17th January 2025 — 8:01 a.m.
Ryu sat in class, quietly positioned at their usual four-person table. Kenny fidgeted beside him, fingers drumming nervously against the tabletop, while James scrolled idly through his phone. Across from them, the empty seat waited for Leon.
"Where is that bastard…? Why isn't he here yet?" Kenny muttered, exasperated.
Ryu remained silent, but anxiety tugged at him. Today was too important for Leon to miss. It was the final day for feedback on their game development projects—the last chance to know what worked, what failed, and how to improve before grades were finalized. Leon not showing up could mean more than a missed lesson; it could jeopardize his college future. And Ryu couldn't let that happen.
Leon had been his closest friend since the entrance exams. Before James and Kenny joined their lives, Ryu and Leon spent countless hours together—studying, sharing ideas, building a bond that ran deeper than casual friendship. He knew Leon's strengths, his weaknesses, and his drive. More importantly, he knew why Leon had come to this college in the first place. He couldn't let him fall behind.
The minutes dragged, stretching the wait into what felt like an eternity. Finally, the door opened. Miss Buran, their instructor, entered the classroom.
At forty, she still carried the elegance of youth. Her golden-brown hair had not a single grey strand, falling perfectly around her shoulders. Glasses perched neatly on her nose, lending her a sharp, professional air. Her posture was confident, her presence commanding yet approachable. Even after years of teaching, she had preserved both her beauty and her authority.
"Good morning, everyone," she greeted, her voice calm but precise. "Please bring out your laptops."
Ryu, Kenny, and James complied immediately, sliding their laptops across the table and opening their current game projects.
Miss Buran moved around the classroom, stopping at each table to review the students' work. She offered feedback—tips, corrections, encouragement—carefully tailoring her advice to each group. Ryu's table was last.
When she arrived, her gaze first fell on Ryu's screen. He straightened slightly, focusing on the laptop as he awaited her evaluation, knowing that this moment could make or break their project.
Miss Buran leaned over Ryu's laptop, eyes scanning quickly across his code and interface. She clicked, scrolled, tested the game—her movements precise, deliberate.
I hope there's nothing seriously wrong… Ryu thought, heart pounding quietly in his chest.
After a few moments, she straightened and faced him, chin propped on her hand, her expression unreadable. Something about her pause made Ryu tense.
What… did I mess up?
Then, unexpectedly, she spoke.
"Hm… so far, you did the best out of everyone," she said casually, glancing over at his friends as if it were the most natural observation in the world.
Ryu blinked in surprise, a smile creeping onto his face. He ran his right hand to the back of his head, scratching lightly, embarrassed but flattered. "Thank you…" he murmured.
James's eyes narrowed. Jealousy flashed across his face as he angled his laptop toward Miss Buran.
"What about mine, Miss Buran?" he asked eagerly.
Her critique came swiftly, precise—but far from complimentary. James's excitement drained, leaving a disappointed frown as he stared at his screen.
Kenny, undeterred, pushed his laptop forward with a confident, almost arrogant smile. But his confidence evaporated just as fast. Miss Buran shook her head, listing the corrections he would need to make. Almost everything, she said, would have to be redone.
Kenny slumped in his chair, a frustrated sigh escaping him. Ryu noticed, and with a small, encouraging smile, he reached over and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry so much, Kenny. There's still time."
"Time, my ass," Kenny muttered bitterly, folding his arms and glaring at his laptop.
Miss Buran exhaled slowly, then turned back to Ryu. "All you need now is a finishing touch. Finish it," she said simply. With that, she moved back to the front of the classroom, her presence commanding silence.
The class settled, and Miss Buran began addressing them formally.
"Remember, class—the submission date for your final assignment is next Monday. Make sure it's completed carefully and that every instruction has been followed. If anything is unclear, contact me immediately."
She paused, letting her words sink in.
"Today, we'll return to our usual session. Since this is the last semester and the final exam is approaching, we'll focus on review and exercises—reinforcing everything we've learned so far."
The students nodded, opening their laptops and notebooks. The classroom buzzed with quiet activity, a familiar rhythm—but beneath the surface, Ryu's mind lingered on his game, and on the rare moment of praise that still made his chest tighten with pride.
***
Inside Room 119, a figure hung from the ceiling.
A length of rope was fastened to the beam above, cinched cruelly around the figure's neck. The body was dressed in a nightshirt and loose sleeping pants, fabric limp against lifeless flesh. Blood dripped steadily onto the floor below, staining the tiles in dark, uneven splashes. The jaw had been shattered—crushed beyond recognition—and several teeth lay scattered beneath the body like broken porcelain.
