Chapter 04: Illusory normalcy
***/~bedroom~/***
(…'s point of view)
{Day 1, Monday – Morning, unspecific time}
When I open my eyes, I see a familiar white ceiling.
"Another dreamless night…" I mutter.
I remove the blanket that covers my body and sit up on my bed.
"…"
I stare at my surrounding, still feeling drowsy.
There's nothing out of the ordinary.
My room look as dull as ever.
It got a closet, a study table, a book rack filled with manga, etc…
You know; the usual things average Japanese boy would have in his room.
My room isn't large either...
Just stamp the 'Normal' badge on it.
"Oh yeah, it's the first day of high school." I muse to myself.
But somehow it doesn't feel anything special.
It's just like any other days… except this time it will be in new environment.
"Speaking of it, what time is it now?"
I pick up my alarm clock on top of a dresser next to my bed.
Due to my drowsiness, I can barely make up the number.
"Ah… it's still early… I guess I should help Oka-san make breakfast."
I get off the bed and walk towards the door.
***/~bathroom~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Morning, 6.07 am}
Upon exiting my room, I make way to the washroom.
A glance into the mirror and I see a reflection of myself.
Brown hair and blue eyes…
"I don't look any different." I mutter.
I rinse my face and brush my teeth.
It's a daily routine that normal folk would do every morning.
A boring routine…
But what do I expect?
Fall into a portal and end up having an epic adventure?
"Haha… I read too much manga."
That's only wishful thinking.
I'm just an average boy who is just starting his high school.
I'm neither an amazing athlete nor a genius in academics.
At least I'm decent enough to pass my entrance exam.
It was a tough one…
"…why am I wasting my time thinking about that?"
[Sigh]
I let out a sigh and put down my toothbrush.
***/~downstairs~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Morning, 6.11 am}
After washing off the toothpaste, I move to the lower level.
My house has two floors, but it's nothing that impressive.
Most houses in the residential area have two floors.
Once again, stamp the 'Normal' badge on my life.
But there's nothing wrong in being normal.
It's just… I don't feel special…
I'm fifteen years old.
In five years, it'll reach the mark of twenty years since my birth.
Two decades of existence… but merely part of the mass.
"…why am I so gloomy in the morning?"
[Slap]
I smack my cheeks, trying to shake off the depression.
"Rather than mulling how mundane I am, I should be helping my mother." I say to myself.
Speaking of which, I can see the visage of my mother from here.
There she is; the woman who brought me into this world.
"Oh, Yuu-chan…? I didn't notice you were up." The woman says as soon as she sees me.
"Good morning, Oka-san. Do you need help with anything?"
"Good morning, Yuu-chan."
She replies with radiant smile.
***/~dining table, breakfast~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Morning, 6.21 am}
The two of us have our breakfast in silence.
Our dining room is medium large and part of the kitchen.
It was unnecessary to separate the kitchen from dining room since we're just a small family of three.
The dining table won't occupy much of the space.
Aside from the table, the room is filled with the basics of what makes a kitchen… a kitchen.
You know; a fridge, an oven, a stove and others.
On a side note, I'm having a simple Japanese breakfast; miso soup, fried eggs, grilled mackerel and steamed rice.
Now that I think of it, our mornings are mostly like this.
We just sit and eat our food wordlessly.
There are four vacant chairs.
I don't have any sibling… so it is kinda lonely…
"Is something troubling you, Yuu-chan?"
"A-ah… it's nothing, Oka-san."
Since we're always like this, I almost forgot that we have another person in our family.
It was my father; the person supporting this family.
But he's rarely around since he's busy at work.
The man works overseas, making it harder for him to be home.
Sadly, he is barely present in my memory.
He used to spend more time at home when I was a toddler…
But that was in the past.
Nowadays, he only shows up twice or thrice in a month.
Sometimes, I didn't get to meet him before he takes off again.
At the very least, he stayed longer during Christmas and New Year's holiday.
But still, I feel sorry for my mother…
That man spent more time at work than being at home.
It can't be helped…
My old man is fighting for our family sake.
My mother is a housewife.
Therefore, father is our sole source of income.
"Ah, now I remember! It's your first day of high school." My mother suddenly exclaims.
I nod.
"But… I still feel like I'm still in middle school."
"I used to feel the same way when I first started high school. Ah, time moves so quickly… my boy is all grown up." The brunette woman says softly.
"Stop it, Oka-san… You sound like I'm getting married or something."
"Might as well so, Yuu-chan." She replies with a smile.
"E-eh…?"
"I met Kantarou in my school days. He was so dreamy… Maybe you'll find a girlfriend. Who knows, she might be the love of your life."
"But that's kinda too soon, isn't it!? I'm not ready for a commitment!"
"Is that so?" She tilts her head.
She's probably comparing me with her school life.
I don't think I can pull off what my Dad did…
Getting married as students; a bit too rushed if you ask me.
But who am I to complain?
***/~outdoors, on the way to school~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Morning, 7.01 am}
"Have a safe travel. See you after school." My mother bids me.
I nod and wave at her as I walk.
After that, I avert my head to face the road.
"…"
Oh yeah, I'm taking a different route today.
Misaki Municipal Highschool is the opposite direction from my previous school.
Although the road is not the same, the environment felt familiar.
Maybe it's because I grew up here?
"Now then—"
It's time to open a new chapter in my life.
Will it be a colourful school life?
Or will it be just like middle school?
I do think my old school was memorable.
But… it felt slightly dull…
Maybe I'm missing something.
"Is it because I've been a good boy?"
They say the life of a delinquent is more colourful than your average guy.
In middle school, I rarely break any rules.
Occasionally, I walk in on girls while they were changing.
But it was mostly accidents…
"Huh… I'm such a goody two shoes…"
No wonder Sato used to call me that.
No… I think he still considered me as one.
"But… I don't think I have the guts to be a delinquent…"
[Sigh]
Let's just forget about all this and focus.
It's the first day of high school!
I should be hyped like most people of my age.
But I just don't feel like it…
"…?"
I stop in my track to stare at a strange scene.
In front of me, there's a brunette man with messy attire.
His clothes are crooked all over the place.
His facial hair also appears to be neglected.
However, the man doesn't seem to bother thinking about his image.
His dull brown eyes just stare at the sky, looking empty.
If his appearance wasn't so untidy, he's probably a good looking guy.
But what is he looking at?
I take a glance at the sky where he was looking.
