Chapter 15
The warm glow of morning sunlight slipped through the pale curtains, painting the room in a golden hue. Birds chirped outside, as if the world had no weight, no scars, no pain.
"Naoki, wake up! You'll be late for school!"
The voice rang sweetly through the walls, bright and filled with life.
Naoki stirred beneath the covers, yawning with a stretch that pushed away all traces of sleep.
"Coming, Mom!" he said cheerfully.
He jumped out of bed, slid across the wooden floor in his socks, and dashed to the bathroom. The mirror showed a smiling, fresh-faced teen with ruffled hair and a gleam in his eyes. He brushed his teeth, fixed his hair with exaggerated poses like some anime protagonist, and laughed to himself.
Downstairs, breakfast was waiting—warm rice, egg, miso soup, and a slice of grilled salmon.
"Smells good! Thanks, Mom!"
"Eat quickly. Toki's probably waiting outside by now."
Naoki nodded enthusiastically, scarfing down his meal with the hunger of someone who truly enjoyed life. He grabbed his bag, slipped on his shoes, and swung the front door open.
"Yo, sleepyhead!" Toki grinned from the gate, hands in his pockets, hair as messy as ever.
"I wasn't sleeping! I was... meditating."
"Meditating with your mouth wide open and drool hanging like a rope?"
Naoki laughed. "You spying on me again? That's creepy."
Toki smirked. "I live across the street. It's not spying if you're loud as a goat."
The two boys began walking side by side, chatting about random things—the anime they stayed up watching, the test they forgot about, the weird neighbor who talked to plants.
"I swear that guy's carrots are part of some underground cult," Naoki joked.
"Hey, don't diss the carrot mafia," Toki replied with a serious face.
"They'll root you out."
Both burst into laughter.
They passed by the bakery, where the old lady waved at them.
"Toki! Naoki! Want a free cream bun?"
"Yes please!" they shouted in unison.
As they stuffed their faces, they sat at their usual bench outside the park for a quick break before heading to school.
Naoki leaned back, cream still on his cheek. "Man... life's good, huh?"
"The best," Toki said, mimicking his position.
But then—a subtle change.
Naoki blinked. He glanced over the bushes near the park. A figure stood there, still as a statue.
Clothed in hospital gown whites and bandaged limbs, with hollow eyes beneath a shadowed face. Hair cropped awkwardly short. Skin marred with scars.
The figure didn't move.
Naoki frowned. "Hey... you see that guy?"
Toki squinted. "Whoa. That's creepy. Why is he staring like that?"
"I don't know\... he's been there for a while."
"Maybe he's from the carrot cult."
Naoki chuckled, but the unease lingered. As he looked again, the figure was gone.
Toki tapped him on the shoulder. "Come on. School won't wait for legends-in-the-making like us."
Naoki stood, brushing off the discomfort. "Yeah... yeah, you're right."
They resumed their walk, trading jokes, tossing pebbles, talking about which teacher smelled the worst.
But every so often...
Naoki glanced behind him.
And the shadow of the figure remained in his mind.
Still. Silent. Watching.
CHAPTER END