The black smoke grew thicker—spilling into the sky like ink in water. It twisted and writhed, curling violently as it turned the air around it stiflingly hot, suffocating.
Kaito Ishida froze, his heart thumping erratically in his chest.
"No, no, no... not again," he whispered, his voice trembling, barely more than a breath.
His legs moved before his mind could process it, driven by instinct, faster than the whirlwind of panic overtaking him. This time, there was no hesitation. No questioning. No looking for answers.
Just fear.
Just the burning need to save them.
"How can I save them?" That thought pounded through his skull like a drumbeat—each strike harder than the last.
His feet hit the pavement, the sound of his shoes scraping against the rough road muffled by the roar of his racing heart. The smoke—thicker now, darker—stretched higher than he'd ever seen. The air was a furnace, choking him as he ran toward his home.
"Mom! Dad!!" His voice broke as he screamed, the words lost in the smoke. "Aiko! Riku! Where are you? Please, please answer me!!"
His legs burned with each step, but the pain didn't matter. His only thought was getting home.
He reached the gate—dread twisting in his stomach.
The door swung open with a jarring creak.
"No…" he whispered, horror creeping up his throat.
There they were.
His father, Ren, slumped lifeless over the dining table, blood pooling beneath him. His mother, Miyuki, lay crumpled in the kitchen doorway. And Aiko and Riku… together, hands still intertwined, their faces frozen in a haunting silence.
The smell of smoke and blood mixed in the air. The walls were scorched, blackened by the fire that had consumed everything.
The chaos was deafening. The stillness, though, was even worse.
Kaito's eyes locked on the lifeless forms of his family. He couldn't cry. He couldn't move. He couldn't even think.
His body just… gave up.
He dropped to his knees, his hands trembling as they brushed the floor, seeking some grounding in a world that had shattered in an instant.
"Why does this keep happening…?" he whispered to no one.
"Why can't I stop it?"
A sudden crack above him sent a shock of panic through his spine. He looked up, but there was no time to react. The ceiling groaned, the foundation groaning beneath the weight of the flames.
And then, the world went black.
He sees the hallway again.
Kaito sat by the window of the empty classroom, staring out at the fading sun. Its orange glow stretched over the desks, casting long, heavy shadows that seemed to stretch for miles. His mind was a tangled mess, consumed with the same thoughts that never seemed to leave him.
"Why can't I save them?" he whispered to the empty room, his voice hoarse.
He didn't understand. The pain never stopped—it only grew worse. Each time it came, it felt like a part of him was being torn away, piece by piece.
A voice behind him interrupted his spiraling thoughts.
"You okay?"
He spun around, startled. Standing in the doorway was a girl from his class. Long blonde hair, clear eyes, sharp behind thin-rimmed glasses. Her presence was calm, steady.
"What?" Kaito muttered, wiping his face quickly and sitting up straighter.
"You were talking to yourself," she said softly. "Are you alright?"
He forced a weak smile, shaking his head. "It's nothing."
"You sure? You looked… broken."
Kaito let out a hollow laugh. "You really think I'm gonna spill my life story to a stranger?"
She shrugged, a small smile on her lips. "I didn't ask for your story. Just wanted to make sure you're okay."
Her tone wasn't dismissive, wasn't judgmental. It was simple. Real.
That made him pause.
For a moment, he said nothing. Just looked at her. "…Thanks. But I'm fine."
"You don't have to pretend with me," she said, taking a step closer. "I know what it's like to keep everything inside."
Her words hit him harder than he expected. He didn't reply. He couldn't.
Then, his eyes caught the clock on the wall.
4:05 PM.
He stood up so fast the chair scraped loudly against the floor, a sharp sound that echoed through the silence of the room.
"I need to go," he muttered.
The girl blinked, stepping forward. "What? Wait—why?"
"No time," Kaito said, grabbing his bag. Without another word, he turned and ran from the classroom.
Down the stairs.
Through the empty halls.
Out the door.
His legs burned with the effort, but he didn't slow down. He couldn't. The street blurred around him as his body moved on its own, pushing him forward.
Come on, come on—
The house. He had to get to the house.
He turned the corner.
And there it was.
His house.
Still standing.
No smoke. No fire. No screams.
He rushed up the steps, his heart thudding loudly in his chest, and shoved the door open.
Silence.
No sounds. No sign of anyone.
No blood.
No ashes.
Kaito's throat constricted. His chest felt like it was going to explode.
He ran through the house, room to room. Nothing. No one.
It was empty.
Then, a strange sensation washed over him. The air felt thick, pressing in on him. The world seemed to twist, fold in on itself, and suddenly—
He was back.
The hallway. That cold, flickering light. The same hallway.
He blinked.
"Huh…?"
For a moment, everything felt out of sync, like he was caught between two worlds. He didn't understand what was happening.
Alone again.