NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Origin
My eyes swept around the room, looking over the students who stared up at the teacher, utterly unaware of the storm brewing inside of me. I felt my stomach churn, and my mouth go dry. I was on edge, waiting for the inevitable as I glanced at the clock.
Five minutes until I got out of class.
I scratched my pen across my notebook again. The sound echoed through the classroom as Mr. Eisenburg continued his lecture, turning from the board towards us with a smile splattered across his face. Mr. E was one of the more popular teachers at the academy — the type to show documentaries in class, joke with the kids, and barely assign homework. He played it off well, but he didn't have much range or effort in his teaching style.
I'd been looking forward to Mr. E's class since I saw it on my schedule at the start of school.
By this point? I couldn't wait to just get out of here.
The thumping in my ears made it difficult to pay attention to what he was saying, even though the class was something I'd been really looking forward to. I looked around at my classmates: most were wide-eyed and smiling without a care in the world, completely indifferent to my woes. A few had their heads down, the sound of paper crumpling on desks reverberating through the air.
I felt a rolled-up piece of paper hit me square in the back of my head with a wet plop.
And — THAT was why I was in such a hurry to get the hell out of dodge. Well, less so over the spitballs, moreso the people behind them.
I looked over my shoulder, searching for whoever threw it. Brendon Yoon and Mattieu Feldman flashed me matching grins from three rows back. Brendon narrowed his eyes like a fox stalking its prey; his shoulder-length orange hair hung loose behind him, brushing against the collar of his neat and prim uniform. "You're dead!" he mouthed under his breath before leaning back in his chair.
I glanced back at Mr. E, although I knew he wouldn't intervene unless it actually disrupted the class. The spitball that hit me was blatant, but Mr. E pretended not to see anything. He always let them do whatever they wanted, which also went for the rest of the faculty. It wasn't worth the trouble their fathers could bring on them, after all. I got it, but that didn't mean I liked it.
"So, let's just finish up here, everyone!" Mr. E chirped, moving along the front row where several kids held pieces of paper in their hands. "I'm sorry, but there will of course, be homework this weekend. Your assignment will be a two-pager on the Bilateral Federation of States. I will leave the details with the full assignment uploaded on the school website by six in the afternoon. Class dismissed!"
He smiled widely and clapped his hands together, and the room devolved into disorder as my classmates began to talk amongst themselves. The room was filled with the sounds of backpacks being opened and chairs scraping against tile floors. As soon as the bell rang, I shoved my binder into my bag and dashed out the door without another word.
I made it down the stairs and halfway out the second-floor foyer to the bridge when I felt a hand slap onto my arm. It yanked me backward hard enough to spin me around and slam me against the bridge's glass wall.
Willis Kong stood above me, smirking while holding a lit cigarette between his fingers. Behind him, three other boys surrounded me, all wearing matching navy blue jackets and pants, and black ties tied perfectly straight. He was two years older than me and the heir to a massive conglomerate on Terra, and let's just say the world had some Plutarchic and oligarchal tendencies. He was seventeen, a good six feet tall, and probably a good hundred and ninety pounds of solid muscle.
Brendon Yoon, Matthieu Feldman, Canberk Akbas. They laughed and jeered loudly, slapping each other on the shoulders and laughing obnoxiously. Willis stepped closer, staring down at me with cold violet eyes. With a grunt, Feldman picked me up by my clothes and held me against the wall as Willis fixed his posh raven black comb-over.
"Where do you think you're going, little Ikki?" Willis asked. He took a drag off his cigarette before flicking ash into my face.
"You know. The usual. Home?" I answered with a gulp.
"That's too bad because your new schedule says otherwise." His voice dropped low and sounded dangerous. "Lucky for you, we've decided to make you our pet project."
His friends snickered, shaking their heads. Brendon poked my chest with a finger, laughing as he did so. "Looks like we'll be working late tonight, huh buddy boy? Maybe we can work on some special projects... how would you feel about that?"
Canberk smirked from behind his vulture-like nose and red hair. I gritted my teeth against the fear creeping through me and stared at the boys in front of me defiantly, trying not to show my fear.
