Inside the abandoned building with its peeling, rusty walls, the continuous, slow drip of water from a leaky pipe was the only sound cutting through the heavy silence. A smug-looking man in his mid-30s, wearing an unbuttoned polo shirt and sharp black trousers, stood by a broken window panel. A distinct, jagged scar ran down his cheek as he casually exhaled a thick cloud of cigar smoke into the damp air.
Behind him stood two younger goons in their early 20s, Lio and Lovo. Both kept their heads lowered, visibly terrified of the shifting mood of the man sitting in the central swivel chair. As the silence grew heavier, the underlying tension in the room spiked.
"Master—" Lovo, the goon with the shock of blue hair, tentatively started to speak. He clamped his mouth shut instantly when a sharp creak of the swivel chair echoed between the four rusty walls.
"Do you have something you need to say, Lovo?" the master asked, his deep baritone voice dripping with a cold, slow authority.
The blue-haired goon bowed his head even lower, his shoulders shaking slightly as he vigorously shook his head. "No, Master. My apologies." The master smoothly rotated his chair, shifting his gaze to the brown-haired boy standing right beside Lovo. Lio wore a stark, nervous expression, his eyes darting anxiously around the room.
"Lio. Do you have the specific updates I asked you to retrieve?"
"Yes, Master," Lio stammered, clearing his throat to steady his voice. "He was successfully brought back to life. He managed to survive the incident, but the doctors say he can't remember a single trace of what actually happened."
"Continue."
"And... the other one... he died on impact." Master M offered a slow, deliberate nod of his head, processing the information.
"Should we mobilize and—" Lio started, but his suggestion was cut violently short as the heavy wooden door was slammed open with a loud, echoing bang.
In a fraction of a second, Lio and Lovo drew their semi-automatic pistols from their waistbands, stepping back as they aggressively aimed their weapons directly at the dark entryway.Master M, however, didn't move an inch. He remained sitting comfortably, leaning deep into his leather swivel chair while casually puffing his cigar between his index finger and thumb. He watched the doorway with absolute amusement, as if he were simply sitting in a front-row seat at an action movie.
A muffled, rustling sound echoed from just beyond the threshold, followed by a suffocating silence. Lio and Lovo tightened their grips on their handguns, sweat pooling at their temples. The heavy door slowly creaked open further, the agonizingly slow movement accompanied only by the rhythmic dripping of water.
Lovo flinched, his stance faltering slightly as a highly familiar face materialized from the dark hallway. It was one of Master M's personal gang members. But the man was merely a shell; his clothes were drenched in a dark pool of blood weeping from fatal wounds on his head and stomach. Before Lovo could call out, the body stumbled blindly forward, collapsing heavily onto the floorboards.
Standing directly behind the corpse was a stranger clad in structured, dark medieval-inspired clothing. A sleek mask covered his face to completely secure his identity.
"Well, well. Pardon me for intruding so unceremoniously," a deep voice called out. The stranger spoke through a high-end voice changer, making his tone sound entirely synthetic as he casually used a silk cloth to clean fresh blood from the blade of a small, curved karambit knife. He spun the weapon with practiced certainty before smoothly securing it to his back.
"You really should have told me you were planning a visit," Master M said smoothly, taking a slow drag from his cigar without filtering his tone.
Lio and Lovo exchanged a thoroughly confused glance, but they lowered their weapons and cautiously backed up to stand flush beside Master M's chair.
"I believe I haven't had the pleasure of introducing myself properly," the masked man stated, his hidden eyes scanning the room.
"I know exactly who you are," Master M smirked, tapping the ash from his cigar. "You're the one who handles the exceptionally dirty work for the higher-ups."
Before the stranger could reply, a second figure stepped out from the shadows of the corridor. The newcomer possessed an average height, the body clad in a form-fitting black leather outfit with a heavy fabric veil obscuring it's face.
