The morning felt different.
Not bad.
Not good.
Just… heavier.
The same way the air feels right before rain, even when the sky is clear.
Marc felt it first.
He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes.
"Bro," he muttered, "you feel that?"
Luca stretched. "Feel what?"
Marc frowned.
"I don't know. Something."
Luca shrugged it off for now — but the feeling stayed.
When they walked into class, Hana waved at Luca with her usual shy smile.
She looked happier than she had in a long time — that part felt normal.
But Aria…
Aria wasn't in her seat.
Marc scanned the room.
"Huh. She's always early."
Luca raised a brow. "Maybe she overslept."
"Aria? Oversleep?" Marc snorted. "She probably hasn't slept in fourteen years."
Then the door slid open.
Aria walked in.
And for the first time since they'd arrived in this world—
she looked tired.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like her thoughts weighed more today.
She stopped halfway to her desk, eyes landing on Marc.
No greeting.
No emotion.
Just a long, unreadable stare.
Marc's heart kicked a beat.
"…You okay?"
Aria blinked once.
"Yes," she said softly.
"But today will be different."
Marc froze. "Different how?"
Aria walked past him without answering.
During class, Luca noticed small things.
The clock ticked slightly off rhythm.
A student repeated the same joke word-for-word as yesterday.
Two kids in the back turned pages of their notebooks at the exact same time.
It wasn't a full reset.
Not even close.
But something about the world felt… automated.
Luca leaned toward Marc.
"Bro. You feel that?"
Marc whispered, "Yup. Something's glitching."
Luca glanced at Aria.
She sat perfectly straight, staring at her textbook — but she wasn't reading.
Her hand trembled once before she steadied it.
After class, Aria stood up immediately and walked straight toward the hallway.
But halfway through the door, she stopped.
Turned back.
"Marc," she said.
"Follow me."
Marc blinked.
Luca raised brows at him like bro good luck.
Marc followed.
Aria led him to an empty music room — quiet, dusty, untouched.
She didn't turn around when she spoke.
"Do you know what today is?"
Marc leaned on the piano. "Uh… Friday?"
Aria shook her head.
"It's the day the world adjusts."
Marc's stomach dropped a little.
"Adjusts to what?"
"To emotions."
Marc frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Aria finally turned toward him.
"It means Hana's awakening changed the map of this world."
Marc stared.
"You mean… because she's healing?"
Aria nodded.
"This world is built on emotional routes. When someone's heart shifts, the world shifts with them."
Marc stepped closer.
"So… is that bad?"
Aria hesitated — the first real hesitation he'd seen from her.
"It depends," she whispered.
"On what?"
"On whether your brother can handle the consequences."
Marc's chest tightened.
"Consequences of what?" he asked.
Aria walked past him slowly, stopping just inches away.
"The consequences," she said softly,
"of touching things the world thought were dead."
Her gaze softened — surprisingly gentle.
"And the consequences…"
she added, looking directly into Marc's eyes,
"of caring for someone like me."
Marc froze.
"…Aria."
Aria stepped back suddenly, like she realized she said too much.
"Class will resume soon," she said coldly, turning away.
"Come."
But Marc didn't move.
"Aria… what aren't you telling me?"
Aria's hand twitched on the doorknob.
"…Everything."
Then she left the room.
While Marc returned to class, Ryo walked past the music room with his notebook open.
He stopped.
Put his hand on the closed door.
"…She took him here," he murmured.
He opened his notebook and wrote:
Aria behavior abnormal
Marc involvement increasing
Possible hidden variable between them
Emotional energy in room shifted
He tapped the pencil.
"For a world without magic," he whispered,
"there are too many anomalies."
He closed his notebook and headed to class.
During the next break, Aiden approached Luca.
Not aggressively.
Not angrily.
Just… confused.
"Why does Hana seem… different now?" Aiden asked quietly.
Luca blinked.
"She's just trying again. That's all."
Aiden looked at the ground.
"I didn't think she ever would," he whispered.
Luca softened a little.
"You care about her a lot, don't you?"
Aiden tensed.
"…I do. I just don't understand how she changed so fast. Why she listens to you."
Luca didn't answer.
Because the real reason was something Aiden couldn't understand.
When the bell rang, Aria stood up immediately and looked at Marc again.
Not with fear.
Not with annoyance.
With something almost… human.
"Walk me home," she said softly.
Marc blinked.
"Uh—sure."
As they left the classroom together, Luca whispered:
"Bro is in his route arc now."
Marc shot him a death-glare.
Hana giggled.
Aiden stared.
And Ryo watched everything.
Carefully.
Quietly.
Suspiciously.
The world was shifting.
And only a few could feel the pressure building.