Ren's voice cut through the silence.
Cold. Grim.
"Yes. I can't say this with certainty."
He looked directly at Kazuma.
"Because about this Queen Yokai... I don't know much either."
Pause.
"But one thing is certain, Kazuma."
His voice dropped lower.
"If we don't finish her... we'll die."
He leaned forward despite his bound hands.
"And she'll become even more powerful. Then the world will see a sight..."
His eyes were haunted.
"...worse than the apocalypse itself."
Kazuma's hands clenched.
"That's why I came to you. I can't tell you everything right now."
Ren's gaze shifted between Kazuma and Mitsuha.
"There are other things... that can't be said yet."
A heavy beat.
"There are many secrets in this world, Kazuma. And you... you're caught in the middle of them all."
KAZUMA'S REACTION
The words hit Kazuma like physical blows.
Queen Yokai.
World ending.
Secrets he can't know yet.
His breathing became shallow.
Memories flashed—
Kento's death.
Arisa's betrayal.
The graveyard.
Mitsuha bleeding out in his arms.
Those creatures.
Those fucking creatures with their black spikes and glowing eyes.
And now—
A Queen.
Unkillable for 200 years.
His hands started trembling.
Not from fear alone.
From the sheer weight of impossibility crushing down on him.
"So... so that means..."
Kazuma's voice was barely a whisper.
"I... I can never be normal again?"
He looked up at Ren.
Eyes desperate. Lost.
"I can't revenge for kento ,Can't save myself?"
His voice cracked.
"Just... just keep dying? Again and again? Until what—until that thing decides to kill me permanently!?"
Ren opened his mouth to respond—
But Kazuma suddenly stood.
Chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"ENOUGH!!"
His voice exploded through the apartment.
"YES! YES! ENOUGH!"
Hands grabbed his own hair. Pulling.
"It's too late! I... I'm going to sleep!"
He stumbled toward the bedroom.
"We'll talk in the morning. Just... just not now."
Door slammed shut behind him.
Leaving Ren and Mitsuha in stunned silence.
AFTERMATH
Ren blinked at the closed door.
"What... what happened to him?"
His voice was confused. Concerned.
Mitsuha stared at the bedroom door for a long moment.
Her expression unreadable.
Then quietly—
"He's broken."
She turned to look at Ren.
"You gave him hope. That maybe there's a way."
Her eyes were cold.
"And then in one breath... you took that hope away."
Ren's face fell.
"I... I was just telling the truth—"
"Truth doesn't always help."
Mitsuha cut him off.
She walked to the window. Looked out at Tokyo's lights.
"That boy has already died how many times? Thirteen? Fourteen?"
Her reflection stared back at her from the glass.
"Every time thinking 'I'll survive this time.' Every time he fails."
Pause.
"And now you're saying... it's impossible."
She turned back to Ren.
"So tell me. What exactly do you expect from him? To be happy?"
Silence.
Ren had no answer.
"Hey... Mitsuha. That's your name, right?"
He tried to change the subject.
"Can you... untie my hands now?"
Mitsuha looked at him.
Then raised her middle finger.
And walked away.
"Hey! HEY! Listen! Untie my hands!"
No response.
Ren slumped in his chair.
"...Fuck."
[TIME SKIP: NEXT MORNING]
KITCHEN - 7:30 AM
Sunlight streamed through the window.
Fell directly onto Ren's face.
His eyes squinted. Blinked.
Slowly opened.
"Hmmm... ooooah!"
He looked around groggily.
"Is it morning already?"
Still tied to the chair.
Neck stiff. Back sore.
"All night like this... of course."
Footsteps approached.
Mitsuha entered the kitchen.
Fresh. Showered. Uniform pressed.
"Oh. You're awake, homeless boy."
Ren's eye twitched.
"I told you—"
"My name is Ren Kurosawa!"
His voice was loud. Frustrated.
"STOP calling me 'homeless boy'!"
Mitsuha poured herself coffee.
Completely ignoring his outburst.
