The Invisible Force

As the cold autumn wind began to blow in the evening, Sora was hurrying home alone through the residential streets dimly lit by streetlights. Her black twin tails swayed as she walked, holding Ten close, creating an ephemeral sight.

"We're out late today, aren't we, Ten?" As Sora innocently spoke to her cat, Ten responded with a quiet purr. At that moment, rough footsteps could be heard from behind.

"Hey, miss. All alone this late at night?" A low voice tinged with laughter echoed from behind.

"It's dangerous for such a cute girl. Why don't we escort you home?" Another man spoke in an intentionally friendly tone, but his eyes clearly held base desires.

Three men approached, surrounding Sora. Their eyes harbored malice, creating a small tension in the night's silence. However, Sora seemed completely oblivious, offering them an innocent smile.

"Oh? Thank you. But I'm fine! My house is close by, and I have Ten with me♪"

The men were momentarily taken aback by her pure response. They clearly hadn't expected such an unguarded reaction. However, they quickly exchanged glances, sporting vulgar smirks.

"Is that so? But we can't just leave a cute girl like you alone." One of them clicked his tongue while appraising Sora.

"Come on, let's have some fun. What do you say?" Another whispered in a low voice as he reached out toward Sora.

At that moment—something strange occurred.

The man's hand stopped just before touching Sora. No, it wasn't that it stopped—it was as if some invisible presence had twisted his arm and pinned down his entire body with a force that seemed to gouge into him. This bizarre sensation took control of him.

"I... I can't move...!" The man turned pale, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. His entire body had frozen as if in sleep paralysis, and a burning pain spread from within his bones.

The other two men screamed simultaneously. Suddenly, the air around them became heavy and twisted, assaulting both their bodies and minds.

"W-what is this... My chest... it's being crushed...!" One clutched his chest, trying desperately to back away while trembling. But his feet were heavy as lead, refusing to move. The cold light emanating from Sora before him felt like it was piercing directly into his brain.

"Stop... My head... it's splitting...!" The other collapsed to the ground, clutching his head. Terror flooded his eyes, as if the girl before him had transformed into some inhuman monster. He seemed caught in the illusion of seeing something beyond human comprehension.

The area around Sora began to emit a faint glow. It was quiet and beautiful like stars in the night sky—but behind that beauty lurked something cold, dark, and immeasurable. A sensation like peering into an infinite abyss eroded the men's sanity.

"Stop! Please stop!" "I... I have to... get away from here... or we'll be killed...!" The men stared wide-eyed, clawing at empty air. Blood seeped from their fingertips, but in their frenzy, they didn't even notice they were hurting themselves.

Sora just watched them, smiling. That smile was so pure and untainted—which paradoxically accelerated their descent into madness.

Just then, Yuta's voice rang out. "SORA!" Yuta came running at full speed, sweat on his brow.

Sora turned around and waved innocently. "Oh, Yuta! What's wrong?" At that moment, the rigidity left the men's bodies, and they fled in terror.

"Sora! Are you okay!? Are you hurt?" Yuta checked her body frantically while trying to catch his breath. "Yep, I'm totally fine♪" Sora smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Did they do anything to you?" Yuta's voice mixed with anger and concern. "No, everyone just hurried home." Sora tilted her head in confusion. Yuta wiped the sweat from his forehead with a deep sigh.

"Geez... I was so worried. Walking home alone at this hour..." "I'm sorry." Sora apologized softly, adjusting her hold on Ten.

"From now on, I'll walk you home. Promise me, absolutely." Yuta's voice carried strong determination. "Okay! Thank you, Yuta♪"

On the way home, Sora cheerfully began talking about what happened at school. As Yuta listened to her voice, he reflected on the mysterious phenomenon he had witnessed.

---

The next day, rumors circulated at school. "Hey, did you hear about the rumor of a girl who was glowing last night?" "That can't be true, right?" "But multiple people say they saw it..."

Hearing this conversation, Yuta gazed at Sora reading by the window. Her usual peaceful atmosphere remained unchanged. However, when the light occasionally streamed in, the area around her seemed to shine faintly.

This was the very essence of Sora's mystery—a purity so intense that no one could approach, yet a warmth that no one could resist being drawn to. Yuta silently vowed to continue watching over her, this girl of such contradictions.