The Parallel Realm

"What other ancient mysteries could this book hold?"

Kai whispered to himself, his voice barely audible.

The words on the pages seemed to draw him in, more than just a story—this was something alive, something that had a purpose. He scanned the next section, his brow furrowing as he read aloud in a hushed tone.

"So, there's a world where supernatural humans and normal humans coexist… and they defend the world from invading anomalies causing destruction…"

He paused, turning the page.

"And there are anomalies so powerful, they can even affect space-time itself. Wow, this book is really getting interesting."

Kai felt the rush of excitement, the possibility of what he could learn stirring something within him. His fingers trembled slightly as he flipped to the next page, eager to dive deeper into the unknown.

But just as he was about to continue reading, there was a loud knock at the door.

Kai's heart skipped a beat. His mom's cold, indifferent voice echoed from the other side of the door.

"Kai, have you been doing your homework?"

she asked, her voice sharp and commanding.

Kai froze for a moment, panic creeping into his chest his nerves getting the best of him.

"Y-yes, why, Mom?"

he stammered, trying to sound casual, but his voice cracked.

The door creaked open slowly, and his mother's stern face appeared.

Her sharp eyes scanned him for a moment, and then she let out a deep sigh.

"Are you sure? Because I've been seeing your grades and getting calls from your teacher and the principal lately,"

she said, her tone cold as ice.

"It seems you're not doing your work and are focused on something else instead."

Kai's heart sank as he tried to maintain composure. "I'm doing my best…"

His mother's gaze lingered on his bruised face, the marks from the earlier fight still visible. Her expression hardened, and she shook her head with disappointment.

"Still getting into fights and not winning them, huh?"

Her voice dripped with disapproval.

As Kai then says.

"But mom I was just trying to help a beautiful girl who was getting robbed"

His voice dropping with small irration.

As his mom then says her voice cold and in disappointment.

"You know, your biggest downfall in life is going to be trying to save people who don't care about you."

Kai felt a sting in his chest at the coldness of her words, but he couldn't bring himself to argue. He opened his mouth to explain, but she cut him off.

"Now close that book of yours,"

she ordered, her voice sharp and unyielding.

"And get your work done. NOW!"

"Y-yes, ma'am…"

Kai mumbled quietly, defeated.

She gave him one last look before slamming the door shut behind her, leaving Kai alone in his room. He stared at the door for a moment before sighing deeply, the frustration building within him.

Kai slowly opened his bookbag, pulling out his homework with a heavy heart. As he scanned the assignments, the weight of them felt like a thousand pounds on his shoulders. With a frustrated groan, he tossed the papers onto the table.

"Stupid homework…"

he muttered, rolling his eyes.

"I'm tired of this."

And just like that, the thought of the looming exam hit him.

"And I always have an exam coming up… stupid life. Always something to worry about…"

He rubbed his face in exasperation and let his head fall onto the table, his eyes staring at the blank sheet in front of him. The room grew eerily quiet as the sounds of kids playing outside reached his ears—some were his age, some younger—but to Kai, they felt like they were a world away. A reminder of how alone he always felt, the isolation that followed him everywhere.

"Why's my life like this?"

he muttered softly to himself, his voice full of bitterness and longing.

He sat up slowly, wiping his eyes, trying to shake off the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. The laughter of the kids outside continued, but Kai didn't pay much attention. He turned away from the window and focused back on the homework in front of him.

"Just get it over with,"

he said, trying to convince himself. He picked up his pen and began to work through the assignments, the weight of his world pressing down on him with each passing second.

—————

As the hours passed, the light outside dimmed, and the world around him grew quieter.

The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving only the gentle hum of the night to accompany Kai as he worked through his homework. He moved slowly, his mind preoccupied with everything—his day, his struggles, his fight with the robber, and the bruises that still marked his face.

Finally, he finished the last problem, his eyes tired and strained. Kai closed the notebook with a sigh, letting out a breath of relief. He stretched his arms above his head, his body aching from both the day's events and the stress he'd been carrying.

"Finally,"

he murmured, feeling a small sense of accomplishment.

With a grunt, Kai got up and changed into his night clothes, the soft fabric offering a small comfort. He made his way to the bathroom, his footsteps heavy with exhaustion. As he glanced into the mirror, his reflection stopped him cold. The bruises and scratches on his face, reminders of his earlier encounter, still lingered.

Kai splashed cold water on his face, hoping to feel a bit more refreshed. He wiped the water away with the back of his hand and stared at himself for a moment longer.

"Well, this should be good enough, I guess,"

he muttered, his reflection staring back at him with an empty, distant look.

