Sitting in the back of class, I watch as everyone slowly streams in. The seats fill up with quiet grace as I turn my attention to my setup. I set my textbook up so it acts as a decent wall before pulling out my ereader and sitting it in my lap. The perfect crime. Or rather, the teacher is too apathetic to treat it as anything less. Lucky me, yeah? Anyway, like I was saying before, I’m already caught up in this class, and it’s not like anything here is gonna be all that difficult. So, why the hell not take the chance to relax? I sigh, looking through my library of downloaded books. When none of them look appealing, I switch to the next app. Going on and on.
When I eventually find one, I’m interrupted before I can even think of reading by someone sitting down next to me with a grunt of pain. Peeking up from my device, I see my seatmate. His short and curly brown hair mixed with his thick coke bottle glasses, he’s an easy one to pick out of the crowd for me. Harley Andrews. The only person in this school who has said more to me than teachers have. He’s…bizarre. Not in a bad way, or a dangerous way. In a…kind way. Like, when I was sick during class one time and he bought me a ginger ale from the vending machine without even saying anything.
I like him. If I had to put him on a ranking, he’s probably my favorite human. Thinking that, I begin to feel a pit form in my stomach. My desire to look at him instantly vanished but he seemed to catch me staring before I could look away. He shifts his look down to my ereader. He nods his head, satisfaction with my choice spreading across his face.
“That one is pretty good. It can get pretty slow in places, but it’s definitely way better than a lot of other isekai.”
“S-so a 4/10 instead of a 2?” I make an uncomfortable joke and he chuckles a little in response.
“Don’t trash my genre man.” He asks me politely before pointing at my screen. “Anyways, if you want to know a really good novel, you should look into the other one this guy wrote. The closest thing I’ve ever seen to a masterpiece. Picture a dude with the ability to slaughter armies cause he can summon anything he's eaten.”
“What, so he summons an army of tomatoes?”
“No, an army of kaiju.”
“How does someone eat even one kaiju?”
“You should read it and find out.” He states before the teacher clears his throat. We both quickly revert to our usual positions before the teacher gets to work, introducing the idea of variables and how they work. Basic enough stuff, it’s a shame we have to move at such a slow space because of curriculum scheduling. Self paced classes are so much better, but it was my choice to do in person classes, so the only person I can really blame is myself. I guess being here is better than being stuck with Rei all day. Small blessings. As the teacher keeps talking, I read on through this supposedly damn good novel and, yeah, it is pretty damn good.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Good action, fun characters, constantly escalating, it’s the perfect thing to lose myself in. Discreetly, I give Harley a thumbs up. He smiles in response. Yeah, he really is a good guy.
That…isn’t enough to convince me though.
Actually, it feels like It proves what I’ve been feeling is all the more right.
That I need to disappear.
The thought of tonight forces me to turn off my ereader. Too consuming. I place my head on the table, letting the empty dark of the back of my eyelids calm me down. I can feel Harley’s gaze on me, but he seems to choose to leave me be. I’m quietly thankful for that. I listen to the teacher’s voice go on and on about things I already know as I slowly fall into a simple sleep.
…
The room was a bright white. The feeling of seeing something I shouldn’t is crawling up my spine as I remember this blank room. Looking out the window, I see the sun hanging just above some high buildings. That calming sight eases the worrisome feeling as my senses are overcome by an old feeling. The sound of a gentle beeping, the smell of sterile materials, the sight of the ever-darkening room as the sun’s light slowly turns to slivers between the packed together buildings. Why is this memory so calming, despite my spine shivering with nervousness? I wait, wait for something. Something to make me unsure. It comes, eventually. My father’s voice.
“Christopher. Look at me.” I don’t. “Chris…never mind.” His commanding tone falters, before turning ever so sorrowful. I’ve never heard his voice tinged in such a way. I felt I had to look at him if that was the case. Turning my head, I saw a man, his skin growing pale, as he stared down at his hands. “Chris…I need to tell you something.” His lips move slowly. Deliberately, clearly rehearsed. I felt the coming of an education and I knew I couldn’t bear it. The feeling of overwhelming static took hold of my mind as my face clenched up.
“Ch…is…I…”
And then, I woke up.
…
“Christopher?” I heard Harley’s voice through the void separating consciousness and unconsciousness. I groggily yawn, lifting my head to see that everyone was already gone. Damn, I could have read at least a bit more. I hear Harley chuckle some at me. “Jeez, I’m gonna guess not a lot of sleep, huh?”
“Something like that.” I mumble, unsure how to stare him in the eyes as I start putting away my things.
“Uhm…hey, Christopher?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you…wanna get something to eat?” The request surprises me. I finally stare him in the face and saw him blushing, now him the one uncomfortable facing me.
“Uh…sure.”