Morning arrived with a pale, fragile light.
Not warm.
Not comforting.
Just quiet.
Like a continuation of thoughts that never truly ended.
Claire walked through the school gate with steady steps, her expression calm, almost unreadable.
Yet inside, her mind replayed Randy's words from yesterday.
Are you getting closer to Miko lately?
Her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.
How did he know?
She had never told him.
Not once.
Not about their conversations.
Not about how often Miko stayed beside her after class.
Not about the small, ordinary moments no one was supposed to notice.
Then how?
Her thoughts shifted.
Diana.
Tasya.
The two girls who always smiled politely at her.
The two who warned her about Randy in a tone that sounded kind on the surface—but strangely insistent underneath.
They didn't like her.
That much was obvious.
Even if they tried to hide it behind gentle voices and concerned expressions.
Claire slowed her steps slightly.
Are they the ones telling him?
Or… someone else?
Her chest felt faintly heavy.
Randy was always informed.
Always aware.
Always one step ahead in matters related to her life. Too informed.
And that alone was enough to make her cautious.
She exhaled softly.
If she wanted answers,
she could not push Randy away.
Not yet.
Not when he was still one of the closest people connected to her family.
Not when he knew things he never openly explained.
Not when her past life memories still placed him somewhere near the center of events she couldn't fully remember.
A quiet decision settled in her heart.
Then I'll stay close.
Not blindly.
Strategically.
Her eyes lowered slightly as another thought surfaced.
And Miko…
She paused mid-step near the hallway.
He had done nothing wrong.
He listened.
He stayed.
He never pressured her.
And yet—
Randy's expression yesterday had been clear.
Possessive.
Careful.
Observant.
If her closeness to Miko was being watched…
Then distancing herself, even slightly,
might be the safest choice for now.
Not rejection.
Just control.
Just enough distance to keep things balanced.
Her lips pressed into a faint line.
"…I should be more careful," she murmured inwardly.
Not because she doubted Miko.
But because she didn't know who was observing her life anymore.
Just as she turned the corner toward her classroom—
She saw him.
Miko was leaning casually near the window, sunlight falling softly across his dark hair.
As if he had been waiting.
Or maybe he always arrived early.
The moment he noticed her, his face brightened slightly.
"Morning, Claire."
His voice was the same as always.
Warm. Natural. Unforced.
For a brief second, Claire almost responded the way she usually did—
with a small smile, maybe a short conversation before class.
But she stopped herself. Just a little.
"…Morning," she replied softly.
Simple.
Polite.
Brief.
She continued walking toward her seat without stopping beside him.
That alone was different.
Very different.
Miko blinked.
His smile didn't disappear, but confusion flickered clearly in his eyes.
Usually, she would at least ask how he was.
Or comment about homework.
Or say something small.
Today—
Nothing.
Just a greeting.
And distance.
He watched her sit down quietly, taking out her books without looking in his direction again.
A silence stretched.
Not hostile.
Just unfamiliar.
After a few moments, Miko finally walked closer, stopping beside her desk.
"…Claire," he said gently.
She looked up, calm as ever. "Yes?"
He hesitated.
Her expression was the same.
Soft. Composed. Gentle.
But something was missing.
The easy openness from before.
"Did something happen?" he asked carefully.
Claire tilted her head slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You're… different today," Miko admitted. "Quieter. Distant."
A small pause.
Her fingers paused on the edge of her notebook.
So he noticed. Of course he did.
He always noticed.
"That's not true," she said calmly. "I'm just tired."
It wasn't a lie.
But it wasn't the full truth either.
Miko studied her face more closely.
"You didn't talk to me this morning," he added. "Usually you do."
Another pause.
Claire lowered her gaze for a brief second before answering.
"We're at school," she said softly. "It's normal to just greet each other."
The answer was logical.
Too logical.
Miko's brows furrowed slightly.
"…Did I do something wrong?"
That question made her heart tighten faintly.
Because he genuinely sounded worried.
And that sincerity only made this harder.
She shook her head immediately.
"No."
Then, after a short silence, she added more gently,
"You didn't do anything wrong, Miko."
Her voice softened, but her posture remained controlled.
"I just… think we should focus more on school lately."
It sounded reasonable.
Safe.
Neutral.
Yet something about it created an invisible wall between them.
Miko didn't speak right away.
His eyes searched her face,
as if trying to read something deeper beneath her calm tone.
"You've never said that before," he said quietly.
Claire's grip on her pen tightened slightly.
Because he was right.She never avoided him before. Never limited their conversations.
Never created distance.
Until yesterday.
Until Randy asked that question.
Until she realized someone had been observing her interactions.
Her thoughts moved again.
If Randy knows…
Then someone is telling him.
Or watching me.
And if that was true—
Then being openly close to Miko could drag him into something dangerous.
Something connected to her past.Something connected to her death.Her eyes softened slightly as she looked at him.
"I'm just trying to be more careful," she said, almost in a whisper.
Miko froze.
"…Careful?"
"With everything," she replied calmly.
Not just with him.
Not just with feelings.
But with people.
Information.
Movements.
With the invisible threads slowly tightening around her life.
He was silent for a moment before asking quietly, "Is this because of Randy?"
Claire's eyes widened a fraction.
Just a fraction.
But it was enough.
Miko noticed.
So he already guessed.
A faint, almost bitter smile appeared on his lips.
"I see," he murmured.
Claire didn't confirm.
Didn't deny.
Because the truth was more complicated than that. This wasn't just about Randy's feelings.
This was about suspicion.
About observation.
About a past life where she died—
and people around her were not as innocent as they appeared.
She closed her notebook slowly.
"…Miko," she said gently.
"Yes?"
"You're important as a friend."
The words were honest.Carefully honest.
"But right now," she continued, her gaze calm yet distant, "I have things I need to figure out. And I can't afford unnecessary misunderstandings."
Silence fell between them again.
Miko looked at her for a long moment.
Not hurt.
Not angry.
Just… thoughtful.
"…You're hiding something," he said quietly.
Claire did not answer.
Because he was right.
She was hiding memories.
Suspicions. And a truth about death that no one around her could possibly understand.
Especially not him.
Especially not yet.
And deep inside her mind,
another thought continued to echo—
How did Randy know?
Was it Diana?
Tasya?
Or… has he been watching me all this time?
Her eyes lowered slowly.
If she wanted the truth about her previous death,
about the hidden connections,
about the mysterious figure she still couldn't remember clearly—
Then staying close to Randy…
And even dating him more openly,
might be the fastest way to uncover everything.
Not for love.
But for answers.
And for the first time that morning,
Claire realized something unsettling.
The investigation into her past life
was no longer just about memories.
It was quietly turning into a game of trust.
And she was now choosing, very carefully,
who to stand close to—
and who she needed to distance herself from
to survive long enough to learn the truth.