Tired and drained, Kai walked back to his room, his body sagging from the weight of the day. He climbed into bed, pulling the covers over himself. The cool air from the open window brushed against his face as he stared at the ceiling, his mind drifting again.

Tomorrow, he knew, would be no different. Zamachi and Kujun—those two bullies—would make his life miserable again. It always happened. No matter how hard he tried, they would always be there, mocking him, pushing him down.

Kai closed his eyes, a deep sigh escaping his lips.

"Another day… another fight,"

he thought, the words lingering in his mind as sleep began to take him.

The scene gradually zoomed out, the soft hum of the night wrapping around him. Outside, the sky was dotted with stars, and clouds moved lazily across the heavens. The night was still, peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil within Kai's heart.

—

As the night receded and the sky shifted to a gentle blue with streaks of morning light, Kai's alarm blared, signaling the start of another day.

He sat up slowly, already weighed down by the feeling of foreboding that had settled in his chest.

He reached over to turn off the shrill beeping, running a hand through his tangled hair before pushing himself up to prepare for his day. The reflection staring back at him from the bathroom mirror looked as worn as he felt, but he forced a smile that never quite reached his eyes.

Brushing down his school uniform, he walked downstairs and stepped out the front door, closing it quietly behind him.

Kai stood for a moment, eyes scanning the bright expanse of the sky. The book he'd read last night crept into his thoughts again—a world of supernatural humans and anomalies beyond imagination.

He felt a strange pull, a longing to belong to that realm where he could be powerful, not weak and trampled on like he was here. Shaking his head, he muttered,

"Get it together, Kai,"

and began his walk to school.

—

The school building loomed over him as he arrived, its gates buzzing with students chatting and laughing in groups.

As Kai moved towards the entrance, a sudden force hooked his ankle, sending him stumbling forward and crashing onto the cold ground. Laughter echoed around him as he scrambled to look back and saw them—Zamachi and Kujun.

Zamachi's sneer was unmistakable as he smirked,

"Missed us, loser? Because We sure missed you."

Kai clenched his jaw, suppressing the anger boiling inside him.

He reached for his backpack, but before he could grab it, Kujun kicked it across the hallway, where it slid to a stop near a group of amused onlookers. "Fetch, doggy," Kujun said, his mocking voice slicing through Kai's composure. A wave of humiliation crashed over him as he clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms. Biting his lip, he willed himself to stay calm, and instead of fighting back, he walked over to retrieve his backpack amidst the sea of laughter.

The words stung more than he could bear.

"Look at him, such a good doggy"

Kujun added, while Zamachi chuckled,

"Pathetic loser."

They melted into the crowd, leaving Kai standing there, staring at his worn backpack. Sighing, he hoisted it up, bracing himself for the rest of what promised to be an unforgiving day.

As he then walks in the school.

Navigating the crowded hallways was like moving through a maze where each turn could lead to more trouble. Kai knew Zamachi and Kujun would always be in his first period, so he made a split-second decision and ducked into the nearest bathroom. Locking himself in a stall, he sank into the corner, head down, his thoughts a tangle of frustration and despair.

"Why do I let them do this to me?"

he whispered to himself, fingers tangling in his hair as he replayed the morning's humiliation over and over.

The bell rang out, signaling the start of class, but Kai didn't move. The idea of walking into that classroom and facing them again was too much.

He let the minutes tick by, the silence of the empty bathroom somehow more comforting than the bustling halls.

"Something has to change,"

he thought, the words echoing in his mind. But how? What could he possibly do?

———————

After ten minutes, Kai reluctantly stood up, walking to the end of the bathroom, peeking out to ensure the hallways were empty before stepping out. The silence was reassuring, and he made his way to class, willing himself to stay invisible.

While Kai was walking in the hallway to his class, he spotted it and then sighed and grabbing the door handle to open it, When he opened the door, all eyes snapped to him, including those of Mr. Tanachi, who looked up from the board with a mix of irritation and disinterest.

"Kai, why are you late?"

the teacher asked, his voice sharp but devoid of real concern.

"Oh… uh, I was in the bathroom si—"

Kai stammered, only to be cut off.

"For 18 minutes?"

Mr. Tanachi raised an eyebrow, then sighed, waving his hand dismissively.

"Forget it. Just sit down. Don't let it happen again."

Kai's stomach twisted as he made his way to his desk by the window. Before he sat down he seen the desk and was shocked out of suprise. The surface was scrawled with crude insults—loser, dumb, no friends.

A few muffled giggles floated around the room including Zamachi, Kujun and others, but he forced himself to ignore them. He sat down, staring out the window as he laid his head on the desk, a familiar wave of defeat washing over him.

