Morning light filtered weakly through the curtains of Kaiya's living room, casting long, slanted shadows over the exhausted group. Everyone looked drained—bodies sore, eyes heavy with sleeplessness and the kind of fear that refused to loosen its grip.
Nakayama lay on the couch, fresh bandages wrapped tightly around his wounded shoulder. Yui and Mio sat on the floor, backs pressed against the wall as if it were the only thing keeping them upright. Ren stared blankly at the opposite wall, lost somewhere deep inside his own thoughts. Riko clung tightly to Kaiya's sleeve, refusing to let go even for a moment.
The silence stretched on, thick and uncomfortable… until Ren finally broke it.
"…So we're just gonna ignore the fact that we literally burned down a whole fucking building?"
Everyone turned to look at him.
Kaiya rubbed his forehead, the weight of the night pressing down like a physical force. "We did what we had to. Or we'd be dead."
Ren's voice rose, cracking with disbelief. "What the fuck was that thing anyway?"
"I don't know," Kaiya admitted quietly.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
Yui sighed, rubbing her temples. "We're clearly exhausted. Let's just take a deep breath."
Ren shook his head, eyes wide and glassy. "We almost died tonight… I almost died."
"You didn't," Yui said gently. "So please calm down."
"What about Marata?" Ren shot back, voice sharp. "Are you gonna say the same thing about him?"
Kaiya stood up slowly. "I do really feel bad about what happened to him."
Ren's face twisted. "Doesn't change the fact you almost got us killed."
"No, he didn't," Yui snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "He told all of you what was going on, but nooo—you laughed and ignored us. Now you've seen it for yourselves and you blame him? In fact… fuck you."
Ren blinked, stunned. "Fuck me? Really??"
The atmosphere in the room grew thick and tense, the air almost too heavy to breathe.
"Quiet!!!!" Mio suddenly shouted.
Everyone turned to her. Nakayama winced as he pushed himself up into a sitting position.
Mio glared at them all, eyes fierce. "Stop arguing. We need to think of a solution. What if they come back? Are you guys even thinking about that? Huh? Or are you planning to kill yourselves before whatever that was comes back to kill us?"
Nakayama nodded slowly, his voice calm despite the pain. "I know we just met and I hardly know you guys… but Mio's right. Instead of arguing, we should figure out a plan. You said they came for you before—what if they come again?"
---
The TV, which had been left on at low volume in the corner, suddenly cut to a breaking news broadcast.
The reporter's voice filled the room with urgent clarity: "Massive explosion destroys Mizukiri High School Building A. Police found signs of chemical ignition."
The screen zoomed in on the charred, skeletal remains of the building, smoke still curling lazily into the morning sky.
"Witnesses captured a blurred figure moments before the blast. Police are unable to identify the suspect."
A blurry image appeared—clearly showing Kaiya carrying Yui on his shoulders through the flames.
Mio's eyes widened. "…That's you two."
Ren groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Nice. Just a matter of time before the cops know we were there."
Kaiya sighed deeply, the exhaustion settling deeper into his bones. "We stay low. No going out unless absolutely necessary."
---
Later that afternoon, the group prepared to leave the house.
"Yui. Ren. You're coming with me," Kaiya said. "We need supplies."
Ren blinked. "Why me—?"
"Get up."
Kaiya's glare left no room for argument. Ren sighed dramatically and stood.
---
At the supermarket and pharmacy, they moved quickly and quietly, filling baskets with essentials: non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, batteries, and extra medical supplies for Nakayama's wound.
In the pharmacy aisle, Yui scanned labels with practiced speed. "First-aid?"
"…Check," Kaiya replied.
Ren shifted awkwardly beside Kaiya, staring at the floor. "I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier. I know it's not your fault. I was stupid. I'm sorry."
Kaiya gave a small nod. "It's fine. I understand. We cool?"
"Yeah. We're cool."
Yui smirked from the next shelf over. "So cute~ smooch smooch."
Ren jumped dramatically, nearly dropping a box of bandages.
---
Next stop was the hardware store. They loaded up on anything that could be used as a weapon or tool: pickaxes, a shovel, metal pipes, nail guns, boxes of nails, duct tape, rope, pliers, and crowbars.
Ren struggled to lift one of the heavy pickaxes, grunting with effort. "Why does it have to be my card we're using to pay?"
Kaiya shrugged. "Remember? We played a fair game. You just happened to lose."
**Flashback – Three hours earlier:**
All their debit cards lay on the living room table. Yui tossed a coin into the air. It landed squarely on Ren's card.
**Present:**
"Nothing about that was fair!" Ren complained. "She didn't even put her card on the table!"
Yui walked ahead without looking back. "I threw the coin. Doesn't apply to me."
Ren dramatically pretended to cry. "You're the one who suggested the idea! I was saving for a new Xbox!"
"I'll pay you back. Every cent," Kaiya promised. "We really need this."
"Idiot… I don't want you to pay. I want that witch to pay!" Ren whined, pointing at Yui.
"Can't hear you~" Yui called sweetly as she disappeared down another aisle.
Kaiya couldn't help but smile, a small, fleeting thing in the midst of everything.
---
By evening, everyone had gathered back at Kaiya's house around Yui's laptop. Her fingers flew across the keyboard with surprising skill.
"…Since when can you hack?" Kaiya asked, watching her.
"This isn't hacking," Yui replied without looking up. "I'm just running a program I made when I was 10."
Ren's jaw dropped. Mio looked equally stunned.
"You made this?" Mio asked.
"Yeah. No big deal."
Ren whistled low. "Impressive…"
Yui pressed Enter with a decisive click.
"Found it."
Coordinates, IP addresses, and encrypted logs flashed across the screen, all pointing toward the dark-web poster's location.
Ren leaned in. "HOLY SHIT!"
"Two IP locations," Yui announced.
"Two…?" Nakayama echoed.
Kaiya studied the screen carefully. "We're not splitting up. We pick one."
He pointed to the first set of coordinates. "Here."
---
At 5:47 PM, the group arrived at a quiet, abandoned neighborhood on the edge of town. The chosen house stood dusty and neglected, windows cracked, front door slightly ajar like an open wound.
Ren swallowed hard. "…This gives serious serial-killer vibes."
They entered cautiously. Mio stayed close behind Kaiya, her breathing shallow.
Nakayama stepped into one of the dark rooms first—only to be tackled violently from the side.
"ARGH—!"
Yui instantly raised her nail gun. Kaiya lifted his hands in surrender.
"STOP! We're not here to fight!"
A shadowy figure pressed a sharp metal shard against Nakayama's throat.
"Who… the hell are you?" the man growled, voice rough and edged with exhaustion.
---
Kaiya lowered his makeshift weapon slowly. "We're looking for someone. Please don't hurt him."
"Who sent you?" the man demanded.
"No one. We came looking for the person posting about the disappearances. We need answers."
Silence filled the dusty room, thick and heavy.
The man slowly released Nakayama and stepped back. His hollow, tired eyes scanned each of them in turn.
Ren whispered, "…Is this him?"
The man's gaze hardened. "You came to the wrong place. Get out of my property."
"No," Kaiya said firmly. "We can't. From the looks of this place, I'm 80% sure it's you. We're not here to fight. We need answers—about what the hell is going on, and how to kill those monsters coming after us."
The man froze.
"Monsters?" he repeated, voice dropping. "You've seen one too, huh?"
Everyone swallowed nervously.
The stranger finally exhaled a long, weary breath and gestured toward the floor. "Take a seat."
He sat down heavily himself, shoulders slumping as if the weight of years had suddenly returned.
"Because what you're about to hear… will change everything you think you know."
To be continued…