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Grim Archives

FumiOKAY
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Synopsis
After the sudden disappearance of his family, Levi Kurose searches for them desperately, seeking help wherever he can. By sheer chance, he stumbles upon the Grim Archives—a peculiar library-restaurant hybrid that, while appearing ordinary at first glance, holds a far more intriguing secret. Among its shelves lie the so-called Mysterious Archives. Driven by a mix of hesitation and hope, Levi decides to ask someone inside for help. Unbeknownst to him, this moment would mark the greatest turning point of his life, the beginning of his journey into the hidden truths of the world, and the unraveling of an ancient power known as the Zen'en Art.
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Chapter 1 - Delinquent Days

Arc 1: The Zen Trial - Levi's character will undergo profound development as he unravels the world's hidden mysteries and faces the greatest trial of his life.

"I'm heading out, Mom," Levi said softly, slipping on his shoes with a calm, almost distant tone.

"Alright, take care, Levi," his mother called out gently from the kitchen.

"Leaving already?" his father chimed in from the hallway, pouting slightly. "You haven't even tried my special Hazelnut Cream Mochis yet! Hehe, I swear—just one bite and it'll light a spark in that tired-looking face of yours."

Levi offered a small smile, just enough to reassure.

"I'll be expecting it when I get back. Don't let me down," he chuckled lightly.

He reached for the doorknob and gave one final glance over his shoulder.

"Tell Yuki I'm heading out. You three take care."

With that, Levi opened the door and stepped out into the quiet morning streets of modern Osaka—a city alive, yet peaceful.

On his way to school, Levi arrived at the bus stop. After a short wait, the bus pulled up, and he stepped inside. It was running on autopilot—but he didn't mind. Earphones in, music playing—his world dimmed to melodies and thought, the ride began quietly, just like any other.

But peace never lasts.

Grim Archives, Chapter 1: Delinquen No More?

From the back of the bus, behind where Levi sat, voices started to rise. First murmurs, then shouts. A sharp thud followed—a backpack hurled forward, smacking Levi across the face.

His expression froze, puzzled. He unplugged one earphone, slowly turning to glance behind him.

One person was cornered—surrounded by four others. Their voices were sharp, mocking. Tension hung in the air like a wire pulled too tight.

"No please! I can make more—just give me more time!" the boy pleaded, voice shaking.

"Oh yeah?" one of the guys snapped. "Then pay with your face instead."

He threw a punch. The boy dropped to the floor with a dull thud. The bus went quiet. Passengers looked but said nothing — just awkward glances and silence.

The four guys started kicking him. One grabbed him by the collar, ready to hit again— But his arm was caught mid-swing.

He turned-- Levi was standing, towering them and holding it, firm grip with his left hand, expression dead serious and clearly irritated.

Huh? What the hell do you think you're doing, punk?" the man snapped, glaring at Levi.

Levi didn't respond. He just stood there, hand clamped around the man's wrist—tightening his grip, slow and deliberate. "Hey! You got a death wish or somethin', dumbass?!" the man yelled, then threw a hard punch straight into Levi's face.

The sound echoed loud—sharp and sudden.

Gasps scattered across the bus. A few passengers stood up in alarm. Tension snapped.

But Levi didn't budge.

The punch only nudged his head to the side.

Still holding the man's arm, Levi calmly turned his face back.

Eyes locked. Cold. Unshaken.

The man froze. Sweat traced down his temple. His fist still pressed against Levi's cheek, now trembling slightly.

There was no bravado in Levi's eyes—just calm, dangerous focus. It felt like staring at someone who had already decided what came next.

Meanwhile, the boy on the floor stayed curled up, arms shielding his head, legs tucked tight.

Through his fingers, he looked up—at Levi.

As if seeing something—or someone—not entirely normal.

"This won't take long," Levi muttered.

Still gripping the man's wrist, he drew back his right arm—fist clenched tight. His expression remained unchanged: sharp, serious, and quietly irritated.

Then—he struck. The punch landed clean.

And with that—-

-—the screen faded to black.

Transitioning, the bus hissed as it reached Levi's stop. The doors creaked open.

Levi stepped out slowly. Blood marked his uniform—splattered across his collar, his face, and trickling from the side of his head. Most of it… was his own.

A hush fell over the people waiting at the stop. Their eyes locked on him, startled and uneasy. Some recoiled. Others hesitated to step forward.

But amidst the crowd, one girl reacted differently.

She didn't flinch. Instead, she smiled—softly.

