Ken's POV
December 21, 2017 – Thursday Morning
It had been so long since I'd last slept this well. It felt like I'd woken up in another reality, one that wasn't so bleak and gray like all my other days. Even my back felt lighter. I jumped out of bed and grabbed my phone7:10 a.m.
I still had some time before school starts. Unfortunately, my mom had already left for work, but to my surprise, she'd left breakfast ready along with a note:
"Have a great day. Call me if you need anything. I'll try to contact the school principal as soon as I can. Love you."
I chuckled softly to myself as I read it. The breakfast she'd prepared was already on the table, and I ate quickly. There was so much to do today. At least my poem was ready.
But it wasn't just an ordinary poem. it was a test for a certain someone.
If there really was a spirit in that classroom, I wanted it to focus on me instead. There was no way I was going to let the girls deal with it. If someone had to bear this burden, it had to be me.
Guess it runs in the family.
When I stepped outside, the weather wasn't too different from yesterday. It wasn't raining, but a dense fog blanketed everything. There were even fewer people on the streets, and was quite silent.
Through the mist, I heard someone calling my name. For half a second, my chest tightened with fear. But then…
"Gooood moooorning, Ken! I'm not late this time!"
"Ah, Sayori! Geez, for a moment I thought you were a ghost in all this fog."
My nervous laugh betrayed me.
"Not today! So, are you enjoying your new friends?"
She got straight to the point, as always.
"Absolutely! Thanks for letting me join the club. I'm actually excited to see everyone's poems today. I'm feeling way more energetic, too!"
"Oh, I can tell! But… did you manage to sleep well?"
"Yep! Best sleep I've had in years."
Sayori smiled, though her expression looked a bit puzzled, like she wasn't used to seeing me in such a good mood.
As we walked toward the school, she leaned closer to my shoulder and asked:
"So… did any girl catch your eye, Mr. Ken?"
I won't lie, I was expecting that question sooner or later. Sayori always seemed to like me, and I had a hunch she might've kept the club a secret for fear of something like this happening.
"It's too early to think about that… but who knows, maybe someday?"
She seemed half-satisfied with the answer and quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, how's your mom? I still haven't seen her…"
"Ah, you know how it is. She works too much. Barely got home and already had to leave again. But I think she'll be home after school today. If you're free, do you want to stop by my home?"
Sayori froze in place. Even though I motioned for her to keep walking, it was obvious she misunderstood something.
"M-Me? What do you mean, Ken?"
"Sure! My mom's cooking is amazing. It'd be great to have dinner together, like old times. Or even better, we could invite everyone, your parents too."
"Haha… I-I see. That would be nice!"
She gave an awkward smile, and we kept walking. As always, we said goodbye at the school gate.
When I stepped onto school grounds, it felt like I was walking into enemy territory. That same feeling of countless eyes on me returned.
But it wasn't spirits. These were the eyes of people.
Wait…
This amulet doesn't just protect against ghosts, does it? It also seems to improve my mood somehow. Which reminded me, I almost forgot to take it off. My mom had said…
Almost.
I tucked the necklace into my pocket and headed to my classroom. There were even fewer students present today, and the teacher seemed to be waiting for me to start the remedial lesson.
While he talked about something I couldn't care less about, one question kept gnawing at me:
Do the other girls actually attend classes, or do they just hang out in the clubroom? Otherwise, it makes no sense. Monika is a model student, and Yuri and Natsuki are diligent as well.
I'll have to remember to ask them.
Eventually, class ended. I wasn't even sure what had happened during the lesson.
Now came the real challenge.
Should I arrive early? Or late?
Which would be worse?
I didn't even wait for the other students to leave. I grabbed my things and rushed to the third floor.
The hallway stretched out endlessly in front of me, and the door to Classroom 3-A stood waiting.
Am I the first one here? Can I handle being alone with… that thing?
Or is someone already inside?
I can't look scared.
If Monika notices anything strange about me, our conversation will give me away.
I could almost hear a voice on the other side of the door.
I'm scared to open it.
The amulet?
No, too risky.
My hands are shaking?
They can't see me like this.
Should I—?
"Ken, is everyth—"
"OH MY GOD! HOLY CRAP!"
I screamed like a frightened child.
The person behind me gasped and staggered back. It was Yuri.
"Ken! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you. Please forgive me."
"Ah… Yuri. No, don't worry. You just… caught me off guard."
"Oh… Sorry again."
"Yuri… uh… Can I ask you a favor?"
