Lost In Darkness

Kanna and Haruto were locked in a gaze when one of Kanna's friends placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to break eye contact.

"Let's take our seats," said Kanna's friend. Kanna slowly nodded, and they all walked and settled into their desks.

Baku's gaze turned to Haruto, who seemed sad, "Haruto" he called out, prompting Haruto to turn his eyes on him.

"It's okay, let's just focus on your studies for now." Baku said with a smile, In response, Haruto slowly nodded, and then Baku settled into his seat as well.

Haruto sat with a heavy heart as Kanna's cheerful voice from the past started echoing in his mind. Her smiling face and the memories they shared together flooded in his mind, causing him to close his eyes in sorrow…

After a while, the class teacher entered the room and upon catching sight of Haruto, her eyes widened in amazement.

She smiled and said, "Haruto?" Every student turned to look at him, except for Kanna.

"Stand up," the Teacher said. Haruto complied standing up from his seat.

"Are you okay? Did you lose your way and accidentally came to the school?" she asked playfully, eliciting a soft ripple of laughter from the students.

"I was sick," Haruto replied, seeming serious.

"Sick? Really?" the Teacher asked, a teasing tone in his voice. In response Haruto nodded slowly.

"Anyway, you're here now," She said. "I hope you'll be more regular, especially with exams approaching." In response Haruto nodded in acknowledgment.

The Teacher gestured for him to sit, and Haruto complied, taking his seat, he cast a fleeting glance at Kanna, who was attentively focused on the teacher. 

Haruto, still heavy-hearted, turned his focus back to the Teacher.

Kanna slightly turned, glancing over her shoulder at Haruto, who was focused on the teacher. A pang of sorrow pierced her heart, but she quickly refocused her gaze back on front, forcing the emotions away.

Classes proceeded as usual, with Kanna and Haruto frequently glancing at each other.

During one of their lessons, the male teacher looked over at Haruto and called out, "Haruto!" prompting Haruto to quickly look at him.

"Where are your notes?" the male Teacher asked.

Haruto sprang to his feet and replied, "I was absent, so I don't have them."

The male teacher sighed in disappointment, "Kanna please lend him your notes." he said.

Kanna's eyes widened in surprise. Haruto looked taken aback, while the other students began whispering among themselves.

"Silence, everyone." The teacher ordered, silencing all students, "Kanna, hurry up, we don't have all day," the teacher commanded.

Kanna slowly rose from her seat and began walking towards Haruto. Stopping in front of his desk, she kept her eyes lowered, while Haruto's gaze remained fixed on her.

She placed her notes on his desk, and when she finally looked up at him, their eyes met.

Haruto and Kanna locked eyes for a brief moment, his eyes wide and cheeks flushed with red. As he was looking at her, memories of their past beautiful moments flooded his mind—lunches they shared, their time enjoying the seaside, and all their other tender moments. Each memory replayed vividly before him.

Kanna swiftly turns her back on Haruto and hurriedly returns to her seat. 

Haruto, visibly stunned, touched his eyes and discovered they were filled with tears. He quickly rested his forehead on his desk, attempting to hide his emotions…

At the end of the school, Haruto stood outside ths school, holding Kanna's notes lost in thought.

Baku approached him and asked, "Haruto, why did you ask me to come here?"

Haruto turned to Baku, with a serious expression he extended Kanna's notes at him. 

Baku, clearly confused, raised his eyebrow "What?" he asked.

"Return these to her by tomorrow," Haruto replied with a firm tone.

"Haruto," Baku said softly, "Look brother, whatever happened between you two is in the past now. Forget about it and move on, you should return these by yourself, and with a thank you."

"I'm not coming tomorrow," Haruto said with a grave expression.

Baku's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious?" he asked, clearly stunned.

Haruto didn't respond standing in silence, staring at Baku.

Baku took the notes, "Haruto, you've just come back after two months, and now you're saying you won't come tomorrow? The teacher will be really angry." 

"I'll never come back again," Haruto declared, causing Baku's eyes to widen in total disbelief.

Haruto then turned around and started walking away, leaving Baku to watch him in stunned silence. From Baku's perspective, Haruto was walking into darkness as everything around Haruto grew darker and darker and darker.

