Ayane suddenly woke up with a start, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
Thump… thump… thump…
Her body trembled, and cold sweat covered her skin.
It was the same dream… that strange, mysterious boy with dark eyes… and the words he had spoken.
"Become my girlfriend. Let me change your life."
Her mind felt foggy. What was that? How could someone she didn't even know appear in her dream and say such things?
It doesn't make sense… she thought, trying to push the memory away.
The sound of shouting echoed from the other side of the thin walls. Her parents were fighting again.
"Why can't you just be normal for once! Everything is your fault!" her mother screamed.
Her father's heavy silence followed, but then he cursed back in anger.
Ayane sighed, covering her ears, and forced herself to get up.
She slowly got dressed in her school uniform—a white shirt with frills along the edges, a soft blue ribbon tied neatly at the collar, and a pleated skirt that barely hid the bruises forming on her legs from yesterday.
She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes dull and expressionless.
Another day… Another day to suffer.
As she walked toward the school, the cold wind brushed her face, making her shiver. Her mind drifted back to last night's strange dream again.
Who was that boy? Why did he know about me… my pain?
She clenched her fists.
I don't understand. I don't even know him. Why would he appear in my dream and say such things…?
Her thoughts were filled with confusion and a faint, hidden hope. Maybe… just maybe, it wasn't all meaningless.
By the time she arrived at school, the bright morning had already begun, but everything seemed dull to her eyes.
Her uniform—frilled and clean—felt like a mask, hiding the sadness that weighed her down.
In the classroom, Ayane sat quietly at her desk, barely moving. Time slowly passed, the sound of the teacher's voice fading in and out of her awareness. Her classmates were chatting and laughing around her, but none of them seemed to notice her presence.
That was until they arrived.
A girl named Miku, known for her sharp tongue and cruel smile, stepped forward with her boyfriend and a group of friends.
"Hey, disgusting freak," Miku sneered, staring directly at Ayane. "Still sitting there like you own the place?"
Her boyfriend laughed, joining in the torment.
Before Ayane could react, they began to push her, harsh words mixing with rough touches.
"You don't belong here!" Miku shouted, her voice full of hatred. "Nobody wants you! You're worthless!"
Ayane tried to shield herself, but their strength was overwhelming. Her body trembled as they continued to hit and kick her, the pain growing sharper with each blow.
Then—
A loud crack.
Her leg gave way.
She gasped, a sharp, unbearable pain shooting through her body.
Tears welled in her eyes, but no one came to help.
Her classmates just laughed, enjoying every moment of her suffering.
Fortunately, after a long while, a teacher noticed the scene and rushed her to the nurse's office.
Ayane lay on the small bed, her broken leg wrapped in bandages, but the pain wasn't only in her body—it was deeper, in her soul.
The rest of the school day passed like a nightmare. Each second was heavier than the last.
As night approached, Ayane sat alone in her room, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Why does this keep happening? she thought.
I just want it to stop… I wish I could disappear… escape all this pain.
Her mind returned again to the dream, to the mysterious boy—Ryuk.
Could he really change my life…?
The days passed in silence, filled only with suffering and unanswered questions.
Then, one morning, a new transfer student arrived in her class.
The door opened slowly, and all eyes turned toward the newcomer.
Who was he?
Ayane's heart trembled…
Because something told her… this was just the beginning.