The morning sun struggled through the smog of Tsukigakure, casting pale, uneven light over the city streets. Commuters hurried along, juggling coffees, bags, and phones. School kids laughed and argued over breakfast boxes, oblivious to the subtle unease hiding in the alleys.

---

The Beginning

In a narrow side street, a young woman hurried along, heels clicking against the pavement. Her bag bounced on her shoulder, her eyes darting nervously at the time.

> “God, I’m late again… Boss piled on more work yesterday… and Mom will be waiting at home…”

Her thoughts raced. Emails to send, errands to run, laundry waiting, dinner to cook. The normal stress of life weighed her down, and the shadows along the walls barely registered—at first.

Then she noticed it. A figure in the shadows. A tall, manly silhouette, impossibly still, watching her.

> “Hello…? Who’s there?” she whispered.

No reply. Only silence. Her stomach twisted, panic rising. She decided to run.

---

The Fall

Her steps were fast, heels clacking, heart hammering. But a sudden, sharp pain struck her side. She stumbled, clutching the wall for support. Her breath caught. Blood ran warm along her fingers as her knees hit the pavement.

As she lay there, barely able to move, she glimpsed the shadow again. It seemed closer now, though she didn’t notice it moving. A primal terror surged through her. She tried to push herself up, crawl away, but her body refused.

The city’s morning noise—the honking, chatter, footsteps—continued outside the alley, indifferent. Inside, panic gripped her. Her last thoughts were frantic:

> “I… I have to get out… please…”

Hours later, when people finally arrived in the alley, the girl was gone… or rather, only remnants of her remained. Blood stained the bricks and pavement, her hand reaching out as if grasping for something she could never catch.

Whispers filled the crowd:

> “Call the police! Hurry!”

“She… she’s gone…”

“What could do this?”

---

Satoshi Observes

Among the morning crowd, a seventeen-year-old boy, Satoshi Amagiri, walked to school, backpack slung over one shoulder. He glanced briefly at the alley. Civilians panicked, police arrived, rifles shaking in fear. The girl’s body, the unnatural dread in the air—it all registered in a flicker.

He didn’t stop. He didn’t intervene. He simply observed, moving with the crowd.

> “They’ve begun… most humans will never see the truth.”

Even casually, he could sense the pulse of In’en, the invisible darkness lingering over the alley. Humans felt dread without knowing why. Nearby, a man whispered to his colleague:

> “Man… that girl… something’s wrong. It’s… unnatural.”

“Yeah… yeah, don’t even get close.”

Satoshi’s expression remained calm. A faint hum, almost imperceptible, ran through the air around him—a subtle whisper that something powerful lingered nearby. He continued walking.

> “I can’t act… not yet. The Oath binds me. But I’ll watch.”

---

The Shadows Lurk

From the corner of his vision, shadows twisted unnaturally along the walls. Something ancient, intelligent, and dangerous moved in the city, unseen by humans.

The manly figure he had glimpsed before—the first Yami Kenshi—was gone now, slipping into the crowded streets as if part of them. Only Satoshi noticed the faint ripple of movement, the subtle distortion in the air around where the shadow had stood.

Tsukigakure continued its morning: buses honked, people argued over deadlines, kids laughed. But the air was heavier now. Something unseen pressed down, waiting.

> *“This is only the beginning… the real

Tsukigakure woke up under the same pale sunlight, but the city didn’t feel the same. Cars moved,

people rushed to work, children waited for buses — everything looked normal. Yet conversations

everywhere carried a quiet tension, like a song played at a lower volume.

The news from yesterday had spread everywhere. Most people had already chosen a comfortable

explanation.

“A serial killer,” they said.

It was easier to believe in a human monster than something unknown.

School Morning

The classroom buzzed louder than usual. Normally students argued about games or homework, but

today every whisper circled back to the same topic.

“I swear bro, it’s a serial killer.”

“No normal killer does that…”

“My mom didn’t even let me step outside last night.”

The teacher walked in. “Settle down, everyone.”

The room went quiet, but the unease remained.

