The sky was blanketed with dark clouds. What had been a sunny day suddenly plunged into darkness, as though an ominous hand of mist had enveloped Earth. News channels had warned of heavy rain, but no one expected darkness to fall so quickly.
Inside a bustling classroom, Sei slumped over the last row's desk, his cheeks pressed against the surface. His dark hair sprawled messily, hiding his frustrated expression.
"Oi, Haru," he muttered, "why do we have a test tomorrow? I wanted to play soccer."
Beside him, Haru sat straight, his pen gliding over a page of notes. He answered without turning, "We can still play. Just… after we finish preparing."
The boy's eyes lit up instantly. He shot up in his seat. "Haru, I have an idea!" he declared, his excitement palpable.
"Sei, what are you—"
"Sei!" a voice snapped, sharp and severe. The teacher's glare as if it saw through him. "Out. Now."
Haru sighed, covering his face with his hand.
Sei turned to the teacher, offering a slight bow. "Sorry."
"Your 'sorry' won't give back the time you've wasted for everyone," the teacher scolded.
Sei stood tall, a mischievous smile playing at his lips. "I wasn't apologizing for that," he grinned. "Sorry, but school is over."
The bell rang, almost perfectly on cue.
"You little—" The teacher's temper broke as he slammed his book on the desk, storming out in a huff.
Laughter and chatter filled the classroom as students packed their bags and trickled out in groups. Yet Sei, Haru, and a girl remained behind, armed with brooms and dusters.
Sei gave the floor a half-hearted sweep before collapsing into a chair. "Why do we have to do this?" he groaned.
"Because it's our duty to clean on Tuesdays, idiot," the girl snapped.
Sei's face lit up with a mischievous grin. Without another word, he grabbed his and Haru's bags, bolting for the door. "See you later!"
"Sei, you—" the girl's voice trailed off in a growl. "Honestly, does he ever take anything seriously?" she grumbled.
"Not really. But that's Sei," Haru replied, a faint smile crossing his lips.
Haru didn't hesitate, darting after his friend. They burst from the classroom; their laughter swallowed with the distant roll of thunder. The atmosphere was turning misty.
"She's gonna kill us tomorrow," Sei chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Yeah, but totally worth it."
"Haru, come to my place. My dad's out of town, and I can take the Lambo!" Sei's excitement was on another level.
"Wait—are you serious? But… we're underage. And that car is—"
"Expensive? Not more than you are," Sei interrupted, lightly shoving Haru. "Don't worry. You know I can drive."
The two boys broke into another sprint, this time racing toward Sei's house. In minutes, they reached Sei's house, a sprawling mansion walled off by high, polished gates. Sei signed the guard and the gates swung open, revealing a line of luxury cars.
Sei was the son of a billionaire, blessed with everything a person could dream of. His life was a constant stream of luxury, he lived like a prince, the only son of a family that never denied him anything. But despite his wealth, he had never known true friendship until he met Haru.
Haru, in stark contrast, was an orphan struggling to support his two younger siblings through a series of part-time jobs, balancing a life of hardship with sleepless nights. Despite their vastly different worlds, Sei and Haru shared a bond deeper than friendship—they were brothers in spirit. Sei had even fought with his parents to pay Haru's school fees and provide him a place to stay.
Sei unlocked the garage, revealing a sleek blue convertible Lambo. Grinning, he slid into the driver's seat.
Haru hesitated for a moment before climbing in. The moment Sei's foot pressed the accelerator, the car roared to life, surging forward at a breathtaking speed.
"Sei, seriously, keep it slow, okay?" Haru's voice trembled with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
"Sure, sure," Sei grinned.
Wind whipped through their hair as the sky's gloom deepened, fat raindrops beginning to lash against the windshield.
"Sei, this rain is getting worse," Haru shouted over the rushing wind.
"Just a little longer. Let's get to the highway!" Sei's voice was a mix of thrill and recklessness. He wanted to break free, to escape the suffocating weight of expectations for just one moment.
But as Sei turned a bend, the world seemed to slow. An old man stood in the middle of the road; his face frozen in shock.
"Sei, watch out!"
"Fuck! Get out of the way, you old man!" Sei screamed, desperately wrenching the wheel to the side.
The car skidded, slamming into a streetlight before rolling down an embankment. The world spun. Metal screamed against rocks.
