《I Can Go to the Mirror World》


 Prologue: The Room of Mirrors

    The warm scent of polished wood and aged paper filled the air as seven-year-old Hikaru Shinomura stumbled into the back room of his family¡¯s antique shop, clutching a small mirror in both hands. The ornate frame of the mirror gleamed under the soft yellow glow of the overhead lamp, its surface reflecting his wide-eyed curiosity and a hint of a sheepish grin.


    ¡°Careful, Hikaru,¡± his father¡¯s gentle voice echoed behind him. ¡°That one is fragile.¡±


    ¡°I know, Dad,¡± Hikaru said with a determined nod, steadying his grip. ¡°Where should I put it?¡±


    ¡°Follow me,¡± his father replied, opening a sliding wooden door to reveal a room unlike any other in the shop.


    Hikaru froze in awe. The room was lined with mirrors of every shape and size. Rectangular mirrors leaned against the walls, round ones hung like paintings, and small hand mirrors were arranged meticulously on shelves. The entire room seemed alive with reflections, creating an endless labyrinth of light and shadow. In the center of the room sat a single wooden chair, old but well-kept, its surface smooth from years of use.


    ¡°Why are there so many mirrors here?¡± Hikaru asked, his voice hushed with wonder.


    His father chuckled softly, stepping into the room and motioning for Hikaru to follow. ¡°This is where I keep the special ones¡ªthe ones that have stories.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Stories?¡± Hikaru¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity as he placed the small mirror carefully on a nearby shelf. ¡°How can a mirror have a story?¡±


    His father knelt beside him, brushing a hand over the back of the chair in the center of the room. ¡°When I was your age, I used to sit here, right in this chair, whenever I felt lonely or sad.¡± He smiled, his gaze distant as though he were seeing another time entirely. ¡°I¡¯d look into the mirrors and imagine another version of myself staring back. Someone braver, stronger¡ªsomeone who could face the things I couldn¡¯t.¡±


    Hikaru tilted his head, trying to picture it. ¡°Did it work?¡±


    ¡°It did,¡± his father said, his smile growing. ¡°Sometimes, it felt like that other me understood things I couldn¡¯t say out loud. It was... comforting, knowing that no matter how I felt, I was never really alone.¡±


    Hikaru turned to one of the mirrors on the wall, peering into his own reflection. He stuck out his tongue, and the boy in the mirror did the same. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s really another me in there?¡±


    His father ruffled Hikaru¡¯s hair with a chuckle. ¡°Who knows? Mirrors are mysterious things. Maybe they show us more than just our faces. Maybe, if you look closely enough, you¡¯ll find a part of yourself you¡¯ve never met before.¡±


    Hikaru frowned thoughtfully, staring into the mirror as if expecting his reflection to wink back. ¡°That¡¯s kinda cool,¡± he muttered.


    His father laughed again, his voice rich with warmth. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s finish setting up before your mother finds out we¡¯ve been slacking.¡±


    As they left the room, Hikaru glanced back one last time. The chair in the middle of the mirrors seemed to call to him, its presence oddly inviting.


    To Be Continue.

 A Normal Day

    It''s funny how life settles into a routine, like a song on repeat. Wake up, go to school, attend student council meetings, go home, and do it all over again. Predictable. Not that I''m complaining¡ªnormal is fine. Normal is good.


    My name''s Hikaru Shinomura. I''m seventeen, a second-year student at Nishihama High School in Kamakura, the coastal city known for its temples and the Great Buddha at K¨­toku-in. If you open the classroom windows on a clear day, you can hear the seagulls crying out over the school bell. Tourists wander the streets lined with cozy cafes and souvenir shops, snapping pictures of the scenery I''ve grown used to. It''s peaceful, unremarkable, and honestly, I don''t mind.


    I''m not the smartest guy in class, or the fastest on the track team. I''m just Hikaru¡ªanother quiet student who happens to help out on the student council.


    Kring! The school bell echoed across the courtyard as I stepped onto the grounds.


    The hallways buzzed with their usual energy¡ªclassmates stressing over exams, talking about weekend plans, or laughing about nothing in particular. I nodded at a few familiar faces on my way to the student council room, not stopping for conversation.


    The council room was tucked away on the third floor, at the end of a quieter hallway. It wasn''t like I had a reason to rush there. Meetings were often uneventful¡ªplanning events, managing schedules, and taking notes. Still, I didn''t mind. It was something to do, something that made me feel part of the school in my own way.


    When I reached the door, I knocked lightly before stepping inside.


    The room was as calm as ever. Aoi Tanaka, our president, sat at the head of the table, flipping through a binder with her usual composed expression. She gave me a polite nod without looking up.


    Riku Yamashita, the vice president, was leaning back in his chair, legs casually propped up on the table. He was scribbling something on a piece of paper¡ªprobably a doodle or a half-baked idea. He always had too much energy for this room.


    Mayu Kurokawa, our treasurer, sat by the window, her head bent over a stack of papers. She was as focused as ever, sorting through documents with the precision of someone who didn''t know how to take a break.


    I slid into the chair next to Riku, setting my bag down with a small thud.


    "Late again, Hikaru-kun?" Riku teased, flashing me his usual smirk. "You''re setting a terrible example for the first-years, you know."


    "Two minutes," I muttered, leaning back in my chair. "And the meeting hasn''t even started yet."


    "Still," he said with a wink, "slippery slope."


    Aoi sighed softly, clearly ignoring us. "Let''s get started," she said, glancing at the agenda laid out in front of her.


    I blinked, confused. "Started with what? You didn''t say anything in the group chat this morning."


    "What do you mean, Hikaru-kun?" Riku chimed in, spinning his pen between his fingers. "It''s December, remember? It''s going to snow by the end of the month! Finally, winter break!"


    Mayu, still focused on her papers, didn''t look up but muttered, "And, as usual, Riku-kun''s thinking about everything except the actual agenda."


    Riku grinned sheepishly. "Come on, Mayu-san, lighten up. Snow means plans! So, Hikaru-kun, what do you think? Going anywhere exciting?"


    I shrugged, leaning back in my chair. "Nowhere special. Normal''s fine."


    But even as I said it, a part of me wondered if this winter would really be just another routine, or if it might bring something unexpectedThe story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Aoi sat back on the couch and nodded thoughtfully, a small smile playing on her lips. "Umu, umu. How about just a private student council gathering? We can play in the snow together!"


    "It''s just playing as usual, isn''t it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "A special gathering!" Aoi insisted, her voice carrying a rare note of excitement as she leaned forward, clasping her hands dramatically.


    Riku chuckled, spinning his pen between his fingers. "Sounds like Aoi-san''s already made up her mind. Do we even have a choice in this?"


    Mayu sighed softly, setting her papers down in a neat stack. "As long as it doesn''t interfere with actual council duties, I suppose it''s fine."


    Aoi''s smile widened as she clapped her hands together. "Perfect! It''ll be fun, Hikaru-kun, you''ll see!"


    "I just want to lie under my kotatsu..." I muttered, my voice barely audible as I avoided their gazes.


    "Anyway... Hikaru-kun," Mayu said, her calm voice breaking the flow of the conversation.


    I turned toward her, surprised she was addressing me directly. "Yeah? What is it?"


    "Your family has an antique shop, right?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.


    "...Yeah? Why, you want to visit?"


    "Actually, yes," Mayu admitted, her expression softening just a little. "I want to buy something for my grandpa before he passes away. He''s almost 100 years old."


    "Damn! 100 years old!?" Riku yelled bluntly, his chair screeching as he leaned forward in shock.


    "Almost," Mayu corrected flatly, brushing off his reaction. "He''s 99."


    "Well, yeah? My shop has plenty of antique things," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "But... most of them are pretty expensive, you know?"


    Mayu nodded thoughtfully. "I''ll just go for something cheap but good. I''m not looking for anything extravagant."


    "I''ll go with you!" Aoi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.


    Riku nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, same here. Sounds fun."


    Great... more people again, I thought, suppressing a sigh.


    "Hey, hey, Hikaru-kun," Aoi called out, leaning slightly toward me with a curious look.


    "And now what?" I replied, glancing at her with mild exasperation.


    "Have you ever felt something strange?" she asked, her tone dropping slightly, almost conspiratorial. "You know, with antique items? They might have their own stories, right? Are there any... horror stories?"


    I paused, her question hanging in the air. The others turned their attention to me, intrigued.


    "Horror stories?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You''re getting ideas from those late-night ghost shows again, aren''t you?"


    Aoi pouted. "I''m serious! Think about it¡ªantique items come from all sorts of places. They could have mysterious histories! Maybe one of them is haunted or cursed."


    Riku leaned forward, his grin widening. "Oh, this sounds good. Do tell, Hikaru-kun. Got any creepy tales from the shop?"


    Mayu, who had been silent, glanced up from her papers. "Honestly, it wouldn''t surprise me if some of those antiques had unsettling stories attached. You''ve probably seen some weird things working there, haven''t you?"


    I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Well, yeah, we''ve had some strange items come through. But haunted? I don''t know about that."


    "Come on, don''t hold back," Riku said, his eyes practically sparkling. "You''re not fooling anyone, Hikaru-kun. Spill it."


    I hesitated, my mind drifting to an old story my father once told me. "Okay, fine. There''s one. But don''t blame me if you can''t sleep tonight."


    Aoi clapped her hands together, clearly delighted. "Yes! Go on!"


    I crossed my arms, trying to recall the details. "There''s this old hand mirror we''ve had in the shop for as long as I can remember. My dad says it came from a noblewoman''s estate, over a hundred years ago. It''s a beautiful piece¡ªornate silver frame, intricate carvings, the works. But according to my dad, the noblewoman who owned it... well, she didn''t exactly die peacefully."


    Riku''s grin faltered, just a little. "What happened to her?"


    "She was obsessed with her reflection," I said, my voice lowering. "To the point where she spent hours staring into that mirror, talking to it as if it could talk back. Some say she was seeing someone¡ªor something¡ªinside it. And when she died, they found her slumped in front of the mirror, her face frozen in terror."


    "Creepy," Aoi whispered, hugging her knees to her chest.


    "That''s not the weirdest part," I continued, leaning forward slightly. "The mirror has a crack running through it now, but it wasn''t there before she died. And every now and then, people swear they see something move in it¡ªsomething that doesn''t match the reflection."


    "Okay, now you''re making things up," Riku said, though his voice wasn''t as confident as before.


    I shrugged. "Believe what you want. But the mirror''s still in the shop if you''re curious."


    Aoi''s eyes sparkled with excitement. "I have to see it! Can we?"


    "Sure, if you''re brave enough," I said, smirking.


    Mayu sighed, already regretting her decision to get involved. "I just wanted to buy a gift, not get caught up in ghost stories..."


    "Too late now," Riku said with a grin. "We''re all in this together."


    ***


    The break ended, and I found myself walking alone down the hallway, the faint hum of chatter fading as students filtered back into their classrooms. My thoughts wandered, circling back to the story I had told about the mirror. It was mostly made up, but not entirely.


    To Be Continue.

 A Normal Day II

    The hand mirror did exist, and my father had mentioned it once in passing when I was younger. I''d always thought his words were just a way to keep a bored kid entertained. But now, weaving a half-truth into a story for the others, I couldn''t help but chuckle to myself.


    "Haunted mirror," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. The absurdity of it made me smile, though a small part of me wondered¡ªwhat if there was more to it?


    Pushing the thought aside, I reached my classroom. Sliding the door open, I stepped inside to find only a handful of people scattered across the room. Some were resting their heads on their desks, others quietly chatting in small groups. The air was calm, a stark contrast to the usual energy before classes.


    I made my way to my desk near the window, dropping into the chair with a quiet sigh. It was nice, this brief lull in the day. The faint warmth of the afternoon sun filtered through the glass, casting soft shadows on the floor.


    Propping my chin on my hand, I gazed outside at the school grounds. The leaves were sparse now, bare branches swaying gently in the cool breeze. Winter was creeping in, slow and steady.


    The quiet wrapped around me like a blanket, and for a moment, I allowed myself to relax. These small, unremarkable moments were my favorite¡ªnothing happening, no expectations, just time to think.


    I idly tapped my pen against the desk, my mind drifting back to the student council room and the others'' reactions to the story. Aoi''s enthusiasm, Riku''s teasing, Mayu''s quiet exasperation... they all had their quirks, but somehow it worked.


    Maybe it wouldn''t be so bad if they came to the shop, I thought. At least it''ll make things a little more interesting.


    The classroom stayed quiet, the faint sounds of distant voices in the hallway serving as background noise. I closed my eyes for a moment, enjoying the stillness before the day inevitably picked up pace again.


    Prang!


    The sudden crash jolted me out of my thoughts. My eyes darted to the source of the sound¡ªa mirror shattered across the floor near me. For a moment, my heart raced, a strange coincidence considering I''d just been thinking about mirrors.


    Standing beside the mess was Sakura Morita, her face a mix of frustration and resignation.