"Of course! What is it?"
"This is going to sound really stupid, but… could you come into the classroom with me?"
Yuri's face turned bright red. It was honestly a bit amusing how all the girls seemed to misunderstand me today while I was literally scared out of my mind, and they thought I was flirting.
"S-Sure."
And just like that, Yuri and I stepped into Classroom 3-A.
Hana's POV
December 21, 2017 – Thursday Afternoon
They should be here by now; I think things are about to change. That newcomer saw me, but I'm still unsure about Monika.
Why is she like that?
I hate looking at her.
She looks like those silly girls, and yet… she's so secure and confident.
I admit I was overdoing it a bit in trying to get her attention, but that damned girl is so rational, she wouldn't believe it even if she looked straight into my eyes.
Gazing out the window, I saw the sunny weather after a morning of dense fog, and I felt such envy for those students and their freedom.
They arrived.
Ken and Yuri?
Yuri clearly didn't notice me, but Ken looked strange. Something told me he did notice me, but he's pretending not to.
In that brief moment, our eyes met, and then he sat down with Yuri, his back to me.
How brave…
But, I also have a strategy in mind to make him notice me once and for all, and it involves today's poems.
I wrote mine too. I just needed to find a chance to get it into his hands.
For now, I'll keep watching.
— "Ken, I have a question. You said you like reading horror booksdo you mind starting this one?"
Yuri pulled a book out of her bag; one I had never seen before. From what I could see, it was "Dance of Hell." The cover reminded me of something I couldn't put into words, something on the tip of my tongue.
Ken studied the book a bit and seemed excited:
"Oh… No, I've never seen it, but that cover is amazing. So, what's the synopsis, Yuri?"
"This is the story of two young women, Aira and Camille, who wanted to be dancers, but a war breaks out in their country. Both are taken to a prison camp by the invading nation. Their talent is soon discovered, and they're forced to perform dance shows for the guards, as their only means of survival.
One day, an entity appears from the shadows, offering them help and freedom, but the price is too high. Maybe, between the supernatural and the ordinary, there's no escaping the cruelty of this world."
Is she messing with me? I felt anger take over my body just like it did yesterday. So that's what people think I am?
I didn't choose to be here; I'm trapped… It's not like I'm some malicious entity that goes around making deals with the living. If that's what they think of me, it only makes me hate this damned human race even more.
"Wow, I suddenly feel a chill," Yuri said, crossing her arms.
"Ah, it must be the air conditioning. Do you know where the remote is?"
"Over there on the teachers' desk. I think setting it to 24C is ideal. What's it at now?"
"Hmm… 20C."
What a liar, it was already at 24C. He knows I'm here and he's hiding it. He thinks he's pretty clever, huh?
That was the confirmation I was waiting for…
At that moment, I started to expand my aura, recalling the hatred I felt that day, while I smiled at Ken. I bet he saw me now, but he's still in denial.
Smile back at me, what's the problem?
Let's play your game, Ken Ikeda.
After a while, the other girls arrived, something else unusual. Natsuki, Sayori, and Monika came in together, laughing. They seemed to be gossiping about something from the way they giggled…
"Good afternoon, everyone. You got here early; I see our newcomer has found a new friendthe air conditioner! I hope you're setting it to the right temperature so we don't freeze in here!" Monika exclaimed, full of energy.
She also glanced in my direction, but she was oblivious to my presence. Even so, she knew there was something about my chair. Being the well-mannered girl she is, she avoided staring.
As if you two planned it together to ignore me…
They were talking so much at once it was hard to figure out what they were saying. Why can't I feel happy seeing them so cheerful?
People were laughing. People laughed as they killed me.
I hate all of you.
After a while, Monika put an end to the commotion, clapping her hands and asking for silence.
"Okay, everyone! Remember yesterday's assignment? I'd like to know if all of you managed to write a poem."
"Well, I worked on it until late, and I'm excited to share it," Ken said, holding his notebook firmly.
"I was running a bit behind, but I made it!" Sayori was noticeably more cheerful than usual.
"I almost didn't sleep, but it worked out too. I hope you all enjoy!" Yuri avoided eye contact with everyone, but she was quite proud of her work.
"You'll soon discover the power of a pro!" Natsuki exclaimed with a smile; I'd never seen her smile like that.
Monika analyzed the situation and came up with an idea. Sharing something so personal can be difficult in a group, so she had to find a way to split everyone up.
"Well, guys! I'm glad you all finished the assignment. To make things easier, each of you will show your poem to our new member, and he'll show you what he wrote. I just want one-on-one conversations in this first round. You'll wait, Ken, and then we'll rotate. Is that okay with you?"
"Sure, no problem."
They sat in spots around the room that Monika had prepared for discussions, and to my surprise, Ken sat in the same row as me, just a few seats behind.
His aura felt unstable at that moment, a sign of fear?
What a lucky coincidence.
This is my chance.
Sayori was talking with Monika, and Natsuki and Yuri were on the other side of the room reading their respective poems.
"Hey, Ken! Can you hear me?"
No response.
"I know you can hear me. How long are you going to pretend you can't? This is starting to get pathetic."
He was on his phone, but I could see his aura becoming more and more agitated. Another curious thing: the mark left by my touch had disappeared; meanwhile, as I quickly glanced at Monika, the wound in her aura was still there.
This boy is very interesting.
I then visualized a piece of paper in my hands with the poem on it and threw it toward Ken. It landed on the floor by his footthat was the best I could do.
He was petrified with fear, but even so, he felt something by his foot and looked down.
He quickly picked up the poem, checking if the girls had noticed anything.
This is your plan… I see.
"Hope you like it!"
Ken stood up and said to Monika:
"Monika, I'm going to get some water real quick. I'll be right back!"
"Sure, but don't take too long!"
Pathetic, cowardly, idiot.
Facing danger, he turns his back like anyone else would. But calm down, Hana…
It'll be fine.
I'm almost there.
Yeah… Today I'll free myself from this chair.
He soon disappeared from my sight as he crossed the door. Unfortunately, I couldn't see his reaction; I'd pay to see that.
Ken's POV
December 21, 2017 – Thursday Afternoon
This can't be happening.
This can't be happening.
I… heard her voice, saw her form, I caught a glimpse of her smile. It's real. That thing is trying to get my attention, and according to my mom, that's exactly what a spirit wants.
I should just throw this poem away and keep ignoring her.
Even outside the classroom, I could hear it laughing, and now she's in there with the girls.
"Ken, how can you be so pathetic, weak, and useless? What kind of person are you?
The first sign of danger and you run away?"
In a way, these thoughts were running through my mind, but they felt both mine and not mine at the same time.
That's what that thing does, then…
There's no choice. I can do this; I can read what this creature has to say.
"Birds Without a Voice
by Hana Ikeda
First flies the hungry pelican,
Eager for a reward,
Its wings at rest.
Then the nightingale sings,
Its melody sweet yet broken,
Echoing through empty halls,
Where eyes never close.
The owl observes from high above,
Cold wisdom and steady gaze,
But even the keenest eyes
Turn away when darkness draws near.
Light steps on worn floorboards,
A shadow imitates flight,
But there is no sky to soar in,
No wind to carry it.
Who will hear the muffled song?
Who will notice the broken wing?
The floor weighs heavier than air,
Heavier than iron.
In the last chair,
Feathers pile up,
A nest of bones,
An endless night.
Are your eyes shut?
Can your eyes, see?
I sing to you,
But you don't respond.
Trembling wings, cold fingers,
The bird waits."
There was something on the back of the page, written in blood, with spaced-out letters:
"You should check if I moved while you were reading".
Stunned.
Like prey in a predator's grasp, there was no way to escape. A gust of wind sliced through the hallway, something telling me the creature had moved.
Or rather, it wasn't exactly a "thing", it was a "person."
Hana Ikeda.
I racked my brain for any memory of this name from school, but it was completely unfamiliar to me. It was hard to believe something so dark could be a person.
Worst of all, none of my mom's stories, nothing I'd ever heard, had prepared me for anything like this.
I wanted to look back at the classroom, to see what was happening in there.
I heard laughter in the midst of the howling wind.
I was paralyzed.
Maybe, maybe Monika knows something about this girl.
No one here is a hero like in stories. I can't do this alone. I have to tell someone.
I took a sip of water from the fountain.
More laughter.
I returned to Classroom 3-A. And upon entering, out of the corner of my eye I saw the spirit, clearly agitated, as though expecting an answer or acknowledgment.
I won't give her that, not until I have a plan.
Pretending nothing happened, I greeted everyone again:
"I'm back. Is anyone available yet?"
"I'm always available… to talk to you."
Her voice was as clear as water in my mind, a teenage girl's voice. It echoed in my mind, and yet I could barely understand it.
"Actually, never mind, I won't bother you. You can keep pretending I'm not here. I'm used to it."
What does that even mean?
As if to distract me from my thoughts, Natsuki waved her hand, calling for my attention.
"Sayori and Monika are done now."
I moved toward Sayori. It was a bit awkward, so I started talking:
"Hey, Sayo."
"Hey, Ken. So, do you want to see mine first? I tried really hard on it; this is my first time writing something meant to be shared."
"I can imagine. It's the same for me, but I think it's worth showing who we areeffort is what counts."
"You always have the right words, Ken. Anyway, here it is."
Sayori handed me her poem, and I started reading. It looked pretty interesting, especially from how the stanzas were structured:
New Light
Amid the darkness of uncertain days,
A glow emerges.
It's hope reborn among the awakened,
Revealing paths worth treading.
A soft, warm light of a new dawn,
That banishes shadows.
Every moment brings a reunion with living,
Like a rainbow after the storm.
It brings the promise of bright colors,
And kindles a belief in truth.
New light, carrying new dreams,
Illuminating what once seemed in vain.
It's a new beginning that embraces the wounded.
I read it several times. For a moment, I wondered if she was talking about meit would be so sweet to be my friend's inspiration.
"That's amazing, Sayo. I'd love to be that new light for you!"
"Of course you are! Ever since you joined the club, everything feels brighter for me. Though sometimes you worry me."
"Thanks for caring. This was your first step toward making your dream come true, you know?"
"I can't believe you still remember that! You're so sweet."
Sayori's dream since childhood was to become a writer, but she never got anywhere close to achieving that. In earlier grades, people teased her about her writing, and she always struggled. This week, though, it was obvious something had changed in her for the better.
"I've always told you I believe in you, so keep trying. Anyway, here's mine."
Observer
Calm and precise,
Amid parallel conversations,
She watches.
Always in her corner,
Awaiting an opportunity,
A cunning predator,
She watches.
In a desperate plan,
Her claws grow,
She watches.
Between soft sighs and muffled laughter,
Between the clink of teacups,
She finds openings,
Moments of silence where she can slip in.
She watches.
Her eyes do not shine,
They absorb, they ensnare,
They follow every movement,
And never look away.
She watches.
But what if…
For a brief moment,
You felt something move?
Something that shouldn't be there?
She watches.
You look again at the same spot,
The dark corner.
There…
She watches.
"Wow. I never imagined you wrote such dark stuff. I'm actually a bit scaredhope there's nothing watching me right now. My goodness. I expected something cute from you!" Sayori said with a mock-annoyed face.
"I'm just trying something new. And you know what? Your reaction means it's perfect!"
"What do you mean, Ken?"
"Horror is meant for that, don't you think? The idea is to make the reader feel uneasy. Writing is all about projecting emotions onto the reader, even if they're uncomfortable ones!"
I felt bad for Sayo, but I had to do this. I wanted to test if Hana could see the poem even if I was turned away from her. From what I could tell, there was no reaction.
I made the poem to provoke some response from the spirit.
Nothing?
Well, if that's true, I can pull out the other poem that isn't really a poem. I wrote a note for Monika, and I know exactly how to make sure she only reads it after class.
From the information I gathered and what I could infer about that ghost, maybe I can come up with a solid plan to end this.
Time to stop being on the defensive.
Wait… Still no sign of her?
Apparently, she can't read thoughts either.
After I left Sayori so she could prepare to share with the others, I planned every movement to avoid direct contact with that last chair. I had the feeling that while Monika walked toward me, Hana also had her own agenda. If she was staying quiet, there was a reason.
If I had to guess…
She already got what she wanted and doesn't plan to interact further today, unless we give her an opening. But the four girls here could fall into a trap at any moment.
The club president greeted me.
"Earth to Ken, Earth to Ken, hello?"
"Oh. Hey Monika, sorry, I got distracted."
"I'd pay to read your mind."
You really wouldn't want that, not with the hell this situation is.
"I'd love to be able to do that too, Ken. Haha."
I heard Hana's voice again, and it was worse than last time, because she might or might not be telling the truth. Maybe she can read my thoughts, and she's faking that she can't, or she actually can't and is just doing a psychological war on me.
I feel like I'm going to lose my mind. Breathe, Ken.
"Better not. Anyway, Monika…"
I pointed to another pair of chairs for us to sit, away from the other girls.
"Well, before we share, I need to tell you something."
"Oh, what is it? You look serious."
