Lying on his bed Masashi thinks back to first entering high school and Surabukādo getting all excited for what seems like a big step in their lives.
He laughs a bit, knowing the things that happened in the last month of school.
“So school’s really over My time as a first year sure was, interesting.”
He frantically rubs his head.
“But this break is gonna be short, then I’ll be a second year after that.”
Looking at his hands the faint scar from the battle was still there.
He thinks he is in a good position right now, he feels like his strength is somewhat adequate.
He doesn’t even think he’s weak but hopes nothing drastic happens.
Ssswwwwoossh!
“Huh?” Masashi suddenly sinks into his bed or that is what it feels like.
Shadows envelope his vision, but as he opens his eyes it seemed like he never even moved.
Turning around he is shocked.
“It’s this place again, Fantazumu?!”
Looking at the world the floor is still transparent but it isn’t all shadowy and voided.
The sky is actually clear.
He can see something of a blue yet dark sky, there are actually structures now, looking around he spots a small house lodged in between stone steps that scale up.
“Huh so this place has changed a lot, it’s like an environment now.”
“Just how long are you going to sit there?” A voice shouts out.
Standing up Masashi looks into the sky seeing a cloaked figure standing on a dead tree.
“Fantazumu? What happened to this place?” he questions.
It’s been a short while since Masashi has actually seen Fantazumu, ever since he was brought in that day when the strange Hawk man attacked him.
Implanting the Sovereign into him causing the events to spiral into action.
He hasn’t communicated that much.
Jumping off the tree Fantazumu gently descends down, their form changes slightly.
Chains wrap around their waist, their form begins to slim down, losing the shadowy shape it once had.
Even small shoes appear on their feet.
Actually it shocks Masashi seeing it happen in real time.
“You’ve grown far more than I expected, actually I am impressed you managed to survive and overcome adversaries.”
The tone in their seems to be more upbeat.
Masashi smirks.
“Well it was simply thanks to you, if you didn’t give me motivation in battle against the many things I have faced so far. I wouldn’t have developed these abilities or even learned to innovate with them.”
Turning around and turning back he inquires a question.
“Hey so what happened to this place? The last time I was here it was all covered in shadows.”
“Well you are not in the unknown about the world anymore. You don’t ask ‘why’ constantly so the mystery isn’t suffocating.”
“I can feel that your heart is almost clearer. It’s not a mystery why this place changed. After all, this place changes to your will.”
He pauses, considering her words.
“Ah I see… So getting stronger and understanding my world made me see things more clearly, I’m glad this could happen.”
“But wait a minute Fantazumu? Even your form has changed? So was it because of that?” He perks up curiously.
They chuckle a bit.
“It could be that, but I think seeing you more clearly made me appear more clearly to you. In fact if that is the case, I wanted to show more of myself.”
His eyes open a bit, because all this time Fantazumu’s face has been covered by a hood.
In fact the shadows block out their face, so the few times they would interact Masashi thought they were just a faceless figure.
Taking their hands out their pockets, Fantazumu reaches for their hood pulling it off in a soft fashion.
“E-excuse me what?!” He is speechless.
For a moment there was silence.
Then words.
Taking off the hood fully, azure hair flowed in the wind almost gracefully, shaking their head from all the time they concealed their hair in a hood.
There is a small chain that keeps their hair up.
A feminine face is seen, opening up her eyes there is nothing but a brown reddish hue to it.
Even her lips carried a faint red hue, matching her eyes.
Her pale skin reflects off the sky.
“Noy way?! You look like?” he looks on in awe, as the situation causes his face to break.
“Harushigure?” She says in response to his lost expression.
“Sorry for your delay, it’s shocking right?” She opens her eyes fully, glaring at him.
“I have been hiding my face from you because I didn’t know how you’d react, the fact that I look almost exactly like her. I didn’t want you to sink into despair after all.” She simply states.
Taking a moment to snap out of it Masashi sighs.
“Well this is unexpected, I mean It’s been a while since she died and all so I don’t think I’d be that down about it.
But this is unexpected to me, to be honest I am kinda not surprised.
“Amaiaruheitō said that Kussetsu can take different shapes and sizes, so looking like her is not surprising.”
“But I didn’t think that you’d be a girl… I thought under all that shadowy glamour you were some old man by the way you talked.”
“I guess when you said ‘other me’ I legitimately thought it was someone who looks like me.”
Fantazumu lets out a faint smile.
“I’m glad really, to be honest. With all the death happening around you, I had to shield you from that even still now. I dull your senses to an extent.”
He looks at her shocked, but some form of realization kicked in.
“So that is why in the alley way when I saw those guys getting diced up by that mysterious man.”
