Chapter 1: Borrowed Beginning
Narrative:
The afternoon sky over Seiran High School was dull, mirroring Haru Aizaki's mood as he walked home. His steps were slow, eyes vacant, staring at the long asphalt road. The laughter of other students echoed, but it felt distant… as if he was walking in his own separate world.
"Haru, have you finished your homework yet?"
The question came from a classmate, but before he could answer, the kid had already walked away, chatting with friends. Haru gave a small, faint smile. This was normal.
At home, the silence was deeper. His mother worked night shifts at the hospital, and his father rarely came home. Haru ate dinner alone, the small desk in his room the only companion. Sitting on his bed, he stared at the ceiling, pondering a question that haunted him constantly:
"If I disappeared… would anyone even notice?"
Dialogue:
(Haru scrolling through his phone, staring at social media)
Haru: "Everyone seems so happy… and me?"
(Suddenly, his phone vibrates. The screen goes black. A single icon appears: Soul Rental.)
Haru: "What…? I've never downloaded this…"
(Haru hesitates but taps the icon. The screen turns pitch black, then white text appears.)
Phone Screen: "Do you want to live as someone better?"
Haru (bitter smile): "Impossible… but… okay, I'll try."
(He presses YES. The phone glows brightly. Haru feels a strange lightness, his eyes flicker with a sense of disbelief.)
Narrative:
The next morning, Haru opened his eyes and noticed something had changed. His reflection in the mirror was still him—but something was different. His posture was straighter, his expression more confident. Even his steps at school felt different—every word he spoke came out precisely correct.
His math teacher called on him at the whiteboard:
Teacher: "Haru, can you solve this problem?"
Normally, Haru would panic, but this time, the answer appeared clearly in his mind. He wrote it down confidently, leaving the entire class silent. The teacher smiled proudly.
Teacher: "Correct. Excellent."
Other students looked at him with admiration. A feeling Haru had never experienced before stirred in his chest: being appreciated.
However, as he walked home, his phone vibrated. A notification appeared:
App Notification: "Rental Time Remaining: 24 Hours"
Haru stared at the screen, a mix of awe and fear in his eyes. This was real… and his life was no longer entirely his own.
🔥 Chapter 1 Ending:
Haru knew this was only the beginning. The world he once knew… had changed. And his first choice to "live as someone else" had opened a door to a mystery that couldn't be undone.
Chapter 2: Perfect Mask
Narrative:
The morning sun filtered through Haru's window, casting warm stripes across his bed. He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and stared at his phone. The Soul Rental app blinked quietly, waiting like a predator.
"Should I… do it again?" Haru thought. The thrill from yesterday—the praise, the attention—still lingered in his chest. He remembered the surprise on the teacher's face and the silence of the class when he solved the math problem effortlessly.
He opened the app and scrolled through the available souls. Each entry was a role, not a person:
Genius: excels academically
Athlete: fastest runner in school
Charismatic Leader: everyone admires them
Musician: plays multiple instruments
No names, no faces he knew—just abilities and archetypes.
Haru hesitated for a moment. "I can be anyone… just for a day."
He tapped Genius. The familiar glow enveloped him, and once again, the world shifted.
Internal Monologue:
"Everything feels sharper… faster… people are noticing me! I can do anything today."
Haru walked to school, feeling the difference immediately. His posture was straighter, his voice clearer. Passing through the school gates, students began whispering.
(: Mika Tanaka): "Is it just me, or is Haru… different today?"
(: Sota Kimura): "Yeah, he's… confident. Like someone else entirely."
Haru's chest warmed at the attention, a smile forming without effort.
Dialogue:
In class, the teacher called on him.
Teacher: "Haru, would you solve this?"
Usually, his mind would freeze, but today, the answer appeared as clearly as a written note in his mind. He moved to the board and wrote each step with confidence.
The classroom fell silent.
Teacher: "Correct. Excellent."
A ripple of admiration ran through the class. Even minor NPCs noticed.
(: Ayumi Hasegawa): "Wow… he's amazing."
(: Riku Sakamoto): "When did he become so… perfect?"
Haru felt a rush of excitement—validation, approval, a taste of power he had never known.
Narrative:
Recess brought more surprises. Haru tried switching souls, briefly adopting Athlete and Charismatic Leader. The admiration grew, and whispers spread across the school courtyard.
