A heavy, velvet curtain of sleep slowly lifted, revealing Tetsu in a lavish, unfamiliar room.
The air smelled of aged wood and polished luxury. He lay on a vast, ornate bed, its silky sheets cool against his skin.
Every surface in the room, from the carved mahogany desk to the gilded mirror, displayed beautiful artifacts: delicate porcelain vases, sparkling crystal decanters, and framed, ancient maps. Soft sunlight streamed through tall, elegant windows.
Tetsu, dressed in a formal, well-fitted vest, sat on a plush sofa. On the coffee table before him, a bottle of expensive wine chilled in a bucket of ice, condensation dripping down the glass.
He looked older and more mature, a man of wealth and elegance.
Next to him sat a stunningly beautiful woman in a luxurious evening gown, her hair cascading in soft waves.
Tetsu held a single, perfect rose, inhaling its delicate scent before bringing it closer to the woman's nose.
"My princess," he murmured, his voice deeper, filled with newfound confidence.
"Do you know how many roses are in this room?"
The woman's lips curved into a soft smile.
"Only one, my love."
Tetsu chuckled, a low, charming sound.
"No, not one. There are two."
Confusion flickered in her eyes.
"Two? Then where is the other one?"
With his free hand, Tetsu gently cupped her chin, his gaze locked onto hers.
"Right here," he whispered, his eyes shining with adoration.
"In front of me."
The atmosphere thickened with unspoken desire. Their faces drew closer, eyes meeting, the world shrinking around them.
Their lips were inches apart, ready to meet...
Ding-dong!
The sharp chime of a doorbell shattered the romantic silence. Tetsu's eyes snapped open, a furious scowl marring his perfect features. He rose abruptly, frustration radiating from him, and strode to the door.
He began, yanking it open.
"Who is tha—"
Standing in the doorway was a familiar, horrifying figure. A worm-like body with dagger-like appendages, oozing sickly yellow fluid.
It was the Carcinovermis, but this time, it had Reiji's face, twisted into a grotesquely cheerful smile.
The lavish room, once bathed in romantic light, plunged into darkness.
The Reiji-Carcinovermis hybrid slithered into the house, its movements unnatural and disturbing.
Tetsu screamed.
He jolted upright in bed, a gasp escaping his throat.
His eyes darted around, recognizing the sleek, minimalist design of his room at the Darkside Destroyer base.
A... nightmare?
It had all been a dream. A nightmare.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell chimed again, echoing the phantom sound from his dream.
Tetsu yelled, "Who is that?!"
No reply.
He flopped back onto the bed, pulling the covers over his head. Go back to sleep.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang again, this time continuously, an annoying assault.
Tetsu's anger flared. He threw off the covers, scrambled out of bed, and stomped to the door.
He yanked it open, ready to unleash a torrent of rage.
"Are you trying to break my doorbell?!" he roared.
Standing outside, a wide grin on his face, was Reiji.
"Morning, Tetsu!" he chirped, completely unfazed.
Tetsu stumbled over his words, annoyance bubbling up.
He rubbed his eyes.
"What do you want?"
Reiji quickly answered, "Did you forget something important?"
"What?"
Tetsu fumbled
Reiji chuckled, then tossed something at him—Tetsu's old school backpack. It landed with a soft thud on his chest.
"It's Monday," Reiji replied simply, his grin unwavering.
Monday?
Tetsu could only stare.
Now, he was at his classroom desk, the familiar drone of a teacher's voice filling the air.
I can't believe it, he thought, resting his chin on his hand.
I'm still stuck with school even though I'm a Destroyer?
He sighed, the weight of his new reality settling heavily on him. He glanced around the classroom.
So many people are absent today.
A lot of desks were empty, the chairs pushed in, almost untouched.
He couldn't help but wonder, Is it because of Haruto and Mio's deaths?
The tragedy still loomed over the school, a silent, pervasive grief.
Yet, he observed his remaining classmates.
Other than the empty desks, everyone else seemed to be talking, sketching in notebooks, or fiddling with their phones, just like any other day.
They had recovered quicker than I thought, he mused, a mix of relief and disappointment washing over him.
It must have been intimidating.
If I weren't met that man or joined the Darkside Destroyer, I might have been absent today as well.
Will I be afraid, the old me?
Can I feel like how I had felt with Reiji, with everyone at the Darkside Destroyer.
I don't know... I feel like I'm a different person now.
The ordinary rhythm of school life continued, a stark contrast to his new, extraordinary existence.
The school bell rang, a sharp, piercing sound cutting through the classroom chatter.
It rang again.
And again.
Then finally, it rang for a prolonged, almost endless stretch. The long, continuous sound meant one thing: the school day was officially over.
