Kazumi's POV

"Ahah!! New high score for the win!!" I threw my fist in the air as I screamed in joy.

"I need to show this to Sachihiro," I muttered, taking a screenshot of my score in Arcaea before going to messenger.

•FELLOW LOLICON

KAZUMI MODE: Hey Sachihiro!!

FELLOW LOLICON: Wut

KAZUMI MODE: Hihi, guess what?

FELLOW LOLICON: Wut

KAZUMI MODE: I just got a new highscore in Arcaea!!

FELLOW LOLICON: Which song?

KAZUMI MODE: It's the song you know well.. Dreamin' Attraction!

FELLOW LOLICON: Hory shittu. God mode on lol

KAZUMI MODE: Indeed bruh

FELLOW LOLICON: 👍

KAZUMI MODE: lol gtg gotta do something

I threw my phone beside me and took a deep breath. I glanced at the clock hanging from the purple-colored wall of my room. Mom will arrive from work any minute now, might as well fix this messy room of mine.

I got up from my bed and my eyes roamed around the place. Hmmm, my study table's fine at the corner since I don't really use it that much. The only problem is...

Everything else.

My eyes darted to the empty bag of chips lying on the ground along with an empty can of cola. I hastily grabbed them and threw the litters inside the trash can beside my study table. I'll be dead if mom found this pieces of crap, even the tiniest bit of it.

*ding*

Hmm? What's that?

I reached for my phone and looked for a new message in messenger. It turns out that is was from the group chat of our section, so I didn't pay attention to what they're chatting about since mostly it's just random topics and are basically useless. I'm about to clean my room for real when a message popped once again and my curiosity is telling me to look at it.

I ended up doing so. And I'm glad I did.

I grabbed my bag from the floor and fished out my pen and notebook, along with my math book. How come that I wasn't aware that we have an assignment in Math?! Gosh darn it life!! I hate you even more!

***

"Why didn't you do your assignment earlier?"

I played with my pen as I stared at the question in my math book. I didn't understand a single thing. "I'm doing something else. Something important."

Mom raised her eyebrow at me, crossing her arms as she shot me a glare. "By something important, you mean playing with your phone?"

I snorted. "'Course not. What makes you think that? I'm a good girl."

"Ah, of course. Good girls have extremely clean rooms, right??" Mom smiled at me before she spun on her heel to walk out of my room.

"Make sure you go to sleep early. It's such a pain trying to wake you up in the morning."

I heard the door slam shut and I let out a sigh. What am I supposed to do now?? Even if I listen to lectures, my brain isn't smart enough to digest  complex information regarding numbers mixed with letters!!

My eyes fell on the blank page of my notebook. If only my room is as clean as this.

Rubbing my temples, I groaned and tightened my grip on the pen in frustration. Great, I'm left with a choice that I need to really refrain choosing...

I need to copy someone's homework.

And I know the perfect person for the job. *smirk*

I tidied up my study table and kept my things inside my bag. With a yawn, I fished out my extra notebook from my bag and turned it into the page where I wrote the schedule of classes.

"Hmm, math is in second period huh?" I mumbled, my confidence suddenly cracking.

Math? Second period? Second?

Oh no.

No, no, no, no.

Yikes, I'm dead meat. I need to wake up early and go to school ASAP so I could do the homework!! And waking up early is not, I repeat, is NOT something I would do.

Cold sweat dripped down from my forehead as I walked back and forth inside my average room.

I'm no detective or some math expert, but if my calculations are correct, I won't be able to finish the homework if I arrive at school at my usual time. And pursuading my possible savior takes a lot of time. I'm already seeing the possibilities of that person turning down my desperate request.

What if that person tells me to do the homework on my OWN?! Hell nah!! My brain will explode into pieces! Exaggeration or not, but I'd rather talk to someone with a language I don't understand than solve equations that require critical thinking and a whole lot of knowledge! That's just—No! A big NO!

Dumping my notebook inside my bag, I plopped on my bed and took deep breaths. Gee Kazumi, I wonder why the Goddess of fate hate you so much that she makes your life miserable? I'm basically a walking, talking, living being in this planet called earth that sucks in every way.

Incredulous? Check. Introverted? Check. Depressed? Check. Crazy? Check. Makes a promise to one's self to change for the better but is too lazy to do so? Check.

I made turns and rolls on my bed, groaning every now and then. Great. Just great. The goddamn homework won't let me sleep. I pushed myself up and sat on the edge of my bed, eyeing my bag that's open.

Huh, I panicked too much that I didn't close the zipper. Wow Kazumi, you're laughing at your own stupidity.

What time is it anyway?

I glanced at the wall clock and clicked my tounge. How wonderful. It's 9:54 and I'm wide awake. How do people even get to sleep before 10 PM?! Heck, I feel sleepy when it's 11 or 12!