    "Ahhh, it''s destroyed," she muttered, staring at the broken pieces.


    I quickly got up and bent down to help. "That''s unfortunate, Sakura-san."


    She sighed, crouching beside me. "Ahhh, it really is... I just borrowed it from home, too."


    As I gathered the scattered shards, one piece caught my attention. I reached for it, carefully picking it up, but as my thumb brushed its surface, a strange sensation coursed through me.


    It felt... empty. Not hollow, but as if my thumb had slipped into something beyond the glass¡ªa void. I froze for a split second, staring at the shard in my hand.


    What was that?


    I blinked, shaking off the thought. No way. I''m awake. It''s just my imagination. Still, a faint unease lingered as I continued picking up the shards.


    "Should I put these in the trash?" I asked, holding the collected pieces in my hands.


    "Oh, don''t worry, Hikaru-san, I''ll do it myself," she said, reaching out to take them.


    "Let me help you," I insisted, keeping the glass in my hands. "These are sharp¡ªyou might hurt yourself."


    Her hand hesitated mid-air, and she gave me a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Hikaru-san. That''s kind of you."


    I nodded, carefully placing the shards into an empty box she had brought along. But as I handed over the last piece, I couldn''t shake the strange feeling from before¡ªthe moment my thumb had touched the glass. It was almost as if the mirror wasn''t entirely... broken.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    With the shards of the mirror safely contained in the box, Sakura and I headed out of the classroom together, making our way to the schoolyard where the larger trash bins were kept. The crisp afternoon air greeted us as we stepped outside, a gentle breeze rustling the trees.


    I glanced over at her, curiosity getting the better of me. "So, how''d the mirror fall in the first place?"


    Sakura adjusted her grip on the box and let out a sheepish laugh. "Ah, well, it''s kind of embarrassing," she admitted, raising a hand to point at her glasses. "I was trying to fix these. They''re a bit crooked, and when I adjusted them, I accidentally knocked the mirror off the desk."


    I looked at her glasses, noticing the slight tilt in one of the arms. It wasn''t anything too noticeable, but once she pointed it out, it was hard to unsee.


    "Looks like they''ve been through a lot," I said with a small smile.


    She sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, they''ve been like this for a while. I keep meaning to get them fixed, but I just haven''t had the time."


    "Maybe it''s a sign you should finally take care of it," I teased lightly.


    She laughed, the sound soft and a little self-conscious. "Maybe. Though I don''t think my clumsiness will disappear even if I get new ones."


    We reached the trash bins near the edge of the schoolyard. I carefully placed the box of broken mirror pieces into the bin, making sure none of the shards spilled out. As I straightened up, I noticed Sakura watching me with a thoughtful expression.


    "Thanks for helping, Hikaru-san," she said, her tone genuine.


    "No problem. It''s better than you cutting your hands on those shards," I replied, brushing my hands off.


    "Umm, eto..." Sakura mumbled, her voice a little awkward as she nodded slightly. "Should we head back to class?"


    I gave her a small smile, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere. "Yeah, let''s go."


    We started walking back toward the school building, the silence between us a little more noticeable than before. It wasn''t uncomfortable, but there was something about the way Sakura was fidgeting that made me wonder if I had said something wrong.


    "So, what are you going to do during winter break?" I asked, trying to ease the tension.


    Sakura blinked, as if the question caught her off guard. She glanced up at the sky for a moment before shrugging. "I''m not sure, honestly. Probably just stay home and relax. Maybe visit my grandparents... How about you?"


    I nodded, leaning slightly against the school building. "Probably sleep, but those student council members... they won''t let me. They''ve got this special gathering planned."


    "Hikaru-san... Are you really that busy? What kind of special gathering? You''re going to work even during winter break?"


    "It''s not actually special," I explained, shaking my head. "It''s just a gathering, like a hangout with friends, not really student council business. We''re probably just going to walk around and play in the snow."


    Sakura''s eyes brightened a little at the mention of snow. "That sounds fun," she said with a small smile. "I haven''t played in the snow for years. Maybe I should join you all."


    I glanced over at her, surprised. "You want to hang out with the student council?"


    She seemed taken aback by my response. "Well... um, would you allow me?"


    I shrugged. "I mean, it''s fine. Are you free?"


    Sakura paused for a moment, considering my question. "Yeah, I should be free. Winter break''s the only time I can really relax," she said with a small grin. "I think it''ll be nice to do something... different for once."


    I nodded, smiling lightly. "Then it''s settled. Just let me know if you want to join. It''ll be more fun with more people."


    As we arrived at class, the day resumed as usual, and the rest of the school day passed by in a blur.


    After school, the student council and I walked together, and as we neared the entrance, I could hear their excited chatter. They were all eager to visit my family''s antique shop.


    "Geez... it''s cold," Riku muttered, pulling his jacket tighter around himself.


    The wind bit at our skin as we walked through the school gates, heading toward the narrow alley where my family''s antique shop was located. The cold air made my breath visible, misting in front of me with each exhale. Despite the chill, the group seemed in good spirits, chatting and laughing as we made our way through the quiet streets of Kamakura.


    "It''s really close to the school, isn''t it?" Mayu remarked, glancing around. She had a thoughtful expression, as if she was taking in the whole atmosphere of the town.


    "Yeah, it''s not far. Just a five-minute walk," I replied, adjusting my bag on my shoulder.


    As we turned onto the street where my shop was, the old wooden sign came into view. The place wasn''t big, but it had a cozy, lived-in charm. The old wooden doors creaked when I pushed them open, and the familiar smell of aged wood and antiques filled the air.


    "Wow, it''s so... nostalgic," Aoi said, stepping inside. She looked around, her eyes wide with interest. "I didn''t expect it to have this kind of atmosphere."


    I chuckled softly. "My family''s been running it for years. It''s kind of like our second home."


    Riku and Mayu wandered deeper into the store, already picking up various curiosities from the shelves. The sound of their chatter blended with the soft hum of the old store, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful.


    "Ah, welcome. You must be my son''s friends," came a voice from the back of the shop.


    It was my father, stepping into view with a warm smile.


    To Be Continue.

 Antique Store

    Mayu gave a slight bow in greeting, followed by Aoi and Riku, who quickly mimicked her gesture.


    "It''s nice to meet you," they said in sync, their voices overlapping slightly.


    My father chuckled warmly. "Haha, nice to meet you all too. So, what brings you here today?"


    "We dragged Hikaru-kun along," Riku said with a grin, jerking his thumb toward me. "Figured we''d check out the famous Shinomura family antique shop while we were at it."


    "Famous?" I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.


    Turning to my father, I gestured toward Mayu to explain their visit. "So, this is Mayu-san. She''s the treasurer of the student council. She wanted to buy something affordable for her grandpa."


    My father nodded, his smile warm as he looked at Mayu. "Ah, I see. A gift for your grandfather, huh? That''s very thoughtful of you."


    Mayu returned his smile politely. "Yes, he''s almost a hundred years old, and I thought something from an antique shop might suit him well."


    "Almost a hundred?" my father said, raising his eyebrows. "That''s impressive. Well, you''ve come to the right place. We have plenty of unique items that carry a lot of history."


    He gestured toward the shelves, filled with carefully arranged trinkets, old books, pottery, and small statues. "Feel free to look around. If you have any questions, just ask."


    Mayu nodded and began browsing the shelves, her fingers lightly trailing over the surface of a carved wooden box before picking it up to examine it more closely.


    Aoi wandered over to a different section, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "This place is amazing! Everything here feels like it has a story," she said, her voice filled with genuine awe.


    Riku, meanwhile, was drawn to a dusty old samurai helmet displayed on a stand. "Whoa, Hikaru-kun, is this real?" he asked, his voice a mix of excitement and disbelief.


    I smirked slightly. "Yeah, but it''s not for sale. That one''s just for display."


    "Man, that''s too bad. I could totally see myself wearing this," Riku said with a grin, pretending to pose heroically.


    My father chuckled, shaking his head. "Careful with that, young man. It''s older than you by several centuries."


    As the others explored the shop, I stayed back, leaning against the counter and watching them. It wasn''t often that I brought friends here¡ªor, more accurately, acquaintances. Seeing them so interested in the antiques was... different.


    Mayu soon approached the counter, holding a small wooden box with intricate carvings. "Hikaru-san, what do you think about this one? Do you think my grandfather would like it?"


    I straightened up and examined the box. The carvings depicted a traditional mountain scene, complete with a winding river and a tiny shrine nestled among the trees.


    That''s cute... I thought.


    "If you think that''s good, then go ahead," I said with a small shrug.


    Just then, Aoi walked closer to my side and tapped my shoulder with her finger.


    Poke. Poke.


    "Huh? What is it, Aoi-san?"


    "Can you tell me about those stones over there?" she asked, pointing toward one of the shelves.


    Hearing her mention the stones, I immediately guessed what she was curious about. Those colorful stones always drew attention. It was only natural that someone would ask about them eventually.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I nodded, giving her a slight smile. "Alright, lead the way to what caught your interest."


    Aoi eagerly led the way, weaving through the aisles of antiques until she stopped in front of a small display. The shelf was lined with an assortment of colorful stones, each polished to a smooth finish and gleaming faintly under the warm lighting.


    "These," she said, pointing at the collection. "They''re so pretty. Are they just decorative, or do they mean something?"


    I glanced at the stones and felt a faint sense of nostalgia. My father had once explained the story behind each type when I was younger. Some were simple collectibles, while others carried cultural or historical significance.


    "Well," I began, picking up a deep green stone streaked with white. "This one''s jade. People often associate it with protection and good luck."


    "That''s not what I''m asking," Aoi interrupted, her brows furrowed. "I mean, why are they different colors?"


    "...Because they''re different stones?" I replied uncertainly. Truthfully, I had no idea about the scientific reasons behind the colors.


    "Hikaru-kun," Riku called from across the room, "where''s the mirror you mentioned before?"


    Of course, he''d ask that.


    I nodded toward Mayu, shifting the focus to her. "Mayu-san, do you want to see the mirror I mentioned earlier?"


    "Oh, the one from the horror story? Sure," she replied with mild curiosity.


    With a nod, I turned and started walking deeper into the shop. "Father, I''m taking them to that room," I called out.


    "Alright, just don''t break any mirrors!" he replied, his tone half-serious.


    Riku leaned closer to me, whispering as we walked. "Why do you call it that room? Does it have some spooky name?"


    I shook my head. "No, it''s just what we''ve always called it. It doesn''t really have a name, so... that room works."


    The path to that room felt longer than usual, likely because of the group''s quiet anticipation. The air seemed to change as we ventured deeper into the shop, leaving behind the well-lit displays for an area steeped in shadows, where dust and age clung to the atmosphere.


    Finally, we stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. I hesitated for a moment, my hand resting on the worn doorknob. "Alright, just... don''t freak out. It''s not as scary as the story made it sound."


    Aoi tilted her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes. "You''re making it sound scarier by saying that, Hikaru-kun."


    I sighed and pushed the door open. The room was smaller than the rest of the shop, dimly lit by a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. Mirrors covered every inch of the walls¡ªeven the back of the door was lined with reflective glass, creating an almost disorienting effect.


    "What the..." Mayu muttered, her voice trailing off.


    "This is... something else," Riku added, his gaze darting from mirror to mirror.


    "This is so cool!" Aoi exclaimed, her voice echoing faintly in the enclosed space. She spotted a lone chair in the center of the room and quickly sat down. "Why is this room surrounded by mirrors?"


    I crossed my arms and, with a straight face, said, "Don''t sit there. A girl died in that chair."


    The reaction was immediate. Mayu, Riku, and even Aoi froze, their expressions shifting to shock.


    "Wha¡ªwhat?!" Aoi shot up from the chair, her face pale. "Why didn''t you tell me that earlier?!"


    I couldn''t help but chuckle, waving a hand dismissively. "I''m just joking."


    Aoi''s face turned red as she stomped a foot. "Hikaru-kun! That''s not funny!"


    Riku burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Oh man, her face! That was priceless!"


    Mayu let out a sigh, shaking her head. "You shouldn''t joke about things like that. Especially in a place like this."


    I shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. "Yeah, yeah. But admit it¡ªit made the room a little more interesting."


    The three of them began to wander around the room, their eyes scanning the countless reflections bouncing off the mirrors that lined every wall. Their movements seemed almost surreal as the reflections multiplied endlessly, creating an eerie yet fascinating effect.


    "So... which one is the broken old mirror?" Mayu asked, her tone curious but cautious.


    "If you sit in the chair and keep your posture straight, you''ll see a small broken hand mirror in one of the reflections," I explained, gesturing toward the center of the room.


    Before I could even finish my sentence, Aoi had already sat back down in the chair, straightening her posture as she peered into the maze of reflections. Her eyes lit up almost immediately, and she pointed toward a specific spot. "Whoa, it''s there!"


