The message still burned on Izumi's screen.
"We're already watching you."
The words refused to leave his mind.
Even after returning to his seat… even after sitting down… even after closing his eyes—
He couldn't shake the feeling.
Something was wrong.
__________________________
"…Tch."
Izumi ran a hand through his hair, leaning back.
"Think. Calm down."
But instead of calmness—
A memory surfaced.
__________________________
[Flashback]
The smell of incense.
A quiet shrine.
And an old man's voice.
"You must never ignore it, Izumi."
A younger Izumi stood barefoot on cold wooden floors, staring up at his grandfather.
"…Ignore what?"
His grandfather smiled faintly.
"The things that don't belong in this world."
His grandfather wasn't just any old man.
He was an exorcist.
And not just him—
Their entire clan was.
"Spirits don't always scream or attack," his grandfather continued. "Sometimes… they watch."
Izumi frowned. "That's creepy."
"It's dangerous."
A small talisman was placed in his hand.
"If the day ever comes when you feel something is wrong…"
His grandfather's expression turned serious.
"…run."
________________________
[Flashback Ends]
________________________
Izumi's eyes snapped open.
"…Damn it."
His hand tightened around his phone.
He immediately dialed.
"Come on… pick up…"
_______________________
No Signal
_______________________
"…Seriously?"
He tried again.
Nothing.
Again.
Still nothing.
"…Why now…?"
Behind him—
Goutham suddenly sat up straight.
"…Oi."
Izumi blinked. "You're awake?"
Goutham wasn't joking.
For once.
His expression was sharp.
"…Do you feel that?"
Izumi went silent.
"…So you do too."
Goutham stretched his neck slightly. "Yeah. It's been bothering me since a while… but now it's way too obvious."
He glanced around the compartment.
"…We're not alone."
Izumi let out a dry laugh.
"Great. Just what I needed after creepy messages from ghost WhatsApp."
"Ghost… what?"
"Long story."
Goutham squinted at him.
"…You look like you saw your exam results early."
"I got a message."
"From?"
"Unknown number."
"What did it say?"
Izumi showed him the screen.
Goutham read it.
Paused.
Then—
"…Bro."
"What?"
"…Why do you always unlock side quests at night?"
_______________________
Izumi stared at him.
"Are you serious right now?"
"I'm just saying—normal people travel, eat snacks, sleep. You? You summon plot."
"…I didn't summon anything."
"Yeah, yeah. The ghost just accidentally texted you."
Before Izumi could reply—
The lights flickered again.
Both of them went silent.
"…There," Goutham whispered.
At the far end of the compartment—
That same figure.
Standing.
Watching.
________________________
Izumi exhaled slowly.
"…So it's real."
Goutham cracked his knuckles.
"…Finally."
Izumi blinked.
"…Finally?"
"Yeah," Goutham grinned.
"Thought this trip was gonna be boring."
"…You're insane."
"And you're dramatic. Perfect combo."
________________________
The figure began to move.
Slow.
Unnatural.
Dragging its steps.
The temperature dropped.
The windows fogged slightly.
A faint whisper filled the air.
"…You came…"
Izumi's eyes narrowed.
"Alright," he muttered. "I've had enough creepy for one night."
________________________
Goutham stepped forward.
"…You wanna talk it out or throw hands?"
The figure's head twitched.
Then—
It rushed at them.
__________________________
"Guess that's a no!" Goutham shouted.
__________________________
The fight began.
__________________________
The spirit moved fast—too fast.
Its form distorted, flickering between shapes.
Izumi barely dodged as it lunged at him.
"LEFT!" Goutham yelled.
"I SEE IT!"
"THEN MOVE FASTER!"
Goutham grabbed a metal bottle from a nearby seat and swung it.
It passed through the spirit.
"…That felt useless."
"Because it was useless!"
The spirit shrieked.
A sharp, piercing sound.
Izumi flinched.
"…Tch—!"
Think.
Grandpa said…
"…Talisman…"
Izumi quickly reached into his bag, pulling out the old charm.
"Please work…"
The spirit lunged again—
"HEY!" Goutham shouted, jumping in front. "Fight me! I'm the side character with plot armor!"
"…YOU'RE NOT HELPING!"
Izumi pressed the talisman forward.
"…Get back!"
The spirit froze.
For a second—
Just one second—
It hesitated.
"That's it…" Izumi whispered.
"…We can hurt it."
Goutham grinned.
"Now we're talking."
The battle dragged on.
Minutes felt like hours.
Sweat, panic, shouting—
And somehow—
Coordination.
"Duck!"
"Got it!"
"Now hit it!"
"I AM HITTING IT!"
_________________________
Finally—
With one last push—
Izumi pressed the talisman directly onto the spirit.
A blinding light erupted.
The spirit let out a final, distorted scream.
And then—
Silence.
Izumi stood there, breathing heavily.
"…Is it over…?"
________________________
Goutham looked around.
"…Yeah."
Pause.
Then—
"We actually won."
________________________
Izumi let out a small laugh.
"…We really did…"
But then—
Something strange happened.
___________________________
A faint glow.
From the remains of the spirit.
"…What now?" Goutham asked.
"…I don't know—"
Before Izumi could finish—
The light rushed into him.
"—WHAT THE—?!"
Pain.
Sharp.
Blinding.
Visions.
Flashes.
Broken images—
Blood.
Screams.
Darkness.
Izumi collapsed.
"IZUMI!"
Everything went black.
_________________________
[Morning]
_________________________
"…!"
Izumi's eyes shot open.
His breath was uneven.
His body felt cold.
"…A dream…?"
No.
Not a dream.
A nightmare.
He saw it..
Clear.
Vivid.
Unavoidable.
Bodies.
Familiar faces.
His friends.
His family.
And among them—
Videl, the one who he likes and the reason for going to Seoul.
Lifeless.
"…No…"
His hands trembled.
"…What… was that…?"
Outside, the morning sun rose peacefully.
As if nothing had happened.
But inside Izumi—
Something had changed.
Something irreversible.
_______________________