Chapter 15: Shadows of the Past

The early morning sun poured gently across the school courtyard, painting the trees in soft amber.

Haruto sat quietly beneath one of them, the faint glow of his phone screen illuminating his tense expression.

[Unknown Number]:

"You can't protect her forever.

Some things are meant to break."

He stared at the words, brows furrowed.

A strange heaviness pressed against his chest — something beyond fear.

It's not just a threat... Haruto thought.

It's personal.

Behind him, familiar footsteps approached.

"You're still thinking about that creepy message?" Airi asked, her voice light but tinged with worry.

Haruto nodded, tucking the phone away.

"Yeah," he said quietly.

"I don't know why... but it felt like whoever sent it knows me."

Airi smiled gently, her silver ring giving off a faint, soothing glow.

"Then we'll face them together," she said.

Haruto's watch buzzed faintly beneath his sleeve — as if answering her light.

---

Classroom — Midday

Kazuki lounged in the back seat, seemingly half-asleep.

But behind the veil of dark hair, his golden eyes watched Haruto and Airi intently.

There was a glint there — a shimmer like shattered mirrors.

The cracks are beginning to show, Kazuki thought, a smirk playing at his lips.

I'll widen them.

---

Gym Storage Room — Afternoon

Haruto stepped into the dim storage room, searching for a basketball for P.E.

The moment he entered—

SLAM!

The door locked behind him.

"What the—?!" Haruto spun around, heart pounding.

The air grew cold.

His breath fogged in front of him, as if winter had suddenly arrived.

Kazuki leaned casually against the closed door.

"I was wondering when we'd get to talk..." he said smoothly.

"Properly."

Haruto instinctively reached for his watch — but it was unresponsive.

Kazuki's smirk widened.

"I've already slowed time," he said.

"We're inside my control now."

Haruto's fists clenched.

"You—what are you?!"

Kazuki's eyes gleamed gold.

"I was sent to erase you," he said coldly.

"You and that girl.

Descendants of the Light."

He stepped forward, summoning a blade forged of swirling black time energy.

Haruto gasped.

His body moved sluggishly under the oppressive temporal field.

"You use your gift like a child with a toy," Kazuki sneered.

"But this power — this destiny — is far greater than you can imagine."

He slashed through the air — just grazing Haruto's arm.

Haruto stumbled back, breathing heavily, pain blooming along his side.

"You're... working for the Dark God..." Haruto panted.

Kazuki paused.

Then smiled.

"So you're not entirely clueless," he said.

"But there's more watching you than you know."

With a final smirk, he vanished — leaving Haruto alone, wounded and reeling.

---

Nurse's Office — After School

Airi sat beside Haruto, worry etched into every line of her face.

"He attacked you?" she asked softly.

Haruto nodded, wincing as the nurse bandaged his arm.

"He didn't need to hurt me," Haruto said bitterly.

"He just wanted to prove he could.

And he knew everything about me.

About the watch.

About us."

He glanced down, clenching his fists.

Airi stared at her glowing ring, a frown pulling at her lips.

"He... reminds me of Reiji Kazuki," she whispered.

Haruto's eyes darkened.

"I think so too," he said.

"But this one... feels worse."

She reached for his hand.

"Haruto... we need to become stronger."

Their eyes met.

Haruto nodded, determination hardening in his chest.

"Yeah," he said.

"I think it's time... we learn who we really are."

Their hands brushed, lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

Both blushed — but neither pulled away.

---

Night — Rooftop Beyond Time

High above the clouds, in a place beyond space and memory, a lone figure stood.

His body was draped in crumbling robes.

His once radiant hair hung like silver threads, torn and faded by time's cruelty.

The Male Aspect of the Time God.

He leaned heavily against a rusted cogwheel, every breath labored and ragged.

Beside him shimmered a faint light —

A translucent image of a woman, her hair flowing like star-dust.

The Time Maiden.

Her gentle light enveloped him in silence, sustaining what little spark remained within him.

"They're awakening..." the Time God whispered hoarsely.

"Slowly."

The Time Maiden's voice answered, soft as a breeze.

"You must not vanish yet," she said.

"Not until they remember who they are."

The Time God's cracked golden eyes flickered.

He gazed down through the fractured threads of fate.

He looked upon Haruto and Airi — the last children of Light.

"Forgive me..." he whispered.

"For what I let happen."

His fingers dug into the rusted metal, pain flickering across his worn face.

"But this time...

I'll protect them.

Even if only from the shadows."

---

TO BE CONTINUED…