Chapter 1, part 1: Porcelain.
The unpleasant sound of my phone alarm was what wake me up, between my lazynes and the horrible trip to school my will was once again drained before I fought against the routine.
The vacation has come to end for my dismay meaning my return to the enslavement of all teenagers, school. One time I hear someone said that the educational system and the prisons are a lot alike. It took me no time to agree with that. Both of them are mean to "educate" the people to behave well in society, molding their minds into something they can approve. What a despicable thing the schools are, full of lies and mindless fools...
—Onii-chan! Stop saying stupid stuff while you're eating cereal!—.
... And I did the same error as before, eat cereal. This happens when I'm paying attention to my most deeps and wise thoughts instead of checking what the hell my body is doing. Sometimes having autopilot is not that good, I'll wait until my software upgrades itself.
—Just hurry up I don't want to be late on my first day— Komachi said with rice coming out of her mouth.
I nodded and did my best effort to arrive as soon as possible to Sobu, biking daily was a good exercise when you don't drop it for several weeks.
Trying to ignore my sore legs my mind wanders to happiest times, like when I'm not attending school or when I'm in the house all day or when I don't have to go out at all.
But even I want to see my... acquaintances. Isolation is a pleasant situation for me but the insistence of Yuigahama to see us during the spring was soo constant that I came out of the house to see her at least two times, those are too many. Eventually I too desired to past time in their company, her and Yukinoshita I mean.
The service club was a funny thing more than I would admit aloud in front of anyone.
—Why did you stop?— Again my autopilot did one of its stunts. But this time for the good.
—Walk this last street on your own, make friends or something— I said.
She looked puzzled and... happy? at me, well as long as she didn't complain. A nod and a smile and she was already chatting with two girls near the gate.
While I would love to spend more time with Komachi doing so would keep her away of making friends, with her putting all her attention to me she couldn't notice when others try to know her. The world needs to know how wonderful Komachi is.
Thank me later Komachi!
A few more meters of torture and it all will end. Well not really, I still need to walk to my classroom and thinking about that I don't know where it is. The school announced these kind of things by emailing the students, very practical if you ask me... also easy to ignore and when I decided to make the spring a time for me to retire to my solitude and comfiness I take the statement seriously and it was worthy as I finally read all the light novels I've not have time during standard school term. Although ninety percent of them were utter rubbish and the rest were just decent enough to not burn them in hell. I could check my email on my phone but it might have get lost under spam notifications from games and stuff, why Spotify send so many of them? why a stupid gatcha game emails me? I didn't even play it.
I'm not worried, I'm sure that eventually I could be able to get the right room or so I thought the first two mistakes and after the fourth I lost hope.
—Good morning Hikigaya— someone called me from behind my back.
Turning my head I saw a normal looking guy, black hair, Japanese eyes and standard uniform. A plain looking guy.
—Don't make that face— he laughed.
I don't remember him, he's not from the last year class and he definitely did not make any request to the club. Then from where?
—Do I know you?— I asked, nervous and curious.
—Not for the moment, let me introduce myself— he then bowed in a classic and archaic japanese fashion — I'm Genki Osamu but you can call me Dai everyone does that—.
—I thing you already know my name so... well good bye— I'm in a hurry and even if I wasn't I would not stay here talking I've standards and a routine of lonely loneliness to maintain.
—Of course but do you know where your classroom is?— he asked with a small and kind smile.
—...No...— normally I would lie and say yes for the sake of not talking more than necessary but in times of need I require external assistance.
—Ah I thought so— he paused for a second —is the one at the second floor in the end of the hall—.
How would he know that? We just talked for half a minute and not me nor him did say a word related to this. Strange.
I averted my gaze looking to the stairs behind me, does Hiratsuka sensei send him? It might be that, she knows that I don't know. But...
When I wanted to eye him he wasn't there, he fled or disappeared like smoke. Even more strange.
