Soul stood at the edge of the school rooftop, staring down at the city below. The usual buzz of students talking and laughing drifted up from the courtyard, but Soul was far removed from it all, lost in his thoughts. A faint chill lingered in the autumn air, brushing against his face as he clutched the strap of his backpack.

"Hey, Soul!" a voice called out, breaking through his trance.

Turning, he saw Kouzou jogging up to him with a grin. Kouzou, with his confident stance and easygoing smile, was the kind of friend Soul could always count on—reliable, grounded. And right now, Kouzou seemed to be bringing his usual mix of energy and warmth.

"What's up? You looked like you were about to fly off into another world," Kouzou joked, clapping Soul on the shoulder.

Soul managed a small smile. "Just... thinking," he replied, his voice quiet. It was true, though. Lately, he'd been feeling different, as if something inside him was awakening, a presence he couldn't understand. His dreams were becoming more vivid, filled with strange symbols and voices that echoed even after he woke up. He didn't know how to explain it, even to Kouzou.

Kouzou raised an eyebrow. "Thinking about anything in particular?"

"Not really," Soul said, though the lie felt heavy on his tongue.

They stood in silence for a moment, Kouzou respecting his friend's quiet nature. But Soul could sense his friend's curiosity—he always had a way of picking up on Soul's moods.

"Come on, let's head down. Akame's waiting," Kouzou said, finally breaking the silence.

Soul's heart softened at the mention of Akame. She'd been his friend since childhood, a constant in his life through all its twists and turns. If Kouzou was the one to pull him out of his shell, Akame was the one who understood his silences. She had this gentle strength about her, a kindness that made even the hardest days feel bearable.

They made their way down to the courtyard, where Akame was waiting, her dark hair catching in the breeze. She waved at them, her smile bright but her gaze already assessing Soul's face, as if she could sense something was wrong.

"Soul! Kouzou!" she greeted, her voice warm. "Finally, I thought you two would never come down."

"Blame Soul. He was in one of his brooding moods," Kouzou said, nudging Soul with a teasing grin.

Akame laughed softly but looked at Soul with concern. "Everything okay, Soul?"

He hesitated, feeling a pang of guilt. He knew Akame would understand if he told her, but even he didn't fully understand what he was going through. "Yeah… just tired, that's all."

She gave him a soft smile, as if she saw right through him. "Well, maybe some ramen will cheer you up. My treat."

Soul felt a rush of gratitude for both of them. They were the only people he truly trusted, and yet he felt as if he were slowly drifting away from them, slipping into a world he couldn't explain.

Later That Night

Soul lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling as shadows danced across the walls. The city lights flickered through his window, casting a soft glow in the room. He could feel it again—that strange sensation tugging at him, like a whisper in the back of his mind.

Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore it, but the moment he did, he felt himself slipping away, falling into a place that wasn't quite a dream and wasn't quite reality.

Suddenly, he was standing in a vast, dark space, a strange symbol glowing faintly before him. His heart raced as he reached out, feeling an odd connection to it. But just as his fingers touched the light, a sharp pain shot through his body, and he stumbled back.

"Soul..." a voice murmured, haunting and familiar.

He whipped around, searching for the source, but there was nothing—only the darkness and the lingering echo of his name. He gasped, feeling the presence coil around him, like a shadow seeping into his very bones.

And then, as suddenly as it had started, the vision faded, and he found himself back in his bed, heart pounding, the darkness of his room suddenly feeling colder, deeper.

The Next Day

Soul walked to school in a daze, his mind still reeling from the experience. He had barely slept, and every time he closed his eyes, he could see that strange symbol, feel that painful pull. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, something he wasn't prepared for.

"Soul!" Akame's voice jolted him from his thoughts as she approached him in the hallway. She looked worried, her brows knitted. "Are you okay? You look exhausted."

He forced a smile, trying to play it off. "Just a rough night."

But Akame wasn't convinced. She reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "If there's anything you need to talk about… you know I'm here, right?"

Soul nodded, feeling a warmth in her touch, a comfort he hadn't realized he needed. "Yeah… thanks, Akame."

Just then, Kouzou appeared, throwing an arm around both of them. "Alright, lovebirds, break it up!" he joked, grinning mischievously.

Soul rolled his eyes, while Akame laughed, a light blush coloring her cheeks. It was moments like these that made him feel like everything was normal, like he could ignore the strange things happening to him. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't be long before he'd have to confront the darkness lurking inside him.

And as they walked down the hall together, Soul couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning...