The hallway was tense, but not loud.
Kaito stood there breathing hard, still trying to understand what was happening. His face looked confused more than scared. His eyes kept moving between the seniors blocking the stairs and the direction the police were coming from.
The senior students didn't rush them. They just stood there, watching closely, like they were waiting for the police to arrive.
Kaito frowned.
"…Why are you guys doing this?"
One of the seniors smirked.
"You'll know soon."
Behind them, the sound of footsteps got closer. Heavy ones.
Police.
Kaito's stomach tightened. He wasn't panicking, but he was clearly freaked out.
Nagato stayed quiet. He looked serious, calm, and focused, scanning around like he was searching for a way out.
Then his eyes landed on the lift screen.
5th floor. Coming down.
The lift button was glowing too—someone had pressed it.
Nagato's expression changed slightly.
"That lift is stopping here," he muttered.
Before Kaito could ask anything, Nagato grabbed his wrist.
"Come."
Kaito stumbled.
"H-Hey—!"
But Nagato didn't slow down. He pulled Kaito and they ran toward the lift.
The doors reached their floor with a soft sound.
DING.
The doors started opening.
Nagato was ready to jump in—
Then he stopped.
Because inside the lift, standing straight and calm, was the headmaster.
Nagato's eyes met his for a second.
Kaito also saw him and his face instantly dropped.
"What…?"
Nagato tried to stop quickly, his shoes sliding a little.
Kaito nearly lost balance too because of the sudden stop.
Before the doors even fully opened, the headmaster spoke sharply from inside.
"Stop."
Nagato didn't answer.
He didn't hesitate either.
He turned his head left and right quickly, and his eyes caught something.
A red sign.
EMERGENCY EXIT.
Nagato tightened his grip on Kaito's wrist.
"This way."
Kaito blinked, still confused.
"Wait—what's going on?!"
Nagato pulled him again and they ran straight toward the emergency exit, while behind them the footsteps got louder.
They didn't stop.
Nagato pulled Kaito through the emergency exit and straight into the stairwell. The moment the door slammed behind them, the sound of chasing footsteps became louder.
Police.
Students.
Teachers.
All coming down after them.
Nagato didn't even look back. He just kept running down the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Kaito followed, breathing hard, his mind still trying to catch up.
What the hell did I do?
They reached the ground floor and burst out into the open.
The hot air hit them immediately.
The university field was right in front of them—wide, dusty, and bright under the sun. Students who were sitting or walking nearby turned their heads instantly.
Some stood up.
Some pointed.
Kaito's chest tightened.
Nagato ran straight toward the field instead of the main gate.
Kaito hesitated for half a second and shouted with a shallow breath,
"The exit is the other way!"
Nagato didn't slow down. He replied quickly, like he was already sure.
"The main gate is sealed. We can't go out from there."
Kaito's eyes widened.
Nagato pointed toward the far corner of the field while running.
"Look there. Construction is going on. We can sneak out from that side."
Kaito didn't argue. He was too tired and too confused to think anymore. He just followed Nagato's direction and ran.
Their shoes kicked dust as they crossed the field. The sun burned above them, making everything feel unreal. Kaito's legs were shaking, but his body kept moving.
Behind them, the police and others reached the ground floor too.
"STOP THEM!"
"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!"
The chase moved onto the field.
The officers ran faster, pushing through students who got in their way. Some students chased too, not even knowing why—they just wanted to see what was happening.
One officer shouted to the seniors who were following.
"Is there any way out from this side?!"
A student yelled back while running,
"Yes! The construction side! Some pillars are broken, anyone can pass through!"
The officer's face twisted in anger.
"Damn it…"
He pulled out his walkie-talkie and spoke fast.
"They're heading to the construction side. Repeat, they're escaping from the construction side!"
The walkie-talkie crackled.
Static.
Then another voice answered.
"Copy."
Outside the university, a police car was already waiting near the main gate. The officer inside heard the message and immediately turned the key.
The engine roared.
He turned the steering wheel sharply and drove toward the construction corner, taking the side road to reach faster.
Inside the field, Nagato and Kaito were still running.
The construction corner was far—around seven or eight minutes if running nonstop.
Kaito's breathing was completely broken now.
His voice came out weak.
"Nagato… how far…?"
Nagato didn't look back.
"Just keep moving."
They reached the construction area.
Broken pillars.
Metal rods sticking out.
Loose bricks.
A half-built wall.
The area looked messy, but it was the perfect escape point.
Nagato slowed slightly, scanning quickly.
Then his eyes locked onto something.
His bike.
Parked near the corner, exactly where he said it would be.
Kaito's eyes widened in relief.
Nagato ran straight to it and grabbed the handle.
"Get on!"
Kaito didn't waste a second. He jumped on the back seat, still breathing like he was dying.
Nagato started the bike.
Vroom!
The engine sound was loud and sharp.
Nagato twisted the throttle and the bike shot forward, throwing dust behind it.
Kaito held onto Nagato's shirt tightly.
His heart was still pounding, but now the wind hit his face, cooling the sweat.
Behind them, the police reached the corner too.
One officer shouted,
"THEY'RE ON A BIKE!"
At the same time, the police car was almost reaching the construction road from the outside.
But it was too late.
Nagato pushed the bike through the broken gap between the pillars, squeezing through the narrow opening.
The bike bounced slightly over rocks and uneven ground.
Kaito almost slipped off.
"Careful!" Kaito shouted.
Nagato replied through clenched teeth,
"Hold tight!"
They broke out onto the outside road.
The bike hit smooth ground again and sped up instantly.
Nagato leaned forward and increased the speed.
The wind became stronger.
Kaito's hair flew back, his eyes watering from the air.
He looked behind.
The university field was getting farther.
The shouting was fading.
The police car reached the corner road just as they disappeared into the street.
Nagato didn't stop.
He kept riding fast, taking a sharp turn into a smaller road.
Kaito held on tighter, breathing slowly now, still confused, still shocked. but also felt a little relif for some reason.
The speed was too high.
Not the normal kind of "fast"… but the kind that made Kaito's stomach feel tight.
This wasn't a highway. It was just a normal road, wide and quiet. A few cars were there—one or two passing sometimes, driving normally like nothing was wrong.
But their bike was different.
A speed limit board appeared on the side.
60.
Kaito's eyes quickly moved to the bike meter.
90+.
His eyebrows tightened.
His lips parted slightly as the wind hit his face hard, almost painful. His eyes kept watering because of the pressure. He tried to look ahead, but the air kept forcing him to blink.
His hair flew backward like it was being pulled.
Kaito leaned closer to Nagato's ear, trying to speak louder.
"Take me to my home."
Nagato didn't reply with words.
But his head moved slightly.
A small nod.
Kaito saw it clearly.
He understood.
Nagato's hands stayed firm on the handle. His shoulders were stiff, like he was focused on one thing only—getting there quickly.
Kaito swallowed.
His fingers tightened around Nagato's jacket again.
He didn't know why Nagato was acting like this…
But he didn't like it.
Not at all.
After some minutes, the bike finally slowed down.
The buildings became taller. Streetlights appeared more often. The air felt less open.
Then Nagato turned into a familiar area.
Kaito recognized the street.
His eyes widened slightly.
"We're here…"
The bike stopped near the apartment building.
An 8-floor building, old but normal. Some lights were on, most were off. A quiet place.
Nagato parked the bike in the garage area below.
The moment the engine stopped, silence filled the space.
Kaito removed his helmet quickly, breathing out hard.
His cheeks were slightly red from the wind.
Nagato removed his helmet too, slowly.
His face looked calm, but his eyes looked sharp, like he was still thinking about something.
Neither of them spoke much.
They walked toward the stairs.
Kaito's steps were quick, almost impatient. His shoulders were tense. He kept looking around, not fully relaxed.
Nagato followed behind him, quiet but alert.
They reached the seventh floor.
Kaito took out his key fast.
His fingers shook slightly as he opened the door.
The moment the door opened, he stepped inside.
Nagato followed.
And then—
BANG.
Kaito shut the door hard.
He quickly locked it.
Click.
Then he locked the chain too.
Click.
Nagato turned his head, watching him.
Kaito didn't stop.
He walked straight to the window, pulled the curtain closed, and checked the lock.
He checked it again, just to be sure.
Then he moved to the balcony door and locked it too.
His breathing was louder now.
His chest moved up and down quickly.
Only after everything was locked did he finally stop.
The room was small.
A single bed pushed near the wall.
A small kitchen space.
A sink, a stove, a few cabinets.
And a balcony door near the corner.
Nothing special.
But to Kaito, it felt like the only safe place right now.
Kaito walked to the kitchen, grabbed a glass, and poured water.
The sound of water filling the glass felt strangely loud.
He drank fast.
Some water spilled near his lips, but he didn't care.
He finished the glass and placed it down with a light shake in his hand.
Then he wiped his mouth and turned around.
Nagato was standing near the bed now.
His posture was straight, hands relaxed, but his eyes were still serious.
Kaito stared at him.
His face was tense.
His eyebrows were pulled together.
His voice came out sharp, but not loud.
"Okay."
He took a step closer.
"Now tell me." What is happening?"
Nagato Suddenly got pissed.
He stood up fast and pointed at Kaito, his face was full of rage .
"Tell me," he yelled, "why the fuck did you beat that shopkeeper last night?!"
Kaito froze, completely confused.
"Shopkeeper?" he repeated. "Which shopkeeper are you talking about?"
His voice was firm.
"I came home and slept. I didn't go anywhere."
Nagato's eyes turned colder. He stepped forward and grabbed Kaito's collar, pulling him closer.
"This is not the time to joke," he said harshly.
Kaito got angry and pushed him away.
"Don't grab my collar!" he shouted. "I'm telling you the truth!"
He screamed.
"Why the hell would I beat someone?"
Nagato stood still for a second, looking disappointed.
Then he pulled out his phone and tapped the screen.
"Look."
Kaito came closer.
A CCTV video played. It showed a shop closing, then someone attacking the owner and leaving.
The attacker's face was clearly visible.
It was Kaito.
Kaito stared at the screen, his brain was completely blank not able to process what he just saw .
Nagato turned the screen of and put the phone back to pocket and said " it was uploaded on our varsity group last night and it went viral. and the guy you beat must've reported to the police thats why they came looking for you " .
The video had ended, but he still didn't move. His eyes stayed fixed, like his brain was stuck on that last image.
His lips were slightly open.
Then his eyebrows tightened.
A small pressure started behind his forehead.
At first it felt like a normal headache. The kind you get from stress.
Kaito lifted his hand and rubbed his temple.
"…Tch."
Nagato noticed immediately.
"Kaito?"
Kaito didn't answer. He blinked a few times, trying to focus.
But the pressure didn't go away.
It got stronger.
Deeper.
Like something was pushing from inside his skull.
Kaito's breathing changed.
He took one step back, then sat down on the bed, not because he wanted to, but because his legs suddenly felt weak.
His hand stayed on his head.
His other hand pressed into the mattress for balance.
His stomach turned.
Nagato stepped closer.
"What's wrong?"
Kaito opened his mouth to answer.
But the pain suddenly spiked.
Sharp and heavy at the same time.
Kaito's whole face tightened. His eyes squeezed shut and his shoulders tensed.
"Agh—!"
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, both hands now gripping his head.
The pain spread behind his eyes.
His teeth clenched.
He tried to breathe slowly, but it didn't help.
His heartbeat felt loud, like it was hitting his skull from the inside.
Nagato crouched beside him.
"Kaito, hey—look at me."
His voice came out broken.
"My head…!"
The pain got worse .
Kaito's breathing turned rough.
His fingers dug into his hair as if holding his head together would stop it from splitting.
Then, for a second—
A flash.
Not a thought.
Not imagination.
A real image.
A bright shop light.
A door opening.
A man's voice.
Kaito's eyes snapped open wide.
He looked forward, but he wasn't really seeing Nagato anymore.
Another flash came immediately.
His own hands.
Someone's collar.
A wall.
A loud impact.
Kaito's stomach dropped.
His body jerked.
"No…!" he gasped.
The pain stabbed again and Kaito screamed out, louder this time.
"Ahh—!"
He slipped off the bed and fell to his knees, both hands still pressing his head.
Nagato caught him quickly before he could hit the floor too hard.
"Kaito!"
Nagato grabbed his shoulders, holding him upright.
Kaito's breathing was wild now.
He looked like he was trying to fight the pain, but losing.
He screamed.
"Stop… stop…"
Nagato leaned closer, his voice urgent.
"What is happening? Kaito, talk to me."
Kaito tried to answer, but another flash hit.
A fist.
A face turning away.
A body falling.
Kaito's eyes watered.
His jaw trembled.
He let out a strangled scream, short and rough, then bent forward like he was going to throw up.
Nagato held him tighter.
"Kaito, stay with me."
Kaito grabbed Nagato's sleeve, gripping it hard like it was the only solid thing in the world.
His knuckles turned white.
"I—I don't know…" Kaito choked out.
His voice sounded scared now, not angry.
Then suddenly…
The pain stopped.
Not slowly.
Not fading.
It just cut off.
Like someone turned it off.
Kaito froze, breathing heavily.
He blinked a few times.
His hands slowly fell away from his head.
His hair was messy, his face pale, sweat on his forehead.
Nagato didn't let go of him.
He stared at Kaito's face closely.
"Kaito…?"
His throat moved painfully.
His voice came out quiet.
"…I saw something."
Nagato's eyes narrowed.
"What did you see?"
Kaito stared at the floor, still catching his breath.
His fingers trembled slightly.
"…A shop," he whispered. "And… my hands."
He looked up at Nagato, his expression confused and scared in a realistic way, like he didn't even trust his own mind.
"I don't know if it was a memory," Kaito said softly.
"But it felt real."
Kaito stayed silent for a few seconds after the pain stopped.
He sat on the bed, breathing slowly, as if he had just run a long distance. His shirt was slightly damp near the collar.
Then he pulled in a deep breath and stood up.
"I need some fresh air," he said quietly.
Nagato looked at him immediately.
"Kaito… a moment ago you were about to pass out," he said. "Just sleep. At least for a while."
But Kaito didn't listen.
He walked to the balcony door and unlocked it.
The moment he opened it, warm air came inside. It wasn't cold outside. It was a soft night breeze, almost comforting.
Kaito stepped closer to the balcony, letting the air hit his face.
For a moment, his shoulders relaxed.
But Nagato's expression changed.
He said "Something fells wrong".
Not a clear sound.
Not a clear movement.
Just a feeling.
A sense that something was off.
Nagato's mind worked fast.
Then suddenly, he realized it.
They weren't outside anymore.
They were at Kaito's home.
A place connected to Kaito.
A place where anyone looking for him would check first.
Nagato's eyes widened slightly.
"Damn it," he said out loud.
He punched the wall beside the bed.
Not hard enough to break it, but hard enough to show his frustration.
The sound echoed in the small room.
"We are doomed," he muttered.
Kaito turned his head.
"What…?"
Nagato's face looked angry at himself.
"I was so focused on escaping," he said, breathing heavily, "I didn't even realize where we were going."
Kaito stepped onto the balcony fully.
And then he saw it.
His eyes moved downward toward the main gate.
There were a few cars parked near the entrance.
Too many.
And parked badly—like someone had rushed and didn't care about blocking the road.
Kaito's heart sank.
His lips parted.
"…Police."
The words came out like air.
Red and blue lights weren't flashing, but the cars were clearly marked.
No doubt.
Nagato came to the balcony quickly and followed Kaito's gaze.
The moment he saw them, his face turned serious.
"Shit," Nagato whispered.
Before Kaito could even react, Nagato grabbed his hand tightly.
"Let's go," he said.
Kaito replied with little fear
"They're already here," , pointing with his hand.
Nagato didn't answer.
He didn't have time.
He pulled Kaito back inside.
They ran for the door.
Nagato unlocked it quickly, opened it, and both of them rushed into the hallway.
Their footsteps hit the floor fast.
They moved toward the stairs—
But then they heard it.
Footsteps.
Multiple.
Coming up.
Voices too.
Not loud, but close enough.
Nagato stopped for half a second.
His eyes moved quickly, thinking.
Then he pulled Kaito in the other direction.
"Up," he said.
They ran up the stairs instead.
Fast.
Their breathing grew heavier as they climbed.
The building was quiet, but the sound of their shoes made everything feel louder.
Behind them, a voice shouted.
"There!"
An officer had spotted them.
"They're running to the rooftop!" someone yelled.
More footsteps followed immediately.
The chase was real now.
Nagato pushed the rooftop door open.
The cold metal handle hit his palm, and the door swung wide.
They stepped onto the rooftop.
Open space.
Dark sky.
The wind was stronger here.
Nagato looked left, then right.
His eyes scanned the area quickly.
But there were no nearby buildings close enough to jump to.
No easy escape.
Just open roof and empty air.
Kaito stood near the door, breathing hard.
His hands were shaking.
Before they could move again, the rooftop door behind them slammed open.
Several officers rushed in.
Their boots hit the concrete hard.
"Hands up!" one of them shouted.
Guns were pointed straight at them.
The black metal looked unreal in the rooftop light.
Nagato froze for a second.
His jaw tightened.
Then slowly, he raised both hands.
Kaito did the same, almost automatically.
His mind was blank.
His body moved, but his thoughts were stuck somewhere else.
Nagato kept his hands up, but his eyes still searched the rooftop one last time, hoping for a way out.
There was nothing.
His shoulders dropped slightly.
He knew it.
It was over.
Kaito stood beside him, hands raised, breathing fast.
His eyes were wide, staring at the officers.
But he wasn't really seeing them.
His thoughts were only spinning around one thing—
What happened that night?