The mansion’s doors open with a deep groan.
Uta enters first.
Naoko hanging from his shoulder like a sagging sack of rice.
Mouth open.
Snoring.
Tadaaki comes in behind, dragging his feet.
— …We should’ve stayed the night at the restaurant…
— Two and a half hours walking is labor abuse, especially at this hour.
He looks up.
Freezes.
Uta’s mansion rises in front of him.
Giant.
Dark.
Elegant.
Too much for someone like Uta.
— …Wow.
Uta smiles sideways.
Then stops.
Without turning around.
— Come out.
Silence.
The shadows of the foyer shift.
A figure separates from the darkness.
Kuro.
Lazy smile.
Alert eyes.
He looks at Tadaaki.
Looks at Naoko.
— Where’s Chikari the Renegade?
Tadaaki frowns.
— The renegade?
Uta answers calmly.
— He’s not coming.
— He sent his pups.
He points at the boys with his chin.
Kuro lets out a nasal laugh.
— Great.
— When Shizuka sees the illegal daycare we’re setting up, she’ll execute us.
Uta lets out a short laugh.
— Oops, sorry.
He turns.
— Tadaaki, this is Kuro.
— Kuro, these are the future headaches.
Tadaaki feels something.
Street instinct.
Danger.
He offers his hand anyway.
Kuro shakes it.
Smiles.
— I like your scar.
Tadaaki doesn’t know if that’s a compliment or a threat.
— …Thanks. I think.
Uta places Naoko into Kuro’s arms.
— He ran out of battery.
He looks at Kuro.
Yawns exaggeratedly.
— Get some rest.
— I’ll take watch.
He scratches the back of his neck.
— Tomorrow you have to ruin some people’s day.
Tadaaki studies him.
That guy acts like an idiot.
But nothing escapes him.
Kuro nods.
— Alright, boss Uta. Come with me, scar kid.
The mansion hallway is long.
Too clean.
Too quiet.
The warm lights don’t manage to erase the feeling that the place was made for someone who lives more in their head than in the world.
Kuro walks ahead, Naoko slung over his shoulder like he weighs the same as a jacket.
He doesn’t even try.
— You normal humans will sleep here —he says, pointing at a door—.
He opens the room.
Big bed.
Clean sheets.
Huge window overlooking the nighttime forest.
Tadaaki enters slowly.
Observing.
Kuro sets Naoko on the bed. The boy doesn’t move.
Just mutters something incomprehensible.
Kuro turns to Tadaaki, still wearing that easy smile.
— Rest.
— Tomorrow do whatever you want in the mansion…
Pause.
He points his thumb back.
— Except touch my alcohol.
He smiles wider.
But his eyes don’t change.
— Or I’ll kill you.
Silence.
Tadaaki goes rigid for a second.
Instinct.
Real danger.
Then Kuro blinks, the light expression returns.
— Just kidding.
He turns halfway around.
— More or less.
He leaves, closing the door softly.
Tadaaki stands in the middle of the room.
Listens.
Footsteps fading away.
Silence again.
He looks at the bed.
The sheets.
The window.
The high ceiling.
He sits.
Lies down.
The mattress sinks gently.
Too comfortable.
He looks at Naoko, mouth open, snoring like he’s on some random rooftop.
A small smile escapes him.
— When you wake up… you’re going to freak out, monkey…
He closes his eyes.
— TADAAAKI.
— TADAAAAAKI.
— TADAAAAAA—
VIOLENT SHAKING.
Tadaaki opens one eye.
Blurry vision.
The world shakes.
— …Are we dying…?
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Naoko is on top of him, gripping his shoulders, eyes shining like he’s discovered a treasure.
— WE HAVE REAL BEDS!!
He starts jumping.
On the bed.
On HIS bed.
The mattress bounces.
Tadaaki bounces.
His soul leaves his body for a second.
— LOOK HOW IT GOES BOING!!
BOING.
— …I’m going to throw up…
Naoko throws himself onto the floor, rolls, jumps up.
— LET’S GO LET’S GO LET’S GO!
— IT SMELLS GOOD IN HERE!
He inhales the air dramatically.
— ?? animal mode activated
He shoots out the door barefoot.
