Later That Night
The wind pulled at the trees above the hill, whispering through branches like secrets carried from underground. The stars were faint behind restless clouds. Below, buried in silence, the tunnel remained sealed. Still. Breathing.
But the three who'd returned from its depths were not the same.
Yona sat on the edge of his bed, unmoving, the room dim and quiet around him. The only sound was the distant ticking of a clock, the kind of silence that stretched too far.
His hands rested between his knees. Dirt clung to the creases in his palms, stubborn and dry.
He kept seeing it.Not a sound. No scream. No impact.Just gone.
One second, Lena was there. The next...nothing. As if the earth had swallowed her without a whisper.
He looked at his hands again, trying to remember exactly how hers felt before she slipped away.
He rose and crossed the room, but didn't reach for the drawer. Instead, he sat at the edge of his desk chair, hands resting in his lap, eyes distant..not seeing the room, but something far beyond it.
A memory surfaced, uninvited but vivid. Lena. The way her lips met his in that brief, breathless moment. No words. No warning. Just Like time paused to make space for it. He could still feel it. The warmth. Then gone. His breath caught. And suddenly the room felt smaller. Quieter. Lonelier.
He lowered his head, his whisper barely more than a breath.
"I let you go," His hands trembled in his lap.
"You were so scared, Lena… and I promised you I wouldn't leave your side."
His eyes burned, locked on a spot that wasn't really there.
"But I did."
A pause.
"I let you go."
The silence stretched, heavier now.
Then, softer..more certain:
"I'm going back."
------------------------
The bathroom was cold.
Mia stood in front of the mirror, unmoving, face unreadable. Her reflection looked older somehow haunted.
She hadn't changed clothes. Dust still clung to her jeans. Scratches lined her arms.
But her mind wasn't on that.
Her hand slid into her jacket pocket.
She pulled it out slowly: a small, wrapped bundle. She didn't need to unwrap it. She already knew what it was.
A Black key. Cold. Heavier than it should've been.
She hadn't meant to lie..not exactly. But when she found it lying among the debris, just after the tunnel shook, her fingers closed around it instinctively.
And the moment she did… something told her: Don't speak. So she didn't.
Ayumi had noticed. Of course she had.
Mia stared at the bundle.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Then slowly, carefully, she slipped it back into her pocket.
And that's when the memory returned...vivid, like a spark behind her eyes.
The way Yona had run to her. No hesitation. The way he dove, shouting her name.
How he caught her arm.
How his arms pulled her in, wrapped tight around her like she was all that mattered.
How she could feel his breath against her hair, his heartbeat against her back.
How his hand never let go.
Her own hand moved slowly resting gently at the side of her chest.
Over her heart.
She closed her eyes.
And in the quiet of the room, barely a breath, she whispered his name.
"Yona…"
Then silence again.
But the name lingered, like an echo beneath her skin.
Ayumi's room was dark. Her coat still hung from her shoulders. Her boots were still dust..covered.
She hadn't moved since coming home.
Her gaze was fixed on the wall, unfocused, cold.
She thought about Lena. No scream. No sound. Just… gone. As if she'd never been there at all.
She sat down at her desk. Opened her notebook. Her fingers moved with quiet urgency.
Maps of the tunnels. Notes. Drawings. Observations.
At the center, one word in bold strokes:
Lena.
She turned to a fresh page and wrote:
She disappeared without a sound.
She stared at the words for a long time.
Then added beneath it:
Why?
-----------------
Elsewhere
Far below, deeper than the others ever saw..where the ground gave no warning, where stone whispered instead of shattered..Lena opened her eyes.
She lay on smooth, dark stone.
There was no pain. No light above. No sound of the others.
Only a slow, pulsing glow from the walls, soft blue, like something breathing.
She sat up, dazed. Alone.
The silence here wasn't just quiet. It was total.
Like the world above had never existed.
Then—
A voice. Calm. Familiar.
"You didn't scream."
Lena turned sharply. A figure stepped from the dark.
A boy.
Gloved hands. Calm eyes. A faint smile curling at the edge of his mouth.
The black key swung gently at his side.
Her breath caught. Her lips parted, barely a sound..
"Noir…?"
He stopped a few feet from her. Tilted his head.
