Chapter 1:
Humans and Monsters
Monstra
Chapter 1: Humans and Monsters
Exactly ten years ago, children with monstrous features began appearing in rapid succession. Their numbers only grew over time. At first, humans treated these children as devilish abominations. A short-lived war broke out; monsters were tortured and killed. They were called “oni.”
Eventually, humans realized that most of them caused no harm, and the remaining monsters were allowed to live in peace. Over the years, some people became villains, threatening humankind. They called themselves the Breakers. But then, the Keepers rose—protectors of humanity.
A few years later, in 2018, Tokyo, Japan.
Inside a small apartment, a messy room lay in disarray: shoes scattered, a trash bin overflowing. A person snored on the bed as an alarm blared beside him. He groaned and turned it off. His black hair was a mess, strands covering his face. As he brushed it back, he opened his eyes—outer irises pitch black, pupils white with thin white lines. This was Ghost Shinbara.
He stretched his body, clad in blue pajamas, and groaned again. Then, he opened the door to his bathroom, taking a shower, brushing his teeth, and combing his hair into a short, layered haircut with long bangs. He stared at his reflection in the mirror with no expression.
Ghost: I really need a haircut.
After finishing, he opened his closet and put on his school uniform: a black gakuran—a high-collared, button-up jacket with gold buttons and straight black trousers.
Descending the stairs, he saw someone cooking in the kitchen.
Ghost: Morning, Mom. Food smells great.
The figure turned around. Her long white hair flowed over her shoulders, and her eyes matched Ghost’s exactly. This was Hikari Shinbara. She smiled warmly.
Hikari: Oh, good morning, Ghost! How’s my wonder boy?
Ghost groaned as he sat at the kitchen table.
Ghost: Pretty terrible. My back kinda hurts.
Hikari set down a plate of eggs and toast in front of him.
Hikari: Too bad. I thought the new mattress would help. I knew buying something on sale from that sketchy shop was a mistake.
Ghost chewed his food.
Ghost: Doesn’t feel any better than the old one.
He glanced at the TV in the corner and saw the news on. A man with sharp purple eyes, a bald head, battered clothes, and bare feet was being arrested. The caption read: “Keepers prevail once more, keeping Japan safe from villains.”
The camera panned to a man with sharp yellow eyes and short, choppy, spiked hair with yellow tips. He wore a long, fitted, matte-black coat with reinforced shoulders, subtle reflective fibers, a high collar, glowing inner lining, hidden zippers, arm-mounted bands, and tactical pants with articulated knees and glowing strips.
Reporter: And here we have a few words from the number one Keeper, Kaito Akizuki! What would you like to say to those at home striving to be heroes like you?
Kaito scratched the back of his neck, chuckling.
Kaito: Well… I’m not sure what to say, but start small, stay brave, and don’t stop moving forward.
Everyone cheered. Ghost finished his food, grinning at the TV. Hikari picked up the remote and turned it off.
Hikari: Enough about heroes. Why not strive to be something practical, like a doctor or an engineer? Watching you always trying to be a hero…
Ghost frowned and sighed.
Ghost: Mom, I’ve already decided. There’s no changing my mind.
She rolled her eyes.
Hikari: Yeah, yeah, sure. Now go—your friend Kenta is waiting outside.
Ghost grabbed his school bag and hung it on one shoulder.
Ghost: Bye, love you, Mom.
Hikari: Love you too.
Outside, Kenta Harada waited, wearing the same school uniform. His hair was blond, medium-length, tousled naturally, with bangs, and his eyes bright blue. He grinned from ear to ear.
Kenta: Yo, my dark-eyed monster! Ready to get laid?
Ghost looked at him, uncertain how to respond.
Ghost: Are girls the only thing you think about, man?
Kenta placed his hand on his chin, pondering.
Kenta: Nah, I also think about becoming a Keeper! Anyway, what did your mom say?
They passed other oni humans and regular humans walking down the sidewalk.
Ghost: She isn’t against it, but she doesn’t fully like it either. She usually suggests other careers.
Kenta: Dang, dude, rough work. My parents were more like, whatever makes you happy.
Ghost: Lucky you.
As they neared school, Kenta pointed at a girl.
Kenta: Yo, look at that babe over there, Ghost!
Ghost gasped, a bead of sweat forming.
Ghost: Don’t point, you idiot!
The girl noticed Kenta pointing at her. Ghost grabbed Kenta, pulling him into the school building. They sprinted down the corridor, turning a corner to sit backs against the wall.
Ghost: I can’t tell if you’re stupid or pretending.
Kenta: Hey, don’t call me stupid! She was a babe, though…
Ghost facepalmed.
Ghost: At least they didn’t catch us—she had a whole group.
As they got up and turned to go to class, they saw the same girl and two others behind her.
The girl in front had pink hair, dark blue eyes, and a butterfly hairpin. Her name was Ayame Kurgane. To her right was a girl with black and brown hair tied up and round white glasses: Yui Karasuma. The third was an oni human with two small horns on her forehead, light green skin, and red eyes: Suzu Mochizuki.
Ayame: Hey! Why are you pointing at us? Got something to say?!
Ghost and Kenta exchanged glances of pure horror.
