Trauma Harem

The air was heavy with a silence that wasn't quite natural. Even ADHD had stopped humming… for about three seconds.

"You know"

she said, kicking a loose pebble down the cobblestone path.

 "This place really needs a snack stand. Or, like, a taco truck. Can you imagine? Magic tacos? They'd probably sparkle or explode or something."

Anxiety groaned, clutching her head.

"Tacos? Tacos?! That's what you're worried about? We're in the middle of some weird, reality-breaking nightmare maze, and you want tacos?!"

ADHD grinned, unbothered.

 "Better than panicking, don't-cha think?"

Depression sighed heavily.

 "Panicking's overrated anyway. What's the point?"

"The point is survival!"

 Anxiety shot back, her voice rising.

"Do you even care about getting out of here?"

"Not really"

Depression muttered.

 "But I'll tag along since you're all so invested."

"Wow, thanks for the motivational speech"

ADHD quipped, flipping a stray strand of golden hair out of her face.

"I'm totally inspired now."

"Quiet."

 Kazu said, his voice firmer than usual. He stopped walking, glancing back at his traumas.

"I can't think with all of you arguing."

The three fell silent, though ADHD's restless fidgeting never ceased. Anxiety's wide eyes scanned the horizon, and Depression's tired gaze settled on Kazu, like she already knew what he was going to say next.

"We'll figure it out."

 Kazu said, more to himself than anyone else.

The street curved sharply, leading them into another eerily quiet market plaza. Empty stalls, faded awnings, and cracked pavement greeted them.

At the center of it all sat Frus, lounging at a desk. He looked up as they approached, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite travelers."

he said, his tone pleasant. Too pleasant.

Kazu slowed, his grip tightening on the map. Anxiety immediately stepped closer to his side, while ADHD bounced a little closer to Frus, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Do you live here or something?"

ADHD asked, squinting at him.

"Because, no offense, but your decorating skills suck."

Frus chuckled, leaning forward on his elbows.

"No offense taken. Though I'll have you know, the aesthetic is… intentional."

"What do you want?"

 Kazu asked, his voice sharper this time.

Frus's grin didn't falter.

"Me? Want something? No, no. I'm just here to… check in. I haven't moved an inch. Just thought I'd see how my favorite travelers are doing."

"We're doing just fine," Anxiety snapped, though her trembling hands betrayed her.

"Oh, of course,"

 Frus said, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"You're doing wonderfully. Just wonderfully."

Frus leaned back in his chair, his grin widening as if savoring the tension in the air.

"You know"

 he began, his tone almost conversational

"there's a certain beauty in watching people like you struggle. Determined. Resourceful. So sure you'll find a way, even when the odds are stacked against you."

Kazu's eyes narrowed.

"If you're done stroking your own ego, we'll be on our way."

Frus chuckled softly.

"Oh, Kazu, don't mistake my words for arrogance. I'm merely an observer, after all. But I can't help wondering… what exactly do you hope to achieve? Do you even know what you're looking for? Or are you just wandering blindly, hoping for a miracle?"

Depression let out a low, tired sigh. "He's got a point, you know?"

"Don't encourage him."

Anxiety snapped, her voice trembling.

"He's just trying to mess with us."

"Messing with you?"

 Frus said with a sly grin, his hand resting lightly on his chest.

"Now, now, don't be so suspicious. I'm here to offer... perspective. Every story benefits from a little guidance, wouldn't you agree?"

Depression let out a low sigh. "Can we just leave already?"

Frus gestured toward the path ahead with exaggerated flair.

 "Go on, then. Don't let little old me get in your way."

Kazu didn't wait for further invitation. He turned sharply and walked past the desk, his traumas following close behind. ADHD cast a quick glance over her shoulder at Frus, who gave her a polite wave before returning to his papers.

"I swear, if I have to deal with him one more time!"

Anxiety muttered, her hands trembling slightly.

"Smug face aside, the guy does have flair."

 ADHD added, tossing a pebble between her hands absentmindedly.

