Snow was reluctant to fall, and yet winter had come in full swing, the chill heavy in the air. Shin fought back a yawn as he poured steamy cream into the latte. As he poured, his hand moved with practiced ease, twisting the flow to form a pumpkin.
Once it was complete, he let out a dissatisfied hum. Still not perfect. Despite that, the customer's face still lit up as she took the mug.
"Your new designs are quite popular," Master Kasaki said from behind.
Shin glanced over his shoulder, Master Kasaki's tall white chef's hat standing out from behind the counter in the back.
"Thank you, master Kasaki. They are not perfect, but I feel in time I can smooth out my mistakes," Shin said.
Master Kasaki gave him a warm, fatherly smile. "Perfection is often an illusion, Shin. This is art. What really matters is that you put your heart into it, as without heart, our creations are lifeless," Kasaki said.
"Thank you, Master. He asn't sure if it was true, but the words of his adopted father seemed genuine enough. With the last customer of the day exiting the building, they closed up shop. Time to clean up, and go home.
Tables were washed, chairs put back, and dishes cleaned. With the three of them working away, it only took about an hour to get everything spotless. The front door chimed as him and Fuki stepped outside, the door latch clicking as he turned his key in the lock. Master Kasaki would likely be locking the back door in tandem.
"Goodnight, Shin, see you tomorrow," Fuki said with a cheery smile.
"Goodnight Fuki," Shin said.
He paused near the front of the shop, the bustle of late night traffic already growing thick. Shin frowned looking around, the drone cars passing on the street and people walking by. It wasn't normal traffic that drew his attention.
His skin tingled, the air humming as a faint white pillar flickered into existence, vibrating ominously on the street.
The pillar seemed to pierce the night sky, disappearing above. The illusory pillar of light was extremely ominous, but no one else seemed to notice. Shin blinked, and it was suddenly gone. Just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, like a figment of his imagination.
Shin blinked again. Huh. He really needed to get more sleep. He must really be tired if he was seeing something so otherworldly.
He could only shake his head. Maybe some food would perk him right up. The idea made his stomach grumble. Pushing the odd disturbance to the back of his mind, he made his way to the tunnels.
As he walked along the street, three people were walking in the opposite direction. They were all Japanese, with two men and one woman, in mid to late twenties. The oldest looking of the three held some device in his hands, holding it up as if to get a signal.
"Haruto, I thought you said you fixed this thing? Damned thing, It's on the fritz. One moment it detects an incursion pillar and the next there is none, " the man scowled.
"It works just fine, you are just not using it right. Here give it to me," the younger of the two responded.
Haruto snatched it from the older man, tapping the screen, frowning when nothing happened. Curious, Shin paused on the street, pretending to look at his phone while he listened.
After a few seconds of fidgeting, Haruto swore under his breath.
"It's working just fine. Maybe you're going senile and just misread the data," Haruto said.
"As if.. I'm only five years your senior, little brother. I can't believe this, we wasted most of the day to get here, and for a false reading no less," the older man said.
Seeming annoyed at their antics the woman stepped in.
"Would you two give it a rest for once. We all saw it, the scanner did detect a surge here. It's likely nothing, but we will hang around until tomorrow. Common, let's go get some dinner, I'm starving after that long train ride," the woman said.
Not even bothering to turn, she strode down the street, leaving the two brothers alone.
"God damnit, Nagara, you made her angry," Haruto said.
"That was you, you little shit," Nargara scowled, punching his little brother on the shoulder.
"Oww! You are such an asshole," Haruto said, leaping at Nagara. The two rolled around as they wrestled on the street, drawing no small amount of attention.
Out of the corner of his eye, Shin caught sight of the woman who had paused. She was massaging the bridge of her nose, shaking her head.
Shin smiled at the two brothers' antics, deciding he should move along. As much as this was amusing, he was still hungry.
Evening traffic was heavy as usual, people crammed into the train like sardines stuffed into a can. No one spoke, the soft drone of the train the only sound. As he stood there, the advert screen across from him flickered, showing one of Japan's most promising rising stars. Toh Haganashi, was a stand out even amongst other celebrities. He was an awakened who was not only handsome, but charming and filthy rich to boot.
