"Zzzzzzzzzz-zzzzzzzzzzz!" (vibrating hum from the mating cicadas) spreading all over the Area.
"Haru, what's the thing you like most in this world?" Amaya asked, glancing at him with a cute, playful look.
Haru paused for a moment, glancing at her eyes, He was just glancing at her, as if Silence had always been his comfort zone.
Amaya tilted her head, her smile not fading. "Come on, don't leave me hanging. I know there's something, right?"
Haru's lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. He thought about answering, but then he caught her gaze. It was hard to ignore her.
She leaned in a little, teasing him. "You know, for someone who's always so quiet, you sure make people curious."
Haru's eyes darted to the ground, and his fingers trembled. He was trying to find the appropriate words, but Amaya's interest in the inquiry made him say nothing, causing him to blush.
"Love, it's all I need", Haru spoke up, looking up at her with a slight, almost imperceptible smile.
"Amaya blinked, her playful expression softening. 'Love?' she repeated. 'What do you mean?' She continued, 'If it's a proposal or something, like giving me a hint, then-" She paused for a moment. 'I think... I can accept that!' With a playful smile on her face, she made him feel incredibly shy."
"No! it's not like that..." Haru spoke up, his voice filled with confusion, wondering if she was taunting him.
Amaya smiled softly, understanding more than she let on. She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I get it. You don't have to speak to feel loved, Haru."
Haru's heart fluttered for a moment, but his gaze dropped back to the floor. "It's... easier that way," he murmured.
Amaya chuckled, squeezing his shoulder lightly. "You're a strange one, Mr. Mute, but that's why I like you."
Haru's face blushed slightly, but he couldn't suppress, almost unnoticeable smile that tugged at his lips.
But then... the world around him began to shift.
In those happy moments, Suddenly Haru's surroundings become blurry as memories flooded back, leaving his mind reeling. He fell into the endless dark void, The sky above him is deep, disturbing red. The air seemed dense and suffocating, as if every breath was totally heavier that could make a person lose his consciousness. Beneath him, the ground felt wrong, slick and cold. His eyes opened as he saw, he was standing in a sea of blood, with the dark- scarlet liquid flowing around his feet.
The silence was so loud that he could hear his own heartbeat creeping out. Then, a figure came in the distance: Amaya. But when he glanced closer, his gut wrenched. She wasn't present anymore. She was simply... gone.
Then it came. A distant, terrifying scream echoes throughout the darkness. Her voice. "Haru!" it cried out, scared and terrified. His heart skipped a beat as the sound of her sobbing cut through the darkness, tearing at him.
It wasn't a scream for help; it was a strange, horrible sound that rolled into his ears, cutting down all these thoughts. The tone was disturbing, even mocking, but laced with desperation. He froze when it came back, louder, as if shouted in a thousand overlapping voices. "Save me, Haru." "Please save me!"
his knees slipping as he collapsed on the blood-soaked ground. his face in the liquid swirled faster, the screams of people who were lost in that dark void joining the voice of Amaya to create a horrible chorus that made his skull scream.
"You let her die!" one voice roared.
"Why didn't you save her?" another voice raised on him.
And suddenly, through the dark, he noticed it. A figure appeared from the blood, a hand reaching out to him. It was Amaya. She was still alive, her hand extended to him, her eyes wide with fear.
"Haru..." her voice called, softer this time, pleading.
Without thinking, he reached for her, his fingers moved towards hers. But as he grabbed hold, her face contorted into something monstrous: a twisted, grotesque smile and the blood around him, pulling him under.
Haru gasped and sat up in his bed, breathing hard. Sweat covered his skin. Outside, the sound of cicadas filled the night, grounding him back to reality, realising that it's just a dream .
His trembling hands clenched with pain and guilt . "Just a dream," he whispered, and all he could remember was the smile that couldn't fade from his thoughts.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The alarm beside him echoed, snapping him out of his daze. He looked at the time: 7:00 AM.
"Hey, Haru! Are you still lying around? Breakfast is ready, and it's not going to wait for you! Hurry up!" His mother's voice echoed from the kitchen, sharp and full of urgency.
Haru rubbed his eyes. He replied, "Yeah, yeah, Mom, I'm awake," "Give me a break, I'll be there in fifteen minutes!"
