Chapter 0: Wake Up

'Akuma Hayashi', a 12 year old Junior High student, wakes up in the middle of nowhere, a desert at night time filled with celestial crystals popping up behind him whenever he takes a step forward, rendering him unable to look back and reminisce.

Everything was empty from behind him anyways, so it seems like it didn't matter. But the more he progresses, the more things he leaves behind: Snowy forests, Sakura trees, Sparkling seas, Gardens, Cabins, Ancient cities. Hence nothing lasts forever...

Akuma: "I've been *sigh* walking for *sigh* hours now *sigh*" "I'm so... tired..." *falls on the ground* "Where is everyone? Anyone? I can't see people, only words and buildings"

???: "That's because there is no one"

Akuma, unable to move a muscle, tries but cannot raise his head to see the person in front of him

Akuma: "H-Huh? Who's there?"

???: "Akuma... Name a person in your life"

Akuma: "Wh-What? O-Okay, Rina?"

???: "And what do you know about Rina?"

Akuma: "She's my sister, 8 years older than me, I live with her..."

???: "And is that all you know about her?"

Akuma: "I don't... I don't know"

???: "Why do you not know? Is it because you refuse to see? To talk? To listen? To think?"

Akuma: "I-"

???: "Who are you?"

Akuma: "M-My name's Akum-"

???: "Your name... Is not who you are" "Your hobbies aren't who you are, do you know who you are?"

Akuma: "I do! I am... I'm..." "....."

Akuma: "I don't know, who I am..."

???: "Does anyone know who you are?"

Akuma: "...No."

???: "Next time when you move forward, try to look for yourself"

Akuma: "Why are you telling me all of this?" "Who are you?"

???: "I'm telling you this because, I'm you"

Akuma: "How can you be me? If I became you, then why tell me this"

You: "To be more clear, I'm not exactly you. but a version of that, someone who came to show you"

Akuma: "T-Then how can this be real?"

You: "It's not, this is nothing but a dream. Nothing here is real, what matters is what you do in reality"

Akuma: "What is the point of this? Do you know who I am? Where did you come from? Why don't you-"

You: "You're gonna be late, wake up" "Wake up" "Wake up!"

Akuma wakes up from his dream

Rina: "Wake uuup, you're gonna be late"

Akuma: "I'm awake, I'm awake, stop it already"

Rina: "Jeez, you need to sleep earlier, what's keeping you up so late anyways?"

Akuma: "Just leave already, I need to change my clothes"

Rina: "Fine, just hurry up, I made you breakfast"

Rina leaves your room, leaving you all alone to your thoughts, all you see is your face in the mirror

Akuma: "Who are you? You're just my body..." "Who are you? Do I really not know anything?"

Akuma: "I only know my name, what do I even do every day? I just go to school, come home, and go to bed... God I'm really pathetic."

Akuma: "What matters is what you do in reality huh?" "I'll see for myself, I'll think for myself, I'll talk for myself..."

Akuma dresses up, eats his breakfast, and leaves for school.

Chapter 1: Consciousness

Akuma: (I have never really thought about it, in fact, when was the last time I gave in a thought? Give me a second...)

(Why am I... Seeing things I have never seen? Realizations that make sense? Feelings I have never felt? As if I was just born, as if I had... Gained consciousness.)

Akuma enters school, walking to his class

Akuma: (All of these people... I never really noticed how crowded this school is, all I cared about was going to class and going home)

Akuma: (I'm also noticing that most, if not all students are talking with their friends. I don't see the need to talk about anything, but it looks... Kinda fun? Maybe I should give it a shot)

"......"

Akuma: (My backpack feels heavy for some reason, why didn't I notice it before?)

Akuma puts down his backpack and sits in his seat

???: "Hey"

Akuma: "Oh, sup Akito"

'Kimura, Akito' is Akuma's classmate since Elementary School, always takes the seat behind him for some reason, they don't talk much, but they exchange words every now and then

Akito: "Is something wrong?"

Akuma: "Huh? What do you mean?"

Akito: "I know we haven't interacted much, but this is the first time I see your frowny face"

Akuma: "Oh, I didn't even notice... Sorry"

Akito: "What are you sorry fo-"

The bell rings, and teacher 'Asami Yoshida' enters the class

Akito: "Class is already starting?"

Akuma: "Mhm"

Akito: "Well, I guess we'll talk later"

As class starts, everyone opens their books and start reading, Akuma feels immense boredom and starts thinking

Akuma: (Ughhh, I never noticed how boring class can get, I usually just drift off into my daydreaming adventures, but I can't stop my brain from thinking today)

A voice in the background can be barely heard, clarity increases with every phrase

Ms. Asami: "Hayashi"

Akuma: (I didn't get much sleep last night, maybe I could close my eyes juuust for 5 minutes)

Ms. Asami: "Hayashi?"

Akuma: (No one would notice, right? Yeah, I can just get some rest while everyone's reading-)

Ms. Asami: "Hayashi!"

