Thunder cracked outside.
The room was dim. The lightbulb above flickered faintly, casting long shadows against the peeling walls. Dust hung in the air like old memories that refused to settle.
OA stood still. Eyes fierce. Jaw clenched.
"But someone gave us a chance to claim that blessing," he said, his voice rising.
Asahi didn't flinch.
OA's fists trembled. "He knew our pain."
"That's why he broke all the dimensional spheres."
He stepped closer, his breath heavy with conviction.
"That Asahi… is our savior."
Silence.
Asahi stared back at him—stone-cold, unreadable. The photo in his hand shook faintly as the thunder echoed again.
Neither of them blinked.
They looked like mirrors—broken reflections of the same man.
Then—
OA exhaled. Long. Deep. Almost… tired.
"But I can't do it," he muttered and sat down, shoulders slumped. "I guess I can't."
Asahi's brow furrowed slightly.
"…Huh?"
OA looked up at him, his voice distant, almost casual.
"So… do you want to eat anything, huh?"
His tone was cold, but not hostile. It was… friendly.
Strangely human.
Asahi blinked.
"No."
Flat. Cold.
OA nodded once.
"Mmm… okay," he said coolly.
Asahi narrowed his eye.
(Why is he saying it like that… something's off.)
Instinctively—he activated his left eye.
Power surged for a second—just enough to scan the other man's aura.
And then—
His eye widened.
"…No way," Asahi muttered.
(This idiot… he doesn't even have powers.)
OA tilted his head, amused. "Huh? What are you looking at, huh?"
"You… you don't even have powers, right?"
Asahi's voice was sharper now. More direct. Almost accusing.
OA didn't deny it.
He reached into his coat, pulled out a cigar, and lit it.
The smoke curled around him like a ghost from another life.
"Do you need one?" he asked, holding the cigar pack out. "Huh?"
Asahi frowned.
"…Nah. I don't smoke."
OA chuckled, low and hollow.
"Come on," he said, laughing slightly. "Don't be a child. Just do it once."
He leaned back, eyes half-lidded.
"After all… we're all doomed, right?"
He held the cigar out.
Asahi stared at it. Then, slowly—he took it.
He placed it between his lips.
"Give me the lighter."
OA tossed it over with a smirk.
Asahi caught it, flicked it, lit the end of the cigar—
And inhaled.
Cough. Cough.
He coughed hard, nearly choking on the bitterness.
"Fuck…"
His eyes watered slightly.
"…Nahhh. That was nasty."
OA laughed again, this time with a hint of actual amusement.
"It's your first," he said with a shrug. "That's why."
Asahi muttered something under his breath and sat down beside him.
They both sat there—two men with the same face, in an empty room with no future—
Smoking.
The light above flickered again.
Outside, the thunder rolled.
Inside, the smoke rose slowly.
Like all their dreams turning to ash.
The smoke curled between them—thin and gray—like memories made visible.
OA leaned forward slightly, pinching the burning end of the cigar against the ashtray.
Hiss.
The ember died.
OA: (Quietly, coldly)
"I think I'm the only Asahi who didn't have any power."
Silence.
Asahi didn't respond immediately.
He inhaled slowly—smoke filling his lungs like something hollow and cold.
Then—
Asahi: (Smoke in)
"…How…"
(Smoke out)
"…How did you even survive, huh?"
His voice wasn't curious. It wasn't shocked.
It was just cold. Quiet. Honest.
OA exhaled a slow breath through his nose, the remnants of smoke trailing out like ghosts.
OA: (Smiling darkly)
"I don't know…"
He leaned back, eyes locked on the cracked ceiling above.
OA: (Still cold, but softer now)
"For me… life was normal."
Another drag.
Smoke out.
OA:
"My mom. Dad. Anari…"
"They were always here."
"We were happy, you know…"
His voice wavered—barely. Just a crack.
OA:
"She always came to this house…"
"…always saying some shit about me."
Asahi smiled faintly. Just the corner of his lips curved.
A dry smirk.
Asahi: (Smoke out)
"Sounds like her."
OA chuckled softly—but there was no joy in it.
OA:
"This house…"
"It was always loud, you know?"
He looked down now. Not at Asahi. Not at anything.
Just the floor—dusty, silent, still.
OA: (Exhaling slow)
"Now… the only thing I can hear…"
"Is me smoking out."
The silence swallowed the room again.
Asahi: (Inhaling slowly, dragging the cigar to his lips)
"…Tch."
He didn't finish the thought.
