Chapter 13 – A Game I Never Agreed to Play

1. The Three That Are Watching Me

Renji had always been aware of something being wrong with him.

But it had always been a vague feeling—a distant hum in the back of his mind, an itch beneath his skin that never truly went away.

Now?

Now it felt like someone was grabbing him by the throat and whispering into his ear.

He scrolled through his phone again, rereading the messages that had arrived last night.

> Unknown Number 1:

You're impressive. Let's talk.

Meet me at the underground fight club near the old district.

> Unknown Number 2:

We need to talk. You don't know me, but I know you.

Come to the old library after dark.

> Deleted Message:

You're waking up, aren't you?

The last message bothered him the most.

It wasn't about fighting. It wasn't about meeting a stranger.

It was about him.

As if the sender knew something Renji himself didn't.

"You're waking up."

He exhaled slowly, resisting the urge to throw his phone against the wall.

For some reason, he had the overwhelming feeling that no matter what he chose, he was already playing someone else's game.

"Let's start with the least dangerous."

Renji chose the library.

---

2. A House That No Longer Felt Like Home

The air in the house was off.

It had been for the past few days. Ever since Riku started looking at him differently.

His mother was acting normal. Cooking breakfast, nagging him about his grades, making small talk.

His father barely acknowledged him, too absorbed in his work.

His grandfather watched him.

Not like Riku. Not with suspicion.

With something worse.

Expectation.

As if Renji was about to do something grand. As if he was waiting.

His younger brother, Riku, was silent.

Renji ignored it.

He ate his breakfast. Got up. Walked out the door.

And still—the feeling didn't leave.

Like someone's gaze was pressing down on him.

---

3. The Classroom That Knew Too Much

Renji arrived at school like always.

And like always, his teachers praised him.

"Renji, your last test was excellent. You just need a little more effort."

"Renji, have you thought about joining the debate team? You have a natural sense of logic."

"Renji, stop looking so bored and actually participate in the discussion."

Every word felt like a joke.

They all thought he was just quiet, just lazy.

None of them understood that his mind was already too loud.

But today was different.

Because when he sat down, he felt a gaze.

Not from the teachers.

From a classmate sitting at the back of the room.

A boy with sharp eyes and a quiet smile.

Renji knew his name.

Katsuragi Ryo.

A rival.

Not a loud one. Not the kind that challenged him in public.

The kind that waited. The kind that studied. The kind that planned.

And today—he was watching Renji like he had figured something out.

Renji forced himself to look away.

Because for the first time, he had the feeling that Ryo wasn't just watching.

He was waiting.

---

4. The Library That Shouldn't Exist

The library was in the abandoned part of town.

The moment Renji stepped inside, he felt it.

The shift in the air. The weight on his shoulders.

Like he had stepped into a place that existed outside of time.

And waiting at the bottom of the basement stairs—

A man.

Tall. Dressed in black. Still, like a statue.

Renji stopped.

The man studied him. Then—

"You're late."

Renji's fingers twitched. "Who are you?"

The man tilted his head slightly. "You already know."

Renji's stomach twisted.

He hated this kind of answer.

He stepped forward. "I don't."

The man sighed. "Then why did you come?"

Renji didn't answer.

Because deep down—he didn't know.

Something had pushed him here.

And that was the problem.

---

5. The Stranger Who Knew Too Much

"You've noticed it, haven't you?" the man said.

Renji narrowed his eyes. "Noticed what?"

The man didn't look at him. "The missing time. The decisions you make that don't feel like yours."

Renji's breath hitched.

The man finally turned, his gaze unreadable.

"You're waking up."

Renji stepped back.

"That message—"

"You—" Renji's voice came out harsher than he intended. "Who are you?"

The man smiled slightly. "That doesn't matter."

Renji clenched his fists. "It matters to me."

The man took a step forward.

And suddenly—

The library flickered.

Like a bad connection.

For a split second, everything was wrong.

The walls bent inward. The air twisted. The floor wasn't there anymore.

And then—it snapped back to normal.

Renji's pulse was racing.

The man was still standing there, unfazed.

"You're not ready for this yet," he said. "But soon—"

Renji moved.

His body reacted before his mind did.

A step forward—a punch aimed directly at the man's face.

But—

It didn't land.

Because the moment Renji's fist should have connected—

The man was gone.

Like he had never been there at all.

The basement was empty.

Silent.

Renji stood frozen, his breath uneven.

What the hell was this?

---

6. The Eye That Watched Me Sleep

At that exact moment—Riku was watching.

Not Renji.

Not a video.

The live camera feed.

His laptop screen showed the same thing it had all night.

Renji. Asleep.

Perfectly still.

Never moving.

Never leaving.

And yet—Riku knew something had happened.

Because at exactly 3:15 AM, Renji had done something impossible.

He had sat up in bed with that same unnatural smoothness.

And he had turned.

Directly toward the camera.

Not his usual tired expression.

A smile.

And then—

The screen cut to static.

---

End of Chapter 13