Chapter 1: Awakening the Werewolf
In the bustling heart of New York City, amidst the towering skyscrapers and the endless hum of traffic, lived a young boy named Berlin Starc. To his peers, he was nothing more than a nerdy outcast, his face perpetually buried in a book, his body scrawny and unimpressive. Berlin had long since resigned himself to the cruel realities of high school, where he was routinely overlooked and bullied by the more popular and athletic students.

Yet, on one fateful night, Berlin's unremarkable life was about to take an unexpected and extraordinary turn.

As the city lights outside his bedroom window cast an eerie glow, Berlin stirred in his sleep, a strange unease rippling through his body. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and he found himself staring at the world through new eyes – eyes that were sharper, more attuned to the shadows that crept along the walls.

Panic seized him as he felt his bones shifting, his muscles contracting in a way that was both foreign and terrifying. Berlin watched in mute horror as his fingers lengthened, his nails sharpening into deadly talons. A guttural growl escaped his lips, and he clapped a hand over his mouth, his heart pounding in his chest.

"What's happening to me?" he whispered, the words barely audible as his voice deepened, taking on a primal, animalistic quality.

Trembling, Berlin stumbled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, flipping on the light and gazing into the mirror. What stared back at him was not the face of the meek, bespectacled boy he had always known, but rather a visage that was simultaneously alluring and frightening. His features had taken on a feral, lupine aspect, his eyes glowing with an unearthly light.

Berlin's mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening to him. Had he finally snapped under the constant torment of his peers? Was this some sort of twisted nightmare from which he would soon awaken? But as he ran his hands over his transformed body, the reality of the situation became painfully clear.

He was a werewolf.

The knowledge hit him like a ton of bricks, and Berlin felt the weight of his newfound power and the burden of his curse. Part of him was horrified, terrified of the changes that had overcome him, but another part – a primal, instinctive part – reveled in the raw strength and speed that coursed through his veins.

Berlin spent the rest of the night in a state of frenzied confusion, pacing his room and trying to make sense of what had happened. As the first rays of dawn peeked through his curtains, he knew he could no longer hide from the truth. He had to tell someone, had to find a way to understand and control this transformation.

With a deep, steadying breath, Berlin picked up his phone and dialed the numbers of his closest friends – Sichamo Yasuki, Yamudo Chan, Yoshikava Hunanano, and Tervin Hills. They were the only ones he could trust with this impossible secret, the only ones who might understand what he was going through.

As his friends arrived one by one, Berlin watched their expressions shift from concern to shock as he revealed the truth. To his surprise, however, their reactions were not ones of fear or revulsion, but rather of a shared understanding.

"We're werewolves too," Sichamo said solemnly, his gaze meeting Berlin's. "And we're all connected by the same curse."

The revelation was both comforting and unsettling. Berlin had not realized that his friends were also suffering from this supernatural affliction, but the knowledge that he was not alone in his struggle provided a measure of relief.

"The Shinigami," Yamudo murmured, her eyes darkening with a mixture of fear and determination. "That's the source of the curse."

The group gathered around Berlin's bed, their voices hushed as they shared what they had discovered about the Shinigami, the malevolent deity that had cursed them with the werewolf transformation. Berlin listened, his mind reeling as he learned that the transformation was not simply a random biological event, but rather the result of a dark pact with a powerful, otherworldly being.

"So how do we break the curse?" Berlin asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of trepidation and resolve.

Tervin cleared his throat, his expression grave. "The only way is to confront the Shinigami itself. We have to travel to its temple, high in the mountains of Japan, and perform a ritual to appease the deity. If we succeed, the curse may be lifted."

Berlin felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of such a perilous journey, but the determination in his friends' eyes was unmistakable. They were all in this together, bound by the same incredible burden and the same desire for freedom.

As the sun rose outside, Berlin's friends gathered around him, offering their support and guidance. They would face this supernatural challenge as a team, their friendship and trust in one another the only thing that could see them through the trials ahead.

Berlin steeled himself, his newfound werewolf powers thrumming with a sense of both exhilaration and trepidation. He knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but with his friends by his side, he was ready to confront the Shinigami and reclaim his humanity, no matter the cost.