The figure did not move. It swayed only slightly, suspended in silence, unnoticed by the world beyond the door.
The door itself was closed. Locked.
Yet outside, someone was there—knocking.
"Samy? Are you awake yet...? Wake up! It's almost time for class!"
Ruka rattled the doorknob of her friend's dorm room. Locked—from the inside. She knocked again, harder this time. No response.
"...Samy?"
Her stomach tightened. Ruka dug into her purse, pulled out her phone, and tapped the first name her fingers could reach.
"Jenny—are you up?"
"Yes, listen—Samy's still in her room."
"I knocked. Hard. She won't answer."
"I called her name too—nothing."
"No, I'm sure she's inside. A hundred percent."
"...Yeah. Please come fast. I'm really worried."
The call ended. Without hesitation, Ruka dialed Pho and repeated the same rushed explanation, her words tumbling over each other.
When the call disconnected, the hallway felt unbearably quiet. Ruka stood frozen in front of the door, sweat beading at her temples. Her fingers twisted anxiously into the cuff of her sleeve as she stared at the unyielding wood.
"Samy..." her voice wavered. "Why aren't you answering...?"
After several tense minutes, Jenny and Pho arrived at the same time. Both of them ran straight toward Ruka without slowing, their footsteps frantic. When they finally reached her, they were breathless, chests heaving from exhaustion.
Ruka stood frozen before the door, her face drained of color. Her lips trembled as she whispered, "I smell blood..."
The words made their hearts sink. Jenny and Pho instinctively leaned closer, drawing in shallow breaths. A faint metallic scent lingered in the air.
"What in the world..." Janny muttered.
Realization struck her all at once. The unmistakable stench of blood told her something was terribly wrong. Without hesitation, she lifted her leg and kicked the door with all her strength. The doorknob snapped, the lock giving way with a sharp crack, and the door burst open.
What lay beyond stole the breath from their lungs.
Samy—one of their friends—hung from the ceiling.
His body dangled motionless in the air, suspended by a rope for reasons unknown. The sight was unbearable. Jenny's eyes widened, her mouth falling open in shock as disbelief and horror crashed over her. Pho gasped sharply and clapped a hand over her mouth the instant she saw Samy's lifeless form.
Ruka fared the worst.
The moment her eyes landed on Samy, her legs gave way. A broken, trembling scream tore from her throat, echoing down the hallway and drawing attention from across the dormitory building.
Silence shattered. Horror had been revealed.
***
9:11 a.m — Game Development Department Building
It was break time.
Ryu, Kenny, and James walked down the hallway together, their footsteps echoing faintly against the tiled floor. They were heading toward the café nearby, moving with mild urgency as if afraid the line would grow too long.
Within a minute or two, they arrived.
Ryu and Kenny took their seats at a four-person table prepared near the window, while James remained standing beside it. He glanced between the two before asking, "So, what do you guys want to order?"
Ryu and Kenny exchanged a brief look, then answered in unison, "Just the usual."
James sighed and rubbed the back of his head, scratching it absentmindedly. He had expected that answer, yet it still bored him. "Always the same thing, huh? Don't you guys ever feel like trying something new?"
Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed straight for the counter.
Ordering was routine. For Ryu, it was always an egg sandwich paired with a plain cold drink—no variations, no surprises. James ordered that without hesitation. Kenny's choice was just as predictable: a grass-fed pretzel dog. As for himself, James never followed patterns. Unlike the other two, he liked variety. This time, he settled on chocolate waffles and apple juice.
With the order placed, James stepped aside to wait. He stood near the counter, pulling out his phone and scrolling aimlessly as time passed.
Back at the table, Ryu and Kenny talked quietly, their conversation drifting into something more serious.
Ryu glanced at his phone, his brows knitting together.
"What's going on with Leon..." he murmured. His message from that morning still hasn't been answered. Kenny noticed the look on his face and asked, "He still hasn't replied?"
"Yeah," Ryu answered shortly.
He tilted his phone slightly, showing Kenny the chat between him and Leon as proof that there was no reply. Kenny didn't really need the evidence—he already believed him—but he nodded anyway.
The unease crept back into Ryu's chest.
He didn't know what was going on with Leon. Missing the first class of the day wasn't like him. Ryu tried to reassure himself that Leon was probably just sick, but the silence bothered him. If Leon was in his dorm, Ryu wanted to check on him. And if he wasn't, then Ryu wanted to know why.
The thought lingered long enough that he finally voiced it—half suggestion, half request.
"Why don't we pay him a visit?" Ryu said. "We can see if he's okay."
Kenny looked at him, momentarily surprised, "That's... actually a good idea. How did I not think of that?"
"Well," Ryu replied dryly, "you're careless. Even with yourself."
