Chapter 1: Alone

My name is Makino Toru. I'm 16 years old and I am going to be "alone" till' the day I die.

I was always no good at talking to people and had not a single friend my whole life until that day, the day "I was going to kill myself."

I was waiting on top of Kanmon bridge in Fukuoka when these two mysterious figures appeared. They looked around my age one male and one female, the man opened his mouth, and I heard a faint whisper in my ear.

"Makino Toru, don't jump."

I stepped back and shouted; HOW DO YOU KNOW ME!

As I got a good look at them, I recognized the faces of two people I had seen at my school while I was passing by in the halls. Tezuka Kazuo and Tamaki Chisa are the most average looking students of all time.

I'm standing their thinking "why, why are they stopping me?"

"I have no reason to live."

Tamaki had started to say something, the first words I heard come out of her mouth was a loud "YOU DUMBASS! Why would you do something so ignorant, don't you want to at-least try to meet people and have a normal life."

I repeated what I had said prior to her.

"I have no reason to live"

"Why is that there is a whole world to see."

"So, what! It's not like I have any friends or family, my parents died when I was young and I've never had friends to keep me company, and I avoid everyone at school, so I'll ask you once again "how do you know who I am?" I've never spoken to either of you in my life so what could I, Makino Toru do for you?"

Tezuka finally spoke and told me what was going on.

"We are from the student council, and we have been watching you for quite some time now, our job is finding students who about to give up on life and show them how to live life to the fullest."

"Well how nice of you to give me an explanation after having to force it out of you, your lacky over their just kept droning on and catapulting her absurd insults at me."

"HEY, WATCH YOUR MOUTH YOU SUICIDAL JERK!"

"Makino why don't you come hop in the car it is getting late, and we'll start to head back to the Osaka."

After some thought about what Tezuka had said I made my decision.

"Fine I'll come with you, it's not like I have anything to lose other than my life. Just don't find a way to screw up my life any more than it already is."

"I promise, it is my job after all, now get in the car."

"C'mon slow poke!"

After I got into the car Tamaki offered me some water, and I quickly said yes since my throat was dry from all the talking and not being hydrated enough. Once I took one sip I passed out.

I then found myself "waking up" in a bed on a sunny day in May, around maybe eleven o'clock. Looking to my right I see that annoying loudmouth Tamaki next to me chowing down on a piece of pie. I finally was able to speak after a couple minutes.

"Hey fat-ass! Did you drug me or somethin."

"Oh, look who's "awake" morning sunshine, yes of course we did, we didn't want you running on us now. Right? And don't worry before you ask, it was only sleeping pills we were told to give you by the school if you had accepted our offer."

"I already told you I have nothing to lose, why would I have run?"

Tezuka had entered the room with a smile.

"Hey look who is finally up, is Tamaki keeping you entertained? I know you two are like best friends now."

It had baffled me how this guy could think that they could call themselves my friends after we just met, and they drugged me basically instantly. They tell me to get up and follow them, while I am following Tezuka and Tamaki out of what looks like a nurse's office I am thinking "what could they possibly want from me now."

As we slowly walk down this dark hallway, I see a dimmed light in front of these giant double doors wondering why they brought me here I asked.

"Uh... Tezuka were exactly, are we? I've never been to this part of the school."

"That's because we're not inside the school."

"What are you talking about?"

"We are actually under it."

What the hell is this guy talking about? What does he mean we are under it?

"Hahaha, chuckled Tamaki" as I looked as clueless as possible.

"Oh Makino, why don't you just enter that room I can't keep looking at that hilarious face you're making"

With no explanation of being told where I am I had entered the room while Tezuka and Tamaki stayed behind. Once I entered the room, I saw a total of three people, one to my left, one to my right, and lastly one sitting in a red chair in the middle of the room. I was soon greeted by the person on the left.

"So, you are the one we have to fix."

As I look down, I notice that the person to the left was gone and standing right in front of me.

"Hey shorty, what do you want with me"

"Don't call me shorty! I have a name Ya' know it's Ishikawa Mina and I'm actually your superior."

"Well if that's what you want, I'm Makino."

"I know that already."

"Of course, you do it seems like everyone I run into knows my name."

"Don't be so serious dude, it's not like the three of us knew about you the whole time. Tezuka and Tamaki told us about you, they said you are a special case."