Near the window sat Satoshi Amagiri. He watched the street more than the board. He wasn’t loud,

but not distant either — balanced, calm, someone people naturally felt comfortable around.

Outside, everything looked fine. Inside, he felt a faint pressure in the air, like humidity before rain.

Hina

Two seats ahead, Hina Takamori turned slightly.

“You’re doing it again,” she whispered.

“Doing what?”

“Zoning out like you’re in some deep anime monologue.”

“Maybe I am.”

They smiled lightly. No awkwardness. Just comfort. After class she asked, “You walking home

later?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. I’ll come with you.”

The Friend Circle Arrives

“Oi, lovebirds.”

Ren Okabe’s voice cut in. Satoshi sighed. Hina looked away.

Ren laughed. “Discussing the murder case already?”

“We were talking about homework,” Hina replied.

“That’s worse.”

Daichi Moriyama adjusted his glasses. “Statistically speaking, you two pretend not to like each

other 63% of the time.”

Yui Nakamura burst out laughing. “Don’t expose them like that!”

Five friends. Five personalities. For a moment, the world felt ordinary.

Evening Walk

After school, they walked home under the orange sunset. Shops closed earlier than usual.

“City feels weird,” Yui said.

“Fear spreads faster than facts,” Daichi replied.

“Still think it’s a serial killer,” Ren added.

Hina glanced at Satoshi. “What do you think?”

“I think… it’s not random.”

As they passed a glass window, Satoshi saw a tall figure in the reflection. He blinked. Only the five

of them remained. The air suddenly felt heavier.

“You okay?” Hina asked softly.

“Yeah. Just tired.”

The Next Morning

Sirens replaced alarm clocks. Phones buzzed with breaking news.

Another body had been found. A man, skin unnaturally pale, eyes hollow, no deep wounds — yet

completely drained of life.

Students gathered again.

“No blood at the scene…”

“That’s impossible.”

“This is getting worse.”

Again, people repeated the same word — serial killer.

Satoshi Watches

Standing at the edge of the crowd, Satoshi kept his hands in his pockets. The invisible pressure

pulsed stronger now.

He wanted to act. But he couldn’t.

Not because he was afraid — because he didn’t know where the enemy truly was.

“They’re observing… not rushing,” he thought.

Behind him, Ren called out, “Yo Satoshi, you coming or planning to solve the case alone?”

Satoshi turned calmly. “Coming.”

Life continued. Buses moved. Students laughed. Shops opened.

But beneath the surface of normalcy, something unseen stirred.

And Satoshi knew — this normal day wouldn’t stay normal for long.

The walk home that evening felt normal on the surface.

The sky was painted in orange and purple shades as the sun slowly disappeared behind buildings. Students filled the sidewalks, conversations overlapping, laughter echoing in the air. Satoshi walked with his friends like any other day, listening more than speaking.

Ren was talking about a game update.

Yui was complaining about homework.

Daichi was correcting both of them.

Hina walked beside Satoshi, occasionally glancing at him with a small smile.

“You’re quiet again,” Hina said softly. “Long day?”

“Not really,” Satoshi replied. “Just thinking.”

“You think too much,” Ren interrupted. “It’s unhealthy.”

“And you think too little,” Daichi shot back.

Yui laughed. “Balance achieved.”

They reached a small intersection where a vending machine hummed beside a dim alley. The road was mostly empty now; the evening rush had passed.

Yui stopped. “Hold on, I’m getting a drink. Anyone?”

“Cola,” Ren said instantly.

Daichi shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Satoshi gave a small nod. “Nothing.”

The machine beeped as coins dropped in. A can slid down with a metallic clunk.

At that exact moment, the streetlights above them flickered — once… twice.

The air felt thinner.

Daichi rubbed his arms. “Did it just get cold?”

Ren shrugged. “Weather glitch. Happens.”

Yui grabbed the can. “You two are dramatic.”

But Satoshi’s attention had shifted.

The alley beside the vending machine seemed darker than before. For a fraction of a second, the darkness moved against the direction of light — like a shadow stepping forward instead of backward.

His breathing slowed.