Kenny frowned at first, then relaxed, recognizing it as a joke. He thought for a few seconds before asking, "So when are we going to see him?"
Ryu straightened his posture and leaned slightly closer.
"Let's talk about it after James comes back with the food."
Without hesitation, Kenny nodded.
"Agreed."
Not long after, James returned with the food. He set the trays down in front of Ryu and Kenny, who each checked their orders before nodding in quiet approval. James still remembered exactly what they liked.
Pulling out a chair, James sat with them and placed his own food and drink on the table. Just as he was about to unwrap his meal, Ryu spoke up, "James, why don't we go check on Leon?"
Kenny immediately backed him up. "Yeah. We should see what's going on." James froze. "Ah… I was planning to eat in peace," he said slowly. "Why bother checking on him? He probably just felt sick today."
This break was his time—his one chance to eat properly and relax. They only had an hour. After that, it was classes and studying again, not visiting dorms.
Searching for a way out, James added, "Even if we go, how are we supposed to get back? Do we even have time?"
"We do," Ryu replied calmly. "It's only 9:18 a.m."
"And we came here by car," Kenny added. "Your car. You can just drive us."
James scoffed, "You make it sound so easy. Fine—if we go, I'm charging you two a dollar each."
"We will," Ryu and Kenny said at the exact same time.
James blinked, caught off guard, but he still tried one last time, "Listen, it'll take time to get there—"
"Mr. Buran won't mind us being late," they interrupted in unison.
James stared at them for a moment before letting out a long sigh, "Hah… alright, alright. You win."
All three of them stood up from the table and hurried toward the parking lot. Kenny gathered all the food into a single bag and carried it with him, moving quickly. Ryu lagged slightly behind the others.
I hope nothing bad happened, he thought. What's the worst that could happen? He's probably just sick…
The thought slowed him down for a moment. He snapped back to reality when he noticed the distance growing between them and quickened his pace.
They reached James's car and climbed inside. James started the engine, and the vehicle came to life—a Ford Bronco Sport. It was still relatively new. When James bought it, it had cost around forty thousand dollars. He had worked part-time almost every day to afford it, though his family had helped him cover part of the cost. Even so, it was something he was clearly proud of.
After a few minutes of driving, they arrived at their destination: the dormitory area. James parked near the block where their dorm was located. By coincidence, Ryu, Kenny, James, and Leon all lived in the same building, assigned under the same residence.
Before getting out, Ryu glanced at the time.
9:22 a.m.
He stepped out of the car along with the others, the uneasy feeling in his chest refusing to fade.
They headed toward their block together.
As soon as they drew closer, they noticed something was wrong. The area was crowded—far more crowded than it should have been. Students gathered in front of Room 119, with even more people standing outside the building, whispering among themselves.
What's going on here? Ryu wondered as they approached, unease tightening in his chest.
They slowed to a stop at the edge of the crowd. Not knowing what had happened, Kenny reached out and tapped the shoulder of a student standing nearby.
"Hey," he asked, "what's going on?"
The student was from the neighboring block. Technically, everyone should have been in class at this hour, but it wasn't strange to see people around—some were on break, some had no classes, and some simply skipped.
The guy turned toward Kenny, his expression grim, "Someone committed suicide."
The words hit like a blow. Kenny froze. Ryu and James noticed his sudden stillness and stepped closer.
"What happened?" Ryu asked.
Kenny snapped out of his shock and repeated the words to them, his voice low, "Someone just committed suicide."
"What?!" James exclaimed, disbelief written across his face.
Ryu, however, didn't react outwardly. His expression hardened, eyes sharpening as the weight of the situation settled in.
Ryu felt an uncontrollable urge to see the scene for himself. Without hesitation, he slipped past the crowd and started heading upstairs, leaving James and Kenny behind.
"Hey! Where are you going? Wait!" James shouted. Kenny's voice was quieter, trembling slightly, "W-wait..."
Ryu pushed through the throng of students, forcing his way past bodies pressed tightly together. The noise of whispers and muffled sobs surrounded him as he ran up the stairs, heart pounding with a mix of dread and urgency.
Finally, he reached the landing and spotted three familiar faces among the crowd.
Jenny—Kenny's sister—stood with her arm around Ruka, gently patting her back. Ruka buried her face in Jenny's chest, her sobs shaking her small frame. Pho, standing a little apart, stared blankly at the floor, silent but tense.
Recognition struck Ryu immediately. Room 119... isn't that...?!
The pieces fell into place, and his stomach sank. He knew whose room it was. His heart raced as he whispered under his breath, Samy...!
Ryu glanced into the room.
