The only thing that brought Ren any peace was the memory of Sora's eyes.
He lay in bed that morning, staring at the ceiling as faint sunlight crept through the half-drawn curtains. The room smelled of old books and the faint musty scent of his unwashed uniform hanging on the chair. Yesterday's confession kept replaying in his head like a broken record — the way Sora had cupped his face, pushed his messy hair back, and whispered those dangerous, heartfelt words. "I'm in love with you." "Be mine only." "I'll do anything for you."
But more than her words, it was the eye contact. When he looked into her calm brown eyes, the curse went silent. No blood. No screams. No final moments of agony. For the first time since the ability had awakened, he could look at someone without watching them die in vivid, merciless detail.
It felt like peace.
Like escape.
Like the first real breath he had taken in days.
He didn't understand why it happened only with her. He was too scared to question it too deeply. All he knew was that her eyes had become his only safe place in a world that kept showing him corpses.
School felt heavier than ever that morning.
The corridors were filled with the usual chatter, but an undercurrent of grief lingered after Kota's death. Students spoke in hushed tones near the lockers. The basketball court outside had a small memorial setup — flowers and a basketball with his name written on it — but no shrine inside the building. Ren kept his head down, avoiding every pair of eyes as he walked to his seat. Yui's desk still held its flowers and notes, a constant reminder.
During the mid-morning break, while Sora was briefly called away by the teacher for some paperwork, Ren stood near the open window trying to collect his thoughts. The breeze carried the distant sound of students playing on the field and the faint scent of blooming cherry blossoms from the school courtyard.
That was when Aya approached him again.
She stopped a respectful distance away, her school bag slung over one shoulder. "Ishida-kun," she said gently, voice soft and sincere. "I'm really sorry about the other day. I thought I might have been bothering you when I tried to talk. I didn't mean to make things awkward. I just… wanted to check on you after everything that's happened."
Ren kept his gaze firmly on the floor tiles, refusing to meet her eyes. He gave a small, stiff nod but said nothing. He couldn't risk another vision. Not now.
Aya smiled softly, misunderstanding his silence as grief. "I know it must be hard. You don't have to say anything. Just… know that not everyone is gossiping. Some of us are genuinely worried." She paused, then added with a light, curious tilt of her head, "By the way… are you dating Sora Kurosaki? You two seem really close lately."
Ren's face instantly flushed bright red. Heat rushed up his neck and ears. He stammered, "N-No… we're not dating."
Aya blinked, surprised by his strong reaction, then gave a small, understanding smile. "Oh, okay. Sorry if that was personal. I was just wondering. She seems to really care about you."
Before Ren could respond, Aya gave a polite little bow and walked away, leaving him standing there with his heart pounding and cheeks burning. For a brief moment, he felt a flicker of normal human connection — Aya really was nice. Kind without any hidden agenda. But the guilt twisted in his chest anyway. He couldn't let anyone in. Not when looking at them meant seeing their end.
The vision came by complete accident during the last period.
Ren was passing a stack of papers forward when his eyes briefly met those of Mr. Hayashi, the young PE teacher who often supervised after-school clubs. It was barely a second of eye contact.
But it was enough.
The vision was brutally clear and terrifyingly close.
Tonight. Less than four hours from now.
Mr. Hayashi walking home along the narrow construction path beside the river. A loose metal rebar rod from a nearby building site suddenly falls from a scaffold. It pierces straight through his chest with a sickening wet thunk, the jagged end bursting out his back. Blood sprays across the pavement as he staggers, gasping, eyes wide with shock and agony. He collapses, the rod still impaled through him, blood pooling rapidly beneath his twitching body until everything fades.
Ren jerked back in his seat, heart hammering. This one was too soon. Way too soon.
He spent the rest of class in a cold sweat, staring at his desk. No, he told himself firmly. I'm not interfering. Not this time. Every time I try, it only gets worse. Maybe if I don't do anything it won't happen.
The decision felt like cowardice. It felt like betrayal. But after Kota, after the old man, after Tanaka… he couldn't bring himself to try again.
After school, Sora was waiting for him at the gate like always.
She smiled brightly the moment she saw him, falling into step beside him. Her uniform skirt swayed gently with each step, and she stayed close enough that their arms brushed occasionally. The late afternoon sun bathed the streets in warm golden light, casting long shadows from the cherry trees lining the sidewalk. The air smelled of damp earth and distant rain.
"You've been quiet today," she said softly, voice full of concern. "Is it because of what happened with Kota? Or… because of what I said yesterday?" She glanced at him, a hint of vulnerability mixed with that quiet possessiveness. "You don't have to be scared of me, Ren. I meant every word."
Ren didn't answer. His mind was still on Mr. Hayashi. The clock in his head was ticking.
They walked together along the familiar route home, passing the quiet residential streets and the small park where they had talked the day before. The sun was already setting, painting the sky in deep oranges and purples, the river glittering in the distance.
Then it happened.
They were crossing the small bridge near the river when they heard the metallic clang and a sickening, wet impact.
Mr. Hayashi was walking along the construction path below. A loose metal rebar rod suddenly fell from a scaffold above, piercing straight through his chest with a horrible, wet thunk. The jagged end burst out his back. Blood sprayed across the pavement as he staggered, gasping, eyes wide with shock and agony. He collapsed, the rod still impaled through him, blood pooling rapidly beneath his twitching body.
It happened exactly as Ren had seen. No deviation. No change.
Ren froze for a split second, then a broken sound tore from his throat. He turned and ran.
He sprinted blindly into a narrow alley a block away — the same shadowed space where he had cried after Kota's death. Old brick walls rose on both sides, covered in faded graffiti, the ground littered with discarded cans and puddles from last night's rain. He slammed his back against the cold wall and slid down, breathing hard.
"It's my fault…" he shouted into the empty alley, voice cracking with rage and despair. "I saw it! I knew it was going to happen tonight and I didn't even try! I didn't do anything! It's still my fault… why is everything my fault?! Could I have even done anything?"
Tears burned his eyes. He punched the ground hard, knuckles splitting. "I'm just a stupid high school kid… why do I keep failing everyone?!"
Footsteps approached quickly.
Sora rushed into the alley, eyes wide with worry. She dropped to her knees in front of him without hesitation and pulled him into her arms, holding him tightly against her chest.
"Ren… Ren, what's wrong?" she asked, voice trembling with confusion and concern. "Why are you blaming yourself? You didn't do anything. You were just walking with me. It's not your fault… none of this is your fault."
Ren shook his head violently, still crying. "You don't understand… you don't understand anything…"
Sora cupped his face with both hands, forcing him to look at her. Her touch was warm, gentle, but insistent. "Then look at me," she whispered. "Look at me, Ren. Please."
He did.
The moment their eyes met, the storm inside him quieted. No vision. No blood. No death. Just Sora's calm, beautiful brown eyes filled with nothing but love and worry for him. The peace washed over him like cool water on burning skin. His breathing slowed. His trembling eased.
Sora's face softened with pure joy and relief as he held her gaze. She stroked his hair gently, her thumbs brushing his tears away.
"That's it…" she murmured tenderly. "Just keep looking at me. I'm here. I'll always be here for you. No matter what happens, I'll protect you from everything. Even from yourself."
She pulled him closer, pressing his head against her shoulder, her arms wrapping around him possessively. In that moment, her love was genuine — but so was the quiet satisfaction of being the only one who could calm him down.
Ren stayed there in the alley, letting her hold him, breathing in her scent.
Her eyes had become his only sanctuary.
But he was starting to realize that sanctuaries could also be cages.