“This has gone on long enough,” Yuuto murmured, glancing around the newly unguarded storage room where he and Nazuna had taken refuge. “What has? I just started stitching you up; hold still for a sec,” Nazuna replied casually, perched on his thigh as she focused on stitching his shoulder. “Not that. I meant this whole…

Akito lay motionless on the subroof, the harsh sun scorching his exposed skin. The water bottle beside him had long been emptied, leaving him with nothing but the simmering heat and his thoughts. ‘…That’s right… I’ve got time to think this through,’ Akito sighed internally, squinting against the glaring sunlight. ‘How did Sakurai anticipate my…

It was still early morning. Satoshi sat comfortably in the principal’s office, engrossed in his Gameboy. Meanwhile, Nao, Kaede, and Kanoko stood by the side. Kanoko and Kaede’s knees were beginning to hurt from standing motionless for over 30 minutes. Despite being the only one allowed to move, Nao felt more frozen than the others.…

My name is Saki Yoshida. Recently, I started experimenting with some new makeup with the help of my mom, and it seemed to have a surprising effect: people began to really like me, and I started to become popular. I thought this would finally be my opportunity to make friends. While I did meet my…

Akito lay defeated on the stadium’s parquet floor. At any moment, the hypnotized horde would breach the entrance. Yuuto, exasperated and battered, breathed heavily, blood trickling down as he clutched his baseball bat. He glanced at Akito. ‘You’re hypnotized, huh?’ Yuuto mused silently. ‘…How nice of him to admit it,’ he thought before starting to…

Gunshots thundered through the locker room door. ‘They’re firing?!’ Yuuto realized, gripping his metal baseball bat, surprised that none of the shots seemed directed at the door itself. Pained screams pierced the air from outside. Cautiously, Yuuto pressed his ear against the door, careful not to expose himself. ‘It’s dark outside. I might need to…

Yuuto landed and immediately began sprinting towards the school exit. ‘Too many people, too tight a space. Need to get out of here…!’ Yuuto thought as he bolted. “Sire… He’s about to get away,” Tommy observed calmly, watching Yuuto’s retreating figure. “Don’t worry, Tommy. And remember, it’s Satoshi now…” Satoshi replied, leaning nonchalantly against the…

They all stood frozen, as if awaiting a cue. Yuuto assessed his surroundings, back pressed against the only escape route—the door to his classroom. ‘This might be bad…’ His thoughts raced. Suddenly, a solitary figure broke through the crowd. A small, dark-skinned boy with blonde hair and blue eyes advanced, flanked by a man dressed…

The stern teacher entered the classroom, now a sodden mess, weaving his way among the soaked students who stood outside. They watched Hiroki spray water with an unusual calmness. Upon noticing the teacher, they all shared the same thought: Hiroki was in inescapable trouble this time. He WILL get expelled, or worse. The teacher surveyed…

Yuuto went down the stairs, noting that Kaede was not at home. ‘She’s not home…?’ he thought as he looked around, his eyes landing on the picture of Hiroki’s late father. ‘Right. She has to work. No one else but her to make ends meet… Yet she found time to stay with me three days…