*CLICK
The desk lamp immediately radiates its light once I switch it on. As I sit alone in my bedroom, I believe it is time to open my "Ancient Book of Secret". Well, in other words, that is my diary, where I keep all of my secrets inside.
Inside the diary, I have written every events that happened in my life, especially my fateful encounter with the vigilante Bayang. Ever since that day, I could not get him off my mind everytime I sleep.
Then, I open up one page of my diary, where there is a drawing of a warrior in dark armor wielding a sword as he saves a princess from her ultimate demise. All I remember from this drawing is that it brings me back to that moment.
It was during some time during 2018, in Okinawa. I was staying with my grandparents' at that time because my parents were staying at England. Since I was pretending to not being very fluent in English at that time, I chose to stay on Okinawa instead, and managed to convince my parents that I wouldn't be able to catch up with the study. Fortunately, Father let that slide and only brought Maira and Onee-san there.
Then one day, as I was fishing alone somewhere near the village, I could hear explosion sounds coming from the town. A big smoke from the village rose up to the sky, signaling a terrible scenario was occuring.
"Ojii-san, Obaa-san!" Both of them immediately came to my mind, thus urging me to head out to the village.
Once I reached the village, it was nothing but chaos. People are scattered across the village, saving their own hide.
But what stole my attention was a humanoid figure, standing amidst the chaos. The moment it turned to face me, all I saw was its face was like that of a Tarantula. It was no man after all.
At that moment, I could only trust my instinct, and without second thought, I tried to run as fast as I could. My breath hitched, while these legs moved on their own.
Yet, the figure managed to outrun me by shooting me with its organic webbing. Unable to move, I could only gaze as the predator walks closer to me every second. But my heart refused to give up hope as I prayed that I will be safe.
As if my prayer had been answered, another figure came and destroyed the predator with relative ease before coming to my aid. It was a man, covering himself in a brown robe and had a mask worn under his hood.
*Whooshhh
Cutting through the webbing, the figure had set me free and immediately left the scene, but not before saying something to me. "Be careful, dear child, for danger lurks everywhere. Now return to your family."
That was the words that he uttered to me.
Well, that is the case if my memory serves me well. Fortunately, I managed to capture the moment in this drawing, so that I will remember the day forever. Ever since that day, I realised that I have fallen in love with the masked being, though I never see him again.
Recently, the moment Bayang saved me caused the memory of that day to jog slightly. Two enigmatic being, and slightly different circumstances.
One part of myself hopes that I might see my saviour again in the future. However, for the past few years, it seems impossible. Yet, when I encountered Bayang, I can feel the same presence the hooded figure radiated at that moment.
Can it be that the two were the same person? I genuinely have no idea. Might be letting that slide for this moment.
Once I close my diary, I decide to walk to my balcony, where I watch as the stars shimmering brightly in the night sky.
Then my thought again wanders to him, causing an idea to pop up in my mind.
What if I find out who is the one behind the mask? But what if he is not a handsome guy? Ehhh, it does not matter. What I want to know is the identity of Bayang himself.
Be ready, Bayang, for I will come for you.
***
When the sun is rising, another day comes by.
As I sit in my place inside the class, I am about to finish my revision on physics when Wan and Zera approach my seat.
"Hi, Amane! Busy doing revision, eh?" Wan says as she sits on the empty seat beside me.
"Yes, I am, since Miss Lee is going to give us mock test, right?" I say.
"Yes, and I have not study anything yet." says Zera while giggling.
"Nah, you might just score it. Meanwhile, for me, I might need Iru's assistance for it." says Wan while looking at Iru who is scrolling through his phone, clearly unbothered by his surroundings.
At the moment, my curiousity get the best of me and ask "Why Iru?"
"Well, he is the top 1 student in this class. His reputation is known by our whole batch. So, we can say that he is our "Albert Einstein"." Wan replies. Her voice is full of excitement upon telling the story of Iru.
