The walk to the shop felt longer than expected. The morning streets were still quiet, the air cool and calm—but Airi's steps were a little stiff. Arou walked beside her, watching without making it obvious.
"Are you really okay?" he asked softly.
Airi nodded.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Arou glanced at her for a moment.
"But I saw you earlier… you looked like you were about to cry."
Airi lowered her gaze briefly.
"That's because they pulled my hair," she admitted honestly.
"It hurt… so maybe I looked like I was going to cry."
Arou took a slow breath.
"That went too far."
"It's okay now," Airi said gently.
"I can still walk."
Not long after, a small shop came into view. Its lights were bright, the door slightly open. They stepped inside, the small bell above the door chiming softly. Cool air greeted them immediately.
Airi walked to the refrigerator section.
"We need eight drinks," she said, picking them one by one.
Arou nodded and helped count.
"Eight. Perfect."
While Airi finished choosing, Arou glanced at the bread shelf. He walked over, grabbed eight different kinds of bread, then returned to the counter.
"We'll need these too," he said simply.
Airi looked a little surprised, then smiled.
"Oh… right. Thanks."
They paid together. Airi carried the bag of drinks, while Arou held the bag of bread.
As they stepped outside, Airi glanced at him.
"Thanks for coming with me."
"That's only natural," Arou replied.
---
On the way back, Airi's steps were steadier. Her face wasn't as tense anymore, though she still took quiet breaths now and then.
"You don't have to push yourself," Arou said.
Airi shook her head.
"I'm okay. If I stop now… I'll just overthink everything."
Arou didn't argue. He simply slowed his pace to match hers.
Soon, voices and laughter could be heard. The park came back into view—Nova, Lumina, Tomo, and Akari were still there.
"Hey, they're back," Tomo called out.
Lumina immediately walked over.
"You took a while. Got a lot?"
Airi lifted the bag.
"Eight drinks."
Arou raised the bread slightly.
"And eight breads."
"Nice, complete set," Lumina smiled.
Akari approached slowly, concern on her face.
"Airi… are you really okay?"
Airi nodded with a small smile.
"I'm fine."
Nova handed out the drinks.
"Then let's take a break before we continue."
They sat together on the bench. The atmosphere calmed. A gentle breeze passed through, leaves rustling softly, and small laughter returned.
Arou glanced at Airi.
"If you're tired, say so."
Airi looked ahead.
"Thank you… Arou."
---
Time passed quietly. The sun climbed higher, warming the park.
"Today's actually pretty peaceful," Tomo said, stretching.
"Don't jinx it," Haru replied.
"Something weird always happens after that."
Lumina laughed lightly.
"You think too much."
Nova stood up.
"I'll take a walk."
"I'll come," Shion added.
They walked off, leaving the others behind.
Akari looked around, eyes bright.
"It's been a while since I could just sit like this."
"I'm glad you can enjoy it," Airi smiled.
Then Akari looked at her more seriously.
"Airi… thank you. For always being there."
Airi blinked, then shook her head.
"We're friends."
Arou spoke calmly,
"We shouldn't stay out too late."
Everyone agreed.
---
Soon, they began heading home.
The sky turned orange, then slowly dimmed. Arou walked ahead with Airi and Akari. Lumina followed, while Tomo and Haru chatted behind them.
Meanwhile, Nova and Shion were still walking elsewhere.
"It's peaceful," Nova said.
"I haven't walked like this in a while."
Shion nodded.
"Yeah."
---
Back with the others—
Arou glanced behind.
"Where are Nova and Shion?"
"They said they'd walk for a bit," Lumina replied.
"Should we wait?" Akari asked.
Arou shook his head.
"They'll probably head home themselves."
They continued walking.
---
Then—
Airi suddenly stopped.
"…did you hear that?" she whispered.
Everyone froze.
"Hear what?" Tomo asked quietly.
"…Footsteps," Airi said.
"But not ours."
Haru turned. The road was empty.
The streetlight ahead flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Lumina tensed.
"That's not normal."
Then—
Tap… tap…
Slow footsteps.
But no one was there.
Akari clutched Airi's arm.
"Airi… I'm scared."
"Stay behind me," Arou said firmly, stepping forward.
The wind grew stronger. The air turned cold.
---
Far away, Nova suddenly stopped.
"The magic here… it changed."
Shion looked ahead.
"It's not ours."
"Something woke up," Nova murmured.
"But it's not coming toward us."
---
Back to Arou's group—
The lights behind them flickered too.
"This isn't coincidence, right?" Tomo whispered.
"…We're being watched," Lumina said.
The footsteps stopped.
Silence.
Too quiet.
Then—
Breathing.
Close.
"Arou…" Airi whispered, gripping his clothes.
"I'm here," he replied firmly.
Ahead—
Under a dim streetlight—
A shadow.
Tall. Still.
Watching.
"…What is that?" Haru whispered.
It didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Only watched.
Then—
Darkness.
The lights went out.
"Arou…" Airi's voice trembled.
"I'm here."
Seconds passed.
Too long.
Then—
click
The lights came back.
The road was empty.
Nothing there.
"H-Hey… it's gone?" Haru said.
"That was real, right?" Tomo muttered.
Lumina narrowed her eyes.
"Not an illusion… but not something normal either."
"…Then what?" Akari asked.
Arou didn't look away.
"Something that wants us to know… we're being watched."
Airi felt her chest tighten.
"…This feels like déjà vu…"
Lumina turned sharply.
"Airi?"
"…Like back then," Airi whispered.
"When everything started to change."
The air slowly returned to normal.
"Stay close," Arou said.
"We keep moving."
They walked again—closer together this time. No one spoke.
Airi glanced back once.
The road was empty.
But the feeling…
Remained.
---
Far away, Nova stopped again.
"Shion… that wasn't just a warning."
Shion nodded.
"This is the beginning."
Nova clenched his fist.
"Then we need to be ready."
---
That night, they all made it home safely.
But one thing was certain—
Something had noticed them.
And it wasn't over.