Chapter 1: Nothing is Normal

I am Kaito Hayashi, or at least I think so. Just an orphaned student, leading a life so ordinary it could blend into a catalog of average existences. I indulge in earthly pleasures, like immersing myself in the pages of a good book or getting lost in the universe of video games.

But hey, I don't want to monopolize the conversation just talking about myself. There's something that has always lingered in my mind, and I would like to know what you think. What do you believe is the greatest power in the world? Violence? Love? Or perhaps friendship? I have my own theory.

And here's the question I throw at you: Have you ever considered that the greatest power of all is the truth? Yes, that thing that sometimes hurts more than a blow to the ego or a heartbreak. The truth, that intangible entity that sneaks into our lives and challenges us to confront our own miseries.

The truth is like an unstoppable hurricane, capable of breaking you into pieces and changing you completely. It can trigger anger, yes, but who can blame it? Sometimes it's like the friend who tells you that you have spinach in your teeth when no one else dares to say it. You can't help but feel annoyed, but at the end of the day, you know it's true.

The interesting thing is that, to the misfortune of all of us, no one can handle the truth. Can you see it? Can you fight to create your own version of the truth? Yes, some can do it, but at the end of the day, there is only one truth, looming over all of us.

It's like trying to grasp water with your hands; it always slips through your fingers. Some seek it as if it were the Holy Grail, others try to ignore it, but in the end, the truth always makes its triumphant entrance, without warning.

So here we are, trying to understand a concept as elusive as the truth, knowing that even if we want to tame it, in the end, we are puppets in its hands. But well, life would be total boredom without a bit of mystery, don't you think?

"Hayashi, are you paying attention?"

Here I am again, as if my very existence were a nuisance to her. It seems that my presence has become a kind of paradox of bad luck that will haunt me to the end of my days. Sometimes I wonder if I did something in my past life to deserve this. I just wanted to enjoy a few more moments looking out the window.

"If you don't start paying attention right now... But you'll miss something incredible."

"And what would that be?"

"I knew it, you were listening."

So it was a lie. I should stop teaching her to play poker; she's starting to scare me. Reluctantly, I turned to look at her with a face that expressed mild annoyance.

A girl with blonde hair and sharp eyes of beautiful blue looked at me slightly amused. Her name is Rei Himura, a classmate and probably the only person I could consider a friend... or so I think.

"I just wanted to tell you that Mom told me to ask if you wanted to come over for dinner with us after school."

An enticing proposition, especially considering the quality of the food, which is usually just average. But do I really deserve that pleasure?

"Why such a strange expression? If you don't want to, just say so, but... be prepared for the consequences."

Sighing, I could only come up with one response.

"It will be a pleasure, but I have something to do before I go."

Immediately after, her face changed to one that I could only describe as innocent happiness, and she nodded as she got up and ran.

"Try to get there before 8!"

"Sure, sure."

I wish I could understand her excitement about a simple dinner, but she has always been like that. Every time I isolated myself, she came to try to include me in one way or another. All without any need, after all, she was always the most famous and beloved queen of the school.

I always thought it was a need for total control; after all, if everyone worships you, you're always going to seek out the one who doesn't.

---

**1 Friday\, March 24 8:38 AM**

I could visualize it clearly; I was mentally prepared for the next three hours of a lecture from Himura. Although, if someone were to ask me later, I wouldn't regret my choices.

The clock marked my lateness, but in return, my pockets were filled with jingling coins. Being an orphan with no glorious lineage and rather limited academic skills, extra money was always welcome. Life hasn't been kind to me, and though I'd like to boast about being a poker prodigy thanks to an extraordinary photographic memory, it would be a fallacy.

The reality was much less glamorous. I resorted to cheating, I always have. That has been my survival tactic since time immemorial. An ethical way to live? No, certainly not. But it was the only one I had.

I rang the doorbell of the house and waited a few seconds. Maybe the doorbell isn't working? After all, if I had to use one word to describe that family, it would be clumsy.

I knocked on the door with my knuckles, but the moment my hand made contact, the door swung open.

"Are they idiots?!"

This is the last straw. I understand that Japan has one of the lowest crime rates, but I think leaving the door open is too much.

I pressed the doorbell with some impatience, waiting in the entrance of the house for a few seconds. Maybe the doorbell was out of service? It could be, after all, if I had to describe that family with one word, it would be "clumsy."

