Tatsuya groaned as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. The faint rays of the sun shining through the small window painting golden streaks across his cluttered desk.
The history book, his own language learning book, and the "escape note" lay scattered across the desk, forming a chaotic battleground where his will to study clashed violently with his desire to break free from this life.
As he stirred, a soft, insistent tapping on his cheek pulled him from his light slumber.
Tap…
Tap…
Tap….
"What…?" Tatsuya mumbled, groggily cracking one eye open.
A pair of piercing green eyes stared back at him, mere inches from his face. Paul's cat, Loki, was perched on the edge of the desk, his paw raised mid-air, ready for another precision strike.
"Loki…" Tatsuya's voice came out hoarse.
Thwack.
Loki's paw landed squarely on Tatsuya's forehead.
"Hey!" Tatsuya sat up with a jolt, nearly pushing a book over the edge of the desk. "What's your problem?"
Wait I fell asleep?
The brown with gray striped, cat simply sat back, curling her tail around herself in what could only be described as smug satisfaction.
Tatsuya rubbed his eyes, his mind slowly catching up to reality.
A faint ray of the sun touched his eye and his gaze turned to the window.
It's already sunset? That must mean Paul must be back?
Loki meowed—a short, sharp sound that seemed to say, You're welcome.
"Well, you didn't really had to wake me up." Tatsuya sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He pushed his chair back and stretched, his back popping from spending the entire night hunched over.
He glanced down at Loki, who had jumped off the desk and now circled his legs like a miniature predator.
"What, you want dinner? Is that why you woke me up?" Tatsuya asked, raising an eyebrow. "Of course you do. The mighty Loki must be fed, huh?"
So Paul didn't came back yet or he just forgot to fed her?
Loki meowed again, this time more insistently.
"Alright, alright, I'm going,"
He relented, standing up and shuffling toward the kitchen.
But as he passed the desk, he caught a glimpse of a bag standing on it.
Hmm, What's this, a bag?
Hanging on the bag was a note, one that Tatsuya couldn't decipher without his trusty language learning book.
Where did I put that book?
Tatsuya searched around, but couldn't find it.
"Meow."
The sharp cry made him pause. He tilted his head toward the source of the sound—his impatient feline, flicking her tail in protest.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you!" Tatsuya shot back, a hint of irritation. "Dinner's in the works. Just let me—ugh, hold on!"
He turned back to his frantic search, It felt like he was losing this battle. Loki, however, seemed to have other plans. A small weight nudged against his shin.
Tatsuya looked down. Loki was pushing at his leg with her head, her green eyes looking up at him with unyielding determination.
"Loki, are you serious this hungry?"
But Loki didn't retreat. Instead, she pressed harder, her meow turning into a firm, almost scolding chirp as she began nudging him toward the kitchen.
"Okay, okay! Geez!" Tatsuya relented, standing up and stepping aside. But just as he did, something caught his eye—a small, familiar book lying on the ground right next to his foot.
Wait a minute… There it is! So this is what you were trying to tell me?
Thanks a bunch, Loki!
He bent down and picked it up, brushing off a stray cat hair stuck to the cover. It was his book, the one he'd been frantically searching for this entire time.
Tatsuya's gaze snapped to Loki, who now sat smugly by the door, her tail curled around her paws like a satisfied monarch.
"Meow."
The sound was softer now, almost approving. But as Tatsuya straightened up, Loki's eyes narrowed, and she let out another, much sharper meow.
"Oh, right. Now it's time for dinner, huh?"
The cat's ears twitched, and she sauntered toward the kitchen without waiting for him, her tail flicking behind her in triumph.
Tatsuya chuckled under his breath, flipping open the book as he trailed behind her. "Fine, fine. But maybe after I feed you, you can help me decipher this note too, oh wise one?"
After feeding her Tatsuya let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair, staring out the small window. The golden light of the setting sun painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange, pink, and purple.
His eyes drifted toward the note.
Oh. Right.
As Tatsuya reached for the bag, Loki's tail flicked against his arm, Tatsuya glanced at the cat, who was now purring softly.
"You are alright done eating?" Tatsuya muttered, reaching out to scratch behind Loki's ears. "You're lucky you're cute, you know that?"
Loki leaned into the affection, her purring growing louder.
Putting Loki on his lap, he started to examine the note.
"—XXX—XXX——" it was written in the language of Deity.
Deity is of course not the only language in the world.
The common language in this world are:
The Northern continent, The language of Kione.
The Central continent, The languages of Mizugami.
