Her gaze shifted to the kitchen counter, where a rock lay amid shards of glass from the broken window. A note was tied to it with rough string. Heart pounding, she approached hesitantly and unfolded the paper.

Alone again. That's what you're meant to be—ALONE, like me!

Her breath hitched; her fingers trembled. She hurled the rock aside and rushed to the window, peering out into the dim street. No one. Just shadows and the distant hum of evening traffic.

Shaking off the chill, Saki opened the refrigerator and retrieved a can of ready-to-eat grilled mackerel. She changed into comfortable clothes, then set about preparing dinner. While the mackerel grilled, she retrieved her half-finished portion of the group project from her room and placed it on the table. In the kitchen, she began making miso soup, but her thoughts drifted back to the video: the silhouette at the fog's edge—Hisato, her brother, dissolving into mist.

She paused to unpack her suitcase, transferring folded clothes to the cupboard. The purple handkerchief slipped from her grasp; she caught it quickly and set it on the cracked surface of her old study table. Once organized, she returned to the kitchen, switched off the gas, and plated her meal: grilled mackerel with miso soup.

She ate in silence, mind wandering to an impossible wish—something, someone, that would obey her every command, guard her secrets, and protect the apartment in her absence. The thought lingered through the entire meal.

Afterward, she washed the dishes, the clink of plates and rush of water the only sounds breaking the quiet. She prepared cold bathwater, then sat at the table to finish the project: designing, cutting, pasting with careful precision.

Her phone buzzed—the group chat, Courtyard Ghosts 😱.

Dave: YO the video already has 500 views on the forum!! Someone's calling it the "Shinjuku Rift Incident." We're famous… or cursed?

Michi: Delete your search history before Sensei finds out. Also, Hensudo, you looked cozy in that hug. Lily's face was priceless 😂

Hensudo: SHUT UP I WAS ASLEEP!! Lily, I swear it was an accident—

Lily: It's okay, Hensudo-kun 😊 The video is creepy though… that boy at the edge looked real.

Yudashi: Saki, you went pale when you saw it. Talk tomorrow?

Tison: My cousin says the school was built over an old wartime bunker. Spirits trapped or something. Urban legend level 100.

Saki's thumb hovered over the keyboard. She typed: Yeah… it looked like my brother. Then deleted it. Too raw. Instead: Weird lighting. Probably a prank.

Michi: And did anyone remember we have to submit that group project to Sensei?!

Saki smirked and replied: Yeah, just doing final touch-ups.

Lily: Wait, I didn't know about it.

Dave: Tsk. It's ok, you're new. Sensei will understand.

Tison: Heh, our group's already completed it, losers.

Hensudo: Haha very good!

Tison: Our group will do the best, idiots.

Dave promptly removed Tison from the chat.

Dave: He was boasting too much. Michi and I copied the info onto a sheet. Hensudo, Yudashi—you two can glue it when Saki brings hers.

Hensudo sent a 👌 emoji and went offline, as did Lily shortly after.

Saki set the phone aside, finished the project, and slipped it into a plastic bag. She showered, emerging refreshed in green pajamas. She ironed her uniform, packed her bag according to tomorrow's timetable, and checked the locks. The clock read 9:55 p.m. With a yawn, she slipped into bed.

Suddenly, street cats yowled outside, jolting her awake. She calmed her racing heart and stared at the ceiling, longing for a companion—someone who truly understood, to whom she could confide everything.

She rose, switched on the desk lamp, and pulled a notebook from the drawer along with a pencil, eraser, and sharpener. Absentmindedly, she sketched whatever came to mind—shapes born of fatigue and imagination. After twenty minutes, exhaustion won. Before turning off the light, she wrote a brief diary entry about the day's unease.

Outside, a streetlamp flickered. The clock showed 12:05 a.m. Amid the fading cat cries, sleep finally claimed her.

Morning arrived. At 6:45 sharp, Saki pedals her old, rusty bicycle to school, parked it, and hurried to the shoe lockers.

Dave ambushed her there, Michi and the others trailing behind. "Saki! You look like you fought a yokai and lost. Spill. The forum's calling you the 'Ghost Whisperer' now because of how you reacted to the zoom-in."

Michi elbowed him. "Give her space, idiot. But seriously—your brother? You never mentioned him."

Saki swallowed hard. "It's complicated. He… died when we were kids. A car accident. Or at least that's what they told me."

Hensudo rubbed his neck, still embarrassed from the video. "Dude, that's heavy. Lily and I were talking—uh, about the legend. She thinks the rift might be pulling in people who lost someone."

