Spring.

A state where the world calms after its vicious roaring fit known as winter, and at last blossoms into a beautiful landscape.

I stand atop this landscape, embracing the sounds of the surrounding cherry blossom trees getting beaten back and front by the wind. The cherry blossoms floated and swayed with the bullying wind - beautifying the landscape even more - alongside the magnificent creation which bathed my eyes in awestruck.

My jaw hung in the air, sucking back the escaping oxygen that too desired a peek. I felt a twitching urge in it. A part of my consciousness might have been trying to re-close my jaw, but alas, that building distracted the rest. That building, glinting under the sunlight above. A pillar of light destined to save our world! Heh, exaggerating much, I admit. But I couldn't help it. This place just feels... unreal.

"Is this really a sco-" before I could finish my mumble, my back suddenly slanted; tilting me over a bit, and I felt a swift brush against my shoulder. A person - whose toe stepped twice forward before balancing itself - appeared in front of me and spun around. Her pastel purple eyes widened as she released a gasp; the wind immediately carried her pretty purple hair's back length locks in its humming flight.

"Sorry!" the girl's head bounced, bundling with her apology, before scurrying along once again. She transitioned her sprint into a walk after joining up next to a guy whose back looked more so an adult's than a student's.

I blinked once and ended up losing them inside the colorful wave of students ahead, who were heading toward the magnificent pale green building that mesmerized me prior. I better start walking, too. Don't want a reputation of a roadblock on the first day of school. Taking my entire consciousness within my grasp once more, I finally moved a leg forward and blended into the student wave.

The closer and closer I got to the building, the more apparent its glory dawned on me, just like the warm sun above. A cherry blossom fluttered over my face, which caught me in a brief surprise. I saw it land and float onto the glistening waters inside a spewing porcelain white fountain stationed in the center of what looked to be a courtyard. My attention, though, keeps getting insistently pulled everywhere. I couldn't take just a single thing in without darting at the multiple buildings surrounding the school; how many facilities does this place have?!

What ultimately took my entire attention away above all else were the school's very own front doors, colored a clean, dark beige. Above those doors was a rather superfluous sign. A neon light sign that showed off the name belonging to this institute level high school: Shinzai Academy, accompanied by a "Welcome to" above the name. The sign lost its majesty quickly though, honestly. Broad daylight and neon lights are definitely not the best combination!

Now, I've finally reached the steps. Placing my foot down on it instantly kicked my heart into overdrive! I... I think I'm genuinely excited. I never thought much about this school, despite its sterling reputation. But now, I'm already imagining my next 3 years to be… an experience!

... I hated it.

Prologue: The Beginning of the End

...

"Yo-"

...

"H..ey!"

...

"Wake up already!"

My ear felt a concise sensation, one I could only describe as an abrupt pop. This combined with a shout sprung my eyes open and I found myself resting upon my uniform's sea blue sleeves, laying head first on a desk.

I picked my head up off the desk and turned it to discover him near me. While my eyes steadied themselves to ease the remaining blurriness, I noticed something wrapped around his finger. 'What is that?' I thought. It wasn't too long before the sluggish brain up here clicked and realized what I'm looking at. The acknowledgement of this revelation stopped my heart for a moment, I believe.

The item in question is a cord derived from a pair of earbuds — the same earbuds I practically religiously wore! He twirled it in the air, treating it as some ribbon; and the more it twirled, the tighter the cord swathed his finger. Becoming anxious about my earbuds' potentially severe condition, I swiftly stood up and pulled the cord clean off his finger - untangling it after.

"What do you want, Sho? This isn't your class," I sighed, plopping back down in my seat.

Sho, who stood in stark surprise at my recent action, immediately curled his lips sideways into a grin. "Right now's our lunch period, so I figured I should visit my favorite runt in the world!" the front of Sho's prominent black mohawk - dyed a striking bright red - bounced vigorously; coinciding with his energetic cackle.

"Right. You usually don't come to me without a reason, though."

"What? Y-You still awake, man?! I come over and hang with you all the time!"

If "all the time" means once or twice a month, it might be a good idea to look up the definition again. After Sho fed me his lie, I noticed the overbearing grin on his face lowered. He then bit it and zipped his head around back and forth for reasons I couldn't discern. I think he's scanning the classroom, specifically at the now oncoming students, including those who're also adorning sea blue uniforms - blazer uniforms for males and a dress shirt plus a wavy skirt for females - sitting down to either begin their chatter or preparing for their upcoming class.

"By the way, where's Lars?" I asked, scanning the clear white classroom too. "It's rare seeing you two apart. Did something happen?"

"Oh! Him? He's downstairs... He's gathering up his things."

Gathering his things? Oh yeah! I've been hearing ramblings lately that Lars' moving by the end of this week. I probably shouldn't say that near Sho, though. He and Lars were always inseparable since childhood. Sho seemed fine about it, but judging by how he trailed off just now, I bet he's torn.

"Anyway, you know the student council presidential election is coming up, right?" Sho continued.

"Yeah. Are you planning on entering or something?"

"Well, would you look at that! I love it when even guys like you can catch on quick," the overbearing grin made its way back onto Sho's face.

