They always say high school is supposed to be the best time of your life. For some people, that might even be true. The loud ones. The bright ones. The ones who walk through the hallways like the world was made just for them.
But not for me.
For me, high school is a long hallway full of traps. And monsters. And every step is just another chance to get eaten alive.
The morning sky was a dull, sleepy blue. Clouds shifted lazily overhead, and somewhere off in the distance, birds were chirping. It could have been a peaceful start to the day. Should have been.
Instead—
Thud.
The sound of a fist meeting flesh echoed in the back alley behind the school.
"Think that's enough for today, boys?"
Tobashi's voice was thick with amusement. He stood over me with that same crooked grin he always wore when he thought he was being clever.
"Poor Sugino," Shiro added with a sneer. "Thinks he can stare at us with that stupid little face."
His foot slammed into my stomach, sending another bolt of pain shooting through me. My body curled on instinct, arms wrapping around me like they could protect me--they couldn't.
"P-please," I gasped. "S-stop… I'm s-sorry. I promise I won't—won't stare again…"
I could barely speak through the taste of blood in my mouth. I felt like I was going to throw up.
"Oh?" Ryo crouched down beside me, voice dripping with cruelty. "So now you're gonna puke? Poor little shit-bag."
He punched me. Once. Twice. Three times. My vision blurred. The ground beneath me felt like it was spinning.
"You should just kill yourself, Sugino."
I didn't respond. Couldn't. Every part of me was screaming to disappear.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard a student calling out.
"C'mon Tobashi! We should get to class. Just let him bleed out."
Tobashi leaned in close, his voice lower now, but far more threatening.
"We're not done yet, Sugino. I'll find you tomorrow."
And then they were gone.
I lay there for a long time. The world didn't feel real anymore. My body was numb and heavy, like I wasn't really in it. I thought about just closing my eyes. Letting go. Drifting away.
Then everything went black.
When I came to, I was in the school nurse's office. The white ceiling above me buzzed with fluorescent light. My face hurt. My ribs ached. My fingers twitched when I tried to move.
Mrs. Hanako, the nurse, was standing by the bed talking to someone.
"Takuya's refusing to say who did this," she said. "But he's in rough shape. You should talk to him."
My mom's voice answered, soft and tired.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hanako. I'll try."
She came closer and sat beside the bed. I could feel her eyes on me, but I kept my gaze locked on the ceiling.
"Takuya…" she said gently. "I know you don't want to talk about it. But if you tell us who did this, they'll be suspended. You don't have to go through this alone."
I laughed bitterly, even though it hurt.
"Suspended?" I muttered. "And then what? They'll come back even worse."
"Takuya—"
"No." I turned away. "This isn't your problem. Stop acting like you care."
She flinched. I saw it in the corner of my eye. But she didn't argue. Didn't try to convince me. She just sat there, quietly.
Eventually, I pulled the curtain between us and shut my eyes.
After school, I limped out of the building alone.
"Damn," I muttered to myself. "I got beaten up pretty bad this time."
It still felt surreal. Like I hadn't even been there. Like it had all happened to someone else.
"All that because I was staring? I didn't even notice them until Tobashi hit me. Whatever… I'll just go home. Maybe play something. Mom won't be home until midnight anyway."
When I got home, the house was silent. I glanced at the front door and noticed something strange.
Shoes.
Mom? No... She never came home this early.
I stepped inside, kicked off my own shoes, and headed to my room. I didn't expect to see anyone. But there she was.
"Misaki?"
My little sister looked up from my bed. "Hey."
"How did you even get in here?"
"Mom let me in before she left for the nurse's office. She said to wait here." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. "Who did this to you?"
"It's nothing." I walked past her and dropped onto my bed. "Just… go, Misaki. I want to sleep."
She frowned. "I was just trying to help."
I turned my face to the wall.
The door clicked shut a few seconds later.
That night, I had a dream. Or something close to it.
A dark void. No sound. No weight. Just… floating.
"Who's there?" I called out.
A voice answered. Whisper-soft. Everywhere and nowhere.
"Is this really important? The one you've been waiting for."
"What do you mean?"
"The one who will set you free from the pain. From the fear. From being forgotten."
The darkness pulsed. And then-
I woke up with a gasp. My body was drenched in sweat. My chest heaved like I'd been holding my breath for hours.
"…Weird."I muttered.
I checked the time. Morning already. I had to get to school.
I walked with my hood up again, trying to disappear. But disappearing never worked.
"HEY! Sugino!"
Tobashi.
I ignored him. Kept walking.
"Don't ignore me, scumbag!"
A sudden kick to my back sent me sprawling onto the concrete.
"You deaf?!"
He pulled me up by my shirt and slammed a fist into my gut. My body folded. The pain was blinding.
"Tobashi… stop…" I managed.
He grinned. "You think you can talk back to me?"
Another punch. Blood filled my mouth.
I need to fight back I thought. Just once. Just try.
I lashed out, kicking him in the leg. He cursed.
"You little— I'll kill you!"
He shoved me hard—
Right into the road.
A horn. Lights. Screeching tires.
Then—
Nothing.
The void again.
Weightless. Cold.
I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't see.
"Is this it?" I thought. "Is this how I die?"
Everything was silent.
Until—
The voice returned.
"Do you accept?"
The white orb floated toward me, pulsing bright.
"I… I don't want to feel like this anymore."
I reached out.
Light exploded around me.
And the void shattered.