The morning sun made a golden glow over Crescent High School, painting everything in soft light as students filled the courtyard. Laughter echoed, footsteps hurried, and life moved on — just another ordinary day.  

Among them was a boy no one really noticed.  

Aiden Kurose.  

Average height. Average build. Average grades.  

The kind of person your eyes would pass over, never stopping twice.  

His messy black hair covering his forehead, dark brown like the earth after rain — deep, but hidden. He walked quietly, his head down, hands tucked into his pockets. Blending in. Forgettable.  

And that’s how he liked it.  

He walked into the classroom, taking his usual seat by the window, third row from the back. The hum of voices surrounded him, but none of them reached him.  

And yet… his chest ached. Because he could feel her presence.  

Perfect, bright… everything he wasn’t.  

Her laughter rang out, soft and pure, as she chatted with her friends. Her long dark hair caught the sunlight, and her eyes — the same deep brown as his — seemed lively.  

Aiden didn’t dare look her way.  

Not really.  

Even a glance felt like betrayal — like if she saw him looking at her, the world might end.  

So he stared down at his desk, tracing patterns with his finger, pretending he couldn’t hear her laugh, pretending his heart wasn’t beating fast.  

Kai nudged him from the side, smirking. "You’re doing it again."  

Aiden flinched blushing. "Doing what…?"  

"Acting like she’s gonna kill you if you look at her."  

"I’m not… I wasn’t…"  

Kai sighed, leaning back lazily. "Just talk to her, man."  

"I can’t," Aiden whispered, the words barely leaving his lips. "What if she knows? What if she finds out I… always…"  

His voice broke.  

Kai gave him a pitying look but said nothing more.  

The day dragged on, meaningless lectures fading into background noise. Aiden didn’t hear a word.  

His eyes stayed on his notebook, but his mind… it was always somewhere else.  

Lunchtime came, and Aiden escaped — like always — to the rooftop.  

Up there, the world felt smaller, Quieter.  

He sat alone, eating his cold bread with some bananas, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky. From where he sat, he could see the courtyard below — Emily surrounded by friends, her laughter rising like music.  

Aiden smiled sadly. She deserves someone brave… not someone like me.

The bread tasted dry.  

The sky felt too wide.  

When the final bell rang, the relief was short-lived. The sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the ground as students poured out, eager for home.  

Aiden walked slowly, dragging his feet. Another day survived. Another day wasted.  

But then —  

"Aiden!"  

His breath caught. He froze, turning slowly.  

There she was — Emily — standing just outside the gate, clutching her bag tightly. Her cheeks were slightly pink, her eyes unsettled.  

"I… um… just wanted to say… see you tomorrow."  

For a moment, the world stopped.  

Aiden opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His heart pounded heavily against his ribs.  

He forced himself to nod. "Y-Yeah… you too."  

Emily smiled — bright, beautiful — and then she was gone.  

Aiden stood there, staring at the empty space she left behind, wondering if he had imagined it all.  

But life doesn’t wait.  

The sky slowly turned dark. The earth shaking.  

A roar tore all over the air, shaking the ground beneath his feet.  

Aiden turned — and saw it.  

A massive shadow emerged over the school. Red eyes glowing. The air itself seemed to scream.  

And then — her voice.  

"HELP!!"  

Without thinking, Aiden ran.  

His body moved faster than his mind. Faster than fear.  

He found her — trapped beneath the debris, her body shaking, dirt and blood streaked across her pale face. Her dark brown eyes — wide, terrified — met his.

"A… Aiden…?" Emily’s voice was low, barely a whisper.

For a second, Aiden stood still. Hearing her say his name like that — scared, helpless — it broke something inside him.

With strength he didn’t know he had, Aiden clawed through the debris, lifting heavy beams, scraping his hands raw just to reach her. The ground shaking again as the monstrous shadow appeared above them, its glowing red eyes fixated on them like prey.

 

"Aiden… you have to run," Emily gasped. "Please… just go…"

"I can’t," he said, voice cracking. "Not without you…"

Finally, he pulled her free, cradling her gently in his arms. She was light — too light — and shaking.

"Listen… I…" Aiden’s throat burned as the words he’d buried for so long clawed their way out. "I was always too scared to tell you but… I love you, Emily. I… always have."

Her eyes widened, tears spilling down her cheeks. "W-Why are you saying that now…?"

"Because… I don’t… I don’t know if I’ll get another chance."

Before Emily could answer, the shadow above them roared — a deafening sound that made the ground shatter.

Aiden smiled, almost peacefully. "I’m… really glad I met you."

Then, with every ounce of strength left in his body, Aiden turned — protecting Emily with his back — and pushed her away as hard as he could.

"AIDEN!!" Emily screamed, reaching out, but it was too late.

The claw crashed down — the sky itself splitting apart — and everything went silent.

The world went white.  

The shadow struck — final, cruel, unforgiving.  

And then… silence.  

Emily crawled from the rubble, trembling, blood staining her skin.  

Her voice broke as she called out, "Aiden…?"  

No answer.  

Nothing but smoke and ash.  

Above, a figure watched from the shadows — a white mask cracked along the side.  

His dark brown eyes gleamed.  

"So… the original’s dead, huh?"  

A slow grin spread across his face.  

"Guess it’s my turn now."