Fractal Plane: Awakener's Pact

Chapter 1 - Disturbance at Night

1

Despite being positive that he had gotten enough rest, Kazuki felt really tired. Seated on the edge of his bed, he gazed around his room, trying to get feeling back into his blurry eyes.

Soon, images of the open cabinet and the study desk cleared up.

Sunlight peered through curtains that covered the sole window placed by his bed. It also lighted up the connected pieces of anime posters and scrolls he had hung all over the room.

Kazuki yawned. Running his hand through his hair, he look at a mirror from the distance. He brushed his hair with his hand, but for him, there is order and form with the messy bangs that covered one of his eyes. That's good to go for the day.

"Here's to the start of the school year," he followed with a sigh. One more year after this, and it's done with schooling. Off to the workforce, and then what?

Putting on a disinterested look, Kazuki decided that it's too early to start thinking about his future or the years ahead. Putting those thoughts of the future aside, he reached for the doorknob on the way out.

He had barely approached the door when he heard a lively song coming from outside his room. There's no mistaking it.

Idol music.

The song, being played at full volume, burst its way into the room the moment Kazuki pulled the door open.

He knew this song. Not only that, but he also knew that the song is at its final chorus.

As if on cue, the song ended, and a sweet female voice full of vigor followed.

"And that's Fantastic Melody, my newest single that is set to be released in a few days. Come visit Imperial Tracks to see your favorite idol, Yuki-tan!"

A young girl, clad in bright yellow attire, smiled at the audience and waved. Her charming face, much like an angel's, exuded vibrance. Her expression was masterfully framed by the sidetail of her hair, a mixture of red and pink highlights, bobbing with each movement of her head.

"First five hundred people to get there get a special gift! If that's not enough..." The idol was seated in front of a table full of merchandise, and she reached out to a pile at the end of the table. She then excitedly put a CD in front of the camera. "I will also be holding a special raffle for a meet-and-greet session with yours truly, the hottest up and coming idol in town!"

Normally, something like that would get any male teenager excited, but Kazuki just felt indifferent. Despite that, he cannot help but keep his eyes glued to the TV until a voice called out to him.

"Good morning, Big Bro!" greeted the second voice, interrupting the advertising spiel.

The voice came from a little girl seated in front of the TV. Momentarily taking her eyes off the screen, the girl with black twintails stared at her brother with eager eyes. She stood up and waved at her brother.

"Oh, you're up early, Hikari."

"You know I'm always up early. As for you, how can you get up looking like that especially on the first day of school?"

Putting her hands on her hips, Hikari pouted at the sight of her brother's appearance.

Ignoring her, the big brother passed by the living room and its sofas. He headed straight for the dining room located near the door to the large apartment unit.

"She still has hype?" asked Kazuki, leaving one brief glance at Yuki-tan's music video on the TV screen. He let out a soft chuckle before turning around. "Really amazing, I'd say. Never thought she'd last this long. Idols have short shelf lives, you know."