"They didn't hear you fall," he said softly. "Because there was no fall."
He stepped closer, voice quiet. Almost kind.
"You didn't even scream. You were that shocked… because he left you behind. To save her."
A pause.
"Do you still believe him?"
Lena stared, frozen. The glow from the walls pulsed gently behind her.
Noir's gaze moved past her, to the stone.
It shifted. Unfolding behind her—like petals opening for her alone.
"You weren't lost," he said. "You were taken."
She didn't speak. Didn't need to.
Because somewhere deep inside… she already knew.
This place wasn't new.
It was waiting.
--------------------
Above
In his bedroom, Yona turned Lena's name over in his mouth again. A whisper. A plea.
"Lena…"
That night, alone in his room, Yona sat on the edge of his bed, the glow of his phone screen dim against the darkness.
He scrolled slowly… until he landed on Daiki's name.
He opened the chat.
The last message Yona had sent was six days ago.
"Hey, let me know when you get back."
No reply. No read receipt. Just silence.
Yona stared at it for a long time, thumb hovering, unsure if he should try again. He didn't. He locked the screen. Let the phone rest on his lap. Then whispered, barely a breath:
"Where are you, Daiki…?"
He closed his eyes.
Morning.
School moved like clockwork. Bells rang. Students laughed. The world turned.
But something felt off.
People passed by in the halls. Loud voices. Bright colors. But to Yona, it all felt distant. Dim.
Like everything was happening behind a wall of glass.
He didn't go to class.
Instead, he stood on the rooftop, the wind tugging gently at his sleeves. The sky was pale. Thin clouds moved lazily overhead.
He closed his eyes, breathing in the cool air.
And then—
Footsteps behind him.
He opened his eyes slowly.
Mia stood in front of him, unsure.
He looked up at her. Didn't speak.
She hesitated. Her eyes flicked toward the space beside him.
"…Can I sit here?"
Yona looked down at the empty spot. Then back at her.
He nodded once, faintly. Sadness still resting on his face like a shadow.
She sat beside him. Quiet.
For a few moments, neither spoke. The wind moved around them.
Then, softly, Mia broke the silence.
"How are you, Yona?"
Her eyes didn't meet his. She stared down at her lap, fingers fidgeting slightly.
Yona nodded, almost automatically. "Hm… fine."
Mia looked at him..then away again.
"So many things happened all at once… but…"
She paused. Her voice lowered.
"…if we stay quiet… maybe everything will be okay."
Yona didn't react. His face didn't change. His gaze stayed on the sky, hollow and tired.
She noticed. But she went on.
"…Thank you. For saving me."
He replied after a moment. Barely.
"…Hm."
Then silence again.
But Mia turned to him, slowly, and gently placed her hand over his.
Her voice trembled just a little.
"I miss you, Yona."
He looked down at her hand on his. Then looked up at her eyes uncertain, unfocused. Like he didn't know how to feel. Or didn't want to.
Mia searched his face. Then she whispered:
"…Let's get back together."
Yona didn't answer.
He just looked at her for a long moment…
Then, quietly, without a word, he pulled his hand away. And the space between them filled with silence once more.
Mia sat still for a few seconds after he pulled his hand away.
Her eyes lowered, lips parting slightly… but she didn't speak right away.
Then, softly, almost too quietly to hear, she whispered:
"…I have to go."
She started to rise. But before she fully turned away, she leaned in just slightly, and pressed a gentle kiss to Yona's cheek.
The contact was light. Barely a breath.
Yona's eyes widened, caught between shock and something deeper..something he didn't yet understand.
By the time he blinked, she had already turned, her shoes tapping softly against the rooftop tiles.
She didn't look back.
She ran quick, quiet steps heading back toward the stairwell.
Yona didn't move.
He just sat there… eyes fixed on her as she got smaller and smaller in the distance, her silhouette swallowed by the doorway.
And then—
She was gone.
He stayed that way a long time, the wind brushing softly against his face.
His fingers touched the spot on his cheek where her lips had been.
Not smiling. Not frowning.
Just… lost.
Like the moment had shifted something inside him, but left no map behind.
And far below, the sounds of school life continued.
Normal. Unaware.
As if nothing had changed.
