The next morning, Bali's sunlight streamed harsh and golden through the hotel windows.
Haru sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands. His fingers still tingled from where they had touched Ren's skin, from the kiss that had left his heart racing all night.
But it wasn't just the kiss.
It was the feeling that followed — that strange, electric shift in the air.
What had Ren meant? The space between realities? Things waking up?
He barely slept, his mind looping over Ren's words, over the look of fear in his eyes. He kept replaying it in his head: the softness of Ren's lips, the tension in his body, the way his eyes had darkened after.
Something had changed.
A knock on the door pulled him from his spiraling thoughts.
"Haru?"
It was Souta.
Haru stood quickly, smoothing his shirt and raking fingers through his hair. His reflection in the mirror looked pale and tired, dark circles under his eyes. He opened the door.
Souta stood there in casual beach clothes, holding two iced coffees.
"You didn't show up for breakfast," Souta said softly. "I figured you might want this."
Haru's throat tightened. Souta always noticed these things. Always cared.
"Thanks," Haru murmured, taking the coffee and looking down at the plastic lid, unable to meet Souta's eyes.
Souta stepped into the room, his gaze flicking over the unmade bed and the tangled sheets.
"You okay?" Souta asked after a moment, his voice a little too casual. "You look… different."
Haru hesitated. He wanted to tell him everything — about Ren, about the kiss, about the strange shimmer by the rocks. But something inside him clenched.
Not yet.
"I'm fine," Haru said, forcing a small smile. "Just tired."
Souta's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't push. Instead, he looked away, down the hall.
"The group's heading to the cliffside temple later," Souta said, quieter now. "Are you coming?"
Before Haru could answer, a voice floated down the hallway.
"Haruuuu!"
Ren.
He strode up, hands in his pockets, wearing dark sunglasses, his hair slightly messy. He moved with that same effortless calm, but Haru could see the flicker of tension underneath — the way his shoulders were held a little too tight, the way his jaw clenched when he saw Souta.
Souta stiffened immediately, his arms crossing.
"Hey," Ren said, lifting his chin at Haru. "Can we talk?"
Souta's eyes darted between them. "We were just about to—"
"I won't keep him long," Ren added, voice softer now, gaze fixed only on Haru.
Haru's heart pounded.
He turned to Souta. "I'll catch up with you later, okay?"
Souta's mouth pressed into a thin line, but he nodded, stepping back. "Yeah. Sure."
As Souta disappeared down the hall, Haru followed Ren out onto the balcony overlooking the beach.
Ren leaned on the railing, removing his sunglasses and rubbing his eyes.
"Did you sleep?" Haru asked gently.
Ren gave a humorless laugh. "Not really."
They stood in silence, watching the waves glitter in the early light.
Finally, Ren spoke.
"Last night… that shouldn't have happened."
Haru's chest tightened. "The kiss?"
Ren glanced sideways, eyes sharp. "No. That should've happened."
Haru's breath hitched. His fingers curled slightly on the balcony rail.
Ren continued, voice low: "What shouldn't have happened is the thing we stirred up."
Haru stepped closer, his pulse quickening. "You said something's waking up. What did you mean?"
Ren exhaled slowly. "It's hard to explain. I've… always been different, Haru. You probably guessed that. But what I didn't realize — not until you — is that when I connect to someone deeply, it thins the boundaries around me. Things on the other side start noticing."
"The other side?" Haru echoed, goosebumps prickling his arms.
Ren nodded. "Not ghosts. Not spirits. Something… older."
Haru's pulse pounded in his ears. He wanted to laugh it off — call it superstition, or maybe stress — but something about Ren's voice, the weight in his words, stopped him cold.
"We need to be careful," Ren murmured. "Tonight. Stay close to people. Don't go wandering off alone."
Haru swallowed hard. "Are you scared?"
Ren gave him a small, crooked smile. "Terrified."
Haru reached out without thinking, fingers brushing Ren's wrist.
"I'm not leaving you alone in this," Haru said softly.
Ren closed his eyes for a moment, like he was memorizing the feel of Haru's touch.
Then, footsteps echoed behind them.
Souta.
He stood at the edge of the balcony, arms crossed. His eyes flicked between them, his jaw clenched.
"Are you two coming or not?" Souta asked, voice tighter than usual.
Haru and Ren exchanged a glance.
"Yeah," Haru said quietly. "We're coming."
---
The cliffside temple was breathtaking.
Carved into the rock, ancient stone steps wound up through lush jungle, opening onto a wide plateau overlooking the sea. Statues lined the path, weathered by centuries of salt and wind.
The students milled about, taking photos, laughing, exploring.
But Haru barely noticed.
His mind kept flicking back to Ren's warning.
Stay close to people. Don't go wandering off.
And yet, as the afternoon sun dipped lower, a strange feeling stirred in Haru's chest — like a thread pulling him.
At first, he tried to ignore it.
But soon, it became impossible.
He found himself slipping away from the group, feet moving on instinct. Down a narrow path. Toward the edge of the cliff.
"Haru!"
A voice behind him — Souta.
Haru turned. Souta caught up, breathless. "What are you doing? You're just… leaving everyone behind."
"I don't know," Haru murmured. "I just feel like something's—"
The air shifted.
Both boys froze.
Near the edge of the cliff, the air warped — like heat rising, like glass bending.
And then, a shape.
No, a tear.
In the air itself.
Haru's heart slammed against his ribs.
Souta grabbed his arm. "Do you see that?"
"I… yeah."
Before they could move, a shadow flickered near the tear.
Then another.
And then—
"Run!" Ren's voice cut through the air, sharp, urgent.
Haru spun. Ren was sprinting toward them, panic on his face.
But the shadows were faster.
They lunged.
Souta yanked Haru backward just as a clawed hand slashed through the space where he'd stood.
The world rippled.
Shapes poured out of the tear — dark, twisting forms that made Haru's skin crawl, their eyes glowing faintly like coals.
"Haru!" Ren shouted, reaching them. "Stay behind me!"
But Haru couldn't move. His body was frozen, heart hammering.
Ren stepped forward, jaw clenched. His entire body tensed like he was holding something back — some power, some force.
The shadows hissed.
Ren raised a hand.
And then—
The sky cracked.
A flash of light burst from Ren's palm, slicing through the shadows. They screeched, recoiling, twisting back into the tear.
For a heartbeat, the world went still.
Then the tear sealed, vanishing as if it had never been there.
Haru collapsed to his knees, gasping.
Souta dropped beside him, eyes wide, face pale. "What… the hell was that?"
Ren stood a few steps away, shoulders heaving, sweat glistening on his skin.
He turned slowly.
And for the first time, Haru saw it.
Ren's eyes glowed faintly, a silver light swirling in their depths.
Not human.
Not entirely.
Ren sank to the ground, exhausted.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't want you to see this yet."
Haru crawled forward, grabbing his hand.
"I don't care," Haru said, voice shaking. "You're still you."
Souta stared at them both, shaking his head in disbelief. "What… are you?"
Ren closed his eyes. "Something I'm still trying to understand."
The three of them sat there in silence, the ocean roaring below, the sun setting in a blaze of gold and crimson.
Haru squeezed Ren's hand tightly.
Whatever came next, he wasn't letting go.
---
To be continued…
***