Chapitre 1: Chapter 1
'I am so tired. I hope I can sleep forever.'
My eyelids felt heavy. My body as well. I felt like I was sinking into an endless dream where I was floating without direction. This is a weird sensation yet I find comfort in it. Yes, I should just close my eyes like this forever. That way, I won't feel anything anymore.
........
Slowly, I could hear a noise. It sounded like a rusty metal door being opened. I felt so disturbed I can't help but frowning. Who is it? So noisy. Then, I heard a surprised voice.
"Huh? There is a girl here?"
My cheeks involuntarily twitched when I heard a voice of a male so close in front of me. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes slowly.
The first thing that came to me when my eyes finally adjusted to the light, was that the young man in front of me had a peculiar shade of green hair. It reminded me a lot of withered grass.
The young man seemed similar in age to me, or at least a few years older. He was looking at me with a curious and careful gaze. He made a step back, before flashing me a friendly smile, "Hey, are you okay there?"
It took me two seconds to finally realize that I was sitting in a locker. My body barely fit in the locker as I sat in it. Why did I sleep in the locker? I had never felt so disoriented before in my life.
"Can you stand?"
I looked at the young man in front of me. He was bending his upper body and offered his hand to me to hold on. I didn't recognize him, but at least he doesn't look like he bore any ill intention. I slowly moved my hand and grabbed his hand. I can feel few accessories he was wearing under my palm, "Thank you".
After I managed to stand up, I looked back to the locker I came from and noticed that the locker was side to side to another locker of the same size.
"What a place to wake up from, huh?"
I turned my head to the young man and had a good look at him for the first time. He has the same eye color as his hair. He is a head taller than me and wearing a school uniform different from mine. He stared at me with a friendly smile, albeit looks inquisitive as well.
Nothing to do except talk to him then. "You too?"
"Yep. I just woke up too. I came out from the locker beside you. Then, I found myself in a deserted classroom I don't recognize and thought I might as well search around for a clue where I am. Then, I found you inside this locker."
I spread my sight to my surroundings, and found that we were in a dark classroom, with plants growing like a vine on windows. This looked like a normal classroom if you counted out the eerie, and suffocating atmosphere of it. Of course, I had no recollection of this place at all.
"Do you know where we are?" asked the young man.
I shook my head. "I am afraid not."
"I see. As I thought." The young man put his finger on his chin, looking deep in thought. Now that I think about it, who is he anyway? "Who are you?"
The young man looked at me and smiles awkwardly, "Oh yeah, I never told you my name, huh? My bad. I am Rantaro Amami. What is your name?"
"I am Mirai Nanase. Nice to meet you, Rantaro."
"Yeah, likewise. I am very surprised when I found you earlier. Your body doesn't feel strange, right?"
"Yes. I am fine. Thank you for your concern." I give him a polite bow.
Rantaro raised both of his hands and smiled awkwardly again, "No it's nothing. Please don't bow."
"Well then, Rantaro. Do you find anything that can become a clue?"
Rantaro shook his head, "So far I only found you in the locker. Do you remember anything before you came here?"
I pondered for a bit before answering. I tried to remember what and where I was before waking up here. I remembered walking from the station to home after school when a car suddenly blocked my way. A few men came out of the car and seized me in no time at all. I didn't even have a chance to scream for help.
"Now that you mention it. I think I was kidnapped on my way home from school. I remember going home late, because of student council work. But I don't remember anything after that."
Rantaro didn't look surprised, and instead, he answered, "Yeah, I thought so. Because I am the same."
"You mean you were kidnapped too?"
"Yeah. When I woke up, I suspected that the kidnapper shoved me inside the locker to hold me captive. I thought it's weird that the locker is unlocked and I wasn't being tied, though." Rantaro shrugged his shoulder as he said that.
For a person who was just kidnapped, he was oddly relaxed. It's like he didn't worry at all. It almost seemed like he was used to this situation. However, he didn't look like a bad person. He gave me a sense of security instead.
I decided I will give him the benefit of doubt and observe him for now.
"Let's try heading out for now. We will know more if we found something," said Rantaro.
"Won't it be dangerous? The kidnapper may put guards outside."
"I don't think we need to worry about that. If the kidnapper's purpose is to have us confined here, then they can just tie us up. I suspect the kidnapper didn't do that precisely because they want us to freely roam around."
