Morning light filtered through Haruto's window, casting long shadows across his room.
He stood alone, eyes fixed on the watch wrapped tightly around his wrist.
I really stopped time.
I saved Airi.
It felt like a miracle.
But... why me?
Why now?
And why can Airi see it too?
Haruto tightened the strap slightly.
The glow had faded, but the air still seemed to hum with unseen power.
Something had changed.
He could feel it.
He grabbed his bag and headed for school, more alert than usual.
---
School Gate — Morning
Two bullies spotted Haruto approaching and smirked — the same faces, the same hate.
"Well well... look who thinks he's got guts," one mocked.
"You think just 'cause you walked away yesterday, you're some kind of hero?" the second added, grabbing Haruto's shoulder roughly.
Haruto didn't flinch.
He simply gripped his sleeve quietly.
The watch pulsed — just once.
Click.
Time froze.
Haruto moved fluidly.
He tied the bullies' shoelaces together into a tight knot, swapped their bags with trash from a nearby can, and casually dropped one of their phones into the janitor's mop bucket.
He stepped back calmly.
Click.
Time resumed.
"Wha–? What the hell?!" one of the bullies yelped, stumbling and falling.
Nearby students erupted into laughter.
The bullies looked around, humiliated and furious.
Haruto walked past without a word, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
This power...
I could really change everything.
---
Back Hall — Later That Day
Airi walked quietly down the back hallway, her sketchbook hugged tightly to her chest.
The same group of girls stepped into her path.
"You think Haruto actually cares about you?" one sneered.
"That loser's just using you."
"Still drawing him like some tragic prince?" the other mocked.
They reached for her sketchbook.
Airi clutched it tighter, lowering her gaze but not backing down.
"I'm not hiding," she said quietly.
"I'm just... trying to be kind."
One of them ripped a page free.
The torn paper fluttered to the floor — a sketch of Haruto looking up at the empty sky, alone.
None of them noticed the faint flicker from Airi's silver ring — glowing softly, unseen.
---
Rooftop — That Afternoon
Haruto sat on the rooftop ledge, eyes closed, letting the wind brush against his face.
Airi arrived quietly, standing nearby, her presence hesitant but warm.
Haruto smiled slightly without opening his eyes.
"Guess what? I figured out how to use the watch again.
I tricked those jerks this morning.
You should've seen their faces—"
"They found me again today," Airi interrupted softly.
Haruto opened his eyes instantly.
The smile faded.
"What?" he asked sharply. "What do you mean?"
"Back stairs," she said quietly. "They tore another sketch... of you."
A heavy silence fell between them.
The wind rustled the edges of her skirt and hair.
Haruto lowered his head.
"I didn't know..." he whispered, guilt flooding his chest. "I'm sorry. I should've—"
"You weren't there," Airi said, forcing a small smile. "It's okay."
Haruto stared at her — and saw it again.
The faint glow around her ring.
Something deep inside him twisted painfully.
"You're strong, Airi," he said, voice low.
"But I never want you to face this alone again."
---
Night — Haruto's Bedroom
Haruto lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
The watch on his wrist pulsed faintly, its soft glow illuminating the room.
I thought I was finally changing everything...
But I forgot the one person who never gave up on me.
A voice — faint, ancient — echoed through the stillness of his mind.
"True power... isn't about freezing time.
It's about knowing when to move."
Haruto sat up quickly, scanning the darkened room.
But he was alone.
Only the faint hum of the watch answered him.
---
Elsewhere — Unknown Location
Far above the school, perched atop a distant rooftop, the cloaked figure stood silently.
His red eyes burned faintly in the darkness.
"...He's begun to stray," he muttered, voice low and dangerous.
The stars shifted overhead.
The wind howled against the rooftops.
Far apart but still connected, the silver ring and the glowing watch pulsed faintly — linked across time and space.
---
To Be Continued...