Japan, 25 February 2023
3rd POV
""We are Shadow Garden. We live in shadows, and we hunt the shadows...""
Said the 13 years old girl with glittering eyes who tried to mimic the sound coming out of the TV. Her name is Kuroki Filia. A girl who is obsessed with anime.
"Kughh, Shadow is soo cooool!"
Said Filia, clenching her hand while unable to hold her amusement.
Suddenly, a lady's voice can be heard calling for her.
"Filia, dinner is ready!"
The lady was Filia's mom.
"I'm coming mum,"
Filia replied.
Filia immediately ran towards the source of the sound and was greeted by the rest of her family members.
"Onee-chan, you're late! I'm hungry already!"
Said Kuroki Tsubasa, Filia's little brother.
"Hehe, sorry~. The anime was really good so I can't help but forget the time,"
Filia replied.
"Watching anime again?"
Said Kuroki Hiroshi, Filia's dad while putting down his glasses.
Filia replied by scratching the back of her head while giving him a giggle.
"There there, being obsessed with your hobby is a good thing, but don't be too over obsessed with it. It would do no good for your health."
Said Kuroki Ai, Filia's mom.
"Mom is right. Don't overdo it, Filia."
Kuroki Rentarou, Filia's big brother followed.
"Yes~"
Filia replied smiling. Walking to her seat.
After everyone sat in their respective seat, they clapped their hand and said,
""Itadakimasu,""
Everyone begins to pick up their chopstick and starts eating their food.
"Hey! Onii-chan that's mine!"
Tsubasa screamed.
"Heh, you're too slow, *nom*"
Rentarou replied.
Tears began to drop from Tsubasa's eyes. He immediately faced his mom while pointing at his brother.
"MOM!, LOOK AT ONII-CHAN!"
"There there, I will give you mine so stop crying. Also, you will get punished later Rentarou."
Ai solved their quarrel without batting an eye. Like it was an everyday life for her.
Tsubasa grinned, faced Rentarou, and started mocking him.
"Bleeeh"
"But it's just a chicken,"
Rentarou rebuting.
"No buts,"
Ai insisted.
Soon, Rentarou clicked his tongue and sighed.
"Fine..."
The quarrel was won by the youngest, using his ultimate power called, "I'm telling mom" which has been passed generation by generation from the creature called "Youngest".
"Hahaha, too bad huh, Rentarou."
Hiroshi spoke.
The dinner is lively. Filia can't help but keep smiling all the time even while munching her food.
But suddenly, a spark happened in Filia's vision. Making her rub her eyes, but nothing happened. A spark happened again, but this time, she could see it. The crimson color painted her dinner table with nothing but crimson.
"Eh..."
Filia rubbed her eyes again. And this time, her vision was back to normal. She was immediately greeted by her family members' worried expressions. The room was deadly silent.
"Is there something wrong with your eyes? Filia..."
Her mom was the one who let out the first sound in the silenced room.
"Eh, Um, Nothing..."
FIlia replied smiling. Then continue,
"I guess I just watched too much anime hehe..."
"Guess watching too much starts affecting your eyes huh? Dad got a couple of unused glasses in the drawer. They are all from when Dad was still young. I will lend them to you later."
Hiroshi spoke. Then back focussing on his food.
"Mhm, thanks Dad,"
Filia replied, still smiling like usual.
Soon, her mom let out a heavy sigh. She then spoke,
"Can't believe you will start wearing glasses like your dad."
"Hehehe..."
Filia replied, scratching the back of her head.
"Watching too much got you good huh,"
Rentarou spoke. Giving her a mocking smile.
Filia then pouted and spoke to her brother,
"It can't be helped ok! they're just too good, that's why I got addicted."
"Yeah yeah, whatever."
Rentarou snorted.
"Grrrr,"
Filia glared at her brother. While the latter just didn't care about her glaring and continued eating.
The dinner continued happily.
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.
.
After the dinner is finished, Filia helps her mom clean the dishes. After that, she and her brother went to the bathroom and started brushing their teeth. After that, both return to their respective room. Filia's room was on the second floor while her younger brother was on the first floor. Beside his parent's room.
After Filia entered her own room, she immediately locked the door and dived into her comfortable bed. She then grabbed her phone and immediately browsed the internet. She searched the site to watch anime online and picked an anime with the title, "Eminence in Shadow". She starts watching the episodes like there's no tomorrow. Fortunately, tomorrow is Sunday so her presence is not needed in school.
Minute after minute, Hour after hour, her eyes still focused on the screen of her gadget. until finally, the sun rises. Filia, who previously lying on her bed, is now nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, a knock can be heard from the door.
"Filia, wake up. The breakfast is ready."
The sound was coming from her mom.
"Filia, wake up."
Her mom waited for another several seconds, yet, no answer.
Weird, she usually answered after I knocked on the door. Even if she is still half asleep, she will definitely answer.
Her mom's thought. She knocked again several times.
*knock* *knock* *knock*
"Filia?"
She then tries to push the door knob and to her surprise, the door opened.
"I will enter okay?"
She slowly opened the door and walked in.
"Eh..."
After she entered the room, yet another surprise awaited her. Filia was not in her room.
After confirming her precious daughter's presence was really not inside the room, she immediately rushed out.
"Hiroshi!"
*thud* *thud* *thud*
Like a teenager getting chased by a bear, she ran around the house. Calling her beloved husband's name.
"Hiroshi!"
After reaching her husband's location which was located in the dining room,
"Hiroshi!, Filia is not in her room!"
The wife spoke, panted heavily after delivering the message of her pounding heart.
"Hmm? Ahh..."