    She leaned forward slightly, her hand gesturing toward the faint glimmer of a small, cracked hand mirror tucked into the far corner of the wall''s reflection.


    Mayu and Riku followed her gaze, squinting to spot the object she was pointing at. "I see it now," Mayu said softly, a hint of intrigue in her voice.


    Riku tilted his head, his brow furrowed. "How do you even notice something like that? This room is so disorienting."


    "It''s like a hidden treasure," Aoi added, her voice tinged with excitement as she kept her eyes fixed on the reflection of the damaged mirror.


    "Ah, about that," I began, glancing around the room. "This place used to be my punishment spot when I got scolded. My father would use this room when he felt like being alone, but in my case, he always sent me here if I did something wrong."


    "Why this room?" Mayu asked, her tone curious.


    To Be Continue.

 Antique Store II

    "To reflect on myself," I replied with a faint smirk, gesturing to the chair in the center. "Literally. I''d have to sit in the middle of this room, surrounded by mirrors, and think about what I did wrong."


    Riku stood in front of the small, broken hand mirror mounted on the wall. Leaning in, he squinted, his side-eye focused as though trying to spot something hidden within the cracks. "Hmmm¡­" he muttered, his voice thoughtful.


    After a moment, he turned back to the three of us, shrugging casually. "Nothing there. Not even a hint of horror. Just an old, broken mirror."


    "What did you expect? A ghost to pop out in broad daylight?" I replied, smirking at Riku''s disappointed expression.


    He crossed his arms, glancing back at the mirror. "Well, yeah. You hyped it up with that story, so I thought there''d be... I don''t know, something creepy."


    Aoi giggled, her reflection multiplying endlessly in the mirrors around us. "Maybe the ghosts are shy during the day. You should come back at night, Riku-kun."


    "Yeah, right," Riku scoffed, though his gaze lingered on the broken mirror a little longer, as if daring it to prove him wrong.


    "Boo!" Mayu suddenly whispered in Riku''s ear, poking his waist at the same time.


    "GYAAAA!" A manly scream¡ªwell, it wasn''t exactly manly¡ªescaped Riku''s mouth as he jumped back.


    Aoi burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "I think you''ve scared yourself more than anything else, Riku-kun!"


    Riku stood there, breathing heavily, glaring at Mayu. "I... I thought you were gonna be a ghost for a second!"


    Mayu, looking entirely too pleased with herself, smirked. "Well, I did say it was a horror story, didn''t I?"


    "I''m going to get you back for that," Riku muttered under his breath, still recovering from the shock.


    "Anyway," Mayu glanced back at me. "I think I''ll take this small necklace that can fit a picture. How much do you sell it for?"


    "Which one?" I asked, following her out of the room.


    The others followed behind us, leaving that room empty once again.


    ***


    We made our way to the counter.


    "That one''s cheap. 1,500 yen for you," I said, gesturing toward the necklace.


    "Really? I thought this was kind of antique, old stuff," Mayu said, raising an eyebrow.


    "Nearly old stuff," my father suddenly walked in, adding with a chuckle, "I found it in the forest. Seems like it''s from the World War era."


    "Really? Then why''s it so cheap?" Mayu asked, clearly surprised.


    "Well¡­" My father shrugged nonchalantly. "That''s just how it works."


    Mayu seemed to think it over for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I''ll take it," she said, handing over the money. "Thank you, Hikaru-san. And thank your dad for me too."


    "No problem," I replied with a smile. "I''m sure your grandpa will love it."


    As she tucked the necklace carefully into her bag, Riku and Aoi started to wander around the shop again, chatting quietly among themselves.


    After some time, the group began to gather their things. Aoi stretched, looking at her phone. "Well, I think it''s about time we head out."


    "Yeah, I agree," Riku said, grinning. "It''s getting late."


    "Thanks for letting us check out the shop, Hikaru-kun," Mayu added, waving as she made her way toward the door. "It was fun!"


    "No problem," I replied, giving them a nod.


    One by one, they left the store, their voices fading as they walked out into the evening. After locking up the door, I turned and noticed my father was already at home, relaxing in the living room, since the house and shop were connected.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    With a soft sigh, I closed up the shop for the night, feeling the quiet settle around me as I locked the entrance door.


    As the lights turned off, I walked toward the back of the store, heading toward the home section of the building. But then, I noticed that the door to that room was still open¡ªprobably forgotten when I locked up earlier.


    "And this is kind of creepy now," I muttered to myself, reaching for the light switch near the wall. The dim light flickered on as I walked toward the room to close the door.


    I stepped into the room, the faint hum of the overhead light the only sound breaking the silence. The mirrors on the walls reflected my every move, casting countless versions of myself in every direction. It was eerie, like walking into my own mind, where every thought was reflected back at me.


    I walked toward the door, my footsteps soft on the old wooden floor. As I reached for the door handle, I glanced around once more, the unsettling feeling of the room pressing on me. The chair still sat in the middle, untouched, surrounded by the mirrors that seemed to watch me.


    With a deep breath, I closed the door behind me, the soft click of the lock echoing in the stillness.


    "Just need to lock up and get some rest," I muttered under my breath, feeling the weight of the day finally settle on my shoulders. I turned off the light and walked back to the store, the quiet atmosphere almost soothing after the chaos of the day.


    Finally, I made my way to the back of the store, closing the last door behind me.


    "I''m home," I said, heading to the living room.


    My mother was sitting on the couch, watching TV. "Oh, just closed the store, hun?"


    "Yeah, I''m gonna sleep now."


    "Alright, go sleep. Tomorrow''s school."


    I nodded and stretched, the exhaustion of the day catching up with me. It had been a long one, filled with strange events and moments I couldn''t quite shake from my mind.


    As I walked toward my room, I heard my mother''s voice call out. "Don''t stay up too late, okay?"


    "Yeah, I won''t," I replied, giving her a small wave before closing my door behind me.


    The familiar warmth of my room was a welcome change from the eerie atmosphere of the shop. I kicked off my shoes and sat down on the bed, rubbing my eyes as I tried to let go of the unease that lingered.


    I glanced out the window, the night sky clear and full of stars. A small part of me wondered if anything I had experienced today was real, or just some weird, coincidental turn of events. Still, I couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off¡ªlike the mirrors, the ones that seemed to show more than they should.


    With a sigh, I pulled the covers over myself and turned off the light. The quiet settled around me, but it didn''t quite bring the peace I was hoping for. My mind kept racing, wondering if I''d be back in the shop tomorrow, dealing with more strange happenings.


    Finally, my body gave in to the exhaustion, and I drifted off to sleep, the images of mirrors and reflections still lingering in my mind.


    The room was dark. I was standing in the middle of it again¡ªthat room. The same one filled with mirrors. The air was still, but the weight of it felt different now, heavier. I glanced around, the reflections of myself in the mirrors surrounding me from every angle, each one slightly off, as though they were all versions of me, each living a life just out of reach.


    Then, it happened.


    The reflections began to move. Their eyes, their faces¡ªthey shifted, twisting unnaturally, like they were alive, but not in the way I was. They were staring at me. At first, I thought they were still, but then I realized¡ªthey were whispering. It was a murmur, a soft, frantic buzzing that grew louder the longer I stood there, frozen in place.


    I tried to step back, but my feet felt glued to the floor. My reflection was still standing in front of me, staring, but there was a flicker of something else behind it. The others started to move. Slowly at first, but with each passing moment, the speed of their movements increased, as if they couldn''t contain themselves any longer.


    The whispers grew louder, faster, words that were barely coherent, rushing past my ears in a dizzying blur. I could only catch fragments of them¡ªphrases that made no sense, spoken too quickly for me to grasp. Something about "getting out," "it''s time," and something about "you."


    I tried to scream, but no sound came out. I couldn''t move, couldn''t even breathe as the whispers filled my mind, pushing and pulling at the edges of my consciousness. It was like they were trying to break free, trying to reach me.


    Then, with a sharp crack, one of the reflections¡ªthe one closest to me¡ªstepped out of the mirror, its form twisting, distorting as it pulled itself into the real world. Its eyes locked onto mine, and in that moment, I could hear its voice clearly. It was deep, unnatural, like a chorus of many voices layered on top of each other.


    "You can''t escape us," it hissed, its voice scraping against my mind. "You''re a part of us now."


    I felt something cold and wet brushing against my skin, and I looked down to see a shadowy figure curling around my feet, its grip tightening.


    The reflection was no longer just a reflection. It was real¡ªtoo real. It stepped closer, its fingers reaching out toward me. I tried to pull away, but the room was closing in. The mirrors were no longer just walls; they were like mouths, opening wider and wider, threatening to swallow me whole.


    The figure''s hand brushed my shoulder, and I felt the chill run through me.


    "Come with us," it whispered again, so close I could feel the words on my skin.


    I snapped awake, gasping for breath. My heart pounded in my chest, my body drenched in sweat. The room was quiet¡ªtoo quiet.


    "Hahh... hahh.... hahhh...." I gasped, trying to calm my racing heart. I quickly reached for the lamp beside my bed and flicked the switch. The harsh light flooded the room, cutting through the darkness, and I looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings.


    The window reflected the cool blue of the night sky. It was still night.


    "Nightmare..." I muttered, my voice shaky as I tried to gather myself.


    I swallowed hard, but the lingering sense of unease refused to leave. My body felt tense, as if something¡ªsomeone¡ªwas still watching.


    To Be Continue.

 Strange World

    Rubbing my eyes, I started to walk toward the door, intending to go to the dining room for a cup of fresh water. My head still buzzed with remnants of the nightmare, but I needed to shake it off. Just as I was about to step forward, my foot slipped onto something cold.


    "Huh?" I muttered, looking down at my leg.


    To my horror, a mirror¡ªa fragment of the nightmare itself¡ªwas beneath me, its surface rippling like liquid silver. My leg was being pulled in, and no matter how hard I tried to pull back, the force was too strong.


    "W-Wait! What''s happening!?"


    Before I could grasp what was going on, the rest of my body was yanked into the mirror.


    Wooosh!


    Everything blurred as my surroundings twisted into a cascade of shifting light and reflections. A sensation of weightlessness overtook me, and I screamed as I fell from the sky toward what looked eerily familiar¡ªa landscape identical to my hometown, in the night.


    "Waaaaa!" I yelled, my voice echoing as I plummeted. Below me was the same place I knew so well, yet... it wasn''t. It looked like a warped version of reality, the colors muted, the air heavy. The antique shop stood in the exact same spot, but the windows were fogged and cracked, and the streets seemed deserted.


    Thud!


    I hit the ground, miraculously unscathed, though the shock of the impact made me dizzy. My palms pressed against the cold surface of the ground¡ªit felt solid, but there was a strange, faint shimmer to everything around me.


    I stood up shakily, my heart racing.


    "This... this is the same place as my dream," I whispered, my voice trembling.


    Then a horrifying thought struck me. This isn''t a dream. I''m awake. This is real.


    I pinched my cheeks hard, and the sharp sting confirmed my fear. This wasn''t a trick of the mind. I was in the mirror world, the same one I had been dragged into in my nightmare. The same twisted version of reality I had escaped only moments before.


    "What the hell is going on!?" I shouted, the sound of my voice echoing into the strange, distorted silence.


    I looked around, my breaths shallow and uneven. The streets were eerily silent, devoid of life. Not a single person in sight, and not even the faintest rustle of wind or distant chatter. It felt as if the entire world had been drained of its essence, leaving me alone in a strange, warped version of my town.


    The antique shop was only a few steps away, but it looked different now. Its once-cozy exterior was shrouded in shadows, and it appeared foreboding. The sign creaked faintly, swinging as if touched by an invisible hand. Despite the unease creeping up my spine, I forced myself to step forward. My footsteps echoed unnaturally loud in the empty street.


    "Hello?" I called out, my voice shaking slightly. There was no answer, just the oppressive silence pressing in on me. "Is anyone here?"


    Nothing. Not even an echo responded.


    I stopped in the middle of the street, slowly turning in circles, trying to take in my surroundings. The buildings were the same, placed in the exact same positions, but they felt wrong¡ªlike they were memories, faded and altered. The colors were muted, like an old photograph, and the edges of everything shimmered faintly, as though they were reflections themselves.


    "This can''t be real," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "It has to be some kind of... hallucination."


    But deep down, I knew it wasn''t. The chill of the air on my skin, the solid ground beneath my feet¡ªeverything was too vivid, too real. I was truly here, trapped in this distorted version of reality.


    The longer I stood there, the more the silence weighed on me. It wasn''t just quiet¡ªit felt alive, oppressive. I felt like the very air was watching me, waiting for me to make a move.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Okay, think," I told myself, trying to steady my breathing. "How did I get here? The mirror... it pulled me in. But how do I get out?"


    My gaze shifted back to the antique shop. It seemed like a logical place to start¡ªif this was my town, even in its twisted form, maybe the mirror would be the key to getting back. If I could find it again, I could escape.