"Mind your business, kid."
"…!"
His sudden statement surprises me.
I make a quick bow.
"I'm sorry…! I'll be on my way."
I apologize as I walk pass him.
"Wait."
"…!?"
I halt in my track since he grabbed my shoulder.
I reluctantly look back, to face the eccentric man.
Due to my small stature, he easily towers me.
He's taller than an average Japanese man, making him appears like a giant.
"You're… a Mystes…" He mutters.
"…?"
A smirk slowly dominates his formerly emotionless face.
"Be on your way, brat."
He lets go of my shoulder and push me forward.
"…"
Why did he stop me earlier?
What did he mean by Mystes?
"That being said, that bastard brother of mine is taking his time. I thought he's going for a short walk." The man mutters.
"…"
I don't feel safe around him…
It's better if I take flight now!
***/~in front of the school gate~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Morning, 7.21 am}
"I'm here."
I arrived safely.
Thank goodness the odd looking man didn't chase me.
Putting that aside—
"Amazing…"
I halt my stride to view the school scenery.
The courtyard is significantly larger than my previous school.
The school buildings also seem to have state-of-the-art facilities.
From this day forward, I'll be accommodating this place.
"Yo, Sakai."
A familiar voice calls out my name.
I turn around to face him.
A bespectacled teenage boy around my height approaches me.
Obviously, he's wearing the same uniform as me.
"Hey, Ike."
"You're early. Were you overexcited for school?" He says with a jesting tone.
"I don't know. I just woke up earlier than usual. Maybe I am excited."
"If we're lucky, we'll be in the same class this year. Well, I look forward to work with you." The boy claims.
"Yeah, same here."
I shake hands with my childhood friend.
"That being said, I'm surprised that you decided to enrol here." I say to him.
"Hmm…?" He tilts his head.
"I thought you were planning to enter a private school. You know, since your parents…"
I didn't finish the statement.
The brunette boy already knew what I was talking about.
[Sigh]
He lets out a sigh.
"Yeah, they were pushy. But I rather join a school with familiar faces than going to a school fill with snobbish strangers. Haha…"
He chuckles at his own joke.
"Unfortunately, there is a condition; I have to go to cram school so I won't fall behind in academics."
"That's troublesome…"
"I know, right…? Well, parents know what best for us. I think…"
The last part of his statement is in murmurs.
"Hahaha… Good luck."
"Thank you. I need it." He deadpans.
I'm not sure whether he is actually thanking me or just being sarcastic.
But knowing him, Ike probably mean it.
"So this is Misaki Municipal…" I overheard a female voice.
The speaker is just next to me, which allows me to sneak a peek without looking obvious.
The girl is adorning the school uniform; a green dress with pleated skirt.
She has long black hair, slightly pass her shoulder level.
It is not a strange sight.
Girls love keeping long hair.
I do find that attractive.
She tied her hair into small twin tails… which is kinda cute…
Her brown eyes are sparkling as if a kitten seeing a toy grass.
"You're already checking out the girls, Sakai Yuuji…?" My friend says teasingly.
"Shush… Not too loud."
"You can do that later. Let's check the class board." He suddenly says.
"Oh, I almost forgot about that. Haha…"
***/~the gathering hall~/***
(Sakai Yuuji's point of view)
{Day 1, Monday – Morning, 7.59 am}
"It looks like we're in the same class after all." Ike makes a comment.
"Yeah... along with Sato and Tanaka…"
I glance at the two names who I just mentioned.
One of them is looking, no, glaring at our way.
"Sato looks grumpy…"
"Ignore them. Those guys have been unfriendly towards us lately." Ike says grouchily.
"I wonder why…"
"We're just too good for them. Model students like us shouldn't mix with delinquents like them."
"Eh… but I don't think I'm qualified as a model student… I'm not smart like you."
"You're just being modest." Ike replies with a smile.
I sneak a peek at my former schoolmates.
Sato is no longer glaring at my way.
He folds his arms and slants his back against the wall.
Meanwhile, Tanaka is next to him, mimicking his action.
Just like Ike and me, both of them have brown hair.
Actually, majority of people here are brunettes.
Once again, I am reminded that I'm just part of the mass…
With my physical traits alone, I won't stand out among my classmates.
If anything, Sato and Tanaka stand out the most.
Tanaka Eita is the tallest boy in the class.
He also has large body build, but still can't match up to an adult man.
But compared to the other male students, his height and large build makes him unique.
Sato Keisaku, on the other hand, has smaller body frame.
His weight and height was similar to me back in middle school.
I see that he has grown a bit taller.
But so am I…
I wonder who's taller now…
Our physiques aside, Sato has something that I don't.
That is his good looks.
Among the boys in this hall, I dare say he has the best look.
Some girls are already checking him out.
"Sakai…?"
I overheard someone call my name.
"Hmm…? What is it, Ike?"
"You were out of it for a sec. Is something bothering you?" The bespectacled boy asks worriedly.
"No, no… It's nothing."
"If you say so…" He says before turning around.
"…"
Ike Hayato, my childhood friend.
I have known him for a long time (obviously).
He started wearing glasses about three years ago at the starting of middle school.
Ever since, he earned the nickname 'Megane'.
Jokes aside, those glasses become his identity.
Surprisingly, not many students wear glasses.
He can be easily distinguished since he belonged to that small group.
Disregarding his thin body, Ike is actually quite good looking.
I know this because some girls back in middle school asked for my help to get his phone number.
Since I don't want to trouble Ike, I didn't give away the number.
At the same times… I felt left out…
Maybe we're not close as before… but Sato and Tanaka were our friends.
We were a circle.
Among the four of us, I'm the dull one…
"…it's okay…"
I don't need to be special.
I just need to be useful to the community.
Maybe I can't be the popular kid or the one revolutionize the school culture.
But if I can be helpful to someone, that's good enough.
Yeah, that's who I am.
I don't mind if people can't remember me or simply dismiss me as a mere grey silhouette.
I just want to contribute something to the world… even just a little bit.
That will be my proof of existence.
"Ah, the teachers are coming. Let's join the line, Sakai." Ike suddenly says.
"Okay."
!~/Interlude/~!
(General Point of View)
***/~road, somewhere in Misaki~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Midday, unspecific time}
An unkempt brunette man is shown walking amidst a crowd.
He wouldn't stand out if wasn't for his untidy attire.
He is moving against the flow, making him noticeable.
The mobs elude him as they walk pass by.
