The sun peeked through the curtains, casting soft golden beams across my room. The morning air was crisp, filled with the cheerful calls of birds and the distant hum of cars as people hurried to work. Suddenly, the door burst open, and two little girls came charging in like kittens tumbling over each other in play.
"Azrael! Azrael! Wake up! Wake up!" their voices chimed, high-pitched and brimming with energy. Groaning, I slowly opened my eyes to find Viella and Alyssia shaking me relentlessly, their giggles echoing in the room. My shoulder-length hair stuck out in all directions, frizzy from the night's restless sleep. "Viella, Alyssia, stop, please…" I mumbled groggily, sitting up to rub my eyes and stretch. "I'll get up, okay? You're so very lucky I love you two…" My voice was still thick with sleep as I reached out and patted their heads. Almost instinctively, they leaned into my touch like affectionate kittens. "Now get out," I said with mock sternness, waving them toward the door. "I need to get changed." They giggled, exchanged mischievous grins, and skipped out of the room. Just as they left, my alarm clock blared to life. I sighed, reaching over to silence it. "Always those two, waking me up before my alarm," I muttered with a slight chuckle. Dragging myself out of bed, I quickly changed and brushed my hair, smoothing it into a neat ponytail with a side part. I caught my reflection in the mirror—groggy but presentable—and headed downstairs, the scent of pancakes pulling me like a magnet.
In the kitchen, my mom was humming softly as she stood by the stove. The golden light from the windows bathed the room, making everything seem warm and inviting. "Good morning, darling," she greeted, turning to smile at me. "How did you sleep? I hope it was good!" The sweet aroma of pancakes hit me in full force, and I fist-pumped the air in excitement. "Is that my favorite breakfast?!" I sped down the stairs, throwing my arms around her in a hug. "Thanks, Mom! You're the best!" She laughed, returning the hug briefly before gently nudging me away to tend to the pancakes. "Go take a seat, silly. Breakfast is almost ready!" I plopped into a chair at the table, watching as Viella and Alyssia came bounding down the stairs, drawn by the same irresistible smell. "Mum! Is that pancakes?" they asked in unison, their eyes wide with excitement. "Yes, my dears," Mom replied with a smile, patting their backs and guiding them to the table. "Now go sit next to your brother; it'll be ready in just a moment."
They flanked me at the table, Viella on my left and Alyssia on my right, chattering excitedly. Suddenly, their conversation stopped, and they turned to me with unusually serious expressions. "Big brother," Viella began, her tone uncharacteristically solemn, "have you ever had a girlfriend?" Alyssia leaned in, her voice eager. "Yeah! Have you?" Their question caught me off guard, but I maintained a calm expression. "Well, I've had a few," I admitted, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?" The two exchanged nervous glances before answering in unison, "We both like these boys, and we wanted to know if you could help us ask them out!" For a moment, I sat there stunned, the chirping of birds outside filling the silence. I never expected them to bring this up, especially not at their age. After a pause, I nodded thoughtfully. "Well," I began slowly, "the best way to ask someone out is to just be direct. Be honest about your feelings. But," I added with a small smile, "if you're too nervous, you could always ask a friend to help." Their eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much, big brother!" Alyssia beamed. "Yes! Thank you!" Viella added, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
I pulled them into a hug, ruffling their hair playfully. Moments like this made me forget the chaos of life, if only briefly. After breakfast, I ate my pancakes quickly, savoring the sweetness but aware of the clock ticking. I hugged my mom, gave the girls a quick pat on their heads, and headed out the door for school. The morning sun bathed the streets in a soft golden hue, and the air was still cool from the night. Walking down the road, I took in the scenery—the rustling trees, their leaves a vibrant green, and the occasional flowerbeds blooming in the gardens of the neighboring houses. It was peaceful, a moment to clear my mind. That peace, however, was short-lived. A group of my classmates passed by, their chatter and laughter shattering the tranquility. I sighed, shoving my hands into my pockets, and kept walking. Eventually, the school gates came into view, a gathering of students buzzing with conversations and morning energy. As I scanned the crowd for my friends, I felt a firm hand clap down on my shoulder.
