Yuki stood frozen, his mind racing. The word "kitsune" echoed in his head like a distant drumbeat. He barely processed Ren's warning about being watched. Everything seemed to be moving too fast, and the wind—it felt heavier, charged with something unseen.
"You're... saying I'm a kitsune?" Yuki's voice was shaky.
Ren nodded slowly, his eyes unwavering. "You are. You just don't remember it yet."
A knot formed in Yuki's stomach. He wasn't even sure what a kitsune was. He had heard whispers in stories—mythical foxes with powers, spirits who could shape-shift, tricksters. But he never imagined he could be one.
"No way," Yuki muttered. "You've got to be kidding me. I'm just... me. I'm normal."
Ren sighed, stepping closer. His eyes softened, but his voice remained steady. "You weren't normal before. But you are now. And soon, the truth will come for you—whether you're ready or not."
Yuki felt a chill crawl up his spine. "The truth?"
Ren glanced around, making sure no one else was near. He leaned in, voice barely a whisper. "There are others who know what you are. They've been waiting for you to awaken. Some want to control you. Some want to destroy you. The moment you realize what you can do—what you are—they'll come."
Yuki swallowed hard, the weight of Ren's words settling on him like a stone. He wanted to argue, to push back, but the look in Ren's eyes told him that this wasn't some kind of joke. Something dangerous was out there—and it was coming for him.
He could feel it. He could sense it now, like a quiet hum under his skin. His heart raced. Was it always there? Had he always been... different?
"Why me?" Yuki asked, his voice small. "Why am I the only one left? Why now?"
Ren looked away, his gaze distant. "The why... I don't know yet. But the time has come for you to find out. And I'll be here to help you. But you'll have to trust me."
Yuki looked at Ren, the tengu's serious expression making him uneasy. The wind calmed, but the air still felt charged, heavy with unanswered questions.
"I don't even know what I'm supposed to do," Yuki said quietly.
Ren's lips twitched slightly, as if he were holding back a smile. "That's what I'm here for. To teach you."
"But why protect me? You don't even know me," Yuki asked, trying to understand Ren's sudden shift from distant observer to guardian.
Ren hesitated before answering. "Because there's no one else. And because the mythic world will destroy you if I don't."
Before Yuki could respond, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Students began spilling out of the cafeteria, laughing and chatting, none the wiser about the quiet conversation that had just unfolded. Ren gave Yuki a quick, calculating glance before walking away.
"Remember," Ren said, pausing just before he disappeared into the crowd. "The world you know is about to change. And when it does, you'll need to be ready."
Yuki watched him leave, a storm of thoughts swirling in his head. The weight of Ren's words hung heavy in the air. Could it really be true? Was he... destined for something greater? Or was Ren just trying to manipulate him?
The normal school day resumed, but for Yuki, it no longer felt normal.
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