My habit of staying up late will be my downfall someday. It's already coming back to bite me.

I lazily got up and strode across my room until I reached the door. Turning the doorknob slowly and as quietly as possible, I searched for any signs of humans outside my room. When I spotted none, I stepped out of my room and tiptoed my way to the kitchen, specifically, to where the refrigerator is.

I opened the fridge and grabbed the bottle of milk ss soon as it came into view and chugged on the cold drink.

After savoring the milk, I went back to my room with a smile on my face. I'll be sleepy any time now.

I reached for the doorknob and twisted it before getting inside my room. I turned off the lights and laid down my bed, staring off into space.

"When will I be asleep?" I muttered, rolling around my bed until I fell on the edge. Fortunately, I didn't make any noise because if I did, Mom's going to roast me.

I grudgingly climb back to my comfy bed and sighed. The floor feels good to sleep on to be honest since it was pretty cold.

A few minutes of staring at the view outside my window, I felt my eyelids getting heavy before darkness consumed me.

-----

I was walking inside the school tryting to find any of those weirdos. Ms. Akira told me that they have to practice for a contest they're going to participate in along with our class president, Mirai.

I came across some of our classmates in search of them but all of them were saying the same thing.

"Sorry, I didn't see any of them."

Maybe they went home already? Or just hanging around outside the school yard?

Luckily, the school service was already there so I was allowed to go out. Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I asked their service mates but I recieved the same response.

I bid them farewell and walked away before fishing out my phone. I tried texting Haru since we're the only ones who bring our phones but he's not responding. I tried calling him too but the call just directed me straight to his voicemail.

Sighing to myself, I walked back to the school and encountered Momoko along the way.

She smiled and waved at me. "Kazumi!"

"Oh Momoko. Just in time. I've been wondering if you've seen—"

"Hadzuki, Haru, Hideo and Arashi?"

My jaw dropped slightly as she recited the names of the weirdos.

"How'd you know I was looking for them?"

"Nevermind that. About those four... They're in the school. In the lobby, specifically," she replied, pointing at the entrance. She gave a closed eye smile before going to the direction of the school service.

Lobby? I checked there earlier but they aren't there. Weird.

I was about to go when I felt someone grab my arm. I turned to see who it was and I was surprised to see Momoko with her head hung low.

"Uhh, Momoko.. What is it?" I asked but I got no response. I called out to her several times but she didn't move.

"The past is going to come and bite you. The heavens will give you a good washing until you realize you're going to drown. You won't be able to rise and beat the darkness, for the darkness became a part of you."

I found myself a loss for words. Confusion's written all over my face and I could feel my heartbeat racing. Why is she acting like this? This isn't like her...

I tried prying off Momoko's grip and laughed nervously when she didn't let go. "W-what ever could you mean?"

She slowly raised her head but instead of her usual cool blue orbs, her eyes were bloodshot and bore into mine. She tilted her head slightly as she gave me a smirk, one that sends shivers down my spine.

"A teru teru bozu won't stop the flood Kazumi..."

She let go of me and backed away, still smirking.

My hands trembled and my lips quivered as I stared at her bloodshot orbs that seemed to look at my soul.

After a while, she smiled at me without being peculiar, as if the bizzare events from earlier didn't occur. For a moment, I was able to convince myself that maybe I was hallucinating or daydreaming, until my vision went black.

Panic started creeping into my system and my breathing became ragged.

"M-momoko?" I called out. I still hear the people's voices like everything's the way they are supposed to be but it isn't. Not at all..

"Momoko!!" I yelled. Something warm dripped down my cheeks and I just realized that I was crying.

How pitiful. I'm still weak, even with all this power..

In a heartbeat, the voices I've been hearing faded. I couldn't hear anything anymore, even my own sobbing. The silence was deafening, and I couldn't see a thing. Everything is pitch black, like I'm trapped inside a black hole, endlessly floating into some other universe.

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt something cold hit my bare skin. Is it.. raining??

My thoughts were filled with unanswered questions and it frustrated me when I couldn't answer them. It left me restless, anxious, afraid. I always feared the unknown after all.

Few minutes passed and nothing changed. All of my four senses are gone. Only one remained; I doubt that it's going to help me. My clothes are soaking wet because the rain won't stop pouring. I was freezing but I couldn't do anything. I can't walk without knowing where I'm going. I tried, and I ended up feeling more helpless because my feet felt like they were glued to the ground.

How did things even go to this? It was supposed to be like any other day...

I snapped out of my thoughts when the sound of thunder filled my ears.

Hold on.. Thunder?

I felt a wave of relief wash through me when I realized I got my hearing back.  Focusing on the sounds around me, I almost had a heart attack when I heard a scream coming from a woman. If I'm right, the direction should be to the left. I turned my head towards it in hopes of finding some sort of clue to what's happening.

