The sun rose, painting the classroom walls in gold as the trio walked back inside. Their heads hung low, heavy with shame, but Kei's voice cut through the silence.
"Keep your heads up," he said firmly.
The sun rose, painting the classroom walls in gold as the trio walked back inside. Their heads hung low, heavy with shame, but Kei's voice cut through the silence.
"Keep your heads up," he said firmly.
Tatsuo moved closer, his voice barely a whisper.
"I feel like I'm being torn apart into a million pieces... Look at them. Those idiots are laughing behind our backs."
Kei's jaw tightened, his eyes cold.
"You think I don't see that? Let them laugh. But don't give them more reason to. Pull yourself together, Tatsuo. Our time will come."
He clenched his fists, his voice low but filled with conviction.
"They will fear us again... and this time, they'll fear us even more."
When they entered the class, a few kids were trying hard to hold back their laughter. Some faces showed fear. But then Kei's eyes fell on Ryu and Takumi, standing near the corner.
Kei's gaze flicked briefly toward Lyra, but her eyes were fixed on Ryu. His chest tightened, his heart pounding like a volcano ready to erupt and burn everything in its path. Still, he forced himself to stay calm.
The trio took their seats at the back of the class. The air felt heavier there. Takumi could almost taste the tension building around them. He glanced at Ryu, who looked completely unbothered.
"Hey, Ryu," Takumi muttered, touching his hand.
Ryu turned slightly.
"What now?"
"Don't act like you don't know, idiot," Takumi hissed. "I can feel his breath from here. Their eyes are preying on us."
Ryu exhaled sharply.
"Then don't look."
Takumi frowned.
"Yeah, like that's gonna help. Everything I thought about you was wrong. I always believed I was the strongest among us. Not to brag, but I stood by you and defended you all this time. And then, out of nowhere, you beat those three to a pulp like they were nothing."
He paused, his voice trembling slightly.
"I don't even know you anymore, Ryu. Sometimes it feels like you're two different people. The way you talk, the way you move... it's like I'm seeing two versions of you."
Ryu simply looked at him.
"Let it go, brother. I know when something bad happens, you'll be there for me."
He smiled warmly.
Takumi scoffed.
"Yeah, keep dreaming, idiot. I'll be the first one to run."
Ryu chuckled under his breath, but his eyes carried a quiet calm that made Takumi's words feel hollow. Somewhere deep down, Takumi knew Ryu meant every word.
Ryu's faint smile lingered as the air in the classroom grew heavier. Kei, sitting a few rows behind, watched the two quietly. His expression was unreadable. Not anger, not calm, just a deep, cold silence that said more than words ever could.
Then Ryu's eyes shifted.
Across the room, Lyra sat near the window, her face turned toward him. For a moment, the noise, the whispers, the nervous laughter, everything faded.
Their eyes locked.
There was something unspoken there. Something neither of them was ready to face.
Kei noticed it. His fingers curled slightly over the desk, but he didn't move. He just kept watching: Ryu's calmness, Lyra's quiet gaze, and the strange stillness between them.
The door slid open.
Mr. Haneda, the science teacher, walked in, his presence immediately straightening the entire class.
Chairs scraped, books opened, and the false sound of normalcy filled the room again.
But Kei's eyes didn't leave Ryu.
And Ryu's didn't leave Lyra.
"I guess you should start learning Braille," Takumi said quietly. "It might come in handy when Lord Masayori gouges your eyes out."
Mr. Haneda announced that Sir Atlas would be unavailable for a few days, so the other teachers would use the time according to their schedules.
Most of the students were happy to hear it, but Takumi wasn't.
His desire to grow stronger had increased. He wanted to be equal to his friends, or even better, not out of jealousy, but because he didn't want to be a burden.
Ryu understood this but chose not to interfere. He didn't want to make his friend feel insecure. In fact, he wanted Takumi to push himself.
After class, Ryu and Takumi went to their usual hilltop spot.
Silence surrounded them as they sat together. After a while, Ryu started talking about what had happened in class. They chatted about it for a while, until Ryu's thoughts drifted back to the mysterious woman beneath the oak tree.
Ryu suddenly asked,
"Hey, did you hear about a missing kid named AEON?"
Takumi paused for a few seconds.
"AEON...? Never heard that name before. Why do you ask?"
Ryu began describing the woman he had seen beneath the old oak tree.
Takumi frowned.
"A woman there at that hour? That's unusual... Wait, what if it's some mother's ghost from before the fall?"
Ryu gave a faint smile.
"A ghost? She didn't feel like one... but who knows, right?"
He laughed lightly, but only to hide the unease creeping through both of them.
"Yeah... a lot of strange things happen around that place," Takumi muttered.
He nudged Ryu.
"So when are you going to tell her, Ryu?"
"Tell who?"
"You know who, idiot. Lyra."
Ryu's face heated instantly.
Takumi chuckled.
"So you do know. I'm sure she has feelings for you. The way she looks at you... I've never seen her look at anyone else like that."