The Eastern continent, The language of Deity.
The Southern continent, The language of Montes.
The Western continent, The languages of Poseidon and Kyoei.
The island's, The language of Beronica.
In any case the various continents use names that are related to there kingdoms.
Tatsuya search through his book deciphering what is written on the note.
He is better in speaking then at reading in this language, even in Japanese he wasn't the best as at came to reading.
*"This is my gift for you. Please open it.
Paul."*
The box was neatly wrapped and resting innocently on the desk. White paper, tied with a simple string. He hadn't touched it yet. He couldn't bring himself to.
Tatsuya's brow furrowed, his gaze dropping to the floor. The room felt too quiet, too still, as if the world had stopped moving just for him.
Why?
He leaned back, his eyes drifting to the ceiling.
Paul had provided everything in his life, a meal on the table every night, warm and filling, even when Tatsuya had barely noticed. A home that was always clean, always safe, always… enough.
"Enough?" The thought lingered bitterly in his chest.
No, it was more than enough. It was far, far more than Tatsuya had ever thought he'd deserve. Yet Paul had never asked for anything in return. Not once.
Tatsuya pressed his lips together, the knot in his chest tightening. His hands moved to cover his face, but he stopped himself halfway, his gaze falling back to the note.
"Why would he…" His words trailed off. The warmth that should've come from realizing how much Paul had done for him was tinged with something else, something colder.
Suspicion coiled around the edges of his thoughts, uninvited but persistent.
No one gave without reason, right? That's what the world had taught him. People always wanted something. Nothing was ever truly free.
Tatsuya glanced back at the gift, its pristine wrapping catching the faint light of the sun. It seemed too perfect, too deliberate. He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
This doesn't make sense… this is too good to be true…
He hadn't earned this? Sure, Paul had taken him in, given him a life Tatsuya had long since stopped hoping for, but this—this gift—felt different. It wasn't just a roof over his head or food to eat. This was personal. This was…
Tatsuya gritted his teeth, a flicker of unease settling in his stomach. Is this some kind of test? A hidden condition he hadn't seen coming? A debt he'd be expected to repay later?
His fingers hovered over the string on the box, hesitating. His chest felt tight, like it might burst from the conflicting emotions swirling inside.
This can't be really just kindness?
He exhaled shakily and, for the first time in what felt like hours, reached out. His fingers brushed the cool surface of the box.
It was light.
Tatsuya's heart pounded in his chest as he pulled the string, his breath caught in his throat. The paper fell away slowly, revealing the contents inside.
Cloth?
Inside the box lay a neatly folded kimono.
Tatsuya's breath hitched. His fingers hovered over the fabric, hesitant, as if touching it might make it disappear.
It was light blue, the color of the sky just before dawn, with white accents forming a quiet, intricate geometric pattern—elegant yet understated. A dark blue obi belt rested beside it, neatly coiled, its deep hue stark against the pale fabric.
For a long moment, he just stared.
His hand finally moved, almost reluctantly, brushing over the Kimono's surface. The fabric was smooth, cool against his fingertips.
This wasn't just a piece of clothing.
It was new.
It was his.
Tatsuya clenched his jaw, his hand curling into a fist over the fabric.
He shouldn't feel like this. Shouldn't feel this tightness in his chest, this unease curling in his stomach.
It was a gift.
Just a gift.
And yet, something about it made his pulse quicken, made him feel like he was standing on unstable ground.
His gaze drifted back to the note, now slightly crumpled in his other hand.
*"This is my gift for you. Please open it.
Paul."*
Paul had given this to him. Bought it for him.
Not because he had to. Not because Tatsuya had asked.
Just because.
Tatsuya's grip on the note tightened.
This… didn't make sense.
Paul had already done more than enough. A home, meals, a place where he didn't have to be on guard every second of the day—wasn't that more than anyone could ask for? Wasn't that already too much?
And now this?
A gift that wasn't necessary. A gift that was simply… kind.
His chest felt strangely hollow, as if something inside him had been knocked loose.
A part of him wanted to reject it. To put the box away, to pretend he had never opened it. Because accepting this meant—what? That he deserved it? That he was allowed to just take something given to him freely, without suspicion, without questioning what the other person wanted in return?
His entire life had taught him otherwise.
People didn't give without expecting something back.
They never had before.
So why was Paul different?
Tatsuya exhaled sharply and looked at the yukata again. The careful folds, the quiet elegance—it wasn't extravagant, wasn't excessive, but it was chosen with care.
For him.
His fingers traced the fabric absently, a lump forming in his throat.
