Toshi didn't want to keep it inside anymore.
The fear had changed.
It wasn't just something chasing him in the dark.
It was everywhere now.
Watching.
Waiting.
If he stayed silent—
He felt like he'd lose himself completely.
So the next morning—
He tried.
At breakfast, he spoke first.
"I think something's wrong with me."
His mother paused mid-motion.
"…What do you mean?"
Toshi hesitated.
Then forced the words out.
"I see things. At night. During the day too. Someone's… following me."
Silence filled the table.
His father frowned slightly. "What kind of things?"
"A woman… in white."
His mother sighed softly.
"Toshi…"
"No, listen," he said quickly, his voice tightening. "I'm serious. I can't move at night, and she's there. And I feel things—like something touching me—"
"You're not sleeping properly," she interrupted.
"I am—"
"No, you're not," she said more firmly. "You stay on your phone too long. That's what happens. Your brain plays tricks on you."
Toshi stared at her.
"…This isn't that."
His father leaned back slightly. "Then what is it?"
Toshi opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
Because he didn't have an answer.
"…I don't know."
His father exhaled. "Then don't jump to conclusions. Focus on school. Don't fill your head with nonsense."
Nonsense.
The word hit harder than it should have.
Toshi looked down at the table.
"…Right."
The conversation ended there.
Just like that.
At school, he tried again.
With his friend.
"You remember I told you something felt off?"
"Yeah," his friend said casually. "You still on that?"
Toshi clenched his fists slightly.
"I wasn't joking."
His friend glanced at him.
Not laughing this time.
"…Okay. Then what?"
Toshi took a breath.
"There's something following me. I see it at night. And during the day now. It's not normal."
A pause.
"…Like hallucinations?" his friend asked.
"No," Toshi snapped. "Not like that."
"Then what?"
Toshi hesitated.
"…It's real."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then his friend leaned back slightly.
"…You should probably get some rest, man."
Toshi's expression hardened.
"I am serious."
"I know," his friend said, raising his hands slightly. "That's why I'm saying it. You're overthinking. It happens."
Toshi stared at him.
"…You don't believe me."
His friend didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Not like that, no."
That was enough.
Toshi looked away.
"…Forget it."
By the time school ended—
He stopped trying.
No one listened.
No one understood.
And worse—
No one even tried to.
That evening, he sat alone in his room.
No lights.
No phone.
Just silence.
"…So it's just me."
The words came out empty.
If no one else saw it—
Then either—
They were blind.
Or—
He was losing his mind.
Night came again.
Toshi didn't resist sleep this time.
He didn't fight it.
Didn't delay it.
Because at least in sleep—
He knew what he was facing.
His eyes opened.
Paralysis.
Expected.
But something was different.
The room felt…
Crowded.
Toshi's eyes moved slowly.
And then—
He saw them.
Not just her.
Others.
Shadows.
Standing.
Watching.
Every corner.
Every wall.
And in the center—
She stood.
Closer.
Always closer.
Toshi's heart pounded.
"…What do you want from me…"
This time—
His fear wasn't just fear.
It was breaking.