"No… WAIT! DON'T!" – Kuro Sato
Kuro jolted awake, heart hammering, drenched in sweat. His blanket clung to him like a second skin, twisted around his limbs. The remnants of the nightmare still clung to his mind, leaving his chest tight and his breathing uneven.
"Another nightmare… I shouldn't keep letting these haunt me." he muttered, his voice hoarse. He let out a weary sigh, rubbing his temples as though trying to erase the images from his mind.
Kuro was eighteen, a high school student standing roughly 6'1" (185 cm). His spiky white hair framed his sharp features, and his red eyes glimmered. Muscular and well built, a scar etched across his stomach told of past lingering pain.
Rubbing his eyes, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and rose, moving through his morning routine with precision. He brushed his teeth, washed his face with cold water, and dressed in his neatly pressed school uniform.
Downstairs, the familiar scent of breakfast greeted him. His father stood by the kitchen table, a teasing grin on his face.
"Look who we have here." he said.
Kuro, still groggy, mumbled a sleepy "Hi…" and trudged to the table. He sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and began eating without enthusiasm.
"Well, son." his father said, adjusting his glasses, "we got a report from our neighbor. Some strange screaming and loud noises… Did you have any friends over yesterday?"
Kuro shot him a pointed look. "Father, don't act like you don't know me. I've been having these nightmares for years."
His father chuckled and reached for a jar on the counter. "OH, NOT THIS DRINK AGAIN!"
Without a second thought, Kuro bolted outside, leaping over bushes and sprinting down the yard to evade his father's playful pursuit. "Tsk… this old man is getting faster!" he muttered. Turning a corner, he slammed headfirst into a wall. "Ow…" He stumbled, rubbing the bump on his forehead. "Phew… think I lost him."
"What are you doing here, Kuro..?" a voice called from behind him.
He turned and saw Maruko Lomoshida, one of his classmates and friends. Relief washed over him. "Oh, you scared me, I thought it was my father." They fell into step together, heading toward school.
"Kuro, you don't seem like yourself today," Maruko observed, concern creasing her brow.
"Yeah… lately, the nightmares have been worse. They haunt me relentlessly. Ever since my sister's death, I don't know why this keeps happening," Kuro admitted quietly, keeping his gaze fixed on the ground.
At school, Roshu Sasaki, another close friend, waved them over. "Finally! You guys took forever! I'm not ready for another trip to the principal!"
Together, the three of them entered the classroom. Kuro slid into the seat by the window, staring outside, lost in thought. "It's been peaceful since that incident two years ago… will it remain that way?"
The door knocked suddenly. "Oh, right! We have a new transfer student today. Everyone, welcome him!"
The boy introduced himself confidently. "I'm Kasu Gama. Nice to meet you all." He walked past the rows of desks, as girls who fell for him. He sat next to Kuro. Kuro's eyes narrowed. "I don't like this guy…"
Kasu smiled. "Hey, Kuro Sato. We'll be classmates from today on. Hopefully, we get along."
"How do you know my name…?" Kuro muttered under his breath, but quickly returned his gaze to the window, trying to suppress the unease curling in his chest.
During lunch, Roshu leaned in, whispering, "I don't like the new transfer kid. Something about him feels… off."
"You're not alone," Kuro admitted, stealing a glance at Kasu sitting outside, who met his gaze with a confident, almost predatory smile. Kuro quickly looked away. "Creepy…"
The day dragged. Kuro, lost in thought, barely registered the lessons. When the final bell rang, he packed his bag, still brooding. "Do I even serve a purpose in this life? I couldn't even save the last person who needed me…"
As he walked down the corridor, lost in reflection, he accidentally bumped into someone.
"Uh… sorry!" he said, only to realize it was Kasu. Kuro continued on his path, leaving Kasu with a smile that almost teared down his face.
Crossing the busy street, Kuro observed the people around him. "Everyone is trying to fill some emptiness… some laugh with friends, some work tirelessly, and some… just hurt others to feel alive." He shook his head. "Is this really life? Is this the routine we follow until the end?"
At home, Kuro dropped his bag by the door. "Welcome home, son!" his father greeted cheerfully.
He muttered a reply and headed upstairs. On the second floor, he glanced at a closed room. "It's been a while, Saren." he whispered. Flopping onto his bed, he sighed deeply, exhaustion overtaking him. Within moments, he drifted into a deep sleep.
Kuro awoke in the middle of a street. Shadows stretched long under the dim sky, and around him, demons walked as though human. Their twisted horns, unnatural colors, and uncanny movements sent shivers down his spine.
"Why do they look human… Am I dreaming?" - Kuro
Suddenly, a bus barreled toward him at high speed. "WAIT! MOVE! MOVE!" he screamed, straining his legs, but his body refused to respond.
As he turned to observe the surroundings, the demons were glancing at him while laughing, their heads twisting in impossible directions, turning upside down. The bus accelerated further, faster and faster. Kuro closed his eyes, bracing for impact.
A screeching brake pierced the air. The bus came to an abrupt halt. Nothing struck him. Opening his eyes, he saw a figure, a purple demon with long curling horns radiating immense pressure. There was no one else.
"Who… are you?" Kuro asked, voice trembling.
"I'm you." The demon replied, having no emotions on his face.
"What are you on..Is it another weird dream?"
The demon advanced. Kuro's eyes darted to the street, Maruko's house. A demon gripped her by the neck at the window.
"Maruko!" Kuro tried to move, but his limbs refused to obey.
"Don't you want to save her?" the devil whispered, looming closer.
"How can I… I'm pathetic. I couldn't even save my sister!" Tears streamed down his face.
The devil raised its palm. "It's time to be strong, Kuro."
Summoning every ounce of willpower, Kuro pressed his palm against the demon's. Purple energy exploded outward, shaking the ground beneath him. A roar erupted from his throat, "I'M YOU!" The devil vanished, merging into a blade fused to Kuro's arm. The demon holding Maruko was burning to ashes, screaming in agony.
"This is the end for you!" Kuro shouted, bursting from the ground and cleaving the demon in half. Darkness in a blink consumed his vision.
As he awoke from his dream, he looked around. "Another dream… but it felt so real… The purple devil appeared again, smiling before disappearing."
Kuro stared at his palm. "I feel… stronger somehow."
Chapter End