Gaak… gaak… gaak…
The sound of birds in the late afternoon echoed, revealing the front yard of the school illuminated by the golden light of sunset. The school bell rang, signaling that the study hours had ended.
However, not for Jōgan.
"A-ah, ladies, please line up. Your one and only idol isn't going anywhere. Okay, another pose… cheese! Yes, alright… Thank you for the gifts." Jōgan said casually with a playful smile. He struck a light pose.
At the corner of the yard, Zulo and Kaito stood faithfully waiting for their flamboyant friend.
"Ahh… it seems we'll be standing here until nightfall." Zulo muttered with a snort. His tone sounded tired, yet a hint of pride slipped through.
"T-this is normal, Zulo. Jōgan really is very popular. As his good friend, I will faithfully wait here until morning!" Kaito replied enthusiastically. With an innocent and joyful gaze, Kaito hugged Jōgan's bag as if it were a sacred responsibility.
"O-alright then, see you again… bye-byee~" Jōgan waved his hand in the air, bidding farewell to his fangirls.
"Oh, look at our prince. Finally finished… I was starting to think about building a tent in the school yard." Zulo teased while folding his arms.
"Jōgan, your match earlier was amazing. Your team won perfectly. Week after week, it seems you master every skill." Kaito said while walking beside him.
"So, after school what are we doing? Stop by and play some games?" Zulo asked casually.
"Mhh… that's an interesting idea if-" Jōgan's voice stopped. His body froze, his eyes widened as he stared toward the end of the alley.
Zulo and Kaito followed the direction of his gaze.
A group of female students could be seen chatting together. But among them stood the most popular girl in the school, Sanna.
"W-we… turn back!" Jōgan shouted in panic, preparing to spin around.
"Haii, Jōgan! You looked really cool earlier. Where are you going?" Sanna waved her hand with a sweet smile.
***
Tinn… tinn… tinn…
The sound of horns echoed back and forth, blending with the footsteps of pedestrians passing by. Jōgan, Kaito, and Zulo were forced to walk behind, following Sanna's group who walked ahead of them.
Jōgan's gaze never left Sanna.
Her gentle smile, her long hair swaying in the wind, even the subtle changes in her expression were all clearly captured by Jōgan's eyes.
Zulo and Kaito exchanged glances.
They noticed the change in Jōgan's behavior, from his usual joking and noisy self to someone calm whenever he was near Sanna.
"A-ah, Jōgan… how is your training schedule? Doesn't Uncle Hugo always train your physical strength hard every afternoon?" Kaito asked, trying to divert his friend's attention.
"Y-yes… He wants me to achieve the dream he has already chosen for me." Jōgan answered briefly, without turning his gaze away from Sanna.
"Haa… I just remembered. Your father always trains your muscle mass and your martial arts skills. Of course! If not MMA, then at least Muay Thai." Zulo quickly added, trying to lighten the mood.
"Astronaut." Jōgan answered flatly, bringing everything to a halt.
Bruak!
Zulo and Kaito immediately collapsed at the same time.
"What does your martial arts training and hardened muscles have to do with becoming… a stupid astronaut?!" They shouted together while trying to get back on their feet.
***
"Kyaaa....!"
"Quick! Call the police!"
"That's impossible! The police won't arrive in time!"
"What should we do?!"
Amid the chaos of traffic, screams and panicked voices echoed one after another.
"W-what's happening? It looks like something is happening at the railway crossing!" One of Sanna's friends cried out in panic.
They hurried toward the railway crossing, which had already been crowded with local residents. Panicked faces could be seen everywhere.
"E-excuse me, what happened?" Sanna asked, breathing heavily.
"I-it's… An old grandmother has her foot trapped in the rail. A train will pass soon…" A woman pointed toward the tracks, her face pale.
The rumbling sound of a freight train grew closer.
Brehht… tap… tap… tap…!
Someone jumped over the barrier and ran toward the tracks.
"Grandmother, stay calm… I will help you!" Sanna knelt down, trying to pull the old woman's foot that was trapped.
"Kyaa! Sanna, what are you doing?!" Her friends screamed in panic as they saw Sanna approaching the old woman.
The shouting grew louder.
The freight train was now only five meters away.
Grep… whuss… tap… tap… tap…!
"Tch…!" Jōgan clenched his teeth. Without thinking, Jōgan ran toward Sanna and the old woman.
"Jōgan!!!" Zulo and Kaito shouted at the same time.
When the train was only two meters away, Jōgan knelt down and embraced Sanna and the old woman. One arm protected them, while his other hand rose, pointing straight toward the approaching freight train.
100 cm.
50 cm.
5 cm.
BLOOM!!
Jōgan's vision suddenly went dark.
Everything fell silent.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and was shocked to find himself floating in outer space. Trillions of stars and billions of planets surrounded him. His body was being pulled at an incredible speed, crossing light and space.
In a fleeting vision, a Single Golden Eye stared toward him. An Eye so pure and Majestic, as if it were the eye of the universe itself.
Bezttt…!
Thick smoke and scorching air struck his face.
"A-ah… ahh…!" Jōgan gasped for breath. His vision returned, yet the world around him had changed. He was still holding Sanna and the old grandmother. Jōgan slowly stood up. His eyes widened.
The entire freight train had been destroyed and scattered. Massive steel frames were folded like paper, as if the train had crashed into a mountain of iron.
Krak… krak… kreee… ggg…
The remaining wagons still creaked faintly.
"W-what… i-is this… Jōgan…?" Sanna looked at him with a trembling face, unable to understand what had just happened.
"I-I… I don't know…" Jōgan turned toward the crossing gate.
Zulo and Kaito stood frozen. The surrounding residents stared at him with the same expression of fear. As if they were looking at a monster.
Ngiinggg…!
A severe headache struck him.
"Arghh… AAHH!! H-hah… w-what is this… what's happening to me?!" Jōgan clutched his head with both hands. Along with the pain, other voices began to appear clearly, layered and noisy. He could hear the thoughts and emotions of everyone around him, without a single one of them speaking. Jōgan shouted in panic. Without waiting for an answer, he turned around and ran away from the scene.
"W-wait, Jōgan…!" Sanna shouted.
But Jōgan kept running, moving farther and farther away from everything.