Chapter 5: The Shattered Self

Kazuki ran.

The floor of glass beneath him stretched endlessly, reflecting a warped version of his every move. But no matter how far he ran, the darkness didn't end. The reflections around him didn't fade. They multiplied.

Dozens.

Hundreds.

All versions of him—laughing, crying, screaming, watching.

Some were injured. Some were smiling with blood on their hands.

> "There's no exit in infinity," a voice called out from every direction.

He skidded to a stop.

The mirrored Kazuki from before—the one with glowing eyes—stood ahead, arms folded.

> "Running doesn't change what you are. Just brings you closer to it."

Kazuki's voice shook.

"What do you mean what I am?"

The reflection raised a hand.

> "Tell me—do you remember being born?"

Kazuki stepped back.

> "Do you remember your first moment? Your first breath? The first time the world said, 'you exist'?"

Silence.

> "No. You don't. Because you weren't born."

The mirrored version placed its hand on the glass wall beside them.

> "You were made. Created. Pulled into being when someone else looked into the mirror long enough and thought they saw more than themselves."

Kazuki's head swam.

> "That's not true."

> "Isn't it?"

The reflections surrounding them began to whisper.

"We were all reflections once."

"Some forgot."

"Some broke their creators."

"Some took their place."

Kazuki shook his head.

"I'm real. I think. I feel. I bleed."

The reflection stepped forward until they were face-to-face.

> "So do I."

Then it reached into its chest—and pulled out a shard of glass, glowing faintly, trembling like a heartbeat.

> "Find yours. The shard that proves who you are. Only then will you know the truth."

With that, it turned—and vanished into the darkness.

Kazuki was alone again.

But in his chest… something began to ache.