Ryu lay back, his eyes drifting up toward the sky.
"Yeah, right."
He exhaled softly.
"It's true that I love her. But unlike what you said, I don't know if she loves me. And she deserves better. Someone like her shouldn't end up with someone like me. That would be an atrocity."
Takumi lay beside him.
"And here I thought you were brave. I don't understand you sometimes."
Ryu closed his eyes.
"Love isn't selfish, Takumi. I just want her to be happy in this hellish world. Even if that happiness isn't with me."
Takumi snorted.
"Here we go with the philosophy again. You know, I'm starting to believe that people who talk philosophy all the time are the ones incapable of doing anything themselves."
Ryu laughed.
"Yeah, I believe that too, but I know I definitely don't fit into that category."
He adjusted his hands behind his head and continued.
"Do you remember when we met Lyra for the first time? We were running late on our first day of elementary school. That was also the first day I entered the inverted train... and the last. You were the first kid I met, and somehow, you're still here."
Takumi smirked.
"Yeah, I remember. Everyone's mouths were hanging open when she walked in. I swear someone was drooling."
Ryu chuckled.
"The first day was calm, even though it was the first time I was pushed around like a plaything. But you stood up for me even back then. After the first hour, she came in with her squad like a goddess."
Takumi nodded.
"And even when everyone tried giving her special treatment, she refused."
"Yeah," Ryu said quietly. "I always found that strange. Who doesn't want special treatment, right?"
He let out a breath.
"Later that month, we were in that school play. Kei got the lead role paired with Lyra, and I was just a cleaner who appeared for a few seconds."
Takumi groaned.
"Don't remind me. Kei wouldn't shut up about it."
"But even then," Ryu continued, "she spent all her free time after training with me. A part of me, knowingly or unknowingly, started falling hard for her."
His voice softened.
"But even then, I knew she's someone who deserves something better. Better than anything I could ever give her."
"I'm sure she deserves the best, Ryu... but I'm also sure there's no one better than you. I'm lucky to have you in my life, brother," Takumi said quietly.
"But do you believe that...? Before you finish, let me guess."
Ryu turned toward him.
"You're thinking about Kei, right?"
Takumi nodded.
"For now, we're safe," Ryu continued, "but not for long. The way everyone laughs around him... it's only going to fuel his rage even more. And whatever he feels for Lyra... that's going to be the cherry on top."
Takumi felt a shiver crawl up his spine. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew Ryu was right.
Kei's silence was never a sign of peace.
It was a sign of something growing.
Something waiting.
Ryu sat up slightly.
"For us, this is the calm before the storm. But for them, with Atlas gone for a few days... this is the only time they will have to prepare."
Takumi swallowed hard. The unease in his chest deepened, but he stayed beside Ryu, knowing the truth needed to be heard.
Tatsuo moved closer, his voice barely a whisper. "I feel like I'm being torn apart into a million pieces... Look at them—those idiots are laughing behind our backs."
Kei's jaw tightened, his eyes cold. "You think I don't see that? Let them laugh. But don't give them more reason to. Pull yourself together, Tatsuo. Our time will come."
He clenched his fists, his voice low but filled with conviction. "They will fear us again... and this time, they'll fear us more."
When they entered the class, a few kids were trying hard to hold back their laughter. Some faces showed fear. But then Kei's eyes fell on Ryu and Takumi, standing near the corner.
Kei's gaze flicked briefly toward Lyra, but her eyes were fixed on Ryu. His chest tightened, his heart pounding like a volcano ready to erupt and burn everything in its path. Still, he forced himself to stay calm.
The trio took seats at the back of the class. The air felt heavier there. Takumi could almost taste the tension building around them. He glanced at Ryu, who looked completely unbothered.
"Hey Ryu," Takumi muttered, touching his hand.
Ryu turned slightly. "What now?"
"Don't act like you don't know, idiot," Takumi hissed. "I can feel his breath from here. Their eyes are preying on us."
Ryu exhaled sharply. "Then don't look."
Takumi frowned. "Yeah, like that's gonna help. Everything I thought about you was wrong. I always believed I was the strongest among us. Not to brag, but I stood by you, defended you all this time. And then, out of nowhere, you beat those three to a pulp like they were nothing."
He paused, his voice trembling slightly. "I don't even know you anymore, Ryu. Sometimes it feels like you're two different people. The way you talk, the way you move, it's like I'm seeing two versions of you."
Ryu simply looked at him and said, "Let it go, brother. I know when something bad happens, you'll be there for me."
He smiled warmly.
Takumi scoffed. "Yeah, keep dreaming, idiot. I'll be the first one to run."
Ryu chuckled under his breath, but his eyes carried a quiet calm that made Takumi's words feel hollow. Somewhere deep down, Takumi knew Ryu meant every word.
Ryu's faint smile lingered as the air in the classroom grew heavier. Kei, sitting a few rows behind, watched the two quietly. His expression was unreadable: not anger, not calm, just a deep, cold silence that said more than words ever could.