The callout from Ms. Asami startles Akuma, causing him to fall over. Quiet laughter can be heard from Akuma's fellow classmates

Akuma: (Ouch, that kinda hurts)

Ms. Asami: "Hayashi! Are you okay?"

Akuma: "Yeah, I think I'm fine, just a little dizzy"

Akito: "Akuma... Is that blood?"

Akuma touches the back of his head, he pulls his hand back and notices some blood on it

Ms. Asami: "Oh god, you need to be treated immediately!"

Akuma: "Oh, it's nothing, it's just a little bloo-"

Ms. Asami: "Tanaka, could you take Hayashi to the Nurse's Office?"

Tanaka: "Yes!"

Akuma walks alongside Fumiko Tanaka, heading to the Nurse's Office

Tanaka: "Are you okay?"

Akuma: "H-Huh? Oh y-yeah, I'm okay"

Tanaka: "Are you sure? You're literally bleeding"

Akuma: "A little bit of blood is not gonna kill me"

Tanaka: "What if you're internally bleeding? What if you cracked your skull? What if you hurt your brai-"

Akuma: "Don't worry, I'm gonna be fine"

Tanaka: "Hmph, fine"

"........."

Akuma: "Tanaka, right?"

Tanaka: "Hm? Oh yes! It's Tanaka"

Akuma: "Well, it was nice to meet you"

As Akuma is opening the door to the Nurse's Office, Tanaka starts talking

Tanaka: "You know..."

Akuma: "....."

Tanaka: "I've never heard you talk, like, ever"

Tanaka: "I thought you were an introverted weirdo. But now that I have talked to you, that doesn't seem to be the case"

Akuma: "Yeah..."

Tanaka: "Oh! sorry, I didn't mean to say such a mean thing, I'm really so-"

Akuma: "It's fine, glad we cleared that up"

Tanaka: "Yeah, I'm also-"

Akuma slightly slams the door behind him

Tanaka: "Glad..."

Chapter 2: Forgiveness

Akuma enters the Nurse's Office, where 'Tara Yoshida' is a nurse there

Tara: "Hayashi? What's wrong?"

Akuma: "I fell on the back of my head in class"

Tara: "Oh dear, are you okay? Here, let me treat you"

Meanwhile, Tanaka walks back to class with a frowny face

Tanaka: (Argh, Fumiko you're such an idiot! Idiot, Idiot!)

"........."

Tanaka: (I really didn't mean to, I think I made him angry. Ahhhh why did I have to say that to him? He probably hates me now...)

Tanaka: (I don't blame him either, I'd hate me too if I were him. Imagine being forced to go with someone and they call you an 'introverted weirdo'...)

When Tanaka sits down in her chair with a sad expression, her childhood friend 'Emiko Nishida' pokes her with a pencil

Tanaka: "Heey! What was that for?"

Nishida: "Did something happen?"

Tanaka: "Oh, nothing happened..."

Nishida: "Are you su-"

Ms. Asami: "Nishida, your turn"

Nishida: "O-Okay!" (I need to talk to Fumiko)

Back to the Nurse's Office, Akuma asks Tara a question

Akuma: "Ms. Tara?"

Tara: "Hm? You can call me Tara, I don't bite"

Akuma: "You have the same last name as Ms. Asami, right?"

Tara: "You got that right, dear"

Akuma: "Are you two related?"

Tara: "Yeah, Asami's my sister"

Akuma: "Really?! Ouch!"

Tara: "Don't move too much, it can hurt"

Akuma: "Sorry..."

".........."

Tara: "This is the first time I see you here"

Akuma: "Yeah, I'm not the troublesome type"

Tara: "I know, Asami talks about you when she starts blabbing about her students"

Akuma: "What did she say about me?"

Tara: "Nothing much, she says you're a shy quiet kid with really good grades"

Akuma: "I guess she's right"

Tara: "But you're talking just fine, you don't strike me as shy"

Akuma: "Really? I guess I haven't bothered to talk much"

Tara: "Maybe you should talk more, honey. I'm enjoying your company"

Akuma: "Thanks Tara."

Tara: "All right, you're ready to go back to class now, make sure to drop by more often"

Akuma: "I will, good bye!"

Akuma leaves and closes the door

Tara: *smiles* "This is going to be interesting..."

As Akuma walks back to class, he's faced by Ms. Asami

Ms. Asami: "Hayashi, how are you feeling right now?"

Akuma: "I'm feeling better now-"

The bell rings loudly, indicating the end of class

Ms. Asami: "That's good to hear, see you tomorrow."

Akuma: "See you..."

Akuma: (Perfect timing, I'm glad I got to skip class toda-)

Akuma feels a gentle tap on his shoulder, he turns around to confront the person behind him

?????: "Are you mad at me?"

Akuma: "Huh?"

Tanaka: "I said something mean to you, I didn't mean to upset you"

Akuma: "N-No, it's f-fine"

Tanaka: "...You don't have to lie to me"

Akuma: "Tanaka..."