"So what now? Will you untie my hands?"
Ren tried to sound reasonable.
"I'm not going anywhere. Promise."
Mitsuha took a sip.
Looked at him over the rim of her cup.
"I'm enjoying seeing you tied up like this."
Ren's mouth fell open.
"WHAT—"
"One thing."
She set her cup down.
Leaned against the counter.
"Don't you bathe? Do you always stay this dirty?"
Ren looked down at himself.
Sniffed.
Made a face.
"Yes. Because..."
He looked back up at her.
"The thing I bathe with... people put it in their tea or coffee and drink it."
Pause.
"And it seems like that thing has become scarce here. People keep it in small packets now."
Mitsuha stared at him.
Blinked.
"Are you... talking about milk?"
Ren nodded seriously.
"Yes. I bathe in milk. It's very good for the skin—"
Mitsuha burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA! HAAAA!"
She doubled over.
"You... you bathe in MILK—HAHAHA!"
"HEY! This isn't a joke!"
Ren's face turned red.
"I'm serious! It's very beneficial! Even in historical records—"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Mitsuha couldn't stop.
Finally, wiping tears from her eyes, she caught her breath.
"Okay. Okay. Sorry."
She grabbed a plate from the counter.
Steamed rice. Miso soup.
Set it in front of Ren.
"Here. Eat."
Ren looked at the food.
Then at his tied hands.
Then back at her.
"...Seriously?"
"You're the one who said not to untie your hands."
Mitsuha smiled sweetly.
"Now figure out how to eat."
Ren stared at the bowl.
Then—with great dignity—leaned forward.
Stuck his tongue out.
Tried to lap up the rice.
Failed miserably.
Mitsuha watched.
Amused.
After thirty seconds of struggle—
She sighed.
Walked over.
Cut the ropes.
Ren's hands were free.
He looked up at her, shocked.
"Just sit here quietly and eat."
Her voice was cold again.
"If you even move from here... I'll cut the tendons in your legs."
She patted the knife on the counter.
"Understand?"
Ren nodded frantically.
"No no! I won't go anywhere!"
He grabbed the chopsticks.
Started eating rapidly.
"Thank you for the food... really, thank you so much."
Mouth full.
"It's been so long since... since someone gave me food."
Mitsuha watched him eat like a starved animal.
Something softened in her expression.
Just slightly.
"...By the way."
Ren looked up mid-bite.
"Where's Kazuma? I don't see him."
Mitsuha's face went neutral again.
"He went to school."
"Oh."
Pause.
"...Wait. SCHOOL!?"
Ren dropped his chopsticks.
"You let him go alone!? When creatures could attack him!?"
Mitsuha's eyes narrowed.
"He goes every day. What's different about today?"
"The difference!? THE DIFFERENCE IS—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Face went pale.
"Mitsuha."
Voice serious now.
"I haven't told you something... something important."
She crossed her arms.
"What?"
THE REVEAL
"When you and Kazuma were digging up Arisa's grave..."
Ren's voice was careful. Measured.
"You said fireworks turned into blood. And creatures came. Black spikes."
"Yes. So?"
"Those creatures..."
Ren took a breath.
"They belong to the yokai. They're her creation."
Mitsuha's expression didn't change.
"I figured as much. So what?"
"If Kazuma dies... in a normal way..."
Ren looked directly at her.
"Accident. Suicide. Anything. Then nothing happens to him. He resets time. Comes back."
Pause.
"But if he dies... by those creatures..."
His voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"Then his life... decreases."
Mitsuha froze.
"What do you mean?"
"Kazuma only has... ten lives."
The words hung in the air.
Heavy. Final. Terrifying.
"If the creatures kill him... he doesn't die permanently. But he loses one life."
Ren's hands clenched.
"Nine. Then eight. Then seven."
He looked at her desperately.
"And when he reaches zero..."
"...then?"
Mitsuha's voice was barely audible.
"Then he truly dies. Permanently. No reset. No second chance."
Silence.
Mitsuha's face had gone completely white.
"And you're telling me this... you're telling me this NOW!?"
Her voice rose.
"When he's ALREADY at school!?
[LOCATION SHIFT: SAKURA HIGH SCHOOL]
CLASSROOM 2-B - 8:45 AM
The morning was unusually quiet.
Students filed in slowly. Subdued.
Whispers filled the air like static.
"Look look... Kazuma's here."
"Isn't he the one who ran away with Mitsuha?"
"Yeah. I heard they're talking about sending Mitsuha to juvenile detention."
"Really? Why?"
"She beat up two other girls. Badly."
"Oh my god..."
Kazuma entered the classroom.
Quietly.
Head down.
Walked to his seat near the window.
Sat.
Stared outside.
Didn't acknowledge anyone.
The whispers continued—louder now that he'd arrived.
"Why wasn't Kazuma suspended?"
"Don't know. Maybe he blamed Mitsuha."
"Typical. The guy saves himself, throws the girl under the bus."
"So pathetic."
Kazuma heard everything.
But said nothing.
Just kept staring out the window.
Ren was wrong.
There's no way to kill her.
200 years. No one's succeeded.
So what's the point?
His reflection stared back at him from the glass.
Hollow. Empty.
Kento... I'm sorry.
I tried.
But I can't save anyone.
Not you. Not myself.
Not anyone.
THREE BENCHES AHEAD
Matsuda sat nervously.
Tapping his pen against his desk.
Eyes kept darting to the clock.
Then to the girl three rows ahead—Tamako.
She was beautiful. Popular. Way out of his league.
But yesterday... yesterday she'd smiled at him.
Actually smiled.
At him.
And this morning—
Thwap.
A paper ball hit the back of his head.
He turned around quickly.
Tamako was looking away. Innocent expression.
But her lips were curved in a small smile.
Matsuda picked up the paper ball.
Unfolded it carefully.
Neat handwriting:
"Class 3 is empty. Meet me there."
His heart nearly stopped.
Face turned bright red.
He looked up—Tamako was walking out of the classroom.
She glanced back.
Winked.
The entire class erupted.
"OOOOOOOO!"
"MATSUDA'S GOT GAME!"
"OOOOO HOOO!"
"Lucky bastard!"
Matsuda's face was crimson.
He cleared his throat.
Stood up shakily.
"I-I'll... I'll be right back."
Stumbled toward the door.
More whistles and cheers followed him out.
Kazuma didn't even look up.
GINO'S APPROACH
The noise died down eventually.
Class settled into pre-lecture chatter.
Kazuma still stared out the window.
Lost in thought.
Footsteps approached.
Heavy. Deliberate.
Stopped right next to his desk.
"Hey."
A voice. Cold. Angry.
Kazuma didn't react.
"HEY!"
Louder this time.
Still nothing.
SLAM!
A hand crashed down on Kazuma's desk.
The impact echoed through the classroom.
Everyone went quiet.
Kazuma slowly turned his head.
A boy stood there.
Tall. Muscular. Angry eyes.
Gino.
Shize's younger brother.
"I heard..." Gino's voice was low. Threatening. "...your girlfriend Mitsuha... is going to juvenile detention."
He leaned closer.
"You were with her that day, weren't you? At the festival?"
Pause.
"So why aren't they sending you to juvenile?"
Kazuma looked at him.
No emotion. No response.
Just stared.
Then turned back to the window.
Gino's jaw clenched.
"Oh... so you're going to ignore me?"
His voice rose.
"Listen bastard! You know your girlfriend beat up my sister!? SHIZE!?"
He grabbed Kazuma's collar.
"I'm her brother! And I'll get revenge! From both of you!"
Still no reaction.
"First I'll smash that Mitsuha's head..."
Gino pulled him closer.
"...and then I'll beat you."
At the mention of Mitsuha's name—
Kazuma's eyes shifted.
Looked directly at Gino.
Cold. Empty. Dangerous.
