It was already seven in the evening when Arkha and his older brother were in Arkha's room watching something together.
"Khan, want some more snacks? I'll grab some from the kitchen," his brother offered.
"No thanks, bro. I think I still have enough," Arkha replied politely.
His brother glanced at the small jar beside Arkha, which was still quite full, while his own was almost empty.
"Watching's better with snacks, not daydreams," teased his brother.
"Hehe, sorry, guess it's obvious," Arkha chuckled awkwardly.
His brother gave him a flat stare. "So, what are you even daydreaming about?"
Arkha turned to the TV that was still playing The Promised Neverland — an anime about the lives of children in an "orphanage."
"I don't know why, but I feel… déjà vu," Arkha muttered.
"What do you mean?" his brother asked, puzzled.
"It's like I've lived in an orphanage before, just like in that anime," said Arkha.
His brother grabbed a handful of snacks from Arkha's jar. "When would that have been? You've been in this family since the day you were born."
"I know, but somehow I can feel it. Like I used to live in an orphanage with a few people who felt like family — and we were always being messed with by the other kids there," Arkha explained seriously.
His serious tone only made his brother laugh. "That's hilarious. You should keep going; sounds like a good story."
"Come on, you asked me what I was thinking about, and when I tell you, you laugh," Arkha complained, slightly annoyed.
"Oh, Khan, I didn't realize you were that invested in anime — enough to imagine yourself in it," his brother teased.
"It's not imagination, bro, I—"
"Alright, alright," his brother interrupted, standing up. "I'm going to grab more snacks. Maybe we should switch shows later. Let's not continue this one."
His brother left for the kitchen, leaving Arkha sitting there with his flushed face. He really felt that sense of déjà vu — but his brother dismissed it as overimagination from watching too much anime that just happened to mirror his own strange feeling.
~~~~~~
Hesa sat on his bed, his eyes glancing at the black portal beside him while his left hand clutched a compass watch tightly.
"Why can't I focus…"
His thoughts drifted back to nine months ago — back when he still lived at home with his mother.
Knock knock knock.
Hesa, who had been casually watching something, turned and opened the door.
"Rahesa, my son," his mother said, immediately pulling him into a hug.
"Mom? What's wrong?" Hesa asked, startled and worried — even more so when he saw that she was crying.
"My time's almost up, honey… this cancer… I'm scared to go without telling you something important," she said through tears.
"Mom, don't say that. No one knows how much time they have," Hesa said, gently wiping her tears.
"I know, but I can't keep this to myself any longer. Come with me for a moment."
They walked together into her room. She opened a drawer and took out something — a compass watch, stained with faint traces of red.
"W-what's this, Mom?" Hesa asked, confused as she handed it to him.
"About a month ago, I accidentally saw a young man standing on the rooftop of a school. I shouted for him to come down, but… he jumped. I panicked and called an ambulance, shouting for help, but the area was empty. Somehow, he was still conscious despite all the blood… and he told me to come closer. With the last of his strength, he pulled this compass watch out of his jacket pocket and said, 'Give this to Hesa.'
I don't know which Hesa he meant — but what are the odds that I'd have a son with the same name?" she explained.
Hesa instinctively dropped the compass from his hand. "S-so that belonged to someone who killed himself?"
"I'm sorry, Hesa. I didn't know what to do. I panicked and just… took it and left," his mother said, trembling.
Seeing his mother so shaken, Hesa's fear was replaced by compassion. Despite his unease, he knelt to pick up the compass again. It was made of solid metal, probably why it hadn't been damaged even after being dropped.
"Mom, it's okay. I'll figure out who that boy was and what he meant," Hesa said, hugging her tightly to calm her down.
But only a few days later, his mother truly left him for good.
After her passing, the house felt emptier than ever — and one night, the compass began to move on its own, opening a black portal that allowed Hesa to glimpse moments of the past… or the future.
He quickly realized what was happening and, over time, learned how to control the strange device. Eventually, Hesa decided to leave the home full of bittersweet memories. He rented it out, using the money to pay for a small apartment and daily necessities.
And whether by fate or misfortune, when he moved into this new place — he became attached to an anomaly named Jaehyuk.
Back to the present.
Hesa sat at the edge of his bed, lost in thought.
"I miss Mom… Is that why I can't focus?"
He turned the compass watch in his hand, deep in contemplation.
"Investigating that school incident is important… but tomorrow's search might be, too. What if something bad happens?"
Closing his eyes, Hesa gripped the compass tightly.
"I'll try again… hopefully it works this time."
A sudden chill ran through his fingers, startling him. He looked down — the compass was now surrounded by swirling black smoke.
Clang!
Instinctively, Hesa dropped it. From the floor, a dark portal emerged, and out stepped a mysterious figure — one that made Hesa's heart stop.
"You still doubt your friends' faith in this watch?" said the figure, picking up the compass.
"W-who are you? Why… why do you look exactly like me?" Hesa stammered.
The figure chuckled. "I'm the one who'll play with you soon. So don't forget me."
Hesa lunged forward to grab the compass, but the figure dodged easily, stepping back toward the portal.
"Give it back!" Hesa shouted.
"It took quite some effort to manipulate this watch so you wouldn't see what happens on your trip tomorrow. And you want it back already?" the figure taunted, stepping fully into the portal.
Hesa reached out, but before he could touch him — the figure vanished, leaving only the faint hum of the closing rift.
"Damn it!" Hesa punched the wall beside him.
Fury burned in his chest. That compass — his mother's final memento, the key to the mystery she'd left behind — was gone.
And now, not only had he lost the watch, but the truth behind it slipped even further away.