𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗘 - 𝗛𝗔𝗞𝗨𝗔-𝗡𝗢-𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗢
𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗘𝗡 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬
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Shiharu stood at the center of the ruined tracks.
Perfectly still.
The wind howled through twisted metal and shattered glass, carrying the faint echo of distant alarms. Blood stained the steel beneath his feet.
In his arms was—
Yurina.
Unconscious.
Held tightly against his chest.
"…who knew," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and distant, "my manifestation would come with this much… chaos."
A ripple.
Space distorted behind him.
Like heat bending the air.
Then—
shun.
Suzumi stepped out of nothingness.
And in the next instant—
the entire Seiran Student Council appeared.
—
Hiroshi's eyes ignited immediately, flames flickering at the edges as he took in the destruction.
"Gracious goodness… we're late. aren't we?"
His jaw tightened.
"What the hell happened here?!"
Itsuki's gaze darkened, scanning the wreckage—the torn steel, the lifeless bodies, the lingering aura of violence.
"…they did this on a moving train?"
His voice dropped.
"Those bastards."
"Ahh… and here I was finally getting excited."
Jaehyun's voice cut in lazily.
"…looks like he handled everything before we even got here."
He stepped forward.
Casually.
Then grabbed the girl's hair—
hard.
"For people who kill this many civilians…"
He yanked her head back just enough to draw a sharp gasp.
"…you're pretty disappointing."
He released her—
only to shove her down.
His foot came down on her again.
And again.
"…tsk. If I got here earlier, this would've been way more fun."
He smirked.
"You might as well lick my shoes."
His gaze flicked toward the fallen boy nearby.
"That your boyfriend... huh? Beauty and The Worst."
The girl didn't respond.
Her power—gone.
Her body—too weak.
—
Jaehyun leaned closer, grin widening.
"…also…"
His tone turned mocking.
"You realize you're basically naked, right?"
A pause.
"…what is this, some cheap hentai setup?"
He clicked his tongue.
"Honestly, that might suit you better.."
"Who lets her wear that must be pretty stupid."
It was Min hyun's voice seemingly pleased with what his brother was doing.
Aimi stepped forward, her hands raised as the ground beneath them trembled faintly—earth responding to her will.
"I'm sensing something—!"
Her voice rose.
"…someone else is here!! They're not alone!"
"Too late."
Min-hyun sighed, hands pocketed as he looked around calmly.
"They've already fled."
His expression carried mild annoyance.
"Cowards."
Suzumi moved without a word.
She appeared beside the injured boy—kneeling.
Her palm pressed gently against his forehead before resting lightly on her covered eyes.
"Careful, Suzumi!"
Itsuki called out immediately.
She gave a small nod.
It took her two minutes—
her expression had changed.
"They were looking for someone," she said quietly. "The person with the wish ability."
A brief pause.
"They're not hired. Not outsiders."
Her gaze sharpened.
"…they're students. Just like us."
A murmur passed through the group.
—
"The two we saw…"
She continued.
"…are likely their president and vice president."
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"The rest… I couldn't read."
"…their minds are blocked. Sealed with mana. They must have a mage who's supporting them."
Her voice lowered.
"Whoever's behind them… is powerful.."
Suzumi pointed at the battered girl sitting aside.
"She's the one who caused the havoc on the train."
"....Girl did what? Interesting for her to kill this much people without batting an eye? Nah there's no way am gonna believe she's not related to the devil's bloodline."
Hirosh said in disbelief turning towards her direction.
"…seriously?"
Aimi frowned, crossing her arms.
"They searched for someone like that… on a train?"
She shook her head.
"…that's just ughh crazy."
Ryuji silently wondered how Shiharu—who had no powers—managed to defeat them. They had seemed overwhelmingly strong, so how had he taken them down?
Yurina's ability lay only in her voice, so she was out of the question.
Shiharu looked completely unharmed, as if nothing had happened. Just what had occurred?
Ryuji glared at him without a word. Bringing it up felt selfish, and though most of them were curious too, but they chose not to ask.
A soft step.
Ryuji moved forward, his masked face tilting slightly as his gaze settled once again on Shiharu.
Shiharu hadn't moved.
Not once.
His aura still unnoticed burned faintly around him—dark, heavy, protective.
But—
it was fading.
