Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria, or The Empty Box and the Zeroth Maria, tells the sinister story of Kazuki Hoshino, who is almost madly attached to his everyday life, and his antagonist Aya Otonashi, who suddenly transfers into his class—for the 13,118th time. She majestically announces to “break” him, without paying heed to anyone else around them.... more>>

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This is but the start of a dark roller coaster ride that turns the two against themselves, the people around them and the one who may be god. Read on as their relationship slowly changes as they go against their most basic values in their struggle against the world itself. <<less

“I like you!”... more>>

Aah, aah, why?
Why, is the world so cruel?
Even though I’ve finally given up.
Even though all my tears have finally dried.
Even though I should have forgotten.
My mind has gone blank, not knowing what I ought to say.
In the spur of the moment, what I blurted out was.

“…..eh, iya, ano…I’m already going out with someone, sorry.”

Rejection. <<less

My first meeting with him was in the hospital’s ICU.... more>>

Before I laid my eyes upon him, I thought that the legend of Snow White was simply a fairy tale. How could someone with hair dark as ebony, lips red as blood, and skin white as first snow exist in this world?

I began to believe in fairy tales that very day. <<less

Song Zhiyu x Cheng Po... more>>

On my way to Cheng Po on January 20th, 2022, it snowed for the first time in my life.

—--

What do we live off?

In “Persimmon Apartment,” the unknown author wrote:

Living off the poverty of these corners, living off what has not been spoken, living off the chronic issues of life, living off these again and again, we are nearing death.

—--

Living off silence and tears, some nights I watched you and your flashy tattoo that contradicted your cold temperament. We lived off departures, a first-time chase, a reunion that has not yet happened, and a train that is determined to go north amidst the heavy, drifting snow. <<less

On the hundredth day, I knew I was ill.
On the last day, I died.

In the dreamer's dream, the dreamed one awoke.
— Borges... more>>

“I exist between the heavens and earth, in the sunlight, in the wind, and in dreams.”

One night, Yu Hao, a college student who was at his wits’ end had an unexpected encounter with a mysterious visitor – “General” – who had dream travelled. He led Yu Hao in solving the countless riddles that abounded in the realm of the conscious, and lit up the fire beacons on the meandering Great Wall.

Thereafter, the darkness retreated, the sun rose, and when the long night was thoroughly lit up, the him who existed in reality was reborn.

The black dragon that roared, the lighthouse and demonic eye on the coastline, the rain forest before Chichén Itzá, the fierce beasts that wreaked havoc in the Colosseum…the bizarre projection of reality in one’s consciousness reflected the hidden place that the sunlight in reality couldn’t touch – the innumerable sins of the human heart.

The journey of seizing dreams continues, and one can only hope that the sun will continue illuminating the human heart.

——

Fire beacons on the Great Wall were lit up to signal a border invasion. <<less

There's no one else in the world who would love you as much as I do.

Meeting you was the happiest thing in my life. Thank you. And also. I'm sorry.

A person who has the power to control people's bodies uses it to make them commit su*cide, and one day encounters a special target.

No one will think that a boy with mental problems is worth liking…. but I just want to stay with him. Qi Shi only believes... more>> in me. If I can't help him, who else will stand by him? I must take a different road from others. I want to be a real king so that the knight, who is loyal to me, also has a peaceful and happy future. <<less

Hyperthymesia. Those with this condition can remember every detail of their lives from something as significant as the world’s turning point to something as small and as insignificant as a minor fleeting thought. They cannot forget and their thirst for knowledge allows them to be considered genius in some senses.... more>>

Legend has it that Ji Yushi was this kind of genius.

In addition, it was said that he was gay and very beautiful.

As soon as the news that he was going to support Tianqiong’s seventh squad broke out, it sent everyone buzzing.

Everyone knew that the captain of the seventh squad, Song Qinglan, was a hoodlum and deeply homophobic.

He not only relied on his super-powerful abilities to become the dark horse on the battlefield in less than two years, but he also hates it when those at the top forced a flower vase* into his squad.

