The morning was very calm.Birds were singing softly, and the air felt cool.Ryuka Abiz stood near the window and watched the bright morning outside.
He didn't talk much.He was a quiet student who liked to think more than he liked to speak.
From downstairs his mother called:
"Ryuka, breakfast is ready!"
Ryuka answered softly,"Coming, Mom."
He ate quietly.Everything in the house was normal—the table, the cups, the sound of his father reading the news.But Ryuka felt a strange, soft feeling inside.Not fear.Not sadness.Just… something different.
He put on his bag and walked to school.The wind touched his face.The morning looked peaceful.
Then he heard a loud voice:
"RYUKAAA!"
It was Hiro—his most energetic friend.
Hiro ran to him and laughed:"Bro, what book are you reading today? How can you read so much? My brain dies after one page!"
Ryuka gave a small smile."Habit."
Hiro laughed again."Habit! One day you'll be a writer, I swear!"
They walked into school together.
But the next day, something changed.
During roll call, the teacher said:
"Hiro?"
No answer.
Everyone looked at Hiro's seat.It was empty.
The teacher tried calling Hiro's parents.The school office tried too.
Nobody could reach him.His phone was off.He did not come home last night.
Students whispered, confused.Some were worried.
Ryuka just looked down quietly.No reaction.But something inside him moved a little.
Two days later, another student disappeared.
Mei—a girl from Ryuka's class.
She left school normally,but she never reached home.
Her family called the police.The school talked to everyone.
No clues.No noise.No fight.
She was just… gone.
A few days later, a third student went missing.
A younger boy from another class.He was at home the night before,but by morning, he was nowhere.
People started to worry more.Teachers spoke softly.Parents stayed alert.
But still—no one knew why this was happeningor how the students were disappearing.
Ryuka observed everything quietly.He noticed every detail—who walked where,who looked nervous,who stayed silent.
But he never spoke about it.
Then, one afternoon, Ryuka found a note.
School was over.Students were leaving.
Ryuka walked to the gate.He felt something in the side pocket of his bag.
A small folded paper.
He looked around—no one was close.He hadn't seen anyone put it there.
He opened the note.
The handwriting was simple and cold:
**"ONE BY ONE.
EVERYONE CLOSE TO YOU IS GONE.NOW THIS IS YOUR TURN."**
No emotion.No anger.Just clear, quiet words.
Ryuka looked at the message for a long moment.His face didn't change.His heart didn't race.
He simply understood.
He folded the note,put it in his pocket,and walked home slowly.
The wind was calm.The street was empty.Everything felt quiet.
And Ryuka whispered to himself—
"…so I'm next."
No fear.Only silence.A deep silence only he could feel.
Chapter One — END(Complete. No next chapter.)