Sakura and Hina came in later after the police confirmed no threats. Both of them found Kazuki dazed out on the chair. They hugged him, feeling relieved that he was not injured or dead, calling out to him to no avail. The commissioner walked over and asked the ladies to step back. He got on his knees and slapped him hard enough everyone in the house could hear it. “You crazy son of a- what do you think you’re doing?!” Sakura screamed in anger. Hina, startled and walked backwards. Another police officer restrained Sakura “Ma’am please understand he didn’t do it with ill intent” she fought back resisting to be held back “I don’t care if he did for fun or whatever that was uncalled for!.” She replied frustrated with the commissioner’s violent method

But the pain shocked Kazuki, back into reality. He looked around frantically. The commissioner grabbed him by the shoulder. Kazuki stared him in the eye. The Commissioner’s face looks stern, messy hair that wasn’t even combed with a few strands of white he saw. Wrinkles lines on his forehead. A big round nose for a Japanese man. But what was more noticeable is the man’s imposing physique. For a Japanese man in his 50’s he has exceptional broad shoulders, the coat looking almost too small. The commissioner spoke in a respectful yet soothing voice, unbecoming of his own naturally deep voice “Young man I’m sorry to startle you. It must have hurt but I had no other choice. I want to ask you a few questions young man”. Still shock from the ordeal he took a minute to get bearings. It took no more than 5 minutes for the commissioner to help Kazuki mentally settled. But in those 5 minutes police cars and S.E.D.D units surrounded the whole neighborhood, people who were close came by to watch as officers told them to stand back. Some even tried to record or even snap a few pictures while they were there.

“Young man can you please start by telling me your name, age and occupation?” He asked politely“Yes sir” hesitant “My name…is Kazehaya Kazuki, 17 years old, and a student at Japan High academy”“Good, you have at least calm down enough to answer basic question. Now to the matter at hand. Can you explain to me what happened here? These two ladies” gesturing to Sakura and Hina sitting to his sides “came to my subordinate in tears and panic saying a demon was here”. His face tightened from the question. The blood flushed away from Kazuki’s face. “Is it too much?” the Commissioner asked with deep concern for the students who had to go through this traumatic experience“No! I mean…I don’t know…how to explain it.” Kazuki was stuck in an impossible situation right now. He contemplated if he told the truth then no one would help. But if he kept silent humanity would be doomed. With the stakes raised this high Kazuki couldn’t come to a decision.

“Take your time, you’ve been through something chaotic that most people don’t normally live to tell the tale”. In his doubt of confusion Kazuki, struggle to admit the truth of what he had heard or not. The longer the silence last the harder it was to decide what was the correct choice. “Young man” the commissioner called out softly. He stared at Kazuki straight in the eyes “Please, I understand what you went through is something scary but stalling too long is only going to hinder our chances of saving lives.” the look of concern filled Kazuki’s face when he heard the commissioner said it, he himself expressed a grievous look of shame and distress. In his heart Kazuki, felt that maybe this person would believe him and help. The moral dilemma is severely high and blindly trust anyone with this grave warning could come back to haunt him, he stared in silence before a look of distress painted his face. “Will you believe me if I tell you?” Kazuki asked wanting a sense of security“Why not? The world works differently now” the Commissioner replied with his deep voice assuring Kazuki as he revealed the truth.