His mother's voice returned, louder than before. "Fifteen minutes? I'll come in there and drag you out of that room, so you had better not make me wait!"
The thought made Haru smirk and half smile. "All right, ten minutes. "But don't enter here," he yelled.
A few minutes later, he walked over to the dining table. His sister Nori was already eating her cereal at the table when he walked in. When she heard him, she looked up.
"Good morning, Haru," she said simply, looking at him with big, curious eyes.
"Morning," Haru mumbled, rubbing his face as he sat down. "You're up early."
Nori nodded, her mouth full of cereal. "I always wake up early. You always sleep too much."
Haru, grabbing a plate. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be ready in a second."
Nori smiled and pushed the pancakes toward him. "I saved some for you."
"Thanks," Haru said, starting to eat.
She watched him for a second before asking, "Why didn't you get a girlfriend?"
Haru, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. "What? You're only 11, why are you asking me that?"
Nori shrugged innocently. "I dunno. You're always quiet, and I thought maybe someone would like you, you know?"
Haru sighed, trying not to laugh. "Maybe, but I'm not really worried about it."
Nori nodded seriously, "Well, if you want one, just be more nice to people, okay? I know that sometimes you totally act differently, just quite the opposite."
Haru chuckled, "I'll keep that in mind."
"Hey, Haru! You're running late!" his mother shouted from the kitchen.
"I'm leaving!" Haru called back as he rushed toward the door, grabbing his bag. "Maybe I'll be late today!"
He started walking to his school.
The Bro (Internal voice): Are you alright?
"Yeah... I'm fine," Haru replied, although he felt a little uneasy because he could still see Amaya's lost smile. "Why are you asking?"
The Bro: I don't know, man. You're just acting like nothing happened. I can see it in your eyes. stop fooling around man!
Haru's thoughts flashed to the dark, blood-soaked ground, the chilling echo of Amaya's voice calling out for help. "I don't want to talk about it," he replied internally, shutting it down.
The Bro: You're blaming yourself? Haru, it's just a dream. You know that, right? You can't control it. You can't blame yourself for something that's not real.
Haru clenched his fists, feeling the weight of guilt pressing on him. "But it felt so real. Her face... her voice. It's like I really lost her."
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The Bro: I get it. Losing someone whether it's real or just a nightmare,it sucks, it really does.
The Bro(stopped for a while and continued): But you can't keep torturing yourself over something that happened in your head. You're still here, and Amaya... Well, You need to accept some things man.
"I'll try," Haru thought in a low voice, almost like nothing.
The Bro: Well, why don't you find a girlfriend? Someone cute like Amaya. And remember for me (the voice smirks) I just need the one with the big... you know, assets. But more importantly, she needs to be kind, cool, and the one who can teach us all that manly stuff. You know, like... real man stuff.
Haru clenched his jaw, a little angry but trying to stay composed. "Come on, man, that's what Nori always says. She'll probably notice something's off with me. She already catches me acting totally opposite sometimes..."
The Bro: Yeah, yeah. And what's your point? You're acting like a saint, but you know you'd get distracted by a cute face if you encounter someone just like Amaya. And who knows? Nori might figure you out that you're totally a creep.
"That doesn't make sense," Haru muttered in frustration. "Why would I... wait, is that how I look to you?"
The Bro (laughing): Exactly. You're the guy who appears like the pervy fox in the mask of a duck licking sheep.
Haru blinked, genuinely confused. "What?"
The Bro (with a grin in his voice): Hey, I'm just here to remind you not to take yourself too seriously. If you're stuck being all sad and broody over Amaya, then might as well lighten up. I mean, life's too short, right?
"Yeah, I guess," Haru thought, still irritated but softening a bit. "But it's not just about finding someone else, you know? I don't think a new girlfriend will fix anything."
The Bro (sighing dramatically): Oh, come on, Haru. The point isn't about replacing Amaya and nobody can replace her for you, You just need to let things go, and what about the girl.
"Which girl?" Haru inquired with confusion.
The Bro (casually taunting): The new one who was just transferred from Hokkaido, you once told me that she reminds you of Amaya.
"It's Not the things man, You can't understand how i feel," Haru responds to the words in an irritated manner.
