Because of a mistake, I lost the most important thing in my life. A simple, stupid mistake kept me from saving the two most important people in my life… My parents.
I couldn't save them. I couldn't do anything to prevent their deaths… I failed them.
Without them, I'm not happy. They were the ones who brought me joy and gave me a reason to keep going. Without them, I don't enjoy living. Why stay alive? I have no reason to keep living.
I sacrificed my childhood to try to be normal, and I didn't even succeed. I lived through hell, and I wasn't even rewarded for it.
I thought my sacrifice would at least let me protect my parents from the dangers of the world, but because of that damned mistake, I couldn't protect them… I broke my promise… I broke a promise I swore with all my being to keep.
I didn't want to keep living; they were the light in my dark life. With them by my side, I felt human, not a monster… But someone reminded me of the main purpose of my life. My greatest dream. The promise I made to my mother… Being a normal person is my dream, and being a good student is my mother's dream.
I failed to keep my promise to protect them, but this time, I won't let anything or anyone stop me from fulfilling the promise I made to my mother. The promise to be a normal person… A normal student… An excellent student… And to live a normal, peaceful school life.
I've seen thousands of horrible things in my life, and I've suffered them too. My life has been anything but normal. I can't take it anymore.
I'll be the normal person I dreamed of and promised my mother, and nothing and no one will stop me from keeping that promise.
"Ah, I'm here," I said, exhausted, dropping my backpack on the floor.
I thought my life would be lonely and boring, but I met someone who brought a little light to my dark life.
"Welcome back, Saik! Did you buy me hamburgers?! Gimme, gimme!"
My little ghost friend greeted me with a big smile on her face, as cheerful and energetic as always.
I know it's not normal to live with a little ghost girl, but her presence makes living a little less painful. Her company makes me feel like someone needs me… It makes me feel… like I have a family again.
My dream is to have a normal life, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.
After my parents' deaths, I promised myself and my mother's memory that I would fulfill her dream. I'll be the best student in my class.
Being a normal person and the best student in my class. Two goals that are almost impossible for someone like me, but I'll give it my all to achieve them. I promise with all my heart.
I'll be a normal person, and I'll be the best student in my class. I swear it.
CHAPTER 0 - New Life
(POV - ?)
"B-but…! I thought you liked me!"
Ah… Seriously? Again? Why does this always have to happen?
It's always the same. Always, always… Always, always, always the same, damn it!
Just because I'm nice to everyone, guys think I'm flirting with them… I'm just trying to be kind to everyone. Why do guys mistake kindness for flirting? It makes no sense.
Do they think that just because I'm nice, I wouldn't reject them? Being kind to everyone, including guys, doesn't make me an easy girl. And I'm not even interested in romance or that kind of stuff.
I'm not interested in any guy.
I've never been interested in any guy.
I just want to have fun and enjoy my school life with my friends.
I don't have time for romance.
"Don't mistake kindness for flirting."
"B-but…! I-I thought—"
"I'm nice to everyone. I treat everyone the same. It's not my fault you didn't realize that. Sorry, I'm not going out with you. I'm not interested."
A bit harsh, but necessary. These kinds of guys never take no for an answer; you have to make it clear that no means no.
I don't want to go out with anyone, much less someone I don't even consider a friend. He's just a classmate to me, that's all.
"I-isn't there some way we could—?"
"Pathetic."
Huh? Who said that? Though… That voice sounds familiar…
I turned to my right… As I suspected, it's that traitor. What's he doing on the school rooftop? I thought he was banned from being up here after what happened with the teacher.
"If she rejected you, you need to accept it. You're just embarrassing yourself. If you keep acting like this, I highly doubt that girl will ever talk to you again," said Saik, not taking his eyes off his handheld console.
Always so rude and blunt, huh? That's why everyone at school hates him. Why does she hang out with him? I'll never understand.
Saik, what are you doing here? Do you really not care about anything? Your actions end up hurting others, but I guess you still don't care about that.
"Stay out of it, you shitty traitor! Get out of here, this is private!"
"I got here first. Leave and let me play in peace."
"I don't care!"
He approached Saik.
Is he seriously trying to fight him? He's a savage.
Ah… Saik, I hate you, but not enough to want to see you get beaten up. I need to stop this gorilla before he hits Saik. If words don't work, nothing will.
"Hey, are you trying to threaten me? That's cute. Let me finish this level, and we can fight if you want. I'm almost done."
"No! Get up, traitor!"
"… Ah… No patience, huh?"
Saik sighed. Is he seriously not scared or even a little worried? He's such a freak.
"Let's get this over with."
He turned off his console and stood up.
Is he really going to fight? Is he an idiot? Doesn't he see the huge size and weight difference between them? Saik, you're a dead man if you fight him.
"Alright… Go ahead. I'll give you a head start."
He closed his eyes… Is he actually an idiot? What's he trying to do? Does he want to get beat up? That guy is way stronger and bigger than him. Is he seriously not even a little afraid? This makes no sense.
"Go on. You can start hitting me, Mr. Rejected. Even I felt that instant rejection. Broke your heart, huh? Poor thing. Want me to give you a hug to make you feel better, Mr. Rejected?"
Idiot! Why do you keep provoking him?! He's definitely going to kill you! I have to stop him! If I don't do something, I'll get dragged into this and end up in trouble! Saik, you're a damn moron!
"S-stop! Don't hit him, please! It's not worth it!"
"Die, traitor!"
He didn't listen to me!
I shut my eyes tight; I'm not watching a massacre.
All I can hear are the blows Saik's taking… Poor guy. I know he doesn't deserve my pity, but I can't help feeling it hearing all the hits he's getting.
He brought it on himself, but I feel bad for not being able to help him.
