Ding-dong, ding-dong.
The bell rang, echoing through the halls and signaling the beginning of lunch break. Students eagerly shuffled from their seats, conversations were erupting as they formed groups to head to the cafeteria or linger by the windows to chat. The classroom buzzed with energy, and the air was filled with laughter and casual banter.
Except for one corner.
Near the back, beside the window where the sunlight cast a soft glow, a boy sat alone. His black hair was slightly tousled, it fell over his forehead, framing a pair of deep-set and indifferent eyes. His uniform was neatly worn, though his tie sat a little loose, as if he didn't care to adjust it. His expression was calm—not exactly bored, but not interested in the noise surrounding him either.
His name was Laverne Ellis.
Carefully, Laverne reached down to his bag, unzipping it to retrieve his lunchbox. The dark container clicked open to reveal a simple yet well-prepared meal: perfectly shaped rice balls sprinkled with sesame seeds, rolled omelets with neatly cut edges, stir-fried vegetables with a light sheen of sauce, and a couple of cherry tomatoes adding a pop of color. Not extravagant, but carefully made. Every piece was placed with a kind of quiet diligence.
It had to be handmade.
After all, Laverne lived alone now.
Why, you ask? It wasn't because his parents had passed away or something tragic like that. No, both his father and mother were alive and well. His father, a civil engineer, often worked on large infrastructure projects across the country, constantly moving to wherever the next assignment called. His mother, a flight attendant, was rarely home, soaring across time zones as her job demanded.
During his middle school years, this constant moving had become a norm for Laverne. Changing homes, adjusting to new classrooms, memorizing unfamiliar faces only to leave them behind a few months later—it made it impossible for him to form friendship. Everyone else seemed to have connections rooted in years of shared memories, while he just simply... drifted.
That was why, before his middle school graduation and the national high school entrance exams, Laverne had made a request. No, he had begged his parents:
"Let me live near the high school I want to attend. Just for once... let me stay in one place."
To his surprise, they agreed.
But not without conditions.
First: "You have to study hard for the national tests. Make sure you get into a top prestigious high school." His father's voice had been firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
Second: "Keep your grades above the standard. If they slip, you're moving back with us. No exceptions," his mother added.
And so, here he was. Alone at his desk, surrounded by noise but untouched by it. The fork hovered over the rolled omelet for a moment before he sighed and took a bite, the familiar taste was reminding him of the countless mornings spent preparing meals for himself.
"Yo, Laverne!"
A voice suddenly called out to him, pulling him from his thoughts. Laverne glanced toward the source and found a boy standing beside his desk—a boy about his height with messy chestnut-brown hair and warm hazel eyes that always seemed to hold a spark of energy. His uniform tie was even looser than Laverne's, and his posture radiated confidence.
This was Reus.
As usual, his gaze fell on Laverne's lunch.
"Man, that looks amazing as always," he said with a grin.
Laverne blinked, pausing mid-bite.
"Really?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. To him, this was just... normal.
Reus chuckled.
"Dude, no! If you think that's normal, then what about this?"
He gestured to his own meal—a plastic-wrapped sandwich from the cafeteria, the packaging itself was slightly crinkled. It was plain: just ham and cheese, no frills.
Laverne glanced at the sandwich, then back at his own lunch.
"Well... if you say it like that..." he murmured.
This right here is Reus Carter. One of the few people—or maybe the only one—that Laverne could call a friend.
Also, a 'kendo master,' as the man himself blatantly and repeatedly insisted every chance he got.
It was strange. The whole reason Laverne had begged his parents to let him live alone near his high school was so he could avoid the constant moving and, with it, finally make friends. So why was it that, despite being here for months, the only person he considered a friend was Reus?
There was a reason for that.
It went back to the entrance ceremony. On his way to school that morning, Laverne had spotted a little girl walking her dog near the sidewalk. Everything had seemed normal—until the dog suddenly bolted onto the road, pulling the girl along with it. Laverne's eyes widened as he saw the incoming car.
He didn't think.
His body moved on instinct.
He rushed forward, pushing the girl out of harm's way. The car's tires screeched as the driver slammed on the brakes, causing the vehicle to slowed—but not fast enough. It struck Laverne, sending a jolt of pain shooting up his leg.
He'd been lucky. Really lucky. Had the car been going its normal speed, things could've ended far worse than a broken foot.
