Pronunciation: Ataeru; At - aye - ru
Author's Note: First 4 chapters are prologue, so they will be slow[er] than the main story. It's much more enjoyable at 5 (if you can make it that long), trust me.
~ A loosely based Angel Beats tributary sequel~
In a realm of dreams that tested one's worth to exist, I met a group of people that would become my closest friends. Among them was Yuri, Hideki, Yui, Naoi, and many others. And then, there was also Kanade. Together we spent our time, sometimes laughing and having fun, sometimes fighting against our cruel fates of an unfair life, abruptly ended, as a reason to keep existing. But, gradually, we began to accept our memories as our own and let go of our regret. One by one, we disappeared until only I and Kanade were left. She too was granted the peace of finally releasing her burden: thanking me for the heart transplant that saved her life. My heart beat in her chest. Kanade vanished in my embrace with a smile on her face.
The setting sun glowed in the horizon, casting its final few rays of warmth onto the gentle hills where the school was situated. In a few moments, it would sink under them and take its light with it, blanketing the hills in darkness, perhaps for the last time.
- Chapter 1: Born Anew -
What happens when you die? I've occasionally wondered about that. Do you move on to some other realm? Do you come back with a fresh start? Maybe you just rot in the ground like everyone else. It doesn't really matter since you don't know until you're past the point of no return and have no way of coming back. It's useless to think about, because I've got a life to live.
Ataeru's eyes blinked open to meet the morning's eternal blue sky. Clouds floated weightlessly high above, merely floating decorations, or passing vessels. They made him feel calm… If he closed his eyes again and just basked in the light, he might drift back to sleep. But how often did one wake up in a field?
Ataeru shot up to his feet, a large school in the distance staring back at him.
What?
A sense of dread would understandably imbed itself in anyone waking up in an unfamiliar place with difficulty remembering anything, but perhaps it was taking its time to sink in because he could only faintly register his head throbbing. It's harder to be afraid when you don't have anything to attach to.
What is that place..?
The school in question was a number of buildings huddled within walking distance of each other, dotted with scenic paths and lots of trees. It was certainly well equipped: there was a full sized running track visible in the distance, with a baseball field nearby. If he were to venture a guess, Ataeru would say it was an elite private school for the rich and talented. He was actually curious more than anything. He had no memories of going to sleep here… Or any memories at all, for that matter. The strain of trying to find something that didn't exist tired him, and he sat back down for a few moments to get his bearings.
Well… What have I got to lose? I don't have anywhere else to go, right?
Ataeru glanced around. There was nothing but forest in every direction surrounding the school. It would be hard to imagine there was anything remotely close beyond them. He began to trudge, half dazed and lost in thought, towards the nearest building. Tall stalks of grass swayed in the gentle breeze, some just tall enough to threaten to tickle his hand and snap him out of his deep focus.
Before he knew it, Ataeru was approaching a plain white building situated on the outer edge of the large campus. It had no distinct features beyond a few visible rows of tall windows for some of its floors. A red "plus" was painted over the entrance.
Looks to be the local infirmary, but I could be wrong.
Deciding to make this his first stop, Ataeru pushed through the double glass doors and the whoosh of cool air from a ventilation system greeted him with none of the typical smell of rubbing alcohol. It was, in fact, pleasant. The main reception counter, an impressive oak finish with marble countertop, sat in the center of the lobby, empty. Some stacks of papers and a pen were situated neatly by the monitor behind the counter, and a swivel chair looked like it had been suddenly abandoned from its awkward twist away. All that could be heard was a quiet melody playing over the infirmary's PA system. It was almost eerie.
Why would an infirmary be empty? Even if it is morning… And all the systems seem to be on. Ventilation, lighting, the computers. This is bizarre.
"Hello?" Ataeru's voice rang out. Silence. "Anyone here?" Still nothing.
Maybe I'm just a little early. I'm sure someone will be here soon.
Rather than stick around, however, Ataeru stepped back out onto the campus and continued walking towards the center, gazing around at the views. It wasn't just the infirmary that was empty but the fields too. It was almost impossible to say that this was a coincidence, that there was a rational explanation. For the first time in the few moments he had since waking, Ataeru was beginning to feel nervous. He walked a little faster towards a large brown building looming in the distance, on the other side of the campus. It had numerous vent slots built into the walls and mostly consisted of metal beams. It gave the appearance of an exposed plane hangar without the sheet metal outer layer. As he drew closer, he could distinctly hear the sound of music getting louder and louder.
Could it be? Finally, some life?
He ran up to it eagerly. At the entrance the music was astonishingly loud, so much so that he was surprised he did not hear it earlier.
Right past these doors…
Ataeru stepped forward and pushed them open, the doors swinging solidly inwards. A blast of sound hit his ears as he expected to see a live performance of some band with a multitude of cheering fans. But there was nothing. Nothing whatsoever. The hall was as empty as the infirmary; the music had been coming from the various speakers strung up on the rafters above, nothing more. It was considerably demoralizing. Frustrated, Ataeru stalked off and decided to explore something else.
The main building was the tallest, sitting on a small hill with sweeping panoramic views in all directions. It was connected along the perimeter and center, giving the appearance of three individual sections. As was expected, it was much larger on the inside than it appeared. Inside he found an abundance of tidy classrooms and spotless hallways that were lined with tiles in a muted color and aesthetically pleasing pattern. It would be easy to get lost for unfamiliar students, and definitely gave an exercise for anyone rushing between classes. It must have been a nightmare to get anywhere when they were packed. The walls were sometimes lined with colorful posters advertising a school band.
GDM… Wonder what that stands for. I wonder if it was one of their songs that was playing over the speakers.
