My name is Yuma Ikaragi.
I'm a high school student from the Philippines.
Most people would describe high school as the best time of their lives—filled with friends, laughter, and memories they'll cherish forever.
For me, it's been the exact opposite.
Ever since I can remember, I've always been alone.
My parents disappeared on my first birthday, leaving me in the care of my aunt. She raised me the best she could, and I'm grateful for everything she's done… but even so, something inside me has always felt empty.
At school, I'm nothing more than a background character.
No friends.
No one to talk to.
No one who notices whether I'm there or not.
Happiness is something I've only ever seen in other people.
And today…
Today was my birthday.
Yet it felt just like any other lonely day.
Inside the Classroom
"Okay class! Enjoy your weekend!" the teacher said cheerfully. "And don't forget the homework I assigned—it'll be our lesson next week!"
The room immediately filled with noise as students laughed, talked, and rushed out to meet their friends.
I quietly packed my bag.
My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket.
I pulled it out and checked the message.
It was from my aunt.
Aunt Melda:I'm heading to the bakery to get your birthday cake. Do you want anything else?
I stared at the screen for a moment before replying.
Yuma:Why do we still celebrate my birthday...?
It's basically just the anniversary of when I lost my parents.
A few seconds passed before another message appeared.
Aunt Melda:Yuma… I know how much sadness you carry in your heart.
But I want you to remember that I'm always here for you.
I clenched my phone slightly.
Yuma:The world you live in and the world I live in are completely different.
Your world is full of light.
Mine is nothing but darkness.
Is the world I'm in even worth living in?
For a long moment, there was no reply.
Then my phone vibrated again.
Aunt Melda:Your world may be dark right now…
A world without a shining light.
But someday, you'll find something that will light it up.
Until you find that reason to live…
Just hold on to the small light I'm trying to give you.
I stared at the message.
After a moment, I replied.
Yuma:Okay.
But the truth was…
I didn't really believe it.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and left the classroom.
Sometimes I wondered…
If I disappeared right now… would anyone even notice?
The Snack Shop
After leaving school, I stopped by a small shop near the street.
It was my favorite place.
The owner, Angelo, made the best snack I had ever tasted.
Bacon Fries.
Golden french fries, each one stuffed with tiny pieces of bacon and coated with a creamy cheese sauce.
"Good afternoon, Big Bro Angelo," I said as I walked in. "I'd like to order a large Bacon Fries."
He looked up from the counter and smiled.
"Oh! Yuma! Perfect timing!"
Within seconds, he placed a massive plate of fries in front of me.
I blinked.
"Uh… Big Bro Angelo… isn't this the king-size set? I only ordered a large."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry about it. Today's on me."
I tilted my head in confusion.
"Why?"
Angelo leaned against the counter.
"Yuma… there's something I need to tell you."
Something in his voice felt different.
"My shop… is closing today."
My heart skipped.
"What?"
"I'm shutting it down permanently," he said with a sad smile.
The words felt heavier than I expected.
This little shop…
It was the only place I came to after school.
The only place where someone greeted me like I actually mattered.
"Why?" I asked quietly.
"I'm moving back to Japan," he said. "Returning to my old job."
Japan…
I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice.
"Oh… I see."
He noticed.
"Hey, what's with the sour face?" he laughed. "It's not like we'll never meet again!"
Then he suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right! Today's your birthday, isn't it?"
Before I could respond, he handed me a small gift box.
"A birthday present."
My chest tightened.
Someone remembered.
Other than my aunt… someone actually remembered.
"You didn't have to…" I said awkwardly.
"Relax," he grinned. "You're like a little brother to me."
I slowly opened the box.
Inside was a golden necklace, with a small sword-shaped pendant carved into the center.
It looked strangely old… yet beautiful.
I immediately put it on.
"Thank you," I said softly.
For the first time that day…
I smiled.
Birthday Night
That evening, my aunt and I celebrated my birthday at home.
It was simple.
Just the two of us.
But it was warm.
After dinner, she suddenly looked serious.
"Yuma… I need to tell you something."
I sat up.
"What is it?"
She hesitated.
"Yuma… we're moving."
My mind froze.
"Moving?"
"Yes," she said gently. "We're moving to Japan."
My heart sank.
"Why?!"
"Your uncle Alumna is waiting for us there," she explained. "And… he has a surprise for you."
A surprise?
I didn't feel excited.
But arguing wouldn't change anything.
"Alright," I sighed. "I'll pack my things."
As I walked toward the stairs, my aunt spoke again.
"I know it'll be hard," she said softly.
"Leaving people behind… making new friends… it's not easy."
I stopped.
Leaving people behind…
That would only hurt if I had someone to leave behind.
But I didn't.
I didn't have friends.
I didn't have memories here.
I barely existed in anyone's world.
The Flight to Japan huh, I hope something interesting would happen....
The next morning, we left for the airport.
A few hours later, our plane landed in Japan.
While waiting for our ride, I noticed a newspaper nearby.
One article caught my attention.
"Poltergeist Attacks Increase Across Japan. Spirits Sightings Grown"
"Poltergeist…?" I murmured.
According to the article, strange creatures called Poltergeist had been appearing throughout Japan, causing destruction and chaos.
"What are you reading?" my aunt asked.
"An article about these creatures… Poltergeist."
She paused. It was an awkward silence between both of us until I spoke up
"Are you okay auntie?" I asked hoping she would respond.
"I see," she said quietly.
Then she added something strange.
"Well… that makes things easier to explain."
Before I could ask what she meant, a driver arrived to pick us up.
We traveled far from the city to a small town called Hermoso.
That's where my uncle lived.
Uncle Alumna
As soon as we entered the house, a large man rushed toward me.
"Yuma!!"
Before I could react—
"Bear Hug!!"
CRACK. My uncle who I didn't see for a long time hugged me
I felt my ribs compress.
"U-Uncle… can't… breathe…"
He finally released me, laughing.
"Still as fragile as ever!"
He still hasn't changed a bit since the last time I saw him, I was just a little boy back then when we last saw each other.
By the way I forgot to mention, the last time I saw him was when he had to leave for Japan and he hugged me so tight I had to go to the hospital to get my bones examined.
He suddenly became serious.
"Alright, Yuma. Let's have a talk."
I nodded. We headed inside and sat down a wooden table facing each other.
"Now then on to business, let's have a little talk between us, Man to man shall we" He proclaimed. He's joking personality then disappeared and was replaced with a serious look on his face.
"Alright" I replied. The face my uncle showed today looked serious, So the thing we will talk about must be important.....
"Yuma..." His eyes were on me staring with an intimidating glare. That made my very body shiver, I felt like my soul almost left my body
"Do you have a girlfriend?" He curiously asked.
"What!! No!!!! I thought this would be a serious talk between us" I replied with my face blushing.
I was completely shocked, why would he ask that all of a sudden.
I thought it would be something serious.
"It is a serious talk, you're 16 already" He replied.
"In two years, you'll be old enough to marry." He added.
"Marry?!" I shouted.
"Like Marriage?? What're you talking about?" I asked, I was really confused about what's going on.
"I'm asking you if you have a girlfriend, because in two years… you'll be getting married." He replied. I was in disbelief. This can't be happening.
"Me?? "Marry?!" I shouted, I was still both in shock and disbelief to hear the news.
"Yes," he nodded calmly.
My brain stopped functioning.
I'm still shocked; I can't believe it.
My own uncle just sold me off to some family...
And even worse he sold me off without even hearing my opinion about this.
"To who?!" I yelled
"The youngest daughter of the Yuuki family."
He patted my back.
"They're here right now."
My soul nearly left my body.
"W-W-Wait they're here already???" I worriedly asked.
"Well yeah, they're in the kitchen right now, Shall we meet them?" He curiously asked
He waited for my response but I'm still speechless so I just nodded.
We headed off to the kitchen and there I saw my so-called "Father-in-law" and "Mother-in-law".
I walked into the kitchen, seeing a well-dressed man smiled at me.
"You must be Yuma; it's nice to finally meet you." the well-dressed man happily smiled
"I'm Reige Yuuki, your future father-in-law."
Beside him stood a kind-looking woman.
"And I'm Erika Yuuki."
I forced a smile.
"It's nice to meet you… I'm Yuma Ikaragi."
I don't know how I should feel…
Should I be happy or mad?
We all sat down at the table having a little conversation, my aunt and uncle continued to chat with them telling stories about me and my so-called "fiancé".
I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
I needed air.
I went upstairs and opened the bathroom door.
And froze.
A girl about my age stood there…
Taking a bath.
Our eyes met.
Silence.
Then—
"PERVERT!!!!!"
Soap bottles, shampoo, and a sponge flew toward my face.
I slammed the door shut and ran.
I was already stressed out with this stupid marriage, I don't want anymore problems to deal with.
I sat back down on the chair I was sitting and laid my head on the table. I didn't tell them about what happened and I just quietly closed my eyes and accidentally fallen asleep.
I didn't knew how long was I asleep but I got woken up hearing a new voice enter the room.
I slowly opened my eyes and it was the girl from the bathroom. Why is she here??
"Oh good, you're finally done taking a bath sweetie" Mrs. Erika happily proclaimed.
She looked embarrassed.
"Is… he here?"
"Yes," Reige smiled.
"Go meet him sweetie."
"It's finally nice to meet you, I'm sorry I might not be a good wife but let's try to get along-"
She turned around—
And saw me.
"Hi…." I stuttered.
Could she recognize me from the incident earlier? If she would then I'm so dead.
Her face turned red.
She flipped the table flips the table sideward.
Then kicked me in the stomach.
I collapsed to the floor.
Before I could react—
She then quickly grabbed something hidden under her skirt
A dagger was pointed at my face.
"You're the deviant from earlier" she shouted.
She then points the blade of her dagger at my neck.
"Let's talk about this please!!"
"It's a huge misunderstanding!!"
"I didn't mean to look!! I swear!!"
"I SWEAR IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!" I yelled.
"What's going on here? Serena, would you like to explain?" Uncle Alumna curiously asked.
He then fixes the table that the girl flipped sideward.
"Could you ask her to put the swordie down first!!!"
"She could really hurt someone!!"
"And that someone is me!!!" I yelled.
Finally, Reige spoke calmly.
"Serena. Put the dagger down."
She reluctantly lowered the blade.
How come these people are acting so calm.
The girl has a dagger!! Why aren't they frightened?!!
She then lowered her blade and my uncle Alumna helped me get up.
Seriously, what's going on?
How come she has a dagger hidden in her skirt.
My stomach hurts so much…
Who knew she could kick so hard.
And her name Serena...
What a beautiful name... but this girl's a DEMON PSYCHOPATH
"Care to explain?? that was some kind of introduction between the two of you"
My uncle asked, Giving a glare to both of us.
"It's his fault!!"
"That pervy deviant came into the bathroom and saw my....."
"He saw my.... Precious body!!"
Serena embarrassedly yelled.
Her face was extremely red but she was still giving me a death glare.
"Yuma, Is this true??" My unlce curiously asked.
He had a big smirk on his face.
"I did come into the bathroom, But I swear it wasn't on purpose!!"
"The door wasn't even locked!!"I replied. Both of the adults then sighed.
"Well it can't be helped, what's done is done." Reigi proclaimed. He then tries to calm the girl down.
"I'll.....never be able to be wed now" she mumbled
"That deviant saw my precious body" She yelled as she pointed a mini gun at me
I was scared for my life and hid behind my uncle....
This girl is crazy!!
Really Really Crazy!!
"You still can, It isn't a big deal. When you get older, you'll eventually have a honeymoon with Yuma anyway" Reige replied causing Serena to drop her mini gun.
She was extremely embarrassed.
Her face was extremely red, blushing immensly
I too was embarrassed, I buried my blushing face behind my uncles back.
It was an awkward silence lasting for a whole minute till...
"Why would I have a honeymoon with him!!"
"HIM OF ALL PEOPLE!!!"
"He's a pervy deviant" She yelled pointing her finger at me.
"I'll never do it especially with a deviant like him"
She proclaimed with her face extremely red.
"Oh that's right, I forgot to introduce him" Reige replied looking at her
Then her father said something shocking as he quickly grabbed my arm pulling me close.
I was unable to react, he was so fast.
"Serena… this is Yuma Ikaragi."
"Your fiancé."
Silence filled the room.
Serena's eyes widened.
"…WHAT?!"
My brain screamed the same thing.
What kind of insane life did I just walk into?!