Read SETOGIWA: A World On The Brink (Part 1) :: Chapter 2: A World On The Dawn, Part 2

A World On The Dawn, Part 2

At last, the final bell rang, signaling the school's end. Zenatori left the school doors, book in hand, and continued reading the book, flipping through its pages.

"This is more interesting than I thought," he thought before closing the book, then slipping it into his bag.

"Well, well, well," a voice called.

Zenatori felt a wave of despair roll over him, and he already recognized the voice. Kuzaki slapped Zenatori's back, nearly causing him to fall over.
"Look what the cat dragged in?"

"Can you please save your corny lines for someone else?"

"Where do you think you're going? Huh, Boy?"

"Home-"

"Wrong answer!" He said, cutting Zenatori off. "Why don't you come over to my house? You know you want to-"

"No."

"Aw, why not!"

"Quite frankly, I just don't feel like it."

"Well dang, how about we-"

"Sakatoro!"

Before he could react, Kurosawa ran to Zenatori, wrapping her arms around her from behind, lightly pressing herself against his back.

"Who is she?" Kuzaki said with a deadpan stare. "You two seem awfully close."

"She's uh... my friend," He said as he pried Kurosawa off him.

"Uh-huh. Yeah, I'll just leave you two alone," Kuzaki said monotonically, walking away.
"Kuzaki!" He said, reaching his arm out, but it led nowhere.

Kurosawa glanced at Zenatori for a moment, softly smiling.

"Is that your friend, Sakatoro?"

"Probably..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Anyway, how about we walk home together?"

"Yeah, that sounds awesome!"

They walked down the streets, endeavored by its afternoon skies. Zenatori noticed a small building in the busy streets of Kyoto. Its fluorescent lights beamed, imprinting the street, and it looked like a convenience store.

"Mind if we stop here?" He said.

"Yeah, we can. I'm pretty hungry."

He swung the doors open and let Kurosawa walk in first before walking in himself. The convenience store had its flashy manga covers, canned foods, and other items.

He then walked to the shelves and strided down the food aisle. He thought as he browsed the selection.

"Another pack of ramen, it seems."

This calm could only last so long.

Without a moment's warning, an announcement blared throughout the city:

"WARNING, A THIRD-CLASS AUTOMORPH IS HEADING THIS WAY. FIND SHELTER OR EVACUATE NOW!"

"An automorph has bypassed the GIC barrier? I don't remember the last time that's happened, but it's only a third-class."

He then threw the ramen to the ground and attempted to rush out of the store. Kurosawa quickly ran forward, grabbing his arm.

"What are you doing? There's no way you actually plan on confronting that thing!"

"Stay in the building," He said.

"What..?"

He then pushed Kurosawa off of him, causing her to crash to the ground. He then swung the doors open, yelling with all his might.

He saw hundreds of people quickly scurrying across the streets. Only yells and cries could be heard, and the mounting hysteria kept building.

Suddenly, a crash was heard parallel to the street. Zenatori instinctively looked in the area, and a huge beast ravaged through the street, flipping cars and destroying infrastructure. For a split second, he locked eyes with the beast, which triggered it to rush toward him.

Zenatori looked forward, unable to feel anything but fear. For whatever reason, he didn't move.

"I guess this is the end. I had a pretty depressing and boring life. It is what it is. Not everyone can be the Main Character."

The automorph's jaws widened, looking to engulf Zenatori. He didn't have a change in expression, nor did his heart beat any faster. He simply awaited his fate.

"Kaigen Series: Hailing Strike." A mysterious voice called out.

The moment the Automorph's teeth felt his skin, it felt a sudden force rupture through its body. The force was powerful enough to split the street beneath the being, rifting through the air as it traveled.

Zenatori froze, looked down, and saw a gash in the middle of the automorph, and purple blood oozing out of it. The being finally fell back, collapsing to the ground, and only a woman stood on the automorph's defeated carcass.

Her long, silver hair flew through the air as the wind glided through the strands.

"You almost died. Why were you just standing there?" She said angelically.

Zenatori stood in shock; it was the woman referenced by Kuzaki more than he could count.

"No way..."

A powerful aura emitted from her, with her stance just as otherworldly. It was Akito Koumiko, the angel.