The next day,
The sun rose gently, spilling warm golden light across the quiet streets of the neighbourhood.
The air was calm. Peaceful. Ordinary.
It should have been just another normal morning.
But for Leaf—
It wasn't.
Inside his small room, faint sunlight slipped through the curtains and landed across the floor. Leaf sat on the edge of his bed, tying his shoelaces with slow, half-awake movements. His mind was still foggy from sleep.
From the kitchen came the soft clatter of dishes.
Then his mother's voice:
"Leaf, do you know what's special about today?"
He paused mid-knot.
"Special?" He frowned slightly. "Today's the 28th of January… I don't think there's anything special. Is there a festival or something, Mom?"
She stepped into the doorway, wiping her hands on a towel, her smile different from usual.
"So you really don't know?"
Leaf blinked. "No… should I?"
She walked closer and gently placed her hand on his head, ruffling his hair.
"Today is your birthday, dear. Happy birthday."
For a moment—
Sound disappeared.
Even the ticking clock felt distant.
"My… birthday?"
His fingers slowly loosened from the shoelaces.
Then realisation hit him.
"I forgot?!" His eyes widened in disbelief. "How did I forget my own birthday?!" He laughed awkwardly, almost embarrassed. "Thank you, Mom!"
She chuckled warmly.
"You're welcome. But there's one more thing."
He looked up, still smiling.
"What?"
"You're late for school."
His smile died instantly.
"…What?"
"You have five minutes."
His brain froze.
Then—
"WHAT?! Mom! Why didn't you wake me earlier?! My bag—where's my bag?!"
He scrambled around the room in panic, grabbing his backpack, nearly tripping over his own shoes.
"Calm down!" she called after him.
But he was already rushing out the door.
Outside, the morning air was cool. His footsteps echoed against the pavement as he ran.
It's my birthday…
The thought floated back into his mind.
A small, unconscious smile appeared.
I wonder if anyone remembered.
He imagined the classroom.
His classmates are standing up.
"Happy birthday, Leaf!"
He pictured himself scratching the back of his head modestly.
"Ah, you guys remembered?"
He imagined laughter.
After school, maybe Mom would bake a cake. Maybe his favourite meal too.
For just a moment—
His chest felt light.
"You're late for school."
The voice cut through his daydream like a blade.
Leaf turned sharply.
Moon stood there, arms folded.
He grinned. "Moon! You're late too!"
She stared at him suspiciously.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"Like what?"
"You're late. Most people panic. You look… happy."
His smile faltered for half a second.
Maybe she's pretending. Maybe everyone is planning something.
"No reason," he replied casually.
Moon narrowed her eyes.
"You don't smile for no reason."
He quickly changed the topic.
"What time is it?"
She checked her phone.
"9:45 a.m."
His stomach dropped.
"…We're fifteen minutes late."
They looked at each other.
Then without another word—
They ran.
By the time they reached the classroom, sweat had already begun forming at their temples. They were nearly twenty-five minutes late.
Moon knocked.
"Sir, may we come in?"
The teacher slowly turned toward the door.
"You two are late. My class is almost over. Stay outside."
Leaf blinked.
Maybe he's joking. Maybe he knows it's my birthday.
"Sir," Leaf said lightly, "please let us sit."
Moon elbowed him sharply.
"He's not joking."
The teacher's expression hardened.
"You want to sit?" His tone dropped cold. "Fine. Run twenty laps around the playground."
Moon's eyes widened. "Twenty laps?!"
"Yes. Twenty full laps. No shortcuts."
Leaf swallowed.
"And if you refuse," the teacher added calmly, "you will both be suspended for two months."
Silence fell.
Leaf and Moon exchanged a look.
"…We'll run, sir."
"Good. Start immediately."
The sun was harsher now.
Their shoes scraped against the rough ground.
Lap one.
Lap two.
Lap five.
Breathing became heavier.
Lap eight.
Lap twelve.
Sweat soaked through their uniforms.
What kind of birthday starts like this…?
Moon glanced at him.
"You were smiling earlier. Why?"
Leaf forced a tired laugh.
"So… you really don't know?"
"Know what?"
"…Nothing."
"Stop talking like that."
Lap sixteen.
Lap eighteen.
Leaf's chest tightened.
They don't know. No one knows. I thought maybe… just maybe…
Expectation slowly turned into embarrassment.
Suddenly—
He stopped.
His fists clenched tightly.
"NOOOO!!"
His voice exploded across the field.
Windows opened.
Students stared.
Some laughed.
The teacher frowned.
Moon ran toward him.
"What happened?!"
Leaf turned away.
"…I'm fine."
"You're not fine."
"I said I am."
His voice had changed.
Cold.
Moon crossed her arms.
"When you act like this, you look like a puffer fish about to explode."
Leaf glared.
"Oh yeah? And you complain every five seconds."
"Excuse me?!"
They stood there, breathing heavily, anger and exhaustion mixing together.
Then he looked away.
"Just finish the laps."
They ran in silence.
After completing twenty laps—
A calm voice came from behind.
"My dear students."
They froze.
The principal stood there.
"Sorry, sir!"
"It's fine," he said gently. "I won't punish you further."
Relief washed over them.
"Thank you, sir!"
He adjusted his glasses.
"Except you will run ten more laps."
Their faces fell.
"…What?"
"If you don't, there will be real consequences."
"…Yes, sir."
And they ran again.
When they finally returned to class, their uniforms were drenched.
Moon stood under the ceiling fan.
"If I don't stand here, I'll faint."
Leaf collapsed into his chair.
"You won't faint."
She glared. "You were the one screaming."
"Forget it."
Their argument started rising again—
"You two again?" the teacher snapped.
Silence.