I'm not gonna let them do this to me. I won't. I don't have to. But what could I do?
Willis pressed the burning tip of his cigarette against the side of my face, making me squirm away. He smiled widely, exposing a row of perfect white teeth. The taste of blood trickled down my throat as I reflexively bit the side of my cheek. The cigarette butt burned, stinging like hell, and I struggled not to cry.
"Hey! What are you doing to him?" A voice boomed across the hallway — it sounded familiar but distant and distorted, almost like it came through an echoing tunnel. My head whipped around, and I spotted Midori Tanaka standing near the top of the stairs, looking at us with wide eyes and an anxious expression.
She was two years older than me and the kendo club captain. Her uniform jacket flapped open, billowing in the wind as she looked at me with concern.
"What's going on here? What are you doing to him?!"
Midori raised a parasol in front of herself like a sword and took another step closer to us. She glared up at Willis with her turquoise eyes.
Willis sneered. "Drifter trash like him should know their place," he said, flicking ash into her face before turning back towards me. "We were just talking about our plans for tonight when he tried to leave us."
I struggled to break free of the boys holding onto me hostage against the staircase to no avail, and eventually got out the words, "Let... let go of me you fucking assholes."
Willis laughed while still staring daggers at me from behind his cigarette, blowing smoke all over my face. I didn't know what came over me, but I took that opportunity to spit a loogie directly into his eye.
The next couple of seconds were chaos, I felt him flinch and move backward, but I couldn't see what happened next. Something hit me on my head, sending me to the ground in a dizzying haze. I barely had time to react before I felt a walloping kick to my ribs. I squinted through the pain as I saw his foot rear back again and braced myself.
"Let go of him you little piece of trash!" Midori yelled. She jumped down the steps and moved in between us. "I swear I'll make sure you'll live long enough to regret it if you try anything."
Willis stopped in motion and contemplated for a second as if considering the idea of laying hands on a girl on the more popular side of the student body, to say the least. Then, he tossed away his smoldering butt and motioned for his friends to stand down as they began walking away.
"You're no better than him, you stupid bitch," Willis huffed as he pointed a finger at her with an angry scowl, wiping the rest of my spit out of his eye. "You don't belong here either, and you're one to talk about trash." He shoved past her and stomped away. The rest followed close behind, laughing and slapping each other's backs as they walked away. They didn't look back once.
I rolled onto my back, trying not to throw up. My vision blurred and wobbled around the edges. A sharp pain burned through the top of my skull — the leftover feeling of having my head railed against the wall, I guess. I stared up at the spiraling stairs above me for several agonizing seconds as Midori helped me sit up. That was definitely going to bruise tomorrow.
I closed my eyes and waited for the world to stop spinning.
When I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by an eyeful of Midori's shoulder-length black hair and red blush-colored cheeks. Her face looked even paler than usual, making it clear that she had been worried about what had happened just moments before.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly as she grabbed my arm, helping me stand up. She stood at around five feet eight inches tall, which put her a good three inches taller than me. I was seriously overdue for a growth spurt at this point.
"Erm, thanks." I said, blinking furiously to try and clear my head from the foggy mess that filled it. "That crew's really something else, huh?"
"Oh yeah... Well, you've just gotta know where their buttons are," she laughed awkwardly before letting out another cough from whatever smoke had gotten into her lungs.
"Yeah well, that's kind of the problem," I remarked dryly. "I think I was a little too good at pushing those buttons when his sister was messing with that girl."
"Yikes," she coughed again as her turquoise eyes met mine. "Anyway, are you alright? Can I walk you home or something, Ikazuchi?"
I shook my head quickly before looking her in the eyes.
"I have a bit of a commute to get through and wouldn't want to drag you all the way out to Harborwood," I said with a smile and bowed. "I appreciate the thought, though!"
Midori sighed in exasperation, and I flinched as she gave my arm an affectionate pat.
The blue metal door reflected the fading light above us and perfectly illuminated Midori's features. She stood tall, radiating confidence in her pristine white blouse and navy jacket, the uniform of St. Antonia's. Her posture was relaxed yet powerful, a testament to her love for sports. Her otherworldly turquoise eyes sparkled with energy and excitement. She had a contagious smile that lit up the room, and her upbeat personality practically radiated off her.
