Chapter 2: The Shape of the World

Typically, when a person faints, they cease to be aware of everything and simply wake up. But this was different; I don't know how long I've been here, nor how long I'll stay.

Absolute darkness, no sensation except memories passing through my mind. After everything I've been through, should I be surprised? Or has my normality mutated to the point of no longer being normal?

Regardless, what's the point of this?

But as long as I can save her, nothing else matters.

The void around me feels eternal, as if time itself has ceased to exist. I am immersed in darkness, a space where reality fades away, and thoughts flow freely.

It's strange, thinking about how much my perception of normal has changed. Before, losing consciousness was just a blink between states of wakefulness and sleep, but now, here, in this endless blackness, the very notion of time blurs.

I recall scattered moments, fragments of my life floating in the void. Is this some kind of purgatory, or simply a pause in my existence? Uncertainty looms over me, but there is no fear, only a strange acceptance of the unknown.

After all, what is normalcy when you find yourself in a place where the rules of reality seem to fade away?

But amid this existential confusion, an unbreakable certainty emerges: as long as I can save her, nothing else matters. The idea of her, rescuing her from some undefined threat, clings to my mind like a beacon in the darkness.

At some point in my internal debate, I felt something different. Am I sliding?

The sensation persists for seconds and abruptly vanishes, leaving a strange melancholy, sad and painful, compelling me to move.

I always wonder why someone like Rei approached me.

But no one can isolate themselves forever. At some point, defenses break down.

The darkness around me seems to come alive, transforming into a gentle current that pulls me forward. It's a fleeting sensation, but it leaves a trail of melancholy in its wake. I find myself moving effortlessly, floating in this indeterminate space where time and space seem to merge into one.

This strange experience prompts deep reflection in me. What does this sliding into the abyss of nothingness mean? Is it a fragment of my consciousness lost in the ether, or simply a whim of fate?

In the midst of this formless dance, my mind returns to Rei, as if drawn by an invisible magnet. Why her, among all beings in the universe, approached someone like me? A question that has lingered in my mind since the moment our paths intertwined.

The melancholy persists, and with each moment, it intensifies. It is sadness and pain intertwined, like a melody resonating in the deepest corners of my being. And suddenly, the need to move becomes imperative.

The defenses I carefully built, the walls I erected to protect myself from emotional connections, begin to crack. Loneliness, that old companion, seems to lose its grip, and the reality that no one can isolate themselves forever hangs over me like an inevitable truth.

In this sliding between dimensions, my heart beats with a mixture of fear and anticipation. What will this fleeting journey reveal, and how will it change my perspective on reality and relationships? Uncertainty blends with melancholy, and as I slide into the unknown, one thing becomes clear: something in me is changing, and there is no turning back.

She and Mrs. Himura always had something special and different.

They were the only ones who treated me like a human until I cleared my name.

Which is ironic because now it's stained again.

When I was little, around 6 years old, I was alone, always alone at home, at school. Not the quiet loneliness, but the loneliness of pure isolation.

There came a point where I got used to it. I can't be blamed; after all, I was born an orphan. At the age of 4, a seemingly normal man adopted me and taught me the most important thing in the world: survive at any cost and that there is no honor in death.

One night I had to "take care" of him permanently. I don't regret that.

The only thing that matters is what matters to me.

She, Rei, and Mrs. Himura were the only ones who saw beyond the shadows of my past. Despite my actions, despite the stain that now re-emerges, they saw me as a human being. Irony of fate? Perhaps.

Mrs. Himura, with her warm smile and unwavering understanding, was like a mother to me. Rei, with her genuine friendship, illuminated the dark corners of my solitary existence. But now, the veil of the stain covers me again, as a reminder that redemption is fleeting.

Loneliness, that old playmate, returns with force. But this time, I am not willing to let it envelop me. No matter how many times the past tries to reclaim me because the only thing that matters is what matters to me.

After all, I am selfish.

1

White. Isn't it ironic that the first thing a patient sees when waking up is the ceiling? A pure white contrasting with the black abyss of unconsciousness.

The feeling of waking up in an unfamiliar room mixes with the strong scent of disinfectant and the overwhelming headache. I take a moment to assimilate my surroundings as I slowly settle into the bed, my gaze heavy and blurry.

Turning my head to the side, I am met directly with green eyes, unrecognizable but strangely familiar.

"Hey, looks like you woke up."

I immediately recognize the voice. It's the man who saved me before, but something has changed: his eyes are no longer the unmistakable blood-red color.

I try to speak, but my brain feels strange, as if it's vibrating in recognition of someone superior.

"Scared? Relax, if I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already."

Now it seems obvious. I open my mouth, but close it again realizing I don't know what to say.

"You probably have many questions, but first... my name is Akiyama Nobuyuki, and I'm a magician."

"Magician." The word resonates in my head. I don't see it, but my gaze changes, maintaining an innocent hope that everything will return to normal.

Unconsciously, I grab my head with my hands. I can feel it throughout my body; I am scared. My body trembles, and my mind twists, but I gather strength to slowly raise my gaze and ask.

"W-what... what is all this happening?"

He looks at me with slight pity, quickly overshadowed by a thinly veiled amusement. He stands up with his back to me.

"Listen carefully, and don't interrupt me," he pauses for dramatic effect. "A small percentage of the planet has a curse within them. Luckily, it can only be activated if strong feelings are present, so to speak, hehe."

The word "curse" echoed in my mind like a somber echo. My eyes widened in disbelief, trying to process the weight of meaning it carried. Everything that happened, from the dark discovery at Rei's house to waking up in this strange place, boiled down to a single word: "curse." And somehow, it was linked to me.

