The barren lands before Hitori's house stretched out with a nice, mushy, white, one and a half inches layer of snow. Hitori lifted his leg out of the snow and placed it forward, he felt as if he might get pulled into the snow.
Hitori thought it would have been better if he had stayed home. The snowfall will increase next month in January, but by that time Hitori would be staying in the academy.
For some reason, the snow never seems to pile up around or inside the academy-- maybe it is the de-icing salt that keeps the academy's grounds clean-- or spells could do that too.
Hitori gave up on walking like a king, the part near his shoulders was acing from lifting and spacing his shoulders. Not to forget the cold, Hitori tugged his hands in the pockets.
He pulled his shoulders in and walked all the way to his home.
The wind was increasing with the passing night. It was half-past one and it was dark. All Hitori could see was the candle placed on the veranda, by the door.
Then he thought, only if Kiku-san was still here. She would have stayed working on the decorations all day long, both for Christmas and New Year, while Hitori would be playing games in his room.
Then she would have cooked a feast for both of them, everything that Hitori loved to eat-- Ramen, Tuna, Rice, and then the favorite, Zoni soup-- she would have watched him as he ate, letting her food get cold.
Then Hitori would get back to gaming while Kiku-san cleaned up the tables, washed the dishes, and prepare hot cocoa for both of them. She would bring the cocoa for Hitori, then make him sleep after an hour of gaming.
But it was not that in the past years. Hiro and Kaori were with Hitori for both of the festivals. They took him to the city carnival in Akihabara together with Kiku, getting them both their favorite dishes, rides, and souvenirs.
His parents would usually get Hitori a new game and tens of books to read for the year, while they got Kiku a new wand, a new maid uniform, and spellbooks.
Kiku never went to the academy, yet she knew almost every spell, and became a witch-- with the help of Kaori, of course. Hiro brought her the spellbook from every school but never told her or aware her of the School of Necromancy-- the school that dealt with curses, undead, and damage-over-time spells.
Hitori still remembered, the time when he was eleven, he had taken quite a lot of liking into Dungeons & Dragons-- he pursued his parents to buy every manual and adventure book ever printed-- they did but till the end of the year.
Hitori unlocked the door, hung his coat, removed his boots, and went straight to his room. Hitori inhaled and closed his eyes as he rested his head.
Then the cold clicked to him. Kiku-san used fire magic to lit the furnace and spread the warmth all over the house last year. Hiro did it when he was home. But today, none of them were present.
Hitori got up, ran out of his room, and walked to the back door in the kitchen. Hitori paused, he stared blankly at the pile of snow on the veranda, cold wind sweeping the snow inside, curtains flying high, and the sliding door remaining wide open.
"That is why I felt so cold." Hitori walked to the back of the house and opened a latch that turned out to be a compartment. Hitori brought his hand forward and threw fire into the hole.
'It makes me sick to think that I would have to do this for the next three months. I hope mom and dad were home.'
Hitori stood squatted in front of the compartment, throwing heat, and heating the house. Hitori sighed again.
"It is New Year, which means the trials will start from the second of January." Hitori nodded. "I will use the hostel there if needed."
Hitori sent the last ball of fire. He closed the compartment, locked the latch, and got up.
"Many things have changed, I better get myself a New Year Resolution---" Hitori climbed the kitchen veranda and paused. His eyes were blank and his head down.
'New Year.' he thought, and then a thing flashed:
'We are coming soon, Happy New Year.' Kuzu. New Year. Today. Before zero o'clock, before the clock ticks and it is the second of January.
Hitori's hand trembled on the door sill. Today is New Year. He pulled himself in, closed the door behind, pulled the curtains, and rushed to his room.
Hitori grabbed the metal card and inserted it into the magic circle's slot. Information was processed, then Hitori was welcomed with his avatar on a magic screen.
Hitori went to the chat boxes and opened his group. None of the party members from his party were online, but Hitori was left with no choice.
"We are in danger," Hitori texted, "Kuzu can attack us any movement, please contact me if you see this, I want you to come online. I am logging in, now."
Hitori rested himself. The game loaded. He sent the messages to everyone-- Kamiya, Reon, Senso, and Mono-- and he expected everyone to show up.
Hitori appeared in the courtyard, with no sign of destruction and no alarm of any sort, they were safe-- Kuzu had not attacked yet.
Without waiting for anyone, Hitori strode towards Throne Hill. He checked the area outside and others' activities. The gray dot still glowed in front of their names.
Hitori closed his eyes and rubbed his brow. "This is not the best time for an attack, Kuzu."
This was the best time for Kuzu to attack Hitori's territory.
Hitori opened his eyes when he heard a swish. He saw a bare chest appear in front of him. "I need proof, kid." Senso strode towards Hitori. "If you do not have a strong proof and called us here based on your 'instincts' or 'get feeling' then you better know that I was celebrating Christ--- New Year."
Hitori glanced at Senso and opened his message box. "With whom, sir?" Hitori asked.
Senso glanced around. "With, uh, with myself. And a bottle of Vodka."
Hitori opened his chat with Kuzu. "How often do you 'celebrate' with a bottle of Vodka?"
"...Frequently, why?" Senso replied in his deep voice that was shaking a little tonight.