Takumi Saito, Haru's original rival and always-confident student, approached with a sharp smile.
Takumi: "Well… well… looks like someone found a new mask. Don't think it'll last forever."
Haru's stomach tightened, but a stronger part of him stood firm.
Haru: "Maybe… maybe it will."
Even minor NPCs like Keiko Arai and Hajime Fujimoto watched quietly, whispering, adding life to the bustling courtyard.
Internal Monologue:
"This feels… intoxicating. Recognition, admiration… it's like I finally exist. But… why do parts of me feel… blurry?"
As the day went on, Haru noticed a subtle shift. Memories of his own past, small details—like the lunch he had yesterday, the exact words of a joke from last week—seemed hazy. He shook his head.
"I'm imagining it… right?"
Narrative:
That evening, Haru stared at the app again. A notification appeared:
App Notification: "Warning: Prolonged use may affect original identity."
Haru froze. His heartbeat quickened.
"Identity? My identity? That's… just a warning, right?" he muttered nervously.
He dismissed it, but the rush of praise, attention, and perfection was already too addictive.
Outside, the streetlights glowed softly. The city felt ordinary, but Haru knew it had changed for him. His life… was no longer fully his own.
And deep inside, a small voice whispered—
"This is only the beginning."
🔥 Chapter 2 Ending:
Haru's addiction to Soul Rental grows. Archetypes bring admiration and envy, minor NPCs give life to the school, and Takumi notices subtle changes. The first hints of mystery—identity fading, internal unease—are firmly planted.
Chapter 3: The Girl Who Knows
Narrative:
The morning air was cool, and the streets outside Seiran High hummed with the usual chatter of students. Haru walked through the gates, feeling the lingering thrill from yesterday's borrowed souls. His confidence was intoxicating, yet a shadow of doubt tugged at him—a small whisper he tried to ignore.
"Am I still me?" he wondered.
Among the familiar crowd, a girl leaned casually against the school wall, her dark hair catching the sunlight. Mei had sharp eyes, observant, and unmissable. She had watched Haru for weeks now, but recently… she noticed something different.
Mei (minor NPCs whispering in background: Hana, Yuto, Kira): "He… something's off. But what?"
Haru barely noticed her. His mind buzzed with possibilities—who to borrow next, which soul would make him stronger, more admired. But Mei's gaze, piercing and unwavering, sent a shiver down his spine.
Dialogue:
Mei: "Haru, can I talk to you for a second?"
Haru froze, caught off guard. Nobody had ever approached him like this—not with such calm certainty.
Haru: "Uh… sure. What's up?"
Mei: "Don't lie. You're… different. Everyone's noticing it too."
Haru forced a smile. "I… I've just been trying harder, I guess."
But Mei didn't look convinced.
Mei: "Don't. Try. To hide it. I know when someone isn't themselves."
Internal Monologue:
"How does she… see me like this? Nobody ever notices me… but she sees through it. Does she know about the app? No… it can't be. Can it?"
Haru felt a knot in his chest. For the first time, the thrill of borrowed power was tainted with fear—someone could see right through his mask.
Narrative:
Throughout the day, Haru switched between archetypes again: Genius, Athlete, Charismatic Leader. Admiration followed him, whispers spreading through the halls. Yet Mei followed at a distance, always observing, silent but relentless.
Minor NPCs added life to the school:
Renji Ota bumped into Haru accidentally, mumbling apologies.
Saki Mizuno laughed nearby, pointing at a group project Haru "miraculously" led.
Tomo Yagami whispered about the strange aura around him.
It was as if the world had shifted, aligning to watch him—but one pair of eyes remained different: Mei's.
Dialogue:
Mei: "You can keep borrowing all you want, Haru. But remember—every borrowed soul leaves a mark. You won't stay the same."
Haru: "I… I don't care. It's… just temporary."
Mei: "Temporary? That's what everyone thinks… until it's too late."
Haru swallowed hard. He didn't fully understand her warning, but it planted a seed of doubt.
Narrative:
By evening, the first real cracks appeared. Small things—misremembered names, hazy memories of lunch, fleeting confusion over a minor detail—made Haru pause. The thrill of borrowed souls was still powerful, addictive, but now tinged with a fear he couldn't ignore.
The notification from the Soul Rental app appeared again:
App Notification: "Warning: Continued borrowing may permanently alter identity. Choose wisely."
