Mina didn’t see Ren the next day.

Or the day after that.

She tried not to let it bother her, but it did. The school garden felt emptier without him, like the silence had grown too big, too loud.

She sat on her usual bench, sipping green tea this time, trying to focus on the breeze, the soft rustle of petals, the warm sun brushing her skin. But her mind kept drifting back to him.

No aura. No answers.
Just questions.

She had so many now, floating in her head like puzzle pieces that didn’t quite fit. How could someone have no aura? How could she hear his thoughts? And why did his presence feel so... familiar, even though she had just met him?

“Mina!”

She jumped. The tea sloshed in her cup.

Saki stood on the path, hands on her hips, wearing her usual grin.

“I’ve been looking for you,” Saki said, flopping onto the bench beside her. “Don’t tell me you’ve been out here all alone again.”

Mina gave a small nod. “I like the quiet.”

Saki rolled her eyes in a playful way. “You and your secret garden. Anyway, you’ve heard the rumors, right?”

Mina’s heart skipped. “About what?”

“Ren. The transfer guy. People are saying he didn’t come to school today because of something that happened at his old one.”

Mina turned toward her. “What happened?”

“No one knows. It’s all hush-hush. Some people say he got into a fight. Others say he freaked out during a test or something.” Saki leaned closer. “I think he’s just mysterious and wants everyone to be curious.”

Mina stayed quiet.

It didn’t sound like Ren was trying to get attention. If anything, he seemed like someone trying very hard to disappear.

Saki studied her for a moment. “You’ve been acting different lately, you know that?”

Mina blinked. “Different how?”

Saki shrugged. “Like... you’re here but not here. Zoning out. Thinking hard. And don’t deny it, because you’re doing it right now.”

Mina offered a small, apologetic smile. “I’m fine. Just… distracted.”

“By a certain boy with haunted eyes and ghost vibes?”

Mina’s cheeks flushed.

Saki laughed. “I knew it!”

Before Mina could respond, a chill ran down her spine. A strange sensation stirred in her chest, like her heart was listening for something.

And then—

I shouldn't have spoken to her.

Mina's eyes widened.

She stood up, almost spilling her tea again.

Saki blinked. “Whoa, what’s up?”

Mina turned toward the edge of the garden. No one was there. No footsteps. No rustling. But she had heard it. She knew that voice.

It was Ren.

Not in front of her. Not behind her.

In her mind.