The next day felt… slightly off.
Not enough for anyone to notice.
Except Kashikari.
A cup slipped from someone's hand.
It fell—
paused mid-air for a split second—
then shattered on the ground.
No one reacted.
No one noticed.
Kashikari did.
— …You saw that.
"…Confirmed."
Jinwi's voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
— Why didn't anyone react?
"…Unknown."
Later, Kashikari found Nyari near the training field.
She was practicing.
Her movements were perfect.
Too perfect.
Every step.
Every motion.
Like a loop.
— Nyari.
She stopped instantly.
Turned.
Smiled.
— Kai?
Something felt wrong.
That smile…
It came too fast.
— You've been training long?
— Not really.
Same tone.
Same rhythm.
Kashikari stared.
— Say something random.
Nyari blinked.
— What?
— Anything.
A pause.
Too long.
Then:
— …You're acting weird today.
Kashikari stepped back.
— Yeah.
— I am.
Inside his mind—
— Jinwi… that wasn't normal.
"…Agreed."
— What is happening?
Silence.
Then:
"…Patterns are repeating."
That night—
Kashikari didn't sleep.
He watched the sky.
The line was still there.
Longer now.
Deeper.
— It's growing.
"…Yes."
— Why?
"…Because something is breaking."
Kashikari clenched his fist.
— Then I'll stop it.
Jinwi responded:
"…You may not be able to."