After class—
The other students slowly left the classroom one by one.
Silence fell.
Only six remained.
The five…
And Akira.
Akito approached first.
Without warning, he shoved Akira while he was still seated.
"Come with us," Akito said coldly. "We'll let you live… if you do."
Akira smiled.
Then he laughed.
A low, unsettling laugh that echoed through the empty room.
It only made the five more irritated.
That smile—
It felt like mockery.
Like he was looking down on them.
"Oh? And where did you learn to act like this?" Chotto sneered.
"You're not seriously thinking of fighting us now, are you?"
"Fight you?" Akira tilted his head slightly, a grin forming on his lips.
"You're mistaken…"
"Why don't we… work together instead?"
"…Work together?" Akito frowned.
"Are you trying to be funny?"
"All you have to do is come with us… and we'll play," he added with a smirk.
"Play?" Akira repeated, his grin widening.
"That does sound… fun."
Their irritation grew even stronger.
"You—!" Hori stepped forward, about to attack—
But the others held him back.
They were still inside the school.
"Let's go, Akira," Yuri said, her voice cold. "Come with us… if you don't want to die."
"Hm… I have an offer for you," Akira said calmly.
"And what would that be?" Akito replied, narrowing his eyes.
"Why don't you let me join your group?" Akira said, smiling faintly.
"You see… I think I'd enjoy playing too."
"Just like what you've been doing."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then the five burst into laughter.
"Do you even hear yourself, Akira?" Aliyah said mockingly.
"You're the one who gets played here."
"You're our toy."
"Hm… so you don't agree?" Akira asked softly.
His tone changed.
His presence shifted.
"In that case…"
"I'll be the one who plays with all of you."
A chilling aura filled the room.
Dark.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
The five froze for a split second—
Then anger overtook them.
Without hesitation, they shut the doors and windows.
Sealing the classroom.
Akira remained seated.
Silent.
Calm.
As if the danger before him meant nothing.
Chotto grabbed a chair—
And slammed it down hard on Akira's head.
BANG.
They froze.
No reaction.
Not even a flinch.
Akira laughed.
That was the breaking point.
The five rushed him at once, striking him again and again.
Punches.
Kicks.
Blows meant to break him.
But—
It was like hitting steel.
No pain.
No response.
No damage.
Fear slowly crept into their eyes.
The weak boy they once treated like a toy—
Was gone.
In his place…
Was something else.
Akira slowly lifted his head.
His eyes—
Turned crimson.
And he laughed.
"You humans… really are amusing," he said.
Confusion filled their faces.
"…W-What do you mean?" Hori asked, his voice trembling.
Akira stood up.
Darkness seemed to gather around him.
His presence… suffocating.
"What kind of death… do you desire?" he asked calmly.
Silence.
Then—
Fear.
"W-Wait… Akira…" Akito stuttered, his composure completely gone. "You said you wanted to join us, right?"
"We'll do whatever you want… just don't kill us…"
"P-Please…" Aliyah begged, her voice shaking. "Don't kill us…"
Akira laughed.
Louder.
Darker.
More terrifying than before.
"What are you saying?" he said, his voice filled with amusement.
"You…"
"Are my toys."
"I'll play with you… until I get bored."
"And when I do…"
"That's when I'll kill you."