"Yo, Azrael."
I turned to see Ryuu, my best friend, his jet-black hair messy but somehow deliberate, and his piercing blue eyes as calm as ever. He always looked like he was carrying the weight of the world but cared little about it. "Ryuu!" I greeted, patting his back. "You good?" He gave a small shrug, his voice low and steady. "Yeah, of course. I always am."
His expression was unreadable as usual, but I smiled anyway. We fell into step, chatting about the mundane until Ryuu gestured toward the lockers. "Mind coming with me? I need to grab my books."
"Sure," I replied. "Gives us something to do before class." As we walked through the school's hallways, the sound of footsteps and chatter echoed off the walls. Suddenly, loud shouting came from behind us.
"RYUU! AZRAEL! WAIT FOR ME!"
Before we could react, a loud crash reverberated down the corridor. We turned to see Shoji sprawled out on the floor, having collided with a wall during his sprint. His face was scrunched in pain, but he still wore a goofy grin. "S-Shoji…" I facepalmed while Ryuu sighed, his expression somehow even more unimpressed than usual. He extended a hand to Shoji. "Sometimes, Shoji, I wonder how you function," Ryuu said flatly. Shoji grabbed Ryuu's hand and, to no one's surprise, caressed it dramatically. "Your hands are pretty rough, you know!" I smacked Shoji's hand away, groaning. "That's enough, you weirdo. Thanks to you, we've got to double-time it to class." Shoji sprang to his feet, his energy seemingly endless. "Oh yeah! Class! Let's go!" And just like that, he took off running again. I sighed deeply and looked at Ryuu, who was already pulling out his phone to check the timetable. After a minute of scrolling, he found what he was looking for. "PE. Looks like swimming today."
I groaned in defeat. "Seriously? I didn't bring my trunks. Now I'll have to wear the school's spares. You know how small those things are." Ryuu chuckled softly, a rare occurrence. "You never remember, so why even complain?"
I shook my head. "Let's just get this over with." The swimming pool was situated on the edge of the school grounds, the gray-tiled building modest in size but still well-maintained. As we walked in, the sharp scent of chlorine filled the air. The bell chimed just as we stepped inside, and the teacher's sharp eyes landed on us. "You two are just in time," he said, his tone calm but firm. "And Azrael, isn't it unusual for you to be cutting it this close?" I rubbed the back of my neck, embarrassed. "Sorry, sir. It won't happen again." We joined the rest of the class, where Shoji was already waving frantically, his energy as infectious as it was disruptive. He whispered loudly as we approached, "Finally! You guys took foreverrrr." The teacher, clearly reaching the end of his patience, sighed heavily. "Shoji, this is your last warning before I send you out." Shoji saluted with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Aye, sir!" His antics earned a round of annoyed groans from the rest of the class. "Shoji," I muttered, grabbing his shoulder, "you really need to take a chill pill."
"Never!" he declared proudly. "I will let my energy freeeee!" The teacher snapped, his voice echoing through the pool area. "Shoji, out! Refocus room, now!" Shoji didn't even look upset. He skipped toward the door, humming a cheerful tune, leaving the teacher rubbing his temples in frustration. "Everyone else, get changed," the teacher ordered, sighing. We filed into the locker rooms, and as expected, the spare trunks were far too small. I sighed as I slipped them on, muttering to myself about the school's inability to stock normal-sized clothes. That's when Shoji suddenly appeared, squeezing through a small window at the top of the locker room.
