Chapter 23: Shifting doubt

Rei sat at his desk, staring at the homework in front of him. The words on the page blurred, twisting into shapes that had no meaning. It felt like he was trying to piece together a puzzle that didn't fit.

The clock on his wall ticked steadily, its rhythmic sound loud in the silence of the room. He hadn't even realized how much time had passed since he'd come home. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the floor.

He rubbed his temples, his mind still replaying the events of the day. The conversation with Yuuto and Hana had been unexpected, but what bothered him the most was how... normal it had felt. How easy it had been to sit there with them, even though he didn't trust either of them.

He couldn't let his guard down.

It was a mistake to think that they were any different from the others. They wanted something from him, just like Mei had. They were just waiting for the right moment to strike.

A knock at his door interrupted his thoughts.

Rei tensed.

"Who is it?" he called out, his voice sharper than he intended.

"It's me. Yuuto," came the reply.

Rei's stomach dropped, a strange knot tightening in his chest. He wasn't expecting a visit, especially not now. But it was Yuuto, so he had no reason to turn him away.

He stood slowly and opened the door, keeping his expression neutral.

"Hey," Yuuto said with a friendly grin, "Got a minute?"

Rei nodded. "What's up?"

Yuuto stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his casual demeanor grating on Rei's nerves more than it should have. He seemed too comfortable in a space that wasn't his, and Rei couldn't help but feel the weight of that.

Yuuto glanced around. "So, Hana's coming over too. She wanted to bring you something—"

Rei's stomach twisted. Something. That word again. Everyone always had something to offer, and Rei didn't know how to react to that. But Yuuto and Hana were already here, so it was too late to back out.

"Why are you both here?" Rei asked, trying to sound indifferent, though his mind was racing.

"We just thought it'd be cool to hang out, you know? We're friends, right?" Yuuto said, his voice light and carefree, but there was a hint of sincerity in his eyes that Rei couldn't quite place.

Rei glanced at the clock. Hana hadn't arrived yet, but it wasn't unusual for her to be late. Still, something about this situation felt off. His gut told him that they wanted something from him, just like Mei had, but what? He couldn't figure it out.

He leaned against the doorframe, trying to keep his distance. "I'm not really in the mood to hang out," Rei said, his tone colder than he intended.

Yuuto raised an eyebrow. "Come on, man. Don't be like that. Hana's not gonna bite." His voice softened, becoming more serious. "Look, we're not trying to push you, okay? We just… want to make sure you're alright."

Rei's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't let it show. His fingers gripped the doorframe tightly. "I'm fine. I don't need anyone's pity."

Before Yuuto could respond, there was a soft knock on the door. Hana.

Rei stiffened. He hadn't realized how much he was dreading her presence, or anyone's presence for that matter. His mind raced, trying to figure out why it felt so suffocating to have them both here, so close.

Yuuto grinned and stepped aside. "See? I told you."

Hana entered, smiling brightly as always. "Hey, Rei! We thought we could hang out and talk about school stuff. It'll be fun!"

Her smile was genuine, but to Rei, it felt like another thing being offered to him. He had to be careful. They all had their reasons for approaching him.

"I guess," Rei muttered, stepping aside to let her in.

As they sat down, Rei felt his mind retreating into itself. His thoughts began to swirl, the weight of their presence suffocating him.

They weren't going to leave. They weren't like Mei. He'd convinced himself of that, but the fear that they might be was gnawing at him.

Yuuto and Hana talked casually, but Rei found himself zoning out, lost in the quiet hum of his thoughts. He couldn't let them get too close. It wasn't safe.

But the way Yuuto looked at him, the way Hana's smile lingered even after they spoke, made Rei wonder if they really meant what they said. Or was it just another game?

He wasn't sure, but he wasn't ready to find out.

As the conversation continued, Rei silently reminded himself that they weren't his friends. They couldn't be.

Not yet.

Not ever.