Rrrrring!
The stampede of students rushed out of the building, thrilled that it was Friday, and returned home for the weekend. The three of us walked off campus together with them. We stopped at my house first since it was the closest.
"I'll text ya about tomorrow!" Izuki yelled with excitement.
I nodded as I opened my front door.
The two boys waved goodbye and continued to walk home together. I put my things down before heading to the shower. Once I was done, I grabbed the notebook out of my bag and sat at my desk. It was a plain blue Campus notebook, nothing out of the ordinary.
I opened the notebook to the first page and saw words magically appearing on the page. Startled, I threw the book across the room in surprise. As I stared at the open pages, more words started appearing on the paper. I grabbed a pencil from my desk before gingerly picking up the book. The red words seemed to be Natsuki and the yellow was Mita-senpai.
A (Mita Asuka): Hey you did it!
N (Ikehara Natsuki): I guess he is the one.
A: You owe me dinner Natsu ♡♡
N: …
A: A bet is a bet!!
R: Can you guys please tell me everything now?
A: Well, what do you think it is?
R: Invisibility?
A: Correct! Just like you, Natsuki and I have superpowers. Mine is intuition.
R: What is that?
A: I can see 3 seconds in the future.
R: Wait, why is it only now that I have superpowers?
A: There are many factors: growth, life-changing or life-threatening events, being in the presence of other people with active superpowers.
Speechless, I had no idea what else to write. I frowned while rereading our conversations until someone started to reply.
A: I know having superpowers feels unreal right now. It’s not every day you suddenly have magical abilities. However, Natsu and I have been searching for people like you who also have superpowers
R: There are more people?!
A: Of course!
N: Long story short, we don't have much time. We’ve been searching for two years for similar individuals. Asuka and I have been on the run as we discovered there is an organization trying to track us down.
R: On the run? What organization?
N: Resignia. They're after our superpowers. They send mystic beings and assassins to us. Remember the beast I fought?
R: How could I forget…
N: It was from Resignia. Our goal is to gather more people, find where Resignia is located, and kill them.
R: Excuse me, kill?!
N: It’s better to kill them first before they kill everyone in the country.
A: Don't fret! As long as you don't use your powers in the open or you hide your face while using it, you’ll be fine :D
R: Alright… So how do we find the others?
A: I can sense if someone has superpowers. If I get a glimpse at them, I'll know right away.
R: Is that how you knew I had powers?
A: Yep! Now that your powers are activated, if someone is in your proximity, there's a chance their powers will awaken as well. Make sure to keep a lookout for that, alright?
R: Got it
A: Also Natsu, what's up with the shadows showing up on campus?
N: I'm not sure… That’s never happened before.
R: So this Resignia... Are they really that deadly? Who even are they?
N: They won’t hesitate to kill you.
A: That’s a tricky question. They’re an unknown entity to us. Natsu and I only fought the shadows and assassins they sent. However, one thing for sure is that Resignia are skilled at leaving little to no traces behind.
A: Well youngins, I need to go. I'll talk to you later.
A: Byeee!!
‘Youngins’? Mita-senpai speaks like a grandpa. I thought to myself.
R: Hold on, why don't I have any say in having superpowers?!
A: Uhh.... Cause you don't BAHAHA
N: If you have any more questions write it in here. New messages will appear when you reopen your book.
I put the notebook down and groaned, my mind racing with questions, each more absurd than the last.
‘They won’t hesitate to kill you’ echoed in my head. I closed my eyes and tried to get some well-needed rest.
Ding
I angrily opened my eyes. I can’t get a break, can I? I complained in my head. I grabbed my phone and entered the group chat.
I (Fukuyama Izuki): Yo
I: Hi
I: H
I: E
I: L
I: L
I: O
J (Chikanari Junya): Nooo the spam...
I: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
I: We’re hanging out tomorrow, right?
R: Hi to you too
R: and yes
I: Yayy Ricchan!
R: Will you ever stop calling me that?
I: Never!
R: >:(
J: Who’s place are we going to?
I: Mine?
J: Sounds good
R: What time?
I: Is 12 okay??
J: Yep
I looked at the time and saw it was almost dinner. I decided to go downstairs and start cooking something. After eating with my family, I did my usual routine: homework, wash up, and sleep.