What was he supposed to do with this feeling?
Tatsuya folded it back and put it neatly back in the box.
No.. I won't accept it…
Part 2
After putting away his gift Tatsuya pushed Loki of his lab and got up.
I really need to take a walk or something.
He walked towards the old wooden door, stretching out his hand but stopping before opening it.
He glanced back at the present on the desk, waiting for a moment as if considering taking it with him.
But he turned away and opened the door. As he stepped outside. Loki let out a curious meow, like asking him where he was going.
Only if I could live as freely as you.
Tatsuya didn't look back, he just simply walked forward and closed the door.
The cobblestone pathway stretched out before him, dappled in soft golden sunlight.
He wanted to walk but he didn't know where he was going.
He wanted to walk just to get his mind off things. But as the sun was setting the darkness creeped up at him.
He just walked for a while following the cobblestone path, each uneven stone seeming to carry the weight of stories untold, as if it had borne the footsteps of countless travelers on journeys that reminded him of himself.
Unsteady and uneasy.
Do I really need to have other people in my life? What's the point if they'll only ending up hurting me?
A chilling breeze hit his face, the wind stinging in his eyes, he looked up from the ground for the first time since he went in his walk.
Looking directly at the sun made him narrowing his eyes a little bit.
Where am I? He questioned to himself.
As his eyes got used to the suns light, he found himself gazing upon a breathtaking mountain range, the mountains stood mighty, their grandeur commanding the horizon, and at their summits lay a delicate blanket of snow, glistening like powdered silver under the gentle touch of the sun.
I love the nature, I always get at peace whenever I look at it and then I ask myself. Why can't I just go out and live freely in the woods?
Tatsuya understood why Paul lived like this, his preference was also nature over the city.
Then why did he feel like he's still stuck in that place?
As he continued to take in his surroundings he saw someone sitting in a prayer position in front of what looked like a shrine.
The back of the man's hair is walnut brown, short and slightly messy.
"Amen." He said quietly before raising his voice. "Have you received the present I got you?" He asked to Tatsuya.
"Yes I did.." Tatsuya said hesitantly. "And thank you for that. I appreciate it."
Paul got up and faced toward Tatsuya, his face having a lingering of sadness in it.
Tatsuya couldn't tell whether the sadness in Paul's eyes came from refusing his gift or from the lingering weight of the prayer he had just finished.
Maybe I should have taken it with me?
Paul sat down on a weathered stone bench, its surface cool beneath him, as he gazed out over the vast mountain range.
He motioned at Tatsuya to sit next to him.
I guess he is going to scold me for not appreciating his gift.
Paul let out a soft sign. "Have you never wondered how this whole world came to be?" He questioned.
This world? What does he mean by that?
"People belief that this world, with all its beauty and Integrate design. Happened to be created by chance."
"Like something created out of nothing. But I can't accept that. Because everything that has a beginning has a cause, this world has a beginning, therefore this world needs to have a cause."
"So my belief is that in the beginning an intelligent mind caused it, instead of believing nothing caused it."
This does sound familiar, no I know what he is talking about.. he is talking about a God.
I do believe in God, in Jesus Christ. I was Christian in my previous live. Do they have something similar here?
Tatsuya was surprised to know that a belief like Christianity also existed in this world, it kinda made him feel at home a little bit.
He wondered if he should open up about it to Paul, it is something they both have in common, something they both believe in. He couldn't be hurt by opening up about that, right?
...
"I hate this world and everybody in it," he started. "I don't want to live in a world where people gossip, where they laugh behind your back, where their words cut deeper than any blade. A world where no one truly cares, where kindness feels like a fleeting illusion, and loneliness is just another part of everyday life. No matter how hard you try, you're always being judged, always compared, always made to feel like you're not enough."
He exhaled sharply, his gaze turning to the vast sky stretching endlessly before him. "I want to live in a world where insecurity and anxiety don't exist, where you don't have to constantly second-guess yourself or fear what others think. A world where you can just live—truly live—without the weight of expectations, without the fear of being hurt, without the exhaustion of pretending everything is fine."
A bitter smile crossed his lips. "Maybe I'm just running away. Maybe I'm just weak. But if wanting peace, if wanting a place where I can finally breathe without my heart feeling so heavy exists, a place how God described heaven would be. I will do everything in my power to achieve that."
Paul's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Tatsuya—this was the first time, since the day he had taken Tatsuya in, that the boy had truly responded to him.
The first time Tatsuya spoke not with empty words, not with detached indifference, but with the raw, unfiltered weight of his heart.
