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Chapter 11 - Chapter 10: Awakening in the Unknown

Ren couldn't remember when he had fallen asleep.

The inside of Aoi's backpack was warm and dark, making it a perfect place to rest after such an exhausting day. Even though he didn't have a human body, mental fatigue still affected him, so without realizing it, he drifted off.

But when he woke up…

He was no longer in Aoi's backpack.

The sensation was completely different. He no longer felt the gentle sway of Aoi's steps or the warmth of her back. Instead, he was lying on a cold wooden table, and the air smelled faintly of dust and old paper.

"Where... am I?"

He tried to move his small fabric arms, but he couldn't.

"Hmm… what a curious thing."

Ren felt a chill of unease.

A figure stood in front of him, observing him with a look of keen interest. It was a boy with messy black hair and sharp eyes, dressed in the uniform of Shirakuma Magic Academy.

"You don't seem like a cursed object," the boy murmured, turning Ren over gently in his hands. "But you're definitely not a normal puppet either…"

Ren tried to speak, but nothing came out.

"Why can't I move?"

The boy clicked his tongue.

"I guess you only talk when someone uses you."

He slipped his hand into Ren.

In that moment, Ren felt his consciousness snap back into place. His fabric arms and legs responded, and his mouth moved.

"Hey! Get your hand out of my guts before I scream!" he blurted out instinctively.

The boy raised an eyebrow, surprised—but instead of being scared, he smiled.

"So you can talk. Interesting."

Ren shuddered. There was something in the boy's expression he didn't like.

"Who are you, and where am I?" he asked, trying to sound firm.

The boy tilted his head.

"That's what I should be asking. But I suppose introductions are in order. My name's Kuro, second-year student at Shirakuma. And this…" he glanced around, "is the confiscated items storeroom."

Ren blinked. "Confiscated?"

Kuro nodded.

"Yeah. I saw a girl taking something out of Aoi's backpack after class. I confronted her, but instead of giving it back, she threw you down the hall. Before a teacher saw you and started asking questions, I picked you up and brought you here."

A chill ran down Ren's spine.

"Who was it? And why did she take me?"

"Then… why didn't you just give me back to Aoi?"

Kuro leaned his elbow on the table, smiling calmly.

"Because I was curious."

Ren got a bad feeling.

"It's not every day you see a talking puppet," Kuro went on. "Let alone one that can use magic in a duel."

"Crap, he saw the fight!"

Kuro watched his reaction with interest.

"Your silence says a lot."

Ren clicked his tongue.

"So what? You gonna report me or something?"

Kuro chuckled softly.

"No, not yet. But tell me… what exactly are you?"

Ren looked away.

"I can't tell him the truth. I don't even know how to explain it myself."

But before he could make something up, the storeroom door slammed open.

"Ren!"

Aoi came running in, breathing hard. When she saw Kuro holding Ren, she scowled.

"What do you think you're doing with my puppet?"

Kuro raised his hands in a gesture of peace.

"Just inspecting. No need to shout."

Aoi ignored him and quickly snatched Ren from his hands.

"I don't need some busybody touching my stuff."

Kuro shrugged and let her take him.

"Don't worry. I won't say anything."

Aoi narrowed her eyes.

"You better not."

Kuro smiled.

"Though, if I were you, I'd be more careful. Seems like more than one person's interested in your little talking puppet."

Aoi clenched her teeth but said nothing.

Without another word, she turned and left the storeroom with Ren in hand.

As they walked away, Ren whispered:

"Hey… I think that guy's gonna be trouble."

Aoi nodded, her expression tense.

"I know. By the way, what happened while you were gone? And who was the girl you were with?" she asked with a sharp, suspicious look.

Ren slowly turned his head in fear and muttered:

"Well…"

END OF CHAPTER 10

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