Wednesday Morning – Kagawa Residence, Matsumoto City
The morning light slipped through the curtains, warm and quiet.
Birds chirped faintly outside as the alarm buzzed on the bedside table.
Ryota groaned, reaching for his phone and shutting it off. His eyes were heavy, but the pain from yesterday was gone.
He sat up slowly, stretching his arms until his shoulders popped.
Ryota (mumbling): Another day... guess I survived.
He stood, walked to the bathroom, and splashed cold water on his face.
The reflection in the mirror looked normal again, no shadow, no glow, just him.
He brushed his teeth, fixed his hair, and put on his uniform.
The smell of toast filled the kitchen as he cooked breakfast: eggs, rice, and leftover ham from last night.
He ate quietly, checking his phone.
A message from Reiji blinked on screen.
Reiji: Yo zombie, you alive?
You good for school now?
Ryota smirked, typing back.
Ryota: Yeah yeah, I'm coming.
A second message popped in instantly.
Reiji: You need a ride, corpse boy?
Ryota: Nah. I'll drive. I can manage.
He grabbed his car keys from the counter and headed out.
Wednesday Morning – Dōjima Street, Matsumoto City
The weather was cool, the sky pale blue.
Traffic was light for once, a rare miracle in the city.
Ryota hummed softly, his car gliding through the roads.
Before heading to school, he took a detour to a familiar street corner and his small bakery shop.
The bell jingled as he stepped inside.
The scent of fresh bread and coffee filled the air.
A few early customers sat by the window, enjoying breakfast. Behind the counter, one of his employees, Aiko, waved.
Aiko: Oh, boss! Morning! Here for your daily check-up again?
Ryota (smiling): You know me. Can't help but peek in.
He checked the register, skimming through the receipts stacked neatly in a folder.
Ryota (thinking): 230,000 yen this month... not bad.
He counted the expenses in his head — rent, electricity, taxes, worker salaries.
After payments, there was little profit, but it was his.
Something he built with effort.
Aiko: Everything's running smooth. The baker said we're testing a new pastry next week.
Ryota: Good. Keep it steady, and pay everyone on time. I'll send the bills later.
He gave a short nod, grabbed a small bun for the road, and stepped back into the car.
As he started the engine, his phone buzzed again he looked and saw a message from Dad.
Yori: Morning, Ryota. Did you sleep well? Any strange feelings?
You need to report any discomfort, okay?
Ryota: I'm fine. No weird stuff. Just heading to school.
Yori: Alright. Keep calm, and don't overthink. We'll talk later tonight.
Ryota pocketed the phone, his mind briefly flashing back to the mirror.
He shook the thought away and drove on.
Wednesday – Tenkuu Gakuin Highschool
The familiar sound of chatter greeted him as he entered the classroom.
Students were laughing, gossiping, comparing homework. Everything felt ordinary again.
Reiji was leaning on Ryota's desk, munching on a sandwich.
Reiji: Look who finally returned from the dead.
Ryota: Guess heaven kicked me out.
Reiji: Ha! Good to see you back. You sure you're okay now?
Ryota (nodding): Yeah. Just tired yesterday. Nothing major.
Reiji patted his shoulder.
Reiji: Good. We've got practice later. Don't disappear again, alright?
Before Ryota could reply, the classroom door slid open.
Their teacher, Mr. Hayama, walked in, holding a folder.
Mr. Hayama: Alright everyone, settle down. Before we start, we have a new transfer student joining us today.
The room immediately filled with whispers.
Student A: New student?
Student B: I hope it's a girl this time!
The teacher gestured to the doorway.
A tall male student stepped in.
He was striking, with a sharp jawline, cool blue hair that brushed just above his eyes, and a calm, unreadable expression.
His uniform fit perfectly, crisp and neat. His height towered above everyone, at least 6'3.
Gasps filled the room.
Girl 1 (whispering): Wow... he's so handsome.
Girl 2: Is he a model?
Mr. Hayama: Introduce yourself, please.
The boy bowed slightly.
Jung: My name is Chu Jung. I'm from South Korea. Please take care of me.
His voice was low, confident, polite but distant.
He gave a faint nod and scanned the room, his gaze briefly locking with Ryota's.
For a second, Ryota felt something. A faint pulse in his chest.
Mr. Hayama: Excellent. Take a seat beside Reiji.
The girls whispered excitedly as Jung walked past them. His steps were calm, but his aura made everyone instinctively quiet.
Reiji leaned toward Ryota, whispering.
Reiji: Another tall guy, huh. Think he plays basketball?
Ryota: Probably. Look at that height.
Reiji: Then I gotta check if he's any good.
Afternoon – School Gym
The sound of sneakers squeaking against the wooden floor echoed.
Dozens of students gathered around the court, excited chatter filling the air.
Girl 1: Reiji versus the new guy? No way!