"Ha, ha. I've known you long enough to figure out how determined you are to prove yourself," I answered, mustering a grin myself.

A bit too long, personally.

"Nice! I don't get to waste time explaining, then. You're voting for me, right?" Sho's maroon eyes stared me down, emanating deep anticipation.

"Uh, I actually wasn't ever planning on voting. I don't care about the election."

"Oh? I think you should. Really think you should! Don't you want to help a friend out?"

"Sure, but it wouldn't feel fair, would it?" I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. "Even if I intended on voting, I'd want to review what the other candidates are offering, at least. So I could decide who's better, you know?"

"That's so unnecessary, dude! You already know I'm a suitable enough leader, right?!" Sho declares, pounding his own chest, and consequently pounded the lime green, cocky gooey faced person sporting shades design on his black T-shirt, which oddly resembled Sho himself.

"I-I know, but-"

Suddenly, a sharp and immense stung traveled across my shoulder, promptly squashing out my words, making me instantly flinch. The reason it stung... was all Sho's doing. He slammed his hand down - a hand covered within a strapped on black fingerless leather glove - on my shoulder and was already gripping it tightly, increasing the pain exponentially. When I opened my flinched eye and stared up, Sho's maroon eyes sent out a different energy than the one he played before. An energy invoking anxiety in a person's heart.

"But you already know how great my leadership skills are. You've seen me be the head of many groups in the past, right? So choosing me would be the most obvious, simple answer... Wouldn't it?"

Sho's grip on my shoulder strengthened; the stung evolved into an aching pain that might crush the bones inside my shoulder anytime now! I gazed into his eyes again. They looked even more anxiety inducing, partly thanks to the addition of his mouth crinkling toward those eyes; nothing short of a fiend's. I...

"You're right," I answered, averting my gaze. "Sorry; you've got my vote. I'm confident you can... You'll be the best president the student council could ever ask for, Sho."

"Aha ha! Glad you see things my way, buddy!" Sho praised, lightly punching my aching shoulder. Subsequently, he started touching a strand in my hair in between his fingers, rubbing them roughly. "Geez, emo much? You should cut off this moss ball on your head. Ain't no way you supporting me without being in proper style first."

"Trust me, I've already made plans for a haircut. You should see me with a whole new style the next time we meet."

"I'll take your word on that, then. Better not forget, ha ha!" Sho warned and rustled my head as though I were some pet.

Finally, with outstanding timing, the school bell rang; signaling not only class transitions but also our conversation's ending.

"Hmph. That's my cue. I seriously appreciate your devoted support, runt. See you around!" Sho spun his back to me and fixed the cuffs on his dark leather biker jacket. Leaving behind a short cackle as his last words, he swaggered out the classroom door. Sho's oppressive size and presence put a few pasting students on edge as they verbally questioned why they found a second year like him inside a first-year classroom.

I sighed heavily; one signifying relief, but leaned more toward exhaustion. "Did I sold my soul off to the devil just now?"

10 Minutes Later

Staring.

All I'm doing is staring. Staring at the teacher in front of the classroom, perfectly performing their job; teaching. The lesson itself... Honestly, I couldn't care less about it. My mind had already scattered off some place else a long time ago.

You know, I'm now realizing how lucky I am, sitting at the very back of the classroom. Nobody ever notices me not paying attention, so I usually use this time for some contemplation or simply daydream, all while admiring the astonishingly more enthralling soulless schoolyard out a window right near me.

Today's hot thought regarded the presidential election - no thanks to Sho, who pretty much forced it on me; taking my steadfast loyalty with him too, no less! But... I'm not surprised things turned out this way. It's always... It's how things work between us, considering our backgrounds. I, taking the follower role, and him, the leader...

I desperately shook my head vigorously; another thought's in order, I'd say. As I stared down out the window, I pondered the afternoon Spring day's beauty. Clear blue skies, the animals roaming the empty schoolyard, a quiet wind brushing against the trees. Everything's peaceful. My eyes then shifted toward the sidewalk behind the school's gates. The sight itself pulled a soft sigh from my mouth.

"When will this school day end?" I quietly whispered.

When? When will it end? When will it end so I could be on that sidewalk, walking home to do whatever I want? As I wished this, the surrounding sounds dulled, and I felt my eyelids' weight becoming no different from a boulder's. Slowly, I lowered my head onto my hands, which were laying facedown on the desk. When I unconsciously turned away from the window, I witnessed many students who contrasted me:

Devotedly paying attention, quietly talking, taking notes, or secretly on their electronic devices. I seemed to be the only one not being productive; the only one feeling tired. I turned back toward the window and felt the strain on my eyelids growing even heavier, as though their window shades being rolled down. Oh yeah, I'm sure of it now. I'll eventually fall asleep. No plans on resisting it, though. I'd rather sleep, anyway.

"Take me away from this boring lesson, please. Wake me up when something interesting happens."

Completely giving into the drowsiness, my eyelids descended, ready to cover my vision. During my final, conscious moments, however... I saw something strange. I nodded it off in the end. But I could have sworn I spotted a large flash outside.

And so, I went into my deep, deep sleep...

A sleep that would eventually lead me into a NIGHTMARE!