Chapter Text
I’ve realised I have nothing much to do now. I could go find Banica and start a journey with her but at the same time, I want to do something on my own.
So, I decided to use my black box, wanting to travel to another universe.
Maybe a universe that I can rule and destroy. A universe that I can do a lot of research on.
Experiments or something.
That would be intriguing.
So, I activated my box.
The next thing I know, I’m lying on fresh green grass.
I looked up to the sky to see a clear blue sky with a peek of trees with pink flowers.
Cherry blossoms, is it? I thought.
I wonder if I’m in Japan.
I know Japan. I’ve heard of the country.
That’s where a lot of modern machines were made.
Wise inventions.
Seth sat up from his position. He looked around to see grass everywhere. Not only that, he could hear the sound of children laughing and cheering from far and dogs barking from excitement. He could also see a couple having a picnic near him.
So, he has travelled to another universe.
This place is different from where he originally was.
It’s a lot fresh.
He realised he’s wearing a different outfit. White collared shirt with black sleeveless vest on top and grey trousers. When did he dress himself in this, he wondered.
He pushed his hands into the pockets of his trousers and he found what seemed to be house keys and a wallet.
Probably belonged to him so he opened the wallet. He was confused to find an ID in the wallet. On the ID, there is a picture of a guy who looked just like him when he had a human body. Short brown hair, brown eyes and his left eye is blind. He wears glasses as well.
He assumed he had the same body now but the name confused him.
氷山 瀬人(ひやませと)
Hiyama Seto
Wait, who?
Suddenly he heard a male voice calling after him.
“Oi, Seto!”
Seth turned to the direction of the voice. He watched as an orange haired guy ran towards him. Who is he? This guy has orange coloured hair, a khaki sweater and black pants. His body is well built but who is he? Does Seth know him? And why did he call him Seto?
“What were you doing? Sleeping?” The guy asked. When Seth looked at him up close, the guy had a bit of Caucassian features but mostly Asian. This guy might be half-Caucassian and half-Asian.
“You’re staring for too long, mate. You okay?” The man is speaking in Japanese but to Seth's surprise, he understands Japanese. Weird because he has never spoken that language before. “Uh, sorry but… who are you?”
The man looked at him with a confused look, “Are you okay?” The orange haired asked.
“Yes.”
“You looked confused.”
“Well, anyone would be confused if you call them by a different name.”
“A different name? What are you talking about? Since when did you have a different name?”
“Or maybe you have mistaken me for someone else. Apology but I’m not Seto.”
“Your ID says so.”
The man has his hands on his waist. “Did you hit your head on something?” He asked. Seth scoffed and raised an eyebrow, “Definitely not.”
“Well, you seemed confused.”
“I’m definitely not.”
“Hey!”
Both men heard someone calling them both so they turned to the source of the voice. Seth was shocked to see another man who looks like him standing in front of him. What is he? A clone of his? Well, the possible answer is this man is the alternate version of him. Perhaps?
“Niisan, what are you doing sitting down on the grass? Did you hurt yourself?” The other spectacle man asked. “No-”
“Well, it looks like your brother is confused.” Said the orange haired. “I’m not confused!” Seth protested.
“Niisan.”
Who is your big brother?!
“Niisan, what is your name?”
“Seth Twiright.”
“No you’re not. You’re Hiyama Seto.”
“I’m sure that my name is Seth Twiright. The best scientist in town.”
The orange haired scoffed. “Say that to your colleagues.”
The spectacled guy kneeled down to face Seth. “Who am I?” The guy asked.
“I don’t know? We have just met!” Seth answered.
“I’m Hiyama Kiyoteru. Your brother.” He said.
“I never had a brother!” Seth protested.
“Oh boy, he’s really not there.” The orange haired said.
Kiyoteru pointed at the orange haired man, “That’s Hirai Ike. My husband. You hate him, remember?”
“What-”
“I don’t know any of you!” Seth sweated nervously. Why is this putting him on the edge? Usually he is able to play it off and pretends to be someone else. He did it once with Lich. Pretended to be Keel. He was able to pull that off just fine but for some reason, this is putting him on the edge?
He’s feeling confused and frustrated. What is going on?
What is this universe? Where am I? Who is Seto? Who are these people? Are they real? Is Seto real?
Did something happen and I was reborn as someone else? What is going on?
He never felt this discomfort before.
