Monday.
Bright sun. Cold breeze. Same old uniforms.
Takeshi leaned against the window in class, his face calm—but his mind still stuck in the Hollow.
No one else knew. No one could tell.
Except maybe one.
---
Rei.
He kept stealing glances from across the room.
Eyes sharp.
Focused.
Like he knew something was off.
---
Asami sat two rows ahead. Her back straight. Her hair tied in a low ponytail.
She didn't look at Takeshi once.
But somehow, that made it worse.
---
The bell rang.
Class ended.
Takeshi grabbed his bag, ready to leave—
> "Hey," Rei said, blocking his way. "You okay lately?"
> "Yeah. Just tired."
> "You don't look tired. You look… lost."
Takeshi forced a smile.
> "It's nothing."
> "You sure?" Rei leaned in. "'Cause you've been spacing out. Disappearing during breaks. That mark on your wrist—I saw it glow."
Takeshi froze.
Just for a second.
Then—
> "Maybe you imagined it."
> "Maybe," Rei said, smiling thin. "Or maybe you're hiding something."
---
Outside, the courtyard buzzed with noise. Girls laughed near the vending machines. Guys played with a basketball under the cherry trees.
Takeshi walked alone.
Until someone fell into step beside him.
> "You're handling it well," Asami said quietly.
> "Not really."
> "Then fake it better. Rei's watching."
> "I know."
> "He's not the only one."
---
They passed under the old staircase—half hidden, rarely used.
Asami stopped.
> "What you saw in the Hollow. Don't let it shake you."
> "Too late for that."
> "Then use it."
Takeshi looked at her.
> "Why do you care so much?"
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
> "Because your Drift doesn't lie. And maybe… I need someone like that."
Then she walked away.
---
Back in class, Rei flipped open a small notebook.
A sketch of a symbol.
Rough. Faint.
But real.
It looked a lot like Takeshi's mark.
And under it, one word was written:
> Nehvarra.
---
End of Chapter 24