Paradox Saga: Rising Sun

Hajime (The Beginning)

"Remember, Shiro, being someone called a hero is one of the best things anyone can have. Sore o wasurenaide kudasai, watashi no musuko (Don't forget that, my son)"

I woke up, a single tear escaping from my eyes. It was a dream, just a dream...yet, it felt so true. Sleeping has been a problem for these past weeks. They were starting to get more frequent for these weeks. Why? I don't know. I tried to assure myself that it was just a dream. I sometimes have these dreams - memories from when I was a child. My father, Takechi Mamoru, was an archaeologist/explorer/adventurer type of man. He's like Lara Croft's father except that that Lara Croft was me. He was always on tours and expeditions back when I was a child, seldomly going home when he finished his so-called "adventures". Luckily, I was never alone as my sister and aunt are always with me. 

"Oh, it seems you're awake already, Shiro-kun," a voice said. Yes, that's me, Shiro Shade Mamoru, a 17-year old nerd who's never good at anything physical.

"Ohayou, Onee-san (Good Morning, Big Sis)," I replied to my sister. By the way, my sister is Ather Nami  Mamoru, a very smart and talented sister. She's a really great sister, always tending to my needs and helps me whenever she can. 

"You okay?", she asked. Her eyes clearly showed concern.

"I'm fine, don't worry," I replied. I don't wanna tell her that I've been dreaming about Dad. I don't want her to worry. 

"Well, dress up...and wipe your eyes", she said as she turned around and walked downstairs. She really could understand me, I guess. Do I tell them about my dreams? Would it be right? Right now, I really am boggled about these dreams. As I wear my glasses, I tried to think of a reason why those dreams are becoming frequent. Perhaps because Dad's death anniversary is coming? Nope, it's after my birthday. I was deep in thought that I didn't notice I've been walking downstairs. As usual, Onee-san was cooking breakfast while aunt was drinking her usual morning coffee.  

"What you staring at, Shiro-chan?", my aunt asked in a gentle voice.

"N-Nan demonai (N-Nothing)"

"Come on, tell Auntie what's wrong," she said, her tone slightly irritated but still with a bit of concern. My aunt, Aerith Saiko Mamoru, is a police officer and the only aunt with whom I live with. 

"Nothing, Obasan (Auntie)", I lied. Seriously, I like Auntie's concern but I really don't know how to tell her about my dreams. Auntie always had this sadistic aura whenever she asks something more than once.

"Seriously, Shiro-kun, you're worrying us. You've been acting these past few days. Is there a problem?", Nami-neesan asked as she put some bacon and eggs on my plate of rice. I looked down. I know what they'll do next. they'll give me that stare that makes them look like private owl detectives. 

"Well...the truth is I'm...". I stopped for a bit. I can't say it. A teenager saying "I'm having nightmares" already sounds silly inside my head. That would worry them more. "...I'm stressed in school, that's all", I continued as I picked my chopsticks. 

"Onee-san can help you if you want," Nami offered. 

"And if it's unto physical, Obaasan can help you," Auntie said with a  mischievous smile. 

"H-hai! (Y-Yes!)," I replied, my face as red as the bacon we're eating.

"Be safe, Auntie," we said as we went out Auntie's car.

"And listen to your teachers, cupcakes!," she replied as she drove off. We walked to the school's entrance, Big Sis greeting her acquaintances and me looking down - walking quickly and silently as I can. I don't really mind walking like this. Naturally, Japanese schools are busting busy early in the morning. Girls gossiping, boys walking and talking in groups, and students hurrying to get early in the class, these are normally what you see inside the school. However, it's not what I see. All I see are people trying to pick something from me and trying to make me look as useless as a water flea. Don't blame me, I'm severely anxious and cautious but don't take me for an introvert, I also have friends. 

"So, I'm going now. Here, take this," she said as she handed me my bento.

"A-Arigatou gouzaimasu! (T-Thank you so much!)," I said as I felt my face blush.

"Don't thank me. It's normal for me to take care of my li'l bro," she replied, her mouth curling into a cute smile. "Hurry to your room now. You don't wanna get late," she added as she went inside her room.

"Ain't you lucky?" a voice said from behind. It was my classmate and best friend, Fritz.

"L-Lucky? As if!," I said.

"Don't deny it, Shiro. You've got a crush on your sister, don't you?," he said in a loud voice. I covered his mouth quickly as the other students looked at us. 

" Mmm! Hey!.... Don't...(Fritz was struggling) you're starting to....act crazy!"

"Stop it, you two!", another voice said. Fritz got away as I looked in the opposite direction. 

"Thyme!", I called. Thyme is another friend of mine and is also known throughout the school. Actually, the two of them are famous. Fritz had blue eyes and a very charming face making him a hotspot for girls while Thyme had green eyes and matching green hair. Not only are they beautiful but they are also smart and are members of the school's Student Council. For some unknown reason, they befriended a loner nerd like me. 

"You two are really childish. C'mon, let's get to class," she said. We cannot argue more. As much as you won't want Aunt Saiko to ask you twice, Thyme is very enthusiastic when it comes to being a bad girl. We walked together though I looked down as we walked.

"Hey, bro. Act normal, dude. It's not like you're ugly or something," Fritz said as he took the seat in front of me. 

'Y-Yeah, I know. I just...can't", I said as I sat in my chair. 

"Well, 'Better be humble', that's what they say," Thyme added. 

"He's just too humble, that's all," Fritz continued. 

"But he's also..."

Actually, I wasn't paying attention to what they were saying. I was thinking deeply...about myself...about my anxiety...my Dad. He is actually the indirect reason why I am shy to people. When I was still young, Dad went on an expedition to the Philippines. I didn't know that it'd be his last expedition. He fell from the top of a waterfall and lost his life. I was an innocent child back then...but that didn't prevent me from crying. Aside from his burial and little specks of memory, my mind is blurry whenever I try to think of him. Since he died, I never got close to anybody else except for my aunt and my sister. I don't know why. Perhaps I didn't want people to think little of me or to have pity on me. I was deep in thought when...

PAAAAAAAAMMMMMM!!!!