"I need to do something… I can't keep living like this,"

he thought, the weight of that realization pressing down on him until the scene faded with his head still resting on the desk.

————

The bell rang, signaling the end of first period, and the room erupted in a flurry of movement. Students chatted and laughed as they gathered their belongings, and Mr. Tanachi's voice cut through the noise, reminding them of the due assignment. Kai slid out of his seat and into the crowded hallway, focusing on the floor as he moved through the swarm of students.

Suddenly, his foot hit something slick, and before he could react, he was sprawled out on the ground. The laughter was immediate and merciless. Struggling to push himself up, he was met with another hard shove, this time from Zamachi.

"Oops,"

Zamachi said, a cruel smile on his face. Before Kai could recover, Kujun followed up with another shove.

"Oops, my bad,"

he said, a smirk playing on his lips as more students joined in the laughter.

This time, something snapped inside Kai something.

Anger.

Rage.

Even though he knew he wouldn't win, he surged to his feet, fists clenched as then.

He ran and lunged at Kujun, landing a punch squarely on his face. The hallway fell silent, whispers sweeping through the crowd like wildfire. Zamachi and Kujun's expressions darkened as the tension crackled in the air.

The hallway fell into an eerie silence, whispers swirling like a storm as Zamachi and Kujun glared at Kai, their expressions dark and menacing.

Kujun cracked his knuckles, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

"So, you're still willing to stand up to us, huh? Doing it in front of everyone? Get ready, because you're about to be humiliated!"

Without warning, Zamachi lunged forward, delivering a surprise punch to Kai's stomach.

Kai gasped, doubled over in pain.

Kujun followed up with a brutal punch that sent Kai's head crashing into a locker, knocking him to the ground.

The two boys began to kick him mercilessly, the hallway filled with the sound of laughter and the bright lights of students' phones recording the brutal scene.

Just as the chaos reached its peak, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall—a teacher was coming.

A female teacher rushed into the fray, shouting,

"THAT'S ENOUGH! CUT IT OUT, YOU TWO!"

She pushed Zamachi and Kujun away from Kai, who lay on the floor, blood trickling from his nose. Kujun spat out a final insult,

"Piece of shit,"

before they were ordered to leave.

The principal, Mr. Hindmen, a short, stern-looking man, arrived on the scene, his authority palpable.

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"

he demanded.

The teacher explained the situation, pointing to Kai's battered form.

Mr. Hindmen frowned deeply, taking in the sight of Kai's injuries.

"All three of you, come to my office. NOW."

Kai struggled to his feet, grabbing his backpack and trying to compose himself as he followed the principal, Zamachi, and Kujun down the hall.

Outside Mr. Hindmen's office, Zamachi and Kujun sat with scowls etched on their faces, while Kai sat inside, feeling small and vulnerable.

The principal explained the ongoing bullying Kai had been enduring, and Kai spoke up shyly,

"They just… bully me every day for no reason. I thought I had to man up and do something, even though I lost…"

Mr. Hindmen cut him off, his tone serious.

"Kai, I understand what's going on. I'm going to bring your parents in to sort this out."

He stood up, leaving the room to fetch them.

Meanwhile, he instructed Zamachi and Kujun to return to class, promising to deal with them later.

Once they were gone, he returned to his office and picked up the phone to call Kai's parents.

The scene shifted to Mr. Sotoshi, Kai's father, who was sipping coffee when the phone rang. He sighed heavily, knowing it was the principal.

"Hello?" he answered, bracing himself for bad news.

After listening to the principal explain the situation, Mr. Sotoshi replied,

"Oh really? We'll be there soon."

His tone was indifferent as he hung up, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

"Kai, why do you always have to be a disappointment?"

he muttered to himself before heading to find his wife.

He opened the door to the living room, where Ms. Sotoshi sat.

"Kai got into trouble again,"

he announced.

She sighed, her expression unchanging.

"We need to go to the school," he added, and she nodded in agreement, her indifference palpable as he grabbed the keys.

In the principal's office, Kai sat with his parents, who wouldn't even look his way, their disappointment evident.

Mr. Hindmen began discussing the altercation, and Mr. Sotoshi glanced at Kai, who was trying to wipe the blood from his nose with a tissue.

Shaking his head, he turned back to the principal.

"The bullying has been ongoing, making his life at school unbearable,"

Mr. Hindmen explained.

"It's affecting his grades because they steal his homework. We can change his classes or put him in protective custody if you'd like."

Mr. Sotoshi interrupted,

"No need for that. I have a better idea to ensure this never happens again."

He stood up, pulling Kai with him.

"WAIT!"

the principal called after them, but they ignored him as they walked out, leaving Mr. Hindmen to sigh deeply in frustration.

