The Devil You Know

Yuuto awoke the next morning with a lingering unease, as though Eva's haunting presence had followed him into his dreams. Her cryptic words echoed in his mind: "Let's see how long it lasts." What did she mean by that? Why was she so intent on meddling in his life?

He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the sunlight filtering through his curtains. The fragile peace he had found with Rika felt like it was already under threat.

But today wasn't about Eva or her games. Today was about moving forward.

---

The Morning Walk

Yuuto arrived at the school gates early, hoping to catch Rika before the chaos of the day began. She was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.

"You're early," she said without looking at him.

"I could say the same about you," he replied, falling into step beside her.

She smirked. "What, did you miss me already?"

Yuuto rolled his eyes, but his chest warmed at her teasing. "Maybe I just wanted to make sure you didn't change your mind."

Her smirk faltered slightly, and she glanced away. "I don't change my mind that easily, Yuuto. But… I guess I was wondering if you would."

"I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly.

Rika looked at him then, her sharp gaze searching his face for any sign of doubt. When she found none, she nodded. "Good. Let's keep it that way."

---

Eva's Presence

The day passed uneventfully until lunch. Yuuto and Rika sat in their usual spot on the rooftop, the quiet breeze making the moment feel almost serene. But the serenity shattered when Yuuto's phone buzzed with a message.

He frowned, pulling it out to see an unfamiliar number.

You're making things interesting, Yuuto. Let's see how much more you can handle.

His blood ran cold. There was no name, but he didn't need one. It had to be Eva.

"Everything okay?" Rika asked, her voice cutting through his unease.

Yuuto quickly locked his phone and shoved it back into his pocket. "Yeah, just spam," he lied.

Rika raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "If you say so."

Yuuto forced a smile, but his thoughts were racing. Why was Eva sending him messages? And what did she mean by "how much more you can handle"?

---

The Stranger's Warning

After school, Yuuto decided to walk home instead of taking his usual bus. The fresh air helped clear his mind, but he couldn't shake the nagging sense that he was being watched.

As he passed a small park, a figure stepped out from behind a tree. Yuuto stopped, his heart pounding.

It wasn't Eva. It was a man—older, maybe in his mid-twenties, with messy hair and a cigarette dangling from his lips. He wore a leather jacket and had a casual, almost lazy demeanor, but there was something sharp in his eyes.

"You Yuuto?" the man asked, his voice rough but calm.

Yuuto hesitated. "Who's asking?"

The man chuckled, taking a drag from his cigarette. "Let's just say I'm someone who knows a thing or two about people like Eva."

The mention of her name sent a jolt through Yuuto. "What do you mean? Do you know her?"

"Oh, I know her," the man said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "And if you're smart, kid, you'll stay far away from her."

Yuuto frowned, his unease growing. "Why? What's she trying to do?"

The man's expression darkened. "Eva doesn't care about people, Yuuto. She cares about control. She picks her targets, plays her games, and when she's done with them, she leaves them in pieces."

Yuuto's stomach turned. "Why are you telling me this?"

The man flicked his cigarette onto the ground and crushed it under his heel. "Because I've been where you are. I know what it's like to think you can outsmart her, to think you're different. But trust me—you're not."

Before Yuuto could respond, the man turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows.

---

Rika's Comfort

That evening, Yuuto found himself sitting on a bench near the river, staring at the water as it reflected the city lights. The stranger's warning weighed heavily on him, and for the first time, he felt truly afraid of Eva.

He pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over Rika's number. He didn't want to worry her, but he also didn't want to face this alone.

Before he could decide, his phone buzzed with another message.

Still keeping secrets from her? That's not very honest of you, Yuuto.

His breath caught in his throat. He looked around, but the street was empty. How did she know?

His phone buzzed again.

Tell her, or I will.

Yuuto's hands trembled as he stared at the screen. He didn't know what to do, but he knew one thing for certain: he needed Rika.

---

She arrived at the riverbank twenty minutes later, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "What's so urgent that you couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

Yuuto stood as she approached, his heart pounding. "Rika, I need to tell you something. About Eva."

Rika's eyes narrowed. "What about her?"

"She's been… watching me. Sending me messages. And I think she's trying to mess with us."

Rika's jaw tightened. "Mess with us how?"

"I don't know yet," Yuuto admitted. "But someone warned me about her today. They said she likes to play games, to break people."

Rika was silent for a long moment, her gaze fixed on the water. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm but firm. "If she wants to play games, let her. She's not going to scare me off."

Yuuto felt a surge of relief at her words. "You're not afraid of her?"

Rika smirked, though there was a hint of steel in her eyes. "I've dealt with worse. Besides, she doesn't know who she's messing with."

---

The Game Begins

The next morning, Yuuto found a note in his locker. The handwriting was elegant and precise, and the message was simple:

The first move is yours.

Yuuto clenched his fists, his determination hardening. Eva might have started this game, but he wasn't going to let her win.

As he turned to leave, he spotted Rika down the hall, her confident stride cutting through the crowd. She caught his eye and gave him a small nod, her presence grounding him.

Whatever Eva had planned, they would face it together.