"What the hell are you doing, Shoji?" I demanded, staring at him in disbelief. He grinned as he dropped to the floor. "I'm climbing in. What else does it look like?" Ryuu, who had just walked in, raised an eyebrow. "Shoji, you're supposed to be in the refocus room." Shoji shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe, but I figured I'd give it another go." To my shock, Shoji managed to charm his way back into class after Ryuu suggested he apologize. Moments later, he was back, as energetic as ever. After school, I said goodbye to Ryuu and Shoji and made my way home. The walk was as pleasant as it had been that morning. The golden afternoon sun painted the houses and trees in warm hues, and the breeze carried a hint of the coming evening. When I arrived home, I was greeted by Viella and Alyssia, who came running around the corner. "Big brother! We missed you!" Alyssia exclaimed, throwing her arms around me.
"Yes, we missed you soooo much!" Viella added, nuzzling against my leg. I smiled softly, crouching to their level. "How was your day?" Alyssia lit up. "Well, we went to the park with Mom, but then a weird man came over, and Mom started acting all funny." Viella gasped, nudging her sister. "Alyssia! You weren't supposed to tell Azrael!" Before I could ask more, Mom appeared in the hallway, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "What's going on?" I looked at her, my tone sharp. "Mom, who was that man at the park?" She hesitated, her eyes darting toward the girls before settling on me. "Azrael, let's talk about this later."
"No," I snapped, my voice rising. "I need to know now." Her face softened, but there was sadness in her eyes. "He's…my boyfriend, Azrael. I wasn't ready to tell you, but—"
"Boyfriend?" I cut her off, disbelief and anger bubbling up. "Dad hasn't even been gone three months, and you're already moving on?"
"Azrael…" she began, but I didn't stay to hear her out. I stormed upstairs, ignoring her calls, and slammed my door shut. The hours dragged by as I sat on my bed, my hands clutching my hair. Anger, disbelief, and sadness swirled in my chest, each one louder than the last. Tears I had fought to hold back now streaked down my face, dripping onto my clothes. Dad. It had barely been three months. The grief was still raw, a constant ache in my chest, and now this? My own mom, hiding a new relationship from me.
The soft knock on my door pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. "Who is it?" I asked, my voice hoarse and uneven. I quickly wiped at my face, trying to sound composed. "It's Alyssia…" Her voice was small, almost timid.
I sighed, taking a deep breath before replying, "You can come in."
The door creaked open, and Alyssia poked her head around the corner, her eyes filled with worry. "Big brother, have you been crying?" she asked, stepping cautiously into the room. I shook my head, trying to brush her off. "It's nothing, Alyssia. Just tell me what you need." Her hands twisted nervously in front of her. "I just… wanted to say sorry. I didn't mean to tell you about Mom and that man. I didn't want to make you mad…" Her apology hit me harder than I expected. Guilt washed over me as I saw her little face crumple with sadness. Without thinking, I pulled her into a hug. "It's not your fault," I murmured, stroking her hair gently. "It's Mom's responsibility to tell me those things. You didn't do anything wrong, okay?" She nodded against my chest, sniffling. "Are you still mad?"
"I'm not mad at you, Alyssia," I said softly. "But…I just need some time alone, okay?" Her eyes filled with a quiet sadness, but she nodded and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her. I sat there, staring at the floor, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a stone. Part of me wanted to go downstairs, to apologize to Mom for how I'd reacted—but another part of me couldn't let go of the anger. I couldn't just accept this. Not yet. Hours passed. Darkness had settled outside, and the house grew quiet. I ignored Mom's calls for dinner, too caught up in my own thoughts to face her. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and I fell back onto my bed, still dressed in my uniform. My body felt heavy, my tear-streaked face pressed against the pillow. The faint rustle of leaves outside my window lulled me into a restless sleep. I woke suddenly in the middle of the night, my heart pounding. Something felt… off. A strange sensation coursed through my body, like an electric current weaving through my veins. My head throbbed, and my thoughts felt foggy, scattered. I sat up, clutching my forehead.