Due to the accident, Laverne had to spend his first week as a high school student lying on a hospital bed, with his right leg encased in a bulky cast. The sterile smell of disinfectant clung to the air, and the bland hospital meals quickly became something that he hated more than any class assignment.
The parents of the little girl he saved visited multiple times, bowing repeatedly in apology.
"We're so, so sorry! Please let us know if there's anything we can do," they pleaded.
The driver of the car, a middle-aged man with tired eyes, also came by with fruit baskets and constant apologies. But, Laverne simply waved them off.
After all, it wasn't like he could undo what happened.
But what irritated him the most was his own parents' reaction. They stood beside his bed during their visit, and his father was sighing heavily.
"Laverne, you should've been more cautious," his mother added, a slight concern was mixed with disappointment in her tone.
'What the hell was that supposed to mean?'
Laverne thought, frustration was bubbling beneath his calm exterior.
'I'm the victim here, damn it!'
Anyway, thanks to the incident, he arrived at school a full week later than everyone else. By then, most of the student body had already formed their friend groups and social circles. People had inside jokes, shared experiences from orientation activities, and casual familiarity that he had completely missed out on.
And to make matters worse, the high school that Laverne chose had an affiliated middle school program. Many of his classmates had known each other for years, carrying over friendships that had been forged long before he even set foot on campus.
So here he was, all alone with only one person he could consider his friend.
Speaking of which, the reason Laverne and Reus knew each other wasn't anything grand or noteworthy. No fateful encounter or dramatic incident. Riku had simply been the first person to talk to him when he returned to school after his injury, casually striking up a conversation as if they'd known each other for ages.
Reus could easily be called the 'class spirit'—cheerful, sociable, and the type of person who could talk to just about anyone. To Laverne, Reus was his only friend. On the contrary, to Reus, Laverne was just one of the many people he was associated with. The guy had no shortage of acquaintances or companions.
But still, why—among his many connections—did Reus spend most of his time with him?
Laverne had a theory. Despite Reus's upbeat attitude, there was something beneath the surface—a subtle disinterest in being the center of attention. He seemed to enjoy the energy of people but didn't crave the spotlight. That's where Laverne came in: just a normal and somewhat gloomy(?) person who only spoke when necessary and never babbled on about trivial things. Maybe, in that quietness, Reus found a sense of calm.
While he was taking a bite of his lunch, Reus began to speak:
"Anyway, looks like I won't be coming to school for the next week," he said casually.
Laverne immediately coughed, choking on his food. He grabbed a napkin, covering his mouth.
"Whoa, you okay?" Reus asked, leaning forward in concern.
Laverne waved a hand, quickly grabbing his water bottle. He took a careful sip, clearing his throat before wiping his mouth.
"Why... won't you be coming to school next week?" his voice was still a bit raspy.
Reus grinned.
"My dad's dragging me to the land of endless sun and ancient bones."
'The hell is he talking about?'
He tilted his head slightly, then asked:
"What does your father even do?"
Reus's expression shifted, and a surprised expression was flickering across his face.
"Hehe... that's something I'm not really allowed to tell."
'What the hell?'
Is his dad affiliated with something dangerous? Government work? Some kind of secret agency?
The possibilities, though absurd, began to formed in his head. But before he could dwell on it further, Reus suddenly asked:
"Hey, Laverne... what do you think about the supernatural?"
Laverne paused, taken aback by the sudden and random question.
"What do you mean?"
"Like..."
Reus glanced at the window, as if searching for the right words.
"Y'know—things that aren't supposed to exist. Ghosts, spirits, reincarnation... stuff like that. What's your take on it?"
Laverne leaned back in his chair, drifting his eyes toward his lunchbox.
"Honestly... I haven't really paid much attention to that kind of stuff," he admitted.
"Never had a reason to. I mean, life's already complicated enough without thinking about things like ghosts or reincarnation. Doesn't really affect me either way."
Reus, who was undeterred, ask him another question:
"Then... what did you feel when you protected that little girl back then? When the car was coming?"
Laverne fell silent for a moment, lowering his gaze to the table before he sighed.
"It felt like... one of those moments where your body moves before you can think. Pure instinct...? or something."
He paused for a moment before continuing:
"To be honest, when the car got close... I actually thought, 'Is this how I die?'"
The story pulled Laverne back into the memory of that day. Not a single day went by where he regretted saving both the little girl and her dog, yet at the same time, the image of the car mere inches away from him flashed through his mind far too often. The screech of tires, the rush of adrenaline, and the blur of motion—it lingered.
