The night air felt heavier than usual.
Kai was standing, arms crossed, impatient.
"…We're wasting time," Kai muttered.
Ren didn't answer immediately.
His eyes stayed on the street.
"…We go tonight," Ren said quietly.
Kai glanced at him.
"…Finally."
Ren exhaled sharply.
"…Kai. Switch back with me."
Kai nodded immediately.
"…Yeah."
Both of them focused.
The air shifted slightly.
Ren lifted his hand.
"…Olydo."
Kai repeated it.
"…Olydo."
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Silence.
Kai blinked.
"…Huh?"
Ren frowned.
"…That's not right."
Kai tried again.
"…Olydo."
Still nothing.
The air stayed still.
The ring on Kai's finger flickered once—
then went dark.
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
"…It's not working."
Kai clicked his tongue.
"…That's not normal."
Ren looked down at the ring.
It gave a faint flicker… then dimmed again.
"…Why isn't it responding?" Ren muttered.
"…Maybe it has a limit."
Ren looked at him sharply.
"…A limit?"
Kai nodded slowly.
"…Like cooldown. Or energy. Something like that."
Silence fell between them again.
Ren exhaled.
"…So we can't switch when we want."
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Which means we're stuck like this for now."
Ren looked toward the ring again.
The forest.
Aokigahara.
Waiting.
"…Let's just go together like this," Kai said.
Ren didn't respond.
But he agreed.
Kai smirked.
"…Good."
Later that night.
The forest swallowed sound.
Trees stood like broken silhouettes against the sky.
No wind.
No movement.
Just silence.
Kai's eyes scanned the darkness.
"…So this is it."
Ren nodded once.
"…Aokigahara."
They stepped forward.
Each step deeper made the world feel further away.
Then—
A glow.
Through the trees.
As Ren and Kai reached the edge of the forest, they slowed their steps.
The darkness of Aokigahara stretched ahead of them—dense trees, no sound, no movement.
But then—
Kai noticed something.
"…There."
A small security house stood near the forest entrance.
A single light was on inside.
And a man stood outside it, watching the area quietly.
Ren pulled back instantly.
"…Don't move."
They both crouched behind a tree, keeping low.
Kai narrowed his eyes.
"…If we go in like this, he'll report us."
Ren stayed silent for a moment.
Then he looked at Kai.
"…Put it on."
Kai blinked.
"…What?"
Ren pointed slightly ahead.
"…The white cloak. Now."
Kai hesitated.
"…You're serious?"
Ren's voice stayed calm.
"…It's the only way we get in without raising suspicion."
A beat.
Then Kai clicked his tongue.
"…Fine."
He pulled the white cloak out and quickly slipped it over his clothes.
The fabric covered him completely, just like the others they had seen.
He adjusted the hood.
"…How do I look?"
Ren didn't answer.
He was already watching the guard.
"…Walk normal," Ren said quietly. "Don't act suspicious."
Kai stepped out first.
Slow.
Controlled.
He walked toward the security house.
The guard turned his head slightly.
Kai kept walking.
One step.
Two.
The man's eyes narrowed slightly.
He studied Kai.
Silence.
Kai didn't stop.
Then—
the guard relaxed.
"…Oh."
He gave a small nod.
"…You're one of us."
He stepped aside slightly.
"…Go in."
Once Kai stepped past the guard, he kept walking deeper into the forest path.
Ren followed right behind him.
Silent.
Unseen.
To anyone else, there was nothing there.
The guard only saw Kai.
Not the second presence moving beside him.
Kai whispered under his breath.
"…Good."
Ren replied quietly.
"…Keep moving."
Kai didn't turn his head, but he nodded slightly.
The forest ahead swallowed them both as they stepped deeper inside.
To be continued…