Chapter 1 - A New Hero
.... ... The singing of the birds are heard in the area, bringing peace and tranquility, a soothing sound to the human ear.
A monotonous and loud alarm sounds inside the room, I was sleeping peacefully but awake startled from my bed, quite surprised at the moment. When I calmed down a bit, I turn off the alarm, yawn and stretch my arms up, making a long sigh.
I put my feet on the cold floor in the morning and get out of my bed, I head towards the door still yawning and covering my mouth with my hand while I sigh.
I leave my room and start heading to the bathroom to clean myself, pouring water on my face and taking my toothbrush, toothpaste and start moving it between my teeth.
I leave the bathroom with a dull attitude, I head back to my room and start looking for my school uniform. I begin to wear a white shirt and tie a black tie around my neck, I wear black pants and shoes of the same color, to finish with a black coat with some details on his neck and sleeves.
I look between my room for a small backpack and a guitar-shaped case, and I take them from my room to the living room in my hands. Upon arriving in the living room, a woman of medium height, black hair tied, and white skin was on her back in the kitchen, apparently preparing something in a pan.
Feel the presence of the boy and turn around:
.- Oh, honey, you’re here. I hope you slept well.
.- Yes, good morning, mom.
.- On the table is your food, hurry a little, you do not want to be late, right? ... * giggles *
.- Not at all, I have never been late the previous years, and I will never be late in my school life!
In that I see a girl of very short stature, black hair and white skin rubbing her hands in her eyes as she yawned and down the stairs.
.- Wow, it’s Hana ...
.- Good morning, mom, brother ...
.- Good morning, my dear, your food is on the table ...
.- Thank you, mom, I love you.
Hana sits at the table next to me, who was eating hurriedly.
.- Brother, are you leaving?
.- Yes, I don’t want to be late. * plate sounds *
.- Go, do well, little brother ... * smile from ear to ear *
.- Thank you, Hana. Well, I’m leaving ...
.- Goodbye Kazuo, be very careful. .- Yes mom.
In that, I head towards the door with a quick step, I feel for putting on my shoes, I look in a mirror to accommodate my hair a little and leave my house. However, when I opened the door, my left arm became numb and paralyzed for a moment, I was surprised but I just thought it was because of the intensive guitar practice I had the day before.
My arm calms down and I head for the main street at an accelerated pace, with my backpack and my guitar. I feel a withering look behind my back that bothers me greatly, but at the time of turning there was no person.
I stayed a moment analyzing the area to see if I had someone hidden, but I began to hear quick steps on my back. When I turned around, a small figure approached me, stood in front of me and spoke to me:
.- Kazuo! How are you!? * giggles *
.- Ah, h-hello...
She considered herself Saki, she was the first to speak to me on my first day of school, she is quite outgoing and a good person, she quickly befriends people.
.- Hey, hey .. Why so off? ... Something happened? Come on, tell me, tell me!...
.- It’s nothing, I’m just a little sleepy, come on, we’ll be late.
.- Again you stayed all night imagining things that will not happen? * giggles *
.- Hey! I don’t do those crazy things! ...
.- Well, whatever you say, Mr. Imagination! Hahaha...
We continued walking towards the school, we talked about trivial and everyday things, but my discomfort was still latent, during the whole journey sent that fulminating look behind me, but every time I turned around there was no one ...
Upon arriving at school I noticed that there was an unusual girl, with an almost enraged look, frowning, snow-white hair, crimson red eyes and very white skin. It might seem like a student like any other, if it wasn’t because I was staring at myself, which caught my attention and I got very nervous.
I passed her and felt a chill all over my body, I went to school, changed my shoes. When I opened my locker, I noticed that there was a ring, but it was not a common one, it had engravings of a language on the sides and a very strange symbol on the top, it also had more strange engravings on the bottom and inside.
I put the ring in my pocket thinking it was a simple joke or gift from someone, I headed down the hall, walking towards the second year classroom.
As I walked I noticed the presence of that girl I saw outside the school and when she turned around secretly, she was walking behind me. It really looked like very few friends, it shows that it is quite shy and it will cost to adapt.
Wait, they transferred it for sure, I had never seen it before. Walking quietly down the hall but alert to the girl behind my back I thought: “Now that I see her carefully, she’s pretty, the uniform looks great on her” The girls’ uniform was a black skirt, stockings and sneakers of the same color, a white shirt and a black long-sleeved vest with some white details, and a red bow at the neck.
“The combination between the white of your hair, your skin and the black uniform is perfect”...
What I’m saying ... Control yourself, it’s not that she interests me. I came to the classroom and sat in my place par excellence every year, in the background next to the window, I always say that the silly protagonists of romantic comedies sit here, but that does not happen to me, I’m just a musician plus.
As soon as I feel the teacher enters the room saying the following words:
.- Good morning guys, I hope you had a rest weekend, today we have a new partner transferred from the Nishita academy. Come in, introduce yourself.
At the time of finishing the murmurs began throughout the room, some referring to the academy, which was very prestigious in Tokyo, and others wishing that girl was beautiful.
I got a big surprise when I saw that girl who was staring at me through the door, and who was behind me in the hallway. She enters silently and stands next to the teacher.
.- Come on, introduce yourself.
.- H-hello ...
I was right to say that she is shy, it was difficult to speak in public in front of several people.
.- M-my name is...
She was very flushed and embarrassed, she could barely speak. She must be wanting the earth to swallow it.
.- Akane...
The whole room began to speak normally, practically ignoring Akane. The teacher demanded silence:
.- Silence everyone, this is a lack of respect for our new partner, please treat her very well and do not exclude her, I trust you. Akane, you can sit in that empty post next to Kazuo.
I see how that girl is slowly heading towards the empty post next to me and I notice how other students also observe her. She sits down and pulls out her supplies, I don’t pay much attention to her and open my notebook, I start writing a song I had pending from the club. I hear Saki start talking to Akane and quickly turn around:
.- Hello! ... I’m Saki, nice to meet you, Akane!
.- N-nice to... meet you...
Akane speaks a few words to Saki with a very dull voice and an almost imperceptible voice.
.- I hope we can be good friends!
.- Y-yes ...
Saki lets out a little laugh and turns around, paying attention to the class. I still pay attention to the class, because I have always been a moderately applied student, sometimes I have been the best, but I think it has simply been luck.
I turn for a moment to the window on impulse and notice that there is a person with a black robe outside the school, people do not seem to be able to see him. He stands without doing anything ...
I see that the hood covers almost his entire face, but the strangest thing is that he has the same engraving as the ring that was in my locker this morning ...
The hooded person did nothing but stand or stand in that place, and look towards the school. After a moment analyzed to that person, the sun goes down and the classroom is reflected in the window, so I notice that Akane is looking at me, she quickly notices and looks down at the book in her hands.
I turn to see Akane for a moment, checking my pocket and taking out his ring. I look at the engraving he has and turn back to the window but with a particularity, the hooded person was no longer ...
I was a little surprised to see that this person was gone, but I did not give it much importance and continued attending to what was left of class, without first giving one last look at the ring and putting it back in my pocket.
I felt that Akane was looking at me sideways, I decided to face him speaking the word, but before doing so Ryo, my friend and classmate and clubmate stopped me.
Ryo is a boy a little taller than me, with blond hair and quite popular among girls, he is quite smiling, he is the main guitarist of my band Dark Ascencion.
He explains that the thinnest string on his guitar broke, wondering if I could put a new one:
.- Kazuo, I was reviewing the solos of our song but I broke the first string ... Could you put a new one, please?
.- Heavens, Ryo ... Learn to put them on at once. Can I help you, do you bring a spare string?
Ryo laughs sadly and places his hand on the back of his head.
.- Yes, here I have the spare.
.- Well, I will help you in the club.
.- Thank you!
I noticed how Akane was alert during our conversation, turning sideways at certain times. I close my eyes and look at the window casually, thinking about my musical future. The bell rings, interrupting the teacher at half explanation about trig functions and other things.
All students leave the classroom quickly sighing, and others complaining about the class. Before I stopped, I noticed that Akane had sat down, folded her arms and laid her head on her table. I decided to approach her and talk to her.
.- H-hello .. I introduce myself. I’m Kazuo...
Akane lifts her head slowly and stares at me with a very serious face, doing nothing.
.- I-I think it will take you a while to adapt, usually in this c ...
.- I-I’m Akane ...
I was a little surprised, with nothing to say I looked away for a moment and then looked back at her:
.- N-nice to meet you, Akane.
.- E-equally...
Her voice was so muted that I hardly heard her, I guess such a shy person is not used to social interactions, although I can’t complain, I was also one of those extremely shy people.
.- I hope we can get along, Akane.
I looked at her with a smile on my face, she was a little surprised to see me. He nodded with his expression changed, he seemed a little happier.
Classes went normally after that, he said a few things to Akane, whether it was class or other subjects, at the end of the school day Ryo was waiting anxiously to put the new string to his guitar.
.- Come on Kazuo! .- You are really very excited about a string.
.- Obviously!...
I could not practice all this weekend!
.- Ok, let’s go.
I left Ryo in the classroom and headed to the music club, during the trip I noticed that Akane was walking in the same direction as us.
When I realized I suddenly turned around, Akane stopped walking, with a very shy expression.