“Let’s take him to the doctor, Ike.” Kiyoteru said to his husband as he held Seth’s arm. “Huh-”
“Oh, definitely.” Ike took the other arm. “Wait, wait-”
Seth pulled his arms away from them.
I really should play it off. That will benefit me, I hope. If they think I’m unwell, I won’t be able to travel this world and reveal its secrets, if there is. I won’t be able to experiment with anything.
“I’m fine!”
Seth cleared his throat as he smiled softly to the two men in front of him. “I’m okay. I was confused, sorry. Couldn’t tell which is my dream and reality.” He said.
"That's concerning though." Ike said.
"Niisan… Are you sure you're okay?" Kiyoteru looked at him with concern.
For some reason, Seth is unable to look the brunette in the eye. He feels… guilty? Don't know why.
"Instead of being concerned about me, why don't we leave this place?" Seth stood up and brushed himself, pushing all of the dirt and grass off his pants.
"He is right. We can talk about this again when we're at home. We need to pick Riku up from mum's place. It's almost dinner now." Ike said as he looked at his watch.
Riku? Who is that? A name I have never heard of.
"Ah, you're right. He's waiting for us!" Kiyoteru said. He held Seth's hand and dragged him towards the car park.
"Hey-"
"Let's go! Let's go!" Kiyoteru chanted.
Seth had never met someone who is as annoying as Kiyoteru. This is the first time someone almost got into his nerves.
The energy that Kiyoteru has, so eager, so excited.
Kinda tiring if you think too much about it.
Both of them walked towards a black car. Seth assumed that it was Kiyoteru's car but after watching him sit in the passenger seat next to the driver seat, he wondered if the car belonged to the other guy.
He sat at the back, fastening his seatbelt.
He watched as Ike sat in the driver's seat. The car might have belonged to him, Seth thought.
Ike started the engine and started driving away from the park and into the roads.
Seth looked outside of the window. This place he is in… It's peaceful. Peaceful than his universe.
It needs to be tainted with malice.
It's not fun to not have it in.
Seth chuckled in his head.
Though Seth admitted that the scenery he's being greeted with is absolutely eye-catching.
Trees are everywhere and some with pink flowers, Cherry blossom trees.
Sakura is what the tree is called in Japanese.
Seth wondered where he was located. Japan is big. He would like to know the location of this place.
Once Ike drove past an elementary school, Seth's question was answered.
Hachigata Minami Elementary School.
So, I'm in Hachigata? Where is that?
Seth quickly took his phone out and checked for the address.
Ah, almost 2 hours from Tokyo.
A new location. Seth never heard of this town before. It looks like the main attraction here could be golf.
He wonders if this Hiyama Seto guy plays golf.
He wonders if he really is real or only a made up memory.
He has a lot of unanswered questions. He would like to seek answers.
But where can he start?
He knows nothing about this place.
This world.
The world he knows nothing of.
Ike stopped the car in front of a house. The house is pretty big and it looks like a Victorian style house.
Ah, yes. It reminds Seth a lot of his world.
Seth wonders if this is Ike and Kiyoteru's house but judging by their movement, only Ike got out of the car.
Seth remembered that both Kiyoteru and Ike mentioned someone by the name of Riku .
Who is this Riku person? Perhaps an offspring for this couple? What an odd one honestly.
“Ah, we need to go out for grocery shopping soon. I forgot to buy some stuff for dinner.” Kiyoteru said as he lightly tapped a fist to his palm. So, Kiyoteru is the cook in the family? Seth is curious about how the food would taste. Would it be nice? Would it be bad? Since he is the assigned cook in the family, Seth assumes that Kiyoteru is a good cook.
How lucky of their offspring to be able to have home-cooked meals ready for them.
Can’t be him.
“Oh? What’s for dinner?” Seth asked. Kiyoteru quickly turned to Seth with a shocking expression. What? Did he say something offensive? Shocking? Inconceivable?
“Niisan… Do… Do you not remember what day it is today?” Kiyoteru asked.
“Huh?” Seth raised an eyebrow.
“Niisan, you have a date with Freya! For dinner! Have you forgotten that you told me that a week ago?!”
“Wh- Did I say that?”
Kiyoteru facepalmed. “Why are you always like this…”
So, Seto is the type of person who forgets all of his promises?
Also, who is Freya?
“Have you checked your mobile for any messages from Freya?” Kiyoteru asked.