In the car, Kai sat in the backseat, his mother in the passenger seat and his father driving.

Knowing how strict and indifferent they were, he nervously asked,

"Um, Dad, what other plans do you have for me—"

"Nothing,"

Mr. Sotoshi cut him off sharply.

"Wait, what do you mean—"

"I SAID NOTHING! STOP BACKTALKING ME, YOU BRAT!"

His father slammed his fist on the steering wheel, causing Kai to flinch and fall silent.

His mother remained quiet, seemingly uninterested in the turmoil.

"I've decided you won't be going back to that school,"

Mr. Sotoshi declared, and Kai's heart sank.

"But Why"

"I SAID WHAT I SAID, KAI! YOU WON'T GO BACK BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO WEAK AND USELESS FOR IT!"

Kai looked down, feeling a wave of depression wash over him as he wished for a better life.

Back at home, Kai kicked off his shoes and trudged to his room, collapsing onto his bed.

He didn't even feel like reading his favorite book.

Tears streamed down his face as he pondered why his life had to be a daily hell. His parents saw him as nothing but a waste of space.

"I wish someone would grant me a new life,"

he muttered, his thoughts drifting to the people he admired—the principal, the girl he saved from a mugger. He then just wiped it away from his mind and then crawled under his sheets, longing to escape into sleep and forget his pain. Slowly, he closed his eyes, hoping to slip into a dream.

—

In Kai's dream, Kai opened his eyes to find himself in a void, surrounded by darkness. He sat up, looking around.

"What is this place?"

Kai says.

As Kai then got up to his feet to look around again, it was just complete darkness and void which had him shook for a bit.

he then started wondering around the empty void, his voice echoing into the emptiness.

"Hello"

He then continued walking.

As kai walked aimlessly around just nothingness with infinite directions, he spotted a swirling red and dark aura in the distance. Curiosity piqued, he approached the source—a cube pulsating with energy. As he touched it, a burst of red aura erupted, sending him tumbling backward. From the chaos, an entity emerged, its form dark and void-like, radiating malevolence like aura that was pure red.

The entity wore a mythical mask that was grey with four eyes, 2 on each side with it glowing neon red, the mask had sharp teeth making the entire mask look demon like and anti-god.

As then Kai spoked to the entity saying.

"who are you?"

And then.

"So, you are Kai,"

it spoke, its voice deep and ominous.

"The child whose life is miserable, bullied by mortals, and seen as a waste by his parents."

"Yes, that's true,"

Kai replied, astonished.

"But how do you know?"

"I've watched you for some time. The world has turned its back on you,"

the entity continued.

"You seek power, as described in the book you read about the cosmos and other ancient things."

Kai's eyes widened.

"You know about the book?"

As Kai then bowed to him saying.

"PLEASE"

Kai shouted.

"PLEASE MR GIVE ME POWERS I REALLY NEED IT"

Him begging the entity.

"I WANT TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE ILL DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES PLEASE"

As then the entity replied saying.

"Indeed. But I cannot grant you power directly. You must find it yourself. And your own knowledge. There are items of power scattered throughout all creation, Dimensions, hierarchies and many more, including your reality as well. Your wish will be granted once you find them,"

the entity explained.

As Kai standed back on his feat.

"What if it's too hard?"

Kai asked, doubt creeping in.

"Then you must keep searching. The chances of finding them are slim,"

"It's never easy"

it replied, floating closer and touching Kai's head.

"But remember, find an item, and your wish will be granted."

With a wave of its hand, the entity sent Kai flying at unimaginable speed, the world around him fading to white.

Just white.

His vision was fading completely void white, and then.

Kai jolted awake in his bed, his head pounding. He couldn't remember the dream, but something felt different. He sat up, gazing out the window at the bright moon and drifting clouds. Lost in thought,. But as he spent his time looking at the beautiful sky he heard voices behind his door. And then he went to go see what was going on.

Curiosity piqued, he crept closer and overheard his parents discussing something, untill he heard something he was never supposed to hear about.

His father's voice was low but serious.

"Do you think it's time to let Kai go? Just set him free?"

Kai's heart dropped, the words echoing in his mind.

"No I have to be hearing stuff right"

Kai mind and heart racing with him sweating seriously. As he continued hearing about the discussion.

His mother agreed, and Mr. Sotoshi continued,

"The boy is too weak, and it's making us look bad."

Panic surged through Kai as he realized the implications. He felt lightheaded, wondering why they would say such a thing.

Just then,

his father approached his room. Kai backed away, bracing himself for what was to come.

The door creaked open, and Mr. Sotoshi looked down at him, his expression dark and his eyes void-like.

"Kai, get dressed. Come with us for a bit."