    "Alright... alright, I know the way. This is my town. I grew up here," I murmured to myself, though the uncertainty still gnawed at me. "I just have to make it back to the mirror... Hopefully, there''s nothing more horrifying waiting for me."


    I made my way cautiously through the empty streets, each step feeling heavier than the last. The eerie stillness pressed down on me, amplifying the sound of my footsteps. My eyes stayed fixed on the antique shop in the distance, but something else caught my attention.


    The convenience store.


    It stood exactly where it always had¡ªjust a block from my home. Its fluorescent lights buzzed faintly, casting a sterile glow over the shelves inside. It looked untouched, fully stocked with snacks, drinks, and other items. In the midst of this strange, lifeless version of my town, its normalcy felt oddly comforting.


    I paused, glancing around to confirm what I already knew: there wasn''t a single soul in sight.


    If there''s no one here, then¡­ no one can stop me, right?


    The thought flitted through my mind, and before I could overthink it, I headed toward the store. The automatic doors slid open with a mechanical whirr, even though there was no one to trigger them. Cool air from inside brushed against my skin, and for a moment, it felt like stepping into any ordinary night at the store.


    I wandered the aisles, my gaze skimming over the brightly packaged snacks. Chips, chocolate bars, candy, instant noodles¡ªeverything was just sitting there, waiting. My stomach growled, a sharp reminder that I hadn''t eaten since dinner.


    "Well," I muttered, grabbing a large bag of chips and a handful of candy bars, "if no one''s here, it''s not like anyone will notice, right?"


    With my arms full, I strolled through the aisles, picking up whatever caught my eye. The absurdity of the situation started to dull the edge of my fear. Here I was, in some bizarre mirror world, raiding a convenience store like it was the most normal thing to do.


    After a while, I walked out of the store, now holding a tote bag stuffed with snacks and other random items I''d grabbed along the way. I glanced back at the flickering lights of the convenience store before looking up at the sky, still trapped in its eternal, eerie stillness.


    "Time to head home¡­" I murmured, though the word "home" felt strangely distant in a world that wasn''t entirely my own.


    The walk back to the antique shop felt surreal, each step carrying me closer to a place that looked like home but didn''t quite feel like it. As I approached the store, its shadowy outline loomed larger, the familiar creak of the sign swinging softly in the still air.


    I reached the door and instinctively grabbed the handle. Locked. Of course.


    I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Figures..." I muttered.


    But I knew better. The shop had its quirks, and growing up here meant I knew all its secrets. I made my way around the side to a small window. The latch was tricky but manageable if you knew where to press. I fiddled with it for a moment before it popped open with a quiet click.


    "Still works," I said to myself, climbing inside.


    The room I entered was pitch black, the faint smell of old wood and antiques filling the air. I fumbled for the light switch near the door and flipped it on. The sudden brightness felt jarring in the oppressive silence. Everything was just as I''d left it¡ªor, at least, a reflection of it. Shelves lined with trinkets, pottery, and old books cast long shadows on the walls.


    It was too quiet, eerily so.


    I made my way through the shop, each creak of the wooden floorboards echoing unnaturally. My destination was clear: that room. The one that had started all of this.


    The door stood at the far end of the shop, partially ajar as if waiting for me. A chill ran down my spine, but I pressed forward. With each step, the air seemed to grow heavier, like the room itself was aware of my approach.


    I paused at the threshold, staring into the dimly lit interior. The single bulb overhead cast flickering light across the mirrors, each one reflecting endless versions of the room¡ªand of me. The chair still sat in the middle, ominously inviting.


    Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.


    As I sat in the chair at the center of the room, I leaned back, scanning the endless reflections of myself. "Alright! I''m here! Who are you? Tell me! I brought a lot of snacks!" My voice echoed faintly, bouncing off the mirrors, but the room stayed eerily silent. No shadows moved, no whispers followed. Just... nothing.


    The oppressive quiet gnawed at my nerves, so I grabbed one of the snack bags¡ªa bag of chips¡ªand tore it open. Not to eat, but to test something.


    Taking a chip in my fingers, I flicked it toward one of the mirrors. Swoosh!


    My breath caught. The chip didn''t bounce back¡ªit disappeared, slipping into the mirror as though the surface were water.


    My eyes widened. It''s true...


    I grabbed another chip, my hands trembling slightly, and threw it at a different mirror. Swoosh! It vanished again.


    The adrenaline coursing through me was impossible to ignore now. I stood, clutching the open bag of chips, and moved to another mirror. This time, I tossed a chip more deliberately, watching as it disappeared through the glass, leaving behind faint ripples like disturbed water.


    I swallowed hard, then took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing..." I murmured, leaning closer to the mirror. Slowly, I pressed my hand to the surface. It yielded like liquid, and I could feel the faint chill of the other side pulling at me. Without letting myself overthink it, I pushed forward until my head was through.


    To Be Continue.

 Strange World II

    And there it was¡ªthe other side of the that room.


    I stepped fully into the mirrored version, the air feeling colder and thicker. My gaze dropped to the floor, where the chips I''d thrown earlier lay scattered, proof I wasn''t imagining things.


    "I''m here..." I whispered, more to myself than anything else.


    The room looked identical, yet there was a faint shimmer to everything, as though it wasn''t entirely real. My heart pounded as I stood there for a moment, expecting something¡ªor someone¡ªto reveal itself. But nothing did.


    Finally, I stepped back to the mirror and leaned through, returning to the original room. The transition was seamless, like stepping through a doorway. I grabbed the tote bag of snacks and turned back to the mirror, resolutely stepping through once more to the mirrored world.


    When I emerged back in the original room, snacks in hand, I let out a shaky laugh. "I''m back... with snacks, of course." My voice broke the silence, but this time it felt lighter, less oppressive. I couldn''t help but smile. I''d done it. Whatever this was, it was real, and now I had proof.


    ***


    The next day felt surreal, as if I was caught between two worlds¡ªthe familiar one I had always known and the strange, mirrored reality I had stepped into. The classroom buzzed with the usual chatter: classmates laughing, exchanging stories, and rushing to finish their homework before the teacher arrived.


    But I sat at my desk, staring blankly out the window. Class 1-3 wasn''t particularly lively on most days, but today it felt even quieter¡ªor maybe it was just me. My mind kept replaying everything from the night before: the mirrors, the chips disappearing into their depths, stepping through to the other side. It all felt like a dream, yet the faint chill I''d felt and the unsettling weight of that world were far too vivid to dismiss.


    "Hikaru-kun, are you okay?"


    I snapped out of my thoughts, blinking as Sakura stood beside my desk, tilting her head with a curious expression.


    "Oh, yeah... I''m fine," I replied hastily, trying to sound normal.


    She raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You didn''t hear Mayu-san calling you?"


    "Calling me?" I repeated, confused.


    Sakura gestured toward the doorway. I turned my head and saw Mayu standing there with Aoi beside her. Mayu''s arms were crossed, and her expression was a mix of annoyance and impatience.


    Great. I was definitely in trouble.


    Sighing, I pushed my chair back and stood up, making my way toward the door. As I got closer, I could hear Mayu tapping her foot. "Hikaru," she said sharply, "we''ve been waiting. Are you going to space out all day, or can we talk now?"


    "Sorry, sorry," I muttered, scratching the back of my head. "I didn''t hear you."


    "You didn''t hear me?" Mayu repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. "I''ve been calling you for five minutes!"Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Aoi stifled a giggle. "It''s okay, Mayu-chan. Maybe he was daydreaming about something¡ªor someone." She winked dramatically, earning a glare from Mayu.


    "Let''s just get this over with," Mayu said, turning on her heel and heading toward the hallway.


    I sighed again and followed them out, wondering how I''d manage to keep my mind off last night''s bizarre experience.


    The school basketball court was empty, its polished wooden floor gleaming under the afternoon light streaming in from the high windows. The faint echo of our footsteps bounced around the quiet space as we walked in.


    I stopped and looked around, confused. "Okay, so why are we here again?"


    Mayu crossed her arms and shot me a pointed look. "We''re here to find an old monitor. It''s supposed to be in the storage room connected to the gym."


    "An old monitor?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why do you need that?"


    "For the student council room," Aoi chimed in, her voice cheerful as always. "The current monitor is broken, and someone told us there''s a spare one stored here that isn''t being used. It''s not new or fancy, but it''ll do the job."


    "And let me guess," I said, folding my arms. "You need me to carry it because it''s, what, too big for either of you?"


    "Exactly," Mayu replied with a smirk. "You''re catching on fast."


    I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Great. You know, I''m starting to feel like your personal pack mule."


    "You''ll live," Mayu said, already heading toward the storage room at the far end of the court. "Come on, the sooner we find it, the sooner we can leave."


    Aoi grinned and patted my shoulder sympathetically. "Don''t worry, Hikaru-kun. Think of it as a workout. Maybe you''ll even impress someone with your strength."


    "Yeah, right," I muttered under my breath, reluctantly following them.


    We reached the storage room, a small, dusty space filled with forgotten sports equipment, old desks, and various odds and ends. It smelled faintly of wood polish and disuse.


    "Alright, where is this thing?" I asked, scanning the cluttered room.


    "I don''t know, there''s a lot of things here," Mayu said with a shrug. "Let''s walk around and see what we can find."


    We began walking through the room, stepping over old basketballs, stacks of worn-out gym mats, and various forgotten trophies. The place was filled with relics of past events, and the smell of dust was thick in the air. The shelves were lined with equipment that hadn''t seen much use in years. A few stray volleyballs bounced gently against the walls, and a large crate of soccer balls was shoved into the corner.


    "Man, this place is a mess," I muttered, carefully stepping around a set of uneven weights. "How is anyone supposed to find anything in here?"


    Mayu shrugged as she moved some equipment aside. "It''s not like we''re here every day. This is just where they throw stuff that doesn''t have a place anywhere else."


    I glanced around and then looked back at Mayu. "So why is the monitor even here, anyway? This doesn''t exactly seem like the place for it."


    She paused for a moment, pushing aside an old gym bag. "Oh, the monitor used to be here because it was part of the setup for the school''s sports competitions. They used to have it here to track scores and timing. But after they upgraded everything, they moved the system to a different room, and this one just got left behind."


    "That makes sense, I guess," I said, running my hand along a dusty shelf, feeling the weight of years in every inch. "But it''s kind of strange that it would end up here."


    "Yeah," Mayu replied with a small laugh, "it was probably just forgotten about. But hey, it''s still useful, right? The student council will be happy to have it."


    Just then, I saw a mirror¡ªyet another mirror. Remembering the strange events from the night before, a mischievous thought crossed my mind. Maybe I could show off a little, something fun.


    "Hey, you guys want to see some magic?" I said with a grin.


    Mayu and Aoi both stopped and looked at me, their expressions a mix of curiosity and confusion.


    "Magic?" Aoi echoed, raising an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"


    I shrugged, walking toward the mirror with a mischievous glint in my eye. "You know, just something I learned... a little trick."


    Mayu crossed her arms, skeptical. "This better not be some kind of prank."


    With my body tensed, ready to run into the mirror, I took a deep breath.


    "What are you doing? You gonna run into the mirror?" Aoi asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.


    "Yep... just wait for the magic," I replied, a grin creeping onto my face.


    To Be Continue.

 Weird Power

    I took a few steps back, preparing myself for a dramatic run. "Alright, here we go," I said, trying to suppress a grin.


    Mayu and Aoi exchanged uneasy glances, but neither moved to stop me. As I broke into a sprint, their eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Wait, he''s actually doing it!" Aoi exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic.


    "Hikaru, no!" Mayu shouted, but it was too late.


    CRASH!


    The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room as I collided with the mirror. The shards scattered across the floor, glittering in the dim light. I stumbled back, rubbing my shoulder and wincing. My grand display of "magic" had turned into an embarrassing disaster.


    For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then, as if on cue, both Mayu and Aoi burst into uncontrollable laughter.


    "Oh my god, Hikaru!" Mayu gasped, still laughing. "What were you thinking?!"


    "Mwahahahah! W-What did you think it was gonna do?!" Aoi added, clutching her sides. Tears streamed down her face as she doubled over.


    I stayed on the floor, cradling my head where it had collided with the mirror frame. The dull ache throbbed as I stared at the shards scattered around me. Groaning, I muttered, "I''m sure last night I could go to the mirror world..."


    Aoi, who was still doubled over with laughter, wheezed, trying to catch her breath. "The... mirror world? Hikaru, are you serious? This is the funniest thing I''ve ever seen!"


    Her laughter grew louder, echoing in the room. For a moment, I thought she might actually pass out from how hard she was laughing.


    Mayu, however, just shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "You''re lucky this was an old mirror and not something expensive," she said, crossing her arms. "Come on, let''s clean this up before someone finds out and we all get in trouble."


    Reluctantly, I sat up, still rubbing my sore head. "I''m telling you, it''s real. I went through it last night," I insisted, though the skepticism on Mayu''s face and the continued laughter from Aoi made it clear neither of them believed me.