They all keep a straight face despite having second thoughts on the dishevelled man.
The man knows this, yet he doesn't care.
He chooses that appearance knowing full well how the community would treat him.
"Where is that smartass brother of mine? It's been half of a day and he still doesn't show up." He mutters to himself, looking at the sky.
Shoving his hands into pockets, he starts yawning.
The man doesn't intend to cover his yawn.
"He just left me with guard duty and went to have fun on his own." The man concludes.
The brunette man with dead brown eyes resumes walking forward.
"Oh yeah, I should salvage that Hougu. I wonder what's in that Mystes."
=exit Interlude=
***/~at the school gate, after class~/***
(Sakai Yuuji's point of view)
{Day 1, Monday – Evening, 2.11 pm}
"You become the Class Rep."
"I know… Why people always nominate the Megane to be a leader?" Ike mumbles.
"Maybe it is because bespectacled guys look smart?" I take a wild guess.
"Yeah right… bespectacled guys can be dumb too, you know?" He replies grumpily.
"But you are smart."
"That doesn't make me the only candidate possible." He snorts.
"Hahaha…"
Ike is selected to be the Class Representative for class 1C.
It's funny because he was constantly nominated to be Class Reps back in middle school.
However, Ike refused to accept the job.
It's probably because he wanted to spend more time with his friends.
We were part of the 'go home' club and spend most time in the arcade.
And now, he finally accepts his role.
Nevertheless, it frustrates him when nobody else was nominated.
So he won the representative seat without competition.
"Oh well, I'll just have to bear it. Add more burden to my poor back." He mumbles.
It's going to be a busy year for him.
Being a Class Rep and attending cram school… it sounds stressing…
"Complaining aside, I need to thank you for volunteering to be my assistant, Sakai."
"It's the least I can do." I say to him.
It's not like I have anything else to do.
I've been on the 'go home' club for ages.
I want to change that in high school.
"If possible, I don't want to be a part of the Student Council… I hope they don't scout me." The bespectacled boy mumbles.
"…"
It's only the first day of school.
We haven't done anything that warrants their attention.
Wait a sec…
'We'…?
Who am I kidding?
Only Ike will get the spotlight.
I'm just his shadow.
"You know Sakai; you're acting strange." The boy suddenly says.
"Huh…? What do you mean?"
Ike starts scratching the back of his head.
"How to say this… It's like you're depressed or something."
"Eh? But I don't feel that way..." I retort.
The bespectacled boy drops his hands to his side.
"Sakai, if you got problems, you can talk to me." He says with serious tone.
"Um… well…"
What should I tell him?
I'm not sure what's the actual problem.
"If you don't want to say it, I won't force you. Just… don't afraid to ask for my help."
"I understand…"
[Sigh]
Ike suddenly lets out a sigh.
"Anyways, do you want to go somewhere? It's been awhile since we last hang out." He says casually.
"…"
And end my first day of school just like that?
I—
"You can go first. I think I left something behind."
I run towards the school building.
"Huh? Sakai, where are you going…?"
"No need to wait for me!" I yell from afar.
***/~class 1C~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Evening, 2.21 pm}
That being said… what am I doing here?
As expected, the classroom is empty.
Not a single student stayed behind.
It's only the first day… so there is no reason for anyone to stay at school.
There are no club activities, detention or anything.
So, what am I expecting?
A mysterious girl who stayed behind every day?
"I read too much manga…"
This kind of plot is normally used in the Romance genre.
A boy and a girl met while the sun goes down.
But it's not even dusk yet…
It's too early for the sun to go down.
I doubt that romantic scene could happen.
"You…"
"…?"
I turn around as soon as I hear a manly voice.
An adult man wearing jumpsuit is standing behind me.
"What are you doing here? School is over."
"Well I—"
"Are you one of those gullible kids that read romance manga?"
"Eh? I—"
"Forget it! That's never going to happen in reality! GO HOME ALREADY!"
"WAH…!?"
[Audible footsteps]
I run.
I run through the corridor without looking back, forgetting about the rules.
My mind is blank, confused and shocked.
I can't process what happened but my body move on its own.
I just run…without thinking or looking back…
***/~the school courtyard, under the shades of trees~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Evening, 2.34 pm}
"Huff… huff…"
I try to gather my breathing.
I'm not in good shape.
It was only a short run but I am already panting like crazy.
"I am so pathetic…"
If a girl saw me right now, I'll be—
"Sakai-kun…?"
"…"
It's not just one girl.
It's a group of three girls.
I recognize their faces since they were all my classmates.
"You act like you've seen a ghost." The same voice speaks.
The tallest girl of the bunch steps forward.
Her height isn't the only distinguishing factor.
Her hair is red… a rarity around here.
"You…" I utter.
I think I saw her once before.
Was it in middle school?
"Now this is a rare sight. I thought you'll be hanging out with Eita and the other two." She says cheerfully.
"…Eita?"
"Oi, oi… Why are you acting like he's stranger? He was one of your friends in middle school." The outgoing girl claims.
I'm not surprised she kept her hair short.
She's the type that prefer to move freely without obstruction; a girl of action.
Keeping long hair would be bothersome for her.
Wait a sec…
I'm checking her out, am I not?
What the heck am I doing?
[Sigh]
"Wa-wait… did you just sigh at me!?"
"Eh? No, no, no, no…! I'm not sighing at you!"
"Did you just sigh at me, Ogata Matake, for trying to be nice to you!?"
"…Ogata-san?"
Ah yeah, that's the name.
We went to the same middle school.
But we never spoke before…
If I recall it right, she was close with Sato and Tanaka.
"Why you…"
"Oga-chan, I think you're overreacting." Another girl interjects.
This voice sounds familiar…
"Sakai-kun is feeling uncomfortable since we approached him in a group. That's why he's acting like that." The same voice explains my circumstances.
What a considerate girl…
I finally identify the speaker.
It was the girl I saw this morning.
"Oh… I'm sorry about that, Sakai-kun." The short haired girl apologizes.
"No, no… I guess I was a bit rude."
I didn't recognize my former school mate.
That's very insensitive of me.
"We should head home now. I don't want that mean looking teacher to yell at us again." The black haired girl says.
"Yeah, you're right, Yukari." Ogata replies to her while shrugging.
The two girls start walking away.
Oddly, one girl stays behind.
When I try to look at her, the brunette girl averts her face.
Is she afraid of me?