The Bro: You're really being funny, you know that? Come on, man! She got big boob's, the main assets.
Haru's head snapped up slightly, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the floor. "What now?" he muttered under his breath.
The Bro: The feelings you have for Amaya they're just attraction and concern. Think about it! She's the only person who's close to you, and that's it. Don't kid yourself into thinking it's love.
Haru tightened his fists, his nails pushing into his palms. He muttered fiercely, "You have no idea what you're talking about."
The Bro: Oh, don't give me that. (The voice scoffed, amused.) Be practical for once, Haru. You've known her; for what? Two-three months? ya.. Two! But you are acting like your relationship is some kind of holding like a 3-4 years. So stop acting like you've lost the love of your life. It's cringy, man.
Haru gritted his teeth, his face twisting in frustration. "Why are you even bringing this up? I'm already dealing with enough!"
The Bro: (with a mocking laugh) And that's another thing—I really don't like her. Have you ever noticed the way she looks at you sometimes? It's like she's planning your funeral, dude. Her vibe screams like she is playing without, and who knows she has a plan to kill you or something.
Haru blinked, stunned by the bluntness. "What are you even saying?"
The Bro: (tone sharpens, voice dripping with conviction) What I'm saying is: no one can replace her? Yeah, I said that. But what I meant was, you deserve better, you idiot. Better than someone okay.
"Better? Really? And who exactly is this 'better' person you're talking about?" Haru snapped, running a hand through his messy hair.
Haru stopped mid-pace, his shoulders slumping. "You really think... is she bad for me?"
Haru groaned, tugging at his hair in frustration. "And Amaya doesn't look at me like she's planning my funeral, okay?! You don't know her like I do! You're just... you're jealous! That's what this is! You think you're so great, but you're not! You're just... a voice! A stupid, annoying voice! You don't even have a body!
The Bro's tone suddenly changed, becoming more subdued and edged with tension. Hold on, something is wrong.
Haru continued, "You're just... nothing! NOTHING! You think you're so smart, don't you?"
The Bro: Shut up for a second! Can't you feel that? It's like... there's something watching us. Something... off.
Haru jabbed a finger at the air, oblivious. "Well, guess what? You're not smart! You're just... just a freeloading brain parasite! Yeah, that's what you are!"
The Bro (growling, more urgent): Listen to me! I don't care about your pity party right now. There's something here, Haru. Something dangerous. Pull yourself together!
Haru froze mid-rant, his hand hesitating near his face. "What? Why? You're just trying to distract me!"
The Bro (snapping, almost shouting): Haru, take off your glasses! NOW!
The Bro (Shouts): DO IT! Pretend there's nothing wrong. Act casual, but just trust me for once!
Grumbling, Haru ripped off his glasses, shoving them into his pocket. "Fine! Happy now?"
The Bro (low, murmuring more to himself): There's... power here. It's faint, but it's coming from that thing. I can feel it, Haru. The beast's presence is stirring. Stay calm, pretend you're not noticing anything strange.
Haru asked in a questioning, angry tone, "Are you fooling me?"
The Bro (sighing, exasperatedly cool): "Never mind. Just stop yelling at me, move around, let's go home, let's have a nice day. If you're not listening, then okay. But if you really have the guts... then just go to the construction site that's fifty meters away from here."
Haru, in a picky manner "You're challenging me? Okay, then!"
The Bro (exhausted): "I'm not challenging you, Haru. You're the one excited to attend your own funeral."
When Haru arrived at the building site, there was an odd silence in the air that didn't belong there. The area was strangely empty with the remains of half-built structures, twisting shadows. Steel supports and concrete slabs bent out at odd angles. The only sound was the slight buzz of distant traffic, yet even that sounded subdued, just like the world outside of this place is like an illusion
Haru walked around the location, his footsteps making a little echo on the cracked ground. His eyes strayed aimlessly as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. Regardless of the unsettling atmosphere, he didn't seem to care. The shadows around him seemed to stretch and creep along the ground as if it's alive.
The Bro: Uh, Haru? Not to be that guy, but you're walking around like a lost puppy. Maybe you should pay attention to where you're going.
With a sigh, Haru stared at a distant stack of rusted framework. It's alright. Nobody is present. Nothing but metal and concrete. There is nothing to be concerned about.