Haru stared at the screen, heart pounding. For the first time, he considered Mei's words seriously.
"Maybe… she's the only one who can see me for who I really am."
🔥 Ending Chapter 3:
Mei notices Haru's secret. Haru begins to sense the consequences of using Soul Rental. Minor NPCs continue to make the world feel alive, while suspense builds: identity, addiction, and someone who knows the truth are all converging.
Chapter 4: Cracks in Reality
Narrative:
The following morning, Haru woke with a strange unease. Something felt… wrong. His reflection in the mirror looked the same, yet the expression staring back at him seemed foreign. A flicker of someone else's confidence, someone else's memories, lingered in his eyes.
"It's nothing… just imagination," he told himself. But deep down, a seed of doubt had been planted.
At school, minor NPCs continued to fill the halls with life:
Aya Fujikawa, laughing with her friends over last night's homework
Riku Moriyama, fumbling a stack of papers in the corridor
Nao Takeda, whispering about an unusual rumor
Yet Haru barely noticed them. His mind kept returning to small inconsistencies: a flash of memory from a borrowed soul that didn't belong to him, the faint echo of a voice he had never heard before.
Internal Monologue:
"Yesterday… did I really do that? Or… was it someone else? No… I did it… didn't I? But I don't remember clearly."
The thrill of admiration from the borrowed souls had faded slightly. In its place, a gnawing fear began to creep in—the first real warning that his own identity was unstable.
Dialogue:
During lunch, Mei approached him quietly, holding a tray of food.
Mei: "Haru… you're acting strange again."
Haru looked away, forcing a casual smile.
Haru: "I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."
Mei: "You don't have to lie to me. I can tell. Something's happening… and it's not just in your head."
Haru's fingers tightened around his chopsticks. Her words hit too close to home.
Haru (thinking): "How does she always see through me? Even when I hide… she notices."
Narrative:
Later, in the computer lab, Haru attempted to study. But the screen in front of him glitched strangely—text would shift, equations would blur, even files he knew he saved yesterday appeared… altered.
"What…? That's impossible…"
A notification popped up from Soul Rental:
App Notification: "Warning: Borrowed memories may begin to merge with original identity. Proceed with caution."
Panic rose in Haru's chest. This was no longer just an addictive thrill—this was real, and dangerous.
Meanwhile, Mei lingered near the lab doorway, watching silently, concern etched across her face.
Mei (minor NPCs whispering nearby: Shun, Kayo, Tatsuya): "Something's happening with him… it's like he's fading."
Internal Monologue:
"I… I can feel them. The borrowed souls. Their thoughts… their memories… mixing with mine. Who am I anymore?"
Haru's heartbeat quickened. Every glance, every movement, seemed tinged with someone else's presence. His sense of reality wavered, and for the first time, he feared the consequences of the app he had once thought harmless.
Narrative:
The bell rang, dismissing students from class. Haru stepped outside into the afternoon sun, but even the warm light felt alien. He glimpsed a familiar face—a student who, yesterday, had been in the hallway. Today, she… wasn't there.
"Was she… ever real?" Haru whispered, panic creeping in. The world he thought he knew was beginning to fracture.
Mei approached his side silently.
Mei: "You're noticing it now, aren't you?"
Haru swallowed hard. The app, the borrowed souls, the thrill—they were no longer just a game. Reality itself had started to crack.
🔥 Ending Chapter 4:
Haru begins to sense the real danger of Soul Rental: memories merging, identity fading, and people disappearing from reality. Mei is the first person to notice his struggle, and tension builds between trust, addiction, and the unknown consequences.
Chapter 5: The Cost of Perfection
Narrative:
Haru woke up with a pounding headache. His room felt smaller, suffocating, and the glow of his phone on the desk seemed sharper than usual. The Soul Rental app blinked at him, innocently teasing:
"Borrow another soul… become perfect once more."
Haru's fingers hovered above the screen. He wanted to resist. He wanted to reclaim himself, even just a little.
"I can't… I need a break," he whispered, closing his eyes. But the memory of yesterday—the admiration, the attention, the thrill—pulled him back.
Internal Monologue:
"I can do without it… I really can. Just one day, just one moment without it. But… everyone noticed me yesterday. They were impressed. I was… someone."
