Kai Tatsuya had always thought his life was ordinary. Every day followed the same routine—school, a part-time job at the local bookstore, and brief moments of escape in late-night gaming sessions. His life felt monotonous—predictable, calm, and lacking excitement. As a high school student, he often felt like just another face in the crowd, his thoughts drifting to far-off places, magical adventures, and heroic journeys. But those fleeting dreams couldn't change the reality he lived. He was just a regular teenager—nothing special.
That particular afternoon, the weight of routine felt heavier than usual. The summer heat wrapped around him like a heavy blanket, making the world seem unbearably still. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long, red-tinted shadows over the quiet streets. Kai walked home, his hands in his pockets, a sigh escaping his lips as he glanced upward at the sky.
Another day gone, he thought, staring at the horizon. Is this really all there is?
The usual sounds of the city were quieter today. The honking of cars and distant chatter of pedestrians seemed muted. Even the breeze, which normally brought some relief, felt heavier—like the air itself was thick with something strange.
A strange unease settled over him.
"Am I just imagining things?" he murmured to himself, stopping in his tracks. A soft breeze brushed past him, but it wasn't cool. Instead, it felt alive—like the wind was pulling him in a certain direction. It tugged at his clothes, guiding him toward the park. In the distance, a haunting melody reached his ears. It was faint, almost indistinct over the sounds of the city, but it stirred something deep inside him, an instinct he couldn't ignore.
Kai hesitated. What's going on?
He moved toward the park, drawn by the mysterious tune. The music seemed to swirl around him, a gentle melody that stirred something buried deep inside. He looked around, but there was no one in sight—no musician, no street performer. Just the soft, eerie melody echoing through the trees.
A glint of light caught his eye. He glanced down, and there it was—a strange, shimmering circle beneath him. It pulsed faintly, glowing softly, almost as if it had a life of its own. Kai took a step back, his heart racing. His mind screamed that it couldn't be real. This isn't happening.
But before he could fully react, the light beneath him burst into a blinding glow. Kai tried to scream, but no sound came out. The ground beneath him seemed to vanish, and he was pulled into the light.