Unconsciously, my hands pressed against my head, as if I could contain the tide of tumult

uous thoughts threatening to overwhelm me. My mind struggled to comprehend the magnitude of what Akiyama had just revealed.

The magician, Akiyama Nobuyuki, stood before me, observing my reaction with a mix of understanding and amusement. I could perceive a spark of pity in his gaze, as if he were aware of the burden he had just placed on my shoulders.

"Listen carefully and don't interrupt me," he insisted, taking a dramatic pause before continuing. "A small percentage of the planet has a curse within them. Luckily, it can only be activated if strong feelings are present, so to speak, hehe."

I swallowed, assimilating the information. Strong feelings... I recalled the scene of horror at Rei's house, my heart beating strongly as desperation and sadness intertwined in a whirlwind of uncontrollable emotions.

"In most cases, your curse corrupts you and transforms you into a Kaibutsu, something similar to what you saw outside," Akiyama continued, his words resonating in the air like an irrevocable sentence.

Curse? The word echoed in my mind like an ominous echo. Everything that had happened, the witnessed horrors, the loss of innocent lives, all seemed to point to an uncomfortable truth. A truth that, though difficult to accept, I couldn't ignore.

A wave of guilt engulfed me. Were my actions, my emotions, the catalyst for this tragedy? Had I inadvertently unleashed a dark force that now manifested in terrifying forms?

"Was all this really my fault?" I murmured, letting the question hang in the air, as if hoping Akiyama could offer some form of comfort or explanation. However, in the silence that followed, the truth settled heavily on my conscience.

"Your fault? What do you mean? No one got hurt, as far as I know."

Again, the world denying its existence, the only existence that mattered in my life. The tears on my face stopped as I lifted my gaze, utterly broken, and said, "I went to my best friend's house... She was dead... I screamed and cried... Then I woke up on the same day in the past, and they... they no longer... exist."

Akiyama's face became more serious, though still maintaining a hint of amusement. "That's strange... I've never heard of a temporary curse... but I guess it's possible."

My thoughts swirled in a whirlwind of confusion. A temporary curse, was that possible? The very notion challenged the laws of reality I believed I knew. I felt trapped in a nightmare, where the rules of time and existence twisted and deformed according to the whimsical rules of some unknown force.

"Akiyama, I need answers. Why me? Why this curse? How can I stop it?" I asked, my voice trembling with urgency and desperation. At that moment, my only anchor in this chaos was this man who called himself a magician.

Akiyama took a moment before responding, as if carefully weighing his words. "Good questions, but I can only answer the last one. It can't be stopped. You've crossed into the world of curses, and now, forever, you'll be a target for the Kaibutsu."

"Kaibutsu?" I repeated, the term resonating in my ears like a mysterious word. "What are they?"

He sighed, as if carrying the weight of the truth was an immense burden. "Kaibutsu are manifestations of curses in their physical form when they surpass their host, corrupting them. They are dark and twisted beings that seek to consume the energy of those cursed. They are predators, and now you are one of their prey."

The revelation hit me like a punch to the stomach. Being pursued by supernatural monsters, being part of a world where curses were real and deadly, was a truth hard to digest. But, despite the brutality of reality, one question persisted in my mind.

"Why me? Why was I dragged into all of this?"

Akiyama approached and sat on the edge of the bed. "That's a complicated question, and often, there are no clear answers. Sometimes, curses choose their carriers capriciously. It could be your nature, your past experiences, or even unknown factors. But now you're in the midst of this, and you must learn to survive."

"Learn to survive? How?" I asked, feeling desperation taking over me.

Akiyama smiled, but it wasn't a comforting gesture. "You're going to learn to become stronger. To control and use curses to your advantage. I'll take you to a place where you can train and learn to defend yourself."

"A place..." my thoughts spinning in an attempt to comprehend.

"That's right, one of the shelters for those touched by the supernatural world. You'll study, train, and learn to face the Kaibutsu. There's no guarantee it'll be easy, but it's your best chance to survive."

Although the idea of a magic school sounded unreal, even in this supernatural context, I didn't have many options. I nodded, accepting the reality presented to me.

"So, Kaito Hayashi, I appoint you as a new 1st year at the Magic and Curses School of Osaka."

2

Akiyama left the hospital room, making sure to inform Kaito that he would be back in the morning. Beside the door stood a man around 45 years old. His face was marked by lines of wisdom and experience, a perfectly trimmed beard that couldn't hide the toughness of his decisions over the years.

This individual, with a mix of authority and "fake" kindness in his expression, patiently waited until Akiyama was in front of him to ask a direct question:

"Well? What do you think about him, Nobuyuki-San?"

Akiyama's gaze turned analytical as he considered the question. "He's just a kid, but his ability is dangerous, perhaps the most dangerous I've come across. We must keep him under control, but if he improves, he could become one of the standout magicians."

The man nodded, but his tone became more serious. "Be careful. We still don't know the conditions of his Curse. If you find anything that could pose a threat to the Magician's Association, don't hesitate to eliminate it."

Akiyama, with an indifferent attitude, shrugged. "Relax," he said as he headed towards the exit. However, he stopped before fully leaving. "Oh, I almost forgot." In a fraction of a second, he appeared next to the old man, with a hand near his throat. "If you ever give me an order again... I'll kill you."

The old man, whose name resonated in the Magician's Association as a man of considerable influence, showed signs of surprise and fear in his eyes. Beads of sweat on his face evidenced the tension in the air.

"You wouldn't dare..."

"Try me... This is the last warning. I don't want the Council of Elders meddling in my affairs," Akiyama declared with a coldness that seemed to chill the surrounding air. Without adding more words, he disappeared from the scene with impressive speed, leaving the old man alone with his thoughts and a shiver running down his spine.

The hospital door closed with a subtle whisper, leaving the old man immersed in an unsettling silence.

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