The craving gnawed at him, sharper than hunger. His heartbeat raced. He tried standing, pacing the room.
"I… I just want to feel alive again."
Dialogue:
At school, Mei noticed immediately.
Mei: "You look… exhausted. Did you stay up again?"
Haru: "I'm fine… just tired."
Mei: "Haru… stop pretending. You're spiraling. You've been using it again, haven't you?"
Haru's hands shook slightly.
Haru: "…Maybe… just a little."
Mei: "A little? This isn't a game. You can't keep borrowing perfection and expect nothing to happen. You're losing yourself."
Haru turned away, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Narrative:
He walked through the crowded halls, trying to distract himself. Minor NPCs filled the space:
Takuya Ono tripping over a backpack
Hanae Ishikawa laughing at a spilled juice
Ryo Kinoshita whispering about strange rumors in the lab
But Haru barely noticed. His focus was on the gnawing emptiness inside—how incomplete he felt without the borrowed soul.
By lunchtime, the cravings overwhelmed him. Without thinking, he opened the Soul Rental app again. Archetypes appeared, glowing faintly on the screen: Genius, Athlete, Charismatic Leader.
Haru's hand shook, hovering above the icon.
"Just one more… just to feel normal again," he told himself.
Internal Monologue:
"I'm supposed to stop… but I can't. Every second I'm without it, I feel… nothing. Empty. Invisible."
The first flash of danger hit almost immediately. As he transformed into Genius, a minor memory flickered in his mind—someone he had never met crying in a corridor, whispering his name. Haru blinked, confused.
"What…? Who was that?"
The warning from the app appeared again:
App Notification: "Warning: Continued borrowing may lead to irreversible identity loss."
Haru ignored it, feeling the rush wash over him. But deep inside, a part of him—small, fragile—knew Mei was right.
Narrative:
Later, Mei found him sitting alone in the library.
Mei: "Haru… stop. Please. You're not yourself anymore. You're fading."
Haru shook his head, almost laughing nervously.
Haru: "I'm fine… I just… want to feel someone notices me."
Mei: "Notice you? I've been noticing you for weeks, Haru. Not the borrowed mask. You. But you're hiding from yourself."
Haru's chest tightened. He couldn't argue, couldn't respond. Mei's eyes cut through him like sunlight through fog.
Narrative:
As the school day ended, the subtle changes became undeniable. His thoughts tangled with borrowed memories. Small fragments of lives he had touched—or taken—haunted him: a smile that wasn't his, a whispered laugh, a step he didn't remember taking.
And outside the window, faint shadows flickered—minor NPCs who seemed… just a little off. Something about them didn't feel real.
Haru's phone vibrated. Another notification:
App Notification: "Warning: Reality is unstable. Identity merging detected. Proceed with caution."
Haru's hands trembled. The cost of perfection was no longer abstract. It was here.
🔥 Ending Chapter 5:
Haru succumbs partially to the Soul Rental again, despite wanting to stop. His internal conflict grows, and Mei begins actively confronting him. Suspense escalates: memories, identity, and reality itself begin to fracture, with minor NPCs adding subtle unease.
Chapter 6: Shadows of the Borrowed
Narrative:
The evening sky over Seiran High was tinged with a dull orange, the kind that made the world look softer, almost unreal. Haru walked home, the familiar hum of the city below his feet, but the streets felt… off. Something in the air was heavier tonight, as if reality itself were stretching thin.
He reached the corner where he usually saw minor NPCs hanging out—Kento Ishida juggling a soccer ball, Aya Nakahara chatting with friends, Tomo Hoshino reading a book on a bench—but something was wrong. They all froze, mid-motion, like statues. When he blinked, they were gone.
"No… that's impossible," Haru whispered. His pulse quickened.
Internal Monologue:
"Yesterday… everything felt real. But now… these people… did they ever exist? Or is this a side effect of the app?"
Haru's fingers instinctively reached for his phone. The Soul Rental app glowed faintly, almost beckoning him. A notification flashed:
App Notification: "Unclaimed borrowed souls detected nearby. Caution advised."
A shiver ran down his spine. For the first time, Haru felt fear—not of being caught, but of losing himself, and everyone else around him.
Dialogue:
As he tried to process, Mei appeared silently at his side, arms crossed, her gaze sharp as ever.
Mei: "You noticed it too, didn't you?"
