(Remastered edition, revised and improved.)
I'm in the middle of the woods.
It's pitch black. The trees have no color.
Or maybe… my eyes just can't find it.
The moon hangs above like a pale bruise in the sky, its light leaking through broken branches in thin, dying strands.
Cold air crawls over my skin.
Nothing moves. No birds. No insects. Not even the wind. Just silence—heavy, suffocating, too aware.
Snap.
I whip my head back.
Something moves at the edge of my vision—a tall silhouette—and disappears behind a tree.
I swallow and stare into the darkness.
"…I'm imagining things."
Snap.
This time from the left.
I turn.
Nothing.
My heart starts racing—wrong, too fast, like it's trying to escape my chest.
A grip.
A cold hand clamps down on my shoulder.
I freeze.
Then—a whisper curls against my ear, soft and breathy:
"Stay here… with me."
My stomach drops.
That voice—
It's unfamiliar, but something about it feels like it shouldn't be.
I spin around too fast, my foot catching on a root. I slam into the ground and crack my head against a thick log.
White-hot pain explodes behind my eyes.
"Fuck… that hurts—"
Branches twist above me, crossing over the moon, choking out the light.
"Who's there?!" I shout into the dark.
Only silence answers.
Then—
Hands.
Cold, pale hands burst from the soil around me, wrapping tight around my ankles, wrists, chest—dragging, gripping, holding like I belong to them.
"Fuck— what is this—?!"
More hands emerge, clutching, clinging.
The thumping in my chest grows louder.
Too loud.
It doesn't feel like my heartbeat anymore.
It feels like something else's.
A shadow steps forward.
A woman's silhouette.
Long hair drifting as if underwater. A slim frame. No color—just black against black—except for two faint red glimmers where her eyes should be.
She moves closer.
Closer.
The air around me tightens.
Her hand lifts toward my face—slow, almost trembling.
"Don't leave me," she whispers again.
My eyes squeeze shut as the whispers multiply—
"Stay…""…with…""…me…"
"Stay—"
BZZZZ.
BZZZZ.
BZZZZ.
My eyes snap open to a white ceiling.
I gasp for air like I'm still drowning under those cold hands.
My shirt is soaked with sweat. My hair sticks to my forehead. My heart slams against my ribs as if it never left that forest.
For a moment, I swear I still feel fingers on my shoulder.
"Just a dream," I breathe. "Only a dream."
I hope.
My alarm keeps buzzing. I shut it off and drag myself out of bed.
Another day.
I'll try to get through it.
Brush teeth. Wash face. Deodorant.
Daily routine. The only part of my life that never changes.
In the mirror, I stare at my reflection: silver hair sticking out everywhere, long at the sides; dark bags under my eyes; a tired expression I don't remember not having.
"I need more sleep," I mutter.
Uniform on. Pants, belt, shirt, tie.
Down the stairs.
Step. Step.
The familiar sounds of my parents in the kitchen drift through the hallway.
I sit down at the table.
Mom on the right, Dad on the left. Same spots as always.
Two pieces of toast and an egg sit on my plate. Every day. Like it's tradition.
"So, honey, you're ready for your second year of high school?" Mom asks, smiling the way she always does.
Ready?
No.
But she doesn't want that answer.
"Yes," I say, forcing a smile.
Dad doesn't say anything. He never does. Just sips his coffee, flips his newspaper, and exists.
My eyes drift to the clock.
8:15.
"Crap," I mutter, scraping my chair back. "I gotta go—see you!"
Shoes. Door. Damp morning air.
I look up. Heavy clouds crowd the sky.
"…Great. No umbrella."
I breathe out and start walking.
Three minutes to school. Enough time to pretend today won't be as bad as the last.
The school gates buzz with life.
"How was your summer?" "Just date him already." "Karaoke tonight?"
I slide past everyone, keeping my head down, searching for the auditorium.
Inside, it's quieter. Students line up. Teachers watch.
I end up next to a shorter girl with black hair and sharp yellow eyes.
She smells like cherries.
I sneak a glance.
Then another.
Then—
"Ahem. Stop staring at me, weirdo." She glares without hesitation.
Heat floods my face.
"O-oh—sorry."
Great. First sentence spoken today and I've already embarrassed myself.