"What do you mean just finding out about me? Tezuka told me "We are from the student council, and we have been being watching you for quite some time now." Are you guys not them?"

The guy in the chair looked up at me and Ishikawa.

"Don't speak for me Ishikawa, I've known about Makino for quite a-while now. I can't speak for Kobayashi though; you know she's quite the mystery around here."

"...True."

"Ok, back to the matter at hand, Makino you are now one of us."

"You guys need to slow down, first I was told I was going to be helped, then I get drugged and put under the school and now I'm staring at three people I've never even seen before. Why am I so special to you people?'

"Toru do you really believe what the two outside said, about how we have fixed others before you?"

"Honestly I don't know who to believe."

"Well, I will tell you the truth, the actual truth on why you are here. As you know Tezuka and Tamaki are part of the student council that is true but what you don't know is that we have never saved anyone before."

"Every time we have tried to help someone out that was in a similar situation to yours, they never listened and had just ended their life right then and there when we offered to give them that helping hand."

"For some reason you were the only one ever to actually except our help, that is why you are special Makino Toru. You still have some hope left that made you want to come here."

I knew something was up from the start when I met those two.

"You can call me Yuki Kazura from now on since you will be around here more often."

"So, Yuki I guess I owe you a thank you, since you told me the "truth" about my whole situation, and how depressing the student council is."

I wonder why I didn't just end it with that one jump, these people might be right maybe I do have some hope to actually want to have life.

I still don't know how to feel about all these people. Especially Yuki and Tezuka, Yuki seems to look like he is telling the truth and I will have to see how Tezuka is after I get out of here.

"Yuki so like can I leave now or is there anything else you wanted to tell me?"

"Just one last thing before you leave Makino."

"Since you were saved by us, we now own you meaning you are part of what we are really known as the "Dark Chamber." You must not do anything irrational anymore because you would affect us negatively if you did so, understand."

"Whatever you say I don't care anymore, I'm getting bored I feel like I've been in this room forever."

"See Ya' man."

"...Enjoy the rest of your day Makino-kun."

As I leave the room, I see Tamaki sleeping on Tezuka waiting for me, I start to wonder what time it is right now.

Tezuka pushes Tamaki off of him when she hits the ground, and he speaks.

"Ow, you're an ass."

"Geez she's been sleeping on me since you went in there, I was starting to think Yuki..."

"...Never mind, how did things go."

"Went fine for the most part, Yuki told me everything even that you guys were lying to me."

"So, he told you everything, I guess you were going to find out eventually. Look, Makino, I know we've been keeping things from you, but it's for your own safety. The less you know, the better. Just trust us and be careful, okay?"

"I don't know if I can trust you guys anymore, but sure, whatever. I'm leaving now, see you later."

"Where do you think you are going to did you forget that you are under the school and now "belong" to Yuki."

"Well Tezuka, Tamaki why don't you guys show me the way out then."

"No… Makino you now live here with the rest of us."Implied Tezuka.

Makino couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had always suspected that there was something strange about the school, but he never imagined that he would end up being trapped there. And now, his "friends" were telling him that he had no choice but to stay?

"Makino, you are still able to go out, be my guest go ahead but it's late right now you need to still get to know the robes and learn like the rest of us in the "Dark Chamber," why don't we show you to your new room."

"Okay fine," he said reluctantly. "Show me to my room."

Tezuka and Tamaki led him through the winding tunnels of the school until they reached a door that was hidden behind a tapestry. Tamaki pushed the door open, revealing a small room with a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe.

"This is your room," Tamaki said. "You'll be staying here for the time being."

Makino nodded, taking in his new surroundings. He felt a sense of unease as he looked around the room, knowing that he was now a prisoner in this place.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

Tezuka clapped him on the shoulder. "Get some rest, Makino. We'll talk more in the morning."

As they left the room, Makino sat down on the bed and tried to make sense of everything that had happened. He knew that he was in a dangerous situation, but he wasn't sure how he was going to get out of it.

"I guess I should get some rest it's been a long day after all."

Makino laid down on the bed, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. He knew that he needed to be careful and stay on guard, even while he was in his own room.

He looked around the room, taking in every detail. He noticed that there were no windows or any other means of escape, and he realized that he was truly trapped in this place.

Makino tried to think of a way out, but his mind was too tired to come up with any ideas. He decided to get some rest and tackle the problem in the morning.