Haru: "I… I don't know. People… they were just gone. I swear, I blinked and…"
Mei: "It's the app, isn't it? I told you, Haru. This isn't just about borrowing abilities. It's taking something from reality… and leaving cracks behind."
Haru's chest tightened. "She knows… she really knows."
Haru: "But why? Why is this happening now?"
Mei: "Because you keep using it. The more you borrow, the thinner the line becomes between borrowed and real. And you… you're starting to blur with them."
Narrative:
The two walked together cautiously down the streets. Haru's senses felt heightened—he could feel echoes of the borrowed souls around him, faint whispers brushing against his mind. Random minor NPCs flickered in and out of view:
Riku Takamura standing near a streetlight, frozen mid-step
Hana Saito laughing softly, her voice distant, fading
Shun Arai tripping over a loose stone, then disappearing
It was subtle, almost dreamlike—but Haru knew it was real.
"I'm causing this… it's my fault," he thought, panic rising.
Internal Monologue:
"Every borrowed soul… every admiration, every moment of being someone else… it's costing reality itself. And maybe… me."
Dialogue:
Mei: "You can't ignore it anymore. You have to stop… but you won't, will you?"
Haru: "I… I want to. I do. But it feels… impossible. When I'm normal… it's like I'm nothing."
Mei: "You're not nothing, Haru. You just haven't seen who you can be without the mask."
Haru's hands shook. He had always relied on borrowed perfection, but now… the line between himself and the borrowed souls was bleeding.
Narrative:
That night, at home, Haru stared at the glowing phone on his desk. Every notification felt like a whisper from another world. A subtle shadow moved across his room—not real, but undeniable.
App Notification: "Warning: Reality instability increasing. Borrowed souls merging with original identity. Intervention recommended."
A chill ran through him. For the first time, he questioned whether the app was a gift or a curse.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, calm and almost amused:
"You're learning the price, Haru… but the game has only begun."
Haru's eyes widened. It was neither the app's usual text nor Mei's voice. Someone—or something—was watching.
Internal Monologue:
"Who… is that? The creator? Or… another borrowed soul? I can't… I can't control this anymore."
Narrative:
Haru lay in bed, heart racing. Shadows of borrowed souls flickered behind his eyelids. Outside, the city lights blurred into streaks of blue and purple.
Somewhere in the distance, minor NPCs like Kei Yamamoto, Aya Kobayashi, and Tatsuya Endo were repeating their motions—unaware, or maybe trapped in the cracks Haru had begun to create.
Mei's warning echoed in his mind: "Every borrowed soul leaves a mark. Every action has a cost."
And now, Haru knew that cost was rising.
Chapter 7: Echoes of the Lost
Narrative:
The next morning, the city was quiet—eerily quiet. Haru walked through Seiran High's courtyard, every step echoing in a space that felt slightly… off. Minor NPCs he had seen every day flickered at the edges of his vision: Aya Kobayashi smiling mid-step, Tomo Hoshino frozen with a book in hand, Riku Moriyama paused mid-laugh.
When he blinked, some vanished completely.
"No… this can't be happening," Haru whispered, panic bubbling in his chest.
Mei appeared at his side again, eyes sharp, expression tense.
Mei: "I told you, Haru. Every time you borrow a soul… someone pays the price."
Haru: "I… I didn't mean to! I just… wanted to be noticed!"
Mei: "Noticed? You've crossed the line. Look around. Some people aren't supposed to disappear."
Haru's stomach churned as he realized she was right.
Internal Monologue:
"All these people… did I erase them? Just by using the app? This is my fault… but how do I fix it?"
Narrative:
Determined, Haru ran through the school, trying to retrace the moments he had borrowed souls yesterday. Everywhere he looked, flickers of NPCs appeared and vanished:
Kei Yamamoto, walking towards the vending machine, frozen in mid-step
Hanae Ishikawa, laughing at a spilled drink, then gone
Shun Arai, dropping his books, flickering into nothing
It was chaotic, almost surreal.
"I have to save them… somehow."
He tapped the Soul Rental app with trembling hands. The archetypes flashed on the screen. Normally, he used them for admiration and power—but now… he tried something else: return.
App Notification: "Reverse borrowing initiated. Risk: unknown."
Dialogue:
Mei grabbed his arm.
Mei: "Haru… be careful! You don't know what will happen!"
