Act one: The Haunting of Classroom 3-A
Ken POV
December 20, 2017 - Wednesday Morning (Old Hinode)
Beep, Beep, Beep.
Useless alarm. It's been yelling for a while, but I haven't really been asleep anyway.
Nightmares every single night. And if I even do manage to fall asleep, it's never real rest. It's more like collapsing from exhaustion after days of being completely drained. If only I could remember what those nightmares were about. Maybe then Mom could help. She always seems to know about these kinds of things.
All I knew about those nightmares was the fear they made me feel and how they made me wake in the middle of the night.
But right now, just another day.
I dragged myself out of bed, my body heavy as concrete, and forced myself to get dressed another day of school. Exams were over, and most people were already enjoying their free time, but I'd missed too many days this semester.
The classroom would still be my prison until the final bell, it would officially actually end at Friday.
I left home quickly. I couldn't afford to be late again.
Rain greeted me as I stepped outside, umbrella in hand. The cold air brushed against me, with occasional gusts of wind whipping at my jacket. The streets were quiet, I could see few other students who probably had the same attendance issues as I did.
Not that I minded the half empty streets. I hate crowds.
"Keeeeeeeeen! Wait for me!"
I stopped and turned. There she was: Sayori, my childhood friend, running as fast as she could.
Even though a few students turned to stare at us, I couldn't help but smile.
"Oh... ! I've been standing here for so long, roots might start growing!"
"Don't be mean. I overslept again!"
"Again? Sayori, you could sleep through an earthquake."
"Well, you look like you haven't slept in days. Are you okay?" She squinted, her brow furrowed slightly
"It's those nightmares again… They've been back since last week."
She gave me a worried look, her eyes softening as if she didn't know what to say. I hated making her worried. She probably had her own problems, and here I was adding mine to the pile.
"Oh… Oh… I'm so sorry, Ken, I… I…" She trailed off, her gaze dropping to the wet sidewalk.
"Don't worry, Sayori. I'll figure it out."
"I sure hope so.". She didn't sound like she believed it.
Awkward silence settled over us as we walked. She seemed deep in thought until, randomly, her expression brightened.
"Hey! I wanted to ask you something!". Too cheerful. Way too sudden.
"Sure. What is it?"
"Have you joined a club yet?"
Her question caught me off guard. It felt strange to think about clubs this late in the semester. But the truth was, I had been interested in one for a while.
I just didn't know how to approach them without sounding ridiculous.
"Well… there's one I've been considering for weeks, but never got the courage to ask."
"Really? Which one?" She was practically dancing now.
"The Literature Club."
Her eyes lit up, glowing with excitement.
"Oh, Ken! That's my club! I'm the vice president!"
"No way. How could you never told me about it? What a bizarre coincidence. So… can I join?"
She stopped in her tracks, her smile widening until it looked like it might split her face.
"Of course you can! We only have four members yet, so just thinking about you joining… makes me so… so…"
"...happy."
"Mm-hmm! That's it!"
She practically skipped beside me, humming so cheerfully it almost drowned out the rain. She didn't have an umbrella, so we had to share mine.
I was sure she'd "forgotten" hers on purpose. But that was fine.
When we reached the school gate, I smiled and waved goodbye.
"See you later, Sayo!"
"I will be there after class to pick you up!"
Now in class, 2-B, I chose any seat and settled in.
There was a lot of empty seats.
I've always loved to read anything I could get my hands on. Since I was a kid, books were my passion, my escape. But as weird as it sounds, that love for reading and studying caused me a lot of trouble in class.
Being one of those "quiet honored students" meant people kept their distance. It wasn't exactly bullying, it never got physical, but the whispers, the sidelong glances, the feeling of being alone in a room full of people...
Today was no different.
The classroom was a time loop, minutes dragged into hours, hours stretched into days. The teacher went on and on, but I didn't care. His voice was just an annoying background noise.
Thank God I had something to read, so nobody would bother me.
I'd picked it up over the weekend, a thriller called The Chain. It was about parents forced to kidnap children to save their own. The kind of story that makes you wonder what you'd do in the same situation because it isn't that far-fetched or supernatural.
Would I do it? Could I? My thumb traced the book cover, a knot forming in my stomach.
The rain tapping against the windows paired perfectly with the story's tone. I thought how that scenery would be a wonder for book nerds.]
