The morning smelled like fried rice and coffee.
Sunlight passed through the window, warming the small dining table where Liora moved between the stove and plates, while the TV played softly in the background. Across from her, Kael sat calmly with a cup of coffee, listening.
"…unexplained seasonal shifts continue for the third year," the reporter said. "Experts still cannot determine why temperatures change overnight. Residents also reported brief power losses, unusual animal behavior, and—"
Liora lowered the volume slightly, her expression uneasy.
"You took the bigger one," Sena complained, pointing accusingly at Noah's plate. Her brows were furrowed, arms crossed like she was ready to start a war.
"I didn't. It just looks bigger," Noah replied, pulling the plate closer protectively, already half-chewing.
Liora exhaled softly. "Both of you, stop arguing and go wake your brother. He's going to be late again."
Sena groaned, dragging her feet. "Why me?"
"Because you're the loudest," Kael answered, hiding a smile behind his cup.
Noah hopped off his chair. "I'll do it!"
The two ran upstairs, one stomping, the other nearly tripping in excitement. Sena knocked once before pushing the door open and pulling the curtains apart..
"Aerin," she called. "Wake up. You're late."
He turned away, burying his face in the pillow. "Five more minutes…"
"No," Noah said, climbing onto the bed and shaking his shoulder. "Mom said now."
Aerin slowly opened his eyes, blinking at the sudden brightness. He sat up, running a hand through his messy hair.
"I'm up… I'm up."
A few minutes later, Aerin walked down, still fixing his hair.
"Morning," he said.
Liora smiled faintly. "Good morning. You look tired."
Kael studied him for a moment. "Still waking up in the middle of the night?"
Aerin hesitated, then sat down. "Yeah… I don't know why. It's like I hear something, but when I wake up, it's just quiet."
"The news says people have been reporting sleep disturbances too," Liora said softly.
Kael passed him a glass of water. "Probably stress. Things have been strange these past few years."
Aerin nodded slightly. "Maybe."
He glanced at the table. "Dad, can you pass the bread?"
Kael slid it over. "Here."
"Thanks."
It was loud. Messy. Normal.
And he thought it would always stay that way.
After finishing quickly, Aerin stood and grabbed his bag near the door. Sena followed, still fixing her hair, while Noah hurried to put on his shoes.
"We're leaving," Aerin called.
"Bye, Mom!" Noah said, waving.
"See you later," Sena added.
Liora turned from the stove and smiled. "Be careful."
Kael raised his hand slightly. "Have a good day."
"Yeah," Aerin replied with a small smile. "Bye."
The door opened, and the three stepped outside together, the quiet morning greeting them as they began walking toward school.
Across the street, a girl was waiting near the gate, kicking a small pebble back and forth. She looked up when she saw them.
"You're late again," she said.
Aerin smiled. "Morning, Lyra."
Lyra Solene crossed her arms. "If we're late, I'm blaming you."
"You always do."
Sena waved. "Bye, Lyra!"
"Bye," she replied, then fell into step beside Aerin as the younger two walked ahead.
"You hear the news?" she asked quietly. "My dad says the sun set twice yesterday in the northern district."
Aerin frowned. "Probably just rumors."
"Yeah… probably."
They turned the corner and spotted three familiar figures near the convenience store.
Two identical boys leaned against the wall — one holding a drink, the other scrolling his phone.
"You're slow," one said.
"That's because you're early," Aerin replied.
The twins were Ren and Rei Kairo — same face, same height, only their expressions different. Ren was always relaxed. Rei always looked bored.
Standing beside them was another boy tossing a coin in the air repeatedly.
"You overslept again?" he smirked.
"Shut up, Jace."
Jace Arden grinned. "If we're late, I'm telling the teacher you distracted me."
"You distract yourself," Lyra said.
They started walking together toward school — five of them filling the quiet street with casual chatter.
The classroom buzzed with noise as they entered.
Ren dropped into his seat. "I didn't do the homework."
Rei grinned. "Same."
Lyra sighed, sitting in front of Aerin. "You two never learn."
Jace sat beside Aerin. "Math first period."
"We're dead," Aerin replied.
Someone threw a paper ball at Ren. He threw it back. Rei flicked another toward the back. A few classmates laughed as the noise grew louder.
Aerin leaned back slightly, glancing at the clock.
8:17
He looked away for a moment.
Then back.
Still 8:17.
He frowned, confused. Maybe he just misread it.
Beside him, Jace also looked up at the clock. His eyes narrowed slightly.
The second hand didn't move.
Aerin blinked.
Then—
Tick.
The clock moved again.
"…did that just—" Aerin muttered quietly.
Before he could finish, Lyra suddenly stepped beside his desk.
"Aerin."
He looked up. "Yeah?"
"I need help carrying some files to the office," she said. "The teacher asked earlier."
Aerin glanced at the clock again, then rubbed the back of his neck. "...yeah, sure."
He stood, thinking he was probably just tired from lack of sleep.
Lyra turned to the others. "You guys too. I need more hands."
Ren immediately stood. "Nope."
Rei followed. "We're busy."
"You're not doing anything!" Lyra said, frustrated.
Jace leaned back in his chair. "I didn't sleep well. I'll pass."
Lyra exhaled sharply. "Seriously?"
Ren and Rei were already slipping toward the door. "We're escaping," Ren whispered.
"Cowards," Lyra muttered.
She looked back at Aerin. "Come on."
Aerin chuckled lightly. "You scared them off again."
"Not helping," she replied.
The two walked out of the classroom.
Jace watched them leave.
His expression slowly changed.
He looked back at the clock.
Then toward the window.
The sky looked normal.
Too normal.
Jace frowned slightly, eyes narrowing.
"…what's going on…" he murmured to himself.
On the other hand, Aerin and Lyra reached the office and helped sort the files the teacher had left behind. Most of it was routine — stacking papers, carrying folders, and organizing documents onto shelves. It didn't take long.
"Thanks," Lyra said as she placed the last folder down.
"No problem," Aerin replied. "You could've just asked someone else."
"I did. They ran away."
Aerin laughed lightly. "Sounds about right."
They stepped out of the office and began walking back down the corridor. The hallway was quieter than before, most classes already in session. Their footsteps echoed softly against the tiled floor.
"So," Lyra said, glancing at him, "you really didn't sleep well?"
"Yeah. Weird dream again."
"Same as before?"
Aerin nodded. "I don't really remember everything… just that something felt wrong."
Lyra looked ahead. "Things have been feeling wrong for a while."
They continued walking.
As they passed the long corridor windows, sunlight spilled across the floor. Aerin glanced outside absentmindedly — then slowed.
Something felt… off.
The sky looked normal at first. Blue. Bright. Calm.
But the clouds weren't moving.
Not even slightly.
Aerin frowned, stopping near the window.
Lyra noticed. "What?"
"…do the clouds look… weird to you?"
She looked outside. "They look normal."
Aerin stared harder.
The air outside seemed frozen. Trees weren't swaying. Birds weren't flying. Everything looked like a still image.
Then—
A thin line appeared across the sky.
Aerin's eyes widened.
It spreads slowly, like a fracture forming on glass.
"…Lyra…" he whispered.
The crack deepened.
For a brief moment, the light dimmed — not like clouds covering the sun, but like something passing behind reality itself.
Then the sky split slightly.
Not wide.
Just enough to notice.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The warm hallway suddenly felt cold.
Then the silence became heavy.