Depression gave a dry chuckle, her tone flat. "Yeah, great. Let's give the tormentor a standing ovation."

Kazu cut in, his voice sharp.

 "Focus. We need to figure out how to get out of here."

"You say that like it's easy."

Anxiety snapped, her voice cracking.

 "How are we supposed to figure this out when everything feels so off?"

"Simple,"

ADHD said, grinning.

 "We just need to go wherever feel's right."

Depression rolled her eyes.

 "Brilliant. Why didn't we think of that sooner?" 

"Hey,"

 ADHD said after a while, her voice unusually serious.

 "Didn't we pass that stall before?"

Kazu frowned, glancing to where she pointed. A market stall stood to the side of the road, its awning faded and sagging. The goods displayed on its wooden counter—a row of mismatched glass bottles—looked oddly familiar.

"It's probably just similar."

 he muttered, though doubt crept into his voice.

"No, it's the same."

Anxiety said, her hands twisting nervously in her sleeves.

 "I remember that crack in the counter. And the… the way those bottles are lined up. It's exactly the same."

Kazu's footsteps slowed. He turned in a slow circle, his eyes scanning the surrounding buildings. The shop signs, the cobblestone patterns, the faint scuff marks on the walls—everything felt eerily familiar.

"We're going in circles."

 he realized aloud.

Depression shrugged.

"Told you it didn't matter."

"No. No, this isn't…"

Kazu shook his head.

 "There has to be a way out."

"Hello again."

a familiar voice drawled, carried on the air as if it had always been there, lingering just out of sight.

They turned a corner, and there he was again, sitting comfortably at his desk as though he had never moved. His grin was as polite as ever, though his eyes seemed to glint with faint amusement, as if he had been expecting them all along.

"I was wondering when we'd cross paths again."

 he said casually, his tone light as if they were old friends bumping into each other.

"What are you doing here?"

Kazu asked, his voice low.

"Me? Just enjoying the scenery."

Frus replied smoothly, pressing a hand to his chest.

"This market has a way of deciding its own flow."

"You're lying."

Anxiety hissed, though her voice shook.

Frus chuckled, stepping away from the stall.

"Believe what you want. It won't change your situation. But don't worry. You'll figure it out… eventually."

Frus remained at the stall, watching them with an amused glint in his eyes. Kazu clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he turned back to the path ahead.

"We're fine."

 Kazu said, his tone firmer now as he straightened his shoulders.

"We just need to stay focused."

Depression smirked faintly, folding her arms.

"Focused on what? Wandering in circles?"

Kazu turned to Depression, his disappointment spilling into his words.

"Whose side are you even on, anyway?"

Depression met his gaze with a slow, exhausted blink.

"Does it really matter? We're all stuck in this mess together."

ADHD nudged a pebble with her shoe, watching it bounce into a crack.

 "So, what's the play here? Blind confidence or inspired improvisation?"

Kazu exhaled through his nose, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "We keep moving."

As the team trudged onward, the unsettling realization grew stronger—they were indeed going in circles. Each turn brought them back to familiar stalls, faded awnings, and cracked pavement. Desperation began to seep into their steps, and the once faint sense of unease now loomed heavily over them.

"This isn't working."

 Anxiety whispered, her voice trembling.

 "We're never getting out of here."

"Don't say that."

 Kazu snapped, though his own doubt was written on his face.

"There's a way out. There has to be."

Depression let out a long sigh, her gaze distant.

"Maybe there isn't. Maybe this is it. Wandering forever. It's not like we haven't done that before."

ADHD kicked at another pebble, her movements are even less animated now.

"So... are we just supposed to hope the market spits us out? Or maybe we should throw a rock and see if it bounces back. Because this is getting old."

Suddenly, Anxiety froze, her wide eyes darting toward a dark alley to their right. Her body tensed as she grabbed Kazu's arm. Her grip was tighter than usual, enough to make him stop mid-step.