Boy 1: Bro, this is gonna be crazy. Captain versus the transfer.
Ryota stood near the sidelines, arms crossed, watching nervously.
Ryota (murmuring): Why does he always turn everything into a challenge...
Reiji spun the basketball in his hands, grinning confidently.
Reiji: So, Jung. You said you played back in Korea?
Jung (calmly): I did. I was one of the best players in my school.
The crowd reacted with an excited cheer.
Reiji (smirking): Then show me. First to six points wins. No fouls, no excuses.
Jung (nodding): Fine by me.
They took their positions. Ryota sighed, muttering quietly.
Ryota: This is gonna be trouble...
The whistle blew.
Reiji made the first move — lightning fast, crossing left to right, then stepping back for a three-point shot.
Swish. The ball sank cleanly.
Score: 1–0.
The students cheered.
Reiji (grinning): Strongest player in school, remember that!
He caught the ball again, faked left, side-stepped right, and fired another three.
Another perfect shot.
Score: 2–0.
Crowd: Captain! Captain!
Ryota watched, both impressed and worried.
Ryota (thinking): Typical Reiji... always showy.
But something changed. Jung's expression hardened. His blue eyes narrowed, calm and focused.
When Reiji dribbled again, Jung moved fast, almost a blur.
He stole the ball mid-step before Reiji even realized.
Reiji: What the—?
Jung sprinted forward, leaped, and shot cleanly.
Score: 2–1.
The crowd gasped. Reiji smirked, wiping sweat from his brow.
Reiji: So you're not just tall.
Jung: You'll see soon.
The next few minutes were intense.
Jung's movements grew sharper, dribbles switching between hands, spins, sudden feints that made even the crowd flinch.
Reiji almost lost his balance twice.
Jung stepped left, pulled back, and fired.
Score: 2–2.
Cheers erupted. The energy grew electric.
They traded points back and forth — 2–3, 3–3, 3–4, 3–5.
Sweat dripped from both players, the air heavy with tension.
Ryota (thinking): They're insane... It's like a real match.
The scoreboard read 5–5. One point left to win.
The gym went silent.
Reiji dribbled slowly, eyes locked on Jung. His grin returned.
He moved fast, left, right, spin, step back — his signature rhythm.
Jung stayed tight, mirroring every move.
Reiji dashed forward, crossed mid-court, and jumped.
Reiji (shouting): It's over!
He launched the ball from half court.
The crowd held its breath.
The ball flew in a perfect arc, cutting through the air — swish.
Score: 6–5.
The gym exploded in cheers.
Students: Captain wins! That was crazy!
Reiji landed, panting, grinning widely. He extended his hand to Jung.
Reiji: You're good, man. Real good.
Jung (smiling faintly): You too. Guess I underestimated Japan's captain.
They shook hands, and the crowd kept cheering.
Ryota finally relaxed, exhaling.
Ryota (smiling): Idiots... both of them.
The sunset light poured through the gym windows, painting the court in orange and gold.
It almost felt peaceful again, ordinary, human.
But deep inside, something faint pulsed beneath Ryota's skin, unseen and waiting.
The host remained silent... for now.
Evening – Outside the Stadium
The crowd's noise was fading. The sky above Matsumoto City was deep orange, the sun slowly sinking behind the cityscape. The match had ended. The air buzzed faintly with excitement and leftover adrenaline.
Reiji leaned against a wall near the parking area, towel around his neck, still catching his breath. Ryota stood beside him, sipping from a bottle of sports drink, his hair sticking to his forehead with sweat.
A familiar voice called from behind.
Jung: You were incredible out there.
Both turned. Jung approached, calm, composed, yet his sharp eyes held a trace of respect.
Reiji (grinning): Coming from you, that means a lot. You're fast, man. I barely kept up.
Jung (smiling faintly): You're stronger than you look. Your timing, your reads, they're insane. Feels like you see moves before they happen.
Reiji scratched the back of his head, laughing lightly.
Reiji: Maybe I just got lucky tonight.
Jung: Luck doesn't dunk like that. He chuckled, glancing at Ryota. You got quite the teammate too. Quiet type, huh?
Ryota (shrugging): I just pass the ball and pray it goes in.
They all laughed, the tension from the match melting away. Jung patted Reiji on the shoulder.
Jung: You've got something rare. Keep training. We'll meet again, on or off the court.
He gave a nod before walking off toward his car. The sound of his sneakers against the concrete echoed faintly until it disappeared.
Evening – Near a Vending Machine
The parking lot had mostly emptied. Ryota and Reiji stood by a vending machine, each holding a canned drink, Reiji with cold chocolate milk, Ryota with canned coffee.
Reiji: That Jung guy... he's crazy fast. Did you see that crossover in the second quarter?
Ryota: I did. Still, you won. So who's stronger now?
Reiji (smiling): Maybe just today. Tomorrow, who knows?
