Kyujaki walked the narrow path, its parallel distance guiding him like a line drawn in fate. The sunlight struck his face directly now, not harsh, but intentional—almost as if the sun itself acknowledged his presence, accepting him, watching him. He blinked against the brightness, squinting slightly as he pressed forward. Then, up ahead, not far down the path, he noticed a figure. A boy. He stood in stillness at a short distance, dressed in the exact same school uniform Kyujaki wore—white shirt with a loosely hanging tie, white pants, and star insignias on the shoulders. But something about him felt... out of place. His hair was a bright, unnatural yellow, almost glowing under the sunlight. As Kyujaki approached, the boy slowly turned his head, gaze locking onto him. The motion was deliberate. The air around them seemed to still. Kyujaki's steps slowed. The road was quiet, but the feeling was loud—something was beginning to unfold, and that boy might be the first piece of it.
The boy standing ahead blinked slowly as Kyujaki approached, the two drawing closer until they stood face to face beneath the sun's focused glow. Kyujaki tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes in a dorky expression. "...Ray? What are you even doing?" he muttered. The blond-haired boy, Ray, tilted his head in return, unimpressed. "I should ask you the same question," he replied flatly. Kyujaki huffed. "You don't even sound like yourself today." Without warning, Ray leaned forward and lightly jabbed his fist into Kyujaki's stomach. "Ouch," Kyujaki winced. "Better now?" Ray asked with a smug grin. Kyujaki responded by poking him right in the cheek. "Nope. Still annoying," he said with exaggerated irritation. The tension between them broke into casual rhythm as they began walking side by side down the street, their steps in sync. "You're different today," Ray said, glancing at Kyujaki. "Huh?" Kyujaki blinked. "I mean… not like the idiot you were yesterday." Ray smiled, a galosh, teasing grin stretching across his face. Kyujaki groaned. "Hey, quit that smile. It's creepy when you do it on purpose." Ray chuckled as the two kept walking, unaware that fate had already drawn them into something far beyond their usual banter.
Ray and Kyujaki continued walking, leaving behind the quiet streets of Neji and stepping into the more active stretch of Shinjuku Ward. The main road buzzed with life—lined with road-side stalls, corner shops, bustling street vendors, and towering buildings casting long shadows across the pavement. As they moved through the crowd, Ray glanced toward a small market stall nearby. "Hey, let's grab a soda," he said casually. Kyujaki rolled his eyes with a flat expression, clearly unimpressed. "Why?" he muttered. "Just felt like it," Ray replied with a shrug, still walking. Kyujaki turned his face away, pretending to ignore him. "Hmph." Ray poked his cheek playfully. "Come on. I'll help you study for your subject if you do." "No need," Kyujaki shot back. But Ray reached up and patted him on the head. "Yes need." Kyujaki turned his gaze sharply toward him. "And why should I need your help?" Ray smirked. "Because you're bombing math, genius." Kyujaki scowled. "Tch. Yeah, thanks to you distracting me during the last test, I lost marks." Ray awkwardly chuckled, dorky as ever, and quickly turned his eyes forward. "Uh… which topic was that again? I forget." Kyujaki narrowed his eyes. "Don't play dumb. Fine. I'll buy the drink." "Ohhh, nice!" Ray grinned, patting Kyujaki on the back. The banter continued, but something in the air ahead seemed quieter than it should've been—as if the city itself was holding its breath. On the busy Shinjuku road, cars and vehicles passed by in steady rhythm, flowing in orderly chaos along their designated paths. Ray and Kyujaki walked along the sidewalk, weaving through small gaps in the crowd until they stopped in front of a modest corner shop tucked between larger storefronts. As they approached, the shopkeeper glanced up from behind the counter, his expression neutral but alert. He leaned forward slightly. "What do you guys want?" he asked in a low, practical tone. "Umm… two Calpis, please," Ray replied, pointing toward the chilled section behind him. The shopkeeper gave a short nod, reached into the cooler, and handed over two bottles. Kyujaki took one, his fingers wrapping around the condensation-slick surface. Ray grabbed the other with a grin. "Thanks," he said. The shopkeeper gave a small wave. "Take care, boys." With that, the two left the shop, stepping back onto the sunlit street, bottles in hand, continuing their quiet march forward through the city—still unaware of the shadow waiting just beyond the ordinary. Kyujaki and Ray continued walking along the long stretch of road, passing beneath the towering structure of the Shuto Expressway's Central Circular Route (C2) Bridge. The hum of traffic above mixed with the city's distant sounds as they moved forward. Soon, they reached the Marunouchi and Namboku subway lines, crossing over their tracks with ease. Ahead stood the imposing gates of Yotsuya Academy—one of Shinjuku's most modern and prestigious schools. Kyujaki reached out and pressed his hand against the gate's cool metal surface. With a soft mechanical whir, the doors slid open smoothly. Without hesitation, the two friends stepped inside the academy grounds. Before them stretched a vast, open field bathed in sunlight—a green expanse that welcomed the new day and the promise of what was to come.Beyond the wide, sunlit field, the academy rose like a fortress from another era. Vast outer walls, built in a gothic meteorical style, loomed high, their stonework carved with intricate, almost arcane patterns. The structure stretched five floors upward, its façade lined with nearly two hundred windows—each reflecting the pale daylight like silent watchful eyes. At the very heart of the building, a towering wall section was reinforced with an iron lattice, almost like a cage. Above it all, mounted high in the central spire, a massive clock ticked steadily, its deep, mechanical rhythm echoing faintly across the grounds. The air itself seemed to hum with an unusual, almost oppressive presence. Without a word, Kyujaki and Ray pressed forward, their steps carrying them toward the academy's looming entrance.