Sure enough, Song Qinglan announced in front of everyone, “Useful? Us brothers are going out there working ourselves to the bone, we don’t need a little genius who can only speedread quantum waves!”

Later.

The squad was forced into a dire situation during their mission.

That beautiful little genius calmly continued, every gunfire hitting the mark, his fighting power peaking.

Song Qinglan begged in front of everyone, “Adviser Ji, stay.”

In the end, he added, “I’ll work myself to the bone for you.”

*****

Ji Yushi had a secret.

He would often be awake at night, suffering from memory overload and recurring nightmares.

There was only one thing that could let him fall asleep peacefully.

And that was Song Qinglan.

*Flower vase: Someone who only looks pretty but can’t amount to much <<less

"August 18, I ushered in my death."

One summer night, the uneasiness of the both of us.... more>>

[R-15] This work contains incentive expressions.

If an ideal person suddenly appears before you, please be careful. <<less

My little sister hanged herself, and my devastated mother called me. An amused trespasser showed me a video of my sister's r*pe, and pointed me... more>> to the location of the rapists' beloved daughters. I grab my stun gun and enact my kidnapping plan. But the city is also home to Jack the Stabber, whom 77 girls have fallen prey to. <<less

This is the story of the last day of one unfortunate boy’s life.... more>>

Depending on the interpretation, it can be seen as a happy ending. <<less

There is a demon called “Kubire-ki”. It is a demon that hangs the person it possesses.

I got possessed by a soul after I tried to kill myself. After one year I got my body back, but I don't know what... more>> to do anymore. <<less

The diary of Nan Kang of his relationship with his ex-boyfriend, expressing that he was willing to wait for him until 35 years old.... more>>

From morning to night, from the moment of love, the ending should have been predicted. The world praises love, but never admits love. Why is it wrong? Nan Kang, 35 years old is too long, and the waters in Xiangjiang is too cold. For fear that you are alone in the distant heavens, and he, with a woman and maybe a child, in the paradise at home. Nan Kang, do you regret waiting?

(It is said that this is a real story of a real person, Nan Kang, who has written other stories in his life. He had a loving boyfriend who, unable to withstand pressure from family and society, married a woman. In between March 9th and March 12th in 2008, Nan Kang jumped into the waters of Xiangjiang and ended his life. People found his body in the river on March 27th, after 15 long days drifting in the cold water. In 2016, readers commemorated his would-be 35th birthday.) <<less

Shimada Mio is told that the younger brother who had been missing for twenty four years after being kidnapped as an infant is alive and well living under a new name. When she reunites with him on a rainy winter day, she is surprised to find that he is the spitting image of their deceased father.... more>>

As they try to fill the twenty-four year gap, their budding friendship gives way to something more. Despite knowing their love could never be, they can’ t help but be drawn to the other… <<less

Xing Chuan finally embraced his star.... more>>

As long as the stars don't die, the trees will live forever and some things are already in the soul.

God Tree x Human

Thanks for reading. I hope to have a good time and eat enough. <<less

Marduk, the general of Kassite, has a beautiful son. Belshazzar. He has become Hierogami, a holy harlot meant to serve the soldiers of the Lion Army. Forced by his son’s reckless actions, Marduk must make a decision – let his men ravage his beloved only child or claim Belshazzar for himself, committing the ultimate sin.... more>>

The tale of Belshazzar, a son with forbidden desires, and Marduk, the father trying to honour his late wife and save them both. Whose wish will Goddess Millita fulfill?

*Part of the author’s “in*est Short Story” collection but released on its own. <<less

On the will left behind by the 14 year old su*cide victim K:... more>>

"Taku Sugawara is the devil. Nobody should believe his words." <<less

That year, I lost a friend, left another friend, went away to study in Japan…..... more>>

If memories would, just like this song, sing out this period of grey from the years of our youth; that would be a beautiful story. <<less

The story of a seemingly one sided love between a school trouble maker and the class president.