Didn't have to.
The smoke hung between them—tense, unmoving, like the room itself was holding its breath.
Asahi: (Voice low, eyes sharp)
"…How did they die?"
His tone was neutral. Too neutral.
But inside—his thoughts were spinning.
(I need to collect all the possible information.)
OA turned to him. Slowly.
His eyes were darker now—colder.
OA: (Flat)
"I know only one thing."
Asahi looked up. Met his gaze—equally cold.
OA: (Eyes narrowing)
"It ain't fate…"
A long pause.
Then—his smile broke through.
But it wasn't a smile. It was a scar shaped like one.
OA:
"Someone killed my family."
"And what did I do?" (A hollow chuckle)
"…Watched them die."
"Knowing I had no fucking power to save them."
The silence hit like thunder.
OA looked away, eyes distant.
OA: (Softly)
"Even God didn't believe in me, I guess."
His lips curled again—sadly. Coldly.
Asahi didn't say anything.
He just smoked. Slowly. Quietly.
OA: (Turning to him again)
"What about you, huh?"
Asahi: (Eyes shadowed)
"I also lost."
He paused.
Asahi: (Voice barely audible)
"You know…"
"I… I don't want to speak about it."
OA didn't push.
OA: (Gently, like he understood)
"Yeah… I know it's difficult."
He looked at Asahi carefully—like he was trying to read the silence between his words.
OA:
"…How did you come to this dimension, huh?"
Asahi:
"Because of the dime—"
OA: (Interrupting, voice sharp)
"Then you can make me travel through dimensions, right?"
That line—
It wasn't a question.
It was a threat wrapped in hope.
OA's eyes changed.
Cold. Terrifying.
Asahi: (Dragging smoke, exhaling)
"…I guess I can't."
OA: (Mimicking the motion, smoke escaping his lips)
"Mmm."
Silence.
OA: (Eyes narrowing)
"So you're not going to share your powers, huh?"
Asahi: (Calmly)
"I guess so."
Another pause.
Then—
OA stood up.
Asahi's eyes followed him, unmoving.
OA: (Voice sharp, unsettling)
"Hey. I know you're from the ultimate dimension."
He didn't blink.
Asahi: (Stops smoking. Looks up. Cold.)
"…What did you just say?"
OA: (Throws the cigar)
CLINK.
He crushed it beneath his bare foot.
Smoke trailed upward.
OA: (Voice twisted with a grin)
"Time to take your blessings."
Asahi moved.
Fast.
A blur of rage and instinct.
His fist shot forward—toward OA's jaw.
But—
THWACK.
OA caught it.
Effortlessly.
Asahi's eyes widened.
Asahi: (Shocked, internally)
(Huh…? He doesn't even have powers…)
(Then how… how is he this strong?!)
OA met his gaze.
Unflinching. Unmoved.
The room was silent.
Only the storm spoke—crackling outside like the heavens themselves were angry.
OA stood tall.
Eyes burning. Thoughts spiraling.
OA:(Internally, dark smile forming)
"This is what I waited for…"
He didn't hesitate.
A swift—brutal—kick.
THUD!!
Asahi's body flew back.
His spine smashed against the cold, merciless floor.
Asahi:(Gasping)
"Khah…!"
His ribs screamed.
His lungs begged for air.
His vision—blurred.
Pain painted his entire body.
OA stepped forward.
Slow. Unforgiving.
Like a god looking down at a broken version of himself.
OA:(Cold, hollow)
"You know…"
"There was only a 1% chance… of you landing in my fucking dimension."
Asahi's fingers twitched.
His eyes, barely open—
But he moved.
Shaky. Weak.
He reached out…
And gently placed his hand on OA's foot.
Asahi:(Whispering, voice barely there—but sharp like a blade)
"Do you… know what it's like to kiss Anari?"
OA froze.
A pause.
A breath.
A flicker of something dangerous in his eyes.
Asahi:(Looking up—raw sorrow, but something deeper underneath)
"Do you know what it's like…
to hold blessings meant for every version of you…"
OA's expression twisted.
The rage returned.
He raised his leg—ready to crush—
But it was too late.
Asahi was already holding that fucking leg.
He didn't tremble.
He didn't flinch.
His gaze—cold. Final. Like fate had already chosen.
Asahi:(Voice low. Deadly. Filled with buried fire.)
"Repel."
BOOOOOOM.
A pulse exploded from his palm.
A silent shockwave that tore the room apart.
OA's body flung backward—
Crashing into the wall—
CRACK.