"Oi, Kazumi…! What are you doing?" The short haired one hollers from a distance.
"We're going to leave you if you dally, Yoshida-san!" The black haired girl adds her piece, playfully.
"E-eh…? I-I'm coming, Oga-chan, Hirai-san!"
The last girl runs toward her companions.
"…"
I wonder what was delaying her…
On a side note—
"So her name is Hirai Yukari…" I mutter to myself.
I watch the three girls walk pass the school gate.
However, the black haired girl stands out among the trio.
"…"
I clasp my face.
"What am I doing dawdling around here? Let's go home."
!~/Interlude/~!
(General Point of View)
***/~in a random classroom, second floor~/***
{Day 1, Monday – evening, unspecific time}
A dishevelled man folds his arm as he watches over the entire event.
He massages his chin, which is messy from unshaved facial hair.
"They split up? What were they talking about earlier?" He muses.
[Yawn]
The brunette man lets out a wide yawn.
"I don't get why my brother is so fixated with these creatures. The animal kingdom is far more interesting than this. The predators reign over the prey. The strong lives and the weak perish. Simple yet effective…" He muses aloud.
Then, he begins stretching his body.
"But humans… oh humans… they are so… confusing. They hate evil yet they commit evil. They claim to be civilized yet they act like animals. Liars, backstabbers, oppressors… they occupy the highest on human hierarchy. How is this logical?"
He shakes his head disapprovingly.
"I can't understand it… Humans, without their morals, are no different than animals. Why Brother is fascinated with them?"
"Oi you…!"
A voice alarms the unkempt man.
He turns around to face the newcomer.
"Hey, this is school property. Outsiders aren't allowed to trespass without permission!"
The newcomer, a muscular man in his middle thirties, claims.
His attire, which is a jumpsuit, indicates that he is a sportsman.
The man is one of the school's PE (Physical Education) instructors.
[Yawn]
The trespasser yawns.
He's not interested to deal with the muscular man.
"Oi, don't you hear me? Get out of here!" The beefy teacher demands.
However, his companion doesn't plan to comply.
"Hey blockhead..." The unkempt man says lazily.
"Blockhead…? Wait, are you referring to me!?"
"Yeah… Who else is here?" He replies casually.
The brunette man shoves his hands into his pocket.
"Why you…" The brawny man clenches his fist angrily.
"I'm bored… Let's play a game while waiting for my brother to return." The untidy man says, uncaringly.
"A game…?" The PE instructor tilts his head.
"Yeah... do I need to repeat myself? Let's play a GAME." The nameless man asserts it.
The muscular teacher shakes his head and proceeds to grab the stranger on his collar.
"Look here; I am a staff. Therefore, I am allowed to loiter around in this property. But you are an intruder. Since you don't plan to move your ass, I'll have to force you to leave."
"I'll start the game." The messy man declares with monotonous tone.
"Who said anything about playing your stupid game!?"
"Who said anything about asking for your permission?" He replies dully.
[Finger click]
"What the—"
In a blink of an eye, the brawny man is no more.
However, there is a large black dog in his stead.
The canine is 26 inches in height, measured at top shoulder.
It is a big-boned breed with a large, wide head, broad skull and prominent cheekbones.
A Cane Corso to be specific.
[Dog barking]
"Now, you're a mongrel. I wonder if any of your wonderful students will notice your absence." The unkempt man says joyfully.
Feeling enraged, the canine attempts to bite the man's leg.
[CHOMP]
"Hmm…? That tickles…"
[SWOOSH]
The messy man merely swings his bitten leg and the large dog is sent flying.
[CRASH]
[Dog whining]
The dog's body had crashed into several study tables, breaking them.
It fell unconscious from the brunt of the impact.
"Opps… Oh well, he can still live."
He says while dusting his pants.
Strangely, the bitten leg wasn't even wounded.
If a normal person was bitten with such ferocity from a dog, he'll probably need several stiches.
However, that man is not a 'normal' individual.
"What was I doing? Oh yeah, I was looking for that Mystes. Where did he go?" The unkempt man muses.
=exit Interlude=
***/~on the road~/***
(Sakai Yuuji's point of view)
{Day 1, Monday – Evening, 2.34 pm}
I think I owe Ike an apology.
I just left him without explaining… which is rude.
"What is wrong with me?"
[Sigh]
Sun will set in another three and half hours.
I got plenty of time to kill.
Going home straight away would be dull…
On the other hand, if I go to the arcade, it wouldn't make any different than my time in middle school.
I guess I should change how I spend my day.
"Maybe I'll check out the music shop?"
It's been awhile since I last visited one.
Was it six months ago?
I'm not a big fan of music but I do enjoy listening to songs.
I wonder if I'll like any of the new songs.
***/~Music store~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Evening, 3.42 pm}
I arrived in a music store that I used to frequent.
"Oh, they got a new cashier."
Six month ago, someone else was minding the counter.
Last time it was a young man, perhaps waiting for his college application to be accepted.
Now, it's a woman.
Judging from her features, I think she's young… probably.
On a side note, a lot has changed since my last visit to this store.
They got more posters, banners and CD-racks.
The store feels a bit cramped since it got more stuff now.
Or maybe I grew up…
I'm five centimetres taller than last year.
"Sakai-kun…?" I hear a feminine voice.
I recognize that voice…
The moment I turn my body, I'm face to face with Hirai Yukari.
"O-oh… hey, Hirai-san…"
A frown appears on her face.
"What's with that half-hearted greeting?" She questions me.
"W-well, I—"
"You don't talk to girls often, do you?" She takes a wild guess.
I nod, feeling defeated.
Strangely, the black haired girl also nods.
"I'm not familiar with boys either… But if I imagine you as a girl, I can talk—"
Our eyes met.
"—on second thought, I guess I'm a bit nervous…" She adds dejectedly, averting her face.
"Hahaha…"
"H-hey, don't laugh at me!" The girl retorts, looking straight at me.
Then, she realized it and nervousness starts to show up on her delicate face.
I rarely pay attention to girls before…
But those pink lips look soft to touch.
"I'm surprised we met again so soon." I probe a different topic.
"E-eh…? Oh yeah, we met earlier…" She replies absentmindedly.
She glances sideway, looking aloof.
I guess the tenseness finally got into her.
"Are you a frequent visitor?" I decide to ask.
"Not really… I just felt like coming." The girl answers, facing me.
Judging from the position of her eyes, I think she is looking at my mouth instead of the rest of my face.
