1 Chapter 1 - Shimo Fubuki

Within the mountains, there was a town, lost in fog; it's name, Shokumura - The Eclipse Village

Everyone within the town is religious, believing in the creation of orbs.

However, our story starts much simpler than that, with a mere 15-year-old boy wearing a cozy scarf.

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I look into the mirror put on my bravest smile and try to create my introduction.

"Hey! I'm Shimo Fubuki! I love anime, manga, drawing, games. I'm essentially the typical nerd! Except I don't have glasses! Haha...."

Yeah, no one is going to think that is funny, rather than laughing they would jeer, isn't that nice?

Aww well, I can't get demotivated! It's my first day at school!

Though, I don't know why I tried to create an introduction, that was just stupid; I was there last year as well.

Wow, that's incredible, it's like last year was only yesterday, it's honestly crazy how fast time flies.

I don't want to go back to school. I don't want to.

I'll get bullied.

Aishin will step in, he'll beat them up, but also get hurt in the process.

Why am I so damn pathetic?

Why don't I have the power to do anything about it?

All I ever do, every year of every month of every week of every day, is just lazing about.

I play games. Read manga. Watch anime. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.

Damn. It is kinda pathetic when you think about it, huh?

Ahh, whatever, I might as well put on my fake mask and walk through life with a smile.

Looking back into the mirror, I look at my appearance.

Scarf all nice and warmly wrapped around my neck, a sweater, black jeans, and black shoes.

Yes, it may still be summer. However, for some reason, I simply feel cold all year round.

It's strange but, that's just how my body works.

No, not really, I just love these clothes, that's probably one of the reasons why I get bullied so much.

Anyway, enough of that!

I get a piece of toast, put it in my mouth and run like my favourite anime character, hoping that I would bump into some girl walking on the streets of Shokumura, just like the anime I watched last night.

Of course, and quite unfortunately, that never ended up happening, how saddening and depressing.

As I ran, I realized I stuck out like such a sore thumb, I forgot how embarrassing it was to go to school like this!

Reasons For Sticking Out Like a Sore Thumb :

1: I was running

2: I was wearing winter clothes in summer

3: Everyone else was in uniforms

Wait... everyone else is in... OH CRAP!

I sprint back to my house as if I were trying to imitate lightning, put on my school uniform, kept the scarf and ran back towards the school.

I got in just in time, the problem was, that it looked like I had just gotten out of a shower, that's how wet my hair was.

Crap, this is embarrassing.

I walk through the hallways, my polo shirt soaked in sweat, so much so that even if I put a jacket to hide it, you can still see it.

Everyone was looking at me so strangely as I walked, panting because of brief exhaustion.

Why must everyone be so judgemental?

Just let people be themselves, without worry of being judged by others, that is, unless you do harm or affect others negatively in any way shape or form, then it is perfectly understandable.

How am I affecting any of you though?

Oh crap! Now a bully is coming, of course, what the hell does he have against me?

"Hey, Fubuki!"

Crap! Crap! Crap! Just go away!

"Hey, Fubuki! I'm talking to you! Don't ignore me damn it!"

Just as the bully moves closer, he then suddenly stops.

I then look towards where the bully's eyes divert to.

It was Aishin

"Stop bullying Shimo, it's uncalled for"

Aishin was the most popular person in the entire school, all the girls and boys adore him alike.

I was friends with him since our early stages of childhood, but as we grew older, we then became further and further apart.

No, that wasn't it, it's I who was distancing myself from him.

As the bullies walked away, Aishin then looked at me, he gave me a kind smile and closed his eyes.

"Aishin, you know you didn't have to do that, right? I'm 15, I can handle myself from now on"

"Really? cuz from the way I saw it, you were about to get beaten up"

"Aishin, what the hell"

"Hahaha, I'm kidding, it's a joke, joke"

As soon as we just started talking, I saw someone from another group of friends come over to us, I'm guessing he wants to talk to Aishin.

"Hey, uhm, Ashin? We need to ask you something, can you come over with us?"

Aishin looks a bit confused for a moment

"Hmm, sure, what is it you need help with?"

The boy then puts his arm around Aishin, looks back at me, and smirks.

Of course, it's always me who gets bit in the end. I can't even trust Aishin at times like this.

Does he really not see what they are trying to do?

Maybe, he actually does know what's happening, and he's just trying to play with me.

Like a puppet on strings.

I might as well get to class.

First class was maths, or mathematics. Isn't that just a great lesson to have first day in Monday morning, it was later accompanied by physics, which was absolutely hellish. I'm not sure whether it was the teacher or my comprehension on the subject, but the lesson made no sense to me whatsoever.

Break finally arrived and I decided to walk down to the convenience store to get something to eat.

Conveniently, there was a store next to the school. (See what I did there? Yes? No? Oh... Nobody ever gets my jokes...)

As I walk through the streets of Shokumura, I heard screaming.

I look towards the once shining streets, they then turned dark, as if it were an eclipse that took place.

In the distance, a shadow smiles.

A smile that is wide and sinister.

The aura that it emits is terrifying.

Is that even human?

Where is Aishi-....

No. I shall fight him here, after all, it is only one human.

I'll prove to Aishin that I can get by without his help.

I ran towards the shadow.

The shadow fades as the fog gets thicker.

The fog turns purple and without even noticing I hear a voice behind me.

"Die"

The shadow then grabs me by the neck.

I couldn't even seeing him coming.

"Krgh..."

Is this really the end?

Is this how I die?

I should have run.

Why didn't I run.

Wait...

Behind him an aura of pink starts to glow.

Brighter and brighter.

He then releases his grip.

*Cough* *Cough*

I remain sitting on the ground, unable to stand up, my legs shook by fear.

Within a flash of pink light, the shadow jumped back.

I try to focus on the pink figure, seeing who my savious was, the archer holding the fiery pink bow.

As I look closer, it was Aishin.

Within an array of rapid shot arrows the shadowy figures made a hasty retreat.

As the fog faded, and the pink light vanished, all I saw was Aishin holding a pink orb, again, smiling with the same smile.

"A-Aishin? What the hell was that?"

Aishin then looked at me, with a concerned look.

"Hey, don't freak out, but gods are real. This power. This orb. It was granted to me by the gods."

What!? Gods? Orbs? Powers?

"Aishin... I... Don't understand anything anymore!"

I ran.

I ran as far as I could.

I ran to the shrine.

The shrine where my grandfather lived.

I talked to my grandfather, still stuttering from the shock of the incident, I explained to him what had just happened.

Am I crazy?

Is this all in my head?