The first thing Rei noticed was the silence.
Not the comfortable silence of a quiet morning, nor the lazy silence Jay seemed to wrap himself in like a blanket. This was pointed. Avoidant. The kind of silence that followed a news explosion and a dozen whispered rumors.
He took a step into the classroom.
Whispers stopped mid-breath.
Eyes flicked toward him. Some darted away immediately. Others lingered, narrowed with suspicion—or fear.
Alicia was already seated near the front. Her gaze met his. She didn’t look away.
Jay, meanwhile, was absent. Again.
"Did he get lost?" Rei wondered, part serious, part hopeful.
He took his seat near the back, as he always had.
Except now, the chair felt colder. Emptier.
Like someone had removed a piece of him when he wasn’t looking.
[System Error Report: Suppressed]
[Directive Conflict: On Hold]
[Awaiting New Parameters]
He ignored the messages.
They’d been quieter since he’d woken up. Quieter—but not gone.
At lunch, he stepped onto the rooftop. Habit.
The sunlight was warm. Too warm. The breeze carried the scent of fried rice and sakura oil—cafeteria specials.
He looked to his left.
Jay’s usual nap spot was vacant.
For a moment, Rei frowned.
Jay appeared behind him like a ghost in slippers, holding two cans of cold coffee.
He tossed one toward Rei.
Rei caught it without looking.
"...You’re not going to ask?" Rei said.
Jay opened his can and slumped against the fence. "Nah. You’re glitching out just fine on your own."
It was the first time he’d laughed in... he wasn’t even sure.
This time, the good kind.
> [ALERT: Observer Class Detected] free we\bnove(l).com
[WARNING: SYSTEM PURIFIER WITHIN RANGE]
Rei’s hand froze halfway to his mouth.
Jay looked over lazily. "Hm?"
"I think something’s—"
Not the way a mirage does.
No, this was different.
Just for an instant, the sun blinked—and a human-shaped figure appeared in midair over the academy courtyard, hovering silently, face hidden beneath a smooth silver mask. Long white robes rippled unnaturally, untouched by the wind.
> SYSTEM PURIFIER – CODE 001: AETHER
He just let out a slow breath and said—
"Oh. That one looks annoying."