It was a peaceful evening in Kyoto, Japan. The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the ancient city in its soft glow. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional hum of a passing car. The air was crisp and carried the faint scent of cherry blossoms, even though it was late autumn.

You were sitting on the engawa of your family's traditional wooden house, gazing up at the night sky. Your home was tucked away in a quiet suburb near the Kamo River. You'd always loved the sound of the water flowing gently by—it felt timeless, much like the Moon itself.Your mother called out from the kitchen. "Haruto, dinner's ready! Stop daydreaming and come inside."

You sighed, pulling your gaze away from the stars. "Coming!" you replied, but you didn't move right away. There was something oddly captivating about the Moon that night. It seemed... different.

Your younger sister, Aiko, bounded out of the house and tugged on your sleeve. "Haruto, come on! Mom made your favorite—katsudon!"

You smiled at her enthusiasm. Aiko was only twelve, her energy boundless even in the calmest moments. "Alright, I'm coming. Let's go."

But just as you stood to follow her inside, a deep, resonant hum filled the air. It wasn't a sound you could easily describe—it was as though the very fabric of reality was vibrating. You and Aiko froze, your eyes drawn back to the Moon.

"What's that sound?" Aiko whispered, clutching your arm.

"I... I don't know," you replied, your voice barely audible.

Above you, the Moon began to change. Cracks, glowing with an intense silver light, spread across its surface. The serene, eternal image of the Moon was shattering before your eyes. You couldn't believe what you were seeing.

"Haruto, what's happening?" Aiko's voice was trembling now.

Before you could respond, the Moon exploded. A brilliant flash of light engulfed the sky, turning night into day. The shockwave that followed was deafening, shaking the ground beneath your feet. Shards of the Moon, some no larger than pebbles and others the size of mountains, hurtled toward Earth.

"Run!" you shouted, grabbing Aiko's hand.

The two of you sprinted toward the house, but it was too late. A massive fragment of the Moon struck the distant hills, the impact sending a wave of destruction racing toward the city. The ground buckled, buildings crumbled, and screams filled the air.

Your mother and father ran out of the house, their faces pale with fear. "Haruto! Aiko! Get to the shrine!" your father yelled, pointing toward the nearby hill where a Shinto shrine stood. It was an old structure, said to be protected by the gods.

But as you tried to run toward them, another fragment fell. This one struck the heart of Kyoto, the shockwave knocking you and Aiko to the ground. The force of the impact split the earth, creating a chasm between you and your parents.

"Haruto! Take care of your sister!" your mother screamed, her voice barely audible over the chaos.

You reached out, but the chasm widened, swallowing everything in its path. Your parents disappeared from view, their voices lost in the roar of destruction.

"No!" you screamed, but there was nothing you could do.

Aiko clung to you, sobbing uncontrollably. "Haruto, what's happening? Where's Mom and Dad?"

You didn't have an answer. All you could do was hold her tightly and keep moving. The world around you was unrecognizable—streets reduced to rubble, flames consuming what little remained of the city. The sky was filled with smoke and ash, blocking out the stars.

Hours passed like a nightmare. You and Aiko wandered through the ruins, searching for shelter. The once-bustling streets of Kyoto were now a graveyard, littered with debris and the bodies of those who hadn't been as lucky as you.

When dawn finally arrived, it brought no comfort. The sun was a faint, sickly orb struggling to pierce through the thick haze. The air was heavy with ash, making it hard to breathe. You and Aiko found refuge in an abandoned temple on the outskirts of the city.

You tried to reassure her, to tell her that things would get better, but the words felt hollow. Deep down, you knew the world as you'd known it was gone.

A Week Later

You had been scavenging for food in what was left of the Nishiki Market when it happened. You came across a glowing shard of the Moon, half-buried in the rubble. It pulsed with a strange, silvery light, drawing you toward it.

"Haruto, don't touch it," Aiko said, her voice filled with unease.

But you couldn't help yourself. The shard seemed to call out to you, a voice echoing in your mind. Do you wish to survive?

You hesitated, your hand hovering above the shard. "What... what are you?"

Do you wish to survive? the voice repeated, more insistent this time.

Swallowing your fear, you nodded. "Yes."

The moment your fingers touched the shard, pain unlike anything you'd ever experienced coursed through your body. You collapsed, convulsing as the energy of the Moon shard fused with you. Your vision blurred, and for a moment, you thought you were dying.

When the pain subsided, you opened your eyes to a changed world. You could feel the earth beneath you in a way you never had before, as though it were alive. You stood, your body trembling, and looked around. Everything seemed sharper, more vibrant.

"Haruto... are you okay?" Aiko's voice was filled with concern.

"I... I think so," you replied, though you weren't sure what had just happened.

The First Encounter

That night, as you and Aiko rested in the temple, you felt it—a dark, oppressive presence drawing near. The air grew cold, and the ground beneath you trembled.

The creature emerged from the shadows, its form twisted and monstrous. Its glowing red eyes locked onto you, and it let out a guttural roar. You knew instinctively that this wasn't an ordinary animal. It was a human, or at least it had been, transformed by the Moon's power.

It lunged at you with inhuman speed, but something inside you reacted. The ground beneath the creature erupted, sharp spikes of rock impaling it mid-leap.

You stared in shock as the creature writhed in agony, its blood staining the earth. You didn't understand what had happened, but you knew one thing: you weren't ordinary anymore.

As the days passed, you began to understand the truth. The explosion of the Moon hadn't just destroyed the world—it had changed it. The shards of the Moon had granted survivors incredible powers, but at a cost. Some, like you, could harness their powers. Others lost their humanity, becoming monstrous beings known as the Moon Cursed.

And now, in this shattered world, you had a new purpose: to protect what little remained of humanity, starting with Aiko.

....