Ghost and Kenta: Uh oh…
Exactly ten years ago, children with monstrous features began appearing in rapid succession. Their numbers only grew over time. At first, humans treated these children as devilish abominations. A short-lived war broke out; monsters were tortured and killed. They were called “oni.”
Eventually, humans realized that most of them caused no harm, and the remaining monsters were allowed to live in peace. Over the years, some people became villains, threatening humankind. They called themselves the Breakers. But then, the Keepers rose—protectors of humanity.
A few years later, in 2018, Tokyo, Japan.
Inside a small apartment, a messy room lay in disarray: shoes scattered, a trash bin overflowing. A person snored on the bed as an alarm blared beside him. He groaned and turned it off. His black hair was a mess, strands covering his face. As he brushed it back, he opened his eyes—outer irises pitch black, pupils white with thin white lines. This was Ghost Shinbara.
He stretched his body, clad in blue pajamas, and groaned again. Then, he opened the door to his bathroom, taking a shower, brushing his teeth, and combing his hair into a short, layered haircut with long bangs. He stared at his reflection in the mirror with no expression.
Ghost: I really need a haircut.
After finishing, he opened his closet and put on his school uniform: a black gakuran—a high-collared, button-up jacket with gold buttons and straight black trousers.
Descending the stairs, he saw someone cooking in the kitchen.
Ghost: Morning, Mom. Food smells great.
The figure turned around. Her long white hair flowed over her shoulders, and her eyes matched Ghost’s exactly. This was Hikari Shinbara. She smiled warmly.
Hikari: Oh, good morning, Ghost! How’s my wonder boy?
Ghost groaned as he sat at the kitchen table.
Ghost: Pretty terrible. My back kinda hurts.
Hikari set down a plate of eggs and toast in front of him.
Hikari: Too bad. I thought the new mattress would help. I knew buying something on sale from that sketchy shop was a mistake.
Ghost chewed his food.
Ghost: Doesn’t feel any better than the old one.
He glanced at the TV in the corner and saw the news on. A man with sharp purple eyes, a bald head, battered clothes, and bare feet was being arrested. The caption read: “Keepers prevail once more, keeping Japan safe from villains.”
The camera panned to a man with sharp yellow eyes and short, choppy, spiked hair with yellow tips. He wore a long, fitted, matte-black coat with reinforced shoulders, subtle reflective fibers, a high collar, glowing inner lining, hidden zippers, arm-mounted bands, and tactical pants with articulated knees and glowing strips.
Reporter: And here we have a few words from the number one Keeper, Kaito Akizuki! What would you like to say to those at home striving to be heroes like you?
Kaito scratched the back of his neck, chuckling.
Kaito: Well… I’m not sure what to say, but start small, stay brave, and don’t stop moving forward.
Everyone cheered. Ghost finished his food, grinning at the TV. Hikari picked up the remote and turned it off.
Hikari: Enough about heroes. Why not strive to be something practical, like a doctor or an engineer? Watching you always trying to be a hero…
Ghost frowned and sighed.
Ghost: Mom, I’ve already decided. There’s no changing my mind.
She rolled her eyes.
Hikari: Yeah, yeah, sure. Now go—your friend Kenta is waiting outside.
Ghost grabbed his school bag and hung it on one shoulder.
Ghost: Bye, love you, Mom.
Hikari: Love you too.
Outside, Kenta Harada waited, wearing the same school uniform. His hair was blond, medium-length, tousled naturally, with bangs, and his eyes bright blue. He grinned from ear to ear.
Kenta: Yo, my dark-eyed monster! Ready to get laid?
Ghost looked at him, uncertain how to respond.
Ghost: Are girls the only thing you think about, man?
Kenta placed his hand on his chin, pondering.
Kenta: Nah, I also think about becoming a Keeper! Anyway, what did your mom say?
They passed other oni humans and regular humans walking down the sidewalk.
Ghost: She isn’t against it, but she doesn’t fully like it either. She usually suggests other careers.
Kenta: Dang, dude, rough work. My parents were more like, whatever makes you happy.
Ghost: Lucky you.
As they neared school, Kenta pointed at a girl.
Kenta: Yo, look at that babe over there, Ghost!
Ghost gasped, a bead of sweat forming.
Ghost: Don’t point, you idiot!
The girl noticed Kenta pointing at her. Ghost grabbed Kenta, pulling him into the school building. They sprinted down the corridor, turning a corner to sit backs against the wall.
Ghost: I can’t tell if you’re stupid or pretending.
Kenta: Hey, don’t call me stupid! She was a babe, though…
Ghost facepalmed.
Ghost: At least they didn’t catch us—she had a whole group.
As they got up and turned to go to class, they saw the same girl and two others behind her.
The girl in front had pink hair, dark blue eyes, and a butterfly hairpin. Her name was Ayame Kurgane. To her right was a girl with black and brown hair tied up and round white glasses: Yui Karasuma. The third was an oni human with two small horns on her forehead, light green skin, and red eyes: Suzu Mochizuki.
Ayame: Hey! Why are you pointing at us? Got something to say?!
Ghost and Kenta exchanged glances of pure horror.
Ghost and Kenta: Uh oh…
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