Episode 2: The Awakening Begins

Kaito’s eyes snapped open. His breath was heavy, sweat dripping down his forehead. The dream still lingered in his mind—a vision so vivid it felt real. But was it really just a dream? The unease gnawed at him as he sat on his bed, staring at his trembling hands.

The city outside remained as chaotic as ever. Life moved on, unaware of the storm brewing inside him. As he walked to school, he couldn’t shake the strange sensation clinging to him, a whisper in the back of his mind telling him that something had changed. The air around him felt heavier, like an unseen force surrounded him.

As he entered the classroom, his best friend, Riku, greeted him with a grin. “Yo, Kaito, you look like you saw a ghost.”

Kaito forced a chuckle. “Maybe I did.”

Classes dragged on, but Kaito felt disconnected. His focus wavered, thoughts drifting back to the dream. The strange symbols, the darkness consuming everything—what did it mean? Just as he was lost in thought, a chill ran down his spine. A presence.

He turned his head slightly and caught a glimpse of a figure standing just outside the classroom window. A tall man in a long coat, face obscured by shadows. But the moment Kaito blinked, he was gone.

His heart pounded. Was he hallucinating?

The final bell rang, and Kaito hurried out, eager to clear his mind. As he walked through the narrow streets, the feeling of being watched returned. He glanced over his shoulder—nothing. But the moment he stepped into an alley shortcut, a deep voice echoed from behind him.

“You’re not supposed to be aware yet.”

Kaito spun around, fists clenched, but saw nothing. Suddenly, the air turned frigid. His breath misted. A shadowy hand emerged from the darkness and grabbed his arm.

Pain surged through his body as visions flooded his mind. Death. Chaos. A city in flames. And at the center of it all—him.

His body acted on instinct. A surge of energy exploded from within him, and the shadowy figure was blasted away. Kaito gasped, his hands crackling with a dark aura before it faded as quickly as it appeared.

Panting, he looked at where the figure had been. Nothing remained except a faint whisper in the wind.

“This is just the beginning.”

Kaito staggered back, his mind racing. He needed answers. And deep inside, he knew—this power wasn’t normal. It was something far beyond human comprehension.

Little did he know, his awakening had already been noticed. And those watching would not let him remain free for long.

The cold breeze of the night whispered through the empty streets as Kaito walked back home, his mind tangled in confusion. The dream, the encounter with the masked figure, and the strange energy that pulsed through his veins—everything felt surreal. He clenched his fists, trying to shake off the uneasiness gnawing at him.

As he stepped inside his dimly lit apartment, his eyes fell upon the mirror.

TO BE CONTINUED......

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