I decided to try my luck by knocking on the door with my knuckles, but the moment my hand made contact, the door swung wide open.

"Are they really so absent-minded?"

This is the limit. I understand that Japan boasts one of the lowest crime rates, but leaving the door open seems excessive even for this tranquil society. How can someone be so careless? My mind keeps spinning with this strange situation as I enter the house.

I entered the house and found the dining room perfectly arranged, as if ready for a normal family gathering.

"Hey, is anyone here?!"

The strange feeling in the air intensifies. My steps are cautious as I head toward the living room. As I pass through the entrance, I encounter a sight that will be etched in my memory forever. The bodies of Rei and her mother sitting on the couch as usual but both with a perfect circle in the center of their chests.

A scream gets stuck in my throat, my heart beating in a frenzy at the horrific scene. What the hell happened here? My eyes scan the room, searching for an explanation, but all I find is the ominous silence that fills the house.

"It can't be... it can't be real..."

My steps retreat aimlessly, and before I can realize it, I'm running towards Rei's body. Anguish envelops me, and a lump in my throat makes it difficult to breathe. As I reach her side, I fall to my knees, embracing her lifeless form.

"Rei! Please wake

up! This can't be happening..."

My hands tremble as I stroke my friend's inert face. Guilt wraps around me like a dark shadow. Could I have done something to prevent this? Was I somehow responsible?

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Rei. I shouldn't have let this happen..."

My words blend with sobs, and my mind becomes a whirlwind of self-reproach. The feeling of loss and desperation engulfs me, and pain settles in my chest like a sharp dagger.

"This is my fault... everything is my fault..."

"Damn it... please, any god, demon, or entity out there, make this not real!" I whisper through sobs as I cling to Rei's lifeless body. My eyes fill with tears as I continue to hold onto hope, even if it's a delusional hope.

I pray to every imaginable deity, asking for a miraculous intervention. My mind plunges into a state of despair, as if my pleas could open a rift in reality and reverse this horror.

The silence of the house becomes an echo of my desperate pleas. "Bring me back... let me fix all of this. I can't bear this; I can't accept that Rei is gone."

My words intertwine with sobs, and my voice breaks into a heartbreaking lament. The room seems to resonate with my pain, but no divine force responds to my desperate call.

"Please, I can't do this alone! I need everything to go back to normal, for Rei to be alive again. I don't know what I did to deserve this, but I'm willing to change anything."

I tightly close my eyes, an futile attempt to contain the tears falling mercilessly. Blood stains my surroundings, creating a chaotic tableau that seems like a cruel joke of fate. It's almost ironic how the smell of iron is now overwhelming, a mix of desperation and sorrow.

I extend my trembling hand to caress her face, but instead of the cold texture of death, I feel something soft, something incredibly familiar, yet distant at the same time.

My eyes open, and the first thing I see is a completely different image. The terrifying scene from a few seconds ago has vanished, replaced by my own room. I jolt upright, my heart pounding, and rush to grab my phone, hoping that everything was just a twisted dream.

"Today... today is March 24th?" I murmur, trying to grasp onto reality.

A hearty laugh escapes my lips as I wipe away tears of relief. It was all a dream! My emotions oscillate between disbelief and euphoria. A sigh of relief escapes my chest, and I am engulfed in a sense of bliss. The nightmare is over, and I'm back in my own reality.

Although the blood and despair still linger in my memory, the familiar room around me welcomes me. A smile forms on my face as I immerse myself in the feeling of being safe. How can a dream change my perspective so much in just a few moments? But it doesn't matter; today is March 24th, and I am grateful for every moment of this reality, no matter how ordinary.

---

**2**

I arrived at school a bit earlier than usual; I usually manage to get in a few seconds before the teacher. However, this time, my motivation was different. I just wanted to see her face, to observe her arrival.

I settled into my seat, my head resting on my hand as usual, pretending to look absentmindedly out the window. My attention, however, was entirely focused on the classroom door, awaiting her arrival.

I barely noticed someone sitting beside me; I lifted my gaze, and with a calm voice, remarked, "You almost arrived late, Himura."

A few seconds of silence passed, and my gaze landed on the newcomer. However, her response completely bewildered me.

"Who is Himura?"

I turned to her, perplexed, and found a brown-haired girl occupying Rei's seat.

