Night had fully taken over the house.
The only light in Ren's room came from a small desk lamp and the faint glow of the street outside.
He sat on his bed, the ring resting in his hand.
It felt heavier than before.
Like it had changed just from being inside the house.
Ren stared at it for a long time.
"…What are you?" he whispered.
No answer.
Of course not.
It was just a ring.
That's what he told himself.
After a moment, he exhaled and made a decision.
"…I'll just try it while I study."
He slowly slid the ring onto his finger.
Nothing happened.
No sound.
No light.
No reaction.
Just… silence.
Ren frowned slightly.
"…Of course."
He shook his head and went back to his desk.
Books open.
Notes ready.
Trying to focus again like normal.
Time passed slowly.
The night got deeper.
At some point, his thoughts drifted away from his work.
To Kai.
Kai's voice.
Kai laughing.
Kai walking ahead without looking back.
Kai standing beside him in the hallway.
Kai saying, "Let's go."
Ren stopped writing.
His pen hovered over the page.
"…Idiot," he muttered quietly.
Not angry.
Not really.
Just… tired.
His eyes grew heavier.
The room started to blur.
And eventually—
he fell asleep at his desk.
Later That Night
The room was silent.
Ren lay on his bed now, having moved there in his sleep without realizing.
The ring still on his finger.
Then—
something shifted.
A faint pressure in the air.
A cold feeling, like someone had entered the room without opening the door.
Ren's eyes slowly opened.
"…Huh?"
Something was on his bed.
Right beside him.
A shape.
Still.
Dark.
Ren's body froze instantly.
His breath caught in his throat.
"…W-what—"
The shape moved slightly.
Not violently.
Just enough to confirm it was real.
Ren shot up backward, hitting the wall behind his bed.
His heart slammed in his chest.
"W-WHO ARE YOU?!"
The figure didn't answer immediately.
It tilted its head slightly.
Like it was listening.
Or recognizing him.
And in the dim light…
Ren could finally make out the shape more clearly.
Not a monster.
Not a stranger.
Something else.
Something familiar.
Ren's eyes widened.
"…Kai?"
The figure on the bed shifted slightly, clearly annoyed.
Kai lay there, by the blanket, eyes barely open.
"What…" he mumbled. "…why do you keep calling me…"
"…zzz…"
Ren's heart started pounding harder.
His hands trembled slightly.
This isn't real.
This can't be real.
"…What is happening…?" Ren whispered to himself.
His mind raced.
He's dead.
I saw it.
The funeral… the body… everything…
Ren took a slow step back.
"…No… maybe that's not him…"
But his eyes stayed locked on the figure.
Same face.
Same voice.
Same careless attitude.
Then—
Kai suddenly opened his eyes fully.
He sat up slightly, looking directly at Ren.
"…What?"
A pause.
"…Why are you standing all the way over there?" he said, confused.
"You're being weird."
That snapped something inside Ren.
"Weird?!" Ren's voice rose.
"You're calling ME weird?!"
He stepped forward now, anger mixing with confusion.
"You're the one who's weird!"
His voice shook.
"…You were DEAD!"
Silence.
Kai blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"…What are you talking about?" he said slowly.
Ren stared at him like he was losing his mind.
"Don't play dumb!" he snapped.
"You went out last night—you didn't come back—the police came—"
His voice cracked slightly.
"…We had your funeral."
That word hung in the air.
Heavy.
Cold.
Kai's expression changed.
Not fully understanding yet…
but something in his eyes shifted.
"…That's not funny," he said quietly.
Ren shook his head.
"I'm not joking."
His breathing was uneven now.
"…You died."
To be continued...