If I was an Instagram person, it would be the perfect moment for an "aesthetic" post. For a moment, the outside world melted away, leaving only me and my book.
After who knows how long the bell rang, snapping me back to reality.
Finally.
I packed my things, but before I could leave, Sayori appeared in the doorway, slightly out of breath.
"An… An… Phew.". She leaned against the door, grinning too wide, like she was acting.
"Training for the track team, Sayori?" I kept my voice flat.
"No dummy, I was afraid you'd leave without me!" She pushed off the doorframe.
"I was just waiting here. No need to rush. Well… shall we go?"
She nodded, and we started walking.
The west wing of the third floor felt colder. dusty, with the lingering scent of cleaning stuff. The air hung heavy, tasting like old paper mixed with something faintly metallic. Dim hallway lights buzzed softly, flickering in an almost rhythmic pattern, as if nobody ever bothered coming up here.
It felt… abandoned. Not just quiet, but empty. Dust lay thick on the window sills, undisturbed. Cobwebs clung to the corners of the ceiling. Like the school forgot this wing existed.
Weird. Third-years ditching class was normal. But this empty?
Sayori hummed softly beside me, completely unfazed.
"All of these classrooms are for clubs," she said, glancing at me. "Since you weren't in one, you probably never came up here."
"I was gonna ask that, sure a quiet place, huh" I replied, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.
As we turned a corner, a door came into view. The faded sign above it read
Classroom 3-A
That sign was old, paint peeling. I felt a chill, suddenly. Not just cold air.
That room.
Was… Familiar?
Sayori didn't notice my hesitation. She smiled brightly and motioned for me to follow her inside.
As we entered the room, three girls who clearly weren't expecting visitors gathered near the center of the classroom, their gazes locking on me like I'd just invaded into their personal sanctuary.
If this is what I think it is, it's gonna be really awkward.
The one with striking green eyes stepped forward, her expression calm but curious. She was probably the leader.
"Hm, can I help you?" Her voice was smooth, like polished stone.
"Sure." I replied, feeling pressured under all their stares. "I'm Sayori's friend. She told me about the Literature Club and I wanted to check it out."
Her face softened into a smile.
"Oh. You might be Ken, then. Sayori speaks a lot about you. I'm Monika." She extended a hand, her smile widening, almost too perfect.
"She does? That's… very nice! Thanks, Sayori. It's nice to meet you too, Monika."
Sayori laughed nervously, playing with her hair.
"Ahahaha. Sure thing!"
Despite the warm welcome, the other two girls seemed... less than thrilled. The first, a short girl, crossed her arms, her lips pressed in a tight line. The other, taller with long lavender hair, glanced at me briefly before looking away. She looked more nervous than me.
Monika quickly noticed the awkwardness.
"Yuri, Natsuki. Please introduce yourselves." Monika's tone was gentle, but there was an underlying firmness.
The shorter one huffed.
"You don't actually expect me to do that, right, Monika?" She muttered, shooting me a glare that could pierce steel. Her eyes dared me to disagree.
Why does she look that upset?
After a pause, she sighed.
"I'm Natsuki. Nice to meet you." She mumbled, barely audible.
"It's nice to meet you too."
She rolled her eyes.
"See? Told you it'd be boring," she said, clearly annoyed. She turned away, muttering something under her breath.
The taller girl, Yuri, spoke up, her voice soft.
"Don't say things like that." She said, her gaze shifting to me. "Hey Ken, I'm Yuri. We're glad you went out of your way to visit your friend's club. I hope you feel at home here since you're important to Sayori."
"Thanks!" I said, relaxing a little. "Honestly, it's no problem. I've been curious about this club for a while since reading is basically all I do. But I never had the opportunity to come here."
Yuri's expression changed.
"Oh, you're an avid reader, I suppose?" Her eyes widened slightly, a flicker of genuine interest.
"You could say that. I like Horror and Romance the most, and I enjoy them in all kinds of formats. Books, manga, comics, poetry. If I'm reading something, I'm happy." I shrugged, trying to downplay my enthusiasm.
The room fell silent.
It was the kind of silence that makes you question everything you just said. Did I say too much? Was that too revealing for a first conversation?
Yuri broke the tension, tilting her head thoughtfully.