Unravel this bizarre mystery was, at the moment, useless. My lack of previous knowledge and the short nature of our exchange of greetings provide nothing to my understanding of the situation so I decided to not waste more precious seconds, I ran to the direction the guy gave me.
The fast and muted steps my body did, again, was on autopilot. I'm sure if I lived back on the ancient Japan I could be an amazing ninja, no one notice me and I'm almost a cat when moving silently. Oh someday I will fullfil my fantasy about the Tokugawa era I bet Yukinoshita will be an amazing princes, always so perfect.
When I reached the door I decided to forget about my daydreams, if Hiratsuka sensei is in there she will know when I'm fantasying about something. Perhaps lady luck will favour me this morning by not putting that crazy woman in there.
—Oh Hikigaya you're on time what a surprise, I suppose my little help served you— how unfunny, she was already here.
—Good morning to you too Hiratsuka-sensei— I said and proceed to take a sit.
It seems my initial theory was right. That guy was a messenger from her. Ahh now my only bother is to keep myself sleeping without the teachers taking notice. For my surprise it seems that good luck is with me today as I was able to get all the sleep possible and didn't get bothered by the professors or my new classmates.
Well, it wasn't really that calm. As is common of me I mastered the ability to made my body fall asleep while my mind can perform highly difficult tasks such as philosophize about the evil nature of mankind.
Selfish creatures yet they crave for something genuine to grow from their false faces. Ironically they hurt others in the pursuit of their personal happiness and said they don't want to suffer themselves. I truly pitied them.
But I like to think that when less you expect it it will hit you in the face. I personally am in research of the genuine thing on life.
—Hachiman, school ended an hour ago— I heard a silky voice.
My left eye opened to reveal to me the figure of my only male friend, and perhaps my only friend regardless of gender, Totsuka. Of course Zaimozuka does not count, he smells funny, the kinda bad of funny so by extension people will think I smell too, they can say all they want about me but I will protect two things: my sister and my personal health and Yukinoshita declined my offering of friendship, Yuigahama isn't what I could call a friend but she is close to me, close acquaintance perhaps?
—Mmm it seems my mastery of stealth has surpassed even my skill of waking up in the right moment anyway why are you still here? If I remember correctly there are no clubs until the next week—.
—Oh I have class with you again so I wanted to eat lunch together but you were sleeping so I waited for classes to end but you still sleeping so I leave you to rest a bit more— so pure! It's clear that Totsuka is the only human who born clean of all mischievous nature.
—Thanks— I muttered.
—No problem! But... Could we eat together tomorrow? I don't like spending time with the other guys in the tennis club they... look at me weird—.
There's no being who can escape the Totusuka charm.
—Sure— I said with contentment.
—Nice!— he said with the brightest smile I've ever witnessed in my entire existence.
Totusuka rushed to grab his belongings and I followed suit. I'm not that great at small talk but he did all the job. His joy was that of a person who can share something with a loved one and I feelt the strange urge to smile.
I did although it might go unnoticed by him. I didn't care.
I like to think that everyone can achieve a friend like him but the next thought it's filled on why the world doesn't deserve the few good persons in existence, contradictory I must say. Then again humanity is doomed by their false sence of goodhood and archaic morals that only serve to satisfy their gluttony of self satisfaction draining the planet, the society and the individuals.
Ahh I need a rest, contrary to what Yukinoshita would think I only spend my thoughts on these issues when I face them on daily basis meaning that in a secluded environment I think about "normal" stuff like the new game I'm gonna buy or how shity the mangas are these days.
Oh I almost forgot about Totusuka. I glanced at him one last time before taking my bike and begin my departure. He said his good byes and ran to the door before the caretaker close them. I was about to mount on the bike when a scream take my whole attention.
I tried to ignore it but it was persistent. I'm no hero and probably someone else has already attended the "emergence" so there's no need for me to work more than I desired.
—Someone! Please help!—.
