Chapter Text
Ring.
Cutting through the haze of confusion clouding his mind, the sound of ceremonial bells resounded inside Kanae’s head.
Clang.
It rang once again. His vision slowly came into focus. Kanae blinked, staring at the pink-haired girl standing before him.
Cling.
The final bell rang, lifting the fog from his ears. Sound rushed back in, and with it the girl’s voice no longer distant, but suddenly became clear.
“Excuse me, are you okay?”
Kanae blinked twice to make sure that his eyes weren’t playing a trick on him. The abrupt shift in his surroundings left him struggling to make sense of his current situation. Wasn’t he just speaking with the headmaster earlier? How did he end up here in front of this pink-haired girl who kept on repeating the same question?
“He’s been standing here for 15 minutes now,” the pink-haired girl looked at the elf sighing behind the counter. “Are you sure he is fine? He-”
Realizing the trouble he must have caused, Kanae bowed his head deeply. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” he said with a hint of embarrassment. “I didn’t realize that I was spacing out for that long. Thank you for your concern.”
“That’s great to know,” she sighed in relief. The worry in her eyes softened, replaced by a warmth that caught him off guard.
Kanae’s face turned red as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, but may I ask a silly question?”
“Sure,” the girl replied with an encouraging tone. “Go ahead.”
Swallowing hard, Kanae finally asked the question he’s been wanting to ask since he regained his senses. “Where am I right now?"
The girl’s smile widened, like the answer was the least surprising thing in the word. "Oh, you’re in my café,” she said. “Specifically, in the Boundary.”
“The Boundary?”
Kanae’s eyes widened, his pulse thudding erratically as the words settled heavily in his chest. The Boundary. It echoed in his mind; in a way he couldn’t explain. He knew the headmaster had plans to place him somewhere, but this was beyond anything he had imagined.
The weight of his circumstances crept in slowly, making his stomach sink as reality finally settled in.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” the pink-haired girl asked again, her brow furrowing with genuine concern. She glanced at the elf behind the counter; he rolled his eyes, clearly aware that she was up to no good again.
“Don’t worry,” she assured, turning back to Kanae. “Everyone who comes in The Boundary is usually confused at first.”
Kanae wanted to ask for help to understand more about his situation, but something held him back. The hesitation must have shown on his face, because the pink-haired girl’s gaze lingered as she looked at him more intently.
“How about you visit the Agency?” she suggested. “I can give them a call for you.”
Kanae opened his mouth to decline, but she continued to press on with great enthusiasm sparking in her eyes. “While we wait, why don’t you sit down and have some snacks? Don’t worry about paying, it's on the house.”
Despite his better judgement, Kanae found himself nodding. The girl’s face brightened instantly as she gently guided him to an empty seat by the window. Her eagerness was hard to resist. And if he was honest to himself, a moment to sit and breathe might help him gather his thoughts.
He watched as she skipped back to the counter, carefully selecting a cake from the display. When she returned, she wore an apron over her school uniform, balancing a tray with ease.
“This is all we could offer,” she said with a warm smile, setting down a steaming cup of tea and a generous slice of cake. “But we hope you’ll like it.”
As she left to make the call, Kanae stared at the food warily. Nothing looked odd or suspicious; it was just an ordinary, delicious-looking cake. Still, he hesitated before taking a careful bite.
His eyes widened in surprise as the flavors exploded in his tongue, creating a perfect harmony of sweetness and texture. He followed it with a sip of tea, its warmth spreading through him momentarily chasing away his worry.
As Kanae set down his fork, an odd sensation crept over him. The last crumbs of the exquisite cake lingered on his tongue, its sweetness dulled by a growing sense of uneasiness. His eyes darted around the café, catching details he had overlooked in his confusion earlier.
The bustling atmosphere that had greeted him upon arrival had vanished, replaced by an eerie stillness.
He couldn’t recall anyone leaving. Yet the tables around him were empty, with half-finished meals and steaming cups of tea abandoned as if everyone around him had simply evaporated.
A chill ran down his spine, goosebumps rising along his arms. The air felt thick, as if reality itself was holding his breath. Kanae had learned long ago to trust his instincts.
And right now, every instinct he had was screaming at him to leave. Now.
“That kid is sharp," the elf muttered to the girl as they watch Kanae walk towards them.
“I can’t thank you enough for your kindness,” Kanae said, bowing his head. "I’ll do my best so I can repay you soon. I really enjoyed the tea and the cake."
“No worries. I’m glad you enjoyed it,” the girl tilted her head, smiling sweetly. “Since our ingredients are human souls, we can make high-quality cakes."
A chill shot straight down Kanae’s spine.
Tension filled the room until the girl burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. The elf beside her let out a long sigh. “Oy, Shiina.”
“I’m just kidding,” she said, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes.
“Please don’t be bothered by what she said,” the elf added calmly. “She likes to tease every customer who compliments our desserts.”
“It’s fine,” Kanae said, managing a smile. “I hope I can stop by again next time.”
Before he left, Shiina reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. The Agency was printed neatly across the front. She held it out to him. "Just tell the receptionist I called.”
As Kanae reached for the card, their eyes briefly met. The world narrowed. He couldn't look away. His feet felt rooted to the floor as invisible hands curled around him, dragging him downward towards an endless, waiting darkness.
"Are you okay?"
The sound of a ceremonial bell rang in his head, pulling him back to reality as she spoke. He nodded, unable to find his words, and Shiina smiled in return.
She walked him to the door. And as she pushed it open, she murmured softly, "See you later, Nii-yan."
Nii-?
Kanae turned, too late. A cold wave surged through him.
The café was dark now.
The sign read: “Closed.”
Kanae studied the card. Despite his doubts about Shiina’s intention after the unsettling experience, the information she had given him was reliable. He had heard of The Agency before. Everyone had.
It was said to be where the Witch of the Boundary works, or so they say. No one knew if she still existed and the last confirmed sighting of her was after the Last Night.
Kanae flipped the card over, revealing a small map printed on the back. Taking a deep breath, he decided to follow his instincts for now.
He was studying the route he would take when he sensed the presence of a hostile. Even though there are individuals assigned to eliminate it, he rushed to where he felt the presence, knowing every second counts.
Kanae closed his eyes and followed the ley line, tracking the erratic surge of mana threading through the city. When he opened them again, he found himself in front of an alleyway.
Empty.
The presence vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.
Sensing that something was off, he checked if there’s an Authority patrolling nearby for further assistance. It was then that an unsettling presence loomed behind. Kanae moved on pure reflex, dodging the attack. The ground where he’d been standing before spilt open, a fissure wide enough to swallow him whole.
“This is bad,” Kanae thought, seeing the dark aura it emitted. He was too late. The hostile’s already been possessed.
Left with no choice, Kanae knew he had to act before an Authority arrived. His fingers slid to ring on his index finger. Chanting an incantation, he removed it. A huge concentration of mana surged through his body, enveloping his hand. Prepared to attack, Kanae launched himself toward the hostile.
But before he could land the blow, a man fell from the sky.
OTHER WORKS:
once in twenty lifetimes [COMPLETED] (Revising)
a moment in time [ONGOING] (previously under two as crash)
the apprentice [ONGOING] (Revising)
born to die [ONGOING] (New)
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