"What?"
Gino's confidence wavered slightly.
"W-what are you staring at? Look down!"
Kazuma kept staring.
Unblinking.
"LOOK DOWN, BASTARD!"
SMACK!
Gino slapped him.
Hard.
Kazuma's head snapped to the side.
Cheek turning red.
But he didn't make a sound.
Just slowly turned back.
And kept staring.
That same empty stare.
It was unnerving.
Gino stepped back.
"Tch. You're crazy."
Just then—
The teacher entered.
"What's going on here!?"
Everyone scrambled to their seats.
"Gino! Go to your seat! Were you two fighting!?"
"N-no sir. Just talking."
"Hmm. Sit down. Everyone."
The teacher began setting up.
Gino shot one last glare at Kazuma before returning to his seat.
Kazuma turned back to the window.
Mitsuha.
I dragged her into this.
Now she's paying for it.
Just like Kento.
His hands clenched into fists under the desk.
Everyone around me gets hurt.
Everyone.
TEACHER'S ANNOUNCEMENT
"Alright everyone, attention!"
The teacher's voice cut through the chatter.
"Semester exams are in just two weeks."
Groans erupted across the classroom.
"I know, I know. But because of this, we'll be having extra classes. And more homework."
More groans. Louder this time.
"Oh no!"
"This is torture!"
"Sir please—"
"No complaints! This is for your own—"
Suddenly—
The sky outside darkened.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
Like someone had flipped a switch.
Thick black clouds rolled across the sky.
Wind started howling.
Papers on desks began flying.
Pencils rolled off tables.
The windows rattled violently.
"What the—"
The teacher looked outside, alarmed.
"What happened to the weather so suddenly!?"
"Everyone! Quickly close all the windows!"
Students rushed to close the windows.
But the wind was too strong.
One window slammed shut—
CRACK!
Glass splintered.
Then—
A sound.
High-pitched. Screeching.
CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW
Crows.
Hundreds of them.
Thousands.
Filling the sky like a black wave.
They dove toward the school.
CRASH!
One hit the window full-force.
Blood splattered across the cracked glass.
The crow slid down, leaving a red streak.
Students screamed.
More crows came.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Hitting windows. Walls. Doors.
Suicidal. Relentless.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING!?"
"SIR! THE WINDOWS!"
One window shattered completely.
Glass rained down.
A dead crow fell through.
Landed on a desk.
Blood pooling around it.
The teacher was pale.
"Everyone stay calm! Move away from the windows! NOW!"
Kazuma stood frozen.
Staring at the chaos outside.
And then—
He saw them.
Through the storm.
Through the crows.
Through the darkness.
Rising from the ground.
Tall. Twisted. Wrong.
Black smoke bodies.
Glowing blue eyes.
Those same creatures.
From the graveyard.
They're here.
His blood turned to ice.
They found me.
[LOCATION: CLASS 3 - EMPTY CLASSROOM]
Matsuda and Tamako were pressed against the wall.
Kissing.
Desperate. Hungry.
Completely lost in each other.
The storm outside didn't matter.
The screaming crows didn't matter.
Nothing mattered except—
"Oh Tamako..."
Matsuda pulled back, breathing hard.
"Take off your clothes."
"What!? No! Are you crazy?"
"Please—"
Then—
The window exploded inward.
Glass everywhere.
And through the shattered frame—
A black spike.
Long. Sharp. Fast.
It punched through the air—
THROUGH MATSUDA'S HEAD.
Entered the back of his skull.
Exited through his eye socket.
Blood sprayed.
Across Tamako's face.
Across the wall.
Across everything.
Matsuda's body went limp.
The spike retracted.
He collapsed.
Dead before he hit the ground.
Tamako stared.
Covered in his blood.
Brain matter on her uniform.
His eye—his beautiful eye—was gone.
Just a hole.
Red and wet and empty.
Her mouth opened.
And she screamed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!"
The sound echoed through the entire school.
Pure. Primal. Terror.