Start

The alarm clock rang at six thirty.

The sound seemed more irritating than ever, it could be an irony of fate , since today was the last day of school.

It took me a while to get up. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow into the room. On my desk sat a photo of my mother, Karina Satoru . I picked up the frame and placed my thumb against the glass.

Mom… I miss you.

I put the picture frame back and picked up my phone. I opened the conversation with my father, Sugimoto. Satoru .

“Dad, I'm going to school. Today is the closing ceremony .”

No answer. He must have been at work.

I put on my uniform, put on my sneakers and went out.

The air smelled of damp grass. Cicadas were singing somewhere in the park I always crossed on my way.

In the middle of the lawn, a red-haired girl in kendo clothes and a blindfold trained with a piece of wood. Her movements were precise, almost beautiful.

I moved a little closer.

— You are… Tachibana ? — I asked.

Bad idea. She reacted on reflex and hit me in the head with the improvised bat.

— Agh ! — I fell to my knees, holding the top of my head.

The girl ripped off the blindfold. Tachibana Yuuki , my classmate. Intense brown eyes, firm posture.

— Satoru ?! Did I hit you?! I... — Yuuki was speaking, but was interrupted by her cell phone vibrating.

She saw the time and turned pale.

“Damn! I hate being late!” she muttered. Yuuki .

He ran out of the park. I stood there, massaging my head.

She forgot to apologize… I sighed and followed.

Once outside the park, someone bumped into me from behind. We both fell to the ground.

— Ugh ! — he gave a small scream as he fell.

When I opened my eyes, a girl with dark green braided hair was on top of me, her face all red.

— I recognize that voice… is that you, Satoru ? — the girl asked.

"Nakajima?" I murmured.

The girl is Nakajima Himeno , also from 3-A.

I found it strange that she didn't have her glasses on.

"Nakajima, where are your glasses?" I asked.

“I think… they fell when I tripped over you,” Himeno replied.

—Okay… but could you… get off me first? It'll be easier to search, — I said.

She blushed even more and jumped off me, flustered. We searched the floor. I found the glasses near the curb.

— I found it. — I said.

— Thank you, Satoru . — Himeno put it on her face and smiled shyly.

— I need to run so I won't be late. See you later! — she finished speaking.

— See you. — I replied.

I watched as she disappeared.

Nakajima seems nice, but… there's something sad about her. I think we're similar in that way.

The school was decorated with banners and balloons. In 3-A, the sound of laughter and conversations rang out. I walked in and heard the voice I least expected.

Takeshi Hiroshi 's voice .

—The loser has arrived, — Hiroshi said .

I ignored it. I sat down, picked up a manga , and tried to zone out.

Just a few more hours… and I never have to look at those people's faces again.

The air changed. It became cold, still.

I looked at the painting. A light began to erupt from the black surface, growing, pulsating.

"What is that…? "

The light swallowed everything.

When I opened my eyes, the floor was polished stone. Golden columns. Carpets. Incense in the air. Out the window, a medieval city beneath a deep blue sky.

An old man in a blue robe and carrying a staff appeared.

— Welcome, heroes. I am Kaiou , a mage from the Kingdom of Syros , in the country of Asferio . You have been brought here to defeat the Demon King. — said the mage.

" Are you kidding me?!" Hiroshi ran at him. A barrier of light knocked him back with a bang.

Kaiou said .

— Each one has received a Hero Skill. Write your names, status, and abilities on enchanted sheets. — he concluded. Kaiou .

We obeyed, stunned.

I looked at him silently.

He's lying. I know when someone lies.

My “Hidden Observatory”… sees the lie.

Kaiou began to evaluate.

— Among the thirty heroes, Yui Koharu has the best stats and the best ability. — said Kaiou .

— On the other hand, there is one with weak attributes and a… worthless skill: Satoru Fujimoto. “See Status.” — he concluded Kaiou .

Laughter erupted.

— Hahaha ! You're still the same loser as always — said Hiroshi.

"My girlfriend is the best; you are nothing," Hiroshi concluded .

I lowered my head. Inside, there was only silence.

Let them laugh. I hid the real part.

I see the lies. And… maybe something more.

A pale shadow approached. Koharu. She knelt down and hugged me.

"You don't need to take revenge on anyone, Fujimoto. I've been in your shoes before," Koharu said .

My power didn't activate. True.

For a second, I didn't know what to feel.

—Koharu, are you crazy?! —Hiroshi.

"You're mine!" Hiroshi continued shouting.

