Before the world existed—
there was only Nothingness.
No light.
No darkness.
No sound.
No time.
And then, as if out of boredom,
something decided to begin a game.
Light was born.
Darkness followed.
And between them—
a silent presence watched.
"Let's see,"
Nothingness thought,
"what you all become."
_______________________________________________
"Arakio! Hey, fatty! Move faster!"
Laughter echoed through the school corridor.
Arakio clutched his bag tightly.
His breath was heavy.
Sweat rolled down his neck.
"Wait…"
his voice trembled.
"Hero? You?"
someone mocked.
"Look at yourself first!"
Arakio lowered his head.
He always did.
_______________________________________________
The classroom was no different.
Last row.
Last seat.
The teacher asked,
"What is the balance between Light and Darkness?"
Silence.
Then a voice whispered loudly—
"Ask Arakio, sir.
He looks like he has both inside him."
Laughter again.
The teacher ignored it.
Just like the world ignored Arakio.
_______________________________________________
Lunch break.
Groups everywhere.
Friends.
Smiles.
Life.
And Arakio—
alone.
He opened his lunchbox.
Simple food.
His stomach was full.
Yet still…
there was hunger.
Not of the body.
Not of the heart.
Something deeper.
"When will this hunger end…?"
he whispered.
_______________________________________________
On the way home,
the city was quiet.
The sky was red,
as if even evening was tired.
The door to his house creaked.
Inside—
silence.
"Mom…?"
No answer.
His sister, Ayakio, was studying.
"Brother…?"
She looked at him.
"Still no news?"
Arakio shook his head.
Their mother—
alive or dead—
was the deepest darkness of their home.
_______________________________________________
Night.
Arakio sat on the rooftop.
Stars filled the sky.
"Everyone wants to be strong…"
he thought.
"But what if someone stays weak forever?"
His fingers trembled.
Then—
he felt it.
Something Moved inside his chest.
Hunger.
Deeper.
Sharper.
For a moment—
darkness flickered in his vision.
"What was that…?"
The wind stopped.
And then—
a voice.
Soft.
But echoing directly inside him.
|"If you are truly empty…"
|"…then prepare to be filled."
Arakio stood up.
"Who are you?!"
his voice shook.
No reply.
Only hunger.
And somewhere far away—
as if someone smiled.
"Interesting."
_______________________________________________
Chapter 1 Ends •
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