    "Yeah, sure," Mayu said, handing me a broom from the corner of the storage room. "While you''re proving the existence of your so-called ''mirror world,'' you can start by sweeping up your mess."


    I sighed, taking the broom with a grimace. "You''ll see one day," I mumbled under my breath, starting to clean up the shattered glass.


    "Uh-huh," Aoi managed between giggles, finally beginning to calm down. "And when you do, make sure you don''t bring back any magical creepy creatures, alright?"


    "Don''t tempt fate," Mayu added, her tone teasing but her expression still disapproving.


    ***


    With the thin monitor balanced awkwardly in my arms, I trudged down the hallway with Mayu and Aoi walking beside me. Aoi, still unable to let the moment go, kept giggling, her voice hoarse from laughing so much earlier.


    "I mean, seriously," Aoi croaked, wiping tears from her eyes. "You¡ª" She broke into another fit of laughter, her words barely coherent. "You ran into that mirror like it was a portal to another dimension. Who even does that?!"


    "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," I muttered, trying to focus on carrying the monitor without dropping it. "You''re lucky I didn''t get glass stuck in me. Then you wouldn''t be laughing."


    Aoi snorted, clutching her side. "Oh, I''d still be laughing¡ªjust at the hospital instead."


    Mayu, walking on the other side, shot her a warning look. "Alright, Aoi, let it go. His ego''s already bruised enough."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Turning to me, she raised an eyebrow. "But seriously, Hikaru, what''s all this about the mirror world? You sounded like you actually believed it back there."


    I hesitated, shifting the monitor in my arms as we passed a row of empty lockers. "It''s not a joke," I said finally. "Last night, I really went through a mirror. I ended up in... a place that looked just like this town, but it was empty, and everything felt off."


    Mayu frowned, clearly skeptical. "Empty? Like a dream?"


    I shook my head. "No, it wasn''t a dream. I pinched myself, I touched stuff¡ªit was real. And I came back with the snacks to prove it."


    Aoi''s laughter had finally subsided, though her grin remained. "Snacks? Wait, wait, you''re telling me you went to a spooky mirror world, and instead of running for your life, you raided a convenience store?"


    "Priorities," I replied with a smirk. "But seriously, I''m not making this up."


    Mayu looked thoughtful for a moment but then sighed. "Hikaru, you do realize how crazy this sounds, right? Mirrors don''t just lead to other worlds. Maybe you were sleepwalking or something."


    I shrugged. "I know how it sounds. But I''m telling you, it happened. And I think it might happen again."


    Mayu exchanged a glance with Aoi, who now looked more curious than amused. "Well, if you''re planning another adventure, let us know. I''d love to see this mirror world for myself," Aoi said, her tone half-joking,


    We finally arrived at the student council room, the monitor weighing heavily in my arms. Mayu opened the door, revealing Riku, the student council vice president, seated at his desk with his usual calm but slightly exasperated expression.


    "Took you guys long enough," he said, leaning back in his chair. "What, did you stop for snacks on the way?"


    Aoi, never one to miss a chance, grinned mischievously. "Oh, it''s even better than that, Riku-kun," she said, practically bouncing on her toes. "You''ll never guess what Hikaru tried to pull."


    Riku raised an eyebrow, his curiosity visibly piqued. "Do I even want to know?"


    "Oh, you do," Aoi replied, nudging me with her elbow, her grin widening. "Hikaru-kun here thought he could run through a mirror. Like, literally run into it, expecting to end up in some magical ''mirror world.''" She broke into another fit of laughter, her voice raspier now from all the laughing earlier. "And when he didn''t... let''s just say the mirror definitely won."


    Riku turned his gaze to me, his expression hovering between disbelief and faint amusement. "A mirror world?" he said, leaning back in his chair. "Really, Hikaru?"


    I groaned as I carefully set the monitor down on the nearest table. "It''s not as dumb as she''s making it sound," I said defensively. "I''m serious. Last night, I actually went through a mirror. It''s real!"


    "And he brought back snacks!" Aoi added, practically wheezing. "Chips, Riku-kun! That was his grand prize from the magical mirror world¡ªjunk food!"


    Riku blinked, his face betraying the struggle to maintain composure. Finally, his lips twitched into a smirk. "So, let me get this straight," he began, his tone dripping with mock seriousness. "You traveled to a parallel dimension... and the highlight of your journey was... snacks?"


    I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "Look, I was hungry, okay? And it''s not like there was anyone else there. Besides, that''s not the point! The point is, the mirror world exists."


    Riku leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as if evaluating my sanity. "And do you have any proof of this mystical mirror world?"


    I hesitated, glancing at Mayu, who gave a noncommittal shrug, and Aoi, who was still giggling uncontrollably. "Well, not exactly," I admitted reluctantly, "but¡ª"


    "But nothing," Riku interrupted with a chuckle. "You''ve been watching way too much fantasy anime. Next time, try not to break school property while chasing your... adventures."


    "Yeah," Mayu chimed in, crossing her arms. "You''re lucky it was an old mirror, or you''d be sitting in the principal''s office explaining yourself right about now."


    I rolled my eyes, deciding to drop the argument. "Alright, alright. Where do I set up this monitor?"


    Riku pointed to a cluttered desk at the back of the room. "Just put it over there. We''ll figure out how to set it up later."


    With a sigh of relief, I carried the monitor over to the desk, carefully setting it down. My arms ached from hauling the thing across campus, and I leaned against the desk for a moment to catch my breath.


    Aoi, still laughing intermittently, plopped into one of the nearby chairs. "Honestly, Hikaru-kun, you''re going to be the reason I lose my voice. I can''t remember the last time I laughed this much."


    "Glad to be of service," I muttered sarcastically, rubbing my sore shoulder. "Though maybe next time, you could carry something for a change."


    "Not when you''re this entertaining," she teased, sticking her tongue out at me.


    "Alright, I''m heading back to class. See you guys," I said, turning toward the door and making my way out of the student council room.


    "Bye bye~" Aoi waved with a grin.


    I walked down the hallway, absentmindedly stroking my forehead where I''d bumped into the mirror. It didn''t work? What if it only works when I''m alone? The thought nagged at me. I couldn''t shake the feeling that there was something to the mirror world, but maybe it only responded to me when no one else was around.


    I sighed, half-expecting to try it again once I got home. But for now, I just wanted to get through the day without any more embarrassing moments.


    I sat at my desk, my eyes drifting out the window, lost in thought. Everything felt¡­ off. The mirror world, the strange things I''d experienced¡ªit was like my brain couldn''t quite wrap itself around it. Was I losing it?


    To Be Continue

 Weird Power II

    I stared at the tree outside the school, the leaves rustling gently in the breeze. It was a normal view, the kind I''d seen a thousand times. But then something caught my eye.


    At first, I thought it was just a stray cat. It was perched lazily on one of the branches, its fur sleek and black against the green leaves. But then, to my disbelief, the cat''s body began to shift. It twisted and contorted in a way that didn''t look right¡ªits form was warping.


    Before I could fully comprehend what I was seeing, the cat was gone. In its place stood a girl, her figure slowly coming into focus, as if she''d materialized from thin air. She had long, dark hair and was wearing what looked like a school uniform, though I didn''t recognize her.


    I blinked rapidly, rubbing my eyes, unsure if I was seeing things. Did I just imagine that? I thought, but when I looked again, she was still standing there, looking directly at me.


    I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Was I going crazy? My mind raced¡ªcould this have anything to do with the mirror world? Or was I just seeing things from stress? The girl, or whatever she was, simply stood there in the tree, her gaze unblinking.


    I quickly looked away, focusing on the lesson again. I tried to push the thought out of my head, but the image of her lingered. Maybe I was losing it after all.


    The world is so strange... or maybe I''m just weird... I thought, feeling the weight of it all settling on me. I stared blankly at the front of the classroom, attempting to refocus on the lesson, but the strange sight I had just witnessed kept creeping back into my mind.


    ***


    By the end of the school day, I walked alone, the chill of the air biting at my skin as the first signs of snow approached. My footsteps echoed in the quiet street as I made my way home.


    And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her again. The girl. She was walking slowly, glancing around, her long dark hair swaying slightly with each step.


    Should I talk to her...?


    I hesitated, unsure. She wasn''t acting like anyone I knew, and I couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off about her. But then again, maybe she was just like me¡ªlost in this strange world that seemed to blur the lines between reality and... whatever else was out there.


    "Hmm hmmm..." she hummed quietly to herself, walking aimlessly, her gaze lost in thought. Before long, a sound cut through the quiet¡ªmy voice.


    "Hello," I said, unsure of what I was even going to say next.


    She jolted slightly, clearly startled by my sudden appearance behind her. Her eyes widened as she turned to face me, her expression a mixture of surprise and something unreadable.


    "Uh... hi?" she said cautiously, her voice soft, as though she wasn''t sure how to respond.


    "Are you a cat?" I asked, unable to help myself.


    Her eyes blinked in confusion, and for a moment, she looked at me as if I had just asked the strangest question. "A cat?" she repeated, her voice tinged with amusement. "What do you mean by that?"


    I felt my face flush a bit, but the image of her transformation earlier kept replaying in my mind. "Well... I saw you, uh, near the tree earlier, and you kind of... transformed. Didn''t you?"


    Her eyes widened for a brief moment, but then she quickly looked around, as though searching for an escape. "You''ve got the wrong person, sorry," she said, her voice tight.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    I stood there for a moment, the awkwardness hanging in the air between us. She was acting strangely¡ªlike she was trying to avoid the conversation or deny what had happened.


    "Uh, okay... sorry," I muttered, scratching the back of my head. "I must''ve been seeing things."


    She gave me a quick, almost nervous smile, then turned her gaze elsewhere, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "No problem," she said briskly, before starting to walk away.


    I watched her go, still unsure what to make of the whole encounter. The way she acted... it didn''t seem like she was just some ordinary person. I couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to her than she was letting on.


    "Do you know anything about a person who can go to a mirror world?" I asked, my voice blunt and without hesitation.


    She stopped walking. She didn''t turn around, but I could tell she had heard me. She stood there for a moment, frozen, as if weighing her options.


    She remained still, not facing me, yet I could feel the tension in the air. For a long moment, she didn''t speak. The silence stretched on, and I started to wonder if she was even going to acknowledge my question.


    Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but firm, almost as if she was choosing her words carefully.


    "Why do you ask about that?" she said, still not turning to look at me.


    I hesitated, unsure how to explain what I had seen or how to frame the question. "I... I''ve seen things. Strange things. And I''m not sure what''s real anymore. I thought... I thought maybe you knew something about it."


    She let out a quiet sigh, as though resigned to something she had been avoiding. "Some things are better left unknown," she murmured, her voice distant, almost as if she were speaking more to herself than to me.


    I stepped closer, trying to get her attention. "But I don''t understand. What is it? What''s going on with the mirrors, and why did I see you transform? You''re not just an ordinary person, are you?"


    She slowly turned her head, her eyes locking with mine. For the first time, I saw something in them¡ªsomething serious, something that made my heart race. "You''re asking things that can get you hurt," she said quietly. "And if you keep asking, you might not like the answers."


    I swallowed hard, feeling both fear and curiosity surge through me. "I just want to understand."


    She looked at me for a moment longer, then turned away, starting to walk again. "Some questions aren''t meant to be answered," she called back over her shoulder, her voice fading as she walked away.


    I stood there, staring after her, my mind racing. What was she trying to tell me? What had I stumbled into? The unease in my chest deepened as I realized that I might be closer to something far stranger and more dangerous than I had ever imagined.


    "...I can take you into the mirror world, I swear. Just... tell me," I said.


    She stopped mid-step, her back still to me. For a long moment, I thought she might keep walking, ignore me entirely, but then I saw her shoulders tense. Slowly, she turned to face me. There was something in her eyes¡ªsomething unreadable, like she was weighing a decision that could change everything.


    "You''re serious about this, aren''t you?" Her voice was soft, guarded.


    I nodded quickly, feeling a surge of determination. "I don''t know what''s happening, but I can''t keep pretending I haven''t seen things. I need to understand. I need to know what''s real."


    She stared at me for a long moment, her gaze sharp, almost as if she was trying to assess whether I was ready for whatever she might reveal. Then, with a sigh, she seemed to relax, though only just a little.


    "You asked for this," she said, her tone almost somber. "But I won''t protect you."


    "Protect me... from who?" I asked, confusion creeping into my voice.


    "The almighty," she answered cryptically, her voice barely more than a whisper as she turned to walk away.


    I started to follow her, walking beside her, eager to know where we were going and who The Almighty was. "Who is it? A god?" I asked, trying to make sense of her cryptic words.


    She glanced at me briefly, her expression unreadable. "Not even a god... I''ll tell you the story when we get to my place," she replied, her voice steady but carrying an edge of finality.


