Rain again.

Not the dramatic anime rain. Just that annoying, boring drizzle that makes everything feel slower.

Kaito Shinohara leaned back in his chair, half-listening to the teacher.

(If this gets any more boring, I might actually die.)

The classroom door slid open.

Everyone looked.

A girl walked in.

Black hair. Straight. Slightly damp from the rain. Pale face. No expression.

She didn’t look nervous.

She didn’t look curious.

She looked like she didn’t care about being here at all.

“Transfer student,” the teacher said. “Introduce yourself.”

Silence.

She stared at the class like it was… nothing.

“…Rei Aizawa.”

That’s it.

No smile. No “nice to meet you.” Nothing.

The class immediately started whispering.

“Cold…”

“Pretty though…”

“She’s kinda scary…”

Kaito rested his chin on his hand, staring.

(Why does she feel… weird?)

Not weird like “oh she’s quiet.”

Weird like—

he’s seen her before.

“Sit there,” the teacher pointed.

Right next to him.

Of course.

Kaito sighed internally.

(Main character treatment, huh?)

She walked over and sat beside him.

No glance. No reaction.

Like he didn’t exist.

A few minutes passed.

Kaito tapped his pen against the desk.

“…Hey.”

No response.

He leaned slightly closer.

“Hey, transfer student.”

Nothing.

He frowned.

(Seriously? Not even basic human interaction?)

“Rei, right?”

She finally spoke.

“…Don’t talk to me.”

Flat. Cold. Immediate.

Kaito blinked.

Then smirked a little.

“Oh? Attitude already?”

“…I just don’t like people.”

“Damn. I didn’t even do anything yet.”

“…Exactly.”

Silence again.

But something felt off.

Kaito kept staring at her from the corner of his eye.

Her fingers were still.

Too still.

Like she was trying to control something.

Then—

She reached for her pen.

Paused.

Her fingers trembled slightly.

And—

She started biting it.

Kaito spoke without thinking.

“Stop biting your pen when you’re nervous.”

Time froze.

Rei’s hand stopped mid-air.

Her eyes slowly turned toward him.

For the first time—

she actually looked at him.

“…What did you just say?”

Kaito blinked.

“…What?”

“You said—” her voice dropped slightly, “…that I bite my pen when I’m nervous.”

“…Yeah?”

“How do you know that?”

Silence.

Kaito opened his mouth.

Closed it.

(Wait… yeah. How DO I know that?)

“I just guessed.”

“…No.”

Her eyes sharpened.

“That wasn’t a guess.”

The air between them shifted.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Kaito laughed it off, leaning back.

“Okay, detective. Relax. It’s not that deep.”

Rei stared at him for a few seconds longer.

Then—

She looked away.

“…You’re annoying.”

But her grip on the pen tightened.

Class ended.

Students crowded around her instantly.

“Where are you from?”

“Do you like this school?”

“You’re really pretty—”

She stood up.

Walked past all of them.

Ignored every single question.

Cold.

Untouchable.

Kaito watched her leave.

(Yeah… definitely weird.)

But not just her.

This feeling.

Like something was wrong.

Like something already happened.

Later.

Hallway.

Kaito walked casually, hands in pockets.

Then he saw her again.

Standing by the window.

Rain tapping softly against the glass.

She looked… different.

Not cold.

Just—

tired.

He walked over.

“…You always ignore people like that?”

“…Yes.”

“That must be exhausting.”

“…People are exhausting.”

He chuckled.

“Fair enough.”

Silence.

But this one wasn’t uncomfortable.

Just quiet.

Rain filling the space.

Then—

Rei spoke softly.

“…Have we met before?”

Kaito froze slightly.

“…Huh?”

She didn’t look at him.

“…You knew something about me.”

“…I told you, I guessed.”

“…No.”

Her voice was quieter now.

“…It felt like you already knew.”

Kaito stared at her.

That feeling again.

Stronger this time.

Like something in his chest tightened.

“…If we did meet,” he said lightly, “I’d remember.”

Rei finally looked at him.

Straight into his eyes.

“…Would you?”

For a second—

something flashed.

A rooftop.

Wind.

Her crying.

His voice—

“Don’t forget me again.”

Kaito flinched.

“…What the hell—”

“See?”

Rei whispered.

“You felt it too.”

Silence.

Rain got louder.

Or maybe it just felt like it.

Kaito looked at her again.

Really looked this time.

Not as a random transfer student.

But as—

someone important.

Someone he shouldn’t forget.

“…Rei.”

“…What.”

“…You’re weird.”

“…You’re worse.”

He smirked.

“Wow. First normal response from you.”

“…Don’t get used to it.”

But she didn’t walk away.

And that—

was the first mistake.

Rain didn’t stop.

Of course it didn’t.

It just kept going—soft, annoying, persistent. Like something refusing to end.

[Scene: Classroom — Next Morning]

Rei was already seated.

Same position. Same blank face.

Like she hadn’t moved since yesterday.