He walked down the busy street, phone in hand.
He checked for messages, hoping for a mission alert, but found nothing.
Looks like no mission for today.
He thought, a flicker of disappointment. He then changed his path, turning onto a quieter side street until he arrived at a peaceful temple.
The temple was old, its wooden architecture weathered by time and nestled among ancient trees. The air here was calm, filled with the faint scent of incense.
He approached the large, ornate offering box, its dark wood polished smooth from countless hands.
He slid a coin into the slot, the soft clink echoing in the stillness. He clasped his hands together and began to pray.
As he prayed, his thoughts drifted to Haruto and Mio. He closed his eyes, and images flashed through his mind, vivid and poignant.
The countless times they'd shared snacks, argued over video games, and simply existed together, their lives woven into a fabric of simple, profound friendship. He recalled a warm summer day at the river, skipping stones, their shouts of joy carried on the wind.
The memory was so clear, so tangible, that for a moment, he felt their presence beside him, a comforting warmth in the cool temple air. A bittersweet ache settled in his chest, a testament to the love that remained even in absence.
He held onto those memories, clutching them like precious jewels, allowing himself to fully feel the grief, the longing, and the profound gratitude for having known them.
He finished praying, a quiet solemnity settling over him. He picked up his backpack, which he had left on a nearby bench, and left the temple, stepping back into the everyday world.
He walked along the street, scrolling through his phone, when he suddenly heard a muffled cry:
"Stop it!"
He instinctively followed the sound, his senses heightened by his recent experiences.
He rounded a corner and saw a young girl, perhaps a year or two younger than him, struggling. Two burly adult gangsters were trying to wrestle her backpack away.
"Please! Stop it!" the girl pleaded, her voice trembling.
The thugs, larger and stronger, easily overpowered her, snatching the backpack from her grasp.
"Give it back!" she cried, her voice cracking with desperation.
The thugs laughed, taunting her.
"If you want it, come and chase us!"
They turned to run, but in their haste, one of them stumbled directly into Tetsu, who had emerged from the shadows. The thug crashed to the ground.
The other gangster glared at Tetsu, a sneer on his face. "Who are you?"
"Return her backpack," Tetsu said, his voice low and steady.
The thug scoffed.
"And why should I?"
He threw a punch towards Tetsu's face. Tetsu watched the fist for a moment, then calmly blocked it.
The punch felt incredibly slow, almost in slow motion to him.
He then grabbed the thug's fist, pulled him off balance, and swept his foot out. The thug, now off balance, cried out as Tetsu effortlessly threw him to the ground.
"What the hell is your problem, man?" the thug who had just stumbled into him, yelled, scrambling to his feet.
He threw a wild kick. Tetsu easily dodged it, appearing behind the thug in a blur of motion. He locked the thug's arm, twisting it sharply.
The thug yelled in pain.
"Okay, okay!"
"I'll give it back! Stop! I'll return it!"
Tetsu immediately released him.
The two thugs, ignoring the backpack lying on the ground, scrambled to their feet and ran, disappearing down the street.
Tetsu picked up the backpack and returned it to the girl.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently.
The girl, still trembling slightly, clutched her backpack tightly.
"Yes, I'm fine.""
Thank you, thank you so much!"
With a grateful nod, she waved back at him and walked quickly away.
After a while of walking, Tetsu finally arrived back at his house. He opened the door, stepped inside, and turned on the lights.
"I'm home," he said softly, the words echoing in the empty silence.
It had only been two nights, but he already found the house unfamiliar and cold.
He realized that the Darkside Destroyer base already felt like his new home.
He went upstairs, collapsing onto his bed. He looked around his room—the familiar posters, the scattered books, the worn comfort of his space. Yet, it felt distant.
He walked downstairs, drawn by an unspoken need, towards the cupboard in the living room.
He opened it and carefully took out a framed photo of his mother, its wooden border worn smooth. He held it gently, tracing the outlines of her smiling face.
"Mom, where're you?"
"Are you alright, you're right. Dad had stopped calling since when you'd vanished."
"I'm lonely. I really am."
"Are you coming back? Soon? Mom?"
He almost cried, but soon held his tears.
"I might not be home for a while, Mom," he whispered, his voice catching slightly.
He then looked at the old table phone, expecting it to ring, hoping for a call from his father, but it remained silent.
With a deep breath, he exited the house, locking the door behind him. He walked across the street, heading directly for the unassuming structure covering the underground entrance to the Darkside Destroyer.
He waved to the bodyguard stationed there, who nodded in silent acknowledgment. He walked down the dimly lit tunnel, took the elevator, and stepped into the vast, bustling underground base.
He thought, a small, genuine smile forming on his lips.
I guess this will be my new, temporary home.