"I guess your intelligence is remarkably accurate," the masked man chuckled darkly. "In my line of work, they call me Shadow. And this is my lethal companion, Veilevil." On cue, Shadow opened his right hand. Veilevil reached into her leather vest, retrieved a thick manila envelope, and placed it smoothly into his palm. Shadow stepped forward, tossing the package directly onto Master M's cluttered desk.
"We have a highly lucrative deal to propose to you," Shadow stated.
Master M puffed his cigar, a cold, calculated smirk curling onto his lips. "Well, I suppose I can spare a tiny bit of my time to listen. Though we do have someone very specific to visit later today, and I absolutely cannot delay that appointment."
.
Across the city, the heavy midday heat hummed through the campus gymnasium, matching the growing frustration building behind Leansei's ribs. He stood by the edge of the polished court, an irritated look clouding his features as his eyes tracked Del and Vio rehearsing their choreography for next week's acquaintance party.
Del Ronia and Vio Leso were a notoriously close dance duo on campus, selected to perform a central piece for the grand event.
But in reality, Leansei's frustration wasn't aimed at the dancers at all. His irritation was entirely focused on the towering figure sitting directly behind him on the wooden bleachers. He couldn't grasp the logic of securing an official academic excuse letter for the day, only for someone to completely slack off—specifically, a certain elite athlete who refused to leave his side.
As the music played, Leansei's mind began to drift, a sudden wave of troubling thoughts and uneasy, suffocating feelings wandering right back into his chest. When he had woken up earlier that morning, a profound intuition had told him that something terrible was slated to happen today. Yet, he hadn't been able to bring himself to skip the session, knowing this week was a critical milestone for the student council officers.
"Ah!"
A sharp groan of pain shattered his thoughts, pulling him violently back to reality.Leansei snapped his head up to find Del collapsing onto the polished floor, her hands tightly clutching her left foot. Vio immediately dropped to his knees beside her, his face turning pale with worry as he asked if she was okay.
Panicking, Leansei hurriedly ran across the court, dropping into a kneel to inspect her injury. He gently pressed his fingers against her skin; the ankle wasn't swollen, and there was no sign of a physical sprain.
' It looks exactly like a pinched root nerve, ' he analyzed quickly.Leansei reached out, fully intending to massage the pressure point to ease the pain, when a massive shadow abruptly fell over him. Xerchin materialized right behind his shoulder, a dark, freezing look written across his handsome features.
"Step back. Let Vio handle the massage, since he is status-confirmed Del's boyfriend," Xerchin commanded flatly. Standing a pace away, Beidhen let out a low, mocking laugh, a wicked smirk playing on his lips as if an incredibly annoying, mischievous thought had just entered his mind.
Leansei flinched in surprise, his eyes darting to Del, whose face had instantly flushed a deep, breathless shade of crimson. Beside her, Vio was blushing just as furiously, keeping his head down to avoid their eyes.
' Ah... so that's why, ' Leansei realized, a quiet understanding easing his posture. ' It looks like they were simply too shy to announce their romantic relationship to the rest of the campus. No wonder their chemistry on the floor is always so flawless. They are genuinely in love; they dance with real feelings. '
"Alright," Leansei said smoothly, rising to his feet and stepping back to grant them space. "Let her rest her muscles for a few minutes before taking her straight down to the clinic. Vio, if the doctor says she absolutely cannot perform today, notify me immediately."
Before Vio could voice his agreement, Leansei's phone vibrated aggressively against his thigh, a loud ringtone echoing through the quiet gym. Vio offered a grateful nod, carefully scooping Del up into his arms to carry her toward the exit doors.
"What exactly is going on over here?" Xeilin asked, walking onto the court with a stack of schedules.
Leansei pulled his phone from his pocket, casting a brief glance at the flashing screen before ignoring the call entirely. "Del just suffered a sudden pinched root nerve. I'm honestly worried if she needs to be taken directly to the hospital for a proper checkup."