"As I thought… boys sure are tall…" She mumbles.
"…"
I'm not exactly tall among my peers.
At best, I'm at average height.
"You can speak to me fluently now, huh?" The girl says.
"…I am?"
Now that she mentioned it—
"Is it because you can look down on me?" She questions me.
"Eh? No, no, no, no…! That's not it!"
It's strange…
How did that happen?
Before, I was nervous.
Now, I'm talking to her like we know each other for a long time.
Maybe it's because it felt… fun?
"Then, why?" Hirai Yukari asks me, looking straight me in the eyes.
Curiosity and frustration is obvious in her tone.
"… It's because—"
[Heart thumping]
—I want to know you.
"—you're looking me straight in the face." I say to her.
Since we're so close to each other, I can see one of her eyebrows slightly curve upward.
"What do you—"
The black haired girl halts her statement when she realizes how near our faces were.
She takes a step backward, acting sheepish.
"S-sorry about that… I guess I went overboard." She says shyly.
I'm not sure what just happened.
But I think my heart skipped a beat.
"What's this? I didn't come here to watch drama."
[Oriental Bell Ringing]
"…!?"
I feel someone is grabbing my shoulder.
That voice… I recognize it…
The moment I turn my head, I am greeted with a toothy grin.
"Howdy, Mystes… Are you pleased to see me?"
[Heart thumping]
It was the unkempt man from this morning…
Why is he here?
"Hmm…? Something is coming…" He suddenly mutters.
The man averts his eyes somewhere else.
"I recognize this presence… It can't be…" He mutters again.
Judging from his tone, I can sense uneasiness.
"Tch… I'll have to leave that Hougu inside you for the time being."
He lets go of my shoulder.
[Oriental Bell Ringing]
I turn around, trying to look for the anonymous man.
"Wh-what was that?"
My breathing is ragged, probably from anxiety.
What did that man do to me?
What did he mean by leaving something inside me?
"Um… Sakai-kun…?"
"…?"
I turn my body again.
"Are you okay? You look scared." Hirai Yukari asks with worried tone.
"…"
Was it just a dream?
"Hirai-san, did you see a scary man walk behind me earlier?"
The girl tilts her head at my question.
"No… There was no one there."
"…"
Hirai-san didn't see him…
That means… that man is a ghost…
What have I gotten myself into…?
"Were you spooked by Miyazaki-sensei?" She suddenly inquires.
"…Miyazaki?"
A list of faces with Miyazaki as the family name begins to pop out in my head.
The most prominent one is Miyazaki Hayao.
"You know, that teacher who wears jumpsuit. Don't worry about him. He's not here." Hirai says cheerfully.
"Huh…?"
"Yeah I get it… He's kinda scary. He pops out of nowhere and yells angrily at students. It's only the first day of school and we got scolded by him for idling in class." The black haired girl narrates her experience.
"Oh, that teacher's name is Miyazaki? I thought you were talking about that Ghibli director."
"What…? Why would I brought up that man out of nowhere?" She raises her eyebrow.
"Hahaha… Sorry, I was lost in thought." I say while scratching my cheek.
My classmate shrugs, dismissing my previous panic attack.
"But… now that we spoke… you're actually quite talkative." I point out.
"Hmm…? Ah… yeah, I get that a lot. Even Oga-chan said that I was chatty." She replies casually.
"You don't mind talking to me?"
The girl starts playing with her hair, probably trying to keep calm.
"Well… honestly, I feel like running…" She mutters.
"…"
"But that won't do! If I run now, I'll never get a boyfriend!" She declares with a clenched fist.
I can feel the determination from the way she speaks—
Wait a sec…
Did she just say 'boyfriend'?
"That being said, I'm glad you were an amiable guy, Sakai-kun." Hirai says with a smile.
[Heart thumping]
Is she… going to ask me out?
But we barely know each other!
"Um… Why are you looking so nervous?" The black haired girl asks.
"No, no… I'm just getting conscious that I'm talking with a girl—"
—that I liked—
I shake my head violently to drop the thought.
"Mou… Don't get nervous all of a sudden. You'll make me anxious too."
"Hahaha… I can't help it…" I scratch my cheek as I say it.
Honestly, I just want to run.
But that will be rude to Hirai-san.
But if she confesses now, how should I react!?
I'm not prepared for this kind of thing!
[Sigh]
All of a sudden, the girl lets out an audible sigh.
"Sakai-kun, clasp your hands together." She tells me.
"Huh? Like this…?"
I do as she says—
[CLAP]
"Itai…!"
I retract my hand out of reflex.
"Hirai-san, did you just… hit me?"
The girl seems surprised by it too.
"Amazing…Boys sure are different." She mutters.
"…?"
"Sorry, sorry…! I didn't expect your hands to be rock hard." She replies while waving both of hands.
Her hands were probably sore from clapping mine.
I didn't know my hands were that 'hard'…
"Putting that aside, you're not nervous anymore, right?" She suddenly points out.
"..."
Now that she mentioned it… the tension sorta disappeared.
I stare at the back of my hands, which was red from her clapping.
"I learn that trick from a manga. I'm surprised it worked…" She mumbles the last part.
…she never tried it before?
Here I thought she had experience dealing with anxiety.
"But since it hurts me as well, we can call it even. I'm less nervous too! Hahaha…"
I can't help but to smile weakly.
"You really are something else."
"Hmm…?" The girl tilts her head.
"It's nothing. I'm just glad we can talk like this." I say to her.
At my remark, she suddenly starts pouting.
"That reminds me… you didn't notice me in class." She claims.
"Huh…? What do you mean?"
"I'm sitting next to you… but you don't seem to care." Hirai points out.
"…"
She's sitting… next to me?
[Heart thumping]
"EH…!?"
***/~in front of the Music store, outside~/***
{Day 1, Monday – Evening, 4.19 pm}
My shouting was disturbing the other customers.
Hirai drags me outside after the commotion.
"The cashier is starting to get annoyed with us. I can tell from the way she is staring." The black haired girl claims with troubled tone.
I glance over the glass door to check on the cashier.
It's just as what Hirai claimed.
The cashier woman does look grumpy…
"Wow… I didn't realize the time at all." Hirai says while looking at the road clock.
I find the idea of putting a clock at every crossroad to be quite convenient.
I respect whoever came up with the idea.
"On a side note… why did you shout?" She suddenly asks.
"Eh…?"