An expression not of fear… but curiosity.

Back on the bus, the aftermath told the story.

The four men lay motionless—scattered across the aisle. Three were completely unconscious, bloodied and beaten.

The fourth—the one who first swung at Levi—was barely upright, gasping for breath. His eyes stared blankly toward the open bus door… until finally, they rolled back, and he collapsed with a thud.

Silence.

The bus remained still, doors wide open.

After the incident, Levi stood by a nearby faucet. He washed his face and hair, scrubbing away the blood. Using a damp white handkerchief, he wiped the stains from his uniform. Once clean, he stared at the running water in silence.

"I promised myself I'd stop being a delinquent. I forced this change—for my family, for my friends. But just the sight of an assault..." he sighed.

Levi turned off the faucet and wiped the remaining water from his face with his hand. Then he looked into the mirror. His eyes were fierce, but his expression carried disappointment.

"Even a glimpse of violence... it still awakens something in me," he thought bitterly.

Upon arriving at the university, Levi swiftly passed by everyone, heading straight to his classroom. He dropped his bag onto the chair, placed it behind him, and sat down.

With a tired sigh, he facepalmed, sinking into his thoughts once more. But before he could fully drift into overthinking, someone approached.

"Levi!!" a voice suddenly shouted right beside his ear.

Startled, Levi nearly fell off his chair. "WHOA—HEY!" he yelped, flailing his arms in the air in a chaotic attempt to regain his balance.

Now visibly annoyed, like a child who'd been heavily startled, Levi glared. "What did you do that for, Rina?!"

"I got you!" she laughed. "You had that scary look on your face again... but I'm used to Mr. Delinquent's expressions."

"Don't call me that. I don't like it."

"Alright, alright... geez. So, what's up? You seem super stressed. Are you okay?"

"Dunno. I hope so. It's just a headache, I think—I'll be fine. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Oh, right!" she said, perking up. "Have you heard the recent news about the mysterious disappearances and other supernatural stuff happening lately?"

Levi's stressed expression softened. Her words had caught his full attention.

"Not really. What's going on?"

"So lately, there's been news about random disappearances happening here in Osaka. Some people say it's abductions—but wouldn't it be weird if criminals were working faster than law enforcement?"

Levi listened intently, his focus sharpening with every word Rina said.

"The reports talk about sudden vanishings—random and unexplained. It doesn't make sense for them to just label it as abductions and leave it at that."

"That does seem suspicious," Levi replied.

"Right?! My deductions really are extraordinary, hehe," Rina said cheerfully, a dreamy expression on her face as if flowers were floating above her head. Levi stared at her with a weirded-out look, like someone watching something mildly disgusting.

"Anyway," he said, brushing it off, "is that news exclusive to Osaka?"

"Oh! Now that you mention it, I heard it's not just here. The reports are showing up everywhere—different media outlets around the world are covering it."

Levi glanced down, his expression shifting to one of quiet contemplation, trying to grasp the sheer bizarreness of what she was saying.

"Eh, I'm sure it's something the government can handle," he added, brushing off the issue with a tone of skepticism.

"Well then—" Rina's words were abruptly cut short as the teacher entered the classroom.

Everyone quickly wrapped up what they were doing and returned to their seats.

"Alright, today's schedule will be a bit different," the teacher announced. As she continued speaking in the background, Levi's mind began to drift, Rina's words from earlier still lingering in his mind.

"Unidentified disappearances, huh...

Now that she mentioned it, I do recall Mom and Dad talking about something like that..." he mused internally. His thoughts were interrupted when the teacher suddenly slammed her hands on the table.

"You are all to go straight home after school," she said firmly. "The recent news about the disappearances has created major safety concerns across various parts of the world. We will be contacting your parents to confirm your whereabouts. This is a direct order from the government." Her tone made it clear—this was more than just a precaution. It was a warning.

Hearing the teacher's words, the class fell into mild chaos. Whispers began to spread like wildfire. Levi's eyes widened slightly as he turned to Rina. She also seemed lost in thought, clearly caught up in her own world.

He looked back to the front and muttered under his breath, "This escalated more than I expected…"

"Alright, quiet down," the teacher said firmly. "The higher-ups are doing their best to handle the situation, so I need everyone to stay calm and follow the required protocols. Hopefully, this will all be over soon."

She tried to sound reassuring.

"Now, let's begin the class," she added.

Levi, meanwhile, turned his gaze toward the window, staring at the blue sky. He squinted faintly, his expression filled with caution—and something else.

Worry.