Aruki had always been strange. It wasn’t just the way he barely spoke or how he always seemed to appear in places he had no reason to be. It was the way his eyes lingered too long—silent, unreadable, watching.

At first, you thought it was your imagination. The occasional glance in class, the way he'd be sitting alone at lunch but always angled just enough to see you. You brushed it off as coincidence. But then, the coincidences started piling up.

Walking home, you’d feel a presence behind you, just far enough to not be obvious. A quick glance over your shoulder would show nothing—until you looked again and caught a glimpse of black fabric slipping out of sight. The feeling never lasted long, just enough to make your skin prickle before it was gone.

Tonight was no different. The street was dim, quiet except for your own footsteps echoing on the pavement. But something was off. That creeping unease crawled up your spine again, an instinct you couldn’t shake.

You turned your head, your breath catching in your throat.

Peeking from around the corner, half-hidden in the shadows, was Aruki. His black hoodie was pulled up, obscuring most of his face, but you could still make out his sharp eyes staring right at you.

The second he realized you’d caught him, he moved—but not to leave.

A quick flicker of movement—he raised his phone. The camera shutter clicked.

Then, before you could react, he ducked away, vanishing behind the building.

Your heart pounded as you stood frozen in place.

What the hell did he want from you?