There was some truth in his logic. However, doesn't it mean we are doing exactly what the kidnapper wants? I had a bad feeling about this, but it's not like we can stand around and do nothing either. Reluctantly, I nodded my head, "You are right. I will go with you."
Rantaro gave me a reassuring smile, "Don't worry. It will be okay. I got your back."
"Thank you. It's comforting to know I am not alone in this."
After that, with Rantaro in front, we walked slowly to the door. The door, as expected, was unlocked. He looked back at me before heading out, "Stay close to me, Mirai."
I unconsciously gulped. Knowing the danger that may lie outside, I started to become nervous. However, despite that, I still followed behind him.
After stepping outside, we found a dark corridor with plants and moss growing out from the floor and wall. Where exactly was this place? I never want to go here alone. This place screamed danger everywhere.
Rantaro signaled me to follow him. Once again, I was surprised at how relaxed he is. I didn't think he was lying when he said he didn't recognize this place, but he was way too calm. He didn't look nervous at all lurking around this eerie place. Who is he exactly? Did he know something about this situation?
We walked around a bit, before Rantaro finally spoke in a hushed voice, "It doesn't seem there is anyone nearby. We are safe for now, I guess."
"Rantaro, you don't look nervous at all."
"You think so? I was just going along with the flow, though. However, it's true I don't particularly feel anything right now. By the way, do you have any idea why they'd kidnap you?"
"No. I don't have any idea. I guess it's the same for you."
"Yeah. If only we could know the reason. Oh, there is an open space in the front."
I followed Rantaro's steps to an open space that was similar to a hall. The space was quite spacious. Again, I feel disoriented just by standing in this place. The place clearly had moss growing out of the wall and floor, but it still looked well-maintained somehow. Like someone purposely let the plants covered the room. "What a curious place."
"Hey look, Mirai. There is a door there," said Rantaro while pointing on one side of the wall.
"You are right. Let's check it out." We had just taken a step when a big, heavy figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere in front of us. It made such a loud sound I can't help but staggered back.
"YOU-ARE-NOT-ALLOWED-TO-ROAM-AROUND."
I opened my eyes at the sound of a robotic voice. When I did, I saw a three-meter tall robot standing in front of me. It has green metal plates on it and a very big Gatling gun on its hand.
"!!!" I can't even scream. What I knew was that I had to run away from this dangerous thing immediately.
"I-WILL-HAVE-YOU-TO-FOLLOW-ME. YOU-ARE-NOT-SUPPOSED-TO-WAKE-UP-YET. NOT-UNTIL-THE-PREPARATION-IS-COMPLETE," said the robot in front of me with his robotic voice.
"What do you mean by that? What is your purpose?"
I can't believe Rantaro just tried to communicate with that thing! He must be lost his mind!
Oblivious to my horror, Rantaro took a step forward and stared at the robot with a calm face. "If we follow you, would you tell us the answer, then?"
Excuse me!? What "we" are you talking about? I am not going anywhere with that thing!
"YOU-ARE-NOT-ENTITLED-TO-MAKE-NEGOTIATION. FOLLOW-ME-OR-ELSE," The big Gatling gun abruptly directed at us. "I-WILL-HAVE-TO-PUNISH-YOU-HERE."
The next thing I knew, I grabbed Rantaro's hand and dragged him with me. Through the dark corridor that I felt uncomfortable walking in, I ran straight through it like my life was on the line, which is true in this case.
I had never been an athletic one. My gym grade was so-so, and I was never interested in sports either. At that time, I wish I paid more attention to my body strength and stamina. In no time at all, I was already breathing heavily.
I could hear the sound of metal closing in behind us. This is driving me crazy!
I also heard Rantaro said something behind me, but I deliberately ignored him. Now is not the time for that!
We ran without knowing where to go until I saw some light above a big door. At this point, I was too tired to continue to run. We need to hide.
I opened the door without hesitation. After dragging Rantaro inside, I close the door behind me while panting hard. I put my ear on the door and listened closely. The sound of metal sounded far away now. I think we managed to lose it. I breathed a big sigh of relief.
Turning my head, I saw Rantaro's back. I opened my mouth, fully intending to scold him for being reckless when my eyes caught the sight he sees.
Now that I look closely, we are not the only ones here. In this room which looks like a gym room, there are few more students apart from us
The mystery kept piling up. I really don't like where this is going.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone