Toshi didn't sleep again.
Not after that.
Morning came slowly.
Painfully.
His eyes burned.
His head throbbed.
But none of that mattered.
Today—
He was going to the priest.
He got ready without speaking much. His parents noticed his condition again, but this time, they didn't push.
"Come home early," his mother said.
"…Yeah."
The walk to school felt heavier than ever.
Every step felt watched.
He kept looking over his shoulder.
Nothing.
But the feeling didn't go away.
At school, everything felt… distant.
More than before.
People talked.
Laughed.
Moved around him like usual.
But it all felt like noise.
Background.
Like he didn't belong there anymore.
"Hey."
His friend sat beside him again.
"You going today?"
"…Yeah."
"Good."
A pause.
"…You'll be fine," his friend added, not sounding fully convinced.
Toshi didn't respond.
Because he didn't believe that anymore.
By the time school ended, the sky had already started turning darker.
Clouds gathered slowly, covering the light.
Toshi didn't go home.
He went straight toward the temple.
But halfway there—
He stopped.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
The street was empty.
Too empty.
No cars.
No people.
No sound.
Even the wind had stopped.
"…What is this…"
Toshi's voice came out low.
Uncertain.
Then—
A faint sound.
Footsteps.
Behind him.
Toshi froze.
Slowly—
He turned.
Nothing.
Empty road.
But the sound came again.
Closer this time.
Step.
Step.
Toshi's breathing became uneven.
"…Who's there…?"
No answer.
Then—
At the edge of his vision—
Something moved.
White.
Toshi's head snapped toward it.
And this time—
He saw her.
Not in a dream.
Not in paralysis.
Standing across the road.
Perfectly still.
White dress.
Hair covering her face.
Real.
Toshi's heart dropped.
"No…"
His legs refused to move.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
She wasn't supposed to be here.
Not like this.
She didn't move at first.
Just stood there.
Watching.
Then—
Her head tilted.
Slowly.
The same way.
The same unnatural angle.
Toshi staggered back slightly.
"…Stay away…"
His voice trembled.
But she didn't stop.
She stepped forward.
And the moment her foot touched the ground—
The sound echoed.
Loud.
Too loud.
Step.
Step.
Getting closer.
Toshi turned and ran.
His body finally responded.
His feet slammed against the ground as he ran blindly down the road.
"Go away—!"
He didn't look back.
Didn't dare to.
But he could hear it.
Footsteps.
Behind him.
Matching his pace.
No matter how fast he ran—
She was still there.
He reached his house and slammed the door shut behind him.
Locked it instantly.
Breathing hard.
"…She's here…"
His voice broke.
"…She's really here…"
That night—
He didn't go to the priest.
He couldn't.
Because now—
There was no "safe place" left.
He sat in his room.
Lights on.
Door locked.
Waiting.
Because he knew—
She would come again.
Not in dreams.
Not in paralysis.
But here.
With him.
And this time—
There would be no escape.