That morning, the sun had not fully risen. A gentle light filtered through the curtains of a fifteen-year-old boy's room, a boy who could easily be called an elite-level chūnibyō.
He was Yagami Tsukihara, a high-level dreamer convinced he was a descendant of a dark creature from the 13th dimension.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the kitchen, the aroma of toast and miso soup began to fill the air. A lively little girl with short hair tapped on her brother's door, shouting:
"Big brother! Get up, or you'll be late for school!"
That voice belonged to Hiyori Tsukihara, his cheerful, diligent little sister. Even though she often got exasperated by her brother's imaginary world, she loved him unconditionally.
From behind the door came a lazy voice, accompanied by the creak of the bed.
"Alright… alright… I'm awake…" Yagami murmured, letting out a big yawn.
The door creaked open just a bit, revealing half-asleep Yagami, his hair in disarray. He was still wearing his favorite black hoodie emblazoned with a "demon seal" he had drawn himself.
"You know, Hiyori… last night I almost opened a portal to the Void dimension. But the energy was too intense, so I aborted it."
Hiyori sighed, giving a small smile. She'd grown used to such talk.
"Save the portal for later. Right now, breakfast. I already cooked."
Yagami nodded slightly—not from hunger, but because his sister always greeted his mornings, even when everyone else thought he was odd.
They sat down at the small dining table, just the two of them. Their parents were away on a week-long business trip.
"Hiyori…" Yagami murmured as he took a sip of warm soup.
"Hm?"
"If I suddenly disappear one day… would you miss me?"
Hiyori paused, then smiled.
"If you disappeared… I'd be so sad. But I'm sure… you'd have some awesome reason, right?"
Yagami gazed out the window, letting the morning light touch his still-sleepy face. Dew clung to the glass, and the blue sky was slowly unfolding.
Outside, birds chirped softly. The residential complex streets were quiet, only the faint sound of passing vehicles every so often.
In silence, Yagami exhaled softly.
"If only there were magic in this world… I'd be someone cool, like the Shadow Wizard who rules from the darkness."
He rested his chin on his hand, his gaze half-empty.
"But… it's impossible to think that way."
Reality slapped him back—with the realization he was just a regular high school student, with piled-up homework and a dull schedule.
Yet, in the corner of his heart, that imagination never truly died.
"But… if this world is boring, at least I can create a world inside my mind."
After finishing breakfast, Yagami gave Hiyori a brief nod, then stood up and grabbed his school bag, which had been hanging behind the door since last night.
"I'm off," he said quietly, expressionless.
"Be careful on the way, Big Brother!" Hiyori called as she cleared the table.
Yagami walked out quietly. The morning sun wasn't harsh yet, but the sky was bright. He wore a thin black jacket over his school uniform, the hood drawn low over his face.
Along the way to school, he walked slowly, passing neighbors who greeted him… but he didn't respond. His face was blank. His gaze straight ahead.
Now and then, other students passed by, waving or greeting.
"Morning, Yagami!"
He just gave a slight nod, saying nothing. He wasn't the chatting type.
At the school gate, the atmosphere grew lively. Students clustered, joking, and laughing. But Yagami passed through as if he saw no one.
"He's so weird, right…" one student near the fence whispered.
"Yeah, it's like he doesn't live in the same world," replied another.
Yagami heard it all but ignored them. Their world… wasn't his.
He entered the classroom and sat at his favorite corner desk by the window, where he could be alone.
As usual, he opened his little black notebook.
On its front page was written:
"Night Shadow Operation No. 108: Monitoring the movements of third-dimensional dwellers."
He smiled faintly to himself.
"School… is just a disguise."
---
After school ended, Yagami left the gate unhurriedly. While others stopped at the convenience store or hung out at the station park, he walked straight toward home, choosing a quiet route through back alleys behind the shops.
He walked slowly, mindlessly. The sun was tilting west, the sky tinged golden-orange.
Then, as he passed a narrow alley he passed daily, he stopped. A faint ruckus came from down the road.
"C'mon, join in for a bit… don't act too cool!"
Yagami peeked around the wall corner.
In front of a van stood three shabby-looking men—faces flushed from alcohol—attempting to force a teenage girl into the vehicle. The girl struggled and screamed in terror.
Yagami recognized her. A classmate. A quiet girl who sat in the middle row. Her name… Fujimiya Aika.
But Yagami only stood there silently behind the wall, showing no overt reaction.
"Hmph… This world is filthy. But… intriguing too," he murmured in a low voice.
His eyes, empty yet glinting strangely. Instead of helping, he turned and continued walking home as if nothing had happened.
"Just wait until tonight… the shadow world will deliver its verdict."
When he reached home, he gently opened the door. The evening sky had deepened; night was on its way. The aroma of cooking greeted him from inside.
As he stepped into the hallway, Hiyori emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron, her voice bright.
"Welcome home, Big Brother!"
Yagami offered a slight, expressionless response.
"I'm back."
Hiyori handed him a glass of water.
"Did you get tired? I made curry for dinner. Change clothes quick before it gets cold," she said, smiling.
Yagami nodded. He glanced at the clock—there was still time before nightfall.
"All right. I'll head out again soon. Don't wait up," he said.
Hiyori paused, curious.
"Huh? Going out so late?"
Yagami walked toward his room without answering. But before closing the door, he turned and spoke softly:
"There's something I must finish."
