It was dark.
All I could see, all I could feel, and all I could think of was the darkness. I was in a cesspool of what has frightened humanity for years and I was in the centre of its attention. A fleeting thought crossed my mind, a baseless conjecture that would serve to wake me from this dream, but the darkness became heavier.
It was forcing me down, crushing me under its weight. All I could do was freeze in place, my muscles paralysed from an inherent and instinctual fear that was formed under the experiences of the past of my ancestors.
I struggled, attempting to resist, but my efforts were all for naught.
And then a small flame sparked into existence a considerable distance away from me.
It was small, almost as if it was the flame from a lighter and it appeared to be floating in the darkness. Nonetheless, it was a beacon of hope I felt an instinctual need to approach. However, as I made an effort to move towards it, my fingers minutely twitching, it vanished.
Without any rhyme or reason, it disappeared as soon as it had arrived and despair began to consume me. What was happening? Where am I? Why is darkness the only thing I know?
As the darkness became deafening, my ears ringing profusely, I felt my senses slowly fade away into nothingness. But I felt something. Deeper into the darkness, beyond the place the flame had been, there was something moving around. Their guttural, gruff voice spoke and, for the briefest of moments, an awakening had occurred inside of me.
[My benefactor…you are not yet strong enough to handle my strength. The day will soon arise, but today is not that day.]
My pointless existence ceased to function within that space.
I was slightly tired. Despite the fact I had slept for more than twelve hours without interruption, I was tired. That's surprising, isn't it? No, it isn't. I slept on a hard floor and probably overslept. Hence, only half of my MP had been restored and I was feeling like crap. And, when you're feeling like crap, the natural thing to do is to complain about it, right?
Well, yes and no.
If there's no one around, you complain. If there's people around, you generally don't unless you know them very well. In this scenario, I didn't know any of the people that were around me. However, despite this, I still complained. It was mostly to myself. It was also in my head because I was surrounded by my fellow students. I really didn't want them to think I was insane on top of being a 'sexual deviant'.
Anyway, I decided to take a small detour through a nearby convenience store to buy an energy drink or two. Although they're bad for me, I could really use the energy right now and having a little bit couldn't hurt my surprisingly healthy diet.
Energy drinks just a have a lot of caffeine and stuff in them, though. Maybe coffee would be better instead?
Regardless, I bought a caffeinated drink, ice coffee being my choice despite my dislike of the real stuff's flavour and I began to down it outside the store like I've been dehydrated for the past week. It was nice and cold and somewhat bitter, and I couldn't help but sigh in satisfaction as the half-empty bottle left my lips.
You know, ever since I started playing this game called life, both metaphorically and physically, things have been different. I've gotten a girlfriend who wants to kill me, I've learnt about magic and I wake up feeling refreshed in the mornings. Although my lack of reaction regarding my circumstances may be weird, I've simply accepted it as is because there's probably nothing I can do about it. Not that I'd want to change anything, anyway. My life is currently comfortable.
With a heavy sigh, I screwed the cap of the bottle back onto it and, as I moved to shove it into my bag, a head of blonde hair stopped short of me. I glanced up at them, raised an eyebrow in confusion and was quick to realise it was that foreigner Yuuma was talking to yesterday. What could she be doing here?
My mind seized up just a little as alarm bells began to scream as loud as they could. They had a good reason too. It's not that I was scared of this girl because of who she was; I was simply being cautious because of her association with Yuuma. I mean, as far as I know, Yuuma could have sent her to kill me. And it'd be pretty easy. There's no one around the convenience store and I'm probably out of range of the security cameras.
I sighed and took a half-step back, a frown slowly forming on my face as the girl struggled to gather her words.
"Umm…Yuuma said your name was Issei." My frown deepened as that foreign tongue tainted my ears. I mean, I couldn't understand what she was saying, other than the fact she had said both my name and Yuuma's, so she could be saying something like, "Yuuma told me to kill you, Issei."
I quickly shook my head as my expression soured. The girl tilted her head to the side in confusion and, as she took one step forward, I took another step back.
"I don't know if she told you, but my name is Asia."
"Asia…?" That's right. Yuuma did tell me her name. Although, that's the only thing she told me.
"Yes. I am Asia. It's nice to meet you."