“I became level headed despite the shock? I guess that is what would explain me not being largely freaking out or even crying about the sovereign being inside of me.”
He takes a moment to take it all in.
“And I think that’s why I haven’t really felt true to myself these last five years, I guess it was your way of protecting me.”
“I’m not mad or anything. If anything I feel undecided about it.”
Fantazumu simply nods.
“Yes that is why… but since you’ve grown strong managing to fight people who mess with your mind.”
“Managing to fight hopeless fights and even coming out of all of that. I think that is what impressed me the most, even this place cleared up because of your will.”
“Heh.” He smiles despite not knowing how to feel really, he still thanks Fantazumu for help even if her ways were to that extreme.
“Though I can’t thank you enough Fantazumu, if it wasn’t for you. I don’t think I would get this far.”
“Well, I am a part of you after all, of course I would help you.” She speaks up in an ominous tone.
The wind blows a cool breeze on his skin.
Walking around and touching the trees he wonders if this place is supposedly in his head.
“So, how can I come here often?”
Walking up to Masashi she chuckles once again.
“A surefire way is to meditate, focus on your mind and then imagine a landscape, maybe this. You’d probably end up back here.”
“It’s that simple huh, well… I’ll come here in my free time. Whatever this place is, whether it’s my mind or something else.”
“Also I am surprised you managed to grasp most of my abilities so far, you’re doing really well, in that aspect.” She says.
For a moment Masashi realizes Fantazumu herself is shorter than him, she isn’t tiny or anything but, even in the shadowy form she felt tall.
Does she grow up too?
He wonders if she has the same age as him, or maybe she doesn’t have an age at all.
Fantazumu tilts her head.
“Is there something wrong? You looked stunned.”
He closes his eyes and shrugs his shoulders.
“Not really, I’m just thinking about everything. But hey do you know how I can get out of here?”
Fantazumu touches his head with her fingers, her cold touch sending him into some sort of trance.
“Well then other me, I’ll see you around. It was great to see that you haven’t fallen to stagnation.” She ominously says.
One moment he is enveloped in shadows the next he is back right on his bed, it’s like he hasn’t even moved from that position he was in.
He simply gives a heartfelt laugh.
“Things really have changed.” Looking at his hands once more he simply forms a fist.
Dingou!
“The doorbell?” Getting up from his bed he tries to peek out the window to see who it is.
“Masashi!” Oba shouts from her room.
“Can you be a dear and get the door! I am busy with the bills!”
Heading into the hallway he slides down the stairs, he wonders if he had ordered something, maybe it’s that one guy who goes around the neighborhood asking people to join his community.
Opening the door, he raises an eyebrow and sighs.
“Are you some type of ghost imitating her?” He says, poking the person’s face.
“Huh? What– no I’m not a ghost, I am in fact here.” The person says.
“Oh… well… where the HELL HAVE YOU BEEN SHIMIZU!” His face lights up in shock.
Standing in front of the door Shimizu is clearly standing there, two people are also behind her.
“And what is with the traditional clothing? Did I miss an episode or something?”
She winks at the air.
“Maybe you did. Yeah it’s a long story….”
“What are you winking at? Also you’ve gotten stronger?” Masashi questions.
“Oh you can tell now~” She curiously asks.
Looking behind her he sees two people in suits.
“Is that, wait…. Can I remember who they are?”
“It’s nice to see you again after a while, Masashi.” A woman speaks up.
Masashi puts a palm to his face “So wait wait. Just give me a basic rundown? Like how did you come back, Oba thought you disappeared or got kidnapped or something?”
“Ah! Like I said I’d explain it when I get in…” Shimizu lets out a tired sigh.
“It’s been so tiring.”
“Shimizu?!”
Looking behind him he gets out the way before Oba rushes to tightly hug Shimizu.
“Now how are you going to get up and disappear on m-me!” She bursts into tears.
“It’s also nice to see you too, Kasumi.” A man speaks up.
“Oh!” She pauses for a second.
“Mr. Tanaka and Ms. Kobayashi?”
“Wait Kobayashi?” Masashi looks stunned for a moment.
He thinks if that woman is Kobayashi’s sister, or wife, or whatever relative that it is.
But she doesn’t look like him in any way, maybe it’s just the common last names they share.
“No need for formalities! We’ve known your family for a while now, so we are not strangers.” Kobayashi speaks up.
“We managed to secure Shimizu due to her father’s request, it was quite a difficult endeavor after all.” Tanaka speaks up.
Masashi who is just standing there in awe senses their powerful presence, even the Shimizu who has gotten stronger pales compared to what they are giving off.
“Hey aunt Kasumi, can you let go a bit…” Shimizu who is clearly grasping for air.
