The bell rang, echoing through the corridors of Minato High.
"Class dismissed," said Mr. Fujimoto with a tired smile. "You're free to go."
Laughter, backpacks, and chattering voices filled the room as the students poured out.
But one figure stayed behind a moment longer.
Kalaidasan.
Silent. Slightly distant. Eyes tracing the chalk-dusted board before picking up his bag.
Outside, the streets of Tokyo buzzed - vending machines humming, bicycles flying past, neon signs flickering on early.
Everyone was going home.
But Kalaidasan walked alone.
He reached his small apartment, keys jingling.
"Grandma?" he called softly.
Silence.
Just dust motes floating in golden afternoon light.
His grandmother wasn't home. Probably out buying something again, he thought.
The house felt emptier than usual.
He threw his bag on the floor, slumped on the couch, and turned on the TV.
Some old show was playing - laugh tracks, canned drama. Kalai didn't care. He wasn't watching.
He just wanted noise.
Anything but the silence.
By 9 PM, the lights dimmed. A cold wind pushed through the cracks in the window.
He yawned and turned off the TV.
His head hit the pillow.
And he was gone.
CRASH.
Kalai shot upright in bed, heart pounding.
The room was shaking.
What the hell was that?!
He stumbled to the window.
Outside, the sky was blood red.
And a plane - a real one - was falling from the sky.
No sound.
No sirens.
Just a slow-motion descent... right onto a building down the street.
BOOM.
Fire exploded into the night. The screen of his window glowed orange.
His breath caught in his throat.
But then... he noticed something stranger.
The city had stopped moving.
No cars.
No people.
Not even the wind.
Just stillness.
And then - he blinked.
The buildings weren't the same.
Some were twisted. Tilted. Others cracked open like broken mirrors.
Signs were reversed.
Shadows danced without light.
This... this wasn't Tokyo.
Kalai backed away from the window, but behind him-
A soft voice whispered:
> "You finally woke up."
He spun around.
No one there.
The TV flickered back on by itself.
Static.
Then... a symbol.
A black mask.
It stared at him for three seconds.
And then the power cut out.
End of Chapter 1.