Chapter 1
It was one of those Tokyo mornings, it was the kind of morning where the city wasn't quite awake yet, but as usual it's already humming.
Beep… beep… beep…
Ren Takahashi's alarm sliced through the quiet, soft but insistent. Outside his window, you could hear it the faint sounds of trains rumbling on distant tracks, and leaves brushing against glass like they were trying to get into his room
For a few seconds, Ren just lay there because this was his favorite part of the day and honestly, this was the part of the day he loved the most at least before the world started asking things of him...
"…Another boring day," he muttered to the ceiling.
He reached over and killed the alarm, sat up slow, and stretched until his spine popped. His room was… well, it was uhh good ...cluttered but cozy.
Just like every teenagers room would be.
There was Sketchbooks piled by his desk, pens littered everywhere an old camera he'd been fixing for weeks, parts spread out like it was an actual crime scene.
Everything in here felt safe as his eyes drifted to a set of books on the shelf. The ones nobody was allowed to touch....
His holy sigil " The Twilight saga"
The book his mom used to read them to him when he was little. Her voice doing all the characters but that was a long time ago now
He exhaled and pushed himself up. "Alright… same day again."
After a quick shower, Ren shuffled into the kitchen.
The rice cooker was already going, humming quietly. Steam curled up in lazy wisps, and the whole room smelled like fresh rice.
"Uncle…?" Ren called out.
The house was too quiet and Ben Takahashi was never quiet.
Ren frowned. "Oi… don't tell me he's still sleeping."
That would be normal but The silence he felt wasn't
He walked further in closer "Uncle Ben?" , but there was still nothing. Then he stopped as his eyes hit the floor,
"…Seriously?"
He looked away fast, his face going tight. "Yeah. I didn't see that."
From somewhere down the hall, he heard it. A voice
Then another voice and another voice of pleasure mixing together
Ren's expression went completely blank as he starred back at the rice
"…I'm not eating rice today."
He turned on his heel and walked straight past the kitchen. Instead, he headed for the small altar in the living room.
Two framed photos of his parents
He knelt, just for a second, and gave them a quiet smile.
"Mother… Father… I'm heading to school."
By the time he stepped outside, Tokyo was fully awake. The streets were alive and buzzing. Ren however quietly moved through the crowd like he was part of the background
A classic background character
He passed the usual shops. Waved to the usual faces.
"Good morning, Mr. Renji."
"Oh, good morning, Ren," the shopkeeper called back, smiling. " Oo Ren Wait are you off to school already?"
"Yeah Mr Renji," Ren said, shrugging with a small smile. "Where else would I be going?" He gave a casual wave and kept walking, trading hellos with half the block.
Arriving at his school, Millwall High School felt like any other day. Ren had friends well, two. That counted.
Yuji who was loud, energetic and Physically incapable of minding his own business. The guy could drag Ren into a conversation about alien conspiracies all day and everyday
And Akari. Thoughtful and sweet the kind of friend who actually listened together, the three of them had been a unit since forever.
At school, Ren was… neutral. Not really popular also Not invisible although he had this weird thing where girls noticed him whether he wanted them to or not.
Probably the eyes His mom's eyes. They kind of glowed, and yeah, they'd rizzed a girl or two without him trying. Not that Ren cared tho he was the background character because he was way more interested in books and class than whatever attention he got.
Right now, as usual, he was spacing out and staring at the board like it owed him money.
"Ren! You've been staring at that board for five minutes. Snap out of it!" Yuji's voice cut through his brain fog.
Ren blinked and set his pen down. "Shut up, idiot. I'm thinking." He gave Yuji a look. "I'm sure you wouldn't understand."
Yuji laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Try me."
Ren didn't answer right away. Because thinking deeply wasn't really Yuji's thing. Or most people's, honestly.
Yuji sighed, then grinned that stupid grin. "Really, Ren… you don't know how to use your gifts, and I find that baffling."
"What do you mean?" Ren asked, his face going gloomy on reflex.
Yuji threw his hands up dramatically. "Eii, seriously! If I had your looks, trust me, I'd become the new Abraham!
Ren's expression darkened. That sounded exactly like something his perverted uncle would say.
"I'm serious," Yuji went on, completely missing the vibe. "Any girl that comes my way? I'll use my… Excalibur"
As uncle Ben used to say " with great power comes great responsibility "
Ren couldn't help it the sheer stupidity broke through his gloom.
"Shut up, pervert," he muttered, but he was smiling.
Akari rolled her eyes, but she was fighting a smile too. "Yuji, seriously… what kind of power are we talking about here ?.
Yuji winked at her. "Don't worry, Akari.... Only legends can understand
The day slid by like most days. First class. Then lunch.
Lunch was simple for Ren the three of them always sat together it was basically traditional at this point
Today, though, Ren didn't bring anything he couldn't shake the image from his kitchen that morning.
"Huh? Ren, are you skipping lunch today?" Akari asked, her voice soft with concern.
Ren shrugged. "Yeah. I just… don't feel like it today."
Yuji's eyebrow went up. "Ahh, I see. Don't tell me that perverted old man did something in your kitchen again?"
Ren grimaced. "Something like that… But he's been acting weird lately. I don't know. It feels like I need saving."
Yuji laughed. "Hahaha… poor guy! Don't worry. I'll save you next time."
Ren chuckled as he culdn't help it.
School ended eventually. Yuji was not happy about it.
"Ahh… another day done." Yuji groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Man, I can't believe I got a minus-zero on my makeup test. A minus-zero ! How is that even possible?"
Ren chuckled. "Well… maybe you'd do better if you didn't have perverted thoughts all the time."
Akari giggled.
