The dull hum of Sakamoto-sensei's lecture filled the classroom, blending with the rhythmic scribbling of pens against paper. The scent of old textbooks and chalk dust lingered in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of bento lunches packed away in bags.
Hikari sat at his desk, eyes half-lidded, pretending to focus on his textbook while his mind drifted elsewhere. The steady cadence of the lesson was almost hypnotic, lulling him into a trance of half-awareness.
Then, something warm pressed against his shoulder.
Mitsumi had dozed off.
Her soft, even breathing tickled his sleeve as she leaned onto him, completely unaware of the chaos she was about to cause. Hikari stiffened, every muscle in his body locking up.
The heat of her skin seeped through his uniform, igniting an anxious wildfire in his chest. His heart pounded a frantic rhythm against his ribs, his pulse quickening with each second that passed. If anyone saw them like this—
Carefully, he attempted to shift away, but the moment he moved, Mitsumi's hand shot out and latched onto his arm. She held on with surprising strength, fingers curling around his sleeve like a lifeline. A shiver ran down his spine. This was bad. No, this was worse than bad. If anyone noticed—
A loud cough snapped Hikari out of his panic.
Sakamoto-sensei stood at the front of the classroom, arms crossed, eyes narrowing at the scene before him. The entire class had gone silent, every pair of eyes now trained on them.
"Yukine Mitsumi."
At the sound of her name, Mitsumi stirred. Her lashes fluttered, and she groggily lifted her head, blinking up at Hikari before realization dawned on her.
A tiny string of drool glistened on the corner of her lips, and with a sleepy chuckle, she wiped it away. "Oops, sorry about that," she whispered, flashing him a sheepish smile.
Hikari, on the other hand, was having a full-blown cardiac episode.
Class continued without further incident, but he could barely concentrate. His mind replayed the moment over and over, each time making him more embarrassed.
The weight of the stares still lingered on his back. When lunchtime finally arrived, he grabbed his bento and bolted before anyone could make a comment.
Or so he thought.
As he walked through the corridor, a nagging sensation crept up his spine, like someone was drilling holes into the back of his head with their eyes. Hikari turned slightly, scanning the sea of students.
Among them, a particular figure stood out—a male student leaning against the lockers, arms crossed, glaring at him with an intensity that made Hikari's skin prickle.
Did he do something to offend this guy?
Shaking off the unease, he chose to ignore it. He had no energy for unnecessary conflicts. Mitsumi caught up to him before he could escape. "Hikari, do you want to eat lunch together?"
He hesitated, glancing at her hopeful expression. As much as he appreciated her company, he needed some time alone. "I'm sorry, Mitsumi, I have plans today." He gave her a small, apologetic smile. Quite frankly, he just preferred to eat alone, and he was heading to his usual spot by the rooftop.
Fortunately, Mitsumi didn't push further. "Alright, maybe next time then."
With that settled, Hikari made his way up the stairs, exhaling in relief when he reached the rooftop. The fresh air greeted him, along with the familiar quiet he cherished. A soft breeze swept through, rustling his hair as he walked to his usual spot.
The sky stretched endlessly above, pale blue with wisps of white clouds drifting lazily across. It was the perfect place to clear his head.
He sat down, unwrapped his bento, and took a bite, savoring the momentary peace.
But peace was fleeting.
A shadow loomed over him. Hikari looked up, his chewing slowing. The same student who had been glaring at him in the hallway now stood just a few feet away, holding a phone to his ear.
"What a skinny-looking kid," the student sneered, eyes scanning Hikari's frame with open disdain. "Are you sure he's the one?"
Hikari stiffened. Was this guy talking about him?
From the speaker of the phone, an exasperated voice responded. "Affirmative! And why am I on speaker phone?!"
Hikari felt his appetite evaporate. His stomach twisted in knots. Who were these people? And what did they want from him?
The student grinned, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Doesn't matter. Orders are orders." He took a step closer, cracking his knuckles. "I just need to beat you up."
A cold shiver ran down Hikari's spine. His muscles tensed, instinct screaming at him to run. "Wh-what? Why?" His voice wavered, betraying the nervous wreck he was.
"No need to know. Just be still. It'll only hurt a lot." The student's smirk widened before his right arm shimmered, shifting unnaturally. A sickening metallic sheen spread over his skin, fingers elongating into sharpened points.
Hikari's breath caught in his throat. That was not normal. That was not human.
His heartbeat pounded against his ribs as he scrambled to his feet. He had no idea what was happening, but he knew one thing—he had no chance against someone who could turn their arm into a freaking weapon.
His feet refused to move. His body locked up. He wasn't built for fights. He wasn't trained for this.
The student lunged.
Panic overtook him, and without thinking, Hikari raised his arms in a feeble attempt to shield himself. His mind screamed for a miracle.
And then, something stirred.
A surge of energy—foreign, yet familiar—coiled deep within him, just beneath his skin. The air around him grew heavy, tinged with an eerie stillness. The rooftop, once sunlit and ordinary, now felt unnervingly dark. Shadows slithered beneath his feet, stretching unnaturally like living tendrils.
The metallic-handed student faltered mid-charge, eyes narrowing in confusion. "What the—"
Hikari didn't understand it either, but he could feel it. Something inside him had awakened. Whatever it was, it was trying to claw its way out of his body... as to how to control it, however, he could only wonder.
"Stop right there!"