Right… this is quite the dilemma: ruin your reputation in a club you just joined, or save everyone from a bloodthirsty presence that's probably thinking of ways to kill us while we have small talk?
"But it is serious… I have this here for you. Could you read it after class? I… I can't handle having you read it right now. It's… a confession."
Monika went pale, glancing at the rest of the room. The other girls didn't noticeexcept Hana, of course.
I'm sorry, Moni, but this is necessary.
"K-Ken, what do you mean?"
"Please, don't make me explain here, now. Take this other paperit's my real poem. Can you do that for me?"
"Ah… Sure."
Monika put my "confession" in her pocket and started reading my poem, her eyes darting between the lines over and over.
Observer.
That word would stick in her mind. I think she got what I was trying to convey, and she whispered:
"How beautiful! I like you too, so how about we talk more after class?"
"Sure, sounds good to me. I'm already looking forward to it!"
At that moment, I felt the temperature drop, and I could see out of the corner of my eye that someone was very angry. She said nothing just pure rage. It was exactly what I expected. The spirit took a moment and calmed itself quickly enough that no one else noticed the temperature change.
I left Monika and walked over to where Natsuki and Yuri were. For some reason, they were taking a while, still locked in conversation.
"I can't believe the only thing you have to say is that my poem is cute! I worked really hard on this, you know?" Natsuki was visibly frustrated.
"B-But I was only trying to be nice."
"What? You had to think all that time just to be 'nice'? I hate fake people!"
Yuri seemed completely startled, but there was a challenging tone in her voice at the same time, as if two people were speaking through her mouth.
"A-Actually, I have a few suggestions, if you want a list—"
"If I was looking for suggestions, I would've asked the ones who liked my poem. Which people did, by the way, so I value their opinions Sayori and Monika liked it. And yours?"
The argument was getting intense, but it didn't feel natural. They didn't seem themselves, spouting hurtful words that cut through the classroom.
Wait…
Perpendicular to the two chairs, a shadow in the shape of arms stretched from the girls toward the last chair.
I couldn't help it.
I made a grave mistake.
I looked at Hana.
The shadows around her dissipated, and I could see her figure clearly: a teenage girl of about fifteen, with long hair. Her face was pale, marked with scars and tears. She wore a long school uniform similar to ours but older in style, like a much older design.
Her smile looked fake, like she'd cried so much that she no longer knew how to smile.
When she realized I was looking straight into her eyes, she said:
"Checkmate!"
Back to the two girls arguing, they were now looking at me:
"L-Look, Ken, she's saying mean things to me so I look like a bad person! Tell her to stop!"
"Cut it out, Yuri. You started it!"
I had clearly missed half the argument. They both looked like they were waiting for a response, and for some reason, I was "chosen" to unwrap this.
"Look, everyone, I understand that you all have different opinions, but we're not going to resolve this because poems are inherently subjective. Sure, there are criteria for literary contests, but here, in this space, things remain subjective. The idea I had was for each of us to learn a little from one another. We're here to complement each other, not to compete or prove we're better than anyone else. We all share a common goal."
A heavy silence filled the room. Hana released her grip on Natsuki and Yuri's minds, as if saying, "I've already achieved what I wanted." Instantly, I noticed a tremendous shift in their auras.
So, this is the power of a vengeful spirit.
"Oh… K-Ken, I'm so sorry! I don't know what happened to me! Nat, I don't know. Nat, please forgive me!"
"Calm down, Yuri… I don't know what happened to me either. Even though we're different, that will never make me love you any less as my friend."
"I-I've never had friends like this before. I don't deserve you all! I'm a monster!"
Yuri bolted out of the classroom, and Natsuki immediately followed her.
"Wait! Yuri!"
Sayori went after them as well, leaving only Monika and me in the now quiet classroom. For a moment, we stood in silence before Monika finally spoke.
"Well… I think we should stop for today. I'll sort this out soon. But… do you have any idea what just happened?"
"I have no idea."
Monika stood near the teacher's desk while I kept my eyes on her, deliberately keeping my back turned to Hana. It was a way to block the spirit from my sight. I tried to let my expression convey my message to the president.
She quickly understood and shook her head in silent denial.
"What kind of president am I, unable to resolve a conflict among my own members? Thank you for your help. I'll handle things here. Please, go after the others."
"Monika… Well, let's go. I think they need you."
"…I understand. Very well, meeting is ending early anyway. Come with me."
"I'll miss you, dear." Hana's voice echoed as we walked towards the door.
Finally, we left classroom 3-A.