Chapter 8: A New Beginning

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IF YOU DON'T WAKE UP, I'M GOING TO K-KISS YOU..."

"...Umm."

The alarm clock, with its tsundere voice, is once again doing its job to wake me up. But, as always, it's useless when it comes to dragging me out of bed. The owner of the clock, which is me, has ended up on the floor yet again after experiencing another nightmare.

That's how I've been starting my mornings lately.

...That dream again. The one where I get killed by Yuuma-chan.

But it's okay! Because I'm still alive! It's just a dream, right?

"Wake up, Ise!" My mum's voice echoes from downstairs, just like every other morning.

"I know! I'll get up now!" I shout back half-heartedly.

After hearing my mum's voice, I reluctantly drag myself off the floor.

Haa...

Another bad start to the day. My mood is already down, and it's only the morning.

I sluggishly put on my uniform, feeling as if the weight of the world is on my shoulders. With a sigh, I look into the mirror and force a half-smile, trying to convince myself that today will be better than yesterday.

Meanwhile, outside the Hyoudou residence, Naruto and Sasuke were already on their way to school. Their new life in Kuoh had started smoothly, but there was something... different today.

Naruto's usual energetic stride was slightly slower, his mind drifting to the events of the past month. He had noticed something odd about Issei lately, something that hadn't been there before.

Sasuke, who had been walking alongside him, wasn't one to talk much. But he too had sensed it, even if he hadn't said anything aloud. The change in Issei's aura, his energy, it felt... darker. There was something off about it, and the more they tried to ignore it, the more it bothered them.

Naruto, breaking the silence, spoke up with his usual grin, though it was tinged with concern.

"Have you noticed anything strange about Issei?" Naruto asked, his voice low.

Sasuke didn't look at him, but his eyes narrowed, focusing on the path ahead. "Yeah, his energy's different. It's darker, more oppressive than before."

Naruto frowned, adjusting the strap of his backpack. "Yeah, that's what I felt too. But I don't think he's the type to get into trouble."

Sasuke said nothing, but his gaze sharpened as he continued walking. Both of them were well-versed in reading people's energy, especially after their time in their own worlds. And Issei's energy had definitely shifted.

The two continued walking in silence, the unease about Issei's strange presence growing as they made their way to school. They didn't know the full story, but there was no doubt something was wrong.

As they reached the school gates, the familiar sight of Kuoh Academy greeted them. Naruto was still lost in thought, while Sasuke's usual cold demeanor returned. They both instinctively knew that today was going to be another day of surprises.

Issei walked slowly down the path to school, the sunlight stretching over him in sharp beams. It was as if the rays themselves were attacking him, penetrating his skin in a way that felt far too invasive. A deep discomfort gnawed at him, and he squinted, trying to block out the harsh morning light. It was strange, he thought—he had never felt this way before.

Lately, mornings had become a struggle. It wasn't just the sun; it was the entire feeling of weakness that seemed to engulf him whenever he tried to rise. His body felt sluggish and uncooperative, weighed down by an invisible force. A stark contrast to how he felt at night.

At night, everything changed. The same sunlight that made him weak in the morning seemed to invigorate him under the moonlight. He had become a creature of the dark. He stayed up later and later, often until the early hours of the morning, unable to sleep no matter how hard he tried. The longer he stayed awake, the more his body seemed to demand it. There was a strange energy stirring within him—something that pushed him, made him stronger.

Issei had tested this newfound stamina one night. He went for a run, and to his surprise, he found himself faster than he'd ever been before. His body moved effortlessly, as though it had been built for speed. A pace that would make anyone from the track team envious. He hadn't experienced fatigue, not like he would during the day. It was exhilarating. But the next morning, when he tried to run again in the daylight, he felt sluggish, almost like his body had forgotten how to move.

What was happening to him? Was it some kind of strange aftereffect from that encounter with Yuuma? The thought unsettled him. But there was more than just that—there was something deeper, a mysterious sensation he couldn't shake. It was as if something was waking up inside him, pulling him toward the night, urging him to embrace it.

As he walked to school, his thoughts were interrupted when he noticed two familiar figures ahead of him: Naruto and Sasuke.

The two boys had been his neighbors for a while now, and while Naruto's usual carefree attitude hadn't changed, Sasuke had become a constant, silent presence beside him. Issei had gotten used to their quiet, almost unreadable demeanor. But lately, something about their presence had made him uneasy. They always seemed to be watching him, like they knew something he didn't.

Issei quickened his pace, closing the distance between them.

"Hey, Naruto, Sasuke," he greeted with a small wave.

Naruto, ever the cheerful one, grinned wide. "Yo, Issei! You're up early today. What's with that sleepy face?"

Sasuke nodded but didn't offer a smile, his usual aloof expression in place. His eyes, however, seemed to linger on Issei a moment longer than usual, something in his gaze that suggested he was more aware of Issei's current state than he let on.

Issei chuckled nervously. "I've just been feeling a little... off lately. You know, the usual high school stuff. Sleepless nights and all."

Naruto laughed and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Yeah, I get it. Sometimes it feels like the world doesn't want you to sleep. I have those days too, especially with all the stuff going on with the bakery. But hey, if you need anything, just let me know! We're neighbors after all."

Sasuke simply observed, his expression unreadable. But there was something in the air between them, an unspoken awareness that made Issei feel a little more self-conscious. Did they know? Could they sense the strange shift in him?

He didn't have time to dwell on it. School was just around the corner, and there was no time for distractions.

But as he walked with them, the strange energy that had been stirring inside him continued to buzz under his skin. It was only a matter of time before he would have to confront whatever it was that was changing him—whatever had made him... different.

And as the school gates came into view, Issei couldn't shake the feeling that today would be the day he would finally uncover the truth about what was happening to him.

I sighed deeply as I walked through the gates of Kuoh Academy he separated from Naruto and Sasuke to go to his first period., the school I'd somehow managed to get into. My footsteps echoed across the path as I made my way through the entrance, my mind already reeling with thoughts of the day ahead.

It's not that I hated school, but... let's be real, things aren't going the way I imagined. I'd expected to be the center of attention surrounded by girls, but what I got instead was a cold, harsh reality. At best, I'm just another face in the crowd. A nobody.

The girls here—especially the popular ones—couldn't care less about a guy like me. Sure, I'm not ugly, but I don't have that 'cool' factor like some of the other guys around here. Those guys—especially the ones who seem to attract all the attention from the girls—make it look so easy.

Me? I'm left with a deep, aching sense of loneliness that I can't shake off.

As I made my way to the classroom, I couldn't help but glance around at all the girls in their neat uniforms. Some of them looked absolutely stunning, but the realization hit me once again: none of them were interested in me. At least, not in the way I hoped.

"Yo, Issei!" A voice called out from behind me.

I turned around to see my best friend, Matsuda, hurrying up to join me. He was one of the few guys I actually hung out with. He had a goofy smile on his face, which made me wonder what he was up to this time.

"Hey, Matsuda. What's up?" I greeted him, half-heartedly.

"I was just thinking," Matsuda started, scratching his head, "you know, maybe we should go check out the track field after school. There are some cute girls over there who look like they could use some company. You and I, together, could totally get some numbers."

I gave a dry laugh, but it didn't really make me feel any better. I didn't even have the courage to approach any of the girls. What was the point? I was invisible.