Haruto and Yui

Haruto let the water run over his hands. Everything was normal. No stress, no trouble. And yet—there it was again. That fear.

He swallowed. His fingers trembled slightly. It didn’t feel like his own fear.

Damn it. What is this?

“Haruto, everything okay?” His mother called from the kitchen.

“Y-yeah, all good!”

He took a deep breath. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe he had just imagined it.

He walked down the stairs, where his mother was already waiting for him. But suddenly, that strange feeling washed over him again—a restless shiver spread through his body, accompanied by goosebumps running down his back.

“Haruto, are you really okay?” his mother asked worriedly.

“Yes, Mom, I’m fine, really…” He forced a smile, but inside, countless thoughts swirled in his head. Man, what is this? None of this makes any sense.

Haruto started his way to school. He lived in Tokyo, the mega-metropolis of Japan. His parents were wealthy and ran a successful company, but his father was rarely home due to constant business trips. For Haruto, his mother had always been his closest connection. He remembered the times when she had been sick with grief because his father was never there—not even for important occasions like Haruto’s birthdays.

He looked up at the sky. A bright blue morning, the air still fresh from the night. All around him, people were going about their hectic daily lives. Despite the crowds, he felt strangely isolated, as if he wasn’t entirely here. And then—that feeling again.

A cold shiver ran down his spine. It wasn’t his own sadness; it belonged to someone else. Somewhere out there, maybe not even in this city, someone was suffering. And for some reason, he could feel it.

Is this… really just puberty? he tried to tell himself, but deep down, he knew it had to be more.

“Morning, Haruto!”

A loud voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He blinked and saw a familiar figure waving at him excitedly—Yuma.

“Ha… Hello, Yuma,” Haruto replied with a sighing smile.

Yuma was his oldest friend, practically his brother. Their families had known each other forever, and despite their differences, they shared an unbreakable friendship.

“I heard Suzune from Class B thinks you’re cute!” Yuma grinned, nudging Haruto with his elbow.

“Cut it out, Yuma. I’m not looking for a girlfriend or anything,” Haruto answered, annoyed.

“Why not? Look at you, man, you’re pretty good-looking… Damn, I wish I were as much of a ladies’ man as you!” Yuma whined theatrically.

Haruto rolled his eyes. “I’m not a ladies’ man.”

“But Haruto, tell me…” Yuma suddenly lowered his voice, his expression turning serious—almost as if he was about to transform into a demon. “Have you read the new MayIdol magazine yet?” He grinned mischievously.

Haruto sighed. “Man, Yuma, you’re such a perv, you know that?”

“Dude, why are you insulting me right away?” Yuma pouted dramatically. “I just think the super idol Himari is really cute! Her dances are top-tier.”

Haruto shook his head and smiled slightly. “You’ve got issues.”

But as he continued walking, he felt that unsettling pull in his chest again. It was so strong that it made him stumble for a moment. He gasped for air and grabbed onto a fence for support.

Yuma noticed immediately. “Hey, you okay? You’re acting really weird today.”

Haruto nodded quickly. “Yeah, I just didn’t sleep well.”

But that was a lie. And he knew it.

IS THIS REALLY JUST PUBERTY?!

“AHH!” Yui screamed and jolted awake, her eyes wide open. Her heart was racing, her hands trembling. She gasped for air as she sat up in bed. A nightmare? No… it felt real. Her body was still tense, as if she had actually experienced something terrifying.

“Yui! Get to the living room, now!”

Her mother’s voice echoed through the apartment. Harsh, cold, completely devoid of patience.

Yui closed her eyes for a moment and forced herself to breathe calmly. Then she got up and hurried to the living room. Her mother was already standing there, arms crossed, her expression annoyed.

“Go buy groceries! And don’t you dare buy anything that’s not on this list!”

Yui flinched slightly. “Sure, Mom…” she murmured quietly, taking the shopping list before leaving the apartment.

On her way to the supermarket, she pulled her jacket tighter around her. The autumn air in Osaka was cool, but that wasn’t the reason for the chill running through her body. It was that feeling… that unease she just couldn’t shake off. It was like sensing something that wasn’t there. Something foreign. Something unknown.

Yui was born and raised in Osaka, but her childhood had been far from happy. Her parents had never really wanted her—she was the result of an unplanned pregnancy. Her father, a notorious drunk, and her mother, who constantly shifted between fits of rage and cold indifference, had never treated her like a loved child. Their home wasn’t just a place to live; it was a cage. Hardly any money, little food, domestic violence—that was her reality.

But in all the chaos, she had found a small refuge: school. For a few hours, she could pretend to be just a normal girl with a normal life. Her best friend, Ayane, was the only person who made her feel truly safe. She had been her sanctuary, and more times than she could count, she had spent the night at Ayane’s just to escape the madness at home.

Just as she had checked off the last item on her shopping list and was about to head back, her phone vibrated in her pocket.

“Ayane?” Yui answered the call. “What’s up?”

“YUI! YUI! YUI!!!” Ayane practically screamed into the phone.

Yui pulled the phone away from her ear and sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I hear you. What’s going on?”

“DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY MOM JUST TOLD ME?!” Ayane sounded excited, almost overjoyed.

“Ayane, if this is another one of your endless boy stories, I’m hanging up.”

“COME ON! What do you take me for?!” Ayane protested, clearly offended. “This is serious! My parents just bought an apartment in Tokyo, and they asked if I want to move there! Now that I’m done with school, this would be the PERFECT chance for me! And here’s the best part…”

“What does this have to do with me?” Yui asked, already feeling annoyed.

“YOU’RE COMING WITH ME!” Ayane burst out. “My parents said they’ll cover your expenses for now, at least until you find a job in Tokyo! You can finally leave Osaka, finally get away from your parents! A whole new beginning, Yui!”

Yui held her breath. The words echoed in her mind. She could hardly believe it. Was this real? An escape… A chance to leave her old life behind…

And just as she was about to answer, it happened.

The voices.

Loud, clear, and inside her own head.