Mansion hallway.
Naoko runs like it’s his first day on the planet.
— TADAAAKI LOOK AT THIS!
He stops in front of an elegant lamp.
Stares at it.
— Why does a light need jewelry?
Keeps running.
Touches the walls.
The paintings.
A table.
A vase.
— EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE!
— DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!
— I’M TOUCHING EVERYTHING!
Further ahead…
He slams to a stop.
Nose in the air.
Sniffs.
Slowly turns his head.
— Kitchen…
He starts moving crouched, stealthy.
Like a predator.
But with zero dignity.
Behind him, Tadaaki exits the room.
Messy hair.
Dead face.
Twisted T-shirt.
He drags his feet.
— I don’t know where I am…
— I don’t know who I am…
— If this is heaven, it’s very loud…
He passes a mirror.
Looks at himself.
— …Oh. Still alive. What a disappointment.
He turns the corner.
Sees Naoko plastered to the wall, advancing like an incompetent spy.
— What are you doing…?
— SHHH.
— Food can hear us.
Tadaaki turns around.
Considers going back to bed.
Sighs.
And follows him.
Because, clearly…
…this idiot is going to get into trouble in less than five minutes.
Naoko arrives first.
Stops dead.
Eyes wide.
Shining.
On the table…
Pancakes.
Tall.
Fluffy.
With butter melting.
Silence.
Instinct.
He crouches.
Back arched.
Fingers like claws.
— …visual target confirmed…
Tadaaki, behind him, still half-dead:
— Don’t do anything stupid…
Naoko vanishes.
FWOOSH!
He leaps onto the table like a wild animal.
— AAAAA FOOD!!
—
WHOOSH!
A spoon flies spinning like a projectile.
Naoko sees it too late.
Tilts his head on pure reflex.
The spoon grazes his hair.
Sticks into the wall.
Silence.
—
— WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY BREAKFAST, DAMN ANIMAL?!
Ryōna appears from the kitchen with the ladle raised like a legendary weapon.
Crooked apron.
Flour on her face.
Eyes blazing.
Naoko raises his hands.
— SORRY SORRY I THOUGHT THEY WERE WILD!
Tadaaki sighs.
Bonks him on the head.
TOC.
— We’re guests. Behave like a human.
He gives a slight bow.
— Tadaaki. Thank you for having us.
Ryōna blinks.
Processing.
Then smiles huge.
— AH! THEY TALK! THEY’RE POLITE!
— I THOUGHT UTA HAD ADOPTED WOLVES!
She ducks behind the counter.
Noise is heard.
Struggling.
— Stay still! It’s not dangerous! I think!
She comes out lifting Hayate by the hood like a wet cat.
— This is Hayate and I’m Ryōna!
Hayate waves with one hand.
— Hi.
He scratches his neck nervously.
Behind Tadaaki.
A soft voice.
Polite.
Too calm.
— Well, well…
Tadaaki tenses.
Naoko too.
— So you’re the new recruits.
Akihiro is there.
Smiling.
But his eyes have already analyzed them head to toe.
— The impulsive little one… —he looks at Naoko—
— And the one pretending to be tired… —he looks at Tadaaki—
He smiles more.
— Interesting.
Naoko whispers:
— …weird guy, huh?
Tadaaki nods very slightly.
Akihiro hears it.
— Don’t worry.
— I only judge silently.
Pause.
— Well, not always silently.
He looks at them with slight superiority.
Ryōna wedges herself between them, pushing plates.
— ENOUGH WITH THE WEIRD STARES!
— DO YOU WANT BREAKFAST OR DO YOU WANT TO STARVE TO DEATH?!
Naoko raises his hands like he’s being held at gunpoint.
— YEEEEES!!
He sits without permission.
Tadaaki does too.
Hayate sighs.
Akihiro smiles, observing.
Ryōna starts serving pancakes like she’s feeding an army.
The table fills.
Pancakes.
Meat.
Bread.
Sauces.
Jugs.
Naoko is already on his third plate.
Eating hunched over the food like someone might steal it.
Tadaaki, more formal, wipes his mouth.
— I’m Tadaaki.
— Thank you for having us.