"What is a foreigner like you doing in this quiet town?" I couldn't help but mutter to myself, completely disregarding Asia's words. It can't be helped, can it? This mysterious, foreign girl has visited a small town where nothing happens. Isn't this the beginning of a scenario where a mass murder occurs and I, a young high school student, have to stop the killer without the police knowing?
I grimaced and stepped back once again. This time, Asia didn't follow me. I took this chance to inspect her person.
What? Don't give me that look. She might have a weapon, so I can't let my guard down. There's no such thing as being too cautious, is there?
[Observation: A girl.]
Gee, thanks. It's not like that's obvious, Observation.
Anyway, dissimilar to yesterday's habit, Asia was wearing a cute, decently long navy skirt and a white, button-up blouse with black stockings and black booties. Conservative yet stylish. I can dig it. It made her look cute.
Ahem.
Anyway, I relaxed my stance just a little and cleared my throat. I grabbed my phone from my pocket, pulled up a translation app and hesitantly spoke into my phone.
"What are you doing here?"
Hey, she may be associated with Yuuma, but she doesn't seem like a bad person. No, seriously. She's sickeningly innocent and she answered my dodgy questions with no complaints. What was she doing in this town? She's helping Yuuma with some work. What is she doing out and about in the morning? She wanted something to do and decided to explore the town. Is Yuuma trying to kill me? She gave me a funny look on that one and let the question awkwardly hang in the air as my face reddened.
In short, she seems to be a decent person. There's nothing I need to be afraid of, so far. Although, she could be putting on an act. I mean, she seems to be around my age and she knows basically nothing about technology or life in general. Sure, people have their circumstances, but I find it a little suspicious. She's being groomed, isn't she? I'm not wrong, am I?
Despite my conflicted thoughts, we were sitting at a nearby park on a swing set. I bought her canned coffee like a gentleman and strawberry milk tea for myself from a nearby vending machine and we talked about literally nothing through the translator because this girl seems to know nothing about anything.
I couldn't help but sigh every time I asked her a question about her non-existent hobbies, but the conversation was decently fun. Sure, I may be missing school, but aren't my duties as an escort for a fair maiden more important?
I pursed my lips at that thought and took a sip of my milk tea.
School is important, yes, but is this more important? While any other male would be excited to talk to this foreign blondie, I had several circumstances that cut the enjoyment in half. The first one was that my girlfriend is supposed to kill me. The second one is that this girl is employed by Yuuma's father, the person who would have most likely told Yuuma to kill me. The third is that I have a girlfriend.
Talking about my girlfriend, she appears to be approaching us head-on with a gentle gait. How I didn't notice sooner, I don't know, but, regardless of this mystery, I gave her a small wave and she responded with a small smile that made my heart go all doki-doki. However, this warm, loving atmosphere dispersed in seconds as soon as Yuuma placed her gaze on Asia.
Yuuma's face was contorted with rage, her eyes the sharpest blades in existence, and a quiet snarl escaped her lips. Luckily for me, the translator was still on. I quickly disabled the text-to-speech function I was using to make life easier for Asia.
"What are you doing out here? I thought I specifically told you to not leave the church." Asia quivered under Yuuma's gaze. A frown formed on my face as I watched the interaction.
"I-I'm sorry. I just wanted to go out and familiarise myself with the town." Yuuma grabbed Asia by the wrist and pulled her to her feet with a shocking amount of strength.
"The next time you leave without permission, the consequences won't be as forgiving." What could Yuuma mean by that? Surely, with her capacity to kill people, she's not talking about ending this innocent girl's life. Dismemberment should be off the table too because that's too inhumane for such a simple error.
"…I am deeply sorry for what I have done." Yuuma glared at Asia and, seconds after, Yuuma glanced in my direction and offered me a sweet smile.
"Sorry about that." She started, speaking in Japanese now, "She left the house without saying anything and my father was concerned for her safety." I slowly nodded as a cold bead of sweat trickled down my back.
"No, that's okay. I understand." Despite my instincts screaming at me to do something to help Asia, I played it safe and maintained my position on the edge of the conflict, merely watching with conflicted emotions.
"Good. Now, shouldn't you be in school, you cheeky truant?" I tilted my head to the side in confusion. Yuuma should also be in school yet she isn't. She's wearing her uniform, so I'm a little surprised.