As if being born into wealth and having immense magical power wasn't enough, the man had musical talent as well. He had two hit singles ranked number one in Japan and top five in America and China for the past two years.
The man seemed to have it all.
Shin scoffed to himself. Toh Haganashi probably never had to take a train, maybe even had a personal butler. The thought was kind of funny. People like that were so far removed from people like himself, they might as well be in a different world altogether.
His musings were interrupted as the train came to a stop, and he jostled through the throng until he was off. As he walked towards the exit, his eyes roved over the food stalls in the tunnels, looking for dinner. Spotting one, he made a b line over, waiting in line until it was his turn.
A haggard looking older woman looked up from the counter.
"Welcome, what can I get you," she asked with a pleasant smile..
"Three onigiri, please," Shin said.
"Tuna, eel or squid?" The kindly woman asked.
"Let's do one of each," Shin said.
"Certainly, would you like a bag with that?"
"Yes, please," Shin replied.
"Nine hundred and eighty two Yen please,"
Shin rummaged through his coat pocket, paying the fee with not much change to spare.
He would have to withdraw more later. Thanking the woman, he took the bag with his food, turning to leave. As he did so, the crowd parted.
Two figures in stylistic black and grey suits saunter down the tunnel like they owned the place. The toll both security agents didn't intervene as the two strode right through, not even bothering to pay. Shin couldn't blame the booth guard either. Judging by the hovering orb of light following one, and the metallic spikes following the other, they were awakened.
Not only that, judging by their official clothing, they were sanctioned by the state. Monster hunters. It would be a very bad idea to piss them off, considering they hunted Monsters for a living.
Shin wisely waited until the two were gone before he went home.
Tired from the day, he watched the evening news while he ate. The news was just as monotonous as ever, though still better than nothing. More monster attacks, and more homes destroyed in the subsequent battles. Things seemed to be getting more chaotic, people dying, and yet, all the news anchors seemed to care about was how many monster kills Toh Haganashi had this year.
The two were treating it like some sort of sports game, with statistics floating up on the screen. Apparently, someone was keeping track of not only how many monsters he killed but how many he killed in one hit.
A bronze skinned man with a sharp chin appeared on the screen next to Toh, the news anchors excitedly comparing the two.
"It won't be long now before the Council of Countries is forced to acknowledge Toh as a Category 5 Awakened. His performance already surpasses some of their stronger members," the man said emphatically.
The second anchor nodded slowly.
"You are right! His talent is unquestionable. It's only a matter of time before they recognize his strength,"
Shin clicked the power button, and the screen went dark. He sighed. Shin's eyes drifted over to the recently added latte machine on his counter. Even after saving for half a year, it wasn't of the same quality as the one at the shop. A smaller, more compact version, but it was still good enough.
Brushing the crumbs from his dinner off his pants, he stood and turned the machine on. As much as he wanted to relax, Shin had work to do.
He blended the coffee beans, pressed them and steamed the cream. With a flick of his wrist, the cream poured into the mug, a tree rapidly forming onto the surface.
Getting it right was tricky, but after a few tries, it looked like leaves were falling. This was the culmination of all his practice, living art as he liked to call it. Watching the art come alive was enough to brighten that spark he once had.
Before he knew it, his alarm chimed. He yawned, glancing at the clock. Midnight already? He supposed he should get some sleep.
Shin showered and dragged himself into bed. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips.
Tomorrow was another day, a brighter day…
Like every day, he rode the train. Unlike most days, he had a bounce in his step, an excitement to open the shop.
He couldn't contain his smile, the morning rush coming with a blur of people. His art was on full display, each cup almost seeming to be alive.
"Wow, that's amazing! How do you get it to move?" Fuki asked, wonder in her voice.
Shin grinned.
"Sorry, Fuki, that's a trade secret," Shin winked.
She pouted..
"Come on, Shin. Don't hold out on me," Fuki pleaded, shaking him, as if that would make him reveal his secrets.
Shin gave Fuki a warm smile.