She had an aura that reminded me of an anime character: wide-eyed and energetic.
Then again, the people on this side of the portal really blurred the lines for me in terms of appearances. I definitely had to get used to seeing eye colors like hers, at the very least.
"Hey, how about this. How about I treat you to linner or dinner for helping Natasha out? I know a great place just off the island downtown."
I was surprised to hear the offer and just a bit hesitant, but I didn't want to insult the girl who'd just saved my ass, and if I had to be honest, it'd be nice to finally make a friend here.
"Sure, umn. I'd love to. I'd insist on paying my piece though," I replied before turning back towards school doors and side-eyeing it.
"Great! It'll be nice to talk without all that tension that's been hanging over everyone's heads since you tripped them up. I do insist on treating you, though," she laughed cheerfully as we made our way over the bridge.
I turned around for a brief moment when we reached the end, taking in the massive campus that sat high proudly in the middle of Shoreline City.
It was a sprawling complex consisting of multiple buildings with a campus covered in thick patches of grass. The groundskeepers perfectly maintained its horticulture — roughly where Roosevelt Island would be on the other side of the portal, but with a landmass and river about three times as wide. St. Antonia's Academy was easily one of the most beautiful places I'd ever been to. The problem was, well, it was full of snooty rich kids. I wasn't exactly one of them, either. Worse still, I was a particular type of immigrant with targets painted on their backs for the upper crust.
As a Drifter on scholarship, I was so far removed from everything they represented that I only realized what I was getting into once it was too late. It was easy to dismiss them as being "those kinds of people" because who cares what some spoiled brats do when they aren't trying to bother you? Well, I made the mistake of standing out when nobody else would. Now, that's going to stick with me for the rest of my time here.
"What are you thinking about, Ikazuchi?" Midori asked with genuine concern.
"Just wondering where I went wrong here," I replied with a sigh. "And please, call me Ikki. I knew this place was filled with a bunch of stuck-up pricks that have never heard the word 'no' in their lives. I didn't think I'd fit in here from the get-go, and it turned out worse than I'd thought it would."
Midori chuckled and bumped her shoulder into me playfully as we crossed the bridge away from St. Antonia's.
"You'll find your place eventually, don't worry!" she said with a smile. "Just keep doing the best that you can and things will work themselves out."
Says the goddamned social butterfly. I couldn't help but laugh at Midori's confident tone.
I had messed with the kids of a goddamned billionaire during my first year here, and now I was supposed to believe that I wasn't absolutely screwed for the rest of my life?
"Yeah, maybe. I hope you're right." I said, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. I tried to shake the image of Willis Kong and his gang from my mind.
We kept walking and got off the bridge leading us over to the river's edge.
Soon, we arrived at the subway station, which would get us off the island. I tapped my card, paid the fare, and stepped onto the platform. Midori watched me with an amused expression as I headed down the stairs. The train pulled up a few minutes later, and I climbed aboard, sliding myself onto a bench seat. The older girl got on behind me, and I could feel her perky grin and curious blue eyes drilling into me expectantly.
"So..." I started, trying to break the awkward silence as the train lurched forward and picked up speed. "What's your story? I heard you were a scholarship student as well."
With a class size of just under two hundred people per year, almost everyone knew each other. It was hard not to hear about specific people, including the captains of the varsity teams. The fact that she'd actually brought back trophies was something the school applauded.
"It's true — I came from Japan pretty recently, actually," she rattled off excitedly. "I went to an International School in Edo and I decided to take up the offer to come to America. It sounded like an adventure, and well, I'm frankly a little Americanized and unruly for Japanese society, funnily enough. I ended up getting a spot in the academy thanks to my grades and my father's connections, so here we are!"
"Wow, that's really cool! What's it like there?" I asked, genuinely intrigued. "I never got to see Tokyo erm, Edo on my side, if you know what I mean."
I felt my cheeks flush, and I looked away for a second.