The whole room shook.
OA hit the ground—hard.
OA:(Screaming, veins bulging)
"ARARARRRRAAAA!! I—I'll kill you!"
Asahi stood up.
His legs trembled.
His hand clutched his ribs.
Blood slipped from the corner of his mouth.
But he stood.
Because he had to.
Asahi:(Internally, every thought like a scream)
"I have to play this smart…"
"He's strong. Too strong…"
"That move… it took half my strength."
His breath hitched.
The dust settled.
OA rose.
Slowly.
Laughing.
His smile twisted. Eyes wild.
Then—
From his jacket, he pulled out a small object.
A blade.
Sleek. Silent. Deadly.
A pocket knife.
CLICK.
The metal glinted in the dim light.
OA: (Smirking coldly)
"…Let's see if your blood is different than mine."
Asahi stared.
Then—he smiled.
Asahi (shouting, pain behind the voice):
"ARARARRAARR!!"
(He charged, reckless, full force.)
OA didn't panic.
Didn't flinch.
He just—
slid to the side.
One leg firm.
The other dragging behind like a ghost limb.
OA narrowed his eyes.
OA:(Thinking fast, breath tight)
(He has powers… I'm the only Asahi who doesn't.)
(I have to stay calm.)
He dodged left.
Asahi:(Pivoting sharply, bringing his fist around—)*
A punch.
OA ducked.
And countered.
UPPERCUT.
CRACK.
Asahi's jaw caught it clean.
His body launched backward.
CRASH!
The wooden door exploded off its hinges.
Asahi:(Groaning, his body sprawled)
"…Damn… This door was weak as hell…"
(He forced a playful smirk, hiding the pain pulsing in his ribs.)
OA didn't laugh.
OA limped forward.
His footless leg scraping across the floor.
A haunting rhythm.
Step… drag.
Step… drag.
Asahi turned—
Bolted toward the stairs.
Panic. Adrenaline. Pain.
Asahi:(Eyes widening—bolts toward the stairs)
Get down. Get distance. Think fast.
But he was slow.
Too slow.
OA:(Grabs him mid-stride—fist winding back—)*
BOOM!
Another punch.
Straight to the ribs.
Asahi collapsed.
Rolled.
Crashed into the living room—like a ragdoll dropped by a god.
His breath came in sharp, broken gasps.
His vision—
Blurred.
Asahi:(Thoughts spiraling)
(Why… why am I getting weaker…?)
(I still have power, right? Then why—)
(…is it the sleeplessness…?)
The room lit with a flicker of flame.
OA entered the room—
Dragging his leg.
Moving with a predator's calm.
He lit a cigar.
The flame lit his eyes like a demon in disguise.
And with a slow, venomous smile—
Blew the smoke out into the chaos.
OA:(Voice low, cruel, almost poetic)
"Run, Asahi."
Another drag.
"Run… all you want."
The smoke twisted through the air like a curse.
"At the end—
I'll still catch you."
Asahi's eyes shook.
His legs tried to move.
Tried to obey.
But they were like lead.
He stood—
Barely.
OA charged again.
Asahi tried to dodge—
But his body wasn't listening anymore.
THUD!
A kick.
Direct.
It ripped the air from his lungs.
CRASH.
Asahi flew out the living room window.
GLASS EVERYWHERE.
He landed hard—on the wet ground, outside the house.
His hand—bleeding.
A piece of glass buried deep in his skin.
He winced—yanked it out.
Asahi:(Panting, muttering)
"…Shit… It's getting out of hand…"
He stumbled forward.
Past the gate.
Onto the empty road.
He was running.
But it didn't look like running.
It looked like walking in slow motion.
His body dragged forward like gravity had betrayed him.
And behind him—
OA followed.
One leg.
No foot.
But still—he moved.
Not limping anymore.
Not walking.
Gliding.
Like something that refused to be human anymore.
The cigar still burned in his mouth.
Smoke trailing in the rain.
A haunting silhouette.
OA (smiling faintly, cold):
"…This is the guy protecting the blessings?"
"…Pathetic."
Asahi: (screaming inside, trying to run)
"THINK! THINK! MOVE!!"
"I HAVE POWER!!"
"I CAN'T LOSE TO THIS… THIS…"
He screamed.
"ARARARRAARRA!!"
The sound echoed through the empty street.
But behind him…
The man with one leg kept coming.
Step… drag.
Step… drag.
The nightmare had a name.
OA.
And he didn't need feet—
To tear Asahi's soul apart.