Lily stepped forward, eyes steady. "I looked it up last night. Old newspaper clippings—there was a gang shooting near the school grounds in the '90s. A boy died shielding his little sister. Sound familiar, like the incident of 'Shinjuku Rift' right?"

Silence fell over the group. Even Yudashi's calm expression faltered.

"We need to meet after classes," Yudashi said quietly. "Rooftop. No teachers."

Michi nodded. "Wait—did anyone bring the project?! Sensei will kill us if it's not there."

Saki perked up. "I finished my part. Just pasting left."

Michi smirked; Dave sighed and pointed at Hensudo and Yudashi. "You two get to work—paste it before Sensei asks."

They headed to the classroom. As they passed, one of Saki's old bullies muttered without looking, "Hey, curse."

Michi's head snapped toward him, fist clenched, but Saki stopped her. She stepped forward calmly. "Did Sensei give you detention? Hmm… got nothing better to do?"

The boy's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. He smirked darkly—clearly plotting—and walked away.

Hensudo grinned. "Saki wins!"

They entered the classroom and began assembling the project.

But levity faded quickly. Mr. Hoshino's voice echoed over the morning assembly speakers: "All student focus!"

The first period began. The Japanese teacher entered and immediately requested the projects. Tison's group submitted theirs with smug confidence. The teacher examined it critically. "Good work."

He moved on, reaching Yudashi's group. Tison mocked from behind, making faces. Dave scowled but held his tongue.

Yudashi handed over the project with a subtle wink at Tison. The teacher studied it. "Impressive work. Excellent framing! Who handled the designs?"

Michi clapped enthusiastically. "Saki!"

The teacher displayed the project to the class. Jaws dropped. Tison snorted jealously. "Whatever!"

Dave snickered.

The teacher placed the projects on the desk and began the lesson. Some backbenchers lost focus; the teacher reassigned seats.

Dave seized the moment. "Sensei, this row is reserved!" He counted the seats. "This whole row belongs to us!"

He placed Michi's bag in front with his own, then positioned Hensudo and Lily's bags together with a knowing grin, followed by Yudashi's and Saki's. "Here—this is ours till the end of the session!"

The teacher moved to scold him, but Dave signaled the group. They all turned pleading puppy eyes. The teacher hesitated, then relented, reorganizing the rest of the class accordingly.

Lunch arrived. The group gathered at their usual table, drawing stares from others. Hensudo shared soba from his bento with Lily. "My mom made extra—want some?"

She accepted with a soft laugh, cheeks tinting pink. "You're sweet when you're not tripping over dodgeballs."

Dave fake-gagged. "Get a room, you two. We're in crisis mode!"

Michi flicked a pea at him. "Crisis mode includes romance, apparently."

Yudashi proudly announced, "And I made sushi myself!"

They shared food—Saki had brought momos; everyone sampled each other's dishes. Lunch passed in easy camaraderie.

Afternoon periods blurred. In PE, Dave dominated dodgeball, shouting, "Take that, rift demons!"—though his grin seemed forced. Hensudo caught a ball impressively for Lily, only to drop it on his foot. Laughter rang out—until a girl on the sidelines screamed, "Something just touched my shoulder!" Nothing stood behind her.

The final period moved to the library. Dave led them to a secluded round table in the corner.

Once seated, he turned to Saki. "Tell us about your brother."

She hesitated, then spoke quietly. "When I was three, my brother left the house. I followed him into the rain, but he didn't stop. I cried, running after him. Suddenly, a car sped toward me—intentionally, I think. My brother pushed me out of the way. I was safe, but he… he shouted, 'Stop being an idiot! Go back home!' Someone dragged me away. My vision blurred with tears. The last thing I saw was them taking him in another direction… and his scream."

Tears welled. Lily hugged her gently—a habit from time spent at an elephant sanctuary.

The group soothed her. Hensudo declared earnestly, "One day they'll find Hisato! Even from the core of the Earth!"

Dave roasted him lightly, drawing laughter that eased the tension.

School ended. Saki headed to the parking lot for her bicycle—and froze. It lay in pieces, mangled beyond repair. A note was pinned to the frame: YOU MADE FUN OF ME THIS MORNING. I PAID IT BACK WITH INTEREST! ENJOY!

The bully's work. She clenched her fists, dragged the remains home, refusing to discard them. In the storeroom, she stored the parts safely, already considering ways to repurpose them—perhaps build something new, something useful.

Exhausted and hungry, she switched off the lights and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts swirling in the dark.