I Need Help

The morning after that incident, Shunsei’s dorm room felt quieter than usual.

There was no Mizuki sitting by the bed like always, watching him make coffee.

Just silence.

No voices.

Just his own breathing heavy and slow.

He was sitting alone on the floor, back against the bed.

Eyes blank.

Last night, when Mizuki had unleashed all those hands, shutting the door, the windows, even sealing the corners and walls.

Shunsei had slowly backed away until he hit the wall, clearly scared.

And the moment Mizuki saw that fear in his eyes, fear of him.

He froze.

Then quietly pulled all the hands back in.

“I didn’t mean to...” Mizuki’s voice was barely a whisper.

That night, Mizuki decided to move out.

Not because he was kicked out, but because he chose to leave.

He packed a bag and crashed in Kaito’s room, with his roommate.

“Sorry.” he said quietly before shutting the door behind him.

And since then.

Silence.

Shunsei hadn’t replied.

He just sat there. Frozen.

Even after Mizuki left, his breathing stayed shaky. That night, he was in full-on shock and fear from what he’d seen.

But this morning, what lingered most was guilt.

It felt like he’d hurt two people at once.

Kaito was severely traumatized.

And Mizuki… looked genuinely heartbroken.

And him? He was just sitting here, doing nothing.

Eventually, he stood up.

Grabbed his hoodie, packed a small bag.

It was Saturday, no classes.

So he decided to escape to Osaka. No plan. Just him. Solo trip.

Train ride. Wandering. Impulse healing.

He strolled through cosplay crowds, grabbed random street snacks, people-watched.

By late afternoon, the sky was getting darker.

He decided to walk back from the station instead of taking the bus, extra healing, he told himself.

That’s when he accidentally wandered down a narrow street where people in the area called it “haunted.”

At the end of the turn, there was a big tree.

Next to it, a run-down abandoned house.

It looked terrifying. The air felt off. Like something was there.

But he didn’t care.

And of course.

Right after that

He felt something weird on the back of his neck.

Like he was being followed.

He kept walking. Fast. Goosebumps rising.

And yeah.

He wasn’t wrong.

Something was following him.

That night, Shunsei finally got back to the dorm.

Quiet. Completely still.

He cleaned up before bed. Staring at the bathroom mirror, he felt weird. Not alone.

A restless feeling he couldn’t explain.

“I swear to god, I’m so done.” He muttered, gripping his head like he was losing it.

After showering, he scrolled through his phone a bit, then tried to sleep.

Mizuki was in another room now.

So he slept alone.

But sleep didn’t come easy.

He kept tossing and turning.

At 4:58 AM, his eyes cracked open.

Slowly.

It felt like someone was standing in the room.

He looked around.

Nothing.

But his skin was crawling.

He pulled the blanket up to his chin.

“I’m so tired, I swear.” He whispered under his breath. “Please… just let me rest.”

But the feeling didn’t leave.

The air stayed cold.

His body felt heavy.

He gave up on sleep and decided to make coffee.

At 6:40 AM, he had a small schedule to go for a walk around the dorm area.

He popped in his AirPods, music playing.

“Whatever. At least I’ll get some air. I’m gonna go insane stuck in that room.”

Meanwhile.

At 7:03 AM, Mizuki stood at their old room’s door.

Still. Unsure.

But eventually, he knocked softly and called out.

“Shunsei?”

Three knocks.

No answer.

Mizuki checked his watch.

He remembered, Shunsei usually jogged on weekends.

So he headed to the lobby and walked toward the main exit.

Just as he opened the front door.

Someone was walking back inside.

Gray hoodie.

Out of breath.

It was Shunsei.

They locked eyes.

Neither said anything at first.

Mizuki looked relieved for a second.

But his expression quickly changed.

He froze. His eyes went wide.

“Shunsei.” He said quietly.

“…What’s that behind you?”

Shunsei’s breath caught.

“Huh?”

“There’s something.”

Mizuki stepped closer.

He paused.

Then his voice dropped, serious.

“You’re being followed, aren’t you?”

Shunsei turned around quickly. Nothing was there.

But suddenly, he felt it.

That weight.

That chill.

“…Hahh.”

He exhaled sharply.

Like he already knew.

“What does it look like…?”

Mizuki raised a hand and pointed gently.

“It... looks human. But it’s definitely not.

It’s hunched over. The whole body’s pitch black. Not just in color, but the aura, too. Like fog. Like it latched onto you… And i think, it's because you walked through a place you shouldn’t have.”

Shunsei instantly shivered.

Deep breath.

“…I’m tired, Mizuki. I’m tired of feeling like this all the time.

But I’m also… scared of you.”

He paused.

“I feel guilty about everything that happened. I’m sorry.”

Mizuki stayed silent for a while.

His face is full of worry, but steady.

But one thing was clear.

He cared.

“No… I’m the one who should apologize.” Mizuki said softly.

“I hurt Kaito. I broke my promise. I never meant to hurt him.”

Shunsei lowered his head.

“I know.”

Mizuki stepped forward.

“Please… let me help. I don’t want you getting attached to something else.”

Shunsei hesitated. About to say no.

But in the end, he nodded.

“You sure… you can handle it?”

“I’m sure.” Mizuki said, voice firm.

“I got this.”

Shunsei just exhaled and led him back to their room.

Mizuki smiled quietly.

Relieved.

Forgiven. Maybe.

Later that day, they sat by a small lake on the edge of Osaka.

Cool breeze. Calm skies.

And finally, Shunsei asked.

“Mizuki.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have a real name?”

Mizuki smiled a little.

“No.”

“...Seriously?”

“Beings like me don’t need a real name.

We weren’t born for that. We don’t really have… a society thing.”

Shunsei was quiet for a bit.

“…Would you want a new name?”

Mizuki looked at him.

Then at the lake.

His voice was quiet.

“If you wanted to give me one, I wouldn’t mind. But I’m okay with Mizuki. I like it.”

Shunsei didn’t say anything.

But a soft smile formed on his lips.

Elsewhere.

In a dim room somewhere unknown.

The only light came from sunlight slipping through a window.

A man in formal clothing sat across from someone sleeping on a couch.

On the table between them was a strange device.

Shaped like a metronome.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

He slowly pulled it from his pocket.

Answered.

Stayed silent for a few beats.

Then, a voice on the other end spoke clearly

“We need your help.”

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