"You ran thirty laps and still have energy to argue?"
"No, sir."
"Then sit down."
Leaf stared at his desk.
Outside, the sun still shone brightly.
It was his birthday.
But inside—
Something felt heavy.
Then another teacher entered the classroom.
"Students, today our most loved one, the soul and power of our country, Neon, will visit our school. Please behave properly."
The classroom buzzed instantly.
Excitement.
Whispers.
Neon.
The chief.
Footsteps gathered in the halls.
Then a few students stood up.
"Sir, Leaf and Moon were fighting and disturbing us."
The teacher smiled knowingly.
"Students, sometimes loved birds fight. They say their love only grows stronger."
The class erupted in laughter.
Moon's face turned bright red.
Leaf immediately stood.
"Never. Never in a thousand years."
Moon crossed her arms confidently.
"You're right. There's no match between us. I am superior."
Leaf frowned. "What did you just say?"
"That you heard."
"Do you want to die by me?"
"Yes. But your hands are too strong."
"Sit silently!" the teacher roared. "Or you'll run one hundred laps!"
"…Hundred?" Moon whispered.
They went quiet.
Leaf slowly raised his hand.
"Sir, may I go to the toilet?"
"Yes."
As he walked down the hallway, something inside him felt unsettled.
Why did no one remember?
Why did everything go wrong today?
Inside the restroom, the sound of dripping water echoed.
He stopped when he heard voices.
Two students.
From Neon Jr's section.
"…He doesn't know, right?"
"Of course not. Why would he?"
"After what happened to his family, you think Neon would let that boy celebrate anything?"
Leaf froze.
His heartbeat intensified.
"His father…"
"Shh. Don't say it loudly. If Neon hears…"
"Relax. Neon already erased that case."
Erased?
Leaf's vision blurred.
"…The experiment… the accident wasn't an accident."
"What?"
"It was ordered."
Silence.
"…By Neon."
The words felt like lightning striking his skull.
Ordered.
His father.
Not an accident.
Leaf's breathing became unstable.
No.
No.
No.
They're lying.
They must be lying.
But the tone in their voices—
It wasn't a joke.
Something inside him cracked.
Memories flashed.
His father's absence.
The unanswered questions.
The silence.
His fists trembled.
He stood up slowly.
Walked out.
Then suddenly—
He ran.
The school hall was packed.
Teachers lined up.
Students standing respectfully.
Neon The First sat proudly at the front, surrounded by guards.
Applause echoed.
Leaf burst through the entrance doors.
Everyone turned.
His vision tunnelled.
There he is.
The man they call a hero.
The man who erased my father.
His chest burned.
"I'LL KILL YOU, DEVIL!"
Gasps filled the hall.
Teachers shouted.
Students panicked.
Someone tried to grab him—
But Leaf broke free.
And punched Neon The First.
The impact echoed.
Guards rushed forward instantly, grabbing him, forcing him down.
Neon touched his cheek slowly.
Not injured.
Just surprised.
"Who is this boy?" Neon asked calmly.
A teacher stepped forward nervously.
"His name is Leaf Delta. He is an idiot boy. Please forgive him."
Neon's eyes locked onto Leaf.
"Leaf…"
He repeated softly.
"Leaf…"
A faint smile curved on his lips.
"Hmmm… You know?"
His tone shifted.
"…Interesting."
And Leaf, restrained, breathing heavily—
felt the world change forever.
Neon did not retaliate.
He did not shout.
He simply looked at Leaf for a long second — then gestured calmly.
"Bring him."
The guards dragged Leaf down a quiet corridor, away from the noise, into a private chamber. The door closed with a soft, heavy click.
Silence.
A clock ticked somewhere on the wall.
12:40 PM.
Neon adjusted his cuff slowly, as if discussing policy rather than violence.
"So," he said evenly, "you know."
Leaf's breathing was still uneven. His wrists ached from the grip of the guards.
"Yes," he replied. "I know."
Neon tilted his head slightly.
"Good."
That word landed strangely.
"Now I am curious," Neon continued. "Knowing this… what will you do?"
Leaf's eyes burned.
"I'll kill you."
The room went still.
Then—
Neon laughed.
Not loudly.
Not wildly.
Just a quiet, sharp exhale through the nose.
"Oh… forgive me," he said with mock softness. "Please don't kill me."
His eyes hardened instantly.
"Tell me. Do I look frightened?"
He stepped closer.
Measured.
Controlled.
"No."
There was no anger in his voice.
Only certainty.
"You made one mistake today," Neon continued. "You punched me."
His gaze drifted to the clock again.
12:40 PM.
"And now," he said calmly, "your bad time begins."
Leaf's stomach tightened.
Neon walked past him.
"I will give you a chance," he said. "A generous one."
He paused at the door.
"If you want to save those you love…"
A small smile appeared.
"Run."
The word echoed heavier than a scream.
Neon gestured to his servant.
"Release him."
The grip on Leaf's arms disappeared.
The door opened.
The hallway felt longer than before.
"Run," Neon repeated softly.
This time it sounded less like advice—
And more like a countdown.
Leaf didn't hesitate.
He ran.
Not out of fear for himself.
But because something inside him knew—
This was not a bluff.
The air outside felt colder.
His legs moved before his thoughts caught up.
Home.
He had to get home.
Every step felt slower than it should.
Every second felt stolen.
What if he's already too late?
What if this is part of the game?
Neon didn't look angry.
He looked prepared.
That terrified him more.
Leaf ran faster.
Past streets.
Past people.
Past the ordinary world that had no idea something irreversible had just begun.
By the time he reached his house—
His chest was burning.
His heart was pounding like a warning siren.
And the front door stood before him.
Too quiet.
Too still.
But Then…..