There it is again, I refuse to work I really do. Walking with my bicycle by me side the girl screamed again, this time it sounded so fake that it could perfectly be on an indie anime casting or an American movie. By pure coincidence I glanced behind me an the she took advantage of my sloppy movements.
—Help— she "screams" again —Oh thank you stranger now I can finally...— I turned my back to her and advanced with my personal transport aside.
I've got enough with Zaimozuka.
For my surprise she's different from him, his delusions don't make him throw himself in front of a moving bike just to get the attention of some poor fool.
—Now I can finally beat this infamous and malevolent spirit!—.
Shes delucional, and insane. How can I explain her antics if not?
She's literally on the floor moving her arms like she's fighting something above her.
I just moved to the right ignoring her but she, again, blocked my way. The same happen when I tried to took the left so without options I walked forward not minding when my bike ran over her belly.
But that didn't happen, something was protecting her from getting hurt.
—Ah thanks again! Your quick mind has saved me!— I feelt a stingy pain on my left leg and then I saw it.
The colours fading onto grey and all the lights getting weaker, on top of her a strange creature was dying trying its all to cause her damage before succumbing to the eternal slumber, my bike not letting it scape and her hands squishing it to death like jellyfish in the mouth of a turtle.
And now I was screaming. I would prefer to say that manly blasphemys were coming off my mouth but her laught at my shriek could not let me lie.
—Haha I needed that after almost dying— she said panting for more air.
The creature was now lying on the ground, its serpent-like body spread all over the pavement and the strange fluorescent flesh was now disappearing from the existence.
Utter confusion overcame my head and my body was standing still, not even the falling of my beloved bicycle did enough to make me react to something.
—hahaha OUCH!— said bicycle hit her hard.
Her now angry voice dragged me back to the real world.
—I saved your life and this how you repay me! There's no decency today— she got up from the ground throwing my personal transport aside —hey are you ok? If not you can tell me and I'll kill you fast and without pain—.
I pailed at her remark, I undoubtedly believe her capable of breaking my neck and burning my body in the blink of an eye.
—I'm f fine—.
The world remained a bizarre shade of grey, everything was moving slower and my body is been paralysed second by second.
—Oh no! I'm sorry I'm so sorry! This shouldn't have happened but... — she let out a big sigh.
Her extremely pale hands were running along her pearly white hair, on the past I called Yukinoshita a porcelain doll now I retract and concede this girls that epithet.
—... How could I let this happen...— she said with a great repentance showing on her face.
—Wha what happen?— I asked alarmed.
—That thing is called a Carybdea Mortuus a extremely venomous subspecie of the Cnidarian Aetherium, in resume you're going to die painfully, first the nerves on your eyes then the parietal lobe, then the entire brain, your will be paralysed little by little until you can't move a finger. At the end you will meet your demise by a terrible pain in every one of your nerves, you will wish to scream untill your lungs pups out of your chest but you can't do it because not even your eyes will move, all that suffering will be eternal to you but it really takes cinque minuti, can you feel it? The fading colours? Your limbs failing to support you? Your nerve fiber dying slowly?—.
Her speech was terrifying, it all make sense. My eyesight, the trembling legs. I gave up and fell to the ground with no care about myself and unable to do anything other that cry I remained there on the ground waiting for my painful death to arrive.
While my face was consumed by the tears and my hair pulled by my hands I take notice of how my fingers weren't responding to my commands and a deep and obscure fear overtake my spirit.
The faces of the many persons I know, every sensation I feelt alongside my life, every sorrow and every joy was here with me.
—Hahahaha look at you hahaha— her insensible laughter at my death resonated on the blackned school.
—It's a joke hahaha you're not dying well we all are dying just some do it faster than others... what I meant is... you're dying at a normal rhythm—.
—Ah? What? At a normal rhythm?—.
—Yes, like a normal Japanese teenager you're dying by stress not by some super strange toxin of a mythical animal that I just annihilated with my bare hands—.
All is so surreal right now, honestly all of this is rubbish. Her super dramatical speech and the estoic face she made, she sounded so legitimate.