His body trembled slightly.
Weakness creeping in.
"…here."
Ryuji's voice was calm.
He reached out gently.
"Let me."
For a brief second—
Shiharu hesitated.
Then slowly he allowed him.
Ryuji lifted Yurina effortlessly into his arms, holding her with careful steadiness.
Hiroshi clenched his left fist, flames flickering brighter on his right palm.
"Aside the train, The guts…"
His braced teeth gritted.
"….they have to hurt our teammates"
His voice dropped dangerously.
"I'm going to burn them alive."
"Not yet."
Itsuki cracked his knuckles, his gaze still on Shiharu—checking, confirming if he was really okay. Everyone had lot of questions for him.
"…but they're not walking away from this."
Ryuji placed a hand on Shiharu's shoulder.
Firm.
Grounding.
"You can relàx now, Shiharu."
His voice softened slightly behind the mask.
"We're here."
A breath.
Long.
Heavy.
"…yeah…"
Shiharu exhaled.
His eyes dimmed.
The crimson glow faded.
The overwhelming presence around him… disappeared.
Silence settled.
But the air—
was still heavy with anger.
Shiharu took a step back.
Slowly.
His gaze drifted—
to the train.
To the blood.
To the still bodies.
To the ones barely breathing.
"…how…"
His voice was barely audible.
"…did it come to this…"
If only—
he had more time.
If only—
he could turn it back.
If only—
none of this had ever happened.
"Well…"
A voice echoed softly behind him.
"…you did well."
Light.
Blinding.
Gentle.
A figure appeared.
Luminous.
Ethereal as always.
Like something not meant to exist in this world.
Shiharu didn't turn.
He already knew.
…Vryendel.
The fox spirit stepped closer.
And placed something in his hand.
A small clock.
Old but shiny, barely ticking.
"…twist it."
The command was simple.
Shiharu's fingers tightened.
"…I…"
His body moved.
On its own.
Tick.
He turned the hands backwards.
Everything blurred.
—
—
"…ru—…haru…!"
"…Shiharu!!"
—
A voice.
Close.
Familiar.
—
His eyes snapped open.
—
Yurina stood in front of him.
Alive.
Unharmed.
Her brows slightly furrowed.
"…you don't want the banana milk again?"
She tilted her head.
Concern in her eyes.
Shiharu's breath caught in his throat.
He looked around.
The platform.
Students chatting.
Teachers walking past.
Min-hyun tying up Jaehyun's hair.
Taehyun laughing loudly with Hiroshi.
The soft chime of a departing train echoing through the station.
Everything—
was normal.
"…no way…"
His breath hitched.
Time.
Had turned back.
His black eyes quickly went to his wrist realizing the red thread was safe and not broken.
A deep sense of relief washed over him.
"You're sweating…"
Yurina stepped closer, worry clear on her face.
"Let's go to the infirmary."
She turned slightly—
—
A hand caught her wrist.
Gentle.
But firm.
"…wait."
Before she could react—
he pulled her in.
And hugged her.
For a moment—
she was speechless and surprised.
"…Shiharu…?"
His voice came out quiet.
"…I'm glad you're safe."
────────────────────────────────────
Not far from them. He stood there without a word.
Ryuji.
His mask concealed the curiosity in his eyes, but his thoughts were anything but calm.
Shiharu had just turned back time—yet somehow, it hadn't affected him.
Did he just… manifest his powers?
His gaze narrowed slightly.
What has he become?
Turning back time wasn't something anyone could do. Not even the most skilled mages or witches could accomplish it without paying a devastating price—and even then, it was never perfect.
But Shiharu… had done it effortlessly.
As if it meant nothing.
Of course, someone who could manipulate minds wouldn't be easily affected by other abilities.
Still—
Time itself?
That was a power reserved for gods.
And gods… didn't exist.
Ryuji's expression darkened.
The Shiharu he once knew had no power at all. Just an ordinary, foolish boy—desperate for affection.
Maybe I should have accepted him back then…
He would have been mine.
That naive version of him… gone.
He slipped his phone out, opening the camera. Zooming in, he took two quiet shots.
Click.
Click.
"…What an insane glow-up."
He watched him for a while longer—like a predator studying its prey.
Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared in the shadows.
I'll pretend I remember nothing.
Just like the others.