Kaito walked in, half-asleep.

Yawning.

Not paying attention—

Until his eyes landed on her.

That feeling again.

Sharp. Familiar.

Uncomfortable.

(…why is she already here?)

He dropped into his seat beside her.

“…You sleep here or something?”

“…No.”

“Wow. Energetic answer.”

Silence.

Kaito leaned back.

Tapped his pen against the desk.

Once.

Twice.

Rei’s fingers twitched.

He noticed.

Of course he did.

“Stop doing that.”

“…doing what.”

“The pen thing.”

Tap. Tap.

She grabbed his pen.

Stopped it.

Hard.

“…You’re annoying.”

Kaito blinked.

Then laughed under his breath.

“Yeah, yeah. You said that already.”

But his eyes stayed on her hand.

Still slightly trembling..

(Why does that bother me…?)

[Scene: Class Chaos]

Teacher writing something boring.

Nobody cares.

Suddenly—

Ink bottle tips.

Black ink spreads across the desk.

Fast.

Messy.

Rei froze.

Just stared at it.

Like she wasn’t seeing ink—

but something worse.

Her breathing hitched.

Slightly

Kaito noticed immediately.

(…that’s not a normal reaction.)

Without thinking—

He grabbed tissues.

Pulled her hand back before the ink touched her fingers.

“…careful.”

Rei flinched.

Hard.

Her eyes snapped to him.

Wide.

Too wide.

“…don’t touch me.”

The words came out sharp.

Almost panicked.

Kaito paused.

Still holding her wrist.

Something flickered again—

Fast.

Broken.

Blood.

Her hand.

His voice—

“Rei, look at me—stay with me—”

He let go instantly.

“…sorry.”

Rei pulled her hand back like she got burned.

Held it close.

Silence.

Heavy.

“…you’re weird,” Kaito muttered again.

But softer this time.

“…you’re worse.”

Same response.

But this time—

Her voice shook.

Just a little.

After Class — Rumors Start ]

Of course people noticed.

They always do.

Quilla leaned over to Whispa.

Quilla

Whispa

“They’re already acting close.”

“Right? On the first day?”

“She ignored everyone else…”

Rei heard it.

Obviously.

She stood up.

Ignored them.

Again.

l

But this time—

Her steps were faster.

staircase

Empty.

Quiet.

Echoing footsteps.

Rei stopped halfway.

Gripped the railing.

Her breathing got uneven.

“…why does it feel like…”

Pause.

“…he’s going to die?”

Her grip tightened.

Flash—

A body falling.

Rain.

Her screaming.

“—No—”

She shut her eyes.

Hard.

“…stop.”

Kaito pushed the door open.

(Needed air. That class was suffocating.

He stepped out.

Wind hit his face.

Rain slightly heavier now.

Then—

He saw her.

Rei.

Standing near the edge.

Of course she was.

Of course this scene had to exist.

Kaito walked closer.

Slow.

Careful.

“…You planning to jump or just being dramatic?”

“…Shut up.”

Good. She snapped back.

She’s alive.

He stood beside her.

Not too close.

Not too far.

Silence.

Then—

“…do you ever feel like something already happened?”

Kaito stiffened.

“…yeah.”

He didn’t even think.

Just answered.

Rei looked at him.

Surprised.

“…really?”

“…yeah. It’s annoying.”

Pause.

“…like you forgot something important.”

Rei’s eyes softened.

Just a little.

“…exactly.”

Wind got stronger.

Then—

Her foot slipped.

Just slightly.

But enough.

Kaito reacted instantly.

Grabbed her arm.

Pulled her back.

Too fast.

Too instinctive.

Like he’d done it before

Rei crashed into him.

Both froze.

His grip tight.

Her hand gripping his shirt.

Close.

Too close.

“…careful,” he said quietly.

Rei didn’t move.

Didn’t pull away.

“…you did that before.”

Kaito frowned.

“…what?”

“…you saved me.”

Silence.

“…I just did.”

“…no.”

Her voice dropped.

Shaky.

“…before this.”

That feeling again.

Stronger.

Flash—

Rooftop.

Rain.

Her hand slipping—

Kaito let go suddenly.

Stepped back.

“…stop saying weird stuff.”

Rei looked at him.

Hurt?

No.

More like—

afraid.

“…you don’t remember

“…remember what?”

She hesitated.

“…nothing.”

Liar.

Obvious liar.

They stood there.

Rain falling between them.

Not talking.

But not leaving.

Kaito looked at her again.

Longer this time.

(…what are you?)

Rei looked away.

(…why is it always him?)

Wind howled.

Somewhere—

Something shifted.

Dark space.

No rain.

No sound.

Shadow standing still.

Watching.

“…again.

A faint smile.

“…let’s see how long you last this time.”

Back to rooftop.

Rei whispered—

“…don’t die.”

Kaito frowned.

“…what?”

“…nothing.”

But yeah.

That?

That was the second mistake.