The impact was instant.
A deafening crash.
Metal twisted.
Glass shattered.
Pain exploded through his body—
And then—
Nothing.
…
Kael opened his eyes.
His breath came out in sharp, uneven bursts.
—What…?
The ceiling fan spun lazily above him.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
A classroom.
Voices murmuring.
Chairs scraping.
The faint scratching of pens on paper.
His fingers trembled.
—No… this isn't real…
He looked down at his hands.
Uninjured.
No blood.
No pain.
His heart began to pound.
—That's impossible…
The memory hit him like a wave.
Headlights.
Blinding.
Too close.
The sound of a horn—
Then impact.
He had died.
He knew it.
There was no doubt.
So why—
—Kael.
His body froze.
That voice.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Airi.
She sat in front of him, resting her chin lightly on her hand.
Watching him.
Black hair falling softly over her shoulders.
Calm eyes.
Too calm.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
She wasn't surprised.
She wasn't confused.
She was… observing him.
As if she had been waiting for this exact moment.
—You look pale, she said quietly.
Kael opened his mouth.
No words came out.
—You… I…
His thoughts spiraled out of control.
This had to be a dream.
A hallucination.
A trick of his mind—
—It already happened, didn't it? he whispered.
Silence.
The world seemed to pause.
And then—
Airi smiled.
Not warm.
Not kind.
But knowing.
—Yes, she said softly.
Kael's chest tightened.
—It already happened.
…
The noise in the classroom faded into nothing.
—What… do you mean?
Airi leaned forward slightly.
Her eyes locked onto his.
Sharp.
Unmoving.
—You realized it faster this time.
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
—This time…?
Her smile didn't fade.
If anything, it deepened.
—Kael…
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
Low.
Almost gentle.
—How many times do you think you've died?
…
Something inside him cracked.
His breathing grew uneven.
—That's not… possible…
But even as he said it—
He wasn't sure anymore.
Because deep down…
It felt true.
Like something buried inside him was trying to claw its way out.
Memories that didn't belong.
Feelings he couldn't explain.
Fear.
Familiar fear.
Airi tilted her head slightly.
Studying him.
—You always say that.
His eyes widened.
—Always…?
She didn't answer right away.
Instead, she slowly stood up.
Her chair scraped softly against the floor.
No one reacted.
No one cared.
It was like the world itself had dulled.
Like nothing outside of this moment mattered.
She took a step closer.
Then another.
Each step made the air heavier.
Harder to breathe.
—Every time you come back… you're confused.
Kael couldn't move.
—Every time you deny it.
She stopped in front of him.
Close.
Too close.
—And every time…
Her eyes darkened.
—You die again.
…
Silence swallowed everything.
Kael's heart pounded violently in his chest.
—No…
His voice shook.
—No, that's not real…
Airi leaned closer.
Close enough for him to feel her breath.
—It is.
…
Kael's vision blurred.
His thoughts shattered.
—Then tell me…
His voice trembled.
—What happens next?
For a brief moment—
Airi hesitated.
Just a second.
But it was enough.
Then—
She smiled again.
That same unsettling smile.
—You panic.
…
Cold.
Everything felt cold.
—And then…?
—You try to survive.
—Do I?
—Yes.
Her eyes locked onto his.
—But it doesn't matter.
…
Kael's throat tightened.
—Why…?
Airi's voice dropped to a whisper.
Soft.
Almost gentle.
—Because you always die.
…
His body froze.
His mind went blank.
—How…?
For the first time—
Airi's expression flickered.
Just slightly.
—You really don't remember, do you?
…
She leaned even closer.
Her lips near his ear.
—Good.
…
Kael stopped breathing.
—Why…?
Airi's whisper sent a chill through his entire body.
—Because this time…
A pause.
A breath.
And then—
—I want to see how long you last.