Whispers in the Night
The school at night was a different world.
The walls, which once held the laughter of students, now loomed like silent witnesses. The air was cold, carrying an unnatural stillness that made Abe's skin crawl.
But that wasn't what unsettled him the most.
It was the feeling that someone—or something—was watching him.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the note he had found earlier that day.
"If you want answers, come to the old science lab after dark."
The words felt heavier now.
He knew it could be a trap.
That this might be his last night as 'Arataki Abe.'
Yet, his feet kept moving.
Because if there was even the slightest chance to save Yoshida, he had no choice but to take it.
The Shadows in the Laboratory
The door to the old science lab groaned as Abe pushed it open.
Darkness swallowed everything. The scent of dust and rust filled his nose. His phone's flashlight flickered as he swept it across the abandoned room. Broken desks. Cobweb-covered shelves. A forgotten place where no one should be.
No one but him.
Or so he thought.
A faint rustling sound.
Then—
"You actually came."
Abe's breath caught. His flashlight darted toward the source of the voice.
Sitting atop one of the lab tables, bathed in half-shadow, was a figure he never thought he'd see again.
His heart stopped.
"...Takahashi?"
Takahashi Sora—the former student council president who had 'transferred' without a trace.
A name that had been erased from the world.
Yet here he was.
And he was smiling.
The Devil's Smile
Abe's grip tightened around his phone. His pulse pounded against his skull.
"T-That's impossible," he muttered. "You… You're supposed to be—"
"Gone?" Takahashi finished, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Yeah, that's what they wanted everyone to think."
Abe took a shaky step forward.
"If you're alive… then that means—"
"That they don't control everything," Takahashi interrupted, hopping off the table. His movements were smooth, calculated. "Not yet, at least."
Abe swallowed hard. "Where is Yoshida?"
For the first time, Takahashi's smile faltered.
His expression darkened.
"He's still breathing. But not for long."
Abe felt like ice water had been poured down his back.
"What do you mean?"
Takahashi exhaled, as if debating whether to tell him the truth. Then, he stepped closer.
"You've seen what they do, haven't you?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "You've felt it."
Abe clenched his fists. The weight of his stolen legs felt heavier than ever.
"Yoshida was an experiment," Takahashi continued. "Just like you. Just like me. And when an experiment stops being useful—"
His fingers snapped.
"—it's erased."
Abe's breath hitched.
Yoshida didn't have much time.
And if he did nothing—he'd disappear just like the others.
His nails dug into his palms. "Then I have to save him."
Takahashi tilted his head. "Just like that? No hesitation?"
Abe's jaw tightened. "Of course."
Silence stretched between them.
Then—Takahashi laughed.
Not out of mockery.
But like he had been waiting to hear those words.
"Good," he said, eyes gleaming. "Because I wasn't looking for someone who wanted to fight."
He took another step forward.
"I was looking for someone who had to."
Abe met his gaze, his own resolve burning.
He had spent his life hating the world. Hating its lies, its hypocrisy, its cruelty.
But for the first time—
He had something worth fighting for.
Takahashi grinned.
"Then let's bring them down."
---
To Be Continued…