“Oh! I am sorry dear.”
“We’ll explain everything with you inside along what will happen next.” Tanaka speaks up.
All of them head inside and Shimizu rushes upstairs.
Looking at the three of them in the living room Masashi wonders if he should overhear the conversation.
But it seems to be getting intense and kinda confusing at some points, he’ll just hear what Shimizu herself has to say.
Another day with an insane twist.
“Hey Shimizu, are you in there?” Knocking on the door she doesn’t seem to be in her room.
Matter of fact he has never been or seen inside of her room.
“Oh wait, maybe she went to the bathroom?”
Walking towards the bathroom he knocks on the door.
“Shimizu you in there!”
“Oh you can come in!” She shouts from the other side.
“Wait really?”
Opening the door he is surprised by the amount of things for the skin, lotion, blow dryers.
She even has her hair tied up in a bun already..
“How—” He takes a second and breathes.
“When did you manage to bathe in 15 minutes and manage to get all of this out?” He seriously questions.
“It’s my secret.” She simply says.
“Oh well… anyways, It’s really nice that you’re back wherever you went.”
She chuckles.
“Yeah it is nice to be back, I thought I was stuck there forever!”
“There? You mean you were stuck in some place you couldn’t get out?” He questions.
“Yeah, It was fun though and a bit crazy too.”
Opening the bathroom mirror Masashi grabs his toothpaste.
“Why are you brushing your teeth in the middle of the day?” She side eyes him.
“I already brushed my teeth in the morning, I’m taking it so you don’t waste all of it!”
She scoffs.
“Alright whatever.”
“Hey, have you ever noticed how our eyes are kinda dark green?” He points out.
“Actually I am kinda curious about that, I mean I got my eyes from my dad and I think you did from your mother since I remember her having dark green eyes too.”
“Aunt Kasumi is the only one without dark green eyes.”
She stops fixing her hair for a moment.
“And I kinda find it funny how I haven’t really seen anyone with purple hair besides you.” He also thinks.
“Ah, it’s a recessive trait from my father, he also has purple hair. He got it from our grandmother who also has purple hair.” She calmly and proudly states.
“Hmm okay okay, I’ll just wait until you’re ready to tell me about the craziness that has happened to you.”
Exiting the room he scoffs at everything that is happening, what a crazy early year.
Rapp Rapp Rapp
“Hey Shimizu—” Before he could finish his words she opened the door.
“Well come in.”
Entering the room he takes a good moment to look around, even though she has barely spent half a day at the house since she disappeared. This chapter was taken from novelping dot com without permission.
It’s filled with posters, there is even a dress mannequin, and a couple of fashion magazines that are organized on top of a shelf.
She even has a mini fridge in the room.
“So hey… Tell me how you got all of this in your room?” He asked with a tired look.
“I unpack things fast, I mean. If I am going to stay here for a month before going back to my house, I might as well unpack and enjoy it.” She confidently states.
“Ah I see, well lets cut to the chase Mizu. How did you even disappear?”
She sits on her bed getting herself comfortable.
“Well where do I start?” Sitting up, her face turns serious.
“Do you remember that night when I first came from overseas and we had a talk on the balcony?”
“Yeah I do.”
“Well, after a while I sensed a large amount of Tamaryoku in fact when I went back up to the balcony. You were gone and I sensed a residue of Tamaryoku so I wondered if someone had come and attacked you.”
“Someone did attack me.”
Shimizu closes her eyes as it confirms her suspicion.
“So I was right, well did you know who it was? I mean I went after them and it led to another thing.”
“It was some kind of hawk man, I don’t. It’s like when you fired off that beam when you were showing me what Tamaryoku was.”
“He seemed to think I was the one who did it, he must have sensed your energy and found that I was the only one up there.”
“Hey I am sorry for doing that, I didn’t know what was happening.” She sighs.
“I just wanted to show off once in a while.”
“It’s okay, I mean we didn’t expect that to happen. But anyways back to what I was saying, after he took me he talked about hosts and how he was told not to kill anyone more. That really freaked me out, and what happened next was insane.”
Masashi goes over what happened with him and how he’s got an ancient ruler called the Sovereign of the UnWritten inside of him.
“Oh wow, like… Right now, he’s inside of you right now?” She backs up into her pillows a bit.
“Nah don’t worry, Apparently they have a strong seal on me and apparently I have some sort of talent in sealing him. I guess I didn’t really remember what that one man said.”
“Oh okay that’s a relief, but hey I really thought they abducted you.” She holds her chest.
“They did…”
“Alright alright. Back to me, so after that I leaped off the balcony following the energy I was sensing, then I overheard them talking about hosts as well and they had a veil up. Veils are kinda like portals but they can be other things as well.”