Naoko raises a hand with his mouth full.
— Nao.
Keeps eating.
Akihiro smiles with perfect politeness.
— Akihiro.
Brief silence.
Observation.
— Something intrigues me… —he says, resting his chin on his hand—
— Why did Uta recruit you?
Naoko keeps eating.
Doesn’t even look at him.
Ignores the question like it doesn’t exist.
Tadaaki answers.
— We’re disciples of Chiaki-san.
Akihiro raises an eyebrow.
— Chiaki… former leader of the Decimus.
— I see.
Hayate looks at Ryōna.
— Do you always have breakfast with tension, or only on Tuesdays?
Ryōna nods seriously.
— Tuesdays are lighter.
Tadaaki continues.
— We’ve been training for two years to fight.
Akihiro interlaces his fingers.
— And can you use magical abilities… or Reikon?
Naoko looks up for the first time.
— Rei… what?
Tadaaki frowns.
— What’s that?
Akihiro closes his eyes.
Breathes.
— I’m surrounded by useless people…
He leans forward.
— Fine. Explanation for idiots.
Ryōna whispers to Hayate:
— This is going to be boring.
—
Akihiro begins, counting on his fingers.
— Some humans are born with magical abilities.
— There are four base types.
He raises one finger.
— Human Magic.
Physical enhancement. Body pushed to the limit.
Second finger.
— Animal Magic.
You bind your soul to an animal soul.
Third.
— Elemental Magic.
Control of elements.
Fourth.
— Hybrid Magic.
Animal + element.
Rare.
Dangerous.
Naoko chews more slowly.
Tadaaki listens intently.
Akihiro continues.
— Then there are Cursed Weapons.
— Objects with special abilities.
Tadaaki murmurs:
— …the scythes.
Akihiro continues.
Pause.
His gaze changes.
More serious.
— But all of that is nothing without Reikon.
He taps the table softly.
— Reikon is the fuel.
— What boosts magic.
— What boosts the body.
— What turns talent… into monsters.
He leans in.
Low voice.
— It’s the awakening of the soul.
Naoko goes still.
That phrase hits him inside.
Awakening.
Soul.
—
Tadaaki looks at Akihiro.
— Then you are…
Akihiro smiles.
Raises his hand.
A dagger appears.
Formed of pure pink energy.
It doesn’t shine.
It pulses.
Like it’s breathing.
Silence at the table.
Narrator
Elemental Magic — Genso-Hō
Element: Magic
(Zokusei: Mahō)
Controls magic itself.
Akihiro spins the dagger between his fingers.
Naoko swallows.
— …that’s cheating.
Tadaaki doesn’t look away.
— So magic really does rule…
Akihiro makes the dagger vanish.
— It rules the world you can’t see.
Tadaaki glances at Naoko.
— Well… Naoko also has magic.
— He’s just a talentless idiot.
Silence.
Naoko slowly turns his head.
— Hey.
Pause.
Then he sighs.
— …but it’s true.
— I’ve spent two years trying to use my radar thing.
Akihiro leans in, interested.
— What exactly does your “supposed magic” do?
Naoko gestures with food in hand.
— I get tired less.
— I run more.
— I’m stronger than others without training as much.
— And I have a weird radar that senses danger.
Akihiro nods.
— Human Magic.
— Passive physical enhancement.
He points to his chest.
— But without conscious control…
— you’re just a trouble detector.
Tadaaki lets out a short laugh.
— HA.
Naoko clenches his teeth.
Stands up abruptly.
— OH YEAH?!
— THEN LET’S FIGHT!
Ryōna chokes.
— DEATH BREAKFAST??
Hayate looks around, sweating.
— I’m surrounded by monsters…
— I just wanted breakfast…
Akihiro smiles sideways.
— Perfect.
— Nothing teaches faster than controlled humiliation.
Tadaaki stands too.
— You’re going to regret this.
Naoko is already pointing at Akihiro.
— You first, algae-face!
From the doorway, a familiar voice is heard.
— If you break anything, you’re training cleaning bathrooms for a month.
Uta.
Leaning against the wall.
With a poetry book in his hand.
Half-asleep look.
But smiling.
— Good morning, kids.