"What… is this?" I muttered, my voice hoarse. "My mind… it feels off." I staggered to my feet, the floor beneath me seeming to shift and warp. My vision blurred, the edges of my surroundings stretching and twisting like reflections in rippling water. Panic clawed at my chest as I stumbled toward the door. "I need… water," I mumbled, gripping the doorframe for support. The hallway seemed unnaturally long, the walls bending and spiraling as if I were trapped in some kind of surreal dream. I reached the stairs, clutching the railing as I descended, each step feeling like an eternity. By the time I reached the kitchen, my hands were trembling. I fumbled for a glass, almost knocking it to the floor before finally steadying it under the tap. The sound of rushing water was deafening in the eerie silence of the night. As the glass filled, I chugged it desperately, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat but doing little to ease the strange sensation gripping my body.
I drank another glass. Then another. My hands shook so badly I nearly dropped the cup. When I finally set it down, I leaned against the counter, trying to steady my breathing. My vision was still blurry, the room spinning faintly. I glanced at the clock above the stove—it read 2:34 AM. I stared at the glowing numbers, my heart racing. Something was wrong. I didn't know what, but I could feel it deep in my chest, a gnawing certainty that something was about to happen. I turned and began climbing the stairs again, gripping the railing tightly. Each step felt heavier than the last, my legs like lead as my mind twisted with strange sensations. The hallway stretched endlessly before me, my door looking miles away despite being only a few meters. I finally stumbled inside, collapsing onto my bed. The ceiling above me morphed and swirled, colors bleeding into one another as if my reality was unraveling. I squeezed my eyes shut, my breathing shallow and ragged.
The moment I fell asleep, I was somewhere else entirely. I opened my eyes to find myself in a world unlike anything I had ever seen. The sky was a radiant cascade of colors—brilliant shades of pink, gold, and violet, swirling together like an endless canvas. The ground beneath me was soft and glowed faintly, pulsing with a rhythmic energy. Strange, ethereal plants swayed in a breeze I couldn't feel, their leaves shimmering with hues that seemed to shift with every second.
It was beautiful. Unreal.
But as I took a step forward, something in the distance caught my eye—a shadow moving against the vibrant backdrop. It was humanoid, tall and imposing, but its features were obscured by the haze. "Who…?" I tried to speak, but my voice came out as a whisper, carried away by the strange wind. The figure didn't respond, but it turned toward me, and suddenly, the world seemed to tremble. A sharp, piercing sound filled the air, and I clutched my head, falling to my knees. Then, just as suddenly as it began, the sound stopped, and the figure vanished. The vibrant world around me started to dissolve, its colors bleeding away into darkness. My body felt weightless, as though I were falling into an endless void. I jolted awake, my chest heaving, sweat soaking through my clothes. My room was silent, the familiar darkness of early morning pressing against me. But the sensation I'd felt in the dream still lingered—a strange pull, as if something in that world was calling me back. "What… was that?" I whispered, staring at the ceiling, unable to shake the feeling that my life was about to change forever.
The morning light began creeping through the curtains, but I hadn't slept a second since waking from that strange dream. My body felt like it had gone through a marathon, every muscle aching, my thoughts racing in a tangled web of confusion. The vividness of that world, the strange figure, the overwhelming sensations—I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just a dream. Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to snap myself out of the haze. My reflection in the mirror startled me. My face was pale, my eyes bloodshot, and dark circles hung heavy under them. I looked… off. Like I hadn't been myself in days. "What is happening to me?" I whispered to the reflection, my voice trembling. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to focus, but my mind kept circling back to that dream—if I could even call it that. Downstairs, the house was alive with the usual morning chaos. Viella and Alyssia were already bickering over who got the last pancake, their voices ringing through the kitchen. Mom moved between the stove and the sink, humming a cheerful tune. It all felt so normal, but I felt completely disconnected from it, like I was watching from behind a veil.