—If that's true then what explain the colours and the paralysis?— my voice still cracked by the news of my supposed inevitable death.
—Well the colours are because now you can kinda see ghosts and stuff and the paralysis is perché tu are a coward—.
I know my not brave personality but at least I thought that in danger, real danger, I would run away.
—But you said I'm still dying—.
—Yeah, I'm sorry mate but once you've born alive you're most likely to die some day or where you expecting to live forever? If so I'm sorry for crushing your dreams of eternal youth—.
Great, she's not only delusional she's also a psychopath who lacks empathy and pleasure herself by telling others existential jokes...
... Wait a moment, did she say "see ghosts"? No matter how bizarre the situation became she will always find a way to make it more weird. There's no logical reasoning nor decisive proof about the existence of some kind of spiritual plane. All of that remains in the forever abstract metaphysics or in the ramblings of some random preacher.
I can't comprehend this, it's out of the understanding I've formed about the world no, is nonsensical stupidity. However, aren't all the private visions of the world? We all have some way to look at things that differs from the canon accepted by others.
Although there's the dead body of a monster lying on the street, well it is a spirit perhaps I should say the dead ectoplasm of a ghost for me that counts as a proof.
My jokes are terrible, I think it is for the stress of (presumably) dying.
—Ghosts? Was that thing a ghost?— surrendering to her was perhaps the only way to get answers although my trembling body still serve her to tease me.
My white shirt and black sack were soiled with sweat and dust. Her uniform was too drenched with dirt and wath not especially her hair, seriously she's soo pale that I can't tell where her blouse ends and her skin begins.
—Not exactly— her face isn't of Japanese complexion, round big eyes and a columbine nose. She has the face of a fiery eagle ready to attach ant any moment. My knowledge of Western aesthetics tell me that she's undoubtedly attractive and even beautiful but for the Japanese, or in general Asian, tastes she's less than Yukinoshita Haruno and her younger sister due to the sharpness and strength on her features.
She extended her left hand to me and I take it, my body still flinching and my heart beating with nervousness, my initial fear and confusion haven't been gone entirely.
—They are spirits but not from a dead animal, they appear as wraiths to consume the blood from other beings— her pink lips formed a knowledgeable smile —they are related to Cincuates and, contrary to their cousins, the Carybdea doesn't adopt a physical form but can suck the living like vrykolakas this why they are commonly mistook as vampires when obviously they're not—.
During her rambling I breathed trying to calm myself, the setting sun added a spooky shadow to her frame.
—I didn't get a thing about what you say— I stepped slightly to the right so she could walk to the exit.
—I know that but you have the face of a nerdy guy so I hope you don't make any more questions with answers you will not understand— she handed me my bicycle.
I mounted it.
—I suppose this is goodbye— she said. My shaky legs moving forward to make the bicycle advance.
I want to arrive to my house as fast as possible, I'm still affected by everything. I'm exhausted of her unpredictable and chaotic demeanor.
—... I think so...— I muttered.
When I started to get to the street I feelt how she jumped on the back sit, grabbing me by the shoulders. My face reddened, only Komachi travel like this.
—Or not! Go forth my dear squire!— she screamed playfully —take the path to the north where the great houses are—.
I grunted.
—I'm not your squire nor your driver if you want to get that far then call for a taxi—.
—I don't have money—.
—Lies! If you live there then you have enough money to buy my bike right now without a problem!— I replied with irritation, it seems she haven't had enough with making me believe I was dying.
—Mmm I wasted it all on these super awesome glasses!— and then she pulled from her pocket a pair of glasses that put the ones Elton John wear's to shame. With her eyes covered by the golden crystal she beated my back, I moved forward with my will broken.
I stayed in silence during a few minutes, every now and then I eye her. She noticed and I avert my gaze to our path.
Phantoms, according to her, exist. I assumed that perhaps many others types of creatures does, she catalogues them as if they were species hinting just how many of them are.