I can't help him; he won't listen to me. He probably hates me for rejecting him.
I'm sorry, Saik. I promise I'll take you to the nurse's office and take care of you. At least that way, I'll avoid looking suspicious and getting in trouble with the school.
"Ah… This could've been avoided."
T-that sigh, I know it… Impossible.
"Huh?"
I opened my eyes and saw Saik sitting on that guy's back… Impossible… Did he win? How is he unscathed? I can't see any signs of damage on Saik's body, unlike the other guy, who has both eyes black, and his lips and nose bleeding.
"Hey, you."
"Me?"
H-he wouldn't dare hit me. I heard he's hit girls before, but they hit him first. I didn't hit him, s-so I don't think he'd try to hit me too… I-I hope not.
Please don't hit me.
"Yeah, you. Take this guy to the nurse's office. You're a witness that it was self-defense."
I'm safe.
"Y-yeah."
I helped him up. Ugh, this guy reeks of sweat… and blood. He took quite a beating from Saik.
Saik's stronger than he looks. Are all those rumors about his strength and the guys he's beaten up true? I thought they were exaggerations, but I see they're not.
Saik, you're definitely the weirdest guy I've ever met.
"D-damn freak."
Don't talk, idiot, I don't want to carry a corpse.
"Yeah, sure, I'm a freak for being stronger than you. Fufu. You're such a crybaby," said Saik, mocking him.
He sat back down and turned on his console, as if nothing had happened. Are these kinds of situations normal for him?
"Tch. Let's go."
"Hey, you're hurt, walk slower."
I looked at Saik one last time… He's a weird guy… It's best not to get involved with him.
I opened the door and went down the stairs.
•
•
(POV - Saik)
… Well, they're gone.
Finally, some peace.
Why do guys like confessing to girls on the rooftop? It's not romantic at all. I'd take her out to eat or tell her how I feel in a park.
I asked my girlfriend to be my girlfriend at her house, but now I realize I should've done something more normal. Well, what's done is done. She agreed to go out with me, so it all worked out in the end.
Ah, that's right, I need to meet her at the library; I promised we'd study together all afternoon… Hmm… I think I've still got ten minutes to play.
"Thanks for the help, Yuki."
"Fufu. I think I deserve a pat on the head."
"Yeah, yeah. You did a good job."
I patted Yuki's head, my little ghost friend.
"Thanks for the praise, Saik!"
My name is Saik, I'm 17 years old, and I'm starting my second year of high school.
My birthday is September 4th, and I'm a weird guy.
For as long as I can remember, for some strange reason, I can see ghosts.
That made my childhood tough because my parents and classmates thought I was crazy for "talking to myself," which turned me into a loner with no friends.
To be honest, I actually enjoyed my solitude, so that part of being a loner didn't bother me—it was pretty relaxing for me.
"We should beat people up more often. Your compliments feel amazing! Pat me more!"
Yuki is my only true friend in this world. One of the few friends who hasn't betrayed me.
I met her when I moved into my new house… Ah… It's been over a year since then. Time flies, huh?
•
•
It all started when I moved to a small house in another city… Well, it's not exactly a small house, but compared to the huge mansion I lived in before, it's small.
This house belonged to my late maternal grandparents, may they rest in peace.
When they passed away, my mother inherited the house, but we didn't use it because we lived in another city.
And with my parents' deaths, the house is now mine.
My parents died in a car accident, instantly… I couldn't do anything to… Ah, better not think about that.
I don't have any uncles or aunts, and both my paternal and maternal grandparents are gone.
I have no one, so now I have to live alone.
I decided to move to this city because I wanted to start a new life. The rumors about me faded because it's normal for a young kid to have imaginary friends. When I realized they were ghosts, I stopped talking to them and just ignored them.
I didn't move because people made fun of me; I moved because I didn't want to keep living in my old house… I still haven't gotten over my parents' deaths. Staying there just made me feel guilty and sad all the time, and I didn't want to keep feeling that way.
"A new life… Ah, I hope everything goes well."
I entered my new house and took a deep breath.
"Well… This is how my new life begins… I'm going to play video games."
"Oh, a boy! Fufu. I'll scare him."
Ghosts, unlike what they show on TV, can't move objects or touch anything on their own.
And there aren't many ghosts out there.
Since I arrived in this city, I've only seen two ghosts, including the little girl standing in front of me.
"Boooo! Are you scared?! I know you're getting chills! You're terrified! Tremble before the great and powerful Yuki!"
I closed the door… Alright… I have to admit, she's super adorable. A little 10-year-old ghost girl. Long white hair, blue eyes, and she's wearing a cute pink blouse with a picture of an adorable bear.
She looks like a very normal girl. How do I know she's a ghost? Is she transparent? No. It's because most ghosts float above the ground. Their feet rarely touch the floor, and when they do, they pass through it.
This girl's feet were passing through the floor.
"Fufu. If you could see me, you'd be scared."
You're not scary at all; you're actually really cute and adorable, little girl.
She floated until her face was right in front of mine, trying to scare me.
"Mwahahaha!"
What's with that evil laugh?
My expressionless face is fooling her… Though I don't do it on purpose.
I've never liked smiling… I'm a serious guy.
She thinks I can't see her, so I don't blame her for feeling like she's scaring me.
She covered her face with her hair and pretended to stroke my face. She's adorable, thinking she's like the ghosts in horror movies.
"Boooo! I'll take your soul!"
"No, thanks, I need it."
I patted her head.
"You're adorable. What's your name?"
"… Huh?"
She quickly backed away from me and looked at me in terror, not expecting that I could see her.
"Y-y-y-you can see me?!"
And that's how my new life began.