Paul smiled with relief and turned to the mountain range before him.
"I wasn't always a believer of Kami like this." He said, his voice strong but filled with kindness. "It was actually my master that got me to realize the truth."
"Your master must have been amazing." Tatsuya replied.
"Yes, he certainly was." Paul looked up at the sky, faint dost of light could be seen in the distance, stars were forming and lighting up the night.
"Before I got to know my master." He continued. "I did a lot of bad things, I was selfish, greedy. I indulged in everything, whether it was food, luxury, or pleasure. If it felt good, I wanted more. I lived lazily, avoiding hard work whenever I could, Sloth had me in its grip, and I never even tried to fight it."
"I was obsessed with women—always chasing, always wanting, always unsatisfied. I wanted to be loved, but I never thought about loving someone in return."
"The moment something didn't go my way, I'd snap. I was quick to anger, quick to blame others, and quick to throw a punch if I felt like it."
"But the worst part? The thing that truly consumed me? Pride. I thought I was better than everyone else. I refused to admit my faults, convinced that the world was wrong and I was right. Even when I was drowning in my own sins, I still looked down on others. completely blind to my own flaws."
Tatsuya couldn't believe what he was hearing. was it even possible to commit so many sins?
Tatsuya understood what it meant, sinning. He was consumed by it many times before.
Is that also something we have in common?
"But despite all the things I did." He continued. "I always come back to him because in my heart…
I believe that though I am a sinner I have been saved. And I believe there is something beyond this rock and this air and this water around us. Something more that is waiting for us."
Tatsuya's eyes lit up, a strange warmth filled his chest.
These words they are beautiful..
For some reason, those words ignited something deep within Tatsuya—like a small flame that had long been smoldering in the darkness, now burning strong, flickering with newfound warmth and determination, as if awakening a part of him he had long forgotten.
For the first time he looked Paul straight into his eyes and he noticed how calm and father like they were.
As if merely gazing into them, he felt an invisible warmth surround him—like a soft, unwavering blanket of protection, shielding him from the cold loneliness he had always known.
Is he someone I can trust? Or is he just another person who will hurt me in the end?
The questions echoed in Tatsuya's mind, overlapping with the scars of the past. No matter how much he wanted to believe, a part of him still trembled.
But despite that he pushed through trying to break free.
"I… I am sorry." He started.
Paul didn't said anything, he just waited patiently for Tatsuya to figure out what he wanted to say.
"I am sorry for not appreciating the gift you bought for me. And I am sorry for pushing you away." He bowed slowly, as he gave his apology.
Paul let out a satisfied smile. "Nah, no need for you to apologize kid. I guess my awesome sword art just scared you to much." He said, teasing him.
Tatsuya smiled awkwardly. "Yeah what was that actually?"
Paul smiled proudly and struck a dramatic pose, raising one of his swords high into the air like a legendary hero from an old tale. The last bit of sunlight glinted off the blade, casting a sharp gleam, as if even the heavens acknowledged his grandeur.
Then he moved his blade and stopped mere inches away from Tatsuya's face.
The black blade gleamed ominously under the faint light, its edge razor-sharp and polished to perfection. It carried an air of quiet menace, as if whispering of battles long past and those yet to come. In its dark steel, reflections wavered like fleeting ghosts, hinting at the power sealed within.
"Look at the sunset behind me, kid." Paul said.
The sunset? What does that have to do with my question?
"You know that what that symbolizes?"
No I have no idea?
Tatsuya shook his head, eagerly waiting for the grant reveal of Paul's question.
In one swift, fluid motion, Paul pulled the blade away from Tatsuya's face. And rested the blade on his shoulder.
"It means… it's your bedtime…"
WAIT WHAT! After all that built up he just told me to go to bed!! No I don't wanne.
This wasn't the answer Tatsuya expected to get, it kinda left a lingering mark of disappointment.
But, strangely enough, it also made him laugh.
"Hahahah." He laughed… he laughed like he didn't know he could anymore. Tatsuya couldn't remember the last time he genuinely laughed.
I am laughing? Not forcing myself to laugh, like a did in my previous life, but this is genuine.
"This is the first time I have seen you laugh." Paul said.
Tatsuya looked at Paul. "Yeah, it's been a long time since I've had a good laugh like this." He smiled.
"Thank you, Paul."
Paul just simply smiled back at him. "But now you have to go to bed, kid. The sunset had already set, tomorrow is going to be important."
"What! You can't do that, why would you leave us with a cliffhanger like that!?"