The Man with the Sinister Smile

Souta couldn't erase the image of the man in the dark coat from his mind. That eerie smile, those piercing eyes—he had felt something sinister in them.

Even hours later, as he sat on his bed staring at his phone, a cold fear coiled around his heart.

Should I call Toru?

His thumb hovered over the dial button. But he hesitated.

Toru had warned him—told him to stop searching. Yet, ever since that first message, Souta had only fallen deeper into whatever this was.

And now, it was no longer just strange messages or knocks at the door.

Someone had come for him.

His grip tightened around the phone. He exhaled sharply. Screw it.

He dialed.

The call rang twice before connecting.

No greeting. No sound.

Then, Toru's voice came, cold and unreadable.

"You saw him, didn't you?"

Souta's breath caught. His fingers clenched around his phone.

"Who is he?" Souta demanded.

Toru sighed. "You should have left this alone."

Souta's frustration boiled over. "That's not an answer, Toru! That guy was watching me! Smiling like he knew me! What the hell is going on?!"

Silence.

Then, Toru spoke again.

"That was your warning, Souta."

The room felt colder. Souta swallowed.

"Warning for what?"

Toru's voice dropped to a whisper.

"To stop."

Souta shivered.

But he couldn't stop. Not now.

Not when he knew someone was coming after him.

"I deserve to know what's happening," he pressed. "If I'm in danger, just tell me—"

Toru exhaled sharply.

Then, for the first time, his voice wasn't distant. It wasn't cold.

It was urgent.

"Souta, listen to me. That man… he's not just anyone. If he smiled at you, it means he's marked you."

Souta's stomach turned. "Marked me?"

Toru continued, his tone deadly serious.

"He's part of them."

A chill ran down Souta's spine.

"Who's 'them'?"

Toru hesitated, then whispered

"The people I ran from."

Souta's breath hitched. He suddenly felt like his entire body was ice.

Toru had run from these people. And now—

They were after Souta.

---

The next day…

Souta walked through the village in a daze. His mind kept replaying Toru's words.

"He's marked you."

He felt sick.

Had that man—whoever he was—just been watching him? Or was it something worse?

Riku noticed his unease right away.

"Yo, what's with you lately?" Riku asked as they walked to school. "You look like you saw a ghost."

Souta hesitated. He wanted to tell him. To unload all this fear onto someone else.

But then…

He felt it.

A presence.

He stopped walking. His breath caught.

Slowly, he turned his head.

Across the street

The man in the dark coat was there again.

Standing. Unmoving. Watching.

Souta's blood turned to ice.

Then

The man raised a hand and pointed directly at him.

Souta's throat closed up.

His entire body screamed at him to run.

Riku followed his gaze. "Yo, who's that?"

Souta couldn't answer. He was too busy staring at the man's expression.

That same sinister smile.

But this time

The man mouthed something.

Souta couldn't hear the words. But he could read his lips.

"You should have listened."

Then, just like that

The man turned and disappeared into the alley.

Souta felt his stomach twist. His breathing was ragged.

Riku clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Dude, you're shaking. Who was that?"

Souta didn't answer.

Because deep down

He already knew.

---

That night, Souta locked every door and window in his house.

His paranoia was at an all-time high. Every sound made his heart race. Every shadow felt like it was moving.

His phone sat on his desk, untouched. He was too scared to call Toru again.

But then

A soft noise.

His heart jumped.

It came from outside.

A rustling.

Then

A whisper.

"Souta."

His blood ran cold.

His phone vibrated.

He hesitated before checking the screen.

A new message.

Unknown Number: "I see you."

Souta sucked in a sharp breath. His body refused to move.

Then, another message.

Unknown Number: "I'm closer than you think."

Souta turned his head toward the window

And saw a shadow standing outside.

His breath stopped. His chest tightened with raw terror.

The figure stood still. Waiting.

Then

The man raised his hand and tapped on the glass.

Knock. Knock.

Souta sprinted out of his room.

---

To be continued…