Instinct kicked in. Sei shoved Haru, forcing him out of the passenger seat just before— a deafening blast occurred, flames burst from the wreckage, licking at the rain.
Haru's body slammed against the wet earth. His vision blurred, pain spiking through his limbs. He tried to stand, but his legs refused to obey.
'Huh? Am I alive?'. Raindrops splattered against his hot, aching body. His breaths came in ragged gasps.
Where is Sei?
With tremendous effort, he dragged himself toward the wreckage, his gaze searching wildly. Then he saw it, Sei's half-burned body.
No… no, this can't be happening. No!
Haru's voice failed him, his screams caught in his throat. Tears mingled with the rain, vanishing into the cold earth. His broken body crawled, inch by inch, until he reached Sei.
He lifted Sei's head into his trembling arms, his vision blurred by rain and tears.
His gaze rose to the dark heavens above. 'You damn gods… I beg you'
THUD.
Before he could complete, his lifeless body fell to the ground, the rain continued to pour over the two bodies, silent and still.
***
Sei's eyes snapped open. But he wasn't met with darkness or pain. He stood in a grand, circular chamber, lined with towering thrones shrouded in shadow. Indistinct, ghostly figures loomed above, watching.
'Am I… dead?' he thought, his voice weak.
[YES, BOY. YOU HAVE DIED.]
The voice boomed from one of the thrones, deep and resonant.
"Haru! Is Haru okay? Please, tell me he's safe!"
[LITTLE HUMAN, YOU DARE TO QUESTION US?] a second voice mocked,
"Answer me!" Sei's voice rose, his fear twisting into anger.
[SUCH SPIRIT. BUT SO PITIFUL.]
[WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THIS ONE?]
[LET HIM PICK. THE GAME IS ALWAYS MORE AMUSING THAT WAY.]
'What are you even talking about?' Sei demanded, fear masked by his anger.
"SILENCE, BOY!" a sweet yet commanding feminine voice rang out.
A figure stepped forward—a woman of breathtaking beauty, she had ethereal white wings, yet her eyes radiated mercilessness.
"Kneel," she commanded. Sei's legs buckled beneath him.
"Good." She extended a deck of cards. "Choose one."
'But... what's happening? At least tell me!' Sei pleaded.
"YOU WILL BE REINCARNATED, AND THE SKILL YOU RECEIVE WILL DEPEND ON THE CARD YOU PICK."
Sei's expression twisted. 'Shouldn't I get some overpowered skill if I'm being reincarnated? Why leave it to luck?'
The angel laughed before delivering a swift, brutal kick to his face. "BECAUSE YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A FILTHY RAT. NOW CHOOSE."
Sei's jaw tightened, frustration gnawing at him. But what could he do? Here, in this grand, oppressive chamber surrounded by towering, shadowed thrones, he was nothing—just a powerless soul at the mercy of beings far beyond his understanding. His pulse raced as his fingers hovered over the cards. One of these would decide his fate. Maybe it would save him. Maybe it would damn him.
With a shaky breath, he grabbed one.
The moment he touched it, the room erupted with blinding light. Symbols twisted in the air, a vast, glowing circle formed beneath his feet, another swirling above his head.
And then—through the chaos—he heard it.
His heart seized. That voice—he knew that voice. Impossible. It couldn't be.
He spun around, and there, standing in the same haunting chamber, was Haru. The same Haru who should have been safe. The one who should have survived.
His usually composed friend stood wild-eyed, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Sei's blood ran cold. No. No, this wasn't supposed to happen. Haru wasn't supposed to be here. He should be home, angry at Sei's recklessness, but alive.
Tears streamed down Haru's face, his expression was a storm of anguish and fury. His voice broke, yet it echoed with desperation.
"Tell me where Sei is! Or I swear, I will destroy the world you send me to!"
The shadowed figures on the thrones leaned forward, their laughter rippling like a tide of mockery.
[LET'S GIVE THIS RAT THE ****** *******; IT WILL BE AMUSING.]
Sei's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding as rage and helplessness twisted inside him. "No! Haru!" Sei's scream never reached the air. His vision blurred, darkness clawing at the edges, and the light around him twisted violently.
And just like that, everything shattered.
Nothing could be seen, he was surrounded in darkness.