"Fine, stop shaking me. I'll teach you.. Here, you need to mix it like this. Don't mix the cream too thick or it won't swirl properly," Shin said.
Fuki's first attempt looked like an unrecognizable mix of steamed milk and coffee. More like a blob than a pumpkin.
He smiled.
"You'll get it. Took me a dozen tries to get it right. Don't worry, I'll run the till. We are pretty slow right now, so you can practice while we wait," Shin said.
"Thank you, Shin, you are the best," Fuki said.
Running the till was both simpler and more complex than making drinks. Simple in the fact that he just had to ring in orders, but complex in the fact that he had to deal with customers. Between lunch and dinner was usually their slowest time, and today was no different.
At least it wasn't completely dull. Shin was excited to show off his new lifelike designs, and Fuki was an excellent audience. Her excitement at learning something new was infectious. The customers seemed to appreciate them as well, seeming more excited to take videos of the art than to drink it.
Their shenanigans were even enough to draw master Kasakie's attention from the back. Even he tried his hand at it, creating a competition of sorts.
With the three trying to outdo each other, the shop came alive, the lively atmosphere making the evening fly by.
Shin was fast at work, on his feet, rushing drinks to the counter as quick as he could make them. The gentle hiss of the latte machine was like music to his ears. He was in the Zone, hardly even noticing as the door chimed.
He was mid-pour when a flash of light lit up the cafe. The light was so bright that it made him see spots, messing up the heart he was making.
Confused, Shin turned as the screech tires filled the air.
From his position behind the counter, Shin could see the street through the front windows. The commotion was right out front, smoke rising from the hood of a car that had crashed into a light pole.
His eyes flitted from the familiar foreigner standing in the doorway, to the swirling vortex that began to form on the street behind him.
Shin had never seen one in person, but who hadn't seen one on the news. An incursion pillar rapidly formed, a dimensional gateway ripping open in the air above the street outside.
Eyes widening, Shin looked back at the awakened standing in the doorway. A random passerby was leapt on, blood showering the street as they piled on her like a pack of wild dogs, gleefully ripping her to pieces in seconds.
There was muffled screaming, the screech of tires, and breaking glass as traffic piled up people frantically trying to turn around or move away. Shin's eyes widened in horror at the spectacle as he turned towards Osmal.
"Hey, foreigner, aren't you going to do anything?" Shin shouted.
The cocky man had the audacity to crack a smile.
"Now why would I do that? It doesn't seem like a me problem," the man casually sai, leaning up against a table, taking a sip of his latte.
Shin scowled.
"But they are killing people!" Shin said, wide eyed.
Osmal chuckled darkly.
"How about you go out there and fight them, since you're so eager," Osmal said.
Shin swallowed hard, feeling a tug on his shirt.
"Common Shin, we need to go. We can run out the back," Fuki said, tugging on his arm, and sounding terrified.
Shin desperately wanted to help, but Fuki had the right idea.
Shin gestured towards the three patrons standing dead still near one wall, anxiously watching the slaughter just outside.
"You three, come, we can escape out the back," Shin said, his voice a hushed shout.
They didn't need to be told twice, frantically scrambling back behind the counter.
As they entered the narrow workspace behind the counter, one of the three bumped into a trey of cups. Shin watched with horror as several of the cups fell, smashing all over the floor.
Shin eyes flicked back towards the door, his stomach lurching as one of the monsters looked up from its gruesome feast. The monster let out a gleeful shriek.
"Run!" Shin shouted, as the monster charged the door.
The three patrons frantically scrambled towards the exit in the back, with Shin taking up the rear.
Shin lingered just long enough to see the monster smack face first into the glass door. The monster recoiled as it hit the door, not having realized there was an impediment in its way.
It was surprisingly comical, in spite of the circumstances, though the bloody smear it left on the glass did dampen his amusement.
Shin's jubilation was short-lived. The sliding door sensing someone, simply opened, letting the monster in.
Looking right at the closest victim, Osmal, it let out an angry screech. It rushed the man, leaping over a fallen chair, claws outstretched as it tried to scratch the man's eyes out.
Not seeming worried in the slightest, Osmal, casually raised a hand, and the monster was incinerated. A torrent of orange fire consumed it in a blazing inferno, sweeping past the monster, and smashing through the glass.
