Bab 3: Chapter 3: Start of Something Strange
Time is a strange thing.
Now that I've settled into the room they assigned me, the Dark Hour has already ended. The eerie green light vanished, and the bloodstains faded away, like some surreal illusion lifting from the room. It's funny how time works differently here. In the games, the protagonists could wander through the dungeon for what felt like hours while the Dark Hour kept ticking away. Yet here? It lasted exactly what it said on the label—a single hour. No more, no less.
I suppose it's not the Dark Hour's fault. It's that twisted dungeon that messes with time, not the Hour itself. An hour is still an hour, right?
But how does it work, really? It starts precisely at midnight—12:00 AM sharp. Does it happen at midnight everywhere else? What if someone crosses time zones? Does the Hour stick to one place? And what happens if someone crosses the boundary during it? Are they freed, or do they get trapped halfway through?
I stop myself. I can feel my mind spiraling, and it's exhausting. These aren't the questions to wrestle with tonight.
I collapsed onto the bed, letting out a long breath as the weight of the day finally caught up with me. My suitcases were unpacked, my things tucked away neatly in the closet, but my body ached in protest from the constant motion. Today had been a blur—a strange, tiring blur, like I had just stepped off a rollercoaster that wasn't even built for my size.
I should rest. Maybe tomorrow, I'd try to untangle the mess in my head, one question at a time. There's no rush.
When I opened my eyes, the dorm room was gone. I wasn't staring at the familiar ceiling anymore. Instead, I found myself in a study that looked like it belonged in a different time altogether. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, filled with volumes that had probably been here for centuries. The air smelled like old paper and aged carpet, the kind of scent that clung to a room and never quite let go. Through two large windows, I could see the steady downpour of rain, the sound of droplets pattering against the glass blending with the soft strains of jazz in the background. The thunder rumbling every so often only added to the weight of the place, giving it an air of quiet contemplation—like it had been frozen in time.
It didn't feel like a dream. Everything was too vivid—too real. The softness of the carpet beneath my feet, the warm, comforting atmosphere of the room, despite the storm outside. Even the faint scent of books filled my nose. I could almost touch it.
Then, I turned, sensing a presence behind me that I hadn't noticed before. There, sitting at a massive oak desk, was a man. He looked just like me, only... different. His hair was a shade of blonde nearly identical to mine, and his eyes were a piercing blue that seemed to cut through the dim light. He looked foreign—almost Nordic. His features were sharp, sharp enough that they didn't remind me of any Japanese heritage at all.
He was lounging in a way that was almost too casual—one leg thrown over the desk, his gaze focused on the book in his lap. Then, as if to shatter the silence, he slammed the book shut with a sharp thud, and the sound echoed off the walls.
"Are you just going to stand there staring?" His voice was abrupt, almost biting. "Who are you?"
"Me?" I asked, baffled.
"Who else?" he shot back, narrowing his eyes. "It's just the two of us."
His gaze pinned me in place as he stood and walked toward me with an easy, measured pace. His frown deepened as he took me in, his eyes scanning me like I was some kind of puzzle he couldn't figure out.
"You…" He paused mid-sentence, a strange flicker of recognition crossing his features. "Wait. This is just a dream. Your dream. Interesting..."
I blinked. What?
He crossed his arms, as if deep in thought. "It's not time yet. You haven't awakened," he continued, his voice flat, his tone almost final. "Go now. We'll meet again when you're ready."
"Wait, what do you mean—"
Before I could finish, he snapped his fingers, and the world around me unraveled.
I woke up with a jolt, my heart pounding in my chest. The alarm blared obnoxiously, its shrill ringing slicing through the quiet of the room, pulling me from the remnants of that strange place.
What the hell… was that?
I slapped the alarm off and rubbed my eyes, the stillness after the noise a welcome relief. I dragged myself out of bed, still dizzy from the dream—or whatever that was—and shuffled toward the small sink in the corner. The cold water splashed against my face, shocking me into full consciousness.
Looking up, I met my own reflection in the mirror, water dripping from my chin. There was a strange, lingering warmth in my chest, though I wasn't sure if it came from the dream or just the act of being awake.
This whole situation? It's getting stranger by the minute.
---
After a quick shower, I stepped out of the washroom, still feeling off-kilter. And that's when I saw him.
Akihiko was standing by the vending machine on the boy's floor of the dorm. He was sweating, his hand gripping a can of something. He looked like he'd just finished a morning workout.
He spotted me almost immediately, and without skipping a beat, turned to greet me with a casual smile.
"Good morning," he said. "I almost forgot we had a new resident here. It's been a while since anyone moved in, you know?"
"How's that?" I asked, trying to sound casual. I walked over to him and sank into one of the sofas nearby. "For a nice dorm like this, it's pretty empty."
"Well, this place is… special," he said, cracking open his can with a satisfying hiss. "Besides, most people prefer to live in the school's dorms. It saves them from commuting every day. Here, though? Not so convenient."
"I guess so." I hummed, sinking further into the couch. "But... it's just two residents, you and Kirijo-san, right? Doesn't that make for some gossip at school? A boy and a girl living together?"
Akihiko chuckled, shaking his head. "Me and Mitsuru? Not like that." He paused, looking distant for a moment. "We used to have another guy here, but he moved out... for personal reasons." He turned to face me with a raised eyebrow. "Honestly, I didn't think you'd care much about rumors. I mean, you and Mitsuru practically have the same background, don't you? Though, I still don't know much about you."
"Same background?" I gave him a quizzical look. "You mean both of our fathers are rich?"
Akihiko shrugged, chuckling again. "Well, when you put it that way…"
I smiled wryly. "I'm kidding. I don't know much about Kirijo-san's situation either. Hell, I didn't even know she was my fiancée until yesterday. But she probably isn't too thrilled about it."
Akihiko's expression softened a little. "Mitsuru... She's hard to read sometimes. Carries herself like she's much older than she really is. It's like she's already made peace with a lot of things."
I gave a thin smile. "I can imagine."
I got up from the sofa and moved toward the window, watching the young women stroll by in their colorful yukata, celebrating Coming of Age Day. Today was January 12th, so school hadn't started yet, giving everyone an extra day off.
"You want me to show you around? So you won't get lost when school starts?" Akihiko's voice pulled me from my thoughts. He leaned casually against the wall, his drink finished. "I've got some free time."
That was nice of him. He didn't have to offer, but I wasn't about to turn down the help.
"Alright," I said with a slight nod. "Thanks, I guess."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone