Her voice wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. It sliced through the ringing in my ears like a blade.
Yuki.
She stood just a few feet away, eyes glistening, lips trembling, chest heaving. She had seen everything.
The broken bodies.The way I moved—like a ghost with a vendetta.The way I felt, gasping like a man dragged from the bottom of the ocean.The way I shouldn’t be alive.
I tried to speak, but my throat burned, lungs still raw from the inside out. My vision danced between light and shadow. Everything felt... off-balance.
“Yuki…” I rasped, my voice like torn paper.
She didn’t move. Didn’t blink.Didn’t breathe.
The sirens in the distance grew louder, and with them, reality started stitching itself back together. I couldn’t stay here. I had seconds.
Footsteps behind her—teachers, security, the school nurse. I panicked. My fingers curled against the pavement. My legs screamed not to move. But I forced myself up. One step. Then another.
She flinched.
That hurt more than any broken rib.
“Please,” I said softly, reaching for her.
She took a step back.
“Don’t touch me.”
And just like that, she was gone—lost in the crowd of emergency responders swarming the scene, swallowed by the chaos I caused.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
The next day, school was a circus.
Rumors exploded faster than I could keep up.
"A terrorist attack at the welcome assembly!""A student fought them off barehanded!""I heard he was like... not human.""Some say it was a ghost. Or a demon.""Maybe it was a secret weapon from the government."
I kept my head down. Same hoodie. Same tired eyes. Same quiet Ren.
No one suspected me—except one person.
Yuki.
She didn’t show up to class that day. Or the next.
And I didn’t blame her.
Friday. 5:47 PM. Rooftop.
The door creaked open behind me. I didn’t turn around. I knew it was her.
Only one person ever found me up here.
"You skipped lunch,” she said.
“Didn’t feel hungry,” I replied.
Silence. Wind blew strands of her hair across her face. She walked slowly until she stood beside me, her hands gripping the cold railing.
She didn’t look at me. That hurt, too.
"How long?" she asked.
I closed my eyes. “Since I was six.”
"Does it hurt?"
“Only after.”
She swallowed hard. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I hesitated. “Because if I did… you’d look at me like you are right now.”
She turned to face me then. Her eyes weren’t wide with fear this time. Just... full. Deep. Curious. Sad.
“You saved lives,” she said.
I chuckled bitterly. “I destroyed six.”
“They attacked innocent students. You stopped them.”
“I became something I’m not supposed to be.”
“You became someone who protected us. Protected me.”
I met her eyes finally, and something shifted between us. Something dangerous. Something real.
“I don’t want you to be afraid of me.”
She stepped closer. “I’m not.”
My heart skipped. It always skipped when she said things like that.
And then—like the universe couldn’t resist ruining the moment—the rooftop door slammed open again.
“REN HOSHINO!”
I turned slowly. It wasn’t a teacher.
It was a man in a black tactical suit. Sunglasses. Earpiece. Military posture.
Behind him, two more agents. One held a tablet. The other held something worse:
A photo of me—mid-fight, blurry but clear enough. My hoodie. My face. My glowing eyes.
“We need to talk,” the man said.
Yuki stepped in front of me instinctively.
I grabbed her wrist gently, pulled her behind me.
Deep breath in.
Hold.
The world slowed.
Invincible.
Whew. That chapter might have felt like a slow burn, but I promise — the fire is building. ?? You’ve now seen more of Ren’s world unravel, and maybe you’re already asking the same questions he is: Who can he trust? What’s hiding behind those quiet glances and heavy silences?
Every clue matters. Every relationship will shape what’s coming next.
Thank you for reading this far — your support means the world. If this chapter hit you emotionally, I’d love to hear your thoughts or theories. Message me. I’m always watching.
Next chapter? Expect shadows. And surprises.
– Kevin Kay Agno ??