The volume 1

Chapter 1 - The starting 

The shrill sound of an alarm shattered the morning silence.

Ruyoko Namine reached out from beneath his blanket and slammed his hand against the clock.

Silence returned.

“Five more minutes…”

He buried his face in his pillow.

A few seconds later, his eyes opened.

He looked at the clock.

8:43 A.M.

“…Huh?”

His eyes widened.

“HUH?!”

Ruyoko jumped out of bed, immediately getting tangled in his blanket and falling onto the floor.

“Oww…”

He quickly got dressed and rushed into the kitchen.

The apartment was strangely quiet.

No parents.

No television.

No breakfast waiting for him.

Just an empty room.

His parents had been overseas for almost three months. At first, they called every night. Then once a week.

Now, they barely called.

Ruyoko opened the refrigerator.

One egg.

Half a bottle of milk.

Instant noodles.

“…Luxury.”

He prepared a quick breakfast and sat alone at the table.

His eyes drifted toward the two empty chairs.

“They're probably still overseas…”

He forced a small smile.

“No family. No friends. No exciting school life…”

His phone buzzed.

He quickly grabbed it, hoping it was a message.

Electricity Bill Reminder.

“…Seriously?”

He sighed.

Then he looked at the clock.

9:00 A.M.

His expression changed completely.

“WAIT—WHAT?!”

His first class had already started.

Ruyoko grabbed his bag and rushed out.

He forgot his shoes.

Ran back.

Grabbed them.

Forgot his phone.

Ran back again.

“Why am I like this?!”

Ruyoko sprinted through the streets toward Seito High.

By the time he reached the school gates, students were already staring.

“He's late again.”

“There goes Namine.”

Ruyoko gave an awkward smile.

“…Morning.”

Nobody answered.

He entered his classroom at 9:27 A.M.

The teacher looked at him.

“Mr. Namine.”

“…Yes, sir?”

“What time does school begin?”

Ruyoko glanced at the clock.

“…Nine?”

“And what time is it now?”

A pause.

“…Still morning?”

The classroom erupted in laughter.

Even the teacher struggled to hide a smile.

“Just take your seat.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ruyoko hurried to his usual desk beside the window.

As the lesson continued, he stared outside.

Blue sky.

White clouds.

Birds flying freely.

“…Lucky.”

At lunchtime, everyone gathered with their friends.

Ruyoko went to the rooftop alone.

He ate a simple sandwich while looking over the city.

Everyone seemed to have somewhere to go.

Someone waiting for them.

Someone they could talk to.

“…Must be nice.”

His phone vibrated.

He checked it.

Another meaningless notification.

“Even my phone is lonely.”

He laughed quietly.

After school, Ruyoko walked through the empty halls.

Posters advertising different school clubs covered the walls.

Students were laughing together, practicing, and spending time with their friends.

Ruyoko stopped in front of one poster.

“Maybe…”

His hand moved toward it.

Then he stopped.

“Nah.”

“They wouldn't want someone like me.”

He continued toward the exit.

Outside, the sun was beginning to set.

Ruyoko didn't notice the figure watching him from a distant rooftop.

The stranger lowered his binoculars.

“So…”

“He's the target.”

A voice answered through an earpiece.

“Confirmed?”

The figure nodded.

“Confirmed.”

“Begin observation.”

Ruyoko took a shortcut home through an old residential district.

The streets were becoming darker.

Then he heard something.

Tap.

He stopped.

Silence.

“…Probably my imagination.”

He continued walking.

Tap.

Closer.

Ruyoko looked behind him.

Nobody.

The streetlights flickered.

Then one went out.

A cold feeling ran through him.

He started walking faster.

Behind him came footsteps.

One.

Then another.

Then many.

Ruyoko broke into a run.

“What the hell is going on?!”

He turned through several streets, but the footsteps continued.

Eventually, he realized something.

He wasn't in the city anymore.

He had run into a forest.

Ruyoko stopped and tried to catch his breath.

“I… lost them?”

The forest was completely silent.

Then he smelled something strange.

Metal.

Rot.

Something foul.

He followed the smell despite every instinct telling him not to.

He reached a clearing.

And froze.

A man was lying motionless beneath a twisted tree.

Ruyoko's backpack slipped from his shoulder.

“Is…”

“Is he dead?”

He couldn't move.

Then—

The man's eyes moved.

Ruyoko's blood ran cold.

Suddenly—

CRACK!