Ryota: You're being humble again. I can't even relate. I'm thin, slow, no stamina... you're out there flying like it's nothing.
Reiji laughed, punching his arm lightly.
Reiji: Don't say that. You've got something I don't.
Ryota (raising a brow): Like what, bones?
Reiji (smirking): Nah. Calmness. You think before you move. Not many do.
They both laughed, their voices mixing with the quiet hum of the vending machine.
Ryota: You're seriously weird.
Reiji: Takes one to know one.
They stood there in silence for a while, watching the streetlights flicker on. The city had its own rhythm, cars passing, wind brushing against signs, the faint buzz of life continuing after the game.
Reiji: Anyway, I'll head home. You?
Ryota: Same. Long day.
They tossed their empty cans into the bin and walked toward their cars. The sound of engines starting filled the air.
Night – On the Road
Ryota's car hummed softly as it rolled down the narrow streets of his neighborhood. The streetlights blurred through the windshield. His mind replayed the match, the plays, the crowd, Jung's words.
He should've been happy. He was. But something felt... off.
His vision flickered for a second. The dashboard light dimmed, then brightened again. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
Ryota (muttering): What the hell...
He blinked rapidly. For a brief moment, the world outside the windshield shimmered, like a reflection in water. The buildings seemed to stretch, distort, then snap back to normal.
His breath hitched. Sweat beaded down his neck. The car was moving fine, but something in his head wasn't.
Then, suddenly, his dashboard screen flickered, static flashed across it.
The navigation system, which wasn't even on, glowed faintly. Letters appeared across the black screen, one by one.
WELCOME, RYOTA.
His heart dropped. The car slowed to a stop on instinct.
Ryota (whispering): What... is this...?
He reached out, fingertips trembling slightly, touching the edge of the screen. The message vanished instantly. The dashboard returned to normal, only his reflection stared back at him.
He sat still, breathing heavily, listening to the faint tick of the engine cooling.
It was probably nothing. A glitch. Just a random, stupid glitch.
But deep inside, something felt wrong, as if something had seen him... and greeted him.
Later that Night – Yori's Private Lab
The hum of machines filled the underground lab beneath the Kagawa residence. Bright white light reflected off metal tables and glass containers. Yori stood in a white coat, staring at a screen filled with data.
Charts. DNA strands. Brain scans. Everything looked normal. Too normal.
A technician nearby shook his head.
Technician: No abnormalities detected, sir. The samples, blood, saliva, even cell culture, all perfectly human.
Yori (quietly): Run them again. Cross-check with last week's samples.
Technician: We did. Three times. No deviation.
Yori's jaw tightened. He turned away, rubbing his temples.
On another monitor, a medical scan of Ryota's body rotated slowly in 3D, bones, muscles, nerves, everything clean. No anomaly. No sign of foreign presence.
He dismissed the staff, one by one, until the lab was empty. The heavy door shut behind them with a soft hiss.
Silence.
He walked toward the far side of the room, a dim corner where a single chair and an old rotary phone sat. He picked it up, dialing a number by memory.
A low, gravelly voice answered after a few seconds.
Kang (through phone): Took you long enough, Yori.
Yori: I had to be sure. It's happening again.
Kang: The boy?
Yori: Yes. My son. He saw something tonight. Something reacted to him.
Kang: And?
Yori (grimly): All tests show normal. DNA, X-ray, brain activity, everything looks clean.
Kang (chuckling faintly): Of course it does. You forget, we don't play by human rules.
Yori (lowering his voice): Kang... is it possible a demon possessed him?
There was a pause, followed by quiet laughter on the other end.
Kang: Yori, you are a demon. His mother's human. That makes him half-blood. A demon cannot possess a demon, no matter how diluted the blood. You know that.
Yori: Then what could it be?
Kang: Maybe... he's not possessed. Maybe he's chosen.
Yori (frowning): Chosen?
Kang: A vessel. Perhaps something ancient seeks him, something that needs balance, not chaos. Or maybe I'm just rambling again. Who knows? He chuckled.
Yori (tightly): If a creature has entered him and shows no sign, then it's not a creature. It's something else.
Kang: Exactly. The question isn't what it can do. The question is when it will do it.
The line went silent. Only the faint hum of machines filled the air.
Yori stared at the phone, eyes heavy with thought. He looked at the monitor again, Ryota's scan still glowing faintly on the screen.
Yori (murmuring): What are you becoming, son...?
In the reflection of the monitor, his own eyes faintly glowed red before fading to normal.
Meanwhile, miles away, Ryota lay awake in bed. His phone screen was dark beside him. The world outside was quiet, too quiet.
He turned, staring at the ceiling. In his mind, the words repeated again and again.
Welcome, Ryota.
And though his room was cold, his body felt strangely warm, like something inside him had just... awakened.
To be continued...