Tadashi's body was still trembling when he opened his eyes. The familiar ceiling
greeted him once again, but this time, it felt heavier, like it carried the weight of every
failed attempt.
Kei was sprawled out on the floor, arms behind his head, lazily staring at the ceiling.
"Man, dying sucks. Feels like we barely had a break before getting tossed back in."
Rin stood by the window, scanning the street below. "We lasted four days. That means
we can last longer. We just need better planning."
Tadashi sat up, rubbing his temples. The memory of Rin's blood, of Kei's smirk fading
as life left his eyes—it was too fresh. Too real.
"What's the plan, then?" Tadashi muttered. "We can't just keep repeating the same
cycle."
Rin turned to him, her gaze firm. "We change the approach. We stop treating this like
survival and start treating it like integration. We need connections. Allies. Resources."
Kei raised an eyebrow. "You mean... friends?" He smirked. "Wow, Ice Queen, that
almost sounded emotional."
"Shut up, Kei." Rin crossed her arms. "If we're seen as loners, we'll always be targets.
We need people to notice us not as threats, but as part of the world."
Tadashi thought about it. He had spent so much time keeping his head down, avoiding
connections. But she was right. If he was going to break this cycle, he had to stop trying
to survive alone.
"Fine. But where do we start?" he asked.
Rin turned toward the door. "At school. We observe, we interact, and we pick out the
people who can be useful."
The school grounds were as bustling as ever, but this time, Tadashi wasn't just passing
through—he was watching.
Their first class was Literature, and Tadashi noticed a boy sitting at the back, flipping
through a thick novel with a bored expression. His glasses slipped slightly down his
nose, and he absently pushed them back up.
Kei nudged Tadashi. "That's Hikaru Aizawa. Top of the class, doesn't talk much, but he
knows everything."
"So, an information broker," Tadashi mused.
"More like a walking encyclopedia," Kei grinned. "You need dirt on teachers? He has
it. Need past test questions? He's got 'em. But good luck getting him to talk unless you
impress him."
Tadashi made a mental note. Hikaru might be quiet, but someone who collected
knowledge was always valuable.
As class ended, they moved toward the cafeteria. A loud voice rang through the halls
before they even stepped inside.
"Move it, people! I need a clear path to the food!"
A tall, athletic guy with short-cropped hair pushed through the crowd with the
confidence of someone who belonged everywhere. His energy was infectious, even as
people groaned at his theatrics.
"And that's Daiki Sakamoto," Rin noted. "Sports star, social butterfly, and way too
loud."
Kei chuckled. "But everyone loves him. You want someone to open doors for you? He's
your guy."
Tadashi watched as Daiki high-fived one student, playfully wrestled another, and
effortlessly charmed the cafeteria staff into giving him extra portions. He was loud,
sure, but his presence commanded attention.
They grabbed their food and found an open table. But before Tadashi could sit, a tray
slammed down across from him.
"You're new," a girl's voice stated.
Tadashi looked up. A girl with short brown hair and sharp eyes studied him carefully.
She wasn't smiling, but there was something assessing in her gaze.
"You are?" he asked.
"Nao Takahashi. Second-year. I watch people."
"...Right." Tadashi raised an eyebrow. "And why are you watching me?"
"Because you're interesting." Nao leaned forward, her chin resting on her hand. "You
don't act like someone who just transferred in. You move like someone studying the
battlefield."
Kei grinned. "Oh, you'll get along just fine with the ice queen."
Rin shot him a glare, but Tadashi had to admit—Nao was perceptive. If she had noticed
his behavior this quickly, she could be dangerous. Or useful.
A sudden clatter of trays drew their attention. A boy with soft silver hair and a nervous
expression struggled to balance his lunch as he bumped into a chair.
"S-Sorry!" he mumbled, bowing repeatedly to no one in particular.
A group of older students snickered, whispering among themselves. One of them
deliberately stuck out a foot, tripping the boy.
Before he could hit the ground, Daiki caught him by the back of the shirt. "Whoa there,
buddy! Gravity's not your friend today, huh?"
The boy's face turned bright red. "I--uh--t-thanks."
"That's Haruto Miyazaki," Rin supplied. "Soft-hearted, too polite for his own good."
Kei nodded. "Yeah, but he's got a sharp mind. He's top in science and tech. If you need
something built, hacked, or repaired, he's your guy."
Haruto quickly scurried away to a far-off table, clearly uncomfortable with the
attention. Daiki turned back toward Tadashi's group, raising an eyebrow. "You lot are
looking pretty serious over here. New guy, right?"
Tadashi nodded. "Murata Tadashi."
Daiki grinned and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Well, welcome to the jungle,
Murata! Stick with us, and maybe you won't get eaten alive."
Nao smirked. "Or maybe he'll be the one doing the eating."
Hikaru, who had silently appeared next to their table at some point, adjusted his glasses.
"Statistically speaking, the quiet ones usually are."
Tadashi blinked. When did he get here?
Kei snickered. "See? Told you this school's got characters."
Rin tapped her fingers on the table. "This might actually work."
Tadashi exhaled slowly. Four new faces. Four new personalities.
Maybe this time... he wouldn't have to survive alone.
He looked around the table, absorbing the moment. A new attempt. A new approach.
For the first time in a long while, hope flickered in his chest.
"Alright," he said, smirking slightly. "Let's see where this goes."