"Shut up." Koharu glared at him coldly.

"You 're with me for fame. I'm with you for money. In this world, our lie is over," Koharu revealed .

—You…! — Hiroshi shouted .

"Enough!" The sharp voice came from Yumi. Long black hair, piercing gaze.

"You guys are idiots," Yumi concluded.

She turned to Kaiou .

—You still haven't explained anything. Countries? Kingdoms? Cities? — Yumi said .

— This is the country of Asferio ; we are in the Kingdom of Syros — replied the magician.

Scrolls floated by with map information showing marked cities and towns.

As he spoke, something flickered in my vision.

These lights…

Are they… souls?

Hiroshi's is dark and sticky. Koharu's... sad. And Yumi's... shines so bright it hurts to look at.

"Can we stay here and train?" Yumi asked.

Kaiou said , surprised.

"But perhaps it would be better to explore to gather information," Kaiou continued.

—Information doesn't save anyone if you die first—Yumi replied coldly.

In the end, everyone chose a path.

Yumi stayed at the castle to train.

Koharu looked at me. I didn't say anything, but walked to the door with her.

The doors closed behind us with a bang.

You're on your own now.

Outside, the wind was clear. The countryside opened up as far as the eye could see.

"So, where are we going, Fujimoto?" she said, fixing her hair.

“It still sounds weird to me that you call me by my first name,” I replied.

She laughed. “You’ll get used to it.”

We walked for a few minutes in silence. It was a good silence, like one without needing to prove anything.

But the question lingered: why hadn't my power activated with her?

— You lied to Kaiou — Koharu said, suddenly stopping.

—Your power isn't just about seeing status, — she continued.

I was frozen.

— What's up? — I asked, trying to hide it.

"Your look gives you away. You can see who's lying, right?" she asked.

The wind stopped. So did I.

She smiled sadly.

— You wanted me to be a liar… because it's easier to suspect than to believe, — she said.

I was speechless.

"I said I'll stand by your side. So please... believe with your heart, not with your power," Koharu said .

My chest burned. The tears came before I knew it.

"Then why did you never defend me when people laughed at me? Especially Hiroshi… your boyfriend?" I asked.

She cried too. Her hands were on my shoulders.

"I tried. I talked to Professor Takada. The school said I couldn't do anything. I'd go home and cry, feeling useless. And... I only started dating Hiroshi to get revenge on my mother," she replied.

Silence. Then, I could only say:

— I'm sorry. You did what you could. — I said.

She hugged me. The light scent of her hair, the warmth of her touch.

"I don't want you to become bitter like I once was," Koharu said .

— I promise. — I promised her.

She wiped away her tears, held my hand.

— Let's go. The road is long. — she said.

— Let's go. — I said.

—Hey, Satoru … how many of your classmates’ abilities have you seen?

— Three. — I respond

Hiroshi: Hideout , creates mazes.

Takame : Wet , controls any water within a kilometer radius.

Futaba : Bud, increases or decreases its own size.

“And mine?” she asked, frowning.

— Feelings. — I shrugged.

— Poetic name. — I continued saying.

—Too poetic to be useful… — Koharu muttered.

" Kaiou said she was the best, but I don't see how that helps in a fight," Koharu continued .

—You have talents that count—I said.

She raised an eyebrow.

— Like? — she asked.

— Languages? Way with people? — I replied.

She chuckled softly.

"I know German, sign language, Portuguese from Portugal, Brazilian Portuguese, French, and I was learning Spanish and a little Latin. I can cook, dance ballet, play piano, violin, guitar... and I studied business administration," she replied.

I remained silent, impressed.

She's amazing.

And yet, you understand my pain.

— Why would someone like you… be bullied ? — I asked .

The wind grew stronger. She looked at the horizon.

— From seven to twelve. I don't want to talk about the reason — she replied.

I nodded. Not out of pity. Out of respect.

She's perfect on the outside. Inside, she carries scars.

I want to understand who Yui Koharu really is.

She took a deep breath, as if changing the subject.

"I just wish my phone never ran out of battery," Koharu said .

Her device beeped. On the screen:

Infinite Battery Activated.

— Huh ?! — She laughed, surprised.

— This is real! — she said happily.

She held up her cell phone.

"Let's take a picture to celebrate!" Koharu said.

I really smiled, for the first time in that world.

— Let's go. — I replied.

The camera clicked. In the reflection, I saw two faces , still red from crying, but with a new sparkle in their eyes.

Two lost. Two injured.

Two people who, by chance of fate, began a journey that would change everything.