Chapter 1: "The Unseen Hand"

Scene 1: Morning at the Orphanage

The orphanage woke up like it always did—with noise. The sun hadn't fully risen, but the clatter of pans and the chatter of children already filled the air. In the cramped kitchen, Mimi bustled around, balancing a tray of porridge bowls while scolding a pair of twins who had gotten into the pantry.

Mimi: "Kenji! Ryuzaki! Can someone get these two before they climb the shelves again?"

From the common room, Ryuzaki's voice carried over, lazy and amused.

Ryuzaki: "You're on your own, Mimi. I've got bigger problems."

He was wrestling with the youngest orphan, a five-year-old boy named Daiki, who had latched onto Ryuzaki's leg and was refusing to let go.

Daiki: "Don't go! Stay and play, Ryu!"

Ryuzaki (grinning): "If I don't get up, there's no breakfast. You sure you want to risk that?"

Daiki hesitated, his tiny stomach growling, before reluctantly letting go.

As Ryuzaki entered the kitchen, he found Kya already seated at the table, swinging her legs and munching on a piece of bread she had swiped early.

Kya: "Good morning, Ryu! Guess what? I had a dream I was a princess!"

Ryuzaki: "A princess, huh? Did the kingdom survive, or did you accidentally burn it down?"

Kya (gasping): "Rude! I'd be a great ruler!"

Mimi handed Ryuzaki a bowl of porridge, her brow furrowed.

Mimi: "Speaking of burning things down, make sure the older kids finish their chores today. The last time you were in charge, someone left the stove on."

Ryuzaki: "That wasn't my fault. Blame Kenji and his 'experiments.'"

Kenji, sitting at the corner of the table with his ever-present book, looked up indignantly.

Kenji: "I was testing thermal conductivity. It's not my fault you don't understand science."

Ryuzaki: "It's not my fault your 'science' nearly burned down the kitchen."

Laughter rippled through the room, and for a moment, everything felt normal.

Scene 2: The First Incident

After breakfast, the children scattered to their tasks. Ryuzaki had volunteered to fix the old swing in the backyard, a task that required both patience and ingenuity—two things he didn't have in abundance.

As he worked, tightening the ropes around the frame, he heard a strange noise. A faint creaking, almost like a whisper, coming from the tree above. He paused, looking up just in time to see a massive branch crack and begin to fall—directly toward him.

Ryuzaki: "What the—"

Instinct kicked in. He dove to the side, barely avoiding the heavy branch as it smashed into the ground where he'd been standing. Dust and leaves filled the air, and his heart pounded in his chest.

Mimi rushed out from the house, her face pale.

Mimi: "Ryuzaki! Are you okay?"

Ryuzaki (brushing off dirt): "Yeah… just got lucky, I guess."

But as he inspected the branch, a chill ran down his spine. The break wasn't natural—it looked like it had been cut.

He glanced around the yard, but there was no one in sight.

Ryuzaki (to himself): That's weird…

Scene 3: A Close Call 

The morning had started out normally enough. After breakfast, Ryuzaki offered to walk Kya and Kenji to their school, which was about a twenty-minute trek through the bustling streets of their small town. The town of Sumine was lively this time of day, with merchants setting up their stalls and neighbors greeting each other on the cobblestone paths.

Kya, as usual, was a bundle of energy, skipping ahead and twirling in circles.

Kya: "Ryu, do you think Miss Maito will finally let me do art with the older kids today? I'm so tired of finger painting with the babies!"

Ryuzaki (grinning): "I think she just likes seeing you covered in paint. It's probably her favorite part of the day."

Kya: "Not funny! Last time, I got paint in my hair, and it wouldn't come out for days!"

Kenji, walking a little slower with his nose buried in a book, adjusted his glasses and chimed in without looking up.

Kenji: "If you'd sit still long enough to use a brush, that wouldn't happen."

Kya (huffing): "Well, maybe I like making a mess! Ever think of that, Kenji?"

Ryuzaki chuckled at their usual bickering. Despite everything, these little moments made life feel normal. He glanced up at the clear sky, letting himself relax.

As they neared the school, the streets became busier, filled with carts and townsfolk going about their day. Ryuzaki noticed a delivery truck parked a little too close to the corner ahead. The driver wasn't visible, and the vehicle looked older, with rust along the sides and a slight tilt to its wheels.

Ryuzaki's instincts kicked in—something felt off.

Ryuzaki: "Hey, Kya, stay close, okay?"

Kya: "I'm right here, don't worry!"

They reached the busy intersection just as the light turned red. The group waited patiently, with Kya bouncing on her heels.

Kya: "Hurry up, light! I don't want to be late again!"

Kenji: "We have five minutes. You're not late."

As the light turned green, Ryuzaki led them forward. But just as they stepped into the crosswalk, a loud, blaring horn shattered the air.

Ryuzaki: "Move!"

He turned just in time to see the delivery truck barreling toward them, its speed unnatural for a vehicle in such a crowded area. The driver's face was pale, his hands gripping the wheel as if trying desperately to regain control.