Shaking the thought, he glanced at Reus.
"Why are you asking me about this anyway?"
Reus waved a hand dismissively.
"It's nothing. Just curious, y'know?"
His grin was back, but something about it felt a little forced.
Soon after, the bell rang, echoing through the halls once more, signaling the end of lunch break. Reus stood up, stretching his arms overhead.
"Well, see you after school," he said before heading back to his seat.
***
The evening sky came, and the school day finally came to an end. Laverne and Reus could be seen exiting the school gate together.
"Hey," Reus started, glancing at Laverne.
"Mind if I come over to your place? Figured we could have a little farewell party or something. I'll be busy starting tomorrow with trip preparations."
Laverne raised an eyebrow.
"I don't mind, but... why call it a 'farewell party'? It's not like you'll be gone forever."
Reus grinned.
"One week away from you and my girlfriend is considered a long time for me, you know."
"Huh, I see..."
Laverne started, then... he suddenly stopped.
"Wait..."
His eyes widened.
"Girlfriend?"
Reus blinked, confused.
"Yeah? I'd love to invite her too so the three of us could hang out, but she can't make it today."
"Wait, wait, wait—you have a girlfriend?"
Laverne practically blurted.
"Yeah? Haven't I mentioned her before?"
Reus tilted his head.
"Definitely not!"
Laverne's mind reeled. Damn him. He thought the two of them were loners, kindred spirits in their social distance—but to think he would be betrayed like this...
Then again, with Reus's social ease, it really wasn't that surprising.
Noticing his expression, Reus patted Laverne's back.
"Don't be sad I'll be gone for a while. To make up for it, foods are on me today."
Laverne cursed inwardly again. His friend couldn't have been more wrong about him.
'Damn normies...'
Suddenly, their casual walk was abruptly interrupted by the distant sound of people screaming. Shouts echoed down the block, drawing attention from passersby. Reus's head snapped toward the noise before he took off running towards it.
"Hey, wait up!"
Laverne called, rushing after him.
Turning a corner, they were met with a harrowing sight—a large family restaurant engulfed in flames. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as fire crackled hungrily through the building's structure. Laverne's heart sank. It was the same place they frequented after school—the one run by Granny Tomoe, the elderly woman who had spent her entire life tending to the restaurant and its patrons.
Laverne's eyes darted through the chaos, searching. No sign of her. Where was she?
Beside him, Reus suddenly dropped his bag, taking a step forward toward the inferno. Alarmed, Laverne grabbed his shoulder.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Granny Tomoe—she's nowhere to be seen!"
Reus's voice cracked with urgency.
Laverne tightened his grip.
"Are you crazy? We should wait for the fire department!"
But Reus's gaze was locked on the growing flames. The fire was spreading rapidly—too rapidly. With a sudden jerk, he pulled free.
"There's no time!" he shouted and sprinted toward the burning entrance.
"That fucking idiot!" Laverne cursed.
Within seconds, Reus disappeared into the smoke and fire. Laverne's pulse pounded. Damn it! He hesitated only a moment longer before bolting after him. Just as he neared the doorway, a deafening explosion erupted from within the building.
The blast hit Laverne like a truck, hurling him backward. Pain exploded through his body as he crashed onto the pavement. His ears were ringing, and his vision was swimming.
Everything blurred into chaos and heat.
***
His senses were a mess—like a cacophony of sounds and distorted images. In the corner of his eye, he saw people running in a panic, their shouts were barely registering over the dull roar in his ears. Sirens wailed in the distance—or was that closer? Ambulance? Fire department? He couldn't tell. Not like it mattered. How do you differentiate the two anyway?
His sluggish thoughts drifted to Reus. Is he okay? Did he manage to find Granny Tomoe? Or was... no, he couldn't think about that right now.
Mom, Dad... If they saw him in this state again, they'd definitely mock him.
"There goes Laverne, always finding ways to get himself hurt," they'd say.
A wave of exhaustion washed over him. His eyelids grew heavier. Just a quick nap, he thought. Just for a moment…
Darkness swallowed everything.
Then—
[Sys--... ini--tializing...]
[Err0r: M3m0ry c0rru--ion d3tect3d. Pr0c33ding 4nyw4y.]
[Miss10n: Unkn0wn. Purp0s3: Und3f1n3d. Proc33d.]