The following days passed with a strange, almost eerie calm—
as if the universe had finally decided to let Kaito breathe.
Tsuki sitting beside him had become routine, and even the students had stopped staring or whispering every time he walked by.
It wasn't exactly a friendship…
But it wasn't just a classmate thing either.
During one of the lessons, she suddenly whispered:
"Kaito, after school... do you want to go to the neighborhood library with me?"
He was a bit surprised, but answered without hesitation:
"Sure."
At the Library
The air was quiet, thick with the scent of old books.
The wooden chairs creaked gently with every movement.
Tsuki wandered through the literature section, while Kaito skimmed through a book on subterranean biology.
"Found it!" she exclaimed.
"A novel?"
"Nope. A collection of old Japanese folklore... about creatures that live underground, and only appear on moonless nights."
Kaito laughed dryly.
"Sounds a bit like me."
"You're weird… but not bad."
On the Way Back
The air was cold. The street was nearly empty.
Suddenly, Kaito stopped. His gaze locked onto the sidewalk across the road.
"Did you… did you see that?"
"See what?"
"Something moved… underground."
Tsuki looked, but saw nothing.
Kaito didn't insist.
But he felt something. Something wrong.
His heart began to race.
And the ground beneath his feet… shivered.
Just for a second.
That Night – On the News
"Strange incident in the outskirts of Tokyo – sudden collapse of public park ground with no clear explanation. Authorities confirm the matter is under investigation."
Kaito didn't say anything to his family.
But he couldn't sleep.
The Next Day, at School
He overheard a group of students talking:
"Did you hear? Weird bugs showed up last night—like the ones from video games!"
"The police were there, but no journalists were allowed!"
"My brother took a picture, but he won't send it. Says there's an official warning."
Kaito felt a chill run down his spine.
After School
As he walked out with Tsuki, he caught a glimpse—
a small hole between the trees, covered in a strange, dark dust.
Deep inside, he knew…
These weren't just bugs.
Something beneath the ground...
was waiting.
But Kaito didn't know that the small hole between the trees…
was just the beginning of a deeper calling—one he wouldn't be able to ignore for long.