Oh right… I did…
"Don't tell me… you didn't notice I was next to you…" Hirai says with narrowing eyes.
"No, no, no, no…! I did notice you were there! It's just… I forgot! Yeah, I forgot about it when we were talking. Hahaha…"
The girl didn't like my excuse and keeps pouting.
But… she's kinda cute when she does that…
[Sigh]
Hirai lets out a sigh.
"You don't pay attention to girls, do you?" She suddenly concludes.
"Huh?"
"Like the rumours said… boys are late to mature." She mumbles.
"…"
I've heard of that rumour.
But I'm not sure of its legitimacy.
Contrary to her perception, I do pay attention to girls.
I'm just not good at showing it…
That being said; what was I doing back then?
How the heck did I miss Hirai?
"Ne, ne, Sakai-kun… Why were you thinking during class? You look so absorbed in thoughts."
"…I was?" I question the girl.
Oh yeah… I kinda did…
The classes we had earlier were just introductions to the subjects that we will be having this year.
After that, the teachers get sidetracked and start telling stories about their vacation.
I was imagining if I was part of their trips.
I have never left Misaki city in my entire life.
The outside world sounds so astounding.
"Look at it…you're doing it again!" The girl points out.
"Hahaha… I can't help it." I reply while scratching my cheek.
A curious expression appears on the girl's face.
"You're a heavy thinker, aren't you?" She concludes.
"Huh?"
"Yup...! You're definitely one. No wonder you're good friends with someone like Ike-kun." She says while nodding.
"I don't get it… what do you mean by that?"
Hirai tilts her head, still retaining her curious expression.
"Ever heard of the phrase 'birds of a feather flock together'…? Basically, that's just it." She claims.
"…so you're saying that I need to get glasses?"
My remark seems to throw her off balance.
"No, no, no, no…! What I meant is; Sakai-kun, you're a smart guy just like Ike-kun!" She says while pointing her index finger at me.
I blink my eyes multiple times.
"…huh…" I let out.
"What's with that half hearted reaction?" The girl questions me, looking worried.
"I'm just not sure how to react."
Hirai lowers her hand before averting her head elsewhere.
I think she's looking at the clock again.
"It's still too early for me to go home." She mumbles.
"…?"
"Hey Sakai-kun, you didn't come here just to chat with me, did you?" She suddenly says.
"Actually, I didn't know you were coming here…"
The girl nods.
"I'm going to sample the new songs. Do you want to join me?"
I blink my eyes again.
"Are you heading home now?" She inquires.
I glance at the clock to check the time.
"…"
It's 4.48 pm.
We were talking for that long?
I didn't notice at all…
"So… are you coming or not?" Hirai asks again.
I rub the back of my neck.
"I guess… I did come here to sample the songs."
The girl flashes me a smile before heading inside the store.
I just stare at her back without making a movement.
"She's weird…"
Is this how girls normally chat?
We talk about something and then get sidetracked to unrelated topics.
I already forgot what we were talking about…
"But—"
—I find it… fun.
I never had such enjoyable conversation with anyone before…
With Ike, he mostly talks about himself and his family.
His life is rough… with strict rules and high expectations.
Most of the time, I just listen to him talk.
I was never the one starting a topic.
But with this girl, I was actually talking…
Heck, I started a topic and then we sidetracked it.
"A girlfriend…"
My mother did mention it this morning.
Can I actually… get a girlfriend?
"…"
I shake my head.
"Aaa… I don't want to think about it. For now, let's just go with the flow."
Coincidentally, I saw a reflection of my face on a mirror.
I see a refreshing smile, something that I've lost long ago.
"I'm smiling, huh?"
I stride forward and push open the glass door of the music store.
I can feel it now…
"…I am in highschool."
(General Point of View)
***/~deserted alley~/***
{Day 1, Monday – evening, unspecific time}
A brunette man with disorderly attire shows up.
The pathway is dark despite the sun is still up.
It was hidden behind multiple buildings, thus blocking the sunlight.
Normally, the only living creatures loitering in the zone are stray cats and occasionally rats.
Since it was an alley in Japan, the passageway is free of thrash.
Due to the lack of salvageable food, rats or other pests rarely linger in the area.
However, stray cats still loiter in the alleyway.
Now, the felines scatter.
The presence of the unkempt man is not what unnerves them.
It was their instinct kicking in.
Something unpleasant is coming.
[Eagle screeching]
The sound signifies the approaching bird of prey.
The brunette man glances upward, his face void of emotions.
"What a big surprise… I wasn't expecting such important visitor."
An eagle flies pass him and land on the earth several metres away from the man.
In a blink of an eye, the avian transforms into humanoid shape.
A blond man emerges, adorning white-purple robe.
Short beard accompanied with finely groomed moustache, the facial hair decorates his handsome face.
As if emphasizing his masculinity, the shape of his muscle is visible underneath his tight purple garment.
Glowing blue eyes observe the unkempt man with lack of empathy, as he is superior in every factor possible.
His attire, his physiques, his origin—
Everything about him is majestic.
"I see that time has dull your reasoning. Have you forgotten how to act before me?" The newcomer questions the unkempt man.
His eyes are narrowed, demanding respect.
The man in question quietly steps forward, approaching the speaker.
Once he is close enough, the brunette man kneels down, bowing to the blond man.
"Of course not, Lord of Olympus. I am your humble servant."
A wide smirk emerges on the purple clad man.
He is pleased with the brunette man's answer.
"Stand up, Progenitor of Beasts. I grant you the honour of standing next to me."
The brunette man stands up, facing his superior.
Nevertheless, he is a measly midget in comparison to the Lord of Olympia.
"HAHAHA…! Why would you pick such pathetic form?" He questions his companion.
"I am merely mimicking my brother. He chooses to take the form of the native inhabitants of this land." The brunette man replies, monotonously.
One of the blond man's brows curves upward, showing his confusion.
"Does he really deserve your adoration? As far I'm concerned, that miserable being is nothing but trouble. He mocked me in front of my servants. He tricked me into taking useless bones as offering. He stole 'fire' from my treasury and returned it to humans."
"Ah yes… He did that…" The brunette man nods.
The giant man turns his back on the unkempt man.
"Time… a variable that don't exist in the Crimson Realm. What a strange 'concept'…" He muses aloud.
"Does something intrigue you, Zeus?"
"Yes, Epimetheus...! The flow of time amuses me." The Lord of Olympus answers him.
