Kai didn't tell Nyari.
Not yet.
Because if he said it out loud—it would become real.
And part of him didn't want that.
The next day felt normal.
Too normal.
Students laughing.Classes continuing.Life moving on like nothing ever happened.
But Kai…
kept seeing it.
Small glitches.
A bird freezing mid-air for half a second.A shadow moving before its owner.Voices echoing with a delay that shouldn't exist.
And no one noticed.
Except him.
Nyari grabbed his arm while they walked.
"You've been quiet all day."
Kai forced a small smile."Just tired."
Nyari stopped.
"No. Not tired."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"You're scared."
Kai froze.
Because she was right.
That night, it got worse.
Kai collapsed to his knees in his room.
His head—
burning.
Not pain.
Something deeper.
Like memories trying to claw their way out.
"—watch out—!"
A voice.
Not Nyari.
Not Jinwi.
Different.
"—the truck—!"
A flash.
Blinding lights.Screeching metal.Impact.
Kai gasped violently.
— What… was that?!
Jinwi responded immediately:
"Memory fragment detected."
Kai's breathing became unstable.
— That's not from here.
"…Correct."
Silence.
Kai's hands trembled.
— Then where the hell is it from?
Jinwi answered:
"…From before."
Kai's vision blurred.
More flashes.
A road.Rain.A horn.
A body—
his body—
thrown into darkness.
Kai screamed.
The room shook.
Aura leaked uncontrollably.
Nyari burst through the door.
"KAI?!"
She ran to him, grabbing his shoulders.
Kai's eyes were wide.
Lost.
— Nyari…
His voice cracked.
— I think…
Pause.
— I died.
Silence hit the room like a wall.
Nyari's grip tightened.
"…What?"
Kai looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time.
— This world…
— doesn't feel like where I started.
Nyari shook her head instantly.
"No. No, don't say that."
Kai grabbed her hand.
— Then why am I remembering a life that isn't this one?
Nyari couldn't answer.
Because deep down—
She felt it too.
Jinwi spoke, low and absolute:
"The seal is breaking."
Kai's heart dropped.
— What seal?
"…The one keeping you here."