The moment the scene registered in his mind, his body recoiled. He staggered backward several steps, his shoulder slamming into the metal railing along the corridor.
W—what the hell is this...?!
His stomach lurched. For a split second, he thought he might throw up. He had seen disturbing scenes before—plenty of them—but always through a screen, always at a distance. Never like this. Never in real life.
He forced himself to breathe, gripping the railing to steady his shaking hands. For the first time, he was standing face-to-face with something truly horrific. And the more he looked, the more wrong it felt.
This… isn't what a suicide should look like. His gaze flicked back toward the room, mind racing.
This looks like a slaughter—made to look like a suicide. Cold sweat broke across his skin. He turned toward Jenny, Ruka, and Pho. Jenny was still holding Ruka, who hadn't stopped crying. Pho stood frozen, eyes dull and unfocused. Ryu swallowed hard.
This must have been unbearable for them to witness...
He wasn't especially close to Jenny's friends, yet the weight in his chest was crushing. Samy and Ruka had been close. They spent time together often. They were the same age. The same semester.
Even if she had taken her own life... why?
No matter how he tried to reason with it, the answer refused to come. No. This can't be suicide.
The wail of sirens cuts through the murmurs. An ambulance and several police cars pulled up near the block, officers and medics spilling out and moving quickly toward the building.
Students were ordered to step back, to clear the area and give space for the investigation.
As the police entered the room, their expressions darkened.
Even they could tell.
This was far too brutal—far too unnatural—to be dismissed as a simple suicide.
One of the police officers finally began evacuating the remaining students, ushering them away from the scene. The crowd dispersed slowly, murmurs swelling as they walked off, the news no doubt already spreading through the college.
Ryu finally had a moment to approach the three girls who had some connection with Samy.
Ruka sat on the floor, her body shaking with each sob. Jenny crouched beside her, arms wrapped tightly around the girl in a protective embrace. Even from a distance, Ryu could sense the tremor in Jenny's own composure—her anxiety and grief barely contained.
He hesitated for a moment, then knelt slightly to speak softly. "Ruka… are you okay?"
Ruka did not respond, her cries uninterrupted. Expected. Ryu let out a small, resigned sigh and shifted his gaze to Jenny. She was staring at him cautiously, eyes wary yet curious. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Um… how about you, Jenny?"
Jenny's eyes lingered on Ruka for a long moment before returning to Ryu. "I'm… alright," she said quietly, though her tone carried a weight that belied the words.
Ryu wanted to ask more. He wanted to know how this had happened—if they had seen anything, anything at all that could explain the horror he had just witnessed. But glancing at Ruka, still trembling and crying, he knew some questions would be too cruel to voice here, too soon.
Pho stood a little apart, calm, almost eerily so. But something about her demeanor told him there was more beneath the surface. Deciding she might be able to answer without making the others worse, Ryu stepped toward her slowly.
"Pho… can I ask you something?" he said gently.
Pho's head snapped toward him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, but she maintained her composed posture. She cleared her throat and, almost suddenly, a spark of nervous excitement lit her expression. "Oh—! Um… hi, Ryu… Well… yeah, sure!"
Her reaction was unexpected, but Ryu nodded, unsure yet compelled to continue. Something told him Pho might hold pieces of the truth—or at least, a perspective he hadn't considered yet.
"From the look of it… it seems like you guys found her not long before the police arrived," Ryu said quietly, keeping his voice low, careful not to disturb the fragile atmosphere.
Pho's eyes stayed fixed on the floor as she answered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah… we found her… hanging from the ceiling…"
Ryu leaned back against the wall, arms crossed loosely, his gaze dropping to the floor. Cold, unreadable, yet burning with curiosity. "Why… why would she do this? Do you know?"
Pho flinched slightly, a tremor running through her body. Ryu noticed immediately—something about her reaction set off an uneasy alarm in his chest. He stepped slightly closer, his eyes softening, trying to convey concern without pressing too hard. But before he could speak, he realized her body was shaking, subtle but unmistakable.
Her eyes glistened, a small pool of tears gathering as she lifted one hand toward her lips, biting a fingernail nervously.
"I… I'm not sure why…" she whispered, voice trembling.
Ryu's mind raced—not just at her words, but at the strange awareness coursing through him.
Hold on... Why… am I able to sense this?
He had never felt it before—not like this. But as he focused entirely on Pho, tuning out everything else, it became clear. Her fear, her sorrow, her anxiety… and something else. Something heavier.
One word formed in his mind.
Guilt.
Ryu's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed it. The realization sent a cold shiver down his spine. Whatever had happened here, Pho carried a burden she couldn't shake. And somehow… he could feel it, almost as if it were tangible.