The people who would kill him were sitting only a few meters away.
That thought didn't make Aiden angry.
It didn't make his heartbeat speed up, either.
Instead, it settled calmly in his mind, like a known fact he had already accepted.
He watched them from his seat near the window, his expression relaxed, his posture lazy enough that no one would suspect a thing. To everyone else, he was just another average student waiting for Awakening Day like the rest of them.
Only Aiden knew the truth.
The boy laughing loudly in the center row would become a shield-type Awakened with decent defense but terrible instincts. He would survive longer than most and learn quickly how to hide behind others.
The girl beside him, smiling softly while scrolling on her phone, would awaken a support-class ability. Healing. Buffs. Enough value to be wanted by any team—but not enough to stand alone.
And the quiet one in the back?
He would be the one to give the signal.
Aiden remembered it clearly.
The way that quiet one's hand had twitched just before the dungeon destabilized. The way his voice stayed calm as he said, "Fall back."
That single word had decided Aiden's death.
Aiden looked away.
Staring too long invited attention, and attention led to questions. He had learned long ago that the safest weapon was invisibility.
The teacher's voice droned on, explaining material that no longer mattered. Exams. Universities. Futures that would be rewritten in less than three months.
Aiden let the sound wash over him.
In his previous life, this had been the period where everything still felt normal. Where friendships still felt real. Where he believed people when they smiled and promised to watch each other's backs.
This time, he knew better.
The bell rang.
Chairs scraped against the floor as students stood and stretched. Conversations instantly shifted back to Awakening Day, like gravity pulling everything toward the same point.
"Hey, Aiden."
He turned.
The shield-type future betrayer stood beside his desk, wearing an easy smile. It was the same one Aiden remembered—friendly, confident, and completely unthreatening.
"You've been quiet lately," the boy said. "Nervous about Awakening Day?"
Aiden blinked once, then smiled back.
"A little," he replied. His tone was light, natural. "I think everyone is."
The boy laughed. "Yeah, same. But hey, no matter what universe you get, we'll figure something out. Team up or something."
Aiden nodded.
"Sure."
The word tasted strange.
In the previous life, that same promise had made him feel relieved. Supported. Like he wasn't alone.
Now, it sounded like a contract written in disappearing ink.
More of them gathered around.
Casual questions. Fake concern. Light jokes about rankings and luck. Nothing that could be called suspicious. Nothing that could be used against them later.
They were good at this.
That was why they survived.
Aiden answered when needed, smiled when expected, and kept every emotion locked safely behind his eyes. No one noticed anything wrong.
And that was exactly how he wanted it.
Eventually, the group drifted away, laughter echoing down the hallway as they discussed which universes they hoped to see. Legendary swords. Divine bloodlines. Instant power.
None of them mentioned Minecraft.
Aiden packed his bag slowly and stood.
As he walked down the corridor, he replayed the future in his mind—not as trauma, but as information.
First dungeon invite.Low-risk, they would say.Good for testing abilities.
He remembered how eager he had been.
This time, he would still accept.
Avoiding them now would only raise suspicion. Changing too much too early could ripple the timeline in unpredictable ways.
Aiden had no intention of doing that.
Not yet.
Outside the school gates, the afternoon sun hung low in the sky. Students dispersed in groups, chatting excitedly. Life went on as if nothing was about to break.
Aiden walked alone.
At a quiet corner, he stopped and leaned against a wall, closing his eyes for a moment.
He let himself feel it then.
Not rage.
Not hatred.
Just a thin, sharp resolve.
"I won't confront you," he said softly, words meant only for himself."I won't warn you. I won't change you."
That wasn't his role anymore.
"This time," Aiden continued, eyes opening slowly, "I build alone."
No teams built on convenience.No friendships tied to survival.No reliance on people who measured lives by usefulness.
He checked his phone.
69 days until Awakening Day.
The number looked smaller than it should have.
Aiden slipped the phone into his pocket and started walking again, his pace unhurried.
Behind him, the future betrayers were still smiling.
They had no idea.
And that was the best part.