Morning came too fast.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Ren's alarm rang loudly through the room.
He groaned and reached over, hitting it half-awake.
"…Five more minutes…"
"Oi. It's morning."
Ren's eyes snapped open.
He turned his head.
"…Kai?"
Kai was standing near the door, arms crossed, looking annoyed.
Ren sat up slowly.
"…What are you doing?"
Kai shrugged.
"What does it look like? I'm testing stuff."
He pointed at the door.
"I tried opening it."
A pause.
"…Didn't work."
Ren blinked.
"…You can't touch anything?"
Kai shook his head.
"Nope."
Then added,
"I tried picking things up too. Nothing."
He sighed.
"…This ghost thing is useless."
Ren rubbed his face.
"…You're not supposed to be useful."
Kai smirked.
"Speak for yourself."
Ren got out of bed.
"…I'm getting ready for school."
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"…Already?"
Ren didn't respond.
He just walked toward his clothes.
Then—
The door opened.
"Ren, are you awake?"
Ren froze.
"…Mom."
Haruka Aoyama stepped in slightly—
Then paused.
"Oh—sorry."
Ren turned quickly.
"…Can I have a little privacy in the morning?"
Haruka nodded, turning away.
"Yes, of course—"
But then—
She stopped.
Slowly…
She turned back.
Her eyes focused on Ren.
More specifically—
His body.
"…Ren."
Her voice changed slightly.
Concern.
"…Are you being bullied at school?"
Ren paused.
For just a second.
Kai looked at him from the side.
Watching closely.
Ren answered calmly.
"…No."
Haruka didn't look convinced.
Her eyes lingered a moment longer.
On the bruises.
The small signs he couldn't hide.
"…If something is wrong," she said gently,
"You can tell me."
Ren didn't look at her.
"…I know."
She nodded slowly.
"…Alright."
Then she left.
The door closed softly behind her.
Silence.
Kai looked at Ren.
"…You're lying."
Ren adjusted his sleeve slightly.
"…It doesn't matter."
Kai frowned.
"…It does."
Ren didn't respond.
Instead, he looked at the ring.
And for a brief moment—
his expression hardened.
"…Let's just go to school."
Something was building.
And this time—
Ren wasn't just going to ignore it.
The morning air was cool as Ren walked toward school.
Students passed by like normal.
Cars moved.
Voices filled the street.
Everything looked the same.
But Kai walked beside him.
Invisible to everyone else.
Watching everything.
Ren adjusted his bag slightly.
"…Why are you looking at me like that the whole time?"
Kai didn't look away.
"I'm watching."
Ren frowned.
"…For what?"
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…To see if anyone puts their hands on you."
Ren looked forward again.
"…It's nothing."
Kai stopped walking for a second.
"…Nothing?"
Ren kept going.
"…Yeah."
Kai caught up quickly.
His voice dropped.
"Yeah… no."
Ren sighed slightly.
"…Just leave it."
Kai's expression hardened.
"Fuck that."
Ren stopped.
Kai stepped in front of him now.
Even though no one else could see it—
the tension was real.
"Why do you let them do this to you?" Kai said.
Not loud.
But serious.
Ren didn't answer immediately.
Kai continued.
"You just stand there."
"You don't fight back."
"You don't say anything."
"…That's not you."
Ren's eyes shifted slightly.
"…You don't know that."
Kai stared at him.
"…Yeah, I do."
Silence.
Kai stepped closer.
"…You think taking it makes you stronger?"
Ren looked away.
"…It's easier."
That answer hit harder than anything else.
Kai clenched his fists.
"…Easier?"
Ren's voice stayed calm.
"If I fight back… things get worse."
Kai shook his head.
"No."
Ren finally looked at him again.
Kai's eyes were serious now.
"…Things are already worse."
Silence fell between them.
The school gate stood ahead.
Closer now.
Kai exhaled slowly.
"…Next time they touch you…"
"…We do something about it."
Ren looked at him.
For the first time—
he didn't immediately say no.
And the ring on his finger gave a faint pulse.
Like it agreed.
To be continued...