Chapter 3 — The Things That Shouldn't Exist
Quinshiki opened his eyes slowly.
"…Tch."
He rubbed his neck as he sat up.
His room was a mess.
Manga scattered everywhere like they were trying to escape.
Empty instant noodle cups piled up in corners.
One half-eaten cup sat on the nightstand… where a lamp should have been.
He ran a hand through his messy white hair.
"…What was that dream?"
Fragments flashed in his mind—
A dark blue night.
A blade.
The sound of metal clashing.
He was fighting someone.
With a katana.
Quinshiki clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Am I overthinking…?" he muttered.
Then his expression hardened slightly.
"…No. That didn't feel normal."
After a shower, he stood in front of the mirror.
White shirt.
Black pants.
Simple. Slightly untidy.
He stared at his own reflection.
"…Something's off," he said quietly.
"I just can't name it."
Sunlight streamed through the window, reflecting in his bright blue eyes.
"Ah… the sun is merciless in the morning."
He grabbed his bag and stepped out.
Then—
He stopped.
The clock on the wall.
The second hand…
Was moving backwards.
"…Again?"
He frowned.
"I literally bought this last night…"
He stepped closer, standing on his toes, taking it off the wall.
He opened it. Checked it. Changed the batteries.
Then placed it on the table.
"Let's see…"
He watched.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
For a moment, it moved normally.
Then—
It reversed.
The second hand started going backwards again.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He adjusted it again.
This time—
The hand spun violently in reverse.
Faster.
Faster.
"…"
CRASH.
His fist slammed into the clock, shattering it.
"…This is getting irritating."
He turned and walked out.
Behind him—
The broken clock twitched.
And the hand…
Slowly began ticking backwards again.
Meanwhile…
"Flochien… Flochien—!"
Linhua shook him.
But he didn't wake up.
Inside his dream—
Something was pulling him.
Dragging him out of himself.
A dark figure stood before him.
Formless.
Unnatural.
He tried to see its face—
But there was nothing there.
"Flochien!!"
Linhua's voice cracked with panic.
She grabbed a bottle and poured water onto his face.
"AH—!"
Flochien shot up, gasping.
Linhua exhaled deeply in relief.
"Why weren't you waking up?! I was so—"
She stopped herself, trying to act normal.
"…Forget it."
Then she frowned.
"Why were you breathing like that in your sleep?"
Flochien hesitated.
Then forced a smile.
"Nothing. Just a random nightmare."
He didn't want to worry her.
On the road…
Quinshiki walked calmly.
But his eyes shifted slightly.
Someone was behind him.
A man in a black baggy T-shirt and pants.
Following me?
"…Or just coincidence?"
The man got closer.
Closer.
Then—
He pulled out something.
A small rock-like object.
And reached toward Quinshiki's back.
"…!"
Quinshiki turned instantly—
His fist shot forward.
The man barely dodged.
"Who are you?" Quinshiki asked coldly.
The man didn't answer.
He turned—
And ran.
"Tch. Oi—stop!"
Quinshiki chased him.
Through traffic.
Cars sped past.
People shouted.
But Quinshiki moved fast—unnaturally fast.
"Damn it… what is that thing?"
The man increased his speed.
Quinshiki matched it.
They ran toward the mountain behind the school.
"I'm not letting you go that easily."
The chase continued into the forest.
Branches snapped underfoot.
Leaves scattered.
Quinshiki closed the distance.
He raised his fist—
And struck—
—but—
The man vanished.
Gone.
Like he was never there.
"…What?"
Quinshiki's punch hit a tree.
CRACK.
A deep fracture spread across the trunk.
His eyes widened for a second.
Then he calmed down.
"…What was he trying to attach to me?"
He looked at his hand.
A small black mark.
Round.
Unnatural.
"…Hm?"
The moment he focused on it—
It disappeared.
"…This is getting worse."
He exhaled slowly.
Then noticed something on the ground.
A ring.
Probably dropped during the chase.
He picked it up.
Black. Simple.
Engraved with a strange coded word.
"…Let's see."
He slipped it into his pocket.
"Will you come back for this…"
"…or stay a mystery?"
At school…
Girls whispered the moment Quinshiki entered.
Blushing.
Watching him.
He smiled casually.
Their faces turned red instantly.
Flochien ran toward him.
"Oii! Quinshiki-san! Good morning!"
"Morning."
Then—
Quinshiki's eyes shifted.
He saw it.
On Himari's hand.
The same black mark.
But the moment he focused—
It disappeared.
Himari didn't even notice.
She was busy adjusting her desk.
Quinshiki's smile remained.
But his thoughts sharpened.
She had the same mark…
Did she experience what I did?
…Or am I imagining things?
"…Hmmm."
He turned and walked toward his class.
"Bye, Quinshiki-san!" Flochien called.
Quinshiki waved lightly without turning back.
But inside—
Something was clicking.