Chapter 4
"Let's go to the canteen before the break ends," Akira said calmly, standing up from his seat.
Renji stretched lazily. "Yeah… you're right."
The two of them walked through the hallway, blending into the usual шум of students talking, laughing, living normal lives.
Normal.
Something Akira didn't really believe in anymore.
---
As they turned a corner—
They saw him again.
The same bully.
Grabbing a weaker student by the collar.
"Didn't I tell you to stay out of my way?" the bully snapped.
The boy looked terrified.
Renji sighed quietly. "Again…?"
But before he could say anything—
Akira had already started walking forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He stopped right in front of the bully.
Without a word—
BAM!
His fist slammed into the bully's face.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
The bully stumbled back, shocked.
"W-What the—?! Why did you hit me?!"
Renji blinked. "…Akira looks seriously angry."
Akira's eyes were cold. Empty.
"I gave you a warning before," he said quietly.
The bully froze.
Akira stepped closer.
"And now I'll give you another one…"
His voice dropped—low and dangerous.
"…If I see your disgusting face doing this again…"
A pause.
"…I'll kill you."
Silence.
Even the students around them stopped talking.
The bully, shaken, quickly backed away without another word.
---
A few minutes later—
The atmosphere changed completely as Akira and Renji sat in the canteen with their food.
Like nothing had happened.
Renji leaned closer and whispered, "You went a bit too far this time…"
"I didn't," Akira replied calmly.
Renji stared at him.
"…You're scary sometimes."
Akira didn't respond.
---
"Um… can I sit here?"
A soft voice interrupted them.
Both turned.
Yuki Asahina stood there, holding her tray.
For a moment—
Akira froze.
His mind… blank.
"Su… s… su—"
Renji quickly jumped in. "Yeah, of course! Sit here!"
Yuki smiled warmly. "Thank you."
She sat down beside them.
---
Renji leaned slightly toward Akira and whispered,
"If you don't like her… then why are you stuttering?"
Akira whispered back, slightly annoyed, "Don't talk about this. We're just friends."
Renji smirked. "Yeah… sure."
Bro just try to say something on the frant of her rinji says
---
Yuki looked at them curiously. "What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing special," Renji said quickly.
Akira suddenly spoke.
"…Yuki."
She turned to him. "Yes?"
Akira hesitated.
For once…
The he have no words.
"Yo… you're…"
Yuki tilted her head slightly. "Yes?"
"…Are you free this Monday?"
She blinked in surprise. "I am… but why?"
Akira looked away for a second.
"…I was thinking… we could go to the library. Together."
A small pause.
Then Yuki smiled.
"That sounds like a great idea."
Akira looked back at her.
"…So you will come?"
"Of course," she said gently.
Akira froze.
"…Huh?"
---
Renji suddenly grinned. "Congratulations. You just asked her on a date."
Akira's eyes widened. "What?!"
For a moment, everything felt unreal.
Is this a dream…?
But then—
He remembered.
He only ever saw one kind of dream.
That night.
That nightmare.
Slowly… he realized—
This is real.
---
After school—
The sky was painted orange as the sun began to set.
Renji walked beside Akira with a teasing smile.
"You chose a very… boring place for a date."
"I don't care," Akira replied.
Renji chuckled. "You're happy. That's what matters."
Then his expression slowly changed.
I still can't believe…
He's the same person I saw that night…
---
Later—
Akira arrived home.
The house was quiet.
Empty.
Normal.
He stood still for a moment.
Then walked toward the bookshelf.
His hand moved without hesitation.
Click.
The hidden door opened.
Darkness welcomed him again.
Akira stepped inside the tunnel.
This time—
He didn't go to the prison room.
He kept walking.
Deeper.
Toward another room.
Unknown.
Hidden.
Dangerous.