I lay in bed, hoping my headaches wouldn't reappear the next morning before I closed my eyes.
Saturday, 05/18/XX
I rang the doorbell of Izuki’s house and was quickly greeted by the tall energetic boy. Izuki is known for wearing athleisure all the time, adorned in a plain navy blue dri-fit T-shirt and sports shorts. Junya already arrived, immersed in his textbooks and homework, sitting at the table Izuki set out for us on his bedroom floor. Junya waved at me as I entered the room. He also wore casual clothing: an evergreen long-sleeve shirt with black sweatpants. The studious student had his bangs clipped over his head with a hairpin.
“Now that we’re all here, let’s play some video games!" Izuki held up three controllers.
“I’m still doing homework…”
“Don’t distract Junya, I’ll play a couple of games with you,” I said, sitting down next to Izuki. As I grabbed the controller from him, I had a strange feeling. Something deep down was telling me to open the Campus notebook. I glanced at my bag but ignored it since the game was about to start.
“I hope you’re ready to lose.”
“Big talk for someone who can’t use combos,” I replied with a grin.
The two of us played several matches after that round, but even as I focused on the game, that strange feeling from earlier persisted, nagging at the back of my mind. Only now I could hear a hissing sound.
I shook my head, trying to shake off the sensation. “Focus,” I muttered to myself, tightening my grip on the controller.
For the next hour, Izuki and I battled it out, each of us determined to emerge victorious. He improved since the last time I played with him, but in the end, I was better, much to Izuki's dismay.
"Rematch?" he dared, a competitive gleam still in his eyes.
"Let’s take a break," I replied, glancing once again at my bag. The feeling hadn't gone away, and now the noise was as strong as ever. Ignoring Izuki's nagging, I reached for my bag and rummaged through it until I found the Campus notebook. Flipping it open, several messages printed on the pages.
A: Rito! Finally!
N: Get your ass here.
R: Wait what’s wrong?
N: There's a shadow in the park.
R: What? Which park?
A: Horakouen
Horakouen? That’s close to Izuki’s house!
R: That’s near where I am…
N: Crap an assassin must've tracked you.Meet us there.
"Hey guys, I gotta go to the supermarket," I announced. Izuki and Junya looked at me bewildered. "My mom wants me to get a few groceries before I get home." It wasn’t a total lie, I did need to go to the supermarket later.
"Okay, be quick! Junya said he’ll join in soon." Izuki said without looking away from the screen.
“I’ll be back!” I smiled and trotted away. As soon as I got out of the house I ran towards the park.
I’m not in shape for this… I panted heavily after five seconds of running. I loathed the agonizing burning sensation that coursed through my calves.
When I got to the park it was complete chaos. Mita-senpai was riding a hoverboard and attacking a giant serpent. My jaw dropped to see such technology existed.
"It's about time you got here!" Natsuki zoomed right past me. “Put this on!” He shoved a black mask into my hand before he elegantly backflipped and slashed the snake's mouth. It scowled and started to slither the other way.
I quickly donned the mask. "W-what do I do?!" I looked around the park. Everyone was running away in fear and many trees were lying on the ground, covered in an acidic thick purple ooze. The mysterious liquid deteriorated everything it touched.
"Distract it and keep it farther away from the civilians!” Mita-senpai yelled. “Natsuki and I will kill it."
I nodded and started running up to the snake. I made myself invisible and yelled at the monster. "Hey!" The snake's head turned in my direction. I turned visible which triggered the snake to show its sharp fangs.
I started running away as the snake followed me. As its tail end was about to pierce my shoulder, I turned invisible again. The snake's tip stabbed the ground and it dug into the dirt. It struggled while Mita-senpai and Natsuki began to attack. Mita-senpai jumped and hit the snake in its jaw with his hand-wrapped fist and broke several of its teeth. The snake turned to Mita-senpai but it was stabbed by Natsuki, a black liquid oozing from the gashes. It screeched in agony as its tail flew out of the ground, the barbed tip flailing in the air. The tail was about to hit Mita-senpai but he flew up in the air with the hoverboard.