"Azrael, darling, there you are," Mom said, glancing at me with a soft smile. "Breakfast is on the table. Did you sleep well?" I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. "Yeah… fine," I lied, forcing a weak smile. My stomach churned at the sight of the food, but I sat down anyway, trying to blend in. The girls immediately took notice of my silence. "Big brother, you look tired," Alyssia pointed out, her head tilted with concern. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Viella chimed in, leaning closer. "You're not sick, are you?" I waved them off, trying to muster some of my usual energy. "I'm fine, just stayed up too late. Don't worry about me." They didn't seem convinced, but thankfully, they didn't push. I barely touched my food, my mind still swirling as I excused myself and headed out the door for school. Mom called after me, her voice laced with concern, but I didn't stop. I couldn't handle her questions right now. The walk to school was surreal. The same streets, the same trees, the same houses—all of it felt distorted, like the world had shifted slightly out of place. The vibrant colors of my dream kept bleeding into my mind, overlaying reality. I blinked rapidly, shaking my head as I tried to clear the images, but they wouldn't leave me.
At the school gates, Ryuu was waiting, leaning casually against the post with his arms crossed. His sharp blue eyes narrowed as I approached. "You look like hell," he said bluntly, his tone neutral as always. "Thanks," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Nice to see you too." Ryuu didn't press me further, but his gaze lingered, clearly trying to read me. Before he could say anything, Shoji's familiar voice rang out from behind us. "AZRAEL! RYUU!" he shouted, sprinting toward us with his usual boundless energy. "Good morning, my favorite duo!"
I groaned, already bracing for impact. Shoji skidded to a halt, nearly colliding with me before he threw an arm around my shoulder. "You look like a zombie, bro! Did you pull an all-nighter or something?"
"I'm fine, Shoji," I replied flatly, shrugging him off. "Let's just get to class." The day passed in a blur, my mind too preoccupied to focus on anything the teachers were saying. During lunch, Ryuu finally cornered me while Shoji was off harassing someone about trading snacks. "You're off," he said plainly, sitting across from me at the table. "What's going on?" I hesitated, picking at the sandwich on my tray. Ryuu wasn't the kind of person you could brush off with vague answers. He'd keep asking until he got the truth. "Do you ever… dream about things that feel real?" I asked cautiously, keeping my voice low. Ryuu's expression didn't change, but I caught the slight flicker of interest in his eyes. "Occasionally. Why?" I debated how much to tell him. The rational part of me screamed to keep it to myself, but the weight of it was too much to carry alone. "I had this dream last night," I began slowly. "But it wasn't just a dream—it was… different. The colors, the sounds, the feelings. It was like I was actually there. And there was someone… a figure. I don't know what they wanted, but it felt like they were looking for me." Ryuu stayed silent, his gaze locked on mine. For a moment, I thought he might brush it off or call me crazy, but then he spoke.
"Did anything happen after you woke up?" I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I… yeah, kind of. My body felt strange, like there was this energy running through me. It hasn't stopped, not really." Ryuu leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "That's… odd. And you're sure it wasn't just a vivid dream?"
"I don't know," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "But it didn't feel like a normal dream, Ryuu. It felt… real. Too real." He nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. "Maybe you should take it easy for a few days. Whatever it was, it clearly shook you."
"Yeah… maybe." But deep down, I knew it wasn't something I could just ignore. That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, half-expecting the strange sensations to return. My body was tense, my mind racing. As the hours crept by, exhaustion finally began to pull me under.
And then, just like the night before, I was back.
The vibrant sky, the glowing ground, the shimmering plants—it was all the same. But this time, the air felt heavier, charged with an electric energy that made my skin tingle. I turned slowly, scanning the strange world for the figure I'd seen before. They were there, standing in the distance, closer than before. This time, I could make out more details—a flowing cloak, sharp angular features, and eyes that glowed faintly with an otherworldly light. They raised a hand, beckoning me. A chill ran down my spine, but I couldn't stop myself. My feet moved on their own, carrying me toward them. As I drew closer, the figure spoke, their voice echoing like a whisper and a roar all at once.
"Azrael… you've been chosen."