"That's really… unexpected." She murmured, more to herself than to me.
Natsuki snorted.
"Hmph, he's just saying that to impress us." She folded her arms tighter, her expression skeptical.
Monika couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"Is that true, Ken? Are you trying to impress the ladies here?"
I shrugged, playing along.
"Well, how can I prove that I am a genuine literature nerd?"
"Hm… This can be fun. Have a seat, Ken. We'll ask you some questions; think of it as an interview," Monika answered. She gestured to the table,
"T-That's not too formal?" Sayori stammered, snapping out of a daydream. She blinked, as if just realizing what was happening, her voice a little too high-pitched.
"Don't worry, I like challenges."I met Monika's gaze, a spark of something flickering within me.
We settled around a table. As I sat, something caught my attention.
The last desk in the back of the room.
It felt... off. Like there was a presence there, watching me. My skin prickled, and I couldn't shake the feeling. It wasn't fear exactly, it was... awareness. Like something was waiting for me to notice it.
"Hello". A word whispered in the air, that I barely caught.
I glanced away, brushing it off as nothing special. Maybe it was just sleep deprivation.
Just shadows playing tricks.
Natsuki raised her hand, clearly eager to start and make the most awful judgment about me.
"Well. You said you read manga, what's the last one you read?" Her voice was sharp, almost accusatory.
"The Promised Neverland, this week's chapter was amazing. The way they're building up the escape arc is awesome, I wish I could write like that." I answered, letting a bit of my genuine enthusiasm show through.
Natsuki's eyes narrowed slightly.
There's really no way to ease her anger?
"Uh… Of course."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
Natsuki crossed her arms and avoided eye contact, signaling her turn was over.
Yuri leaned forward; it was kind of fun how she felt way more interested.
"If it's not bothersome to ask, what do you appreciate most about the horror genre?"
"Simple: I love how skilled authors create worlds that stick with you, even after you stop reading. The kind that makes you sleep with lights on. It takes a great deal of love to create something truly terrifying."As I spoke, I found myself meeting Yuri's gaze, drawn into her quiet intensity.
Yuri's expression softened into a small smile, as if she'd found a kindred spirit.A genuine, almost shy smile that transformed her face.
The others, however, looked more surprised than impressed.
"You really are passionate about it," Monika said, her tone light as she tried to ease the tension. "I'm quite impressed."
"Thanks, Monika."
Monika clapped her hands, bringing the "interview" to a close.
"We're really happy to have you, Ken! You passed! I hope you have a good time here, and to celebrate… Natsuki, are they ready yet?"
Natsuki glanced at her phone.
"Oh… Give me ten minutes. I'll be right back."
She and Yuri left the classroom together, likely heading to bring something. Sayori, ever eager to help, followed them with a cheerful hum.
That left me alone with Monika.
Funnily enough, being alone with her was even scarier than having all of them looking at me. She leaned back in her chair; her emerald eyes were studying me.
"So…" She said, breaking the silence. "I'm kind of surprised we never found you before. We've searched the whole school for new members, but we've only got four people so far. Are you new here or something?" She tilted her head, a curious, almost playful expression.
Her question stung, just a little. Was she saying I was invisible?
I felt a flicker of irritation, but before I could respond, my attention drifted back to that corner of the room, against my will.
For a split second, I was sure I saw… someone.
Monika tilted her head, her gaze sharpening as she caught my distraction.
"Something wrong, Ken?" Her voice was softer now, concerned.
"No, no. I just spaced out. It happens sometimes. Sorry."
"No worries, but I'm still curious."
"Oh, I had the impression that Sayori would invite me today to join, which is funny because she never mentioned the club before."
"The Club is pretty new. I asked Sayo yesterday if she knew someone who might join us."
"I see."
We spent those minutes talking about various things. At first, it felt like we were still in an interview, but Monika's questions eventually shifted to lighter topics; books, hobbies, and some random school gossip.
It was strange. I didn't usually talk this much, but Monika had a way of drawing people out. She seemed genuinely interested in knowing more about me.
Soon enough, the other girls returned. Yuri carried a delicate tray of teacups, while Natsuki and Sayori brought in a platter of cupcakes, each one decorated like it had come straight out of a scent of vanilla and sugar filled the room, momentarily pushing back the stale, dusty smell.
