Ch-2:And so, children, this is the tale of Takai Kemono…

“And so, children… this is the tale of Takai Kemono.”

The teacher’s voice echoed softly, letting the eerie silence settle over the room. The lanterns around the temple flickered, casting shadows that danced across the faces of the wide-eyed children.

“A soul once weak… turned into a force no one could stop. Betrayed, broken, and reborn as a monster. Takai Kemono rose, not by choice, but by the cruelty of the world.”

The story lingered in the air like a ghost.

From the back, Utsuyo yawned loudly.

“Man…” he mumbled, stretching out lazily on the porch, his hands tucked behind his head. His feet dangled off the edge, swinging idly. “That’s such a cool story…”

The other kids turned to him, eyes still wide with excitement. Utsuyo barely noticed. He was too busy staring up at the darkening sky, lost in thought.

“Imagine being that strong…” he muttered, almost to himself.

A brief pause.

“Takai Kemono…” Utsuyo’s lips curved into a faint smile. “No one messed with him. He wasn’t weak. He made them all pay.”

His eyes glinted for a second—just a second—as if the thought had sparked something deep inside him. But just as quickly, the spark faded.

“Eh…” He gave a long, exaggerated sigh. “But all that power? Too much work. Revenge, fighting, all that…” He lazily waved a hand in the air. “It’s too much trouble.”

“What?!” One of the kids, a boy named Taro, leaned forward, his face scrunched up in disbelief. “If you could be like Takai Kemono… wouldn’t you do it?”

Utsuyo blinked, the question hanging in the air longer than it should have.

If I could…?

For a moment, he imagined it. The power. The respect. No more being invisible. No more being the kid no one noticed.

His smile grew just a little, but then—

“Nah,” he said with a shrug, rolling onto his side and closing his eyes. “Too much hassle. I’d rather take a nap.”

“What?! Utsuyo, you’re so lame!”

Pebbles flew at him, the kids groaning in frustration. Taro crossed his arms, frowning. “You’re no fun.”

Utsuyo chuckled softly, not even bothering to open his eyes.

If only they knew.

If only they knew how often he dreamed of it. Of standing tall, of finally being someone who mattered. Someone strong. Someone who didn’t have to hide behind a lazy smile.

But dreaming?

That was easy.

Doing something about it?

That was where the real work began.

And right now…

The night was cool. The temple was quiet. And Utsuyo?

Well…

“Five more minutes,” he mumbled, already drifting off.

Because for now, dreaming was enough.

And so, children, this is the tale of Takai Kemono.

A monster born not from the shadows, but from something much darker—the absence of light.

But before the beast was unleashed, before vengeance twisted his very soul, before the whispers of the void called his name…

There was just a boy.

A boy who had already accepted his suffering.

A boy who found solace in pain.

A boy who, even as he was broken again and again, thought to himself—

"At least they notice me."