Following that logic there should be someone who has studied them deeply meaning that she isn't the only one capable of seeing ghosts which lead me to my ultimate doubt.
How can I do it? At the start of her eccentric show I believed her to be crazy but now I'm sceptical. I indeed see a wraith, my perception didn't fail me back then and my mind doesn't make up illusions yet. Is this related to the sting I received? Or is because I contacted with one? Maybe she can grant that ability.
Or my mind is in fact deteriorated and I'm already locked down on a mental institution, where all my life has been an incredible well constructed illusion due to the mix of my illness and the drugs they are giving me. She could be my last glimpse of sanity before I succumb to the reality of madness. If that's the case she could also be my last hope in awakening from the veil of delirium.
—How cunning, I'm glad you deciphered all of this. As an ultimate resource we tried in you a new technology of neurological recomposition to cure illness such as Alzheimer and many types of dementia. Exploring your mental world and take you out from it, I'm really impressed. Now you must decide, will you remain here in this ultimate bastion of sanity or will you accept the truth and abandon this simulation to come back to reality? Will you take the blue pill or the red pill?— she murmured softly on my left ear which of course turned me on in a level I've never experienced before.
I stopped the riding bike abruptly, all reddened by her action did she knew that my ears are my weak point?
When I decided to turn my head she was smirking and laughing.
—Mate you really need to stop talking loud— she spoke with a thick accent that only were noticeable due to her laught.
Embarrassed and humiliated, this is worst that spending time with Yukinoshita when she's on a bad mood.
—You can see them because now you can see... It is hard to say in your language... Think like this, all your life you have never see you have looked at everything— she breathed in my ear —When you see, the true nature of things are revealed to you because now you're not looking at the meaningless concepts they are to you, you are seeing what they are and not what you think they are—.
I undoubtedly believe she's murmuring to my ear on purpose, this is soo unfair, is the greatest teasing I've ever get in my life.
Silence was my response, being by the fact that I were so concentrated on her hot breath on my neck or because I was thinking deeply about her words, and of course is the latest. We reached what I assumed is her house.
—Finally!— she said jumping down the bike. She posed like some kind of super model when she looked at me, I suppose she did as a mock to my ehm... reaction to her murmuring to my ear. I need to adjust my pants.
—My name is Antonella Pavese but you will call me Giglio— she smiled showing her white teeth.
—I'm Hikigaya Hachiman— I said while pondering how much I regret not eating during lunch time.
I don't think you should take this history seriously but also do not treat it as a crack fic, is hard to explain in a language that it's not even my second tongue. Think of this tell like something light and fun to read, it can be deep and pretentious or an absurd tale about ghost hunting it all depends on you, I mostly write this because I have time to waste, it will be entertaining writing it and it will, if you feel like it, entertain you with my ramblings.
Most of the ideas comes from songs and poets, the titles and some situations are images and scenes I formed on my mind while listening to music, I find this method really helpful to write because it easy the pain that is naming characters and chapters also it's a form of tribute to the songs I like and the sentiments they project to me.
About the OC I tried to not use one but given how little is known about other characters that aren't the main cast then it was the easy way another reason being that none of them would have a connection to the esoteric and mystical stuff, Zaimozuka was an initial idea but nobody would have liked him on the main cast, Saki was the other option but I see her more like Dresden and that type of urban design than the school period. The last idea being Hayama, selling his soul or some thing like that to be with Haruno or Yukino then the devil would appear asking for the help of Hachiman but it seemed more cringe worthy than fun worthy so here we are.
This time I will say the song that inspired me, Porcelain by Mobi, the next chapter is an easy one so if you get it right I will give you a virtual cookie.
If you liked it or hate it leave a comment so I can get feedback, say whatever you want after all we need to use freedom of speech no matter what. Also if you find a grammar mistake please comment it, I mostly use Spanish (and occasionally Italian and Portuguese) on my daily life so the English it's more for the Internet and games. 'Till the next time and stay safe and locked on your house.