Paradise's Echo | Vol. 1

Chapter I - Since That Day

His pulse was racing as he ran through the crowded streets, gasping for air with each breath. His gaze darted back and forth, scanning the crowded thoroughfare for any sign of danger. His mind raced with images of his twin, Kenji, and the urgency of his mission.

"KENJI!"

. . .

He sat in frustration, flipping a coin in the air repeatedly in hopes of getting the right answer. He let out a groan of disappointment as his prediction went wrong once again. Feeling defeated, Akio rested his head on the table, staring blankly at the wall. Akio's days were usually spent like this, engaging in various activities just on the thought of passing some time, because his brother, Kenji couldn't really spend time with him due to his tiring job.

The bright sunshine pouring in through the window made him feel even more despondent. He remained like that for almost an hour, lost in thought and despair when suddenly, he caught sight of a shadowy, nebulous figure passing by the window. He flinched in alarm and sat right up, convinced he had seen something supernatural.

Akio stood up from his seat and slowly walked over to the window to see if he could spot the figure again. As he looked outside, he saw a man in a long black coat walking away from the building. Akio squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look, but the man was too far away to make out any details.

He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of any lingering doubts. As he turned away from the window, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the glass. His eyes seemed to glow in the bright sunlight, and for a moment, he felt a strange sensation wash over him. It was as if he was looking at a different person, someone he didn't quite recognize. The reflection had a bright, white horn emerging from its forehead.

He frowned and rubbed his eyes, trying to dispel the odd feeling. But as he looked back at his reflection, he couldn't help but notice something unusual about his eyes. They seemed to have a faint, bluish tint, like the colour of the sky on a clear day.

He stared at his reflection for a few moments longer before turning away from the window and walking back to his seat. As he sat down, he couldn't shake the feeling that something strange was happening to him, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

. . .

As the hours slipped away and the night enfolded, Akio's mind began to wander, and he forgot about the shadowy figure he had seen earlier that day. He was a boy who had always been carefree since birth, more concerned with his own amusement than anything else. Akio would spend hours playing video games or watching TV, completely oblivious to the world outside. He never gave much thought to his future or what lay ahead; he just wanted to enjoy the present moment.

As always, he was playing video games for distraction when Kenji walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, scanning the contents for something to eat. He noticed that it was almost empty and made a mental note to go grocery shopping later that day. As he rummaged through the fridge, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment that Akio didn't seem to care about his job. It was as if he didn't understand the importance of what Kenji did every day, risking his life to protect the city from the Oni.

Kenji sighed and closed the fridge, deciding to make himself a sandwich instead. He grabbed some bread, cheese, and ham from the pantry and started to assemble his sandwich. As he ate, he thought about the conversation he had with Akio. It wasn't the first time they had argued about his job. Akio never seemed to understand the gravity of the situation, and it frustrated Kenji to no end.

He finished his sandwich and took his plate to the sink to wash it. As he was cleaning, he heard Akio's game sound effects coming from the living room. He shook his head and walked back to the living room, where Akio was still playing his game.