"Eh, eh… don't make fun of me, Ren. It hurts," Yuji shot back, clutching his chest like he'd been stabbed.
They all laughed, and for a minute it was just… normal then they split up and went their separate ways.
By evening, Ren was home. He stood at the front door and sighed. The kind of sigh that came from your soul.
"Please don't do anything that embarrasses me," he said quietly to the door, like it could pass the message along.
He pushed it open.
"Ooooi! Ren, you're back!"
Ren froze because of course he saw his uncle coming out of the bedroom with yet another woman.
Heat rushed to Ren's face. "What are you doing , old man?" he shouted. "Don't you ever get tired? Aren't you supposed to set a good example?"
His uncle just laughed. Low and mischievous.
"Hahaha! Why should I? I can go as long as my manhood is still active and sharp I can use anytime and anyday As for examples… haven't I been showing you how to be active… like a man?"
Ren's face went nuclear. " You know what I'm done with you ... I'm going to bed."
"Ehh… already! , but aren't you going to eat something?" his uncle called after him, but Ren was already storming off. He went into his room
BAM!! and slammed the door.
"Hmpff… teenagers," Ben muttered from the other side.
The woman however starred closely at ren's room
Later that night, the city had gone quiet. Ren sat by his window, He always noticed stuff other people missed the oatterns in how people walked, how cars flowed, how shadows moved on walls. The world was always in motion
And somewhere deep in his chest, he felt restless. He didn't know why. Just… this itch. Like he was meant for something else.
Sigh… So is this my life now, Mother?
Knock knock.
"Oooi! Brat, open up! We need to talk!"
Ren grinned, leaning back against his bed. "Ehh… I don't want to hear any of your perverted lectures."
"Eii, what do you mean?" Ben's voice came through the door, exasperated. "My lectures are for your future! What will you do if you can't use your weapon properly?"
Ren groaned and dragged himself up. "Weapon… Excalibur… over and over again. I don't care and I don't want to hear it."
.....
Ben sighed, and Ren could hear him lean his forehead against the door. "Ren… you don't need to talk to me, but you're turning seventeen next week, and there's something you'll need to know about our family."
The doorknob clanked. The door creaked open.
"What do you mean… something about our family?" Ren asked. Curiosity poked at him. But when he saw his uncle, he froze.
Because for the first time in maybe his whole life, Uncle Ben looked… responsible.
Long black coat. Straight posture. Serious face. It was like looking at a stranger wearing his uncle's skin.
Ren's face went red. "Uncle… you look good… that's weird," he whispered.
"Eiii, you think so?" Ben's serious face cracked into a playful grin. "Eh eh… I look responsible, don't I?"
Ren tilted his head, confused and suspicious. "But… Uncle Ben… are you going somewhere at this hour? It's really late."
"Uncle Ben, huh… not old geezer," Ben said casually.
Instantly, Ren's face burned. "Eh! It's not like I want to call you Uncle Ben! You're still an old, annoying geezer to me!"
Ben chuckled and ruffled Ren's hair. "You know you really have your mother's trait."
Ren went pale. But Ben's hand didn't feel weird. It felt warm. Safe. Like how his mom used to pat his head before she was gone.
"Well, don't be late," Ren muttered, grumpy but not moving away.
Ben smiled, but his eyes were serious now. He stared at Ren for a second, then grinned again. "Well… I guess I'll see you later."
And Ren saw it. Something he'd never seen before. His uncle looked responsible . And worse there was this feeling in Ren's chest. The same feeling he got when he thought about his mom.
As Ben turned to leave, Ren called out, soft. "Are you okay, Uncle Ben?"
Ben paused. He let out a quiet sigh. Then he turned and gave Ren a small, real smile. "I'm fine. Go to bed, dumdum."
Ren exhaled and shook his head. "Well… whatever. Don't be late. And don't forget what you wanted to tell me about our family, old man."
Ben waved once and headed down the stairs. His footsteps faded into the living room.
Morning came too fast.
Ren shot up in bed. "It's morning already?" He rubbed his eyes and checked the clock. "Eh… shit! I'm late!"
Shower. Clothes. Go.
He hit the living room and it was quiet. Too quiet.
"Uncle…?" he called. The house felt empty. Ehh… did the old man not come back yesterday?
He went to Ben's room and knocked lightly. "Uncle Ben? Are you here?"
No answer. He opened the door. Empty.
"I'm heading for school, ehh…" Ren muttered. Sigh… he probably drank himself late again. So much for being responsible…
Then
Ding ding!.....
Ren frowned. Ehh… who's that? Probably one of Uncle Ben's… friends…
His face darkened. "I'm sorry, but Uncle Ben isn't home."
He walked to the door and pulled it open.
Two policemen.
"Eh… p-police?" Ren stepped back without thinking. "Why are you here?"
And immediately his brain went to the worst place possible. Don't tell me that old geezer did something again…
One officer bowed slightly. "Good morning."
"Good morning… um… is there a problem, officers?" Ren's voice shook a little.
The second officer spoke, calm but firm. "No… I'm Officer Nakamura, and this is Officer Takashi. Are you Ren Takahashi?"
Ren nodded. "Yes… I'm Ren Takahashi. What can I do for you? I'm sorry if my uncle caused any trouble… he can be… troublesome at times."
The officers looked at each other. That kind of look. The kind that makes your stomach drop. Officer Takashi took off his cap as hiss face was somber.
"Mr. Ren… I'm sorry," he said slowly. "Your uncle… was found dead in the woods last night."
The words hit Ren like a physical thing.
GBIM!
"Huh… what…..?" he stammered. He couldn't move. His brain refused to process it.
The morning sunlight, the same sunlight that was warm ten seconds ago, suddenly felt cold. Distant. Wrong.