Darkness.
No sound.No light.
Just… nothing.
Then—
A heartbeat.
beep… beep… beep…
Kai's fingers twitched.
Heavy.
Like they didn't belong to him.
His eyes slowly opened.
White ceiling.
Blinding light.
A sharp smell of medicine.
Machines.
Voices.
"—he's waking up—!"
Kai's pupils shook.
— …Where…?
His voice was dry. Broken.
A woman rushed beside him.
Tears in her eyes.
"You're okay… you're okay…"
Kai stared at her.
He didn't recognize her.
But…
his chest tightened.
Memories flooded back.
The road.The rain.The impact.
The fall.
Kai's breathing sped up.
— The… academy…
— Nyari…!
The woman froze.
"…Who?"
Kai's body trembled.
— Nyari… where is she…?
No answer.
Only silence.
Jinwi.
Kai immediately reached for it.
— Jinwi…?
Nothing.
— …Jinwi?
Silence.
Cold.
Empty.
Kai's eyes widened.
For the first time—
He was alone.
Days passed.
Slow.
Painful.
Rehabilitation.Tests.Questions.
But Kai didn't care.
Because something was missing.
At night…
He would stare at the ceiling.
And whisper:
— Nyari…
Like saying her name would bring her back.
One night—
He saw it.
In the reflection of the window.
For a split second.
Behind him—
A faint… golden flicker.
Gone instantly.
Kai sat up.
Heart racing.
— …You're still there.
No answer.
But he knew.
This wasn't over.