Eventually, the scene was completely consumed by darkness, everything swallowed by shadows…!

"After that I never went back to school again," Haruto's voice echoed in the darkness. 

"I completed my exams privately, and ranked among the top ten scorers in my school. Things began to settle, as I prepared for high school, but then in 2019… Covid-19 hits the world changing everything!"

"During the Covid-19 pandemic, I got obsessed with playing video games. I lost track of time, playing day and night without realizing how many days and years had passed. By 2021, as the pandemic began to ease, student life resumed, and everyone enrolled in high school… Except for me."

Near the end of 2021, Haruto was at his computer with headphones on. His room was shrouded in darkness, with only the soft light of the screen casting a faint glow on his face.

Haruto was completely absorbed in playing a FPS shooting game. His focus was almost unbreakable.

"I've knocked an enemy ahead, 60km away in the west, I'm going to rush!" He said on his headphones. 

"Haruto, hold on!" A voice of his teammate echoed through the headphones, "His teammates will still be there, we have to wait till our squad arrives!" 

"Like the hell I care," Haruto replied coldly, maintaining his focus, "I'm gonna end them all myself."

Suddenly his phone buzzed with a notification next to his gaming setup, but Haruto's focus remained unbreakable, his fingers moving swiftly on his keyboard and mouse, completely absorbed in the game.

Another notification popped up, but Haruto ignored it again, his focus fixed on the game.

"Haruto! im knocked" his teammate's panicked voice echoed through his headphones.

"Stay behind me," Haruto whispered in a steady, calm tone.

Suddenly Haruto's phone started ringing by an incoming call, though Haruto was aware of his phone's consistent ringing but he kept his focus on the game, completely ignoring everything around him.

Suddenly Haruto's finger got eased on his set up, and an triumph yells echoes through his headphones, "Hell yeah, that was a clutch, amazing Haruto, you embarrassed them"

"That's our Deathrow for you" Another teammate exclaimed enthusiastically.

Haruto smiled slightly, leaned back on his gaming chair, picked up a water bottle beside his setup, lowering his headphones to rest it on his shoulders. He chugged the water directly from the lid, he relished the cold refreshment before his gaze shifted to his phone.

He picked up his phone and saw a message from Baku: I got admitted to Fumiko High School, what about you?

Haruto briefly glanced at the text, before setting his phone aside without replying, putting his headphones back on he resumed playing…

"Hours turned into days, days into weeks, and weeks into years. Now it's 2026, a time when people my age are graduating and gearing up for their professional lives. I still can't believe how the hell I ended up like this!"

Early in the morning of 2026, a room was in complete disarray, with items strewn across the floor. The stillness was suddenly broken by the blaring sound of an alarm.

A hand reached out and silenced the alarm. From the bed, 24-year-old Haruto stirred, sitting up and rubbing his face, clearly sleepy. Despite his age, he still looked as if he were still 18-years-old.

Haruto glanced at the window and saw the sun already shining. Frustrated, he muttered, "I hate this Monday," before tossing aside the covers and getting out of bed.

He cleaned up his house, taking out the trash before stepping into a shower. Once refreshed, he headed to the kitchen to whip up a breakfast for himself.

While cooking, Haruto checked his phone and saw a message from his brother Rensuke: Mother and Father are missing you. They want you here this weekend.

"Sorry, but I'm busy," Haruto quickly texted back, and hit send.

He set his phone aside and returned to his cooking. An hour later, he carried a bowl of breakfast to his bed, settled in, and began eating.

Suddenly His phone rang, displaying a call from someone named Makoto, he answered and pressed the phone to his ear, "Yes, Makoto?" he said.

"Haruto, where are you?" Makoto said urgently. "The boss is furious. It's the third time this week that you're late."

Haruto sighed deeply "Alright, I'm on my way," he said before ending the call and returning to his meal. Once he had finished eating, he quickly exited his apartment, locking the door behind him, and hurried off…

While waiting for the public bus, Haruto's phone buzzed with a notification. He glanced at it and got stunned, to see it was a message from Baku. The first one in five years.

Haruto stared at the notification with wide stunned eyes, The public bus arrived, and everyone began to board and started finding their seats.