Haru: "I have to! I can't just let them… disappear!"
As he pressed YES, the familiar glow enveloped him. Memories of borrowed souls—their confidence, their movements, their laughter—flashed in his mind. For the first time, it wasn't exciting or fun; it was overwhelming, almost painful.
Narrative:
The minor NPCs returned, flickering back into reality. Haru staggered, gasping. Their expressions were slightly… different, as if something subtle had shifted.
Aya Kobayashi: "Huh… what just happened?"
Tomo Hoshino: "Did… I just…?"
Riku Moriyama: "I feel… strange."
Even though they were back, Haru realized: the cost was more than just fear. Every borrowed soul left a trace, a ripple in reality, something that Mei had warned about.
Internal Monologue:
"I thought returning them would fix everything… but it didn't. They're alive… but reality itself is… fragile now. I can feel it. And it's my fault."
Dialogue:
Mei stepped closer, softer this time, concern etched into her eyes.
Mei: "Haru… you can't keep doing this alone. The app… it's dangerous. More than you realize."
Haru looked at her, vulnerability shining through his usual mask of confidence.
Haru: "I… I don't know if I can stop. It's too addictive… too tempting."
Mei: "Then let me help you. But you have to trust me."
For the first time, Haru felt the weight of trust—someone seeing him beyond the borrowed masks. He nodded slowly, unsure, but willing to try.
Narrative:
That night, Haru lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Shadows flickered behind his eyelids—the faint echoes of borrowed souls, the faces of minor NPCs he had affected, the subtle traces of reality bending.
He felt a presence, cold and calculating, somewhere in the back of his mind. The mysterious watcher from Chapter 6… the system creator? Haru shivered.
"So this is the true cost… and I've only begun to understand it."
Chapter 8: Fractured Reality
Narrative:
The following day, the school felt heavier, almost suffocating. Shadows seemed longer, sounds sharper, and even minor NPCs—students like Aya Kobayashi, Riku Moriyama, and Tomo Hoshino—moved just slightly off rhythm, as if reality around them was bending.
Haru trudged beside Mei, their footsteps quiet but synchronized. He carried his phone, the Soul Rental app glowing faintly, warning him like a heartbeat:
App Notification: "Warning: Identity and reality instability increasing. Immediate intervention recommended."
Haru's chest tightened. Every borrowed soul, every moment of perfection, had left a mark—an invisible fracture in the world around him.
Internal Monologue:
"I thought returning the minor NPCs yesterday would fix it… but reality still feels wrong. And it's my fault. I can't let it get worse."
Mei glanced at him, her expression calm yet fierce.
Mei: "We can fix this… together. But you have to follow me. No distractions. No borrowing, Haru."
Haru: "…I'll try."
Even as he said it, a part of him itched, craving the rush of borrowed souls—but he forced it down. This time, the stakes were too high.
Narrative:
They entered the abandoned wing of the school—a place where strange glitches had been reported: doors that led nowhere, classrooms that flickered between normal and empty. Minor NPCs were reported missing from this area frequently, now linked to Haru's past borrowing.
The air grew colder. Faint silhouettes appeared in the hallways, flickering like half-formed ghosts:
Kei Yamamoto reaching for a door handle, frozen mid-motion
Hanae Ishikawa stepping into a classroom, then disappearing
Shun Arai tripping, landing softly, then vanishing
Haru swallowed hard.
"I can't believe this… they're trapped in some kind of… limbo."
Dialogue:
Mei: "This is why I warned you. The more souls you borrow, the more reality fractures. They aren't gone completely—but they aren't fully here either."
Haru: "Then… how do we save them?"
Mei looked at him, her eyes serious.
Mei: "We have to stabilize their presence… I don't know how long this window lasts. You'll need to reverse your borrowed powers carefully, one by one, and guide them back. But you… you have to stay yourself, Haru. No masks."
Haru's heart raced.
Haru: "No masks… okay. I can do that. I'll do it."
Narrative:
Haru concentrated, resisting the urge to borrow any soul. He opened the app and tapped Reverse Borrow, initiating a glow that enveloped him. Memories of all the souls he had borrowed surged inside him—not exciting or empowering this time, but overwhelming, almost painful, each echo fighting to be noticed.