Tanaka: "If you want to yell at me, then do it! I can take it..." *Whispers* "I deserve it anyways"

Akuma: "...I'm not mad at you"

Tanaka: "Do you mean it?"

Akuma: "If it makes you feel better, I know you didn't mean to"

Tanaka: "...I'm really sorry"

Akuma: "It's okay, wanna shake hands on it?"

Tanaka's sad expression turns into her usual bright smile

Tanaka: "Mhm!"

Akuma and Tanaka shake hands, confirming that they're on good terms

Nishida: "Fumikooo, where are youuu?"

Tanaka: "Right here, Emiko!"

Tanaka: "See you later, Hayashi"

Tanaka runs to her friend

Akuma: "Y-Yeah, later..."

Akuma: (Even though I'm halfway through the first semester... Today feels like the first day of school)

Chapter 3: Bento

Akito: "Hey Akuma"

Akuma: "Akito? What is it?"

Akito: "Wanna eat lunch together?"

Akuma: "Sure"

Akuma: "You eat pork for school lunch?"

Akito: "What about it?"

Akuma: "It's so greasy, I can't stand it"

Akito: "You can't stand this?"

Akuma: "Get it away from me, it's gross!"

Akito: "Fine, fine"

Akito: "You're smiling"

Akuma: "Really? I mean- no I'm not!" *Stuffs his mouth with rice*

Akito: *smiles* "Dude, slow down, you're gonna choke, you already went to the Nurse's Office today"

Akuma: "Weaaf me awone (Leave me alone)"

Akito: *laughs* "What are you saying?"

Meanwhile Tanaka and Nishida are eating lunch together

Tanaka: "Mmmmm, your Tamagoyaki tastes sooo good! Can you teach me how to make it?"

Nishida: *smug look on her face* "Heh, I'm glad you enjoyed it, come by on Saturday and I'll show you"

Tanaka: "Phank Yuu!"

Nishida: "Don't talk with your mouth full, you're gonna choke"

Tanaka: "Foowy (Sorry)" *swallows* "It's just so addicting"

Nishida: "......."

Tanaka: "What's wrong?"

Nishida: "Oh, sorry. I dazed off again didn't I?"

Tanaka: "Yeah, you did" *happily smiles*

Nishida: (I was gonna ask her about earlier, but she seems fine... There's no need to mention it now, I guess it was nothing)

Nishida: "Say, Fumiko"

Tanaka: "Hm?"

Nishida: "I saw you talking to that weirdo earlier. Yashida, right?"

Tanaka: "Don't say that!"

Nishida: "Huh? Did I say something wrong?"

Tanaka: "Yeah, you did. He's not a weirdo"

Nishida: "Oh c'mon, is he like your crush or something?"

Tanaka: *flustered* "N-Not at all! I swear!" *swallows* "I just think it's rude to say something like that"

Nishida: "Then why did you get flustered all of a sudden?" *wink, wink*

Tanaka: "It's just the thought of having a crush, it gets me all flustered, b-but I don't have a crush! If I did, I would tell you!"

Nishida: "Yeah, yeah, whatever. What were you two talking about anyways?"

Tanaka: "It's nothing, really"

Nishida: "Are you su-"

Tanaka: "Yes! I'm sure!"

Nishida: *Shocked by Fumiko's reaction*

Tanaka: "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to overreact"

Nishida: "It's fine, you always overreact, so dramatic..." (so something did happen afterall... I wonder why she won't tell me)

Tanaka: "Tell you what, how about I ask him to have lunch with us next time?"

Nishida: "And why would you do this?"

Tanaka: "That way I can prove to you he's not a weirdo!"

Nishida: "Mmmm, I don't know"

Tanaka: "Pretty pleaaase?" *Crocodile eyes*

Nishida: "Ughhh fine, I can't say no to these cute eyes"

Tanaka: *giggles* "This is why I use them to my advantage! Hehe"

Nishida: *sighs* "You're really something, aren't you?"

In the Teachers' Lounge, a knock can be heard

Ms. Asami: "Come in"

Tara: "Hiii sis, I brought you some lunch!"

Ms. Asami: "Sure, just leave it on the desk"

Tara: "......" "Hangover?"

Ms. Asami: "...Yeah..."

Tara: "You should really stop drinking that much"

Ms. Asami: "I know, I know. It's just... Work has been too much lately" "Students are slacking off, stacked paperwork. I mean, look at this pile, I have to check all of these by next week!"

Tara: "Jeez, maybe you should take a break, I found a new beach house for rentaaal!"

Ms. Asami: "Tara... Summer just ended..."

Tara: "Ohhh right, right..." *whispers* "so that's why it was a 70% off deal..."

Ms. Asami: *sighs* "It's too early for that anyways, the first semester hasn't even passed and I'm already this exhausted"

Tara: "Relaaax" *puts her arms around Asami's neck* "November's gonna end. And when it does, we'll go to a cozy cabin, with nothing to bother you except your little sister!"

Ms. Asami: "Heh, thank you Tara..."