"This seat belongs to Rei; get out now," I declared with a stern and unwavering voice, unleashing a deathly silence in the classroom.

Suddenly, everyone's gaze turned towards me, and the girl in Rei's seat looked at me with confusion.

"Hey, what the hell is wrong with you, Kaito?"

Why is everyone looking at me like this? A stranger sits in Rei's place, and the world pretends like nothing happened.

"I'll ask once, who are you?"

The girl's face went from surprised to utterly hurt, with slight tears in her eyes as she stood up and ran out, nearly pushing the teacher who had just entered.

Who the hell is this girl? The question echoes in my mind as silence persists in the classroom, and uncertainty takes hold of me before I can reflect on the strange situation.

Before I can reflect on the strange situation, I feel myself being roughly lifted by the shirt. I protest vehemently, but my voice is muffled when I receive a sharp blow to the jaw, knocking me to the ground. As I raise my gaze, I glimpse Ken Tamura, the classmate who sits in front of me, staring at me with palpable fury.

An unsettling murmur takes over the classroom as everyone watches the scene with surprise and confusion. My hand instinctively goes to my jaw, feeling the throbbing pain.

Without hesitation, I look up at Ken and, despite the pain, angrily say, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Ken glares at me, and without saying a word, he lifts me from the ground again, defiant. The curious gazes of the rest of the class intensify, as if they were waiting to see how this unexpected confrontation unfolds, but the teacher quickly steps between the two of us. Before he can speak, I decide to interrupt him.

"What the hell is wrong with all of you! A stranger sits in Rei's place, and everyone pretends like nothing is happening," I exclaim with frustration, my voice echoing in the room.

Ken passes by the teacher, completely ignoring him as he grabs me again by the shirt. His face reflects a mix of anger and confusion.

"WHO THE HELL IS REI?!" Ken shouts, while I try to seek the teacher's intervention. However, he looks at me with the same confusion as the rest of the class.

I push Ken away as I escape from the class, ignoring the shouts behind me. I need to know; I need to make sure everything is okay.

I grab my phone, desperate for answers. I search for her number, but I find Kyoko Sasaki's name instead of Rei. I dial her number, hoping it's some error on my phone, but the moment she answers, I hear a furious voice on the other end.

"I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but you can't treat me like that in front of everyone and call me a minute later, go to hell!"

The call is abruptly cut off, leaving me with a mind full of confusions and a heart beating uncontrollably. So I launch myself in search of my last hope, running as fast as I can towards her house, each step weighing heavier than the previous one.

I've always prided myself on being a person attached to logic, so this has to be some elaborate prank, or maybe a case of mass amnesia? A dream within a dream? Uncertainty envelops me as I turn a corner, but inexplicably, everything starts to feel strange. What is happening?

The sky remains blue, the houses are the same, the ground is unchanged, tree leaves fall in a normal manner, some dogs bark, everything seems normal. I look around slowly, and just as I turn around, I see something that doesn't fit into normalcy: some kind of giant lizard, at least 20 meters tall, with enormous teeth inches away from my face.

A shiver runs down my spine, my mind struggling to understand the inexplicable. Is this real, or am I losing my mind? The absurd events happening around me defy any known logic.

In this moment of despair, I see myself as a pathetic being, wondering if everyone was right after all. They say that when you're about to die, your life flashes before your eyes, but I see nothing. Is my life so insignificant that it doesn't even deserve a last glance?

In the last millisecond before the inevitable, something pushes me backward. The world around me blurs into a chaotic haze, and my body

seems to move on its own.

"Hehe, looks like I arrived just in time," I hear a calm voice breaking the silence of chaos. I open my eyes to find myself several meters away from imminent danger. Before my astonished eyes, a man holds the monster's mouth with astonishing ease.

With inhuman speed, in less than a blink, the man tears the monster apart from the inside out. Blood splatters like a scarlet rain, covering everything around.

Is this hell?

The man walks calmly to stand in front of me, his hair completely white and without a single speck of blood. Eyes as red as blood look at me with slight amusement. "Surprised, aren't you?" he asks with a smile.

My pupils dilate at the mysterious figure, and I'm about to scream, but before I can express my horror, the man places his finger on my chest. In that instant, everything turns black, as if I'm plunging into an endless abyss. The world disappears around me, and the sensation of free fall takes over me.

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