"The same can be said for you. Did your father tell you to find Asia?" Yuuma hesitantly nodded, a notion that did not escape my keen eyes, and a faltering smile was plastered on her face.
"Yes, that's correct. Once I return Asia to my father, I'll be heading off to school." I stood up and tossed my milk tea at a nearby trash can, watching as it missed horribly and bounced off the side.
[Skill acquired: Throw.]
"Does your father not work?" Yuuma's smile disappeared for a moment and I had no idea what I was doing, provoking her with seemingly harmless questions. However, I have a feeling she knows of the knowledge I have gathered regarding her façade, so I'm really shoving myself into the deep end here.
"He does work. He's off sick today."
"That's mighty convenient, isn't it?" I responded with a smile of my own, my face filled with uncertainty. Yuuma responded with a quiet mumble of agreement and, as she turned around to leave, I spoke once more.
"By the way, is it really alright for you to deny this girl's freedom?"
The atmosphere's weight tripled in an instant.
Slowly turning around, a dangerous glint in her eye, Yuuma's sickeningly sweet smile was enough to make me gulp. My chest tightened and, as I instinctively reached up to claw at my chest, I felt my heart skip a beat.
Is this what true fear is?
"Is that what you think I am doing, Issei?" Her voice, smooth as silk and full of dangerous glee, was enough to make me stagger.
"Hah…if you want me to repeat myself, I can." My instincts were screaming at me to stop, screaming at me to let this monster do what she wanted. My fear was gnawing at my heart and sweat was freely sliding down my back. But my bravado would not allow me to back down. My pride as a man was on the line.
"Oh? Are you…provoking me?" A smirk naturally slid onto my face as I slowly regained my posture.
"It seems to me as if you're taking it the wrong way." Yuuma took one step forward. I used all of my strength and willpower to resist backing away.
"Am I? Am I really doing such a thing? To me, it seems as if you're sticking your nose into places it doesn't belong." My smirk faltered as the corners of her lips turned up.
I, a weak human, is trying to resist the will of a monster whose strength is unmeasured.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the hypocrisy of the situation.
I mean, I had sworn to not enter a dungeon again because it was dangerous yet here I am, almost begging to be killed because of matters that really don't involve me.
Yuuma's right. I am sticking my nose into a place it doesn't belong. Is that wrong? Is it not human to try and protect those you consider to be your friends? Is it not wrong to put your life on the line for just reasons? Despite the fact I barely know anything about this girl, I felt the need to protect her. I wasn't strong, I didn't have any special powers, and the only skill I had that could make a difference was…
I held a hand out with pursed lips, my legs trembling greatly.
"Rock-paper-scissors."
"Excuse me?"
"We'll play a single match of rock-paper-scissors to determine Asia's fate. If I lose, she goes with you. If she wins, she stays with me." Yuuma stared at my hand in what appeared to be disgust before she released Asia's wrist and approached me.
"If that's how you want to settle it, so be it. If I do lose, I can take Asia away by force, regardless of your feelings."
"You wouldn't do such a thing, would you? If you try to break the terms of this game, I might have to use force to stop you."
"Oh, you think you're strong enough to stop me? There's many things you don't know about the world, Issei, and it would be a shame if you were to die before their unveiling."
Yuuma held her hand out as she stopped short of me.
[Rock-Paper-Scissors Success Rate: 20%]
I dismissed the message with a grimace.
"So, you've been quite lucky lately, have you?" Yuuma's glare sharpened, forcing my mouth to close without my consent. I cleared my throat.
"Rock-paper-scissors!"
Yuuma drew paper.
I threw rock.
Yo. It's me. I'm the ultimate procrastinator. Regarding that, I have good news. Previously, I used a laptop to write instead of my PC and, considering the fact I'm always using my PC, I've installed Word on my PC and have written most of this chapter in two days. In short, my productivity rate has probably increased greatly. It's a time to rejoice. Also, exam season ended a couple of days ago and I was busy with that for a week or two.
If you find any errors or have suggestions regarding the flow of this chapter, please do not hesitate to inform me. I am open to any and all criticism, even if it isn't constructive.
Thank you for reading Rock-Paper-Scissors.