May 17, 2025 – Tokyo, Japan – Morning

The morning sun filtered through the windows of Class 2-B, casting golden squares of light onto the floor. Everyone was buzzing with excitement—whispers and giggles echoed through the classroom.

Today, a new student was enrolling in the middle of the semester. That hardly ever happened. Everyone’s curiosity was practically bursting at the seams.

When the door slid open, every head turned.

She stepped in.

"Class, we have a new student joining us. Please welcome Chiba Yuki."

She had pink hair that shimmered slightly in the light, tied loosely at the back, and soft brown eyes that gave her an innocent charm. She wore the school uniform like everyone else, but somehow, it looked different on her—like she didn’t belong to this world.

The teacher asked her to introduce herself, but her voice was so soft it was hard to hear. That didn’t stop the class from being immediately enchanted.

As soon as the break bell rang, a flood of students surrounded her, bombarding her with questions, compliments, and desperate attempts to be her friend.

Meanwhile, I sat quietly in the back corner seat, as usual, head lowered into my book, pretending to read. I wasn’t part of their world. And honestly, I didn’t care.

At least, that’s what I thought.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her politely nodding and smiling at everyone—but then, her gaze shifted. She looked directly at me.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Without hesitation, she slipped through the crowd and walked straight toward my desk. Whispers rippled through the class like electricity.

She stood in front of me, smiling gently. “Tanaka Kaito, right? I’m Chiba Yuki. Nice to meet you.”

I blinked, startled. “Uh… y-yeah. Hi.”

She leaned down a little and held out her phone. “Can we exchange numbers? As classmates?”

My brain short-circuited for a second.

A girl… asking for my number?

Was I dreaming?

Trying to act normal, I quickly pulled out my phone and we exchanged contacts. For the first time in my life, I had a girl’s number saved.

The rest of the day passed in a strange haze. I couldn’t stop glancing at my phone, half-expecting it to be a dream.

That night, as I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my phone buzzed.

It was a message from Chiba Yuki.

Chiba Yuki: "The Mafia is planning to hunt you down tonight at your house. They’ll come after your parents too. Leave your home immediately."

My blood ran cold.

What the hell was this?

I stared at the screen, my heart hammering in my chest. Was it a joke? It didn’t feel like one.

Without wasting a second, I got up, threw on a jacket, and headed downstairs.

"Mom, Dad," I called out, trying to sound casual. "I’m heading to the convenience store to get some snacks. Be back in a bit!"

They barely looked up from the TV. “Alright, be careful," my mom said.

I stepped outside into the cool night air, my mind racing. Was this real? Was Chiba Yuki somehow connected to all of this?

I walked down the street, trying to act natural. But after a few blocks, I felt it—that unsettling prickling at the back of my neck.

Someone was following me.

I glanced over my shoulder.

It was him.

The man from the café.

The Mafia guy.

His coat fluttered slightly in the breeze as he kept a steady distance behind me, pretending to be casual but never losing sight of me.

This is real.

I have to run. I have to fight.

I ducked into an alley, pretending to be panicked. As expected, he followed, the predator sensing the weakness in his prey.

That’s when the fight from that nightmare night—the one that started it all—truly began.

To be continued...