Kai froze. The world felt slightly off-balance. The hum of the classroom, the shuffling of students, even the whisper of the fan above—it all seemed distant, muted, as if the air itself was holding its breath.
Something… is here.
He sat at his usual desk with Sora at his side and Joro leaning casually against the desk next to him. Their presence anchored him, a small pocket of normality in the chaos of thoughts and attention pressing around him.
Sora, ever clingy, looped her arm around his, resting her head on his shoulder. "Kai… you're spacing out again. Tell me it's nothing scary," she whispered.
Kai blinked slowly. "I… just feel something unusual." His voice was calm, but the tension in his chest betrayed him.
Ayko, sitting a few desks ahead, noticed the subtle stiffness in his shoulders. She tilted her head, curiosity and concern threading through her gaze. "Kai… you okay?" she called softly.
He gave her a faint smile. "Yeah… just thinking."
Joro's gaze flicked toward him, sharp and assessing. "It's not the usual noise, is it?" he murmured. "Not the girls, not the chatter—something else?"
Before Kai could respond, a group of girls from their grade approached, notebooks and small papers in hand.
"Kai! Can we talk to you for a second?" one of them asked, smiling.
Kai took a slow breath and stood. "Sure, what's up?" His voice was calm, neutral—but inside, the mental noise from all the students surged like a tide.
Another girl stepped forward, holding a small notebook. "We just… wanted to know if you could help us with the project. And… maybe some advice too?"
Sora immediately bristled, pulling on his sleeve. "Excuse me, he's with me," she snapped, glaring.
Kai gave her a small, amused smile. "It's okay, Sora. I can help."
Ayko stood too, walking closer with a polite but firm expression. "I'll be here too," she said, giving the girls a look that silently warned them to behave.
Kai crouched slightly, taking one of the notebooks. "Alright, show me what you've got."
Sora huffed but stayed glued to his side, whispering, "Just don't smile too much, or they'll swoon."
The girls explained their project, showing charts and scribbled notes. Kai listened, occasionally giving a short nod or answering a question. His calm demeanor drew them in further.
"Wow, Kai, you're really smart," one of them said shyly, glancing at him.
Kai's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Thanks. You've done well too."
Sora's grip on his arm tightened. "Don't let them flatter you too much," she whispered.
Ayko added under her breath, "Seriously, he's ours, remember?"
Kai suppressed a laugh. They're adorable when they're jealous.
One girl leaned closer, asking about a math problem. Kai explained it carefully, pointing at her notebook. "See, if you approach it this way, it balances out."
"Thanks, Kai! You make it so easy to understand," she said, eyes sparkling.
Sora poked his shoulder. "Are you enjoying this too much?"
Ayko leaned in, arms crossed, faux serious. "Seriously, he's ours."
Kai chuckled softly, glancing between them. Little jealous twins, he thought, though he didn't say it aloud.
After a few more minutes, the girls finally stepped back, mumbling thanks and whispering among themselves. The mental chatter faded slightly.
Sora immediately hugged his arm. "See? You belong to me," she whispered proudly.
Ayko tilted her head, pink faintly coloring her cheeks, and added softly, "And me too."
Kai shook his head with a grin. "Alright, alright. I get it."
Lunch break came next, and the trio—Sora still clinging to him, Ayko nearby, Joro leaning casually—made their way to the canteen. The noise was intense: trays clattering, voices overlapping, orders shouted. Kai could feel every thought pressing against his mind: hunger, excitement, small crushes, whispers of admiration.
Sora tugged his sleeve. "Kai… don't let anyone take our spot!"
Ayko followed close behind, intercepting a couple of students trying to squeeze past. "We're here first," she muttered under her breath.
Kai smiled faintly. The chaos didn't bother him; the presence of the two girls, protective and close, grounded him.
After lunch, Joro caught up with him near the quieter corridor. "We need to talk," he said quietly.
Kai nodded. "About what?"
"About all of this—your ability, the attention, the pressure. You can't keep ignoring it forever. Someone's going to notice. That presence earlier? It's not a student. Someone, or something, is watching you. And it's only a matter of time before it acts."
Kai's chest tightened, though he stayed calm. "I know. I've been careful."
Joro shook his head. "Careful isn't enough. You need a plan. Think ahead. Don't let your guard down, even for a second."
Sora peeked curiously from behind, unaware of the deeper tension, still clinging. Ayko lingered nearby, frowning slightly, sensing the seriousness but not the full truth.
The bell rang again, signaling the end of class. Students moved, chatter filling the hall.
Kai felt it again—the cold, unfamiliar thought, sharper this time, closer. He froze, heart tightening.
Something is coming.
And it's heading straight for me.