Luna POV
It was Sunday, 10:00 p.m.—the day before finals started. I usually studied in my room, but today I just wanted a change of scenery. Maybe it was all in my head, but I thought that it'd give me the extra push I needed to get through the week, so I was studying at the dinner table.
Dad was upstairs and already fast asleep, while Mom was in the living room watching television. She kept the volume low in consideration for me, which made for some nice background noise.
As I was in the middle of doing a math problem, Mom gently set down a bowl next to me, barely making a sound. Still, I put my pencil down and looked up at her.
An apologetic frown creased her old face.
"Sorry," she whispered. "Did I disturb you?"
I laughed it off, hoping to ease her guilt the best way I could. "Nah, it's no big deal. I was thinking of taking a little break, anyway."
Mom's shoulders eased as she let out a breath of relief. "That's a good idea. It isn't good to study all day without a break. That'll only do you more harm than good."
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
Grabbing the bowl, I took a quick peek inside. It wasn't a big meal or anything—just three chicken strips. Something easy to eat, since I didn't have to get my hands dirty.
"Thanks, Mom!" I said, jabbing a strip with a fork and taking a bite.
A satisfied smile crossed Mom's face as she watched me. "No problem. If you need anything else, I'll be right there."
Mom turned around and returned to the sofa. Once I finished the first strip, I went back to studying, occasionally taking breaks to eat the other two.
Whenever I was thirsty, wanted something else, or needed help with a question, Mom was always right there with me.
Yu POV
Monday, 12:00 a.m. I should have been studying for finals—which were less than eight hours away—but I was instead lying in bed, talking to my crush, Kyara.
Ever since I finished dinner, that was what I'd been doing. I told myself I'd only talk to her for twenty minutes, then I pushed it to an hour—and here I was, still talking. I knew it was a terrible decision, yet I went ahead and did it anyway.
Just as I was in the middle of typing her a reply, a conversation I had with Luna and Hoshino resurfaced in my mind. It was the day Luna lectured me about how I shouldn't complain about my grades when I'd find any excuse possible to procrastinate.
It wasn't funny then, but looking back on it, I laughed—one so loud I forgot what I was even doing for a moment.
Suddenly, a thud rang out from the wall, followed by a voice full of irritation.
"Stop laughing so creepily, you loser! You're annoying me! And it's twelve in the morning!"
My laughter slowly faded into a half-hearted chuckle until nothing but silence remained. I stared at the wall, guiltily scratching the back of my head.
I've gone and done it now…
I took a deep breath, steadying my voice, before calling back. "Sorry, Bro! I'll be a little quieter!"
A few seconds of silence passed as I continued to stare at the wall. My Older Brother didn't respond, so I took that as 'it's okay to move on.'
I turned my attention back to Kyara and sent the text I'd been in the middle of typing out.
She reacted with a single laughing emoji. It shouldn't have been a big deal, but at the sight of it, I jumped out of bed, the floor creaking under me.
Holy shit… I made her laugh! We are so up, gang!
I started pacing around the room as we exchanged texts. As time passed, I got more creative—and confident—with my jokes, she'd react by laughing, and I'd pace even faster.
My heart pounded with each message we sent.
Maybe the high of success had gotten to my head, but I ended up sending our first flirty text. It was something stupid, but for a teenager like me, it took a lot of effort.
My text was tagged with a read receipt right away.
I stopped moving, my breath catching in my throat as I stared at the screen, waiting for her reply.
After what felt like an eternity, it came. I read it… and let out a shout.
"HOLY SHIT!!!"
I reread it over and over to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong, but even a guy as oblivious as me couldn't misunderstand this. She had just reciprocated my energy.
My Brother banged the wall again, telling me to shut up, but I couldn't hear it over the ecstasy that flooded my ears.
I collapsed onto the bed with a girlish squeal, hurriedly typing out my reply. What had started as jokes turned into something more serious, and it kept me up for the rest of the night.
Eventually, the conversation died down, and we both ended the conversation by saying it was time to head to bed.