Despite rolling his eyes, Haru continued to move between abandoned machines and piles of wooden planks. He paused near an open hole, its depths swallowed by darkness.
"See?" Haru said aloud, mostly to himself. "Nothing's here. It's just an old"
A huge THUD echoed through the site, cutting him off mid-sentence. It sounded like a huge weight striking the earth—deep and resonant. Somewhere ahead, dust rose, and soon after, there was the metallic clatter of falling debris.
Haru's body was frozen with fear as he cautiously turned his head in the direction of the sound. All he can do is to think about running but his legs refused to move.
"What the hell was that?" Haru whispered, his voice barely audible.
The bro (carefreely): You are really an idiot, you asshole can you even sense anything wrong in here, can you even see something, at least the outlines of the creature on your spects and why don't you just remove your spects asshole.
Haru took off his glasses cautiously, his hands shaking. He had never seen a creature like the one in front of him. Suddenly the air became thick with a suffocating, unbearable heat, showing the negation to the previous environment.
The monster appeared before him, its skin pulled tight over the sticking muscles, its pale, a strange creature that he haven't seen before. Its long limbs were frighteningly slender, but its claws were clear and strong, moving with a desire indicating it's eager to eat them.
The three skull-like heads that extended from the creature's shoulders. Each one had empty eyes that burned. They stared at him, hungry and enraged, as though they had been waiting for someone.
The Bro (panicked, frenzied): Haru, buddy, you are NOT supposed to be staring at this thing! What the hell is that?! Get out of here! NOW!
With their hollow eyes focussing like they recognised Haru, the heads moved on their own. He felt shivers down his spine as they both opened their mouths simultaneously, releasing a terrible roar. It sounded like a thousand souls screaming to death.
However, it was too late. With a crushing intensity, the empty eyes of the beast locked upon him as its heads leaned forward. Following a low, rumbling roar from one of the heads, the tail emerged with unexpected speed, swinging in a swirl of motion towards Haru's direction.
The Bro (shouting, furious): you idiot! MOVE! It's right there!
The low, rasping sound of the creature's three heads cackling chilled Haru's blood. Its voice echoed with an awful power through the area.
Suddenly, the shadows came to life, twisting and evolving as if they were summoned by the creature before them. The darkness itself seemed to follow a command, transforming into creepy living things. Not with flesh, but as vessels for lost souls, the shadows twisted and stretched into the forms of the dead. The air became thick with the presence of the awoken spirits, their movements hollow and unnatural, and the entity that had summoned them back had given them form in the darkness.
The Bro (in Haru's mind, tone sharp and sarcastic): "Hey, man, you only have two options left: One, lend me your body, or two, just fucking run!"
"What will you do?", Haru questioned with confusion, his voice louder than before
The Bro (laughing dryly, with an almost carefree attitude): "Obviously, I'm just gonna run off, man."
The Bro(continued): "What are you even thinking of just Run!!!!!"
Haru's heart skipped a beat when the monster screamed, its voice cutting through the atmosphere like a blade. He ran without thinking, his legs going more quickly than they had ever done. Surging around him, the shadows screamed and stretched, moving towards them.
The screeching of the creature grew louder, closer.
Haru jumped off the window to get out from the building, desperate to reach the exit of the building.
Haru suddenly heard a growl that sounded like it was from a wolf. He was about to react when a huge pack of two-headed wolves jumped over from him, positioned between him and the creeping shadow spirits.
Haru has no idea what's going on, all he could do is to see around the play.
"Think, We're late," A guy muttered, his eyes narrowing as the shadow spirits.
"Not yet. Stay sharp," another figure replied, his voice sharp like a hound. He made a quick sign with his hand:a frame-like sign, his fingers forming an outline in the air, pointing towards Haru.
He muttered to himself, "The Binding mark," staring at Haru as though the words were more serious than they appeared.
Haru attempted to move, but his body refused. The Binding mark had done its work, freezing him in place. In that moment, everything around him felt strangely seized, as though time itself had come to a stop. The world appeared to be suspended in an odd stillness. Though Haru's body was stuck, unable to break free from the mark's grip, his mind was racing.
The Bro (smirkingly): It's fu*king awesome, Who are they?