Akira, a 16-year-old high school student, had one unshakable goal: to find a girlfriend. Despite his best efforts, love always seemed just out of reach.
.....
One Day...
"Oh, Ken, please stop! It's tickling! Plea—[Laughs]."
"Oh, so it's tickling, huh? Then what if I do it here?"
"No! [Laughs again]."
Akira leaned against the school wall from a distance, watching Mia and Ken having fun, cuddling behind the fence during lunch hour.
"They're always behind the fence, enjoying themselves," Akira muttered. "I never thought those two would end up in a relationship."
"Seeing them together makes me jealous," Ness added, leaning beside him.
"Yeah, Ness, but I think there's someone even more jealous. Isn't it, Akira?" said Ness's friend
"What? Me? No way!" Akira snapped. "I don't want to get into a relationship. I want to focus on my studies right now!"
"Oh, really?" he smirked. "But I heard you had a crush on Mia."
"Akira, is that true?!" Ness chimed in.
"No, Ness! Don't listen to him. It's just a rumor," Akira stammered, his cheeks flushing.
"Hey, Akira! Stop standing against the wall!" Ness said.
"I don't believe in relationships at this age," Akira insisted, folding his arms. "We're only 16. We should focus on our studies, work hard to graduate, and get good jobs. Relationships can wait."
"Sure, Mr. Hard Worker," Ness teased, "but maybe you should get down from the wall because someone won't stop looking at you."
"Huh?" Akira turned to see Mia and Ken laughing in his direction. Embarrassed, he jumped down from the wall.
"Embarrassed?" Ness grinned.
"Shut up, Ness!" Akira barked, looking away.
Ding!
"Oh, there's the bell. Let's get to class," Ness said.
"Hey, Akira, don't start crying over Mia now," Ness joked as they walked away.
.....
The school day ended at 5 PM, and the trio separated at the gate.
"See you tomorrow, Akira. Bye!" Ness waved.
"Yeah, see you," Akira replied, forcing a smile.
On his way home, Akira sighed.
"This is the fourth time a girl I liked ended up with someone else. First Yumiko, then Chris, then Molly, and now Mia. I'm so tired of being single! I just want a girlfriend."
As he looked at the fiery orange sky, the wind seemed to whisper through the trees. He clenched his fists.
"Okay, I know what I have to do."
Akira changed direction, running toward the town center. Shadows grew longer as the evening set in, and he soon reached his destination: Taichi Bookstore.
.....
Inside, the old woman at the counter, her wrinkled face pinched with suspicion, narrowed her eyes at him.
"Back again, boy?" she muttered.
Ignoring her, Akira walked briskly to the free e-library section.
"Looks like all the PCs are occupied… Wait, there's one!"
He hurried to the computer, logged on, and opened a browser.
"Alright, internet. Let's see how you can help me today."
He typed: Makefriends.com
"Let's check. Do I have any friend requests? No. Any replies to my messages? Still no. Ugh, no luck again today."
Ting!
"Huh? A friend request?" His eyes widened.
The request was from an ID named Princess.
"Should I accept it?" Akira hesitated, but curiosity won. He clicked Accept.
Ting!
"Whoa, a message already?"
He opened the chat window.
Princess: Hi.
Akira: Hi. Who are you?
Princess: I'm Princess.
Akira: What? Where? Which?
Princess: Please listen to me, Akira. I've been following you for a few months. I wanted to talk to you, but I was scared. Today, I finally got the courage.
Akira: Huh? Courage to ask me what?
Princess: A date.
Akira: What?! Are you serious?
Princess: Yes. I want to go on a date with you. Right now.
Akira: Right now? Where should we meet?
Princess: Come to the shop opposite Taichi. Cross the road. I'll be waiting.
Akira's heart raced.
"Oh my God! I can't believe this—I got a date!"
He shut down the PC, sprang to his feet, and bolted out of the store, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
.....
Opposite the Taichi shop, Akira spotted a girl in a red skirt. Her hair swayed gently in the evening breeze, and she seemed to glow under the orange sky.
"My princess, your prince is coming!" Akira thought, his vision narrowing in excitement.
Without thinking, he dashed across the road.
BAM!
A truck hit him, sending him flying.
.....
People gathered around as Akira lay motionless. His vision blurred, and the world grew quiet.
The girl in red walked over, her expression calm. As she leaned in, her smile turned eerie, and a red aura emanated from her body.
The crowd gasped as she dissolved into a glowing apparition, her form revealing demonic horns and a sinister grin.
"Hahaha! That was easier than I thought. Dad said it would take centuries to capture a soul!"
The girl was none other than Raz, daughter of King Asura.
.....
Raz descended into Akira's lifeless body, binding herself to his soul. She opened a portal, dragging his essence into the Asur Realm, a land of torment where demons feasted on human souls.
As Raz entered the castle gates, the asurs cheered:
"Princess Raz is back!"
Raz proudly approached her father, King Asura.
"Daddy, I've brought what you wanted—a fresh soul for your meal."
"Oh, my princess, you've made me proud!"
"Does this mean I can finally be the queen of the Asur Realm?" Raz asked excitedly.
"Yes, but first, hand over the soul."
Raz tried to release Akira's soul, but something was wrong.
"Huh? Why isn't it detaching?" she exclaimed.
"Raz, what's happening?" her father asked.
"I think… I can't separate this soul from myself!"