"Edo will always have a special place in my heart," Midori smiled as she leaned against the wall next to my head. "I mean, you've probably seen the news by now, but the city is always abuzz with activity. It's the beating heart of the country, and it's amazing to watch it all happen. But yeah, Shoreline City has been just as great. I don't quite get the same vibe but it's pretty sweet."
"Yeah, it's a lot different than what I expected," I commented. "It smells the same, feels the same, but then something hits me out of nowhere and I'm like 'woah' - you know?"
"Tell me about it," she huffed. "I've been here for over two years, and I still don't understand half of the stuff that goes on here. How about you? I understand you came across the portal just for school. Have you adjusted to Shoreline though, overall?"
I shrugged. "Kind of, I guess? I mean, I'm still learning all of the little cultural and historical differences across the portal, and I haven't had a chance to get into anything here yet. Everything's just the slightest bit different enough to be jarring, you know? Like, I heard ketchup has only started becoming a thing over here, and root beer never caught on at all. My sister is still over there on the other side."
"Oh, yeah. I can only imagine," Midori shivered. "I mean living in two worlds at once. It's something that would be incredibly stressful. Yup."
I nodded along. "Yeah, I bet you wouldn't like it much. All the things I took for granted over there just go out the window here. These little differences show up in the weirdest ways, sometimes."
"Huh! That's something I'd love to hear about from you," she said as she leaned back against the train car's wall and folded her arms. "But now that you're here on Terra in St. Antonia's no less, you'll have all the opportunities in the world."
"I wish that were true," I mumbled under my breath as I looked out the windows at the city lights passing by. The skyline was so familiar — like all the movies I'd watched growing up and the vague images I had as a toddler. An almost dreamlike past. Yet, it was different enough from the now-destroyed New York City to be uncanny.
I missed the old days. I missed my family.
The war against the Aberrations had started nearly a decade before I was born. Everyone called it World War III, the worst conflict humanity had ever seen. We lost. Badly.
Everywhere the rifts opened, cities and armies eventually fell and collapsed worldwide. Just when all hope had been lost, a new, unforeseen type of rift opened up across the world. World leaders all prepared for the worst, of course, after a devastating two years at the hands of the Aberrations.
To the incredulity of the entire world, our salvation came instead — in the form of freaking Magical Girls. Magical Girls did kind of already exist in a niche but popular media.
Suddenly, large groups of young women had burst forth from the strange gateways across the world, each with a unique set of powers. I'd heard from neighbors who were alive to see it that it was an unforgettable sight. Together, they defeated the Aberration invaders and drove them away from the cities. The men and women who followed them also brought technology with them that would reduce the size and proliferation of Chaos Rifts.
Of course, the people who'd come to our aid were as surprised to learn of 'Earth' as we were to learn of 'Terra.' Soon, most countries decided that the portals wouldn't be closed due to the sheer similarities between the people on either side of the gate. Although there were exceptions, governments on both sides of the portals began to communicate and mingle and even form trade and immigration agreements. Collaboration was natural between us in the end. Even with many weird differences that would randomly crop up, the countries across the portal were more alike than different.
Unfortunately, Terra's population was impaired and decimated by over a century of battle against the Aberrations. On the flip side, Earth's infrastructure had been devastated by the Aberrations. Today, vast swathes of rural areas worldwide are uninhabitable, leaving our fortified cities in constant poverty. However, we still had a significantly higher population — a generally skilled and educated population, no less. We were slowly cross-pollinating technology and people on both sides of the portal.
In my own case, I'd caught the local board's attention in my magnet school in Philadelphia with my amateur robotics at a science fair. I was recommended for St. Antonia's, and my dad and I thought it'd be a better opportunity than staying on Earth. So, here I was on Terra with a government stipend and work-study.
I had to grow up fast so that we could all make it, after all. I had a little sister to worry about and a dad slowing down a bit at his age.
"Hey, you okay? We're getting off at the next stop." Midori said as she nudged me in the arm.
I snapped out of it and shook myself out of the daze. Yup. Way to go, Ikki.
Focus on the present now, and don't get distracted thinking too hard about past problems. You do that enough as is.
"Yeah! S-sorry, I was just daydreaming a bit. I'm thinking about home and my family."
She nodded in understanding. "It's okay."
