I left the place slowly
I was not running
nor looking back
Riko's words were still echoing in my head
"do not try to be brave"
courage suddenly felt like a stupid idea
I put the phone in my pocket
and walked with the flow
students
bags
laughter
conversations about exams and trivial things
I was among them
but I was not one of them
every step I calculated
not with the future
but with the present
do I look normal
is someone watching
is the new student still nearby
I stopped at a distant corner of the campus
sat on a concrete bench
and let my back fall against it heavily
I closed my eyes
not to see
but to make sure I do not see
nothing
no pressure
no flash
no hidden sensation
only clear exhaustion
obvious
as if it had finally allowed itself to appear
I took a deep breath
for the first time in days
without fear that my mind would open a door I cannot close
maybe Riko was right
maybe exhaustion is what keeps me outside myself
but the thought did not reassure me
because exhaustion does not last
and I cannot remain empty forever
I opened my eyes
the sky above me was ordinary
a pale blue
carrying no warning
and that scared me more
I stood up
and headed toward the main gate
I just want to reach home
to be inside walls I know
and as I walked
I felt something
not an ability
not an echo
but a primal human instinct
that someone was standing behind me watching me
I did not turn immediately
I kept walking
two seconds
three
then I stopped
the voice came calm
close
too close
"Ginsu right"
my body froze
that voice
was not unfamiliar
I turned slowly
the new student
standing one step away
his features calm
his tone natural
more than it should be
"yes"
the word left me without thinking
he smiled
a small smile
social
calculated
"we are in the same lecture"
he said
"I just wanted to introduce myself"
I did not reply immediately
I was searching inside myself
for any signal
any warning
nothing
nothing at all
and that was the worst
I extended my hand slowly
a normal handshake
like any ordinary person would do
"Ginsu"
I said
he shook my hand
moderate grip
no pressure
no hesitation
"my name is Arian"
he pulled his hand back
looked around
then returned his gaze to me
"see you later"
it was not a promise
as if he was certain of it
then he turned
and walked
without looking back
I remained standing
staring into nothing
nothing happened
no vision
no pain
no warning
but inside me was screaming
because what did not happen
was more dangerous
than if it had
I took out my phone
hesitated
then typed one message to Riko
"he approached me"
I closed the screen
and moved
knowing
that the next phase
will not begin when my ability works again
but when I am forced
to use it
despite the exhaustion
despite the fear
and despite knowing
that this time
they are closer
than ever before