The crimson liquid surrounding a numerous bodies of people surprised me that I fell on the pavement. Then, these were all happening when I was facing my own problems?

At the corner of my eye, I saw Momoko with the usual smile she wears whenever she greets me but I'm so confused and shocked that I don't know how to react. I don't even know what to feel.

I opened my mouth but no words came out. For a split second, Momoko frowned at me before shaking her head slowly, as if disappointed. She turned her head towards the bodies covered in blood and pointed at it, a smile seen stretching on her face that is white as china. She brought her index finger to her lips as it moved, but I couldn't quite make out what she said.

I scanned the place with my sea green orbs, the sky above me getting darker as time passed. I was reluctant to do so, but I averted my gaze to the bodies and I couldn't believe my eyes when I recognized one of the unfortunate victims.

"Ms. Akira.. No, no, no, no.. This couldn't be happening." I crawled over to her body, not minding the scarlet liquid staining my clothes. Tears started welling up my eyes once again, and I can't help the thought of being alone filling my mind.

I can't think of anyone responsible for this. Heck, the one behind this isn't a human.

After laying my teacher's body, I scrambled to get on my feet. It took several times because my knees felt weak, but the sight of the people that played a role in my life bathed in their own blood became my determination.

This is the only way I could repay them.

I walked to the lobby of the school, and everytime I see someone I knew lifeless, I had to look away. I couldn't the bare the sight of them looking like that.

Thunder roared as the rain kept me from advancing faster. I felt drained. With each step I took, I feel like I'll fall anytime.

When I reached the front of the lobby, I took a glance at the place where it all went wrong. I saw a figure in distance, and I had to squint my eyes to know who it was.

Momoko.

Her face was unreadable, and her pale face made it look like she was a doll. Her eyes showed no life in them. It's hollow and dull. Completely different from the Momoko I knew. No, it should be know. She was never my friend in the first place. It was just an illusion.

I'm about to face the finale of this when Momoko's face suddenly became distorted. Her lifeless orbs became black and blood dripped from them. She gently swayed from side to side like a child. She looked like a glitched game character.

I shaked my head furiously and ran inside the lobby with my eyes closed. I don't even know why I chose to close my eyes. She said that I should always be courageous and face my fears, yet here I am, doing the opposite of what she said to me. She must be disappointed.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and it widened. This... This isn't the lobby.

I'm inside a place that stretched widely. The ceilings and walls are in shades of blue and purple, and portraits of the sea hung on the walls while the ceiling had a picture of a dark manor. The ground is filled with mini boats and gravestones and the capricious design of the floor beneath my feet gave me an unsettling feeling.

The floor often morped into different unequal patterns while maintaining its color. Paying no attention to the unusual environment, my gaze roamed the place and it fell on a water-like cage containing an unconscious person. It  floated at the center, undisturbed. Just below it are familiar figures.

"Hadzuki? Haru? Hideo? Akashi?"

They kept their backs facing me so I started doubting them. Are they like Momoko too?

I backed away a few steps and readied myself for any sudden movement. I got alert and while scanning the place again I keep on watching the impostors at the same time.

When I didn't detect any movement out of the ordinary, I chose to make the first move but a voice stopped me from doing so.

"Ara, ara, ara. We got a volunteer."

I whipped my head to the side and saw Momoko crossing her arms. She looked the same when I last saw her, but I don't feel afraid anymore.

"Let me guess, you're trying to save her, don't you?" She stared at the girl inside the water cage and continued, "Haruka Yūka, I mean."

I bit my lip and got into a fighting stance. "I AM going to save her. I definitely will."

She looked at me in amusement, letting out a low chuckle. "You won't be able to do anything in that form," she mocked, spitting the words as she stared at me in disgust. I was about to make a comeback but she beat me up to it.

"Na, ah, ah. No will do. You won't succeed. Not even a tiny percent. There are no twists in here," she spoke before clicking her tongue, staring at me with her dark eyes, "Because it's her fate."

The supposed friends of mine turned to me and just like Momoko, they looked glitched and blood is dripping from their eyes. Their smiles stretched in a creepy way.

Momoko's form then started changing and I could only stare while she transformed into her original form. With a cutlass in hand, she brought it above her head, ready to swing it anytime at the girl trapped inside the water cage.

"You failed again."

"NO!!!!"

-----

I jolted up my bed and I put my hand on my chest. It feels like my heart's going to jump out of my ribcage. I'm drenched in sweat too.

It took time to calm my racing heart and my thoughts. I stared at the clock in my room. I won't be able to go back to sleep, after.. after that! That's terrifying! I felt like I just said hello to death personally. And it's still 5:42, way too early...

A thought kept my mind active even though my body's screaming at me to get some sleep.

What just happened?

=====

What just happened indeed! You can tell Kazumi the answer by voting or commenting! I'm sure that she's going to appreciate it. :)

~Kazumi_Nyay624