The brunette man, revealed to be the titan of hindsight, tilts his head due to the strangeness of Zeus's statement.
"Time does not exist in our realm. However, the human realm seems to apply this concept… regardless of the order."
"If you may, my lord…" Epimetheus bows his head slightly.
He doesn't understand the statement at all.
"This realm is one day behind that realm…yes, I could use this..." Zeus mutters to himself.
He strides forward, leaving Epimetheus.
"My lord…?"
Ignoring Epimetheus, Zeus transforms into an eagle and flies away.
The titan, in the shape of man, shrugs at turn of event.
"I guess I'm just too insignificant for him…" He mumbles.
The brunette man shoves his hand into pockets.
"Where was I? Oh yeah, I was going to fetch that Hougu." He muses to himself.
Then, his glowing blue eyes land on a stray kitten.
The said kitten is weak, just a step away from dying.
Its mother has already abandoned it, not wanting to waste time for hopeless child.
"Poor creature…"
He kneels down, next to it.
"Rather than dying, it's better if you become my servant."
He pulls out one of his hands from his pockets.
Blue flame appears on the man's palm.
Cautiously, he propels the flame to cover the kitten's body.
If it was normal fire, the kitten would have been reduced to ashes.
However, that flame was not meant to burn it.
Instead, it was to morph the kitten into something else.
"Hahaha…! Come forth, my Rinne!" Epimetheus declares ecstatically.
[ROAR]
The once small kitten is now in the shape of a male lion.
It is twice the size of a normal full grown lion.
The Progenitor of Beasts stands straight to behold his latest conception.
"Beautiful… you are now the king of beasts that reign over the plains, a lion. You're no longer helpless and hapless. You stand atop of the food chain!" He says gleefully.
[Roar]
As if acknowledging his statement, the lion roars.
"I shall name you Nemea. For your first task, fetch me that Hougu!"
=exit Interlude=
***/~familiar road, on the way home~/***
(Sakai Yuuji's point of view)
{Day 1, Monday – Evening, 5.37 pm}
[Heart thumping]
I keep my face straight while walking.
It was the same route I took earlier this morning.
This time I'm going the opposite direction, heading home.
However, I am… not alone.
"Ne, ne, Sakai-kun, how many songs did you sampled?" Hirai Yukari asks me innocently.
"I-I think about… ten?" I reply.
"Is that so? Which song did you liked the most?" She asks me again.
I rub the back of my neck as I try to recall the list.
I think I sampled more old songs than new ones.
I'm not the type that keeps up with the trend.
If I want to listen to a song, I'll just pick anything with catchy title.
"Well… I think I liked 'The glittering tears are sent to the stars' (Kirameku namida wa hoshi ni)."
The girl's eyes glitter when I mentioned it.
"Oh, I liked that one too!" She claims.
"Really…?"
The black haired girl clasps her hands and closes her eyes.
"When I listen to that song, it reminds me to never give up. It tells the story of a stubborn individual who defy logic and proceed to impress the world with his persistence. Even when facing an overwhelming odd, he won't give up."
"…"
I am left speechless.
I only picked that song because the title looks appealing…
Moreover, I liked the rhymes in it.
It never occurred to me that it had deeper meaning…
So Hirai is the type that analyzes the lyrics…
"By the way, my personal favourite is 'Crimson Sky' (Hishoku no Sora)." She suddenly says.
"Oh, I've heard that one. It was enjoyable."
"Isn't it? I liked most of Kawada Mami's songs." She claims.
"…"
Like I said, I'm not the type that follows a trend.
So I have no idea who is Kawada Mami…
"Does that song have hidden meaning?" I ask the girl.
She stares at me, as if I have grown two heads.
"Sorry… I don't pay attention to the lyrics." I confess, slightly bowing.
"Hehehe… There's no need to apologize for it." She giggles at my reaction.
With entranced expression, she glances toward the sky.
"Actually, Hishoku no Sora didn't have deeper meaning. I like the song because it was romantic."
"…"
I'm not sure in which part of the lyric that sounds romantic…
It was fast paced and 'action packed'.
"That being said, I didn't sample any of the new songs. It kinda beats the purpose of coming there. Hehehe…" She tells me.
"Hahaha… None of the new titles pique your interest?" I ask her.
The girl shakes her head.
"There is one title that interests me. It is called 'Last Stardust'. But I was too absorbed with the older songs." She says sheepishly.
"Its title is in English, huh? Recently, there are many songs that use English in their lyrics." I muse aloud.
But it does make the title sound catchy.
Maybe I'll sample some of them tomorrow.
"Sakai-kun"
"Hmm…?"
Hirai suddenly calls out to me.
The black haired girl walks faster and stands in the middle of a crossroad.
"My apartment is this way." She points at a direction.
"Oh…? I guess we'll be parting ways here."
She nods eagerly.
"See you at school tomorrow, Sakai-kun."
She flashes a radiant smile before turning around.
I stare at her fleeting back.
"…there she goes." I mutter.
It was a strange feeling…
Do all guys feel like this when they talk to girls?
Or is it just me?
In the end, Hirai didn't confess to me or anything.
I guess I was just overreacting.
She said I was the first guy she talked with in high school.
"Oh yeah, she compared me to Ike."
Ike left that much impression to her, huh?
As expected from our Class Rep.
"Now then—"
Let's head home.
It's been a long day.
[Oriental Bell Ringing]
"…"
[Heart thumping]
My body stiffens and my heart starts beating uneasily.
"That sound…"
I heard it before.
It was inside that store… when that man showed up.
I forgot about it when I was with Hirai.
But now—
[Growl]
[Heart thumping]
I turn my head to look behind.
All I can see is giant teeth.
"Move, you idiot…"
"Wha— GAH…!?"
[Air draft]
Before I could grasp the circumstances, I was sent flying.
However, I manage to catch a glimpse of the voice owner.
It was a girl with long red hair.
[THUD]
"Guh…!"
I cover my head with my right arm before landing.
My arm is scraped from sliding on the road.
In addition, I feel blunt pain on my left side.
I was probably kicked there.
[ROAR]
[Swoosh]
The noises set my awareness to move.
My eyes start looking around madly, trying to comprehend the situation.
The sky is crimson red.
There are cracks on the roads and walls, which weren't there when I walked earlier.
Tree leaves and flying birds are stationary.
"What…?"
I pick myself up and stand straight.
I rub my eyes, thinking it was an illusion.