I took off my shoe and threw it at its jaw. The shadow flinched but was too occupied with trying to eat Natsuki and Mita-senpai.
Panting, I threw the closest rocks I could find, shouting, “Look here!”
Suddenly, its head cocked in my direction and angrily slithering towards me. I feverishly picked up my shoe and started to flee. I turned invisible and back to normal multiple times as I ran in a random pattern. Its body became twisted as it tried to move around the trees of the park. The snake couldn't keep track of where I was going, and so in utter frustration, it untangled itself and slithered away.
"It's headed to the residential area!" Mita-senpai informed me.
It made its way to the quiet streets to look for its next meal. The serpent shrunk and hid in an alleyway near Izuki’s house.
"Oh no..." I fretted.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEAb7MeGCY
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWOScrZxgf
Natsuki sped into the neighborhood with Mita-senpai trailing behind him. I huffed heavily trying to keep up with them. I glanced at Izuki’s house and could see Izuki and Junya from his window. I ducked forward and became invisible to avoid them from seeing me. In no time, the three of us entered the alleyway to search for the serpent.
"Where is that stupid snake?!" I angrily murmured.
“He’ll go into the trash can!” Mita-senpai announced.
I looked down the alleyway and found it slithering into a trashcan. Natsuki was one step ahead and got ready to stab it with a smaller version of his sword. He lunged and stabbed the place where the snake was but missed. Instead, the knife got stuck in the trash can’s cover. The snake flopped out and climbed the back of Izuki’s house.
“You gotta be kidding me…” I huffed.
“Natsu don’t do what I think-” Before he could finish his sentence, Natsuki leaped onto the building and continued to chase after it. I gasped as I watched him mount the walls like a spider.
I looked up and saw Izuki walk into his living room. My stomach churned, hoping he wouldn’t look outside. With one swift movement, the serpent was sliced in half with Natsuki’s blade. It writhed and turned into ash. As Natsuki was climbing back down, Izuki opened the window, hitting Natsuki right in the face.
“Natsu!” Mita-senpai hollered, running up to him.
I swiftly jumped over the wall and he landed in my arms, all while the two of us were invisible. My knees buckled and I groaned, but I managed to keep my stance. Izuki, confused, looked outside of his window to find the source of the noise. My heart raced as Izuki’s gaze scanned the yard. With a shrug, he closed the window and walked back to wherever he was.
I’m so glad Izuki is as clever as a rock.
I shakingly placed Natsuki down, turning the two of us visible again. We climbed over the wall and were greeted with a panicked Mita-senpai.
“Natsu! You need to be more careful.” He pulled the younger one into a hug.
“I’m fine.” Natsuki murmured.
Mita-senpai grumbled and ruffled Natsuki’s hair. “Thanks to Rito you are.” He let go and fixed his lover's hair. “Well, that was quite shocking, to say the least.”
“Natsuki climbing a building?”
“That too,” Mita-senpai chuckled, “but the shadow appearing outside in broad daylight was extremely strange. We haven’t seen something like that for a long time.”
“You mean, this happened before?” I said, taken aback.
“More than we like,” Natsuki responded. “To think it was in your area makes it more concerning. Were you followed?”
I shook my head. “Not that I know of?”
“We all have to be alert from now on. Also please make sure to check your book, Rito.” Mita-senpai scolded, crossing his arms.
“Sorry…” I apologized, fidgeting with my hoodie strings.
“If it’s easier, I can give you a more compact version. Here,” He placed a blue notepad in my hand and I thanked him. “We’ll talk more about all of this later, but for now get some rest. If anything else strange happens, we’ll be on standby.” Mita-senpai suddenly nudged Natsuki’s shoulder with his elbow.
Natsuki pouted his lips and averted his gaze. “Thanks for saving me… Again.”
I nodded with a smile.
The couple waved goodbye and disappeared within a blink of an eye. I sighed as I took off the face mask, and walked back to Izuki’s house. I closed the door and took off my shoes. I wiped the dirt off of the shoe I catapulted before placing my shoes near the footsteps.
Izuki peaked his head out from the living room. “You’re back! What did ya get at the supermarket?”My body froze. Crap, I forgot to go to the supermarket!12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVjo5YsQcf