"That's really good!" I said after taking a hesitant bite. "Where did you guys buy these?"
Monika laughed, pointing towards Natsuki.
"We've got a professional chef here."
"I see. Well, they're amazing."
Natsuki's cheeks turned red.
"Thanks, Ken. It's nothing special.". She mumbled, looking away, but I saw a small, almost imperceptible smile.
"Yeah, they're soooo good, Nat!" Sayori chimed in, her voice muffled by a mouthful of frosting.
I let the conversation wash over me, using the moment to observe them. They were an odd group, so different from one another, but somehow it worked. Their voices overlapped, and for the first time in ages, I didn't feel out of place in a group.
But did I deserve to be here, surrounded by people this nice?
"I was thinking," I said, interrupting my own thoughts. "Most clubs have set activities from what I heard. What are yours?"
"We don't have anything specific yet," Monika admitted. "Actually, today's meeting was supposed to decide that. But then we got a pleasant surprise."
She smiled at me, and for a moment, I was too overwhelmed to respond. Monika had this way of catching you off guard, not just with her beauty, but with her presence.
She's… almost angelic.
"I think we could have reading sessions!" Yuri suggested, her voice gaining an unexpected edge of enthusiasm. "Every week, we could pick a book, read it, and then discuss it together."
It was a solid idea. But my mind immediately jumped to all the logistical problems, different reading speeds, varying tastes, the awkwardness of group discussions. Still, it wasn't my place to say anything.
"That's a good idea," Monika said. "What do you all think?"
Natsuki frowned.
"Sounds fine, but I don't know if you guys would read what I read. Aside from the newcomer, nobody here likes manga, right?"
An awkward silence followed.
I hesitated before speaking.
"What about poems?"
All of their attention shifted to me.
This wasn't the time or place to speak up, but the words came out anyway—like I was being pushed to say them.
"Everyone could write one poem and share it with the group. It would help us get to know each other better. We could also combine that with Yuri's idea, reading sessions for anyone who finds something interesting to share. No restrictions on genre. It's good to step out of your comfort zone sometimes."
The room grew quiet again, but this time, the tension felt different.
Monika's eyes lit up, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She even began absentmindedly playing with her hair.
"That's… an impressive idea," she said. "I think we should start with that tomorrow. Poems on Thursday, and reading sessions on Friday."
She didn't ask for a vote, which was her way of saying the matter was settled. Even Natsuki, who had been skeptical of me from the start, nodded in reluctant agreement.
"My friend always has such brilliant ideas!" Sayori beamed.
"Don't flatter me too much, Sayori."
Monika stood, clapping her hands lightly.
"Let's end today's meeting on a good note. Don't forget your first assignment, write something tonight so we can share it tomorrow."
As everyone began packing up, Sayori glanced at me, hoping I would walk home with her.
"Sorry, Sayori," I said. "I can't walk home with you today. I'm heading to the train station. Mom's coming back from her trip."
"Oh, really? She's been gone for a while! Tell her I said hi!"
"Will do."
The room gradually emptied until only Monika and I were left. I walked towards the corridor, when suddenly my phone buzzed in my pocket.
"Hello?"
"Ken! I'll be at the station in about thirty minutes. Is your school day over?"
"Just ended. I'll be there soon, but… I need to talk to you about something…"
Mom's tone shifted immediately.
"What happened?"
I hesitated, glancing at the empty corridor.
"I think… They can see me. There's one in my classroom."
There was silence on the other end, longer than I expected.
"Listen," Mom said finally, her voice steady. "Don't interact with it. They won't hurt you if they don't know you can see them. I'll explain everything when we meet."
"Okay. But why now? Why me?"
She paused again, her voice softening.
"I never thought… someone could awaken to the spiritual side this late."
I ended the call with a shaky breath, only to find Monika standing behind me in the hallway.I turned, my heart leaping into my throat—Monika stood in the doorway, watching me.
Her usual smile had vanished, replaced by something far colder. Emerald eyes gleamed with a sharp, unsettling intensity—like she could see straight through me.
"Ken… What does this mean? And who exactly are 'they'?"
Author Notes: Old Hinode is the residential area of the town. I really had fun on this one, Ken being a literature nerd was my way to poke fun at this trope where most MC acts like "Literature club? That sounds kinda dull". Also he loves manga, because manga is actually peak fiction.