Xeilin scratched the back of his neck, his brow furrowing. "Do we have any viable alternatives lined up to fill Del's spot on the roster?"
Leansei shook his head. "I think Delia has the official master list. I'll notify her." Xeilin nodded, pulling out his own device and typing rapidly as he walked away toward the equipment manager's desk to make a call.
' Bzzzz. '
Leansei's phone roared to life for a second time. He pulled it out, his eyes narrowing as Tyvan's name flashed across the digital display. He let out a sharp hiss of mock irritation, choosing to silence the call.
"By the way, Lean," Xeilin called out, pausing near the exit. "Did you manage to completely memorize their choreography during the previous sessions?"
Leansei thought about the routine; the movements were remarkably clean, fluid, and easy to map out. It was a beautiful mix of rhythmic footwork, glazing transitions, and harmonizing lines. Since he had always been an exceptionally fast learner, he had already cataloged every single move they possessed in the back of his mind.
"Yeah, I remember the entire routine. Do you have a specific alternative couple in mind?" Leansei asked.
"I have a few ideas—wait, let me just call them right now to verify their availability," Xeilin said, stepping out into the hallway to find a quiet space.
Leansei stood solitary on the court, his patience wearing thin as his phone began vibrating aggressively for a third consecutive time. He raised the screen, fully prepared to block the number, but the frustration vanished from his chest in a fraction of a second.
The caller ID displayed his mother—or rather, Kean's mother.Leansei hesitated, his fingers hovering over the green button as a wave of unyielding guilt tightened his throat. He took a long, controlled breath before sliding the screen. "Hello?"
[ Kean, my dear! I have absolutely magnificent news! ] Mrs. Ferech's sweet, melodic voice chimed beautifully through the receiver. [ Next month—or probably the month right after—our entire family will officially be traveling down to Levous City! I know just how incredibly excited you've been to visit, so please make sure you don't forget the date, okay? ] Leansei froze dead in his tracks, his blood running instantly ice-cold.
The name of his brutal hometown struck his ears like a physical blow. His mind short-circuited as a terrifying realization crashed over his chest: he had known exactly what his boundaries were, yet he had allowed himself to drift completely off course. He was heading down an entirely wrong, dangerous direction—or most accurately, he had actively chosen to embrace a beautiful lie.
[ Honey? Are you still there on the line? ] her worried voice cut through his panic.
Leansei swallowed hard, his knuckles turning white as his grip tightened violently around the frame of his phone. "Ahh... yes, Mom. I... I will make sure to remember."
[ Wonderful, then! Good luck with your afternoon studies today, sweetheart. Bye! love you! ] The line clicked, and the call officially ended.
Leansei slowly lowered his arm, staring blankly down at the empty polished floorboards. In the absolute quiet of the gymnasium, a familiar, heavy emotion he hadn't faced in years settled deep behind his ribs.
It was a profound, suffocating sense of depression and complete loneliness.A bitter, unyielding realization anchored itself in his mind: he had grown completely, desperately in love with the luxury of being Kean. Or more accurately... he had grown to love the beautiful deception of pretending to be someone he wasn't.
' How incredibly selfish I am... '
That single, devastating thought wrapped tightly around Leansei's soul, echoing endlessly through his mind for the rest of the day.
.
The rehearsal concluded exactly at 5:30 PM. It had been an absolutely grueling session for Leansei, leaving his mind far more exhausted than his physical body.
"Fantastic work, guys! See you all first thing tomorrow!" Xeilin called out across the gym as Del and Vio bid their formal goodbyes. Nearby, Rell kept his gaze fixed intently on Xeilin; Leansei watched the quiet interaction, realizing with a spike of curiosity that he had never actually known the two shared a history.
As Leansei packed his equipment, his internal radar flared. He felt a sudden presence materialize behind his shoulder, a hand extending to make physical contact. Acting on pure survival instinct, Leansei whirled around, his hand snapping out like a vice to lock around the stranger's wrist, twisting it brutally.