    I nodded, trying to keep my curiosity in check. As we walked, I couldn''t help but feel a mix of anticipation and unease. The streets seemed quieter than usual, and the air had a strange, almost tangible weight to it.


    "So, where exactly is your place?" I asked, glancing around. The unfamiliarity of our surroundings made me uneasy, but I was determined to understand what was going on.


    "Not far," she said simply, her pace unhurried. "Just keep up."


    After a while, we arrived at a small apartment. She led me inside, and I expected to see something strange, but it was surprisingly normal¡ªnothing out of the ordinary. As we entered, she started walking toward the living room, continuing to speak.


    "It''s been a long time since the age of Gilgamesh," she said, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Humans once wielded magic freely, but after Gilgamesh''s death, everything changed. Enkidu¡­ his closest companion¡­ took control, and now he''s ''The Almighty.'' He''s made magic a curse for everyone."


    She paused, looking at me. "That''s why I warned you. The Almighty won''t tolerate anyone with the power to defy him."


    To Be Continue.

 Urban of Babylonia

    I leaned back, crossing my arms and giving her a skeptical look. "Seriously? I''ve read about ancient Babylonian history. Enkidu was a creature created to challenge Gilgamesh, but they became friends. He died, though¡ªend of story. And now you''re telling me he''s ''The Almighty''? Come on."


    She sighed, her gaze unwavering. "It is the truth," she said firmly. "When Gilgamesh died, the remnants of his magic brought Enkidu back to life. But this time, Enkidu wasn''t the same. He took control, shaping the world in his vision. He ensured that magic¡ªonce a natural part of life¡ªwas stripped away from everyone, even the gods themselves."


    I raised an eyebrow. "Even the gods? That''s... a bold claim."


    "That''s why the gods can no longer act directly," she explained, her voice intensifying. "Their power is limited. They''ve been forced to find another way. They grant blessings to chosen individuals, calling them to fight on their behalf. These people are meant to challenge Enkidu and bring an end to his rule."


    I rubbed my temples, trying to wrap my head around it. "So, let me get this straight. The gods are basically outsourcing their rebellion? Giving random people powers to take down Enkidu?"


    She nodded. "Exactly. And it''s not just rebellion¡ªit''s survival. Enkidu''s control even extends to the divine realms. If the gods ever manage to destroy him and regain their full power... magic will return to the world."


    "And that''s bad because...?"


    She leaned forward, her eyes dark and serious. "Because it won''t just return to a few. It will flood the world. Everyone will have magic. Imagine the worst of humanity armed with unchecked power. But the gods, they want the world to have magic. They want people to praise them. Magic is their way to maintain power when everyone has magic, everyone will come to the gods to make them stronger. That''s how the gods like to be treated. But Enkidu? He doesn''t want that. He doesn''t want magic to spread. He wants to keep it away from the masses. If magic returns to the world, chaos will follow. Do you know what would happen if magic came back into this world?"


    I shook my head, keeping my mouth shut.


    "Your woman would get magic and no longer love you. People would be fooled, not by words, but by the magic. There would be blood everywhere... that''s what happened in the old times."


    I stayed silent, overwhelmed by the weight of her words.


    She leaned forward slightly, her gaze unwavering but no longer as sharp, waiting for my answer. "Why did you say you can go to the mirror world?" she repeated, her voice steady.


    I hesitated, my fingers tapping lightly against my leg. "I... I don''t know how to explain it," I began, my words tumbling out faster than I intended. "I had this bad dream I was falling from the sky. When I woke up, I was shaken. I went to the dining room to get some water, but then... there was this mirror on the floor. I stepped on it, and suddenly, I went through it."


    Her expression didn''t change, but I felt her focus intensify.


    "I pinched my cheeks to make sure I wasn''t dreaming," I continued. "But it was real. The world I ended up in it was quiet. Empty. Like no one else was there."


    She finally let out a big sigh, leaning back in her chair. "I didn''t tell you my name, did I? I''m Ayami Tsujimoto. I''ve been around for about 80 years."


    "Eighty years?!" I blurted out, my voice louder than I intended.


    "Shut up," she snapped, narrowing her eyes. "I''ve been granted a unique ability since birth. I can shapeshift into any type of cat. Only cats¡ªno other animals. But anything tied to the heritage of cats."


    I blinked, still trying to process everything. "¡­Then can you turn into a bobcat?"


    Without hesitation, her body shifted. Her limbs shortened, her posture lowered, and in a moment, she had transformed into a sleek, muscular bobcat. The sight left me speechless.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    I stared, my mouth slightly open, as Ayami¡ªnow a bobcat¡ªstood there, her golden eyes gleaming with a feline sharpness. She tilted her head slightly, as if amused by my reaction.


    "Believe me now?" she asked, her voice still hers but with an uncanny undertone that matched her new form.


    "Uh... yeah," I managed, rubbing the back of my neck. "This is... a lot to take in."


    She padded a few steps closer, her movements silent and fluid. Then, just as effortlessly as before, she shifted back into her human form, brushing off her jacket as if nothing had happened.


    "Good," she said matter-of-factly. "Because you''re going to need to believe in a lot more than this if you''re serious about what you''ve seen and what you want to do."


    I nodded, still trying to shake the surreal feeling of what I''d just witnessed. "So¡­ are you like one of those ''chosen people'' you mentioned earlier? The ones who are supposed to challenge Enkidu?"


    Ayami''s expression darkened slightly. "Not exactly. My abilities aren''t a blessing from the gods. They''re¡­ inherited. My family''s been tied to magic since before Enkidu took control. That''s why I''m still alive and why I can do what I do. But it also means I''ve been hunted, forced to keep a low profile."


    "Hunted? By who?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.


    "Meh, by those who are granted power by the gods. They''re all dead now, though," she replied.


    "Why?"


    "Because I have magic but didn''t wish for their blessing. So they wanted me dead."


    "Do gods even have feelings like that?" I asked, genuinely curious.


    "Sometimes," she said with a shrug. "They''re just creatures that look like humans, and while they have feelings, they also feel superior to everyone else."


    A silence hung between us as Ayami fixed her clothes, her golden eyes still focused on me with a mixture of curiosity and expectation.


    "How about you tell me why you want to go to the mirror world?" she asked, her voice calm but probing.


    I hesitated, scratching the back of my head. "Ah, yeah... but I''m not sure if I can now..."


    "What do you mean ''I''m not sure''?" she replied, her tone suddenly more pointed. "If you want to go, then you should."


    "Well, earlier... I tried running into a mirror, but it broke," I admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "So, try again. I have a pretty big mirror in my wardrobe."


    I blinked. "Wait, you want me to try right now?"


    She gave a small, knowing smirk. "Why not? It''s either that or sit here wondering about it. But if you''re serious about this, you''ll take the chance."


    I swallowed, feeling the weight of her words.


    Ayami turned and walked toward her bedroom, gesturing for me to follow. "Come on," she said, glancing over her shoulder, "I''ll show you the mirror."


    I hesitated for a moment, still unsure if all this was really happening, but then I followed her down the hallway. My heart was beating faster than usual as I wondered if this time things would be different.


    When we reached her bedroom, she walked straight to a large wardrobe at the far end of the room and opened it with a flick of her wrist. Inside, there was a full-length mirror framed in ornate silver. It was larger than anything I had ever seen, its surface gleaming in the dim light, almost as if it were calling to me.


    "Here," she said, stepping aside. "Go ahead. Try it."


    I stood there for a moment, staring at the mirror. "Alright... let''s hope it works," I muttered, walking closer to it.


    Standing before the mirror, I raised my hand and cautiously tried to poke the surface.


    To my shock, my finger slipped right through, disappearing on the other side. It''s working!? I thought, a surge of excitement rushing through me.


    Ayami stepped closer, her eyes widening as she saw my finger go through the mirror. "That... actually works?" she said, sounding more surprised than I expected.


    She then extended her own hand toward the mirror, but unlike mine, hers didn''t pass through. Instead, her hand stopped at the surface with a soft thud.


    "Guess it only works for you," she muttered, frowning slightly. "Interesting."


    I took a deep breath, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Without waiting any longer, I stepped forward and pressed my whole body into the mirror.


    Suddenly, I was in a mirrored version of Ayami''s bedroom. The room looked identical. I walked toward the window, peering outside, but everything was eerily quiet, just as it had been earlier.


    "I''m back here..." I muttered to myself, taking in the surreal scene before me. I turned around and walked back to the mirror, poking my head out and looking at Ayami.


    "Come here inside," I called out, my voice sounding almost strange, coming from inside the mirror.


    She gave me a skeptical look. "How can I get in when I can''t?" she replied, sounding frustrated.


    I paused, thinking for a moment. She was right; she couldn''t pass through. But then it hit me¡ªhumans can make physical contact. "Hold my hand. Maybe I can bring you here," I suggested, reaching out.


    Ayami hesitated, but then stepped forward, taking my hand.


    As soon as Ayami''s hand touched mine, a strange sensation surged through me. It felt like an electric current running from her to me, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to shimmer. I could feel the connection pulling at both of us, a force stronger than anything I had ever experienced.


    To Be Continue.

 Urban of Babylonia II

    Ayami''s eyes widened, and she took a tentative step forward, her body slowly shifting toward the mirror. I pulled, and with one last push, she was through.


    She stumbled slightly as she stepped into the mirror world, blinking in surprise. "Well, that worked... I didn''t think it would."


    Ayami looked around, clearly taking in her new surroundings. "It''s... strange. This mirror world, it''s like a reflection of the real world, but not quite. Everything feels... off."


    "I know, right?" I said, glancing around. "It''s quiet, and it''s like nothing''s really alive here."


    She looked out the window. "Hmmm... everything''s just a replica of the world..."


    I nodded and looked outside as well.


    "What can you do here besides just existing?" she asked.


    "Uh... well, last time I took some snacks from a convenience store."


    Her eyes widened. "Wait, you mean stores still have stuff!?"


    "Yeah...?"


    She quickly turned and looked around the room, her curiosity piqued. She dashed over to the light switch and started flicking it on and off, testing the lamp.


    Click, click, click.


    "The electricity works too..." she said, her voice tinged with surprise.


    Ayami continued testing the light, her eyes lighting up as the lamp flickered on and off with each switch. She seemed almost giddy at the discovery, her earlier skepticism fading.


    "This is insane," she muttered, pacing around the room, her fingers brushing against the furniture as though verifying everything was real. "It''s like the world here is stuck, frozen in time, but still... functional."


    I nodded, watching her examine every corner. "Yeah, it''s like a copy, but nothing''s living. No one''s here. It''s... strange."


    She paused near the window, staring out, deep in thought. "It''s unsettling. Like this whole place is a shell of the real world."


    I walked over to her and looked out the window as well. The streets were eerily empty, with no signs of life, no cars passing by, and no wind stirring the leaves of the trees. It was almost like the world was holding its breath.


    She stopped what she was doing and suddenly turned toward me, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and something else¡ªanger? "Why didn''t you tell me... IN HERE I CAN STEAL EVERYTHING! NOW COME ON, I WANT TO TAKE EVERYTHING IN HERE!"


    I blinked, taken aback by her outburst. "W-What?"


    "Come on, boy! Let''s go to the mall! I want to take some stuff here!" she yelled, rushing out of the room.


    "Wait for me!" I called after her, running to catch up.


    The streets were still eerily empty as we walked, just the two of us heading toward somewhere unknown.


    "What are you going to grab?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.


    "Let''s go to the nearby market first," she said, her eyes gleaming. "We''ll take whatever we can!"Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    We walked through the quiet streets, the sounds of our footsteps the only noise breaking the stillness. The further we went, the stranger it felt. It was like we were walking through a ghost town¡ªeverything was there, but no one else was.


    When we reached the market, Ayami''s eyes lit up. She practically sprinted inside, looking around with a sense of excitement. "This place is perfect," she said, her voice filled with thrill. "No one''s around to stop us."


    "What are you going to take?" I asked, watching her with curiosity.


    Ayami grinned, her eyes scanning the shelves and displays with a mischievous glint. "Everything," she replied, her voice low and excited. "But I''ll start with the essentials. Snacks, drinks, maybe something for later."


    She moved quickly down the aisles, grabbing items with swift, deliberate motions as though she were in a race. "This is unbelievable," she muttered to herself, tossing a couple of bags of chips into a basket.


    I stood there for a moment, watching her. I could have done the same, but for some reason, I just wasn''t in the mood.


    "Ohoho... see this, I got so much food! I can save up for next month!" Ayami exclaimed, her arms full of items as she headed toward the freezer. "Where''s the meat section?"


    "Oh geez, it''s freezing in here," she added, shivering slightly as she opened the freezer.


    I stood beside her, glancing over at another fridge. My hand reached for the ice cream, feeling the chill as I opened it.


    Ayami grinned as she dropped a few more bags into her already overflowing arms. "This is the life!" she said, clearly thrilled by the rush of grabbing everything in sight. "We should stock up while we can."