I got off the train with her, and Midori led me down the stairs and out of the station in downtown Shoreline.
"Anyway, thanks for the help today, Midori. Umn, I'll be sure to pay you back for it one way or another."
She waved me off again.
"Don't worry about it at all, Ikki. I'm happy to lend a hand. Besides, you deserve extra props for standing up for 'Tasha too. You can pay me back by staying on that path you're on."
I blushed at her praise. She didn't have to say it, but I knew she meant it.
We continued walking towards the center of town, where the streets became busier and the buildings taller. I felt the weight of the city press down on me, making the air thick with the scent of exhaust fumes. I stared in bemusement as a cable car whizzed past us, carrying a group of tourists from one side of the island to the other. Billboard advertisements for yogurt drinks flashed prominently in a zeppelin above, and I swore I briefly saw a girl in a frilly yellow dress somersault and flip between buildings with a golden tether at breakneck speed. No matter how often I saw things like that on Terra, I'd never get tired of it.
As we made our way further into the bustling city center, the street became even more crowded. People from all walks of life bustled about, hurrying to their destinations. Shopkeepers hawked their wares, vendors sold street food, and street performers entertained the crowds. The city's sound was a symphony of car horns, chatter, and the occasional shout.
Buses, trucks, cable cars, and cars of different shapes from what I was used to clogging the roads. I could see skyscrapers packed with futuristic smart systems, symbols of Terra's prosperity and technological advancement. Despite the chaos of the city and the rough start I'd gotten off to, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.
Soon, we made our way to a large luxury hotel and office complex: The Avalon Bay. I gulped as I stared up at its extravagance. It took up an entire block across several floors, boasting everything from rooms that looked out onto the ocean to restaurants that offered floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the harbor.
"Hey, umn. Midori? What exactly are we doing here?" I asked hesitantly. This place looked way too fancy for someone like me. I'd insisted on splitting the bill, but this was way too much. I had a part-time job at City Hall as part of my government sponsored program, but there was no way I'd be able to cover it.
Midori glanced at me before beaming at me. "Treating you to dinner, silly."
"Wait, what do you mean? HERE?!"
Without responding, she beckoned me to come inside, and we made our way down a set of side-stairs to a second-floor lounge area full of traditional Japanese decor. Velvet-red sofas lined a large platform with an open bar, and I was greeted by the warm glow of paper lanterns, the sound of bamboo flute music playing, and the delicious scent of grilled seafood wafting through the air. The tables were covered in intricate bonsai, and there was even a zen meditation area. It was clear this was set up to be a fancy meeting place for businessmen to talk and make deals.
The waitress led us to a small booth close to the tall windows that overlooked the bay, where a table was set with delicate porcelain plates and elegant chopsticks.
I continued to look around nervously, blanching at the luxurious decorations around me as the waitress sat us down. I could scarcely believe what I saw around me as Midori and I set our backpacks down by the side.
"I'll get my usual, Joanna," Midori said to the waitress as she turned to me. "You want some tea? Or maybe a matcha crepe? I'm buying, remember? Don't be shy."
"Errm..." I started to reply. "This place looks a bit on the pricy side. Are you sure?"
"Nonsense! It's fine. Besides, I come here all the time with my girlfriend," she added as she pointed at my face. "You're what. Fifteen?! You've gotta pack on those nutrients while you still have the chance, right?"
Right. She and the vice-captain were dating. I'd nearly forgotten.
"Well... umn. I mean, you have a point, I guess? I don't think a sugary crepe would be productive for that, though."
"Oh, protein you say," Midori laughed. "That's carte blanche for me to get you a large beef sukiyaki and other stuff to load you up, yes?"
I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just shrank in my chair with a blush on my face.
"Good. Now get ready to get your socks knocked off, kid."
"Y-yes, ma'am," I replied, nervously laughing along.
I watched as Midori covered her face with the menu and ordered for both of us. I took that opportunity to look around the restaurant. It was filled with people in suits and business attire, mostly older folks. I was used to being the oddball at school, but this was oddly comfortable.
