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Chapter 6: Exactly Five Minutes
They announced it during third period.
Another teacher was gone.
Mr. Halbrook. Chemistry. Known for his love of frogs and terrible breath. No one had seen him since yesterday's final bell. His classroom door was locked that morning, papers scattered inside like he'd left mid-lecture.
No substitute. No message. No explanation.
Just vanished.
The school murmured, quietly afraid.
But not Kuro.
He just blinked when the announcement came over the speakers, then slowly turned his eyes back toward the woods.
Jason noticed.
So did Sera.
But neither said a word.
---
Kuro smiled, as always.
He joked about how now they'd have one less quiz to worry about. He cracked a pun about chemical bonds breaking too hard. But his laughter didn't echo this time. It fell flat. Like it knew better.
And still… he kept staring out there.
Always those woods.
That afternoon, while the others packed up, Kuro stood by the windows again. Still. Silent. Watching.
His hands, still faintly bandaged, twitched slightly.
Eve stood behind him.
Exactly five minutes after his gaze locked into the trees, he turned, walked straight over to her—and without a word—took her hands into his.
He held them gently, like glass.
For five minutes.
She didn't pull away.
She didn't speak.
She just… let him.
Then he let go.
Walked off like nothing happened.
The others never noticed.
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Later, Kuro asked the janitor for keys to an old unused classroom.
Room 3-C.
He said he wanted to "clear it out" for "study hangouts after school."
"No one uses it anyway," he said with that smile. "Could be our spot. Just in case we ever feel like being normal."
He dusted the shelves. Moved desks. Brought in a small lamp and some chairs.
Even printed a piece of paper that read:
"Reserved: For Weirdos, Witches, and Friends"
—K
He taped it to the inside of the door.
It should've been sweet.
It almost was.
But something felt… wrong.
Jason peeked inside and said nothing.
Sera leaned on the doorframe and squinted, lips thin.
Riku tilted his head, biting his lip like he wanted to speak but forgot how.
But Eve—Eve stayed frozen outside.
Watching Kuro clean.
Move.
Smile.
Her eyes locked on his hands, still red at the knuckles. Then back to the woods beyond the classroom window.
She felt it.
The pattern.
The ritual.
The precision.
He always stared at the woods.
Then five minutes later, came to her.
Held her hands for five minutes.
Then let go.
Exactly.
Every day.
And she didn't know why.
But she knew it wasn't normal.
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That night, she didn't sleep.
And in her dream… she heard whispers from the trees.
Calling her name.
But in Kuro's voice.
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To be continued…