"We're being watched."

 she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kazu followed her gaze but saw nothing beyond shadows.

"By who?"

"It's Frus."

Anxiety said, her tone firm despite the fear lacing her words. She didn't look away from the darkness, her hands now trembling as they clung to Kazu's sleeve. Anxiety pointed a trembling finger toward the darkness, her entire body taut with fear.

"He's there. Right there."

"How do you know?"

Kazu asked, squinting into the void of the alley.

"We can't see anything in there."

Anxiety's grip tightened further.

"I just know. He's there. I can feel it. No... I can see him."

[Ability - Hyper Awareness: Anxiety possesses an extraordinary enhancement of all five senses, allowing her to detect unseen enemies with unmatched precision]

Depression glanced toward the alley with her usual tired expression but tilted her head slightly, as if considering Anxiety's claim.

 "Well, if it is him, he's got a flair for the dramatic."

ADHD crouched, picking up a loose pebble.

 "Let's find out."

 Before anyone could stop her, she tossed the pebble into the alley. The sound of it hitting the ground echoed unnaturally, like it was swallowed up by the void.

"Really?"

 Anxiety hissed.

"You think provoking him is a good idea?"

"If he's watching, then he already knows we're not stopping."

ADHD said, brushing off her hands as if dismissing the tension.

 "Might as well let him know we're serious."

Kazu sighed, stepping forward cautiously. The shadows seemed to stretch and shift, playing tricks in his eyes.

"Frus, if you're there, just come out already."

The alley remained silent for a long moment, the tension growing thicker with each passing second. Then, from the darkness, a low chuckle emerged, faint but unmistakable.

"Sharp as ever."

came Frus's smooth voice, the words rolling out lazily as he finally stepped into view. His grin was wider than before, and there was an unmistakable glint of amusement in his eyes.

"What gave me away?"

Anxiety took a step back, her face pale.

"I told you. I just knew."

Frus chuckled again, adjusting his cuffs as if he hadn't just emerged from a pitch-black void.

"You lot are always so entertaining. So many questions, so few answers."

Kazu narrowed his eyes at Frus, stepping forward slightly.

"Are you the one doing this? Twisting the streets, making us run in circles?"

Frus tilted his head, a glimmer of delight in his eyes.

 "Twisting streets? My dear Kazu, this place has its own rhythm. I merely… accentuate the melody."

"So you admit it."

Kazu said sharply, his fists tightening.

 "You're playing with us."

Frus's grin widened, and he shrugged nonchalantly.

 "I'll admit to nothing, but I do enjoy watching determination in action. So go on. Amaze me. Show me what you've got."

"We don't have time for your games."

Kazu growled, stepping closer.

 "If you're trying to stop us, you'll have to do better than this."

"Stop you? Oh, Kazu, I'm not stopping you. I'm just here to see how far you'll go."

 Frus leaned against the alley wall, his grin never wavering.

"The market loves persistence, after all."

"Persistence? More like torment."

Anxiety muttered, her hands still clutching Kazu's arm.

"Why don't you just let us go?"

Frus's expression twisted into a devilish grin, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

 "Let you go? Oh, Kazu, I've already let you loose in my little game. This place bends to my will, and watching you stumble through it? That's the real pleasure. Remember, you're the one that thinks he can survive without my help."

Kazu took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

 "We're done talking. If you're not going to help us, then stay out of our way."

Frus bowed theatrically. "As you wish. The path is yours to take, if you can find it."

Without another word, Kazu turned and led the group away, Anxiety glancing nervously over her shoulder. They continued onward, this time with heightened caution. The group's tension was increasing, each step accompanied by wary glances at their surroundings.

"Everything here feels off," Kazu admitted, his voice low. "It's like the streets are shifting on their own."

Depression trailed behind, her tired gaze scanning the empty market stalls. "Maybe they are. It's not like this place follows any rules."

The cobblestone streets twisted in unfamiliar ways, leading them past more cracked stalls and faded signs. Kazu paused, narrowing his eyes at a crooked post.