The place was packed with the smell of food, and my stomach grumbled a bit at the aroma. Midori giggled again at the noise of my stomach, eliciting a blush from me. Then, after we both checked our phones for a bit, she started talking again.
"You know, you remind me a lot of my brother," Midori commented nostalgically. "He was a pretty smart kid and he was always getting into trouble. He was a good kid, but...well, you know, boys are dumb like that. I was the oldest daughter in a Japanese household, and I was supposed to keep him in line. I tried, but it just wasn't working out."
Before continuing, she chuckled in mirth as if she'd remembered something. "So Ikki, you're Japanese too, yeah? With a name like Ikazuchi?"
I breathed a heavy sigh, "It's a bit complicated. I'm Chinese-American on my dad's side and Japanese on my mom's. I never got to know mom, though. She died during the fall of New York back then. They always argued about how my name should be read after it happened. Umn. When. After she passed, I decided to keep Ikazuchi on the official government stuff in her memory."
"Oh. I, umn. I'm sorry," Midori said with a sympathetic expression, before flashing me a somber smile.
"It's okay," I said with a forced smile. "Anyway, I was really little when it happened, so all my memories of her were fuzzy. I do have pictures though, so that helps a bit."
"That's something you can hang onto, at least," she smiled sadly. She reached over and patted my hand, to my surprise. "I do understand."
I looked at her curiously.
"I'll tell you some other time; not here," she replied, letting go of me. "Anyway — food's here!"
As the waitress came over with our orders, Midori gave me a wink and turned to face the window, gazing out over the bay. The sky had grown darker, and the lights of the tall buildings illuminated the darkness, giving off an aura reminiscent of a beacon.
The waitress approached with a large, steaming pot. She carefully placed it on the table between us, and my mouth began to water at the delicious scent that filled the air. The overwhelming smell of savory broth and tender beef wafted through the air, and I stared at it in wonder for a moment. The pot was filled with a mixture of tender strips of meat, vegetables, and a rich, savory broth that bubbled over a candle.
Next, the waitress brought a beautiful platter of glistening, dark brown squares of eel, served over a bed of steaming hot wild rice. The waitress continued to bring out dish after dish, each more stunning than the last. There was a delicate presentation of sashimi, the thin slices of raw fish arranged in a fan pattern, the vibrant red of the tuna contrasting against the snowy white of the sea bass. With its light and crispy batter, the savory aroma of tempura wafted towards me as a platter of prawns and vegetables was set down on the table. And last but not least, there was a steaming bowl of udon, the thick, chewy noodles swimming in a flavorful broth, studded with chunks of tender chicken and colorful vegetables.
I couldn't believe the sheer amount of food on the table. There was enough food to feed three people, maybe four. It was a little too much.
"I-I'm starving, but..." I stuttered as I eyed the vast array of ingredients, trying to decide what to eat first.
"Don't worry! You've got plenty there. And you need to learn to relax," she teased as she picked up a pair of chopsticks. "C'mon. Go ahead. I ain't hurting for money."
"Erm... okay," I mumbled. "I'll try the sukiyaki for now."
It was the only thing I could think of to say. With my heart pounding in my chest, I grabbed the long wooden sticks and stabbed them into the meat, feeling my stomach gurgle in protest as a phantom pain began to well up in my ribs. I suppose my body was finally registering Willis's kicks after all this time.
Midori chuckled at my face and started shoveling food into her dish without hesitation, shoving bite after bite into her mouth like it was nothing.
She looked so happy with herself that it made me feel slightly better about myself. Midori pointed at me again, "Go on then!"
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I took a bite of the tender beef and savory broth. It tasted terrific and brought on all sorts of childhood memories. The rich, deep flavors exploded across my tongue and down to my belly, filling me with warmth. A content sigh escaped from me as the delicious meal sunk in.
The rest of the food was devoured even more quickly than the sukiyaki. By the end of our dinner, we were both stuffed silly. As we sat there, relaxing in each other's company, Midori turned back to look out towards the bay one last time before she sighed happily.
"Problems with those spoiled assholes aside, this was such a good day," she said with a smile. "I'm glad we finally had a chance to really get acquainted."
Of course, right as she said that — all the windows shattered at once as an explosion detonated over the bay.