remember me beyonder oblivion

9:00 AM – Wasabe University

The group stopped in front of the classroom entrance. The exam was approaching, but the atmosphere was still filled with the lighthearted chatter from Café Yoru. However, Kairo couldn't shake off Riven's words: "It's the first time I've been there."

Had it been just a bad joke? Or was there something more?

Aenna gave him a light nudge.

— "Hey, are you still thinking about the coffee? If you want, we can go back after the exam. Maybe this time Riven will remember the place."

Riven made a face.

— "Very funny. I wasn't joking."

Lyra chuckled, giving him a sly look.

— "So that means you're losing your memory. We'll have to write you a diary, like in those dramatic movies."

Riven shot her a challenging look.

— "Very witty. But at least I don't forget the notes when I play the violin."

— "Only because I get too emotional, okay? It's an artistic problem, not a mental one."

Kairo found himself smiling weakly. That banter reminded him of why they were so close. Despite everything, there was a perfect balance between them.

Aenna crossed her arms and looked at Kairo with a probing expression.

— "Speaking of confused minds… what about you? You've been acting strange since this morning."

Kairo hesitated. Could he really tell them about the masked figure? About the strange sensations that were tormenting him?

In the end, he shrugged.

— "It's probably just the exam stress."

Aenna looked at him skeptically, twirling the pendant she always wore around her fingers.

— "If you say so…"

Riven stretched, trying to ease the tension.

— "Come on, enough with the paranoia. We need to focus on the most important thing."

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

— "Which is?"

Riven grinned mischievously.

— "What we're going to eat after the exam, of course."

Everyone laughed. For a moment, the lightheartedness returned.

But then, something changed.

---

9:05 AM – In front of the classroom entrance

As they were about to cross the threshold, Kairo froze.

A chill ran down his spine.

The crowd of students around him seemed to dissolve into nothingness.

Everything went silent.

And then he saw him.

On the other side of the corridor, motionless among the people who seemed unaware of his presence.

The man with the white mask.

Kairo's eyes widened. It was the same one from the station. The same one from his dream.

His heart began to hammer in his chest.

— "Kairo, let's go!" Aenna's voice reached him from afar.

But he didn't respond.

Because the masked figure raised his hand and pointed at him.

Then, for the first time, he spoke.

His voice was deep, distorted, as if it came from another reality.

— "I've found you," he said with a grotesque laugh.

Kairo felt the blood freeze in his veins.

The sound of chatter and footsteps suddenly returned. The laughter, the voices of students, the creaking of doors opening.

He turned sharply towards his friends.

— "Did you hear that?"

Lyra looked at him confused.

— "Hear what?"

He turned back toward the corridor.

The man was gone.

Only the moving crowd. Only the usual morning chaos.

Kairo swallowed, his heart still in his throat.

It wasn't a dream.

It was real.