Ryuzaki acted without thinking. He shoved Kya and Kenji backward onto the sidewalk, narrowly avoiding the truck as it careened past them. The sound of screeching metal and shattering glass erupted as the truck slammed into a lamppost.

For a moment, everything was still.

Kya (clinging to Ryuzaki's arm): "Ryu, what just happened?"

Kenji (adjusting his glasses shakily): "That… that truck was out of control. The brakes must have failed."

But Ryuzaki wasn't so sure. He approached the wreckage cautiously, noting the driver slumped over the wheel. People began to gather, murmuring in concern.

A shopkeeper nearby yelled, "Someone call for help!"

Ryuzaki peered into the truck's cab, frowning. The brakes hadn't just failed—they looked like they'd been sabotaged. The cables were frayed unnaturally, as though something had deliberately shredded them.

Ryuzaki (muttering): This isn't normal.

The rest of the day passed in a haze of unease.

Ryuzaki escorted Kya and Kenji to their school, lingering at the gates longer than usual to make sure they got inside safely. As Kya waved goodbye, Ryuzaki forced a smile, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Instead of heading straight back to the orphanage, Ryuzaki wandered through the town, replaying the scene in his head. He stopped by the blacksmith's shop to pick up a repaired garden tool for the orphanage and chatted briefly with the blacksmith, an old man named Mr. Tanaka.

Mr. Tanaka: "You look distracted today, boy. What's eating at you?"

Ryuzaki (hesitant): "Just a weird morning. You ever get the feeling that… something's watching you?"

Mr. Tanaka (laughing): "You mean like my wife when I forget to do my chores? All the time."

Ryuzaki chuckled weakly, but the feeling didn't fade.

By the time he returned to the orphanage, the younger kids were playing tag in the yard, their laughter cutting through the unease in his chest. Mimi was hanging laundry on a line, her face lighting up when she saw him.

Mimi: "You're late. Don't tell me you got lost in the market again."

Ryuzaki: "Something like that."

He helped her with the laundry, using the task as a distraction. They talked about small things—what to cook for dinner, a funny story one of the kids had told—but Ryuzaki's mind kept drifting.

As the sun began to set, he sat with Kenji in the common room, watching the boy tinker with a clock.

Kenji: "You're quiet today, Ryu. Is something wrong?"

Ryuzaki (forcing a grin): "Nah, just tired. Play fighting daiki took more out of me than I thought."

But Kenji wasn't convinced.

That night, after everyone else had gone to bed, Ryuzaki sat alone on the roof of the orphanage. He stared at the stars, his hands gripping the edge of the roof tightly.

Ryuzaki (to himself): Adam. That truck wasn't an accident, was it? How far are you willing to go to get me?

As if in answer, a cold breeze swept across the rooftop, and Ryuzaki's eyes darted to the treeline in the distance. A shadow shifted unnaturally, and faint red eyes flickered briefly before disappearing.

The unease from earlier solidified into determination.

Ryuzaki: "If you think I'm going to make it easy for you, you're dead wrong."

Scene 4: The Shadow of Doubt

That evening, Ryuzaki couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. As the children played in the yard and Mimi prepared dinner, he found himself pacing the common room, replaying the events of the day.

Kenji sat at the table, tinkering with an old pocket watch.

Kenji: "You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep that up."

Ryuzaki: "It's nothing."

Kenji (not looking up): "You've been acting weird since this morning. Did something happen?"

Ryuzaki hesitated. He didn't want to worry the others, but he also couldn't ignore the nagging feeling in his gut.

Ryuzaki: "It's probably nothing. Just… some close calls."

Kenji adjusted his glasses, frowning.

Kenji: "You don't believe in coincidence, do you?"

Before Ryuzaki could answer, Kya burst into the room, holding a handful of wildflowers she had picked.

Kya: "Ryu! Look! Aren't they pretty?"

Her bright smile momentarily pushed his worries to the back of his mind.

Ryuzaki (smiling): "Yeah, they're nice. Where'd you find them?"

Kya: "By the river! Mimi said we can put them in a vase for the dinner table!"

As she ran off to find Mimi, Ryuzaki sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Ryuzaki (to himself): Whatever's going on, I'll deal with it. I have to.

Scene 5: The Whisper in the Night

Long after the children had gone to bed, Ryuzaki sat on the roof, staring at the stars. The orphanage was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old building settling.

A cold breeze swept over him, and for a moment, he felt like he wasn't alone.

Adam's voice (whispering): "Still alive, I see."

Ryuzaki tensed, his fists clenching.

Ryuzaki: "So it was you."

Adam (mocking): "I told you, didn't I? I'll keep trying until you're mine."

The air grew colder, and Ryuzaki's breath fogged in front of him.

Ryuzaki: "Why me? Why not pick someone else?"

Adam: "Because you're special, Ryuzaki. Whether you like it or not."

The voice faded, leaving Ryuzaki alone with his thoughts.

Ryuzaki (to himself): "Special, huh? We'll see about that."

End of Chapter 1