He focused, visualizing each NPC, calling them back to reality:
Kei Yamamoto appeared first, blinking rapidly as if waking from a long dream.
Hanae Ishikawa returned next, looking around confused but alive.
Shun Arai emerged last, slightly pale, shaking, whispering, "I… I don't know what happened…"
Haru staggered, gasping. Reality felt like it had shifted under his feet. Every successful return left a lingering unease: cracks still existed, subtle but undeniable.
Internal Monologue:
"It's not enough… the fractures remain. The cost… it's rising. And someone… is watching."
A cold, calculating presence whispered inside his mind again—the system creator from before.
"You're learning fast, Haru… but the game has only begun."
Dialogue:
Mei stepped closer, concern softening her usually sharp gaze.
Mei: "You did it. But… you need to understand, this isn't just about you. Every borrowed soul leaves a mark on the world."
Haru: "…I know. I feel it. It's like reality itself is fragile now… and it's my fault."
Mei: "Then don't do it again. Promise me, Haru."
Haru nodded slowly, the weight of responsibility finally pressing fully on him.
Narrative:
That evening, as Haru lay in bed, shadows flickered behind his eyelids—memories of borrowed souls, glimpses of minor NPCs, and subtle distortions of reality.
The city outside glowed with neon lights, beautiful yet alien, as if it too was sensing the cracks. Haru's phone vibrated. Another notification appeared:
App Notification: "Warning: Observer detected. Interference may occur. Continue at your own risk."
Haru shivered. The system creator—or whoever had been watching—was no longer subtle. The stakes were higher than ever, and the fragile line between reality, borrowed souls, and his own identity was thinner than he had ever imagined.
Chapter 9: The Watcher's Game
Narrative:
The night had fallen over the city like a thick curtain. Haru sat at his desk, the glow of his phone casting sharp shadows across his face. Every minor NPC he had touched with borrowed souls—the students, the classmates, the silent figures—still flickered in his peripheral vision, subtle distortions that reminded him of the fragility of the world.
Suddenly, a chilling sensation crawled up his spine, like eyes watching him from nowhere.
App Notification: "Observer detected. Interference imminent."
A voice, smooth and amused, echoed inside his mind:
"Ah… Haru. Fascinating. You're learning quickly, but not quickly enough."
Haru froze. This was the first time the system creator—or the entity controlling the Soul Rental app—had communicated directly.
Internal Monologue:
"Who… what are you? Are you real? Am I imagining this?"
The voice responded, calm and omnipresent:
"I am the Watcher. The one who ensures the game runs smoothly. And you… you've been very curious, very careless."
Panic surged in Haru's chest. He felt the weight of every borrowed soul, every crack in reality, pressing on him.
Dialogue:
Mei appeared suddenly beside him, voice urgent:
Mei: "Haru! Don't listen to it. That's the Watcher—it's manipulating the app, trying to control you."
Haru: "How do I… stop it? I can't even see what it's doing!"
Mei: "You can't fight it head-on. You need strategy. Use the app, but don't let it overwrite your identity. We'll do this together."
Haru nodded, determination settling over the fear.
Narrative:
Together, they devised a plan. Haru would borrow archetypes cautiously, using the Soul Rental app to stabilize minor NPCs and patch reality's cracks, while Mei guided him, monitoring anomalies and preventing overuse.
As he activated the app, a glow enveloped him—but this time, he felt something different. He could sense the Watcher's presence, probing, testing, watching every move.
Minor NPCs flickered dangerously:
Riku Moriyama paused mid-step in the hallway
Aya Kobayashi's laugh was distorted, almost eerie
Tomo Hoshino's book hovered slightly above his hands, unresponsive
Haru's pulse raced. Each step required concentration, each borrowed soul a calculated risk.
Internal Monologue:
"I can't afford mistakes. One wrong move and reality will tear itself apart. But I can do this… I have to. For them… and for myself."
Dialogue:
Mei: "Focus on one at a time. Their essence is delicate—too many borrowed souls at once will make it irreversible."
Haru: "…Got it. One at a time."
He reached out mentally, calling Kei Yamamoto back from flicker, stabilizing him gently. Then Hanae Ishikawa, and finally Shun Arai. Each successful return drained his energy but strengthened his control over the borrowed souls.
The Watcher's voice was still present, mocking, but now Haru ignored it.
"Clever boy… but do you think you can maintain it? How long before you lose yourself completely?"