"Wait," he said slowly. "Have we been here before?"

ADHD squinted at the sign, her golden eyes sparkling with thought. "Looks familiar… or maybe it's just all the same gloomy mess?"

Anxiety tugged at his arm. "No, we've definitely passed this before. I remember the crack in that wall. We're going in circles."

Kazu's grip tightened on the map, his knuckles whitening. "That can't be right. I've been keeping track."

"Then you're tracking wrong," Depression cut in, her tone flat. "Or this place is playing with us."

A bead of sweat rolled down Kazu's temple as doubt crept in. How could he lead them out when every path seemed to fold back in on itself?

ADHD, ever restless, darted ahead to peer down an alley.

"Maybe we need to try something crazy. Like… walk backwards? Or flip a coin?"

Anxiety grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.

"Or we could not draw more attention to ourselves."

The faintest rustle carried on the stale air, making Anxiety freeze. Her grip on Kazu's sleeve tightened as her wide eyes darted around nervously.

"Kazu…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "He's here."

Kazu stopped, his patience visibly thinning. "Where?" he demanded, his tone sharp. "Where is he this time?"

Anxiety hesitated, her trembling hand pointing toward a shadowed corner.

"He's there."

she whispered, her voice shaking. 

Kazu stepped forward, his voice low and firm.

"Leave. Now. We're done playing your games."

Frus didn't move, didn't respond. He simply remained where he was, his grin unchanging, his silence mocking.

"Did you hear me?"

Kazu's voice rose, anger simmering beneath his words.

"Go!"

Still, Frus gave no reaction. His presence felt like a taunt, a reminder of their powerlessness.

Depression sighed heavily, her voice quiet but biting.

"He's not going anywhere, is he?"

"Then we ignore him."

 Kazu said sharply, turning away and pulling the group forward.

The next turn brought them right back to the same plaza.

The same stalls.

The same damn smirking Frus.

Kazu's grip tightened. His jaw clenched.

"You know," Frus mused, "there's a certain beauty in watching people like you struggle. Determined. Resourceful. So sure you'll find a way, even when the odds are stacked against you."

Kazu turned sharply, eyes narrowing. "If you're done stroking your own ego, we'll be on our way."

Frus chuckled softly. "Oh, Kazu, don't mistake my words for arrogance. I'm merely an observer, after all. But I can't help wondering… what exactly do you hope to achieve? Do you even know what you're looking for? Or are you just wandering blindly, hoping for a miracle?"

Kazu didn't respond. He just walked past him.

Kazu turned and walked again. 

And again.

And again.

Each time, the streets led them right back.

Back to Frus.

Back to his smug face.

Back to the same damn plaza.

His fingers twitched. His body felt too hot.

He wasn't imagining this.

The stalls looked slightly different each time—moved slightly—like someone was mocking them.

ADHD was the first to pick up on his shifting mood. "Uhhh… Kazu? Your face is doing that 'I'm-gonna-snap' thing."

"Quiet," Kazu muttered. 

Depression smirked, sensing it too. "You're getting mad, huh?"

"No." His voice was too flat.

Anxiety tugged on his sleeve. "Kazu, we should—"

"DOES IT EVER STOP?!"

His voice boomed across the empty stalls.

His vision blurred with rage.

Frus blinked, then let out a quiet chuckle. "Ah. There it is."

"You think this is funny?!" Kazu snapped, stepping forward. His fists clenched too tight. "You think this is some kind of game?!"

Frus sighed dramatically. "Kazu, Kazu, Kazu… why so angry? You were handling it so well."

"SHUT UP!" Kazu slammed his hands onto the desk. "I am sick of you. Sick of your smug face. Sick of this stupid looping market. And I am done playing your game!"

Frus merely leaned back, his grin widening like Kazu had just done exactly what he wanted.

"Finally," Frus murmured, almost to himself. "Some real fire."

Kazu didn't even process that. He just turned and walked.

