's fingers loosened, and he sighed deeply, his voice quiet. "Everything feels… strange. Like I've been tossed into someone else's life."
Anne hesitated but then spoke again. "You're not alone, really. You've always had people who care. Your father… he never gave up on you. Even when things seemed hopeless."
The mention of his father seemed to make him stiffen. Haruto exhaled slowly. "My father," he said, as if tasting the words. "Why does it feel like I don't know him at all?"
Anne's breath caught in her throat. She wasn't sure how to answer that, but she finally said, "He's always been there, even if you couldn't see it. He always hoped—believed—that you'd get better."
Haruto sat in silence for a long while, processing her words. After what felt like an eternity, he turned his head slightly, his voice low but clear. "That's enough," he said quietly. "You can leave now."
Anne nodded, standing slowly, her heart sinking a little at the abrupt end to their conversation. She stepped toward the door, but just as her hand was about to reach the handle, Haruto's voice stopped her.
"Stop."
She turned around, startled by the sudden command, and looked at him.
"Thanks," he said quickly, as if he hadn't meant to speak the words but felt compelled to. His eyes met hers for a brief moment, and it was as if the world held its breath. Then, without another word, he turned away.
Anne's chest tightened, her mind racing as the fleeting gratitude settled in her heart. She gave a small bow, trying to collect herself. "I'll leave you to rest now."
Just as she was about to leave, Haruto's hand shot out from his side, grabbing something from under the bed. Before Anne could react, there was a flash of metal, and before she could even process the situation, her world went black.
We see a flashback.
Haruto walks away from the mansion, the cool night air biting at his skin. His mind is racing, his thoughts jumbled. He's lost in the quiet woods, the only sound being the crunch of gravel beneath his boots. Suddenly, he trips and falls hard on the ground, wincing from the impact.
He gets up quickly, panic creeping in. He hears it—growls in the distance. The guard dogs are after him. Without a second thought, he runs, heart pounding, his feet stumbling over the uneven path.
The growls get louder, closer. Haruto glances behind him—his breath quickens when he sees the dogs' glowing eyes. He runs faster, pushing his body to its limits, but the trees slow him down. He stumbles again, but this time, he sees a cave in the distance. His only chance.
He dashes towards it, diving into the darkness just in time to avoid the snapping jaws of the dogs. Inside the cave, Haruto holds his breath, hoping the dogs can't follow. He waits, the growls fading as the dogs lose track of him.
Haruto leans against the cave wall, trying to steady his breathing. He listens carefully, feeling the silence in the air. But then, a low growl reaches his ears. He tenses, turning slowly. In the shadows, he spots several goblins, their eyes glinting in the dark.
Haruto freezes. He needs to be smart. Just as he plans his next move, he hears heavy footsteps. A massive figure steps into view—a giant goblin. Haruto's stomach drops. This isn't just any goblin. This one is huge, almost terrifying.
"Is that a Goblin King?" Haruto whispers to himself, eyes wide
To be continued...