YOSUKE ■ ■ ■ ■
A piercing light struck my face. At first, I couldn't understand what it was. When I opened my eyes, I felt like an idiot—it was just the morning sun cutting through the window and hitting me directly.
I thought Sai would still be asleep, but when I turned, his bed was empty.
The bathroom door was closed. I could hear the water running, so I assumed he was bathing. Still, something felt… off.
I knocked. "Sai, are you okay?"
No answer.
I asked again, louder. Still silence.
My chest tightened. Without thinking, I slammed my fist into the wooden door. It cracked and splintered beneath my punch.
The sight that greeted me froze my blood.
Sai was gripping the sink with both hands, body trembling, sweat dripping down his face—though I couldn't tell if it was sweat or water from the faucet. His skin was pale, too pale.
I rushed to him, catching his arm. "What happened?!"
No answer. His lips parted, but no words came out.
I half-carried him back to the bed and laid him down. When I pulled his shirt away, my heart nearly stopped.
A mark. Right over his chest.
It glowed faintly, shifting as if alive. I'd never seen anything like it. As I watched, the symbol slowly morphed, its shape aligning until I recognized it—
A moon.
But not a full moon. Only two-thirds.
The moment the mark settled, Sai's body relaxed. He inhaled sharply, then exhaled as though the weight of death had left him. The color returned to his face.
I swallowed hard. "Hey… what the hell just happened?"
His answer cut into me like a blade.
"I saw… I saw my father die. In my dream."
Taro had told me the story once. About Sai's father. About the tragedy. I'd thought I understood, but hearing Sai say it like this, broken and trembling… it was different.
Sai's voice wavered as he continued. "It wasn't just seeing it. I felt it. I felt the pain of how he died."
My stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"
He touched the mark on his chest. His fingers lingered over the glowing moon. "Right here. The same spot where my father was shot. That's where I felt the pain burning through me."
I stared at the mark, trying to make sense of it all. Something didn't add up. Something was missing.
"Sai," I said slowly, "that mark… it moved."
His eyes widened. "What?"
"When you were in pain, the mark shifted. Piece by piece, until it stopped at two-thirds of the moon. And the moment it stopped… your pain ended too."
His brow furrowed, confusion flickering in his expression. "So… you're saying it's like a timer?"
"Maybe." I leaned forward. "When did it start?"
"I don't know…" His voice was quiet, almost lost. "I fell asleep. I saw my father's death. And then—I woke up in pain."
My gut twisted. A curse. That's what this was.
"That mark is connected to your father's death. And to your suffering."
"You're right…" he whispered, his gaze fixed on the moon symbol etched into his skin. "But… what do we do now?"
I clenched my jaw. "There's only one option—for now. Do exactly what you did yesterday. Sleep. At night. That mark—it's a moon. Whatever this curse is, it reacts in the dark. If you sleep under it, maybe we'll understand more."
He hesitated, nervous. "Okay… if you think so."
"I'll stay awake to watch over you," I promised. "If something happens, I'll be there."
His shoulders eased a little, though the fear in his eyes remained.
After a moment, he asked, "Then… what about today? What should we do?"
I paused, then smirked faintly. "What weapons are you using right now?"
"Daggers. Only daggers."
"Good. We'll start with that. Once you master them, I'll teach you the rest."
He nodded quickly, determination flickering back into his expression.
We packed our gear, and before leaving, I asked, "You ready?"
Sai didn't hesitate. "Yes. Let's go."