Five days have passed since that incident at school, and even though I try to lose myself in music and drawing, the feeling of guilt still clings to me. The school closed temporarily. If I had been braver, my sister wouldn’t have been hurt, and Kiyo wouldn’t have had to face that chaos alone. The news keeps insisting it was just an attack by thieves in disguise, but I saw something far worse. Monsters. Creatures that looked like they came straight out of nightmares, searching for something that, for a second, I thought was me.

  This afternoon, Minata burst into my room with her usual energy, which contrasts so much with my lack of motivation. She asked me to go to the park with her, but I didn’t feel like going out. Despite my refusals, she eventually blackmailed me with the promise of a chocolate dessert. She has always known how to manipulate me. While she was getting ready, I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to bring some order to my white, curly hair. My tired green eyes stared back at me. I knew the real reason she wanted to go to the park was to see Kiyo—it was obvious he had always been her refuge.

  Minata came downstairs minutes later, wearing denim shorts and a sleeveless blouse. The two golden braids framing her face moved along with her carefree smile.

  —I’m ready.

  —Let’s go, I replied, without enthusiasm but unable to refuse.

  I left her at the park, surrounded by children laughing and running, and couples holding hands. Minata fit so well there. She always had that ability to adapt, to become part of any place she went. I, on the other hand, have never bothered trying. It’s not that I feel uncomfortable or out of place—I simply prefer to stay on the sidelines. It’s easier that way.

  I started riding away on my bicycle, the cool wind against my face. It was a pleasant feeling, almost as if everything was in its place for a few minutes. But it didn’t last long. As I turned a corner, a bright light stopped me in my tracks.

  My hands trembled on the handlebars, and sweat slid down my forehead. Then I saw it. A figure emerged from that light: a being wrapped in black armor, purple veins pulsing through the cracks in its shell. On its back was a great sword, decorated with runes glowing with a spectral shine. It didn’t belong to this world. I knew it the moment I saw it.

  “Shit… what do I do?” I thought, as fear took hold of me. My heart was beating so hard it felt like my ribs would break. It was like that time at school, when terror paralyzed me. But I couldn’t let it happen again. I couldn’t ruin Minata’s day, not again. “Dad always told me to be brave, but… how?”

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  The being stepped forward, its footsteps echoing as if the ground itself protested its presence.

  —Hey, kid. Come with me. If you cooperate, you won’t get hurt.

  Without thinking, my body reacted on instinct. I pedaled with all my strength, the wind cutting against my face as I sped away. But then, in an instant, the being appeared in front of me. I didn’t have time to react before crashing into its armor. It was like hitting a solid rock.

  —I’ll repeat it one last time. I am Natzuku. Come with me and work for our…

  I tried to get up from the ground, but fear had me paralyzed. My body refused to move. I could barely breathe.

  —I’ll take that as a “yes, I’ll go with you without offering further resistance,” Natzuku said with disdain.

  Suddenly, a rock struck his helmet. Natzuku turned sharply, and there stood Minata and Kiyo, firm and unshaken.

  —Hey, leave him alone! my sister shouted.

  Natzuku’s eyes narrowed as he looked more closely at Kiyo.

  —So you’re the boy who defeated the last ones we sent. Interesting.

  Kiyo laughed, showing a confident smile.

  —Me, interesting? Well, I’ve always had that effect, he said arrogantly, winking at Minata.

  —Let’s make this more fun, Kiyo added, stepping forward. You let the boy go, leave, and stay out of our lives. Or second option: I beat you up, and you let him go anyway.

  Natzuku let out a deep, dark laugh.

  —You? A mere human defeating someone like me? That confidence will lead you to a fall you won’t survive.

  —Who says I won’t survive?

  Natzuku lowered his gaze for a moment.

  —I don’t have time for games. I’ll take this boy and… his eyes scanned the area. Wait, where is he?

  I took advantage of his distraction and crawled just enough to get closer to Kiyo.

  —Fine, if you want a fight, I’ll give you one, Natzuku growled, his patience running out.

  The first attack came with brutal speed. Kiyo barely had time to dodge, moving purely on instinct. When he tried to counterattack, his fist struck Natzuku’s armor as if hitting a steel wall. The pain was immediate, shooting through his hand and up his arm.

  —I warned you, boy. You can’t hurt me, Natzuku said with a cruel smile before striking Kiyo hard in the face, sending him to the ground. Blood poured from his nose.

  —Well… I didn’t expect that, Kiyo said, still smiling despite the pain.

  He barely managed to stand up and grabbed a rock from the ground. With all his strength, he hurled it at Natzuku’s helmet, managing only to leave a small dent.

  —I admit you’re strong for your age, but that smile of yours is starting to annoy me.

  Before Kiyo could even react, Natzuku drove a knee straight into his stomach, knocking the air out of him and leaving him stunned. Without giving him time to recover, he grabbed him by the neck and slammed him brutally into the ground. With a heavy, firm hand, he pressed Kiyo’s head into the dirt, completely immobilizing him.