They walked back without talking much.
Not because there was nothing to say—but because anything said too loudly felt like it might tip him over again.
The path felt longer than before. Or maybe Kai was just more aware of it now. Every step registered—the scrape of gravel under his shoes, the faint tension sitting in his calves, the dull pulse behind his eyes that hadn't vanished. It had only settled, like something patient. Waiting.
Sora stayed close.
Not hovering. Not clinging. Just close enough to notice when his pace slowed or when his shoulders stiffened. She kept glancing up at him the way she used to when they were kids, back when she'd walk half a step behind him and count his footsteps without realizing it.
"You're walking weird," she said.
"I'm fine."
"That's not what I asked."
He sighed. "You've always been annoying."
She smiled at that, small and relieved. "And you've always been bad at lying."
They reached home without much else being said.
That night passed quietly.
Too quietly.
Kai lay awake longer than he wanted to admit, staring at the ceiling while the house slept around him. His head didn't ache the way it had earlier—but the absence of pain felt strange. Unnatural. Like a pause instead of relief.
Forgetting had been quiet.
Remembering was violent.
And somewhere between those two states, a thought kept circling, refusing to leave.
Staying invisible didn't help.
He turned onto his side and closed his eyes.
---
Morning came like nothing had happened.
The alarm rang. Sora groaned dramatically from the other bed. Sunlight slipped through the curtains, too normal for how his head felt yesterday.
Kai sat up slowly.
His head felt… stable.
Not clear.
Not light.
Just stable enough.
That almost scared him.
"You alive?" Sora muttered, pulling her blanket over her face.
"Barely."
"Good. We're already late."
They got ready in near silence, the usual routine untouched. Shoes. Bags. Keys. Familiar movements that made everything feel deceptively normal.
Outside, the air was cool.
They met Joro and Ayko at the usual corner.
"Morning," Joro said lazily.
Kai looked up.
"…Morning."
The word slipped out before he could think about it.
Sora stopped walking.
She turned slowly. "You just replied."
Kai frowned. "Yeah?"
Joro blinked. Ayko's eyes flicked toward him.
Another voice called out from behind them. "Yo, Kai!"
He hesitated.
Just half a second.
"Hey."
Joro whistled. "Nah. Something's wrong."
"I'm literally just talking," Kai said.
"That's the issue," Sora muttered.
As they walked, it kept happening.
A nod from someone.
A casual greeting.
A short response.
Nothing dramatic.
But every single time—
Sora noticed.
Ayko noticed.
Joro noticed.
Ayko drifted closer to Kai, her steps matching his.
"You don't usually answer people," she said quietly.
"I know," he replied. "I just… felt like it."
She didn't respond, but her fingers tightened around her bag strap.
By the time they reached the school gate, Sora was fully suspicious.
"I don't like this," she said.
"You don't like anything," Kai replied.
"No," she said seriously. "I don't like this version of you."
"That's harsh."
"It's unfamiliar."
---
In class, it didn't stop.
Kai slid into his seat. Sora sat beside him like always. Ayko sat behind. Joro sprawled two desks away.
"Morning," someone said while passing.
"Morning," Kai replied.
Sora leaned closer. "Okay. Say it again."
"What?"
"That word."
"…Morning?"
She stared at him. "Unsettling."
Ayko watched quietly as Kai nodded during conversations, answered when spoken to, didn't immediately shrink back into himself.
Not loud.
Just present.
That alone was enough to change the room.
Whispers followed. Curious glances. Nothing malicious—just surprise.
And then—
Someone unfamiliar appeared at the classroom door.
She wasn't from their class.
Different section badge.
Different energy.
Rin.
A few people whispered her name as she leaned against the doorframe, scanning the room like she already knew what she was looking for.
Her eyes landed on Kai.
She smiled.
And walked straight in.
"You're Kai, right?" she asked.
The class went quiet.
Kai blinked. "Uh… yeah?"
"I'm Rin. Class B." She glanced around. "Teacher sent me to grab you. Group project."
Sora's head snapped up.
Ayko stiffened.
Joro mouthed, oh no.
Kai stood slowly. "Now?"
"Yep." Rin grinned. "Don't worry, you look less scary than people say."
"People say I'm scary?"
She laughed. "See? You talk."
Sora crossed her arms. "He talks enough."
Rin glanced at her. "Little sister?"
"Yes."
"Ah," Rin said, nodding. "That explains the murder glare."
Ayko stood up. "We'll walk."
Rin's eyebrow lifted. "Plural?"
"Yes," Ayko replied calmly.
The hallway buzzed with noise as they walked. Rin chatted effortlessly—about teachers, about random rumors, about how annoying mixed-class projects were.
Kai answered.
Short replies.
Dry comments.
Actual responses.
Enough to be noticed.
Too much to ignore.
"So," Rin said, glancing at him, "you always this quiet?"
"Usually."
"Not today," she replied. "I like today's version."
Ayko looked away.
Sora walked closer to Kai.
When they returned to class, whispers followed.
Kai sat back down.
Sora leaned in. "She's from another class."
"I noticed."
"She's popular."
"I noticed."
Ayko stayed quiet.
That was worse.
Lunch was louder.
Rin showed up again, uninvited, pulling a chair over like it belonged to her.
"So this is where you sit," she said. "Cute."
Kai blinked. "You don't have your own friends?"
"Oh, I do," she said cheerfully. "But this table's more interesting today."
Sora choked on her drink.
Ayko's jaw tightened.
"You're very comfortable," Ayko said.
Rin smiled sweetly. "I get that a lot."
Kai laughed under his breath.
Both girls noticed.
At the same time.
By the end of the day, the shift was undeniable.
Kai hadn't disappeared.
He hadn't hidden.
Walking home, Sora spoke first.
"I'm watching you."
Ayko added quietly, "Me too."
Kai sighed. "You're both terrifying."
But he smiled.
That night, lying in bed, the pressure in his head returned faintly.
A reminder.
But today—
today he hadn't waited.
And somewhere between greetings, glances, and jealousy he never asked for—
Kai realized something important.
Maybe this time,
waiting wasn't the only option.