But for Yona…
Everything had.
The bell rang, sharp and final, breaking the rooftop silence like glass.
A new class. A new hour. But everything still felt… off.
Yona walked back to the classroom slowly, his steps quieter than usual.
As he entered, his eyes found Mia almost instantly.
She was already seated by the window, her face half-lit by the afternoon light.
And though she didn't turn, he noticed every few seconds, her gaze flicked toward him.
Every time he looked her way, she looked down. Every time he looked away, her eyes returned to him.
He sat down in his seat, a few rows over.
Then, as if on instinct, his fingers brushed against his cheek again..the place she'd kissed.
Warm still, or maybe just imagined.
He tried to focus, but his eyes kept drifting…To her. And when he wasn't looking, she was.
A quiet rhythm of stolen glances, neither willing to meet the other directly.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw her reach into her bag. Carefully.
She pulled out her phone under the desk, shielding it behind a book. Her fingers moved quickly, then stilled.
Moments later, Yona felt the faint vibration in his pocket. His phone buzzed once.
He hesitated, glanced around, then slipped it out just enough to check the screen.
"1 message – Mia."
He opened it quietly, shielding the screen with his arm.
"Let's walk home together."
No emojis. No punctuation. Just soft words, simple and open.
He didn't reply. His thumb hovered for a moment, then stopped.
Instead, he lifted his eyes.
And this time she was already looking at him.
Their eyes met across the room.
Mia didn't smile brightly. Just a small, tired curve of her lips. Like she didn't expect anything… but still hoped.
Yona stared. Not cold. Not warm. Just… unsure.
Then—
Attention, please! " the teacher's voice cut through the moment like a blade.
"Open your bookmarks to page sixty-three."
Books rustled. Chairs shifted. The moment broke.
But neither of them moved right away.
Not really.
They just looked down at their desks, hearts a little louder than before.
And somewhere between page 62 and 63… something quiet was unfolding.
The final bell echoed faintly through the school corridors as students poured out, their voices blending into a dull chorus of footsteps, laughter, and doors slamming shut.
Yona walked alone toward the gate, his bag slung over one shoulder, head slightly down. The air was cooler now..quiet. A breeze brushed the edge of his jacket, and he barely noticed.
He was almost past the school gate when
"Yonaaa?"
He stopped. The sound of her voice cut through the background noise, soft but distinct.
He turned.
Mia was running toward him, her bag bouncing against her side, breath quick from rushing.
She slowed as she reached him, one hand on her chest as she caught her breath. Then she looked up at him, offering a soft, tired smile.
He didn't smile back, but he didn't look away either.
They fell into step side by side.
The walk home was quiet. Not awkward, not heavy..just… silent.
Their steps were slow. Unrushed.
It had been a long time since they'd walked together like this.
The road felt different. Smaller. Like it had forgotten them too.
Neither of them spoke.
But the silence wasn't cold..it was gentle. Unfamiliar, yet not unwelcome.
When they finally reached her house, Mia paused at the gate. She turned toward him, brushing hair from her face.
Yona was about to nod goodbye and turn..
"Yona…?"
He stopped, turning slightly to face her.
She stood quietly for a moment, eyes flicking down, then back to his.
"Do you… miss me?"
He looked at her for a long breath. No words. Just… stillness.
Then, slowly, he nodded. Once.
Mia's lips twitched in a faint, barely-there smile. A smile like she'd been holding her breath.
he stepped forward closer.
So close he could feel the warmth of her skin, her breath on his face.
Her gaze dropped to his lips.
And she leaned in.
Yona didn't move.
But just before their lips touched..she stopped.
Paused.Her breath caught.
And then, she pulled back gently, eyes softer now, sadder.
"Can we walk to school together tomorrow too?"
Yona looked down at the ground, then lifted his eyes to hers.
Another nod. Quiet. Honest. Still no words.
Mia's smile grew just a little.
"Bye-bye, Yona. See you tomorrow."
He gave the smallest of nods again, then turned, walking down the street away from her house, hands deep in his pockets.
And Mia watched him go, standing beneath the porch light, the sky above them deepening into dusk.
A silence lingered between them...unfinished, but not empty.
Something was shifting...Quietly... Slowly.
But not gone.
To be continue...