"Aw, aw, aw! It's me, it's me! Revin!" Revin groaned loudly in pain, his knees buckling slightly under the pressure. Leansei immediately released his grip, stepping back as Corshe looked on, thoroughly confused by Lean's explosive, defensive reflexes.
"Are you actively trying to crush my bones or what?" Revin whined, aggressively rubbing his wrist, where a sharp red mark was already blooming against the skin.
"Are you completely okay? You really haven't been yourself all day today," Corshe asked, his brow furrowing with genuine worry.
"I'm sorry," Leansei muttered flatly, turning his back on them to hide his rattling nerves.
Xeilin walked over to join their circle, a heavily tired, weary look dragging down his facial features. Sensing the thick tension, Revin lifted his plastic bag and tried to break the ice. "Do you guys want to go grab some ice cream?" In a fraction of a second, Corshe and Xeilin's eyes twinkled with pure, childlike excitement.
"Let's gooo!" Corshe cheered hyperly, his gloomy academic thoughts evaporating into thin air.
Leansei let out a big, internal sigh of relief. At the very least, he was glad Del's ankle had held up through the final block, allowing them to complete the rehearsal itinerary without any major setbacks. But as they exited the building, Leansei used his peripheral vision to scan the surrounding landscape. A cold dread settled deep behind his ribs; he could distinctly feel that someone was tailing them from the shadows.
Leansei stared idly down at the wooden popsicle stick in his hand after finishing his treat. He retrieved a clean handkerchief from his blazer, methodically rolled the fabric around the sticky popsicle stick to keep his clothes clean, and slid it securely into his pocket.
"We should officially head home now. It's rapidly getting dark," Leansei announced, hoisting his leather carry bag over his shoulder.
"Oh, yeah. My family driver just texted that he's waiting nearby. Thank you so much for the ice cream, Revin," Corshe said, a brilliant, radiant smile breaking across his lips under the twilight.
"Oh, my driver is also near. Thank you for the ice cream, Revin." Corshe said with a bright smile on his face.
Revin watched the smaller boy for a moment before tilting his head. "Hey, Corshe... what exactly is with you these days? You look completely..." He cut his own sentence short midway when Xeilin let out a loud, mocking laugh.
"He must be messing around with that handsome new campus chef," Xeilin chimed in ruthlessly, happily shoving Corshe right into his own psychological trap. Corshe snapped his head around, a sudden, burning flush of dark red spreading rapidly across his cheeks.
"W-who on earth told you that?! I will personally kick his genitals!" he stuttered out defensively, his voice cracking.
"Oh, really? Come on, you are seriously in lo—" Before Xeilin could finish, Corshe let out an angry squeak and ran aggressively toward him.
Leansei watched his friends chase each other down the sidewalk, slowly shaking his head. A bitter, heavy thought entered his mind, making his chest tighten. He wondered if he had allowed himself to get entirely too close to these people. If the clock was ticking, how on earth was he supposed to just pack up and leave them behind when the time came?
"Hey, are you actually okay?" Revin's voice grounded him, pulling him away from his thoughts.
Leansei offered a stiff nod. "I'm sorry about what happened back in the gym earlier. Just... please don't sneak up behind me like that again."
"Yeah, my bad entirely. I was fully planning to play a quick prank on you, but I ended up getting pranked instead—or rather, brutally injured," Revin chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "But I'm completely fine now, so don't worry about it."
"What exactly is the history between you and Beidhen?" Leansei froze, his blood running cold as he realized he had spoken the question right out loud; he had fully intended to keep that intrusive thought locked deep within his own mind.
Revin's playful demeanor vanished in a split second. He turned his body away, bracing his hands against his waist as he stared blankly out at the passing traffic instead of answering.
Sensing the heavy shift, Leansei sheepishly scratched his temple in deep regret. "Look, you absolutely don't have to answer that if you're not comfortable."