Narrative:
Hours passed. Night deepened. Haru's body was exhausted, yet his mind sharpened. For the first time, he felt a balance—borrowed power under control, minor NPCs stabilized, reality slightly less fractured.
Mei placed a hand on his shoulder.
Mei: "You did it… for now. But the Watcher won't let this go. It's learning from you, adapting. Next time, it will be even harder."
Haru looked at her, gratitude and vulnerability in his eyes.
Haru: "I… I don't want to hurt anyone again. I'll keep trying. With you."
Mei: "Good. Then we fight together. That's our only chance."
Narrative:
As Haru lay in bed later that night, the city outside glimmered with neon lights. Shadows of borrowed souls flickered softly behind his eyelids. He could still hear the Watcher's faint whisper:
"Excellent… but this is only the beginning."
Haru clenched his fists. The game had grown more dangerous, the stakes higher than ever—but he wasn't alone anymore. With Mei by his side, he could face the cracks, the shadows, and the Watcher itself.
Chapter 10: Breaking Point
Narrative:
The city was silent, but the silence was unnatural. Neon lights flickered as if hesitant, shadows stretched and warped along the streets. Haru's chest ached with exhaustion; every borrowed soul he had ever used weighed him down. Each flicker of an NPC's face, each distortion of reality, pressed on him like an unbearable burden.
Mei stood beside him, unwavering, her eyes scanning the surrounding streets.
Mei: "This is it. If we don't act fast, the fractures will consume everything. People, reality… even you, Haru."
Haru: "…I know. I feel it. But what can we do? I can't borrow too much… or I'll lose myself completely."
Internal Monologue:
"Every borrowed soul… every moment of borrowed perfection… it's all crashing together. Reality itself is fragile now. And the Watcher… it's testing me. Pushing me to my limits."
Narrative:
The Watcher finally revealed itself fully, a chilling presence that seemed to bend the air around them. Its voice was everywhere, yet nowhere.
"Haru Aizaki… fascinating. You've learned control… but can you survive chaos?"
Reality warped violently: minor NPCs flickered rapidly, some vanishing, others frozen mid-action. The city around them distorted, buildings stretching impossibly, lights twisting into unnatural shapes.
Haru's phone vibrated continuously, the Soul Rental app glowing feverishly.
App Notification: "CRITICAL: Reality instability imminent. Borrowed souls merging. Immediate intervention required."
Dialogue:
Mei: "Haru! We need a plan—now!"
Haru: "I… I think I can stabilize them… but I'll need to focus… all of me. No borrowed masks, nothing fake. Just me."
Mei: "Good. I'll guide you. Trust me, Haru."
Haru nodded. For the first time, he felt a strange clarity: his identity, stripped of borrowed masks, was fragile but real.
Narrative:
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Memories of borrowed souls, flashes of admiration, and fragments of others' lives surged in his mind—but he resisted them, focusing instead on his own sense of self.
One by one, he reached out mentally, stabilizing minor NPCs:
Kei Yamamoto, now fully present, blinking and confused but alive
Hanae Ishikawa, steadying herself, looking around bewildered
Riku Moriyama, whispering softly, "I… I feel normal now…"
The city's distortions slowly started to retract. Reality itself trembled, quaking like a fragile sheet of glass.
Internal Monologue:
"I'm doing it… I'm holding reality together. But I can feel the Watcher's eyes… it's not over. It's learning from me, adapting."
Dialogue:
Watcher: "Impressive, Haru… but every action has consequences. You've stabilized them… for now. Next time, the stakes will be higher."
Haru: "…I'll be ready. I have to be."
Mei placed her hand on his shoulder again, softer this time.
Mei: "You did it, Haru. For now, the fractures are gone. But we both know it's not the end."
Haru: "…I know. But… I'm not alone anymore. I have you."
Mei: "Good. Then we face whatever comes next… together."
Narrative:
As dawn broke over the city, the world seemed normal again, but subtle traces of fracture remained—a reminder of the cost of borrowed power. Haru looked out at the horizon, feeling both exhaustion and resolve.
Somewhere, deep in the shadows, the Watcher watched silently, calculating, preparing for the next challenge.
Haru's journey was far from over. The fragile line between borrowed power and identity, between reality and illusion, had been tested—and survived… for now.
Seee you in volume 2