.- Akane, you’re not in any club yet, right?...
.- N-no...
.- Would you like to come to music? If you are interested, you can join.
.- I-it’s fine ...
Akane approached me and began to follow us but one step behind me, as if she wanted to protect herself from something using me as a shield. We arrived at the club, a medium room full of guitars, basses, a keyboard and a full battery, as well as amplifiers and other cables.
I took Ryo’s guitar case, opened it and took it out. I was always envious of Ryo’s Jackson King V.
.- Ryo, pass me the spare string.
Ryo starts searching through shelves and takes out a small package.
.- Here you have.
I take the string out of its packaging and start the process. Akane looks at how I put the string to the guitar and asks:
.- Hey .. W-what are you doing here?
.- This is a multi-member club. Four of them, including me, we have a band. Ryo is the band’s guitarist, me too but I also sing. The other two have not come.
Akane looks at me carefully while listening to my explanation.
.- However, we are like small groups among this large group. We have a band and others a group of classical instruments.
.- Oh .. I see ...
.- If you join, you can choose to join our band, or other groups.
I finished putting the string on Ryo’s guitar and tuning it, I played a chord to check its tuning and put it back in its case.
.- Here you go, Ryo.
.- Thank you, Kazuo! ... What would I do without you! ...
.- Come on, it’s not for much, dramatic lord.
The club door opens suddenly and two people see each other chatting.
.- Hahaha, so I answered that to the professor, and he stared at me with a poem face! Hahaha...
The other boy who accompanied him only showed a small mocking laugh at the other boy’s comment.
.- Oh, but they are Kazuo and Ryo!
.- What’s up, Hisashi, Satoru.
The other two members of my band, Hisashi, the drummer and Satoru, the bassist, came through the door.
Hishashi is a boy a little taller than me, short black hair, challenging black eyes and bad boy personality, but deep down he is someone very good.
On the other hand, Satoru, of my same stature, medium long dark blue hair, dull dark blue eyes and a somewhat dark personality, is quiet and does not have many friends, but is very good bassist.
.- Hey, Kazuo. Who is the girl? ... Hisashi says.
.- Hisashi, treat her gently. She is Akane, she was transferred from Nishita.
Hisashi was surprised to hear that, he calmed down a bit and introduced himself properly.
.- Hi, I’m Hisashi. Drummer of the Kazuo band. A pleasure.
.- N-nice to say ...
Akane says a little scared and taking shelter behind me.
.- Introduce yourself, Satoru.
.- I am Satoru. Bassist of the band. A pleasure.
.- N-nice to meet you ... Akane says a little calmer. }
.- Well, guys, let’s start with today’s essay.
I looked for my guitar and took it out of the case, Ryo did the same, Hishashi looked for a pair of drumsticks in a box and Satoru took out his bass.
We connect the instruments and start with the practice, Akane just saw and heard the essay. Once the rehearsal is over, we store our instruments again and leave the club sighing. Akane followed me to the exit. I said goodbye to the boys and left school with Akane behind me.
.- Akane, sorry for making you stay so late. I really ...
.- N-don’t worry... I...
.- What?
.- I liked your essay!
Akane exclaimed, and ran away. I was surprised by Akane’s reaction, but I didn’t give it much importance either, I knew it was normal for her to have a hard time saying something like that. It is a big step for her.
I started walking back home with my backpack and my guitar. Everything was normal, until I noticed the presence of another person stalking me from the shadows. I looked everywhere very alert in the area.
I noticed a shadow running behind me, but when I turned around there was no one ... My restlessness was only increasing, I thought it was someone who wanted my guitar. After all it is a fairly expensive model.
I wouldn’t be surprised if someone wanted to take it away from me. I turned again and there it was, the hooded person I had seen before on the outskirts of the school.
.- You ... What do you want from me!
The person raised their arms, conjuring some kind of spell and creating a current of air in the area. I noticed that a magic circle was beginning to be created with engravings of a strange language and runes beneath me.
I tried to escape but could not, it was a kind of prison in which I had been trapped. At that moment another person comes out the same at the other end, also conjuring some strange spell.
The circle below me began to fragment and create a hole, but that hole was not common, it looked like an interdimensional portal. That thing was swallowing me, I screamed as the ground absorbed me completely.
Before entering that portal I saw a person perching behind one of the hooded, I focused on that person and ... What a surprise! ... It was Akane ... One of the hooded men said Akane a few words, from the little I could hear, it was a woman who spoke to him:
.- Are you sure of the boy, Miss Nyaroth?
.- Yes.
Akane stared at me without doing anything, and before the portal closed, I heard her say:
.- You’ll be fine, don’t worry ...
...