He took half a step closer.

“Oi, Satoshi?” Ren called. “You good?”

Before he could respond, a stray dog ran past them barking loudly, claws scratching against the pavement. The sudden noise broke the strange silence.

The streetlights stabilized.

The air returned to normal.

Yui turned around. “You guys okay or did my soda summon a ghost?”

Ren grabbed the drink. “If it did, I’m charging extra.”

Daichi laughed. “You’d sell your soul for snacks.”

Everyone laughed.

Everyone except Satoshi.

He looked at the alley one last time.

Nothing.

Just darkness.

They continued walking, conversations picking up again, but Satoshi’s mind stayed behind at that intersection.

That night, sleep didn’t come easily.

He lay on his bed staring at the ceiling fan as it rotated slowly, the ticking sound unusually loud. Every time he closed his eyes, the reflection from the shop window earlier that week flashed again — the tall still figure, watching.

Eventually exhaustion pulled him under.

He was standing outside an abandoned building.

The sky was dark, clouds moving too fast. Streetlights flickered like dying candles. The place looked unfamiliar yet strangely close, like a location he had passed unknowingly many times.

Then he saw Ren.

“Ren?” Satoshi called, but his voice sounded distant.

Ren didn’t respond. He kept walking toward the entrance of the building, steps slow and mechanical.

“Ren, stop.”

His legs felt heavy as Satoshi tried to move forward. From the shadows near the doorway, a man stepped out.

Tall. Broad shoulders. Calm posture.

The same silhouette.

The same stillness.

The man didn’t rush. He simply stood there as Ren approached. For a moment Ren looked back — not scared, not confused… just empty.

Satoshi tried to run.

He couldn’t.

The man’s head tilted slightly, as if noticing him watching. Even without seeing the face clearly, Satoshi felt it — that gaze wasn’t anger or hunger.

It was interest.

Everything went black.

Satoshi woke up suddenly, breathing hard.

His room was quiet. Early morning light slipped through the curtains. Cold sweat covered his forehead.

“…Just a dream,” he whispered.

But the feeling didn’t fade.

Dreams usually disappear in seconds.

This one stayed clear, detailed — almost like a memory.

At school, the atmosphere felt heavier than usual.

Students gathered in small groups, whispering. Phones glowed with news headlines. Another body had been found — a young woman. Late night incident.

Yui covered her mouth. “Again?”

Daichi adjusted his glasses, reading. “Same pattern… late hours, isolated area.”

Ren stood with them, but something about him was off. His shoulders were slightly tense, eyes scanning the hallway unconsciously.

Satoshi noticed immediately.

“Didn’t sleep well?” Satoshi asked casually.

Ren forced a small smile. “Yeah. Weird dreams.”

The same excuse.

For a moment, Satoshi considered telling him everything.

But the words stayed inside.

Classes continued, teachers trying to maintain normalcy, but even the bell sounded sharper that day. When school ended, Ren kept glancing behind more often than necessary. Every sudden noise made him shift slightly.

Satoshi said nothing.

But a single thought kept repeating in his mind:

What if it wasn’t just a dream?

That night, Satoshi stood by his bedroom window. The city lights blinked in the distance; cars moved like slow-falling stars from above. Everything looked peaceful.

Yet the uneasiness remained.

He whispered to himself, barely audible,

“It’s not random…”

He replayed the alley.

The flickering lights.

Ren’s uneasy expression.

“It’s observing patterns.”

Which meant one thing.

“It already noticed me.”

He closed the curtains slowly.

Sleep came late.

Elsewhere in the city, on the rooftop of an unfinished building, a lone figure stood against the night sky.

Human in shape.

Unnatural in stillness.

Below, the city lights reflected in its eyes like scattered embers.

A faint voice drifted with the wind, calm and almost amused:

“The first one… is aware.”

Another voice answered from the darkness behind it, deeper and colder:

“Good.”

The figure turned slightly, looking toward the direction of Satoshi’s neighborhood.

“Awareness brings fear…

and fear brings energy.”

The city slept again.

But this time—

something had chosen its target.