Hitori called Senso and showed him the chats. "Then that is called 'coping with psychological or emotional issues' not 'celebrating'"
Senso frowned at Hitori before reading the chats. "He said 'coming soon' not 'coming today'"
"'Coming soon, Happy New Year' may be interpreted as 'Coming soon on New Year'"
"Oh no, kid," he groaned, "you interpreted that to this. It does not make any sense as to why Kuzu should come at this hour."
Hitori closed the chatbox. "He loves midnights," Hitori said.
After a few minutes of waiting, Mono and Reon logged in, too. They were just done drinking and eating with their families when they saw the message flashing in front of their gaming screens.
Senso yawned at two o'clock. "Look, Hitori, the final trials are starting and I have some preparations left."
"I understand, sir. Looks like Kuzu is not going to make a move soon, you may leave and take a good sleep."
Half an hour later, Mono sighed. "Ryu, it is getting late."
"Hm. Let us meet tomorrow."
Then at three o'clock, Reon got up. "Hitori-san---"
"Leave. Yes, you can leave."
"Eh? What, no!" Reon frowned. "I wanted to say that maybe we should stop for tonight. Get some sleep and come back tomorrow."
"Yeah, come back tomorrow to see our territory possessed by Kuzu or Onogi."
"Hitori-san, he is not coming tonight."
"This whole day is the start of New Year, he can come at any time. We do not know, that is why I will stay here as long as I have to."
Reon sighed. "Just contact us if the dungeons are raided."
"I will.... go on."
"See, Hitori-san, no one stays awake this long waiting for an attack you never know what time it is coming."
Hitori shook his head without looking at her. "He would have. Kamiya would have stayed awake with me, I know."
"He is not here though, so you should leave too."
"He is not here, that gives me a reason to stay. Someone has to stay, Reon-san, please go on."
Reon stared at Hitori with the corners of her mouth down, eyebrows angled around the corner, and her mouth open. "Bye, Hitori-san."
Carrying two drinks in his hands, Kamiya climbed the stairs to the third floor. He was humming an anime's opening song as he walked toward room 303.
He lifted his eyes when suddenly, room 303's door slid open. Kamiya's heart jumped, he took cover behind a wall near the staircase and held the cans tight in his hands.
A man with blonde hair and yellow eyes stepped out of the room, behind him was a muscular guy wearing a battlesuit. Kamiya's heart started racing as the blondie's piercings bounced with every step he took.
Kamiya watched as Kuzu and Gigi walked toward the staircase. Kamiya hid in the corner, trying to come up with a plan. "Fuck!"
"They should at least build something like an elevator, if not one," Gigi complained. "Ah, my foot hurts. Maybe it banged against the portal or got twisted while running."
"Hold up," Kuzu said, as he turned around, "let me take a look."
Kamiya found a chance. When Kuzu would bend down to take a look at Gigi's foot, he would cover his face and run downstairs.
"Come near the staircase," Kuzu said. Gigi followed.
Kamiya gulped. "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" he chanted.
Kuzu walked closer to the staircase, and Gigi limped over to the staircase. They were about to reach it when suddenly a loud clanking of metal startled them.
"Oh, my can!" Kamiya cried in a deeper voice. "Oh no!" He chased a can as it rolled down the stairs. "Ah!"
Gigi frowned, Kuzu was ready with his blade. Kamiya dropped his head down and followed his can downstairs.
"Come," Kuzu said and walked to the staircase.
Gigi stood there, he had his suspicion on that guy that got cleared when Kamiya turned to take another set of stairs. His hair bounced and he flashed his eyes at Gigi.
"Kamiya," Gigi murmured, "Kamiya!" he shouted. Kuzu jumped and drew his blade. Gigi tried to chase him but the pain did not let him, pulling his gun was not an option either. "Kuzu! Kuzu! It is fucking Kamiya!"
Kuzu reached the staircase, he grabbed the railing to take look. The person was already out of sight. He glanced at Gigi. "Are you sure?"
"Yes! It is Kamiya!"
Kuzu climbed down. "Hey, stop! Stop right there!" but the person kept chasing for his can. Kuzu climbed down the staircase when suddenly a man jumped in front of him.
"What do you think you are doing?" he said. "It is a hospital, shut your mouth up." He was a doctor, wearing white color robes. "And..." he frowned, "who are you? You are not a mage, are you?"
Kuzu glanced around. "No, I, uh..."
"What is a scientist doing here?"
Kuzu turned, he raced through the staircase climbing three at a time. "Hey!"
More patients and doctors came out of their rooms after hearing the loud shouts. Gigi glanced around, people were staring at him.
Gigi hear approaching footsteps, and Kuzu stopped near the staircase. "We need to leave, come on!"
Ignoring his pain, Gigi climbed down the stairs. No one chased them as they raced down, through the corridors, through the stairs, and then inside the washroom again.
Kamiya grabbed his can, glanced around, then climbed back the stairs. He drew the pattern on room 303, the door slid, and Kamiya squeezed in.
"Akemi-nee-chan! Akemi-nee---" he was relieved. Akemi was sitting straight in her bed, shocked, scared, and waiting for Kamiya.
"J-Jigo-Jigo..." she gulped, "Jigo---" Kamiya threw the cans on the bed and hugged Akemi.
"Do not say anything. Quiet. I hear you, so stay quiet." Akemi broke her tears, she hugged back, and cried to her heart's content.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l