Stepping inside one of the rooms, he sat down at a seat towards the front. The seats were aligned perfectly both in columns and rows and the blackboard was a clean slate, no hint of chalk on it whatsoever. Ataeru's eyes unfocused and his mind drifted away. The echo of voices was clear but distant, an illusion only audible in his mind. It wasn't hard to imagine what a day was like here.
Sitting down, getting lectured, and having everything come easily. Friends after class, clubs and activities to do. It must be nice here.
The image of a professor scribbling away with chalk projected itself in front of him. Ataeru's imagination was vivid and precise. A lonely and muted sigh escaped his lips. The feeling of the comfort and security that once resided in the class, held by the students that attended and turned into a friendly atmosphere, faded a long time ago. All that was left was a hollow husk leaving him feeling empty and alone. That's exactly what he was at that moment. Alone.
But rather than wallow in pity, Ataeru stood up and left. His footsteps echoed quietly down the halls until he came across a large computer lab. For lack of better things to do, he inspected it as well. The machines were lined up neatly on the desks, one after another. They glinted with an almost fresh look, promising to be the best and fastest available for all computing needs.
Ataeru flipped one on and was presented with a standard splash screen and log on prompt. Decidedly, there was nothing interesting to do on it. Students would probably come here to relax alone, do some research, and check mail. They didn't seem the kind to support advanced gaming.
With his methodical examinations, Ataeru canvassed the whole building in a little over two hours. By now the sun was high in the sky, and giving off the midday heat. It was as good a time as any to go outside and enjoy the weather, and definitely find some food before his stomach began to growl. Remembering seeing vending machines in the large hall, Ataeru backtracked briskly to the building where the music had been blaring. Strangely, it was now off and as quiet as the rest of the campus.
Inside, Ataeru found some meal ticket stubs scattered on the tables and floors. There were enough to last him a few days, if it should come to that. He stuffed them in his pocket and proceeded to check his choices.
Salad… Tofu… Chicken curry? Ding.
The dispenser ate up the ticket in return for a box of chicken, rice and steamed vegetables in a savory, spicy sauce. Ataeru spent a few minutes hunting down a microwave in the large hall. Finally, he found one located towards the stage and popped in his meal for a minute. In the meantime, Ataeru looked around. The hall was large enough to easily hold at least a thousand students and was undoubtedly perfect for a nighttime concert. The ding of the machine finishing echoed loudly and faded away.
The curry smelled wonderful, and tasted as much too when Ataeru plopped down to eat it at one of the large, 10 person tables that were pushed to the side. It didn't take too long for it to all disappear and inspire the purchase of a drink.
With a refreshing pop, Ataeru took a swig and sat down in the shade of a large tree outside. The air was fresh and faintly sweet, thanks to a nearby flower patch of assorted varieties. It really left a lot of time for one to wonder.
Why am I here? Ataeru cocked his brows.
What is here anyway? And why is this place empty? No answer magically made itself apparent, although he wasn't expecting one to anyway.
I need to manage for a while. It doesn't seem like I'm going anywhere soon. I'll have to call for help… And wait. In the meantime, getting comfortable shouldn't be a problem. Honestly, though, I don't like intruding like this.
Ataeru hated overcomplicating things and frying his mind with more questions than answers. It was best for him to focus on the now and do his best to answer one thing at a time; whatever was possible. After a few more minutes of quiet relaxation, Ataeru finished his drink and made his way to what could be assumed was the rear of the campus where the dorms should be located. Sure enough, within a few minutes he walked up to one of the two.
The insides were pleasantly decorated and gave a homey feeling that would ease the weary body after a long day of learning and exercise. When he really noticed it, his feet were definitely tired from walking most of the day. The lighting was cozy and natural, reminiscent of a small candle flame. Like the rest of the campus, the rooms were unoccupied. They were, however, labeled. Small brass plates with engraved numbers decorated the top of each dark wood door. Some doors were unlocked, allowing unfettered access to the inhabitants' personal space. Even when lacking people to occupy them, there was no denying that the rooms were used. They were each unique, with little signs here and there that identified them and their owners. Messy bed sheets, picture frames, sprawled shoes, notes, instruments, lamps. All these items gave the rooms a life of their own and Ataeru did not dare disturb their peace until the rightful owners came back to inhabit them once more.
While wandering across the floors to find an empty room, he stumbled across one in particular that he was drawn to. It was a simple and tidy room with basic furnishings. A small teddy bear sat upright on the folded creamy sheets of the bed. A computer stood in the far corner on a table by a large window with red drapes. A bookshelf was mounted above it, filled with an assortment of books and manga. The computer looked like the ones at the computer lab, minus the pink mouse, but it was obvious that it would hold some personal documents.
It probably has a password anyway. Whoever lived here took great care to keep it clean…
Giving a parting sidelong glance, Ataeru stepped out of the doorway and continued on. Eventually he found an unused room down the hallway overlooking the campus and anticipating the coming sunset.
Huffing a sigh of relief, Ataeru dropped onto the bed, just barely remembering to kick off his shoes. His mind replayed all the memories of the day: the layouts of the rooms, buildings and campus, the sights, furnishings and smells. It was like a movie reel. His own voice mumbled indiscernibly, and it all had the effect of lulling him into drowsiness, and finally, sleep. Before he could tell, Ataeru was passed out on the bed and curling up with the blanket clutched tightly in his fist.
The sun hung over the horizon, painting the sky orange during its descent. Soon, it too set, and cricket chirps and bird calls took over the night.
- End Chapter 1: Born Anew -
Author's Note: The faster you read and review, the faster I can post chapters ;) Weekly upload is standard; I will upload as fast as daily if I receive enough reviews.