The monster screamed in agony as it died, the wave of heat and smoke setting off the sprinklers overhead. The patter of water coming down did little to put out the fire. Surprisingly, the other monsters didn't run away, instead being drawn by the show of force.
They charged Osmal, still casually leaning against the table. The man dealt with them with ease, burning all the smaller monsters to a crisp. It was a one sided slaughter, and in only a few seconds, all of them were dead.
Seeming bored, Osmal shot a glance back at him, flames already consuming the front of the shop.
"The fire, it's going to burn down the shop, can you put it out?" Shin asked, as smoke clogged the ceiling.
Osmal glanced from the flames, back to Shin, a dark gleam forming in his eyes. As Osmal stood there, flames gathered in one hand.
Shin swallowed hard, only now noticing Fuki was standing just behind him, her gaze urging him to follow.
Osmal took a step forward. "I wonder what the news will say? Something like, a rift forming, and a foreigner saving the day. Sadly, there were a few casualties. The great Osmal did his best, but i can't save everyone," Osmal said.
Shin frantically raised his arms, as a wave of fire shot towards them, seeming to part around him just before it hit. There was incredible heat, flames, and Fuki's terrified screams.
He didn't remember hitting the wall, just pain then blackness...
Shin awoke with a start, thick blood staining his arms. Pain wracked his body, smoke clogging his lungs. Coughing, Shin blinked rapidly, mutely taking in the destruction, disbelief warring with reality.
Flames clung to everything, the overhead sprinklers sputtering uselessly.
He still couldn't come to grips with what just happened.
Shin frantically looked around, his eyes resting on her crumpled form nearby. Her clothes smoked, her hair a burned mess. Alarmed, he ignored the glass biting into his knuckles as he crawled to her.
"Fuki. Fuki, wake up," Shin coughed, jostling her.
She was unresponsive, blood pooling under her head. Heart practically beating out of his chest, Shin grabbed onto the back of her singed coat. It burned his fingers but he ignored the pain.
He had to get her out of here. As he stood, a world of orange flames that clung to everything greeted Shin. Thick black smoke clogged the air, shrouding the shop in a haze. Tables were upended, plates and chopsticks scattered across the floor. The back of the shop was no better, his prized latte machine scorched and bent from the heat.
Master Kasaki's oversized white hat lay crumpled on the floor, but the man was nowhere to be seen.
Shin desperately wanted to go into the back to check on the man, but flames licked up the counter, creating a wall between them.
Hopefully master Kasaki was well enough to flee out the back with the others. Shin slowly turned. He must not have been out long as he could still see people out on the street, hear pained screams, and now hear the distant drone of sirens.
Shin knew he was in trouble. There were still monsters were outside, and Osmal, wherever he was. Even so, he refused to leave Fuki behind. Grasping onto Fuki's coat tightly, he dragged her towards the door, the heat scorching his skin, the burning smoke clogging his lungs.
The pain was overwhelming, his eyes watering from the smoke, but he refused to leave Fuki behind. With strength he didn't know he had, Shin dragged her out the shattered front door.
The street felt like miles away, but he finally reached it, dragging her out into the fresh air.
Releasing his hold on Fuki's coat, Shin was greeted by chaos. People ran to and froe, corpses lining the streets, both human and monster alike, flames clinging to the mangled bodies.
The monsters were everywhere, attacking indiscriminately.
Coughing violently, Shin turned back to the shop, which was currently going up in an inferno.
Master Kasaki…. Shin couldn't see him on the street. Was he still inside? Shin desperately wanted to go back inside, but that was suicide.
Swaying unsteadily on his feet, Shin was alarmed when one of the monsters turned towards him. If he was guessing correctly, it was an imp, a category one monster. It was about half of his height, small, and frail looking.
With a hunched back, jagged teeth and razor claws, it charged him, letting out an excited shriek. Shin didn't have time to think, as the monster leapt for his face.
He instinctively moved to the side, white hot pain lancing across his shoulder as the monster's claws parted his shirt.