However, the leaves and birds remain motionless, the sky remains red.
"Duck, you idiot…!"
I heard the girl's voice again.
"Huh...?"
I turn around to look at the speaker.
[SWOOSH]
Instead of a human being, I see giant claws…
[Air draft]
[THUD]
The force from the claw attack sent my body afloat again.
But I didn't fly far.
I fell right in front of the beast, allowing me to view its mammoth-sized body.
[ROAR]
Thus, the mighty king of beast lets out a roar.
I know lions are supposed to be huge.
But this one is way bigger than its normal counterparts.
How a monster of this size can wander around without being noticed?
[SWOOSH]
[ROAR]
"…"
It was a ridiculous sight.
The giant beast was being push away by a small human.
[Swoosh, swoosh]
Not wanting to be hit by fiery blade, the lion leaps backward, standing several metres away from us.
"It's another Mystes that can move inside Fuuzetsu. Yet, this one is also an idiot."
[Sigh]
I can finally see her.
Her long hair is covered in fire, burning.
She adorns long black coat over red turtleneck.
For the bottom, she has black skirt and long socks.
"We have returned to our original realm. However, I can't sense Friagne's presence in this city."
A male voice appears out of nowhere…
I can see the girl nods.
"I can tell. The Rinne in front of us is not his. That means a new Tomogara has taken residence here while we were absent." She says to no one in particular.
"Ugh…" I try to speak.
But then, I finally see the state of my body.
"Aaa…aaaaah…"
"Oh great… He is starting to freak out."
I hear the girl mutters.
[ROAR]
"It's coming!"
Acknowledging the unknown male's warning, the girl takes a stance.
The giant lion charges toward our direction.
Yet, I didn't feel afraid.
Is it because I'm already half dead?
[SWOOSH]
"…"
Once again, I am presented with a miracle.
With her fiery blade on her grasp, she beheads the gigantic lion.
[THUD]
The beast's head fell next to me, barring its dead fangs.
I can only stare at it, unsure of how to react.
"You're surprisingly quiet."
I glance at the speaker.
The red haired girl swings her blade and proceeds to sheath it inside her cloak.
I can see the nodachi slowly sinks into it.
"What is… going on?" I utter weakly.
The events are too much for my brain to process.
"No…"
A familiar male voice is audible.
The anonymous girl is also alerted by the voice.
"No, no, NO, NO…! My Nemea…!"
Strangely, I somehow know where he is.
My eyes automatically detect him, on top of a roof.
"A Tomogara…!" The nameless girl pulls out her sword again.
"Flame Haze…! How could you! He was just a kitten!" The unkempt man yells frantically.
The girl doesn't seem impressed by the man's outburst.
"Oh, it's you. What have you done to Fuyuki city?" She points her burning blade at him, with stoic face.
"Who give a damn about the city!? You killed a kitten! He just regain hope to live and you take it away from him!"
"…"
I can't see her face from here.
But I'm sure she's just as confused as I am.
"GGRAAAAHHH…! Humans… humans are all the same! Heartless creatures that trample over the weak; THESE ARE WHAT BROTHER SEEK TO PROTECT…!?"
The dishevelled man starts to pull his hair, seemingly enraged.
"Be on your guard. His emotion is unstable. One may never know what a mad man would do."
Once again, I hear the voice.
"I understand…" The girl responds to the unknown voice.
"Hahaha… HAHAHAHA…! You better remember this, Flame Haze. I'll be back. I'll rip off your pretty head just like you did to Nemea. After that, I'll rid of this world of humans!"
[Finger click]
After throwing his threat, the unkempt man disappears from our sight.
"That was the first time I heard something like that. Does his warning hold basis, Alastor?"
The girl lowers her katana as she says it.
"His presence is weak. Pay him no heed. Friagne remains our main objective. Should he appear again, we'll deal with him."
"Understood"
The red haired girl makes her way to my side.
She kneels down to inspect my wound.
"…"
Now that I think of it… I didn't feel pain when those claws tear me apart…
I stare at my wound again.
"…"
I didn't pay attention to it before, but now that I get clear view of it—
"What is this!?"
The beast carved away a large chunk of my body.
My left arm is detached from my shoulder and my left abdomen is sliced open.
However, there is no blood.
There is no flesh… I can't see my internal organ from the wound.
There is only void.
"Here we go again…" The girl mumbles.
"His exterior is badly damaged."
"That won't be a problem. It was only physical damage. That Rinne earlier can cover his repair."
The girl grabs my detached shoulder as she says it.
"What are you—"
[Swoosh]
"Gah…!"
I push her away out of reflex.
What did she do to me?
"…what in the world…"
My body is in one piece.
My arms, legs, abdomen… all of them are intact.
There is no sign of wound.
"I have repaired the damage on your body." The girl claims.
She stands and dusts her rear.
"…what is going on here…?" I utter.
I glance upward, looking at the sky.
"Why is the sky red?"
I look at the girl again.
"How can you fight that giant beast…? Are you not human?"
[Sigh]
She lets out a sigh.
"I'm too tired to entertain this one. One idiotic Mystes is more than enough." She mumbles.
It's that term again…
"What is a Mystes?"
Instead of answering me, the red haired girl turns her back on me.
Then, she points her index finger upward.
[Ornamental bell ringing]
"…"
In a blink of an eye, the world appears to have reverted in time.
The cracked walls and roads are restored to their original state.
Meanwhile, the lion's corpse disappears without a trace.
"Earlier, you asked me what a Mystes is." I hear the girl says.
"Who the—"
I recognize the girl's face.
However, her hair is now jet black, no longer burning red.
"To put it simply; you are already dead."
#Chapter End#
[Author's note]
Sorry for the late update.
It has been problematic for me IRL.
Login into was also a chore.
Though it's probably because of my slow internet.
Sorry if you guys were expecting action packed chapter.
I decide to slow down the motion for a few chaps.
Anyways, I'll just clear things up regarding Zeus and Epimetheus.
If you guys know a thing or two about Shakugan no Shana, you'll notice that most of the Denizens were based on mythological deities, angels and demons.
Basically, these two are Shanaverse Zeus and Epimetheus.
They're not Nasuverse version.
Honestly, Nasuverse is getting more confusing by the day.
That's why I modify some stuff and move into SnS verse instead.
Welp, give me a week or two for the next chap.
If nothing hinders me, I should able to write a new chapter in a week.
As always, thanks for reading!