    I nodded absently, still distracted by the ice cream. "Yeah... but do you really need all of this?" I asked, glancing at the mountain of snacks she had gathered.


    She grabbed a tote bag nearby and tossed more items into it. "Of course! There''s no one to stop us!" she replied, practically bouncing with excitement. "You never know when we''ll be back, and besides, it''s all free here."


    I licked my ice cream as I watched her cram a bunch of meat into the tote bag.


    As the tote bag filled up, Ayami slowly turned her head toward the cashier. "Do you think they have money in there...?"


    I followed her gaze to the cash register. "I don''t know... hey, wanna split it if there''s any money?"


    Ayami smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Heh, young man, who do you think I am? Let''s just see if there''s any money."


    Ayami crouched down in front of the cash register, her eyes narrowing at the screen. "Looks like there''s a password," she said, tapping at the keypad with a smirk. "But I''ve got a better idea."


    Before I could ask what she meant, her body shifted, her form blurring. In an instant, she was a hybrid¡ªpart human, part lion. Her hands transformed into powerful lion paws, claws gleaming. With a swift swipe, she slammed her paw into the register, smashing the machine with an ease that was both terrifying and impressive.


    The register beeped and clicked open, revealing stacks of cash inside. Ayami grinned, her lion-like features still present, and started scooping up the money. "Well, would you look at that," she said, her voice a mix of amusement and satisfaction. "A whole lot of cash."


    I just stared in shock as she began to count the bills, her hands moving quickly, her claws barely making a sound as she stacked the money into neat piles. "This should be enough to last us a while," she said with a grin, completely at ease with the situation.


    "Give me half," I said, eyeing the stacks of cash she had gathered.


    Ayami looked up at me, her expression a mix of amusement and mock indignation. "Oh, you want half now?" she said, her lion features still apparent. "I thought you were just here for the ride."


    I raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at my lips. "Hey, I helped get us here. Fair''s fair."


    She chuckled, shaking her head, but then she slid half of the money over to me. "Fine, fine."


    "Alright, now I think it''s time to head back home, can we?" she added, her tone light but satisfied.


    "Let''s just go back to your place first. We don''t want to stay here too long, especially with the mirror and everything," I said, still keeping an eye on the tote bag she was carrying, now overflowing with snacks and food.


    "Alright, follow me," she said, her voice cheerful as she turned to leave, hauling the heavy tote bag filled with everything she had taken earlier.


    Back at Ayami''s home, we made our way back to her bedroom, the weight of the full tote bag now almost comical, considering her earlier excitement. As we entered, she set the bag down on the floor with a satisfied grunt, then turned to the mirror.


    I stepped up beside her, glancing at the mirror. "Let me put the food in first so it''s easier to get through," I said.


    "Here, take care of it," she replied, handing me the bag.


    "Yeah, yeah," I said, taking the tote bag from her. I slowly stepped through the mirror, carefully placing the tote bag on the floor in the real world. Once I was done, I backed away from the mirror and returned to the mirror world to retrieve the other bag. After putting it through, I looked at her. "Now you go first. Hold my hand so you can come through."


    "Alright," she said, ready to follow.


    To Be Continue.

 Old Ages

    Ayami grabbed my hand, and I guided her through the mirror. She stepped into the real world, looking around as if to double-check that everything had made it back.


    "Alright, we''re back," she said, letting go of my hand.


    "Yeah," I replied, glancing at the bags on the floor. "Everything¡¯s here."


    She stretched her arms with a small yawn. "Good. Let¡¯s eat something before we figure out our next move."


    I nodded, already feeling the exhaustion from everything that had happened. "Sure. Let¡¯s take a break."


    She walked to the kitchen, carrying all the tote bags, and I followed closely behind.


    When we got there, she started unloading the bags, putting most of the meat into the fridge but keeping two packs out. "Hmm, meat, meat, meat¡­ extra beef," she muttered with a grin. As she opened one of the packs, she glanced at me. "By the way, if we steal from there... does it affect the real world?"


    That question hit me. I hadn¡¯t thought about it before.


    "Uh¡­ no, I guess?" I said, scratching my head. "I mean, if it did, wouldn¡¯t there already be news about a freezer full of meat disappearing out of nowhere?"


    She chuckled, tossing the meat onto the counter and grabbing a knife. "Good point. Guess we¡¯re safe, then. Free meat for life!"


    I leaned against the counter, watching as she started prepping the meat. "So... what¡¯s the plan now? Are we just going to keep raiding the mirror world for supplies?"


    She smirked. "For now, sure. But there¡¯s more to that world than just free stuff. We need to figure out why you can enter it and why I can¡¯t without you."


    I nodded, her words sticking with me. "Yeah, that¡¯s weird. Maybe it¡¯s because I fell into it first? Like I¡¯m somehow... connected to it?"


    "Maybe," she said, her tone shifting to something more thoughtful. She paused for a moment, then looked at me. "Have you ever talked to an entity... something that looks like a god?"


    I frowned, trying to remember. "Something that looks like a god? No... I don¡¯t think so."


    "Ever? Even once? Like in a dream?"


    "Nope... not even one," I replied.


    "Then you¡¯re one of those worthy people, just like me," she said with a small grin.


    "Yeah, sure... maybe I am," I muttered, not sounding too convinced myself.


    "You don¡¯t sound convinced," she noted, turning on the stove with a flick of her wrist.


    Ayami smirked as she placed the pan on the stove, letting the heat build. "You¡¯ll believe it soon enough," she said. "People like us don¡¯t just stumble into powers or strange worlds by accident."


    I shrugged, watching her carefully. "Maybe. Or maybe I just got really unlucky."


    She raised an eyebrow, tossing a slice of meat onto the pan. The sizzle filled the room, and the smell of cooking beef quickly followed. "Unlucky? You have access to a whole other world, free supplies, and apparently a connection to something bigger. If that¡¯s unlucky, what does lucky look like to you?"


    "Alright, fair," I admitted, then hesitated before asking, "But I want to know¡ªabout the ancient stuff. Gilgamesh... is it mostly true, like in history?"Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Ayami paused for a moment, flipping the meat. "From what I actually know? Mostly. But the details... the real details, they¡¯ve never been told."


    I frowned. "Can you tell me, then?"


    "Not a chance," she said, her tone firm.


    "Why not?"


    "You don¡¯t want to know why," she replied, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    "Is there any reason why I can''t know?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.


    Ayami¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she flipped the meat. "Just keep your mythology fantasy for now. You don¡¯t want to know the real story¡ªwhat really happened between gods and humans."


    The meat sizzled as Ayami finished cooking, the aroma filling the kitchen. She grabbed a plate and carefully arranged the fried meat on it, then handed it to me with a pair of chopsticks. "Here," she said, her voice softer now. "You were talking too much earlier. Eat."


    I took the plate and sat down at the counter, using the chopsticks to pick up a piece of the tender meat. It was perfectly cooked, the flavors rich and satisfying. I paused, glancing up at her. "This is... really good."


    She shrugged, a hint of a smirk still on her face. "I¡¯m a good cook. Not everything about me is weird, you know."


    I took another bite, still thinking about what she had said. "So, what¡¯s the deal with gods and humans? Why can''t you tell me?"


    Ayami leaned against the counter, her eyes distant. "Because you wouldn¡¯t understand. Some things are better left unsaid."


    I chewed thoughtfully, letting the food settle as I processed her words. "Yeah, well, I¡¯m starting to think there¡¯s a lot more going on here than I realized."


    Ayami glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "You¡¯re right about that. There¡¯s a reason we¡¯re in this mess, but it¡¯s not something you can figure out overnight."


    "So... what do we do now? Am I coming back here tomorrow?"


    "For what?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "I don¡¯t know... I want to learn about magic like that," I said, unsure how to word it.


    She shrugged. "I don¡¯t know much about your mirror world, but I¡¯ll try to figure it out. Give me your phone number, and I¡¯ll text you if I find something."


    I pulled out my phone and handed it to her. She quickly typed in her number, then passed it back to me.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll keep you posted," she said, her tone a bit more relaxed now. "But for now, I suggest you get some rest. This stuff is a lot to process."


    I nodded, feeling the weight of the day catching up with me. "Yeah, I could use some sleep."


    ***


    The next day arrived, and I was at school, just like any other day.


    The school day passed in a blur. As usual, I sat through classes, half-listening to the teachers, my mind preoccupied with everything that had happened the day before.


    During lunch, I stood up from my seat when Sakura, who had been sitting beside me, called out.


    "Hikaru-san."


    "Yeah?"


    "Earlier, the teacher asked me to take some papers. Are you free? I think it¡¯s a lot."


    "Yeah, sure. What papers?"


    "I don¡¯t know. She just said she needed help bringing some papers from her office."


    I nodded, following her as she led me down the hallway toward the teacher¡¯s office. The quiet hum of students chatting and the occasional sound of footsteps echoed through the halls, but my mind was still lingering on the events from the day before.


    We reached the office, and Sakura knocked on the door. The teacher''s voice called out from inside, granting us permission to enter.


    "Come in," she said.


    We stepped inside, and the teacher, Chiharu Sugiwaka, was standing by a pile of papers on her desk. "Ah, it¡¯s you, Sakura-chan, and Hikaru-kun. Come here."


    "We¡¯re here to take the papers," Sakura replied.


    "Ah, yes. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t go myself. I have something I need to take care of. If you don¡¯t mind, could you bring these to Taka-sensei in the teacher¡¯s lounge? Just leave them on his desk."


    I walked closer and glanced at the papers. "What¡¯s all this about?"


    "Oh, it¡¯s just some of his paperwork," she said with a wave of her hand.


    I nodded and took the papers from her desk, careful not to spill them. "Alright, we¡¯ll get them to him."


    Sakura smiled at me before giving a quick nod to the teacher. "Thanks, Sugiwaka-sensei."


    With the stack of papers in hand, we headed out of the office and back down the hallway. The school was a little quieter now, with most students either in class or at lunch.


    "Not too bad, right?" Sakura said as we walked. "I thought it¡¯d be more of a hassle."


    "Yeah, easy enough," I replied, still a bit distracted by everything going on in my head. "But... why does Taka-sensei need all this stuff?"


    She shrugged. "No idea. He¡¯s always busy with paperwork, but it¡¯s usually not this much. Maybe something important came up."


    We reached the teacher¡¯s lounge, and I pushed the door open. The room was empty, save for a few teachers sitting at the back chatting quietly. I walked over to Taka-sensei¡¯s desk and set the pile of papers down.


    "Done," I said, straightening up.


    Sakura looked around the room. "Well, that¡¯s that. You ready to head back?"


    I nodded. "Yeah, let¡¯s go."


    As we were about to leave, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a text from Ayami:


    [Got something. Meet me later?]


    "Who is it?" Sakura asked.

 Old Ages II

    "Just a friend," I replied.


    I started walking beside her down the hallway. The window outside showed a darkening sky, and then I noticed the first few snowflakes falling.


    "Snow..." I muttered, watching the flakes drift past the window.


    "Snow''s starting, yeah..."


    "Aha, yeah... it is," she replied, glancing at me.


    Then, she looked over at me with a grin. "Wanna go to the rooftop to feel it?"


    "Sure, why not?"


    We made our way up to the rooftop, the cold air hitting us as soon as we stepped outside. The snow had started to fall in gentle flakes, covering the ground and surrounding buildings with a soft white layer.


    Sakura took a deep breath, smiling as she looked up at the snow. "It''s nice, huh?"


    "Yeah," I said, pulling my jacket tighter around me. "It''s peaceful up here."


    We both stood there for a moment, watching the snowflakes drift down. The quiet of the rooftop gave everything a calm, almost surreal feeling.


    After a few seconds, Sakura turned to me. "So, what''s going on with you lately? You''ve seemed a bit distracted."


    I hesitated, unsure of how much to say. "Just... a lot on my mind."


    Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"


    I shrugged, not sure how to explain. "It''s complicated."


    "I see..." she said, then adjusted her hair with a flick of her hand, holding up a small mirror.


    "New mirror? Did you replace the broken one?" I asked, trying to change the subject.


    "Oh, yeah... it was," she replied casually.


    I glanced at the hand mirror, noticing it had a cute, ornate design. "Where''d you get it?" I asked, making small talk.


    Sakura glanced down at the mirror in her hand, her fingers lightly tracing the edges. "I found it in a little shop downtown," she said, her tone casual but with a hint of pride. "It was on sale, so I couldn''t resist."


    "Looks nice," I said, nodding in approval. "Kind of... elegant for something so simple."


    She smiled. "Yeah."


    I walked over to the rooftop barrier and leaned against it, looking out at the students playing football in the large yard or just walking around.


    She followed beside me, glancing up with a knowing look. "You''re thinking about something again."


    "Huh?" I was confused and looked at her. "What do you mean?"


    "You know... I''ve noticed. You''re quiet a lot, always deep in thought. We''re just in our first year of high school, you know?"