Before stepping further in, he sat at his desk. He drew a blank sheet of paper from the drawer and began writing with his beloved black pen.
The note was short, yet sincere:
"Big brother loves you, sis."
He paused to look at the words, then folded the paper and placed it on his desk, next to a framed photo of the two of them as children.
After that, he stood, reached for his black jacket hanging by the door, and donned it slowly.
Before opening the door, he glanced back at the room. His eyes fell on the note.
"Sorry, Hiyori. If I come home late tonight…" he whispered softly.
With that, he walked through the quiet house hallway, stepping into an increasingly silent night.
---
Meanwhile, her classmate—the girl—slowly opened her eyes.
Darkness enveloped her surroundings. Only a dim light from an old hanging lamp illuminated the damp, cramped room. The stench of blood, alcohol, and sweat assaulted her senses.
"W-where am I…?" she murmured, trembling. Her hands were bound to a wooden post with crude rope.
Suddenly, a heavy voice came from the room's corner.
"Not bad, Boss. Good catch!" said a burly man in a dirty jacket, laughing as he leerily eyed the girl.
She panicked, shaking herself against the bonds.
"Let go of me now! You bastards!" she yelled bravely, though tears slipped down her face.
He approached, steps heavy and deliberate. He bent down toward her.
"Nah… A prize like you…" he said, touching his chin lewdly.
"…we can't just let her go, haha!!"
She fought back with all her strength, face pale but her eyes still burning with resistance.
"If anyone comes… you'll regret it!"
But the men just laughed, not noticing that outside this dilapidated building… someone was silently watching.
The boss rose from a rickety chair and stared coldly at the girl who continued to struggle.
"Too noisy! Shut her up! Make her suffer, now!!" he ordered angrily.
One of his henchmen—a thin, cruel-faced man—approached, drawing a small rusted knife.
"Yes, Boss!!" he snarled.
He crept toward the girl, knife raised high. The girl's eyes welled as she trembled.
"P-please… don't… I beg you…" she sobbed.
But he didn't care. His eyes were wild with lust for power. He brought the knife down…
CLACK!!
A hand gripped his wrist tightly.
"Huh?!" he exclaimed in surprise.
In front of him stood a mysterious figure wearing a dark jacket and black mask, concealing his face except for cold eyes.
"Who are you!?" he shouted, trying to pull free.
Without saying a word, the masked figure delivered a hard kick to his gut.
"GUAAKH!!" The man collapsed against the wall, unconscious.
The girl stared in shock at her savior.
The masked figure quickly untied her hands and feet.
"Go. Don't look back." came his calm, firm voice—deep and cold.
She nodded weakly, then ran away, sobbing.
But from the room's corner, the crime boss watched everything in fury.
He pointed at Yagami with a feral look.
"ALL OF YOU!! ATTACK THAT WEIRD ONE!! DESTROY HIM!!!"
Several tattooed men bearing crude weapons encircled Yagami.
But the masked figure simply stood calm and still in the center of the room, like a midnight shadow.
Yagami stood his ground amid the dimly lit warehouse. His silhouette was slim but solid.
Behind the black mask, he smiled faintly.
"They underestimate me," he thought.
He had been training himself in martial arts in his cramped room for some time, mimicking moves from videos and online fight forums. Every night, while the world slept, he refined his techniques.
Now, his training would be tested.
"HAAARGH!!" The thugs yelled in unison and attacked with crude weapons.
But Yagami didn't flinch.
SLISH! He dodged left. WHUSH! A blade missed his shoulder by inches.
"NOW!!" one of them yelled, trying to strike from behind.
But Yagami pivoted in an instant and struck his attacker with a precise elbow.
BRAK!! The man fell, unconscious.
Yagami moved like a shadow—each punch and kick perfectly aimed. He dispatched thug after thug with efficient, lethal precision.
"Kuh!" One tried to stab, but Yagami caught his arm, twisted it, and threw him down with a throw.
In moments, all the attackers lay groaning in pain on the floor.
Only the boss remained.
The boss backed away, pale, trembling.
Breathing hard, he stammered, "Who… are you… really!?"
Yagami straightened, breathing softly. In the dim light, his black mask barely reflected the glow. His voice was deep, resolute.
"I am the shadow of darkness… that will purge this world's filth. I am… White Reaper."
A tense silence filled the room.
Suddenly… "SHUT UP!! DIE!!" the boss screamed, pulling a concealed pistol from his jacket and firing.
BANG! A bullet struck Yagami. He jerked backward.
"Kuh… damn… I was careless…" he said hoarsely, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
The boss laughed madly, "HAHAHA! Take that! Think you're a hero, you damn kid!"
But his laughter was cut short.
In an instant, though wounded, Yagami surged forward with impossible speed.
"What…!?" the boss gasped, frozen.
STAB!! A small knife Yagami had hidden plunged into the boss's heart.
In a soft whisper, dripping with vengeance, Yagami said: "If I must die… you'll go to hell with me."
The boss stared blankly as blood poured from his mouth, then collapsed, eyes wide open.
Yagami remained standing… then his knees began to fail him.
He sank to his knees, arms slick with blood—his own and another's.
The night air felt colder, as if the earth itself held its breath.
With a voice barely audible, he lifted his head toward the night sky.
"Hiyori…" he whispered, his beloved sister's name.
And in that instant, his eyes closed, softly.
His body collapsed to the floor, just as the first raindrops fell from the cloudy sky.