The commissioner’s eyes widened, swallowing his fear that had made him choke on his own saliva. He thought he might have heard it wrong. “Please explain one more time?” he asked. Leaning a little closer. He placed his left elbow on his left leg while gripping his right knee with his right hand. He locked his gaze at him with the same wide eye’s expression. He swallowed his anxiety preparing to hear it for a second time. “Lucifer…the demon that showed up was Lucifer”. His heart had started beating slowly. Everything around him started to fade into the background. There was an uncontrollable urge to jump from where he sat. He thought Kazuki might have been joking. He slowly turned to an officer to his right. The officer standing next to the Commissioner had such an appalled look of horror there was no doubt he heard it right. Now the commissioner regretted to hear the news. Hoping it was just an old man going delusional before his retirement, but he wasn’t so delusional he couldn’t tell the difference. The Commissioner looked at the two girls sitting next to Kazuki. One kept her head down with her hands on her knee, the other crying. None of them denied what he said but none of them confirmed either. The Commissioner swallowed his spit, rubbed his face with his hand before calling out “Young man, no…kids” looking at all three of them, grabbing their attention. No matter what happens I swear to you that everything will be alright” placing his hands on Kazuki’s shoulder, Sakura’s hands, and Hina’s head, all while smiling confidently. He stood up afterwards turning around “If you’ll excuse me, I must file a report to make sure this reaches my superiors”. But everyone knew that wasn’t true. The Commissioner’s face looked hollow, as if he went to hell and back with no will to live. As he walked away, the children broke down in tears knowing the result themselves.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Outside the commissioner called out to his Sergeant. But he was still standing pale faced still processing what was said moments ago. The Commissioner yelled out this time and the Sergeant finally heard. The Commissioner gave a somber look to his Sergeant who knew that whatever they heard must be kept between them to save themselves. This even meant lying to their own men. They called for the lieutenant that made the threat call. Placed one hand on his shoulder and another on the Sergeant. “Listen here both of you, I want this place quiet down. Not a word of those will lead to the press or anyone besides the S.E.D.D here and you two. I do not want this to be officially filed either. It’s a false alarm and then disappear got it?” Staring at them like a senile old man who is on his breathe. However, the lieutenant was confused by this sudden event and unusual order “Sir“ the man called out. However, before he could ask anymore the Sergeant placed his hands firmly on the lieutenant’s shoulder gripping it tightly. A look of fear swept on the Sergeant’s face that the Sergeant felt a chill run down his own spine. The Sergeant held back his words, silently following the orders of his superiors.

After hours had past and the cops had left Jun and Shinji who arrived earlier but were kept away by the police peer into the living room only to find a distraught, lifeless kazuki, crying Sakura, and emotionally broken Hina. The sight struck a painful stab into Jun’s chest seeing the people he cared for the most in this state. He felt powerless, looking across at Shinji to see how he reacted to this. Shinji who also in agreement sympathetically wore a painful expression feeling the feeling the dreaded ambiance of the room. Gone was the cheerful happy memories they shared and in its place nothing but living corpses. Jun lowered his head disgusted with himself that he didn’t know what to do for his friends while they grieve in front of him. The two of them stood there unable to move. Shinji finally made a sound which made Sakura, Kazuki, Hina looked up spontaneously. “Yo guys” Shinji said forcing any bits of positivity in his tone. His face trying hard not to show it as well. He tried to smile but all he could manage was a nervous small grin. “What are you guys doing here?” Kazuki said. Shinji had no response to that. Jun placed his hands on Shinji’s shoulder. Shinji startled at first looked to Jun. Shinji thought to himself how could he remain so calm in this situation? The atmosphere made Shinji feel uncomfortable.

POV: Kazuki

It was already early morning and I barely slept. My sister was already fast asleep after crying on my bed for so long. I got out of bed before my alarm and simply went through the motion, brushed, shower, and made breakfast. The same routine felt unbearable cold and lonely, knowing that our parents weren’t going to be here no more. Millions of situation rushed throughout my head. I felt my heart aching, racing through the anxiety but I had to be strong if not for me but at least for my sister who is all I have left. Surprisingly my sister was up and dressed before I needed to call her and smiling like usual, but I knew deep down she was just forcing herself just like how I’m forcing myself to go about this morning.

“I’ll wait for you outside, okay?” I asked worry about her but more importantly, I wanted some fresh air

“Okay.” She responded not even willing to look me in the eye. As I stepped outside, horrified to see that our entire house in the front vandalized. How could this had happened overnight. In such a neighborhood. Could it be that people found out and we’re being ostracized? I heard the door opened and hurriedly shouted, “Don’t come out! Stay home today and skip school!” a million-thoughts raced through my mind but the one thing that truly hurt after seeing this was the cold-hearted aspect of society, being treated as an outcast before you even realized it yourself and having to drag the only family you care about because it was your fault. A reminder that all I had was my sister who would now lean on me, but I had no one to lean on, I couldn’t drag my friends with me…not anymore than I already did. I didn’t want to accept my new reality but when I remember the house and her face this morning it was hard not to. I knew I had frightened her as I shouted so suddenly. But I didn’t want her to see our house victimized, I composed my expression and turned around with a smile “I’m sorry, but we’ve been through a lot, take a break from school. I’ll talk with your teacher next time” I reassuring her. She seemed like she wanted to say something but, in the end, said nothing and went back inside quietly.

On my way to school, the road was quiet. I turned around the corner where several children’s I never seen before threw rocks and pebbles voicing their fear and belittlement of me. Was it that bad I was visited by the king of hell and lived? I pushed this problem to the back and braced myself for the worse to come with the whole street chanting the same. I pushed forward disregarding their words and opinion knowing this was only the beginning.