Then Ryu's eyes shifted.
Across the room, Lyra sat near the window, her face turned toward him. For a moment, the noise, the whispers, the nervous laughter, everything faded. Their eyes locked.
There was something unspoken there. Something neither of them was ready to face.
Kei noticed it. His fingers curled slightly over the desk, but he didn't move. He just kept watching: Ryu's calmness, Lyra's quiet gaze, and the strange stillness between them.
The door slid open.
Mr. Haneda, the science teacher, walked in, his presence immediately straightening the entire class.
Chairs scraped, books opened, and the false sound of normalcy filled the room again.
But Kei's eyes didn't leave Ryu.
And Ryu's didn't leave Lyra.
"I guess you should start learning Braille," Takumi said quietly. "It might come in handy when Lord Masayori gouges your eyes out."
Mr. Haneda said that Sir Atlas would be unavailable for a few days, so the other teachers would use the time according to their schedules.
Most of the students were happy to hear it, but Takumi wasn't.
His desire to grow stronger had increased. He wanted to be equal to his friends, or even better—not out of jealousy, but because he didn't want to be a burden.
Ryu understood this but chose not to interfere. He didn't want to make his friend feel insecure—in fact, he wanted Takumi to push himself.
After their class, Ryu and Takumi went to their hill spot. Silence filled around them. Then Ryu started talking about class. They both chatted about this, when suddenly, the lady below the oak wood tree...
Ryu suddenly asked, "Hey, did you hear about a missing kid named Ivaan?"
Takumi paused for a few seconds. "Ivaan…? Never heard that name before. Why do you ask?"
Ryu began describing the woman he had seen under the old oak tree.
Takumi frowned. "A woman there at that hour? That's unusual… wait, what if it's some mother's ghost from before the fall?"
Ryu gave a faint smile. "A ghost? She didn't feel like one… but who knows, right?" He laughed lightly, but only to hide the unease both of them felt creeping in.
"Yeah… a lot of strange things happen around that place," Takumi muttered.
He nudged Ryu. "So when are you going to tell her, Ryu?"
"Tell who?"
"You know who, idiot. Lyra."
Ryu's face heated instantly.
Takumi chuckled. "So you do know. I'm sure she has feelings for you. The way she looks at you… I've never seen her look at anyone else like that."
Ryu lay back, eyes drifting up to the sky. "Yeah, right." He exhaled softly. "It's true that I love her. But, unlike you said, I don't know if she loves me. And she deserves better. Someone like her shouldn't end up with someone like me. That would be an atrocity."
Takumi lay beside him. "And here I thought you were brave. I don't understand you sometimes."
Ryu closed his eyes. "Love isn't selfish, Takumi. I just want her to be happy in this hellish world. Even if that happiness isn't with me."
Takumi snorted. "Here we go with the philosophy again. You know, I'm starting to believe that people who talk philosophy all the time are the ones incapable of doing anything themselves."
Ryu laughed. "Yeah, I believe that too, but I know I definitely don't fit in that category."
He adjusted his hands behind his head and continued, "Do you remember when we met Lyra for the first time? We were running late on our first day of elementary school. That was also the first day I entered the inverted train… and the last. You were the first kid I met, and somehow, you're still here."
Takumi smirked. "Yeah, I remember. Everyone's mouth was hanging open when she walked in. I swear someone was drooling."
Ryu chuckled. "The first day was calm, even though it was the first time I was pushed around like a plaything. But you stood up for me even back then. After the first hour, she came in with her squad like a goddess."
Takumi nodded. "And even when everyone tried giving her special treatment, she refused."
"Yeah," Ryu said quietly. "I always found that strange. Who doesn't want special treatment, right?" He let out a breath. "Later that month, we were in that school play. Kei got the lead role paired with Lyra, and I was just a cleaner who appeared for a few seconds."
Takumi groaned. "Don't remind me. Kei wouldn't shut up about it."
"But even then," Ryu continued, "she spent all her free time after training with me. A part of me, knowingly or unknowingly, started falling hard for her."
His voice softened. "But even then, I knew she's someone who deserves something better. Better than anything I could ever give her."
"I'm sure she deserves the best, Ryu… but I'm also sure there's no one better than you. I'm lucky to have you in my life, brother," Takumi said quietly.
"But do you believe that… before you finish, let me guess," Ryu said quietly. "You're thinking about Kei, right?"
Takumi nodded.
"For now we're safe," Ryu continued, "but not for long. The way everyone laughs around him… it's only going to fuel his rage even more. And whatever he feels for Lyra… that's going to be the cherry on top."
Takumi felt a shiver crawl up his spine. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew Ryu was right. Kei's silence was never a sign of peace. It was a sign of something growing. Something waiting.
Ryu sat up slightly. "For us, this is the calm before the storm but for them, with Atlas gone for a few days… this is the only time they will have to prepare."
Takumi swallowed hard. The unease in his chest deepened, but he stayed beside Ryu, knowing the truth needed to be heard.