---
A Tearful Plan
Ryo leaned against the old wall behind the gym, his fists clenched tightly, trembling with anger.
His ribs and face still ached from yesterday's beating — bruised and swollen.
But his pride hadn't diminished one bit.
"Ishin Ukaski," he muttered through gritted teeth, his face twisted with rage.
"That bastard psycho."
The others gathered around him: Daiki, Toma, Kenji — and Aika, the only girl in their group, leaning against the wall, watching Ryo with a smirk.
"We can't just let this go," Ryo growled.
Daiki scratched his head, looking uneasy.
"Yeah, but… did you see him yesterday? His eyes… man, I'm not ready to die yet."
Kenji nodded nervously.
"Those eyes… he's not normal. He's a freak."
Toma scoffed.
"You guys are cowards. He screamed, so what? He shoved us back — big deal. He can't do anything more than that."
Before Ryo could respond, Aika spoke up.
She smiled slyly, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"We'll do more than just beat him up for revenge."
Everyone turned toward Aika, now intrigued by her words.
"What's your idea?" Ryo asked, expecting something cruel — and hoping for it.
Aika twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, pretending to think.
"Ishin's always alone, right? No friends, no family. He's got no one. What if someone suddenly got close to him… like a friend?"
There was a dark undertone to her voice.
Daiki blinked. "And then what?"
She grinned.
"Then we humiliate him. Publicly. We make him trust us, get close enough — and when the time's right, we pull the rug out from under him. Embarrass him. Crush him. Make everyone laugh at him until he can't show his face again."
Ryo's grin returned.
"I like it. That's brilliant."
Toma laughed. "Yeah, that's a damn good idea."
Kenji hesitated but eventually nodded.
Daiki sighed. "It's perfect, Aika. But you're the only one who can pull this off."
She gave a lazy wave of her hand.
"Relax. I'll handle it. Tricking that idiot won't be hard."
Their quiet, malicious laughter filled the alley as they crafted their plan together.
---
A Friendly Face
Ishin stared blankly at his desk, his pen dangling loosely from his hand.
Everything felt pointless.
The nightmare.
The voice from the mirror.
His pendant.
And everything that happened yesterday…
The moment he nearly choked Ryo.
His hands had moved on their own.
The memory of Ryo's terrified face — and those glowing veins — wouldn't leave his head.
What's happening to me?
"Hey, Ukaski."
The voice startled him.
He blinked, turning toward the sound.
A girl stood beside his desk, smiling softly.
Long, dark hair framed her face, and her bright eyes shimmered.
Aika.
He recognized her immediately. She was always with Ryo's group. She'd never spoken to him before.
But now… here she was. Talking to him.
"Mind if I sit here, Ukaski?" she asked sweetly, her voice soft and innocent.
Ishin blinked, flustered.
"Uh… y-yeah, sure. Go ahead."
She sat down beside him, leaning in slightly.
"You're always by yourself, huh? Doesn't it get boring or lonely?"
He looked away, embarrassed.
"Not really… I've always been like this. I'm used to it."
She smiled gently.
"Still. Sounds a little lonely."
Her head tilted just enough to make her look sympathetic.
"I was thinking… maybe we could be friends. You seem nice."
Friends?
No one had ever said that to him. No one had ever asked to be his friend.
Did I even have friends before?
No… I never did.
He couldn't remember the last time anyone talked to him like this.
"Why?" he asked before he could stop himself.
Aika's smile didn't waver.
"I thought maybe you'd like having a friend."
Simple. Warm.
Yet something about it felt… off. Like something hidden underneath.
Still…
Ishin glanced around. Everyone else ignored him — like always.
"…Okay," he finally said.
Aika's eyes brightened.
"Great! If you want, we can hang out after class for a bit. Maybe talk, get to know each other?"
He nodded slowly, unsure, but too desperate for connection to refuse.
Across the room, Ryo watched from his seat.
A smug grin on his face.
Daiki nudged him, whispering,
"It's working. This is gonna be fun."
Ryo leaned back in his chair, satisfied.
"Now we just wait for the right moment."
---