Paralyzed by fear and uncertainty, Ishin clutched the note tightly with a trembling hand, as if holding it anchored him in the chaos.

  "You were tricked. If you want the truth, come to the lab after school."

  Tricked? By who? And what truth were they talking about?

  His fingers tightened around the paper. His mind was already a mess from this morning, and now this?

  Shun peeked over his shoulder. "Yo, what's that?"

  Ishin quickly folded the note and stuffed it into his pocket. "Nothing."

  Shun raised an eyebrow. "Riiight. Because people totally leave random 'nothing' on your desk."

  Ishin didn't respond. He couldn't. Not until he knew what this was about.

  ---

  The school day dragged on, each class feeling longer than the last. His mind wasn't on the lessons. It was on the note. On the voice in the mirror. On the parts of his past that felt like they were slipping away.

  Finally, the last bell rang.

  Students poured out of the classroom, eager to leave. But Ishin stayed behind, his heart hammering in his chest.

  The lab.

  It was on the third floor, past the library, in a quiet hallway that barely anyone used. He had never really paid attention to it before.

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  By the time he got there, the hall was empty. The door to the lab was slightly open, a sliver of darkness visible inside.

  He hesitated.

  This could be a trap.

  His gut told him to turn around. To forget about this.

  But his heart told him otherwise.

  If this was about his past… about what he forgot… he had to know.

  Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.

  ---

  The air was stale, thick with the scent of dust and old books. The only light came from the setting sun filtering through the window.

  And then—

  He saw someone.

  A girl, standing near the shelves, her back turned to him. Long black hair, school uniform, small frame.

  She wasn't moving.

  Ishin swallowed. "Did you leave the note?"

  No answer.

  A strange pressure filled the air.

  Something was wrong.

  Then, the girl spoke. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.

  "You don't remember me, do you?"

  Ishin froze.

  His chest tightened. His head started to ache.

  And then—

  A memory hit him like a lightning strike.

  Blood. Screams. A cold, lifeless gaze staring back at him.

  His vision blurred. His breath caught in his throat.

  Who… who was she?

  The girl finally turned to face him.

  And Ishin's world shattered.

  ---