Her husband replied. Placing his phone on the table. Then continue,
"This morning, she comes to our room and says she gonna do some jogging. She also tells me to keep this a secret but..."
Her husband paused his speech and looked at her wife's panting figure. He then sighed and continued,
"Looking at you right now guess I can't keep it a secret"
Her husband shrugged.
"Jo-gging?"
The wife asked for a confirmation. And her husband nodded.
She immediately falls to her knee.
"Why you didn't say it earlier gosh, You almost made me get a heart attack."
The wife spoke, placing her hand on her chest. The husband just giggled and apologized to her again.
After she calmed down her breathing, she immediately stood and walked to her seat.
"Anyway, for her to start jogging out of the blue..."
The wife spoke, putting the dishes on her empty plate.
"Yeah. I was also surprised at first. Let's just ask her when she's back."
The husband replied. Focussing his vision back to his phone.
NEARBY PARK
Filia's POV
Huff* huff*
It's been more than 1 hour passed after I left my house to do some jogging and exercises. Sweat already covered my entire body from my head down to my toe. Sore muscles everywhere and numb feet. After confirming my condition, I decided to take a rest.
"Haa, let's take a rest..."
I surveyed my surroundings and immediately spotted an unoccupied bench. I walked toward it, grabbed my sports drink, and took a seat.
*gulp* *gulp*
"Puahh,"
I wiped my mouth with my sleeve and started wiping the sweat off my body.
"Can't believe I'm starting to do this. Well, to become strong like him, I need to start my training after all. Power comes from training, and strength comes from power. Like Shadow, becoming strong while hiding is undoubtedly sooo cooool!"
I clenched my hand, unable to suppress the shiver of happiness at the thought of what would happen after I became strong
"After I become strong, I should start looking for subordinates since Shadow also had them. Were they called 'Numbers'? Anyway, each of them had extraordinary strength. Should I also look for a female one? Since Shadow's subordinates are all female... maybe because he's male. Or should I look for a male one since I'm female? Or maybe both? Hmm..."
I tilted my head and put my index finger near my lips while closing my eyes.
"Anyway, I can't wait for it!"
I spoke then stood up from my seat.
"Ah, what time is it?"
I glanced at the screen of my phone which showed 7.12 Am.
"I should go back home now,"
I spoke then yawning.
"I guess pulling all-nighters starts showing its effect."
I spoke to myself and started walking back home.
.
.
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"I'm home~"
I announced my arrival after entering the front door of my house.
"Welcome back, Filia."
It was my mom who replied first. She then continues,
"How's the jogging?"
"Eh, j-jogging? W-what do you mean, I-i just, I just went to my friend's house because she called for me."
I spoke, glancing away from my mom's gaze with my hand on my back. Trying to hide the fact that I had started my training arc.
"You sure? but your dad definitely says-"
"Daaaaadd!"
I immediately screamed, interrupting my mom's speech. Glancing around, I found my dad on the sofa, watching me with a wry smile. I immediately ran to him.
"Dad! why did you tell Mom, I definitely said it was a secret..."
I spoke to him while pouting.
"Is there any reason why you need to hide from me sweetie?"
My mom slowly walked towards me and patted my head.
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed about the comforting feeling my mom gave my head. Without realizing it, I already faced my mom while gazing at the floor.
With a meek voice, I spoke,
"N-no, it's just, I just want to get stronger and... protect everyone without anyone knowing..."
A moment later, I could feel a warm sensation embracing my entire body.
"Oh, silly. So that's what's in your mind this entire time? Mom was worried you know..."
My mom spoke in a low tone, comfortable enough to reach my reddened ears. While hugging me, she also stroked my hair, making me unable to resist burying my head on her comfortable chest. Soon after, I could feel another warm sensation embracing me from behind. It was my dad.
"I feel happy that you think like that, but don't worry too much Filia. I'm the head of this family. I wouldn't let anything dangerous happen to us. But maybe, being protected by my precious daughter is also a good thing."
My dad spoke with a comforting tone.
"Speaking of it, this morning, did I say something to you, honey?"
My dad spoke, removing his embrace.
"Hm? Didn't you say Filia was going to her friend's house?"
My mom replied, also releasing the hug.
I looked at both of my parents' faces, unable to resist the surge of emotion. I pulled both of them into another hug, and we exchanged giggles while my mom stroked my hair once more. Suddenly, steps could be heard descending from upstairs.
"yawn* mornin'. Hey hey, what happened? A sudden emotional thingy?"
It was my brother.
My mom threw a giggle at my brother and released her embrace.
"Rentarou, go wake your brother up."
My dad did the same and resumed watching the TV news.
"Ehhh, why should I..."
My brother rebutted.
"No 'buts,' remember your punishment yesterday? I haven't given you the punishment, so go wake your brother up as the punishment,"
My mom insisted.
My brother sighed and accepted his fate.
"Fine..."
"Rentarou! Go buy me some coffee at the convenience store,"
My dad ordered my brother without batting an eye.
"OI, you geezer! Go buy it yourself!"
Once again, my brother rebutted.
"Honey~"
My dad threw his signature move.
"Rentarou..."
This time, my mom was the one who spoke.
"KURGHHH FINEEE!!"
The move succeeded.
"Pfft, ahahaha..."
I couldn't help but let out a small giggle while looking at them with one eye closed.
Yeah, this is what I want to protect. After I become strong, I'll prioritize my family. Maybe I should order my strongest subordinate to protect them in secret, while I go around beating up some bad guys. Ehehehe, what should I do, I wonder~
Soon after, another spark happened in my vision. But this time was different from before. The scenary, was...
Unbearable
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Patreon
umm when will this be updated
Ill think about it when i paused my CIOPMW
just be patient for now.