The classroom door creaked open with a reluctant groan as I stepped in, the soles of my shoes squeaking against the polished floor.
Thirty heads turned toward me—some amused, others indifferent, and a few clearly annoyed. I avoided everyone's eyes and bowed slightly toward the teacher.
"Miss Shinomiya." Mr. Sato's voice rang sharp and clear. "Nice of you to join us."
"Sorry, sir," I mumbled, my cheeks flushing.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"This is the third time this month, Sakura. Being popular doesn't mean you get to make your own schedule."
A few students chuckled under their breath. I kept my head down and shuffled to my seat near the middle of the class. As I passed Kenji's desk, I felt his eyes on me—quiet, concerned. I didn't meet them.
I slid into my seat and tried to focus on the lecture, but the words on the board blurred together. My right eye ached again. Not like it did in the dream… but it was enough to make me wince. I pressed a finger gently against my temple. Just tired, I told myself. That's all.
By the time the bell rang for break, I'd barely absorbed anything from class.
As I stepped into the hallway, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to find Kenji standing there with that signature half-smile that somehow made him look both cocky and sincere.
"Yo," he said, leaning casually against the wall. "Rough morning?"
"Something like that," I replied, attempting a laugh. It came out hollow.
"You were pale when you walked in. Overslept again?"
"Yeah…" I looked away. "Nightmares."
Kenji's smile faltered. "Still the same one?"
I nodded slowly. He didn't press. Instead, he glanced around and tilted his head toward the courtyard. "Wanna talk about it?"
I was about to say yes—when the pain in my eye returned, sharp this time. Like a fire flickering behind my retina. I gasped and stumbled slightly, clutching my face.
"Sakura?" Kenji stepped forward, alarmed. "What's wrong?"
"I—I need a second," I muttered, hurrying past him. I ducked into the nearest restroom.
In the mirror above the sink, I saw it—just for a split second—my right eye flashed a deep purple, glowing faintly before returning to normal. My heart pounded.
What is happening to me?
The bell rang again. I barely made it to my next class before the dizziness hit. My vision blurred, and my legs buckled.
Everything went dark.
I woke up to the faint scent of antiseptic and the distant hum of a fan. The nurse's office. I blinked slowly, my right eye still aching, though the pain had dulled.
"You're awake." Kenji's voice cut through the quiet. I turned my head to see him sitting beside my bed, arms crossed, brows furrowed.
"What happened?" I whispered.
"You collapsed," he said. "Freaked everyone out. I carried you here. Nurse said you just fainted… but your eye…"
I sat up quickly. "My eye?"
He hesitated. "It… glowed. For a second. I thought I imagined it, but…"
I looked down at my hands. They trembled. "You didn't."
A silence settled between us.
Then, I felt it again—heat in my chest, like a flicker of something deep and ancient waking up. A soft violet glow danced around my fingertips before flickering out like a dying ember.
Kenji's eyes widened, but he didn't back away. "Sakura… what is that?"
I shook my head slowly. "I don't know."
But I was starting to understand… something inside me had changed. And it was only the beginning.