    "Aha... do I really look like that?" I chuckled, a bit surprised.


    Sakura smirked, crossing her arms. "Yeah, you kind of do. It''s like you have this whole other world in your head most of the time."


    I shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Guess I get lost in my thoughts sometimes."


    She raised an eyebrow, glancing at me. "So, what''s been going on in that head of yours lately? You seem... different."


    I hesitated, unsure how to explain everything¡ªthe mirror world, the strange powers, Ayami, and all the weirdness. It felt too insane to say out loud.


    The wind blew, tousling my hair as I stared at her. "Sakura-san... do you believe in magic?"The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Sakura blinked, caught off guard by my sudden question. Her eyes widened in confusion, clearly surprised by the randomness of it. "Magic? What... what do you mean?" she asked, her tone a mix of shock and curiosity.


    I rubbed the back of my neck, realizing how strange it must have sounded. "Uh, I mean, like... real magic. Not tricks, but... you know, actual magic. Like, things that can''t be explained."


    She stared at me for a moment, clearly processing what I just said. "That''s... that''s really random. Where''s this coming from? Are you serious?"


    I nodded slowly, trying to keep it together. "Yeah, I''m serious. There''s just been some weird stuff happening, and I don''t know how else to explain it. It''s hard to put into words."


    Sakura looked at me skeptically, her expression softening just a bit. "Okay, now you''ve definitely got me curious. Are you gonna tell me what''s been going on?"


    "Would you believe me if I said I have magic?" I asked.


    "...Uh, no?" she replied, her tone a little uncertain.


    I looked down, feeling a bit deflated. "Ah, just... don''t worry about it."


    "What if I told you... I believe there''s magic in this world?" she said.


    "...Then I''ll tell you a story."


    "Huh? What story?"


    "Well, I just found out about it yesterday."


    "What kind of story?"


    "In short, do you know the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu?"


    "Yeah, that''s from Western mythology, right?"


    "Well, Enkidu is now ruling the world, and he''s making it so people can''t use magic."


    "Uh... oh, is it?"


    I nodded, knowing she wouldn''t just believe me like that. "It''s a story from someone I knew."


    "That''s new for me. I never knew about that history, but... it''s a good story."


    "Yeah..." I replied, feeling a little awkward and not sure what to say next.


    "But hey, you see that? The snow''s coming..." she said, changing the subject.


    I looked up at the sky, the first few snowflakes drifting down, adding to the quiet beauty of the moment. "Yeah, looks like it''s going to be a big one," I said, pulling my jacket tighter around me as the cold wind picked up.


    She hugged her arms, shivering a bit. "It''s kinda cold now. I think we should head back inside."


    We headed back inside, escaping the cold of the rooftop.


    After a while, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. I gathered my things and made my way out of school, but instead of heading straight home.


    Curious, I made my way to her place. The streets seemed quieter than usual as I walked, the falling snow giving the whole town a soft, quiet atmosphere. It wasn''t far, and soon I found myself standing outside her apartment building, texting her that I was here.


    I made my way up to her floor, the familiar sound of footsteps in the hallway accompanying me. When I reached her door, I knocked softly.


    "Come in!" Ayami''s voice called from inside.


    I opened the door and stepped inside, finding Ayami sitting on her couch with a laptop open in front of her. The room was dimly lit, with the soft glow of the snow outside filtering through the window.


    "You came," she said, glancing up from her screen with a small smile. "I found something interesting. Have a seat."


    I took a seat across from her, curiosity piqued. "What did you find?"


    Ayami leaned forward, her expression turning serious. "I did some digging. And I think I know why you''re the only one who can get through to the mirror world."


    I raised an eyebrow. "You figured it out already?"


    "Not completely, but I''m getting closer," she replied. "I spoke with one of my friends who also has magic, and he said you might actually be cursed, not gifted."


    "What!?" I exclaimed, taken aback.


    She reached to the side of her laptop and grabbed a thick book. "I''ve been researching, and I think we should try a ritual with a pentagram."


    "Wait, wait, wait... what are you going to do with me?" I asked, suddenly feeling uneasy.


    "Don''t worry, it''s just to unlock your potential," she said, her tone calm. "But I need a fully black chicken."


    "Where am I supposed to get that?" I asked, confused.


    "No need," Ayami replied with a smirk. "I''ve already got one. It''s already... well, dead."


    "...Okay? Then what''s next? What''s this ritual going to do to me?"


    She shrugged. "I don''t know. Maybe you''ll get something cool, like superpowers or something."


    I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of curiosity and hesitation. "Superpowers, huh? Alright, let''s just get this over with."


    Ayami gave me a reassuring smile, though there was a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Trust me, it''ll be fine. Just follow my lead, okay?"


    She placed the book down on the table and opened it to a page filled with strange symbols and diagrams. The pentagram drawn in the center looked intricate, its lines sharp and precise.


    "First, we draw the pentagram on the floor," she explained, grabbing a piece of chalk from her desk. "We need to make sure the circle is perfect."


    I nodded, watching as she carefully started marking the floor. She seemed confident, almost too confident, but something about the whole thing felt off. Still, I didn''t want to back out now.


    Once the pentagram was drawn, Ayami placed the black chicken in the center. She muttered something under her breath, the words sounding foreign and ancient, as if they were from a language I didn''t recognize.


    "What''s happening?" I asked, feeling a strange energy building in the room.


    "Just wait," she replied, her eyes focused on the symbols. "The ritual will work... just focus, alright?"


    The air in the room grew heavier, the energy almost tangible. I could feel a pull deep inside me, like something was awakening. I didn''t know if I was ready for whatever this was, but it felt like it was already too late to turn back.


    The room flickered as if the world itself was shifting, and for a moment, everything around us seemed to stand still. The lights dimmed, and I felt a chill run down my spine.


    Ayami''s voice broke the silence. "It''s working... just stay calm."


    To Be Continue.

 Dark Room

    The pentagram on the floor began to glow faintly, a pulsating red light seeping from its lines. The air around me grew colder, and the strange energy from before intensified, almost suffocating. I instinctively took a step back, but Ayami motioned for me to stay still.


    "Don''t move," she said firmly, her gaze fixed on the glowing circle. "This is the most important part."


    The black chicken in the center of the pentagram twitched, its form warping in the shifting energy. The light from the pentagram grew brighter, and the symbols on the book beside Ayami shimmered, as though alive.


    "Okay, Hikaru," Ayami said, her voice steady but filled with anticipation. "Step into the circle."


    I hesitated, feeling the weight of the moment settle in. "Are you sure about this?"


    She shot me a quick glance, the hint of uncertainty in her eyes masked by determination. "As sure as I can be. Just trust me."


    Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the glowing pentagram. As soon as I did, the energy surged around me like tendrils of invisible force. My body felt warm and heavy, as if standing in a current of electricity.


    "Stay calm," Ayami instructed, flipping through the pages of the book with urgency. She began chanting again, the words flowing smoothly now. The red light shifted to a blinding white.


    A sharp pain shot through my chest, and I gasped, clutching at the sensation. The world around me blurred, and suddenly, visions filled my mind¡ªstrange places, unfamiliar faces, and powers I couldn''t begin to understand. It was overwhelming.


    Then, everything went silent.


    "Huh?!" I blinked, disoriented, realizing I was no longer standing in Ayami''s apartment. The world around me was... nothing. It was an empty void, and I wasn''t sure if I was even standing. There was no ground beneath me, no sky above. Just... nothing.


    "A-Ayami-san!" I called out, panic creeping into my voice. "Where are you?"


    But there was no response. Only silence.


    "Finally," a voice echoed from the distance, low and resonant.


    "Finally... final..." the word repeated, bouncing off the unseen boundaries of the void.


    "He has come..."


    "The last one..."


    "Last one..."


    The voices layered over each other, all speaking in unison, yet distinct as if an entire crowd whispered at once. It made the hairs on my neck stand on end.


    "This is scaring me!" I yelled, spinning in place, searching for the source of the voices. "Let me go back home!"


    The void remained unchanged, yet the voices seemed to draw closer, growing louder with each repetition.


    "Home...?" they repeated, the tone almost mocking.


    "You have no home here."


    "You belong to us now..."


    The air¡ªif it could even be called that¡ªfelt heavy, pressing down on me. My legs trembled, and I instinctively stepped back, though there was nothing to step onto.


    "Who... who are you?!" I shouted, my voice shaking.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    But the voices only laughed, a chilling harmony that sent shivers down my spine.


    As the echoes of laughter faded, the void around me began to shift. Shapes emerged from the darkness, stepping forward one by one. At first, they were indistinct shadows, but as they came closer, I froze in shock.


    They were... me.


    One after another, countless versions of myself appeared, each slightly different. Some wore strange clothing, others carried weapons or held books that glowed with an eerie light. There were versions of me that looked older, scarred, or impossibly young. Yet, they all shared the same face, my face.


    They surrounded me, their footsteps eerily synchronized. When they spoke, it was in unison, their voices blending into an overwhelming chorus:


    "Believe in Enkidu, or you''ll die in the future."


    The words hit me like a hammer, each syllable resonating deep within my chest.


    "What... what does that even mean?" I stammered, looking around wildly. "Who are you? Why do you all look like me?!"


    But they didn''t answer my questions. Instead, they repeated their chilling statement, their eyes glowing faintly as they stepped closer.


    "Believe in Enkidu, or you''ll die in the future."


    I stumbled backward, my heart racing. "Stop saying that! Tell me what''s going on!"


    One of them, a version of me wearing armor that looked ancient and battered, stepped forward. His voice was deeper, more commanding than the others, though it still blended with the collective.


    "You are the last. The chosen. The one to bridge the gap. Accept the truth, or perish in ignorance."


    The other versions nodded in sync, their eyes fixed on me.


    "The future depends on your belief. Believe in Enkidu, or face annihilation."


    I could feel sweat trickling down my face despite the cold void. My mind raced, trying to make sense of it all.


    "But why? What does Enkidu have to do with me?!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice.


    The armored version raised a hand, and the others fell silent. He pointed directly at me, his eyes piercing.


    "You will understand... in time."


    And then, as suddenly as they appeared, the infinite versions of myself began to dissolve, their forms breaking apart into wisps of light, leaving me alone in the void once more.


    I gasped, my body jolting upright as if I had just been yanked from a nightmare. My vision swam for a moment before settling back into reality¡ªthe dimly lit apartment, the laptop''s faint glow, and Ayami sitting directly in front of me.


    She was waving a hand in front of my face, her eyebrows knit together in concern. "Oi, you alive over there? Earth to Hikaru~?"


    I blinked a few times, trying to steady my breathing. "What... what the hell was that?"


    Ayami leaned back, crossing her arms. "Reasonable reaction. Let me guess¡ªbig, scary creature inside your body? Some kind of ancient beast?"


    I shook my head, still rattled. "No... no, nothing like that." I hesitated, trying to find the words. "It was... me. Thousands of me. All different versions, surrounding me in some kind of void."


    Ayami''s eyebrows shot up, her curiosity clearly piqued. "A thousand yous? Seriously? What were they doing?"


    "They were all saying the same thing... ''Believe in Enkidu, or you''ll die in the future.''"


    Ayami froze for a moment, her confident demeanor faltering. She leaned forward, her expression more serious now. "Enkidu? Are you sure that''s what they said?"


    I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. Over and over again. It was like... they were warning me or something."


    Ayami exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "That''s... interesting. And by ''interesting,'' I mean terrifying. "


    I slumped onto the couch, staring blankly ahead, the weight of the experience pressing down on me. "I don''t want to do this anymore..." I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.


    Ayami stood nearby, watching me with a mixture of curiosity and sympathy. "Mhm... seems like it''s different from what I thought," she said, tilting her head slightly. "When I did the ritual on my own, I had to fight a massive creature inside my body to gain control of my power. So, you didn''t fight anything?"


    I shook my head, still in a daze. "No. How would I even fight... a thousand versions of me?"


    Ayami let out a thoughtful hum, crossing her arms. "That''s... strange. Maybe it''s symbolic or some kind of test. But for all of them to say the same thing¡ª''Believe in Enkidu or you''ll die in the future''¡ªthere''s got to be a deeper meaning."


    I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Whatever it is, I don''t think I''m cut out for this. I didn''t ask for any of it."


    "None of us did," Ayami said softly, her tone unusually gentle. "But here we are."


    She moved to sit on the armrest of the couch, looking down at me. "You don''t have to decide everything right now. Just... take it one step at a time. If those thousand versions of you are right, then figuring this out is a matter of survival. For now, though, maybe just rest."


    I nodded weakly, leaning back into the couch.


    Ayami leaned closer, resting her head lightly on my shoulder, her tone teasing. "Don''t you want to try if you''ve unlocked some power?"


    I glanced at her, feeling a mix of exhaustion and annoyance. "¡­How would I even know?"


    She shrugged, her playful smile not faltering. "I don''t know, do you feel any change? Like, anything at all?"


    To Be Continue.