Dice, Stalker, and Dark Desire

A Week Later, Human Realm.

— Krriiingg!

As the school bell of Osaka Prefectural No.7 Gakuen rang out to announce the second break of the day, Kirin burst out of his classroom with a small opened booklet in his hand.

Despite his average looks and weak presence, this 16-year-old youngster was by no means your average highschooler supposedly with good grades and reputation. Rather, he was anything but that.

The name Kirin was not an ordinary name either.

It was a household name, so well-known that not one parent in the near vicinity was willing to use that name for their sweet newborn child.

And this naming phenomenon, as absurd as it sounds, was estimated to last for no less than 50 years at least.

In short, everyone avoided this youngster named Kirin like a plague.

Why won't they when the youngster hadn't only bottomed his class for the entirety of his school years, but was also known for having an inferior constitution since birth, easily attracting evil spirits and prompting him to spurt blood wherever he went and faint whenever he felt like it?

Undoubtedly, in the eyes of the others, Kirin was one hopeless case who was both dumb and sickly, cursed to have no bright future ahead of him. But, little did they know of the little secret the youngster had kept only to himself.

Kirin was in possession of two bodies. And after sacrificing his main body to seal the disastrous Tier-5 Demon, he was determined to live this one last one right.

Kirin's goal was simple. He merely wanted to live a normal life. 

To finish school, graduate from a decent university, get a decent job as a white-collared worker, marry a virtuous and obedient wife and finally – build his own small and happy family of four.

And as the first step to realize that simple dream of his, he had set his very first small milestone, and that was to obtain his very first passing grade in the upcoming Mock Test.

Although the mock test only served as a preparation for the English Finals, the results would still be recorded and marked as a quiz. And thus, with the test taking place not more than an hour from now, Kirin couldn't possibly afford to slack around and waste time.

Fortunately, his eyesight in this lifetime was quite good. Despite the tiny and curly words crammed together into the small booklet, he was able to inwardly recite it all without any trouble.

Like this, he went down the stairs and entered the dining room with his head casted downwards and his eyes never leaving his notes for even a fraction of a second, painting the image of an obedient and studious student he was never known as.

Today's lunch was quite nutritious.

Grilled fish, stir-fried veggies, and a generous serving of cold salad.

Kirin's eyes swept over with a thoughtful look, noting the balanced nature of energy provided, before he retrieved his own tray of food.

He had just strategically stuffed himself on the furthest corner of the room to obtain a moment of peace, raising the spoon and picking up the small booklet with his other hand when his shoulders were suddenly hit and embraced from the back.

A teenager dressed in a similar dark blue gakuran slid over to his left, wearing a carefree smile that painted a frown in Kirin's otherwise stoic face.

"Kii~rin, since when have you been this studious? Forget it. As an eternal top scorer from the bottom for 10 years in a row, no pretty girls will fall for your pretentious act."

"Haruto."

With a crumpled face, Kirin pushed the overly enthusiastic teenager away. "Back off. I am not doing this to prove myself to anyone."

No matter how long it had been, he just couldn't bring himself to get used to this young master's touchy behavior.

Haruto was his one and only 'good' friend in school, and it seemed to be the same case for the other guy as well.

Though Kirin didn't know exactly how someone as dull as him could be associated with this princely-like refined young man, they just somehow hit along and now stuck together like a pair of chopsticks wherever they go, for example at this moment.

Despite his blatant display of dislike, the other party seemed to have noticed none of his discomfort as he shifted back to his original position.

"Is that so?" Haruto leaned over with an intent stare. "You just seem different from before, though I can't really put a finger on what it is."

"Well actually, that's a lie. You become much more responsive and expressive, looking alive and obviously kickin' unlike the obedient little doll you used to be." He added with a laidback smile, before retracting his gaze to direct them onto his food.

"Why? Do you not like that?"

In this short exchange of words, not once had Kirin's sight strayed away from the booklet, his other hand moving seamlessly to stuff spoonful after spoonful of rice into his mouth.

For once, he had only opened his mouth for the sake of saying something, not wanting to be a bad friend when he suddenly caught a whiff of something disconcerting, prompting the hair on his back to stand on all ends.

"If I said yes, would you revert back to that previous version of Kirin?"

Kirin raised his eyes only to be met with a desire so dark and consuming, like a whirl of black hole desiring to swallow him whole. His heart sank as his eyebrows twitched. "You…"

"Nevertheless, you should watch your back. Lately, there's so many people strolling around with their sexual orientations skewed. Be careful of getting yourself targeted, friend."

Haruto was quick to look away and return to his usual laid-back manner, saying half-jokingly as he patted Kirin's shoulder and rose from his seat.

Then, after leaving behind a short "I'm done," he left with his tray seemingly untouched, his figure coming and going like the wind.

Kirin didn't have to turn around to know who Haruto was referring to.

Ishida Shion.

His persistent stalker for a week at least, since Kirin had only taken full control of the body for no more than that.

He was a cool guy from his class (according to the girls), a new transfer whose name he had just learnt of only because he was being too obvious and disturbing.

Without any doubt, Kirin was oblivious of what this Shion exactly wanted from him. Whatever it was, Kirin didn't plan on associating himself with this guy. Although he hadn't detected any malicious intent from him in this past week, somehow, his instincts were telling him that this guy was bad news.

And yet, what's destined to happen can never be stopped nor prevented, and only be faced.

After lunch, Kirin was just about to return to the class to secure his seat and memorize a few more vocabularies when the only entrance to the room was blocked.

Undoubtedly, the culprit was the detestable new transfer Shion who's a head taller than him and clearly, the guy didn't plan on budging before getting what he want.

"What do you want?"

Kirin eyed Shion with a frown, feeling a bit insulted when the tall guy slightly craned his neck downward to match his eye level. He had wanted to brush him off and force his way in, when Shion stretched out his hand and opened his palm.

There lying on the heart of his palm was a dice, small and insignificant.

 "..."

What's the meaning of this?

Had this guy recognized him as a fellow gambler as well?

Kirin received the dice with blank eyes.

"Let's be good acquaintances."

'???'

The guy's next words didn't help either and merely added more confusion to his already jumbled mind.

Fortunately, lunch was soon over and when the papers of the mock test were handed out, Kirin finally knew what the dice was exactly for.