I turned off my phone and lay in bed. I was already tired, so the moment I closed my eyes, I fell asleep instantly.
But before I completely lost consciousness, I made one last mental note.
I need to tell Hoshino and Luna about this asap…
With that in mind, I fully drifted off to sleep.
Mei POV
*Scritch* *Scratch*
I flipped the page, moving onto the next problem.
*Scritch* *Scratch*
Again.
*Scritch* *Scratch*
Again.
*Scritch* *Scratch*
And again.
Or at least, I tried to—but when I flipped the page, I hit the cardboard backing. There were no more pages left.
With a small breath, I leaned back against my chair and tossed the notebook onto a pile where at least five others already sat.
I glanced at the bottom right corner of my laptop. I strained my aching eyes against the blurry screen until I could make out the time. It was 2:00 a.m.
I'll study for two more hours, then go to bed.
I opened a nearby drawer, pulled out a fresh notebook, and set it down on the desk. Flipping to the first page, I continued to study.
My mind was hazy, I could barely make out what I was writing, and I couldn't even feel the pencil as it rubbed against my fingers anymore.
Still—I didn't stop.
Each time I got close to giving up, a sharp pain would throb behind the center of my forehead, and the sweet, but toxic reek of alcohol would sting my nose.
I have to keep going…
*Scritch* *Scratch*
I have to keep studying.
*Scritch* *Scratch*
I have to get first place!
*SCRITCH* *SCRATCH*
Before I even realized it, I had run out of space, my pencil skidding off the page and carving a deep grey gash across my beige desk.
That gash was like a beacon in my hazy vision, forcing my eyes to refocus on my surroundings.
Drops of sweat dotted the dark grey lines here and there; my lungs were burning, and my body wouldn't stop shaking.
N-no… I can't stop yet.
I tried to move my hand, but the strength had disappeared, leaving me with nothing but a hollow, empty arm.
No… this can't be happening.
I bit my lip, trying to wring anything left out of my body.
Please…! Please, just a little more!
But no matter how hard I tried, my hands remained stagnant.
I watched them helplessly as a cold, maniacal whisper brushed against my ear.
"You will experience a hell you've never seen before."
My heart dropped as a gaping hole of nothingness opened in my chest, slowly consuming my body and eroding my mind.
No…
NoNONO!
The pencil fell from my fingers.
This can't be happening!
I'm not ready yet!
Just a little more!
My gaze darted around the room until it landed on my phone.
Can Hoshino help me?
No.
Not for this.
I need to beat him to escape.
So I can't rely on him.
But… what else can I do?!
What el–
Suddenly, my wrist throbbed, and my mind went quiet.
Following the pain, my eyes moved on their own and drifted to a small glint in the corner of my desk. The glint was hidden behind a plushie, a cactus, and a picture of Mom and me. It shouldn't have been possible to notice it, yet, right now, it shone brighter than ever.
Ah…
My hand, which should have been out of strength, began to reach toward the glint.
Lily POV
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
My alarm went off, signalling that the first day of exams had begun. The instant it did, my hand shot forward and killed the sound. There was no point in using it today, because I was already awake.
Without wasting any more time, I went back to the question I was working on.
While not to this extent, I'd been doing this every night once everyone was asleep, ever since the fight with my Older Brother.
My desk was littered with erasing shavings, textbooks, and empty medication bottles I'd been using to stay awake. My arm was no different, covered with nail marks from pinching myself awake.
I've never pulled an all-nighter before, and it was a lot harder than I thought it'd be. Once I ran out of the pills, I almost nodded off countless times.
The only thing keeping me awake was the pain throbbing along my arms… as well as the burning desire in my chest directed toward my Mom and Older Brother.
*Scritch* *Scratch*
I'll show them.
*Scritch* *Scratch*
I'll show them all.
*Scritch* *Scratch*
I will prove Mom wrong, become a doctor—
*Scritch* *Scratch*
And surpass my shitty Older Brother.