8:47 AM – Tokyo Metropolitan Kurohane High School
The sky over Hanabira was dull, as if the sunlight had to pass through a dirty gray filter.
Kairo stepped through the school gates, his heart still pounding in his chest and his mind tangled in the echo of that whisper:
> "I see you."
He thought back to the masked face, the burning sensation on his forehead.
It had to be just his imagination… or so he kept telling himself.
But the pain, the way it had frozen him—
That wasn't a dream.
"Finally!"
A sharp voice hit him like an arrow.
Aenna stood in front of him, hands on her hips, cobalt blue eyes wide.
Her copper hair swayed in the morning breeze. On her chest, her usual silver pendant caught the light.
That pendant… He had given it to her.
Engraved on the surface: "I'll always be with you."
"Where the hell have you been?!" she snapped. "Lyra was about to destroy the vending machine out of stress."
Kairo gave a faint smile, scratching the back of his head.
"Just a little hiccup. The usual stuff: nightmares… a missing dad… and my chronic lateness."
Aenna crossed her arms.
"You look awful."
"Thanks, you're as sweet as spoiled tiramisu."
She laughed, but her gaze stayed sharp. There was more behind her concern.
She was protective. But also… suspicious.
And maybe—just maybe—a little jealous.
"Where's Lyra?" he asked, breaking the tension.
"Behind the art building, flirting with the murals."
She made a face. "You know how she is… says the colors understand her better than people."
Kairo chuckled, though it came out tired.
They went to meet her together.
Lyra was perched on a low wall, her school blazer unbuttoned, legs crossed, silver eyes lost in thought.
"Finally! Our star graces us with his presence!" she exclaimed dramatically.
"You vanished like the lead of a visual novel."
Kairo raised a hand.
"Present. Returned. Confused, but here."
"Business as usual."
Lyra gently tapped his shoulder with a reassuring smile.
"But this time, you look… dim. Problems?"
Kairo opened his mouth—then closed it again.
How could he explain something he didn't even understand?
"Just weird dreams and creepy post-its."
He paused.
"And… I found a book. One of my dad's."
The girls stiffened slightly.
The name Kenji Kaiaba was like an unsolved equation: full of unknowns, scribbled notes… and open wounds.
"You still have it?" Aenna asked softly.
Kairo nodded, tapping his backpack.
But before he could say more—
> TRRRIIIIIIIIIIIN!
The school bell rang.
But it wasn't time.
Not even 9:00 yet.
Students began walking toward the buildings automatically.
"Wait…" Kairo checked the time on his phone.
"That can't be right. It's too early."
Aenna checked hers.
Same time. 8:52.
But the school doors were already open. And the lights inside… almost blinding.
Kairo stepped closer. A slight tremor passed beneath his feet.
Lyra bit her lip.
"Well, maybe the principal decided to start classes early again."
Kairo noticed something.
The students' shadows weren't moving.
Not at all.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to breathe.
"Okay… maybe I just need more sleep."
"Or fewer energy drinks," Aenna muttered, less sarcastic than usual.
"Or maybe…" said a new voice behind him, "...you just suck at managing your life."
Kairo spun around.
Riven.
Messy hair, cocky grin, school shirt half-untucked beneath his jacket.
Backpack slung over one shoulder, like gravity barely applied to him.
"Welcome to the latecomers' club, Kairo. But hey, I broke my record today—two minutes early."
He raised a hand for a high-five.
No one gave him one.
"Wow. You guys are cheerier than a funeral today. What's going on?"
Kairo opened his mouth—then a sound interrupted him.
> Beep.
A notification.
All four looked at their phones.
> Digital Attendance Log – Absence Notice
Kaiaba Kairo: Excused Absence – Declared Deceased – March 22, 8:41 AM.
The world… stopped.
"What the hell…?" Lyra whispered.
Kairo felt his legs go weak.
His hands trembled.
The notification—it couldn't be real.
He was here. Alive.
"It's a glitch… it's gotta be a glitch, right?" Aenna mumbled, frantically refreshing the page.
Riven let out a nervous laugh.
"Ahah… maybe someone hacked the system? I mean, come on…"
But Kairo…
…wasn't laughing.
Something inside him cracked.
It wasn't just unease anymore. It was fear.
Raw.
Primal.
He turned toward the school—
—and froze.
His friends… were frozen too.
Everything… was still.
"What the hell kind of joke is this?" Kairo said aloud.
"It's not a joke," a voice answered behind him.
"This is real."
He turned sharply.
The Masked Man stood among the students. Motionless. Staring straight at him.
Kairo summoned his courage.
"WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"
No reply.
Riven tapped his shoulder. His tone was less playful this time.
"Kairo… who are you yelling at?"
"I wa—"
He turned.
The masked figure was gone.
"Kairo, you're not okay today," Aenna whispered, eyes full of worry.
Lyra wrapped her arms around him with her usual radiant calm.
"If there's something wrong, you can tell us."
Kairo gently pulled away and gave her a faint smile.
"Don't worry. Just tired."
He headed for the main entrance, his friends watching him with disbelief.
So many questions filled his head.
But one stood out above the rest:
Why March 22nd?
It was September. Why the exact date of his father's disappearance?
He had to find out.
Aenna clutched her pendant and sighed.
"I'm going to him. I need to know what's wrong with that idiot."
Riven shrugged at Lyra.
"Well hey, at least first period's P.E. Time to stretch his nerves out."
Lyra gave him a nervous laugh.
"Riven, you're such an idiot."
As the group followed Kairo inside…
…on the school rooftop, arms crossed, shrouded in shadowy mist—
The Masked Man watched them.
> "Let's see who breaks first—
you… or your world."
With a swirl of smoke, he vanished into the gray sky.
"This time… things will end differently, Kairos."