Masashi notes it.
“But anyways I followed them into the veil but I ended up somewhere barren, I ended up in Ōchō Bunmei. It was my first time there, but I only heard about it from some professor who told me about those things overseas.”
“Woah, so there is like another earth that you can access through portals.” He says, intrigue in his eyes.
“Well you can kinda say it’s like that, the air and everything around it felt heavy. Because it was Tamaryoku dense, like I could sense a faint amount of it being there.”
Crossing his arms he braces against the wall.
“What an interesting world.”
“It was indeed, but after that I went to find if they took you or not. But I got attacked by this thing called a Sozatsunakara no Sonzai. It really did a lot to me.” She mutters out the last part.
“You mean a Kara?”
“Oh so you know about those things, to be honest I don’t think I’ve encountered them before? Or maybe I haven’t seen them like that before. It’s just so weird to me.”
“Look at this too.” She lifts her shirt up showing the healed wound she got from when Kara had impaled her from the side.
Masashi’s face winces a bit.
“Ooo that’s gotta scar over or something, but it kinda looks cool.”
Looking down at her wound her face says otherwise.
“Eh I guess it is, but it kinda ruins my aesthetic. But I guess I’ll call it a beauty mark.”
Pulling her shirt back down she continues.
“After I passed out from fighting that thing, I woke up to a man and a daughter taking care of me.”
“The people of that world really are nice. But I had to leave soon, so they gave me a scouting troop uniform. His wife actually fixed it up and made it fit me more personally.”
“Ah so that was the outfit I saw you in when I answered the door, actually I could sense a faint amount of Tamaryoku from it.”
“Yeah it helped me stay stable with the wound I had. But again I’ll continue.”
She takes a deep breath this time.
“So I ended up helping his wife with bandits, I fainted again.”
“But after waking up the lady told me of a veil which can get me back but I could only use it through the Hachio Chōjōdō, Which is a military organization in that world. I don’t know much about it.”
She takes a deep breath again.
“So venturing out again I went looking and looking, until I found this lady I think her name was Shashin hana Itoha. The people over there have complicated and long names, I found it to be pretty interesting.”
Masashi brushes his face.
“Interesting what else?”
“She said she would help me get out if I helped her, she was really powerful too. Like looking at her you do not expect that but she is really powerful.”
“She had this stitching-like ability where she could basically stitch anything or create most things by stitching them.”
“Anyways we accidentally ran into these people in traditional clothing and she started to fight them for some reason? After a while she disappeared. I didn’t know where she went.”
“But I managed to get a curtain. It’s a type of veil that they use to travel in between worlds. Mainly theirs and ours.”
“Wait so if you had that veil to get home, why didn’t you use it? Because from what I’ve seen those two people brought you home.” Masashi asks.
She laughs a bit.
“Yeah about that, well you see I wasn’t from that world so I couldn’t use it without proper authority or something like that.”
“It was some weird condition, after a while I thought it was hopeless but I sensed two people who were very familiar.”
“It was Mr. Tanaka and Ms. Kobayashi! Apparently my father asked them for help and they decided to search everything.”
“They had a veil of their own which was apparently a family heirloom from our grandmother. So they used that to actually pinpoint my signature which is kinda crazy.”
Shimizu looks at Masashi.
“Is this too much information I am dumping on you?”
“Uh, I guess it is, I am just in awe.”
She claps her hands.
“Alright then so after that happened a fight broke out, but I am gonna skip out of that since I already had a rough day.
“But to get the gist of it I made it home!” She cheers up with excitement.
“My dad said after July I’ll be officially going home.”
“Heh, so you’ll enjoy your luxuries in that Mansion in the countryside right?” Masashi chuckles while shaking his head.
She claps back.
“Yeah I am going back to my real room, how I missed that place after everything!”
“Woah Mizu, to be honest It seems like we both had crazy things happen to us ever since the night on that balcony.” He pauses, wondering what would’ve happened if Shimizu had never fired that beam.
“Sure did. But I guess I got to visit a new world. So it wasn’t all bad.”
“Hey Masashi!” She suddenly shouts.
“Why are you yelling?!”
“Wanna watch a niche movie?” she questions.
He laughs.
“I thought you didn’t like irrelevant movies?”
“Haha, actually I’ve been thinking about watching some.”
“Ha. Don’t go saying that these movies were a waste of time because you didn’t find them interesting!” He points his fingers at her.
“Hey calm down, I’d still think they’re irrelevant either way, ha, but I could use a good one.” She gives a smug thumbs up.
He sighs.
“Okay, I’ll see what I’ve got.”