“My phone has been silent ever since we were in the park.” As Seth said that, his mobile phone beeped. “Uh-” Seth took his phone out and he saw a new message coming from… Hm…
Freya <3
Seth assumes this lady is Seto’s lover.
He unlocked his phone and read the message,
“Don’t forget about tonight. Dinner at Nakazawa Family restaurant. Excited to see you xoxo”
And… Where is that?
“I really need to go home now and get ready.” And find out where the place is at!
Perhaps the restaurant is in this town? Seth doesn’t know! He just arrived here and now he has places to go!
“We will send you home. Niisan, can you please remember all the things you’ve promised Freya so you don’t upset her again?”
Oh, this Seto guy is a bad partner.
“I’ll try to.”
“You always say the same thing!”
“Well, sorry.”
“You’re hopeless.” Kiyoteru sighed.
Ike then comes back with a child in his arms. They are probably around 3 years old? Possibly.
Seth watched as Ike walked to the backseat and he opened the door. He placed the child next to Seth and helped the child to put their seatbelt on.
The child, Riku, the couple’s son.
Riku turned towards Seth and smiled cheerfully, “Hi, uncle!” He greeted.
What an adorable child. He would make a perfect HER, Seth thought. Oh, he can tell the child has potential .
“Hey, Riku. How are you today?” Seth smiled softly.
“I’m okay. I had fun today with grandma and auntie Sara!” Riku said cheerfully.
Seth assumes Sara is Ike’s sister and he assumes the house belongs to Ike’s family since he was the only one who went out of the car to pick Riku up.
Once Ike sat on his seat, he drove them to a house which is a 10 minutes drive from the large house.
The house Ike stopped in front, it isn’t a small house nor is it big. It’s perfect for a family of three… Well, four including Seto.
Seth wonders why Seto is living with his brother and his brother’s family. Shouldn’t he be living alone? Or maybe living with his lover? Is he a coward? Useless? Clingy towards his brother? Has brother complex?
Seth really wants to know Seto more.
Is he a clone of his or is he Seth from an alternate universe?
What happened to Seto and Kiyoteru’s parents?
“Alright, we are here.” Ike said. “You have your keys, right?” He asked.
“Yeah, I do.” Seth recalled the house keys he kept in his pocket. “Right, off you go. Dress nicely for Freya~” Kiyoteru chuckled.
Seth got out of the car. He watched as the car left the house.
Now, he needs to find out how to get in the house. He is holding onto a lot of keys right now. He doesn’t know which one is the key for the main entrance.
Well, one way to find out.
After a few minutes of trying to figure out the keys for the main entrance, Seth finally found and he unlocked the door with ease.
Oh, finally. Indoor.
Seth walked inside and locked the door behind him. He looked around the house. A common Japanese house with a genkan at the entrance. Seth took his shoes off before walking inside the house. In the hallway, he could see some photos being hung on the wall so he took his time to look at them one by one.
The first photo is a photo of Kiyoteru, Ike and Riku at a beach. A family photo of theirs.
The second photo is a photo of Kiyoteru and Ike in tuxedos. Seth presumes that was their wedding photo judging by the background. A white arch decorated with flowers, both men wearing white tuxedos and Kiyoteru holding a bouquet of flowers.
The third photo is a photo of a child Kiyoteru holding a, which Seth assumes, child Seto. Child Kiyoteru was grinning at the camera while child Seto looked annoyed. He also had an eyepatch on his left eye.
Wait… So, Seto is blind in his left eye too? Now that he thought of it, when he looked at the photo on the ID, Seto’s left eye was… Well, greyed?
All this time, Seth thought the reason why he could only see from his right eye was coming from him but it looks like the body he is residing in is missing a vision from his left eye.
Huh, interesting… Seto is similar to Seth in all ways then… Maybe except for the personalities.
Now, moving onto the fourth photo, next to the staircase that he needs to take to go to the bedrooms.
It’s a photo of child Kiyoteru, child Seto and… A priest? Seems like he is a priest. Who is that?
Now, don’t tell me that is these men’s father? Were they adopted by a priest?
Did their parents pass away when they were little?
Seth wonders where he can find out about this family.
He wonders if he can find someone who’d tell him everything. Someone who’d believe in him and not freak out when he said that he is from another universe.
Can he find that person?
Perhaps Freya?
Hopefully.