"No... it's fine," Revin muttered quietly, his eyes tracking a distant car before he tossed his empty ice cream wrapper into a bin. "I'll tell you—I'll tell every single one of you everything someday. Just...., not for right now."
' Everyone in this world must be fighting their own hidden conflicts, ' Leansei reasoned silently, a profound wave of sympathy softening his chest. ' I just genuinely hope that they are going to be okay. '
.
"Come with me, my family driver can easily drop you off at your condo," Corshe offered warmly as they reached the curb.
"Or ride with me! I mean—" Xeilin started excitedly, but Leansei cut him off before he could pitch the invitation.
"Your house is located much farther away than these two, Xei." At the rejection, Xeilin puffed out his lips in a dramatic pout, causing Revin to smile from ear to ear as he watched from the side.
"Well, that completely settles the matter then. He's coming with me," Revin smirked. Corshe instantly shot him a protective, annoyed glare.
Along the side of the road, their respective luxury vehicles and drivers were lining up in a neat row, looking like a miniature parade of cars waiting for their heirs.
"I am not going with a single one of you tonight," Leansei stated firmly, raising his hands to halt the brewing argument. "I have an important place I need to visit alone first. The three of you need to go straight home right now."
In reality, a violent anxiety was clawing at Leansei's throat. He was deeply worried that whoever was currently tailing them from the shadows would map out his friends' home addresses. A dangerous storm was clearly brewing, and Leansei refused to involve them, let alone endanger their lives for his sake.
"Are you absolutely sure you'll be fine?" Corshe asked, his eyes filled with deep-seated concern.
"Yeah, because..." Leansei scrambled to manufacture a believable excuse, forcing a disciplined, assured look onto his face. "...my mother is actually sending a private driver to fetch me from the next block over."
The mention of the Ferech family authority left them with zero room to argue. They nodded compliance and bid him a warm farewell, their cars eventually pulling smoothly into the traffic lane until they vanished from sight.
The exact microsecond they were gone, a heavy wave of ease washed over Leansei's shoulders. But the peace didn't last. He began walking down the dark sidewalk, his mind completely preoccupied by the suffocating, uneasy sensation that the hidden tail was closing the distance.
He turned the corner onto a quieter, abandoned stretch of the street—and stopped dead in his tracks. Standing a few meters ahead of him, blocking the entire width of the pavement, was a group of rough, delinquent men. They stood under the dim yellow glow of a flickering streetlight, their postures rigid, looking as though they had been explicitly waiting for his arrival. Leansei instinctively took a sharp step backward, but the dry scraping of footsteps behind him confirmed his worst fears: he was completely surrounded by thugs.
Leansei turned his body slightly, his gray eyes turning entirely blank and cold as he analyzed the threat.
' What on earth is these guys' problem? What could they possibly want from me? '
"Kean... what an absolutely pleasant surprise to run into you out here," Lio chuckled darkly, stepping out from the front of the pack.
"Who the hell are you people? And what exactly do you want from me?" Leansei demanded, his voice echoing through the quiet street with a full, firm authority. To his own surprise, his tone was entirely devoid of nervousness or fear.
Lio let out a loud, mocking laugh, while beside him, Lovo's lips curved into a wicked, predatory smirk.
"Look at him, Lovo. He looks like he has completely forgotten who we are," Lio mocked, adjusting his stance.
"Well," Lovo hissed, taking a slow, calculated step forward as he cracked his knuckles. "I bet his memory will come rushing straight back to him the exact second we start playing with his body... just like we did last time."
Leansei's pupils dilated. He immediately shifted his weight, dropping his center of gravity as his muscles locked into a rigid, defensive stance, ready to counter whatever violent strike was coming.
' If Kean's soul were still trapped inside this fragile, unconditioned body... he probably wouldn't have survived a single round with these monsters, ' Leansei's mind reeled as a terrifying realization slammed into his chest. Wait... ' 'just like last time'? These bastards... they are the exact ones who orchestrated Kean's near-fatal accident! '