Toshi didn't go back to sleep.
Not after that.
He stayed awake the rest of the night, sitting on his bed with the lights on, back pressed against the wall like it could protect him.
It didn't.
Every small sound made him flinch.
The ticking of the clock.
The faint creak of wood.
Even his own breathing felt too loud.
When morning finally came, it didn't feel like relief.
It just felt… less dark.
Toshi stood in front of the mirror, staring at himself.
His eyes were tired. Slightly red. Skin pale.
Normal.
"…I'm fine."
He said it quietly.
Like he was trying to convince someone else.
Then his gaze shifted.
Down.
To his arm.
He froze.
Faint marks.
Thin.
Uneven.
Like something had pressed against his skin.
His breath caught.
"No…"
He grabbed his arm, turning it slightly toward the light.
The marks were real.
Not deep. Not bleeding.
But clearly there.
His fingers traced them slowly.
Cold ran through his body.
"That wasn't a dream…"
For the first time—
He said it without doubt.
At school, everything felt distant again.
But this time, it wasn't just "off."
It was wrong.
He kept his sleeves down.
Didn't show anyone.
Didn't say anything.
But he couldn't stop thinking.
If that wasn't a dream…
Then what touched him?
"Oi."
Toshi flinched.
His friend dropped into the seat beside him.
"You look like hell."
"…Didn't sleep."
"No shit. You look like you saw a ghost."
Toshi forced a small laugh.
"Something like that."
His friend smirked. "Watch less horror garbage at night."
Toshi didn't reply.
Because now—
It didn't feel like a joke.
That evening, he avoided the river.
Went straight home.
Locked his door.
Turned the lights on.
He checked his arm again.
The marks were still there.
"…If I stay awake…"
That was his plan.
Simple.
No sleep.
No dreams.
No her.
Hours passed.
Midnight.
1 AM.
2 AM.
His eyes burned.
His body felt heavy.
"…Just a little longer…"
But exhaustion always wins.
At some point—
Without realizing—
He fell asleep.
His eyes opened.
He couldn't move.
"NO—"
The paralysis hit instantly.
Stronger than before.
His heart raced.
His breathing broke.
And then—
Something grabbed his leg.
Hard.
Toshi's eyes widened in pure terror.
He felt it clearly.
Fingers.
Cold.
Tight.
They wrapped around his ankle.
And pulled.
Slowly.
Dragging him down the bed.
"No—no—NO—!"
His body didn't respond.
His arms didn't move.
He could only feel it.
The grip tightened.
Pulling harder.
The blanket shifted.
His body slid slightly.
This wasn't imagination.
This wasn't a dream.
This was real.
Tears formed in his eyes.
"STOP—!"
And then—
It let go.
Instantly.
His body snapped free.
Toshi shot up violently, falling off the bed, hitting the floor hard.
He scrambled backward, breathing uncontrollably, eyes wide with fear.
He grabbed his leg.
Nothing.
No hand.
No one.
But—
On his ankle—
Clear.
Visible.
Finger marks.
Toshi stared at them.
Frozen.
"…It touched me…"
His voice shook.
And for the first time—
He felt something worse than fear.
He felt certainty.
Whatever this was—
It wasn't going away.