The principal starts his speech. My brain auto-mutes him.
"Blah blah future blah responsibility…"
My mind drifts.
Red eyes in the dark.
"Don't leave me."
I blink hard to shake the memory off.
When the speech ends, everyone scatters.
Class 2-C. Second floor. Left hallway.
I slide the door open, slip inside, and take the back window seat.
Prime location for spacing out.
I reach for my bag.
Empty air.
"…Fuck."
I left it on my desk.
At home.
No wallet. No phone.
Perfect start to the year.
The door slides open again. A woman steps in—red ponytail, glasses, light green blazer.
Definitely a teacher.
She starts the intro lecture.
I try to listen.
I fail.
My head dips.
My eyes close.
Just for a second—
Ring.
I jerk awake.
Lunch.
My stomach growls angrily.
Then I remember—
No bag. No lunch.
"Whatever," I sigh.
The rooftop is quiet, at least.
I push open the rooftop door.
A cold breeze washes over me.
And then I see her.
A girl stands at the ledge.
Purple hair flowing down her back. Tall. Too close to the edge.
My heart drops.
Is she…
My legs move before my brain decides anything.
"Hey—what are you doing!" I shout, voice cracking.
I reach over the safety fence and grab her hand.
Her skin is freezing.
"It's not safe," I pant.
She turns slowly.
Her cheeks are stained with dried tears. Her red eyes are blank, distant.
"Let go of my hand," she whispers.
I stare at her, stunned.
"Aren't you going to jump? I'm trying to save you—give me some credit," I blurt.
Idiot.
Why would I say it like that?
She turns fully toward me, eyes meeting mine. The wind shifts. For a brief second—something in her gaze feels… familiar.
Like the dream.
Like those faint red eyes in the dark.
Sweat trickles down my neck.
"Why are you helping me?" she asks. "You don't even know me."
The words sting.
She's right.
But—
Because if I walk away now and she jumps, I'll never forget it.
"This idiot is trying to throw her life away," I mutter, "of course I'm going to stop it."
Her eyes widen.
I swallow hard.
"Look… I get it. Life's tough. But someone cares about you. There's no reason to throw yourself away."
Her face twists. Tears gather again.
"You know nothing!" she yells.
She's right.
But I squeeze her hand tighter anyway.
"Still… I wanna help you. I care. That's why I'm still holding your hand."
Her face goes red.
She trembles.
"Okay…" she whispers.
Slowly, carefully, she steps back over the fence.
Safe.
Finally.
She stands there, head down, waiting.
I clear my throat.
"S-so… uh… I'm Haru. Second year."
"H-Haru," she repeats softly.
"I'm M-Mina. First year."
Mina.
Pretty name.
Pretty girl.
Too tall. Too beautiful. Too close.
"So, uh… did you have lunch?" I ask.
Why. Why did I say that?
"I don't really eat lunch," she murmurs.
I panic.
"My favorite anime is AoT," I blurt.
Kill me. Please.
She looks up.
Then starts laughing.
Not mocking—genuine laughing. Like she hasn't laughed in years.
"You're really funny," she says, smiling.
Funny?
Me?
That's new.
Ring.
Next period.
"We should… get to class," she says gently.
"Y-yeah."
We walk back together.
"Thank you…" she whispers before splitting off.
I nod.
At least she's okay now.
…I think.
School drags on.
Finally, the last bell rings.
Students rush out in groups.
I walk alone.
Like always.
Better that way.
Safer.
I try not to think about anything.
Then—
"H-Haru?"
I stop and turn.
Mina stands there, clutching her bag, cheeks red.
"I was wondering…" she mumbles, "if we could walk home together."
Walk home.
Together.
With her?
My heart slams hard enough to bruise.
"S-sure," I say.
We walk side by side.
Sometimes awkward.
Sometimes quiet.
Sometimes… warm.
A drop of rain hits my head.
Then another.
"…Crap. It's raining."
Of course.
But Mina smiles softly through the drizzle.
And as the rain darkens her hair, a chill runs down my spine.
Just for a second—
her eyes look red again.
Like the dream.
Like she's been waiting for me longer than she should.
I shake it off.
It's just the weather.
Just a dream.
Just… coincidence.
Right?
(End of Chapter 1)