As the group continued walking, the weight of the silence became suffocating. Every creak of wood, every faint echo of their footsteps, seemed amplified. Anxiety's breathing grew uneven as she clutched her arms tightly.

"This doesn't feel right."

Anxiety murmured.

"We're walking, but it's like we're not moving at all."

"Yeah, it's called OVERTHINKING."

ADHD snapped, her usual playfulness replaced by irritation.

 "Can you not freak out for five minutes?"

"I'm not freaking out!"

 Anxiety shot back, her voice rising.

"I'm being realistic. This place is wrong. Everything about it is wrong!"

"Oh, great. Just what we need—more panicking."

 ADHD muttered, kicking at a loose stone on the ground.

Depression sighed heavily, dragging her feet behind the group.

 "Both of you shut up. It doesn't matter anyway. We're all stuck here. Just accept it."

Kazu finally stopped, spinning around to face them.

"Enough! All of you! Arguing isn't helping us figure out anything. We need to stay focused."

Anxiety clutched at Kazu's sleeve, her eyes darting around wildly.

 "It's too quiet."

she whispered.

"This isn't normal."

ADHD fidgeted with a pebble, her movements jittery.

 "What even counts as normal here? A marching band?"

"I'm serious."

Anxiety shot back, her voice tight.

 "Something's wrong."

Depression trailed a few steps behind, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"Everything's wrong. That's the point."

Kazu glanced at each of them, his jaw set.

 "Keep moving. Whatever's out there, we'll deal with it."

 The words sounded confident, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him.

The silence deepened as they walked, each step growing heavier. Anxiety's breathing quickened, her eyes darting between the looming shadows of the market. Then, she stopped abruptly, her body rigid as if frozen by some unseen force.

"Kazu!"

 Anxiety suddenly screamed, pointing at a row of blacked-out windows on a nearby building. Her voice trembled with both fear and certainty.

"Frus is behind that window!"

ADHD, her patience worn thin, let out an exasperated sigh.

"Enough of this already."

 She grabbed a loose cobblestone from the ground and hurled it at the window with a force that defied logic, shattering the glass entirely and blowing a hole through the back of the building.

A gust of dust and debris swirled as Frus emerged from the destroyed window, coughing and looking visibly shaken but unharmed. His usual composed demeanor was replaced by genuine worry.

"Are you insane?!"

Frus shouted, his voice cracking.

 "You could have killed me!"

Kazu turned to ADHD, his eyebrows raised.

"How did you do that...?"

[Ability - Unrestrained: ADHD possesses the ability to access bursts of incredible strength, seemingly out of nowhere. The limits of this power remain a mystery.]

ADHD shrugged, grinning.

"Pure vibes, boss. Pure vibes."

Kazu stepped forward, his tone cold.

"I warned you to stay out of our way."

Frus's eyes narrowed, his irritation barely contained as he straightened his coat.

"Fine. You want me to leave? Consider it done. I'll make sure to stay out of your sight for good."

With that, Frus turned sharply, disappearing into the shadows with a final huff. The silence that followed was heavy, but for the first time, the group felt a faint glimmer of control over their situation.

As they kept walking, they noticed something unsettling. The shopkeepers were back. They stood at their stalls, their faces emotionless, yet their eyes followed the group's every move.

"They're back? But why now?"

 ADHD asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and unease.

"I guess that means Frus is really off our tail."

Kazu said, a faint glimmer of hope breaking through his tone.

Before Kazu could process that hope, Anxiety grabbed his arm tightly. Her voice was sharp, panicked.

"Kazu!!!"

He turned to her, alarmed.

"What? What is it?"

"It's Frus again"

 she said, her voice trembling.

"I see him!"

Kazu's jaw tightened, his voice rising with barely restrained anger.

"Again?! How many times do we have to tell him? Where is he this time?!"

Anxiety's eyes darted around, wide and terrified, looking in every direction.

"He's…"

 She took a deep, trembling breath, her voice barely above a whisper.

…

"Everywhere."