As he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but think about his friends Tezuka and Tamaki. He wondered how they got involved with Yuki and his followers, and what secrets he was hiding from them.

Makino knew that he needed to find a way to confront them and get some answers. He decided that he would talk to them in the morning, and try to get to the bottom of this mystery.

With that thought in mind, Makino finally drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the events of the day.

Makino woke up to the sound of a knock on his door. He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and called out to whoever was there to enter.

Tezuka walked in, a small smile on his face. "Good morning, Makino. Did you sleep well?"

Makino nodded, still feeling a bit groggy. "Yeah, I guess. What's going on? What's the plan for today?"

Tezuka hesitated for a moment before replying. "Well, today you'll begin your training in the Dark Chamber. We'll show you how to use your powers and teach you some basic spells."

Makino frowned. "What powers? What spells? What are you talking about?"

Tezuka sighed heavily. "Look, Makino, I know that this is all confusing and overwhelming for you. But you have to trust us. We're doing all of this for your own safety."

Makino shook his head. "I don't understand. Why do I need to learn magic? What's going on here?"

Tezuka hesitated again, looking conflicted. "I can't tell you everything right now, Makino. But just know that there are forces at work in this world that are beyond your understanding. And we're here to help you navigate through them."

Makino gritted his teeth, feeling frustrated and angry. "I'm not a child, Tezuka. I deserve to know what's going on. You owe me that much, at least."

Tezuka sighed heavily, looking down at his feet. "I know, Makino. And I promise that I'll tell you everything. But not right now. Not until you're ready."

Makino felt a sense of resignation wash over him. He knew that he wasn't going to get any answers from Tezuka right now. He decided to focus on the task at hand, and try to make the best of the situation.

"Fine," he said, getting up from the bed. "Let's get started."

As Tezuka and Makino walked through the halls of the underground school, they heard footsteps approaching from behind them. They turned to see Kobayashi slowly walking towards them, her black cloak billowing behind her.

"Hey, guys," she said, smiling at them. "How's the training going?"

"It's going all right," Tezuka replied. "Makino's making good progress, but he still has no sense of magic."

Makino nodded, feeling a sense of pride at Tezuka's words. He had been practicing hard and was starting to feel more confident in his strength.

"That's great to hear," Kobayashi said. "But remember, you shouldn't only rely on strength."

"Do you have any key events in your life that you have emotional attachments to?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because sometimes key events in your life can trigger you to obtain your magic."

Makino's mind flashed back to a painful memory that he had long tried to forget. It was the night he had killed his own parents.

He was just a young boy at the time, and his parents had been arguing loudly in the other room. He had tried to ignore them, but the argument had escalated, and he could hear his father's angry shouts and his mother's tears.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of anger and fear, and before he knew it, his hands were glowing with a strange energy. He had lashed out blindly, and the next thing he knew, his parents were lying motionless on the floor in a pool of blood.

The memory was still vivid in his mind, and he felt a pang of guilt and shame whenever he thought about it. He had never told anyone about what had happened, not even Tezuka or Kobayashi.

As if sensing his distress, Tezuka turned to Makino and asked, "Is everything okay? You seem distracted."

Makino took a deep breath, trying to push the memories out of his mind. But as he did so, he felt a strange sensation coursing through his body. It was as if his veins were filled with molten energy, and he could feel the power of mana pulsing within him.

He tried to ignore it, but the sensation grew stronger with each passing moment, and he could feel his control slipping away. Suddenly, he felt a sudden surge of anger, and before he knew it, he had lashed out at Kobayashi with a burst of raw mana.

Kobayashi stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock and fear. Makino watched in horror as he realized what he had done. He had almost hurt his friend, and it was all because of this strange power that he couldn't control.

Tezuka rushed forward, placing himself between Makino and Kobayashi. "What happened?" he demanded, his eyes scanning Makino's face for any sign of danger.

Makino could barely speak, his mind consumed with guilt and shame. "I don't know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just felt this...this energy inside of me, and I couldn't control it."

Tezuka studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "We need to get you some help," he said firmly. "This is not something to take lightly."

Makino nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He knew he couldn't handle this on his own, and he was grateful to have friends who would support him through it. As they left the room, he couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden within him, waiting to be unleashed by this strange power that he could barely understand.