(Yuki's POV)
If yesterday felt strange, today is downright unsettling.
I didn't think much of it when my reflection started looking a little different, but now there's no denying it. My uniform feels loose in some places and uncomfortably tight in others. My shoulders, which always seemed a bit too narrow for a guy, look even more delicate. My voice, when I muttered a groggy "Good morning" to Mom, sounded softer, lighter.
What the hell is happening to me?
I'm standing in front of the mirror again, like some kind of masochist who enjoys tormenting himself. The changes aren't glaringly obvious yet—not enough for anyone else to notice—but to me? They're impossible to ignore.
"It's fine," I whisper to myself, trying to suppress the rising panic. "It's probably just stress. New semester jitters. Nothing to worry about."
Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Yuki.
I grab my bag and head out the door before I can spiral further. The walk to campus is familiar but strangely quiet. Usually, the noise of the city is comforting, but today it feels like the world is holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Aoi is already waiting for me by the fountain near the main entrance, her usual grin lighting up her face. "Took you long enough," she teases, nudging me with her elbow. "You're not chickening out on me, are you?"
"As if," I mumble, trying to ignore the way her presence makes my chest tighten—in a good way, and maybe a bad way too.
She studies me for a moment, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "You okay? You look… I don't know. Tired?"
"I'm fine," I say quickly, too quickly. Aoi doesn't look convinced, but thankfully, she lets it slide.
"If you say so," she replies, slinging her arm around my shoulders like she always does. "Come on, let's grab some coffee before class."
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The day passes in a blur of lectures and introductions. Professors drone on about syllabi, classmates chatter about group projects, and I'm just trying to keep my head down. Every now and then, I catch Aoi's concerned gaze, but she doesn't say anything. I'm grateful for that. I don't think I could explain what's happening even if I tried.
By the time lunch rolls around, I'm ready to collapse. Aoi and I find a quiet spot under a tree on campus, away from the noise and crowds. She hands me a can of iced tea and sits cross-legged beside me, her hoodie sleeves pushed up to her elbows.
"You've been weird all day," she says bluntly, cracking open her own drink. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," I lie, avoiding her eyes.
She raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Yuki, come on. I've known you since we were kids. You're a terrible liar."
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. It's longer than I remember. When did that happen? "It's… probably nothing. Just stress, I guess. I've been feeling… off lately."
Aoi doesn't say anything for a moment, just watches me with those sharp, piercing eyes of hers. Finally, she leans back against the tree and lets out a long sigh. "You know you can talk to me, right? About anything."
"I know." And I do. But how do you tell your best friend that you're slowly turning into… something else? Something you don't understand?
Before I can say anything more, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and see a text from an unknown number.
"We need to talk. Meet me at the old library at 6 PM. - S"
A chill runs down my spine. Who the hell is "S"? And how do they know my number?
"Something wrong?" Aoi asks, leaning over to peek at my phone. I quickly lock the screen and shove it back into my pocket.
"Nothing," I say again, trying to sound casual. "Just a spam message."
She doesn't look convinced, but thankfully, she doesn't press. "Well, if it's spam, just block it. People are so annoying these days."
"Yeah. Annoying." My voice sounds hollow even to me.
The rest of the day drags on, and by the time the clock hits 5:30, my nerves are shot. Aoi offers to walk me home, but I make up some excuse about needing to stop by the bookstore. She looks suspicious but doesn't push it, giving me a casual wave as she heads off.
At 6 PM sharp, I'm standing in front of the old library. The building is ancient, its stone walls covered in ivy, and the air around it feels colder somehow, like the place exists in its own little bubble.
The door creaks open as I step inside, the smell of dust and old paper filling my nose. The lights are dim, casting long shadows across the rows of bookshelves.
"Hello?" I call out, my voice echoing in the empty space.
"Yuki Tanaka," a voice replies, smooth and unfamiliar. A figure steps out from the shadows, their face hidden beneath a dark hood. "We have much to discuss."
My heart is pounding in my chest as I take a shaky step back. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
The figure chuckles, the sound low and unsettling. "Let's just say… I know what's happening to you. And I know why."
My breath catches. "What do you mean?"
They tilt their head, their hood shifting just enough to reveal a glint of something—a sharp, predatory smile. "You're cursed, Yuki. And your time is running out."