I can tell that Iru is no ordinary guy, and that he just choose to be silent everytime proves that. Maybe he is the 'low profile' type of person.
"I see... " That is all I can say about him.
The clock is ticking fast, and it is already 6.50 am.
And so begins the class of the day.
***
*Bell ringing
It is time for recess. After several days attending this school, I finally get used to the surroundings.
Today, I am accompanied by Wan and Zera as we head out to the cafeteria. Along the way, we have a little amusing chatter with each other until we find a place to settle down and enjoy the time.
At the moment, a question pops up on my mind, leading me to ask Wan and Zera "Do you ever heard of somebody called "Bayang"?".
The two tilt their head before meeting my eyes "Bayang? Who is that?" asks Wan.
"Well, he is some kind of vigilante, maybe? Wearing a hood and a metal mask." I explain to them. All of a sudden, I feel a little bit awkward.
"Never heard of him. But if you are asking about Armorer Typhoon, yeah, we know him." Zera says.
"Armorer Typhoon, I know him. The hero who fights gigantic kaiju, right? Sometimes, he reminds me of the Giant of Light himself." I say. At least, that is all I know about Armorer Typhoon.
"HAHA, Yes, he is. He has saved us countless of times! But now, he is nowhere to be seen, because the kaiju is no more." says Wan while chuckling.
"I see.. HAHAHA" that is all I could say as I exhale. It seems that Bayang is super mysterious to the point that no one knows him.
However, this makes my detective instinct to go even wilder, urging me to find the identity of Bayang myself. I can't help it, for the world's greatest detective taught me that.
*Bell ringing again
"I guess we shall return to the classroom now." says Wan.
The two of us nod, and we walk back to the classroom together.
***
The night comes by.
Wearing my black sweatshirt with a hood, I have myself covered in black mask for tonight.
Slowly, I open the sliding door before heading out and jump off the balcony. Luckily the grass is quite soft for a landing spot.
And so, the hunt for Bayang begins!
Eventually, I arrive at the dark alley from before. The moment I enter the alley, it is all silent, yet I can feel the darkness and evil lurk in the shadows. It is eerily disturbing. Nevertheless, I have to find Bayang's hidden spot.
All of a sudden....
*GRRRRRRR
From another alley, something in the dark snarls. Then comes another sound.
*CLANG
Swords clashing.
It is no doubt that something must be going on there. I must find out.
Once I reach the other alley, what happens before me is something far beyond my comprehension.
Two humanoid beings are fighting against each other. One with a sword, while the other one has five large claws on each hands. The battle is so fast and intense as the two beings try to outwit each other.
As I look closer, it turns out that the clawed being is a tiger-like creature, clashing with the other one who appears more humanlike, despite wearing some kind of helmet.
I cannot believe my eyes for what am I seeing right now.
At the moment the two beings continue clashing, the tiger humanoid growls as it unleashes its claws, throwing it like a projectile around the perimeter, damaging its surroundings.
Then...
*SLICK
One of the claws stabs me on my right thigh. "ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH" I groan as the claw pierces through my flesh.
I am struggling with the claw and to make the matter worse, the tiger humanoid appears before me upon hearing my groan. Despite the dark of the night, I can see its eyes glowing, and those are the eyes of a predator who is hunting its prey.
Just as I am at the the mercy of the predator...
*WOOOSSHHHHH
"GGRRROARRRRRR!!!!!" The tiger humanoid growls in agony before falling to the ground. Seconds later, the creature lying helplessly, its body is lifeless.
I try to get a hold of myself, but the longer I hold on, the more agonizing the pain is.
All of a sudden, my head feels so heavy. My sight becomes blurred. Before I realise it, I start to lose my consciousness.
Yet, moment before my consciousness fades away, I see the other figure rushes towards me. After that, everything becomes dark as if I am swallowed into nothingness.
Is this going to be the end of me?