Letting out a yelp of pain, he stumbled on his feet the monster sliding as it lit on the concrete. It slowly turned, letting out a joyful laugh as it licked his blood from its claws.
Shin had never felt such terror. He wanted to run, to flee, but Fuki's unconscious form lying a few feet away made him pause. He couldn't just leave her to die.
Shin had never been in an actual fight before, but he had once been pretty good at sports. Football in particular, not American football, but a real sport.
Low and quick, the monster rushed forward, leaping at his waist, claws out. Shin was the goalkeeper, lowering his stance. He leaned forward, and kicked up as hard as he could.
Even without cleats, his footing was sure. The tip of his leather shoe connected right under the monster's jaw, a perfectly timed strike. It was a kick that would have made even Messi proud.
Blood showered the street as the monster's jaw was forcibly slammed shut, its tongue ripped off by its own teeth.
It had been years since he last kicked a ball, but kicking was like riding a bick, once you learned, you never forgot.
He outweighed the monster by at least three to one, his adrenaline filled kick carrying enough force to make something crack. Whether it was hit foot, or the monster's jaw was hard to say, as it made the monster go flying.
While the first one was suffering a concussion, and a lost tongue. The loud sound of claws on stone approached from behind.
His breath came ragged, but he whirled, as two more the monsters charged, clearly furious that their comrade had been defeated. Shin was shaking from excitement and fear, but still he stood his ground. He was likely going to die, but he refused to abandon Fuki.
Shin met the two in a flurry of blows, kicking, punching and even biting one's ear off. He was bigger and stronger, but they had claws and razor sharp teeth.
Shin managed to kick one in the head hard enough to knock it out, and broke the other's leg, forcing it to hobble away. It was a peeric victory. Shin's vision was blurry, his lungs burned, and pain wracked his whole body.
Blood dripped down his face, stinging his eyes, the smell of copper and smoke heavy on his nose.
Shin felt like he might pass out, swaying unsteadily on his feet.
The world was spinning, his ears ringing and yet, he still managed to stay on his feet.
Shin startled, as a man stepped up beside him.
"You have done well, but let the professionals handle the rest," the man said in a calm voice.
Through the pain, he faintly recognized the older man. It was Nagara from the night prior, one of the two brothers. As if on cue, the two others joined the man, the younger eager Haruto, and the woman.
The three looked like normal people, but didn't shy away from the blood and gore, seeming perfectly relaxed in the chaos.
"Yuta, watch the gate to make sure no more come out. Haruto, let's mop them up before they can kill anyone else," Nagara said calmly.
The words were said with such surety that Shin somehow knew they were safe. This man, Nagara had utter confidence in victory, more worried about the other people than himself. A hero if he ever saw one.
Nagara drew a Katana of all things from a sheath at his hip, casually beheading the injured imp Shin had de-tongued in a single blow. Without even slowing, Nagara dashed away, making a B line towards the closest monster.
Still next to Shin, Haruto grinned a devilish smile. "Watch and learn, this is how you kill monsters," Haruto said. The younger man raised both hands, and the nearby sewer grates on the street rattled ominously. Imps went flying as a torrent of muddy brown water came rushing out, sweeping down the street in a tsunami.
The monsters tried to run, but it was futile. There were sewer grates everywhere, and the water was relentless, crushing the monster with utmost prejudice.
Nagara was just as impressive, moving like the wind, his body a blur as the monster fell into pieces, cut down like rabid dogs. It was a one-sided slaughter, as the two killed all the monsters.
Swaying on his feet, Shin cocked his head at the woman, Yuta. She stood in front of the rift, hands clasped in a mudra. It was as if she were praying, muttering. Dark smoke coalesced around her, ballooning out, a hole into the underworld seeming to form. The sky darkened, the world silent as a vortex of utmost black consumed the incursion pillar.
With a clap like thunder, the pillar was gone, sucked into that endless void. For a moment, Shin could swear something was looking back at him from that darkness. He shuddered, his vision beginning to swim. It appeared his body had finally reached its limit, unable to stay conscious any longer. Before he knew it, he was slumped on the ground, his vision darkening as he looked up at the sky, fading into unconsciousness.