The First Weekend

The exhausted, idle brain teetered on the edge of dim silence, embraced within the hollow of the skull. Light pricked at his eyeballs relentlessly, a faint white glow seeping through his pupils.

But what greeted him was boundless darkness, half-awake and half-asleep, his head as if frozen in a time like molten glue.

"Mother!"

Seishiki clutched his pounding heart, blood trickling from his nose in a steady stream. The gelatinous dream slid down his skull like mud.

Ignoring the filth of the blood, he grabbed the thin, transparent morning robe...

Even though he had lost his human touch, Seishiki still sniffed desperately. Only then would his restless, aging heart settle down...

Having gone through [the brink of death] so many times, what he feared more than [death] itself was the fabricated dream.

That was proof that Seishiki had once been human.

"Ah... I can't sleep at all..."

His head was groggy and heavy, leaving Seishiki in an unusually terrible state today.

Last night, he had invited Kaneda to his room to craft weapons.

What's the difference between humans and animals? It's making weapons and using tools.

The strongest human, bare-handed against an adult bear, is just the bear's dinner. The bear's strength, speed, and endurance far surpass a human's. Why do humans stand at the top of the food chain? Because humans use weapons.

Pure fear and violence? Ryuuen Sho, what a boring guy. He wants to make others submit through the fear of 'violence,' then justify that 'violence.'

Boring [philosophy of violence]. True violence is the destruction of a person's 'soul' and 'spirit.'

Standing on the balcony, Seishiki inhaled the toxic mist, then exhaled.

Looks like I'll have to trouble Senior Nagumo Miyabi...

"Class C? And that... Shiina Hiyori, was it? Probably in the same class."

Tch, all of them are just bystanders in the face of bullying. Some even join in.

He stubbed out the burned toxic substance and tossed it into the trash can.

Well, well, I've already gotten the situation from Kaneda. Next, I'll do what I can to help him.

"This is going to be fun."

Seishiki revealed a strange smile. Helping others out of goodwill? Not at all.

Friends are the most important resource. Who in society would let themselves be used as a tool? Everyone's a seasoned veteran from years of struggle. Treating others like screwdrivers, saws, hammers—would anyone really be that stupid? Don't make me laugh.

You have to grasp both friends and money, and hold them tight. That way, even when you're in a desperate situation, you'll have a safety net... That's what an old man told me.

You can't just use others as tools unless that person has the blessing of [Heaven's Mandate]. Otherwise, it's impossible.

Just then, his phone received a message.

It was from Tamiya Emi.

Tamiya Emi: [Want to go to Keyaki Shopping Center this afternoon?]

Seishiki Otonashi: [Sure (cat emoji)]

Now, one thing was troubling Seishiki: how do normal high school students spend their weekends? Going out shopping with friends? That seemed about right...

"Umm, what should I do now?"

Early in the morning, should he contact Little Fist Stone, Classmate Katsuragi?

He pulled out his [PSP Console]. This thing had too strong an appeal for a young guy like Seishiki. He didn't dare bring it to school, afraid he'd want to play during class.

After getting Little Fist Stone's permission, he cheerfully went to his room door.

"Come in."

Kohei Katsuragi pushed open the door, poured the boiled hot water into a teacup, and set it on the table.

"Why does everyone in this country of Neon like to drink tea? It's not even good. Too hot."

Seishiki frowned.

"It's not just Neon that likes tea, is it? You'd better apologize properly to all the countries that like tea."

Kohei Katsuragi frowned. After being tormented by Seishiki for five days, he had gradually caught up with Seishiki's train of thought.

"Got any cola?"

"No!"

"Tch..."

"Did you just click your tongue?"

Kohei Katsuragi looked at Seishiki's childish behavior with a hint of weary resignation, like an old father.

"You're really a high schooler reeking of old man vibes. You'll have a hard time finding a girlfriend."

"You don't need to worry about that."

The two bickered back and forth.

"Oh, come try this console."

"You actually brought it."

"What else? I'm a man of my word, you know."

He pulled out the PSP Console, and Star Color casually opened Pokémon Platinum, finding Little Fist Stone in the Pokédex.

"See? It looks exactly like you."

"No wonder people in middle school kept saying I looked like it..."

Kohei Katsuragi's mouth twitched.

Star Color started a new save file.

"Come on, give it a try."

"Alright, I'll give it a shot."

Kohei Katsuragi was a guy after all, so he had some interest in games.

Star Color tossed out a notebook.

"I wrote this myself. It's got the type matchup chart, optimal skill builds for every Pokémon, and even walkthroughs."

"If you put this much effort into your studies, you'd be golden."

And so, the two big boys began their Pokémon journey, playing out on that tiny little screen.