[Night — Izumi's Room]
The room was quiet.
Izumi lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"…Sharon…"
The name echoed in his mind.
"…Of course it had to be him."
He turned to his side.
"…This time…"
His eyes slowly closed.
"…I won't run."
Darkness took over.
_________________________
[Unknown Location — Evil Organization]
Footsteps echoed loudly through a long corridor.
A man rushed forward, breath uneven.
"Master!"
The large doors opened.
Inside—
A shadowed figure sat calmly.
"…Speak."
The man bowed slightly.
"…Two of our targets were freed."
Silence.
"…We failed to capture those two powerful spirits."
A pause.
"…Was it the doing of that exorcist organization again?" the mastermind asked.
"…No."
The man hesitated.
"…It was… two teenagers."
Silence deepened.
"…Teenagers?"
"…Yes, Master."
He stepped forward.
"…I have been observing them."
"…One of them…"
He pulled out a device.
"…His name is Izumi."
A photo appeared.
"…I managed to capture this."
He showed it.
The moment the mastermind saw it—
He froze.
Complete silence.
"…Impossible…"
His voice dropped.
"…That face…"
Not just similar.
Identical.
"…No…"
His eyes widened slightly.
"…It can't be…"
A whisper escaped his lips.
"…The legendary exorcist…"
A pause.
"…No…"
A faint smile appeared.
Dark.
Cold.
"…His reincarnation."
The air shifted.
"…So you've returned…"
He stood up slowly.
"…After all this time."
His voice carried excitement.
"…Interesting."
He turned.
"…Call everyone."
The man flinched.
"…Master?"
"…It's time."
A pause.
"…We begin the ultimate plan."
Darkness swallowed the room.
____________________________
[Next Day — Morning]
The sunlight felt… harsh.
Izumi's eyes opened slowly, only to shut again almost instantly.
"…Too bright…"
His head throbbed faintly.
Not pain exactly—
But pressure.
Like something was there, lingering just beneath his thoughts.
"…That dream again…"
Fragments.
Blood.
Screams.
Videl.
"…Tch."
He sat up abruptly.
"…What time is it—"
His hand reached for his phone.
The screen lit up.
And his eyes widened.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Late.
Very late.
"…Videl!"
The memory hit him instantly.
She asked him to come.
She needed help.
And he—
Overslept.
"…Idiot!"
He jumped out of bed, rushing to get ready.
Every second felt heavy.
Every movement rushed.
"…Why didn't I wake up earlier…?"
But deep down—
He knew.
Because he didn't sleep properly at all.
Because something inside him—
Wouldn't let him rest.
_________________________
[School Entrance]
He stopped.
Just for a moment.
"…This place…"
The same gate.
The same walls.
The same feeling.
Memories flooded back.
Laughter.
Mockery.
Helplessness.
"…Back then…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…I couldn't do anything."
A pause.
"…But now…"
He stepped forward.
"…I'm not the same person anymore."
__________________________
[Inside the School]
Voices filled the corridors.
Students walking, chatting, laughing.
Normal.
Too normal.
Izumi's eyes moved quickly.
Searching.
"…Where are you…?"
He stopped near a group of girls.
"…Hey."
They turned.
"…Yeah?"
"…Do you know where Videl is?"
A brief pause.
Then one of them pointed.
"…Second floor. Third room."
"…Thanks."
He didn't wait.
Behind him—
Whispers.
"…He's kinda intense…"
"…And good-looking…"
But none of it reached him.
________________________
[Classroom]
The door opened.
"…Videl?"
Empty.
Silence.
"…No…"
His heart skipped.
"…Where would she go…?"
And then—
It came back.
A memory.
A locked door.
A dusty room.
Laughter echoing.
"…The music room…"
His expression hardened.
"…Of course."
His body moved before his mind could think.
_________________________
[Corridor — Running]
Footsteps echoed loudly.
Faster.
"…Please be okay…"
His breathing grew uneven.
"…Just hold on…"
__________________________
[Old Music Room]
The door stood slightly open.
A faint sound came from inside.
Laughter.
Izumi's hand tightened.
"…Sharon…"
He pushed the door open.
[Inside]
"…Look who's here."
Izumi froze.
Sharon stood in the center.
Same face.
Same disgusting smirk.
"…Izumi."
Time slowed.
Then—
His eyes moved.
Videl.
Cornered.
His heartbeat dropped.
"…Get away from her."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Sharon laughed.
"…Or what?"
He gestured lazily.
"…Bring him."
Two boys rushed forward.
Fast.
Confident.
But—
They didn't understand.
Izumi moved.
THUD.
The first one dropped instantly.
Before the second could react—
THUD.
Silence.
"…What…"
Sharon stared.
"…What was that?"
Izumi stepped forward.
"…Last warning."
"…Move."
Sharon's expression twisted.
"…You think you're tough now?"
He rushed forward.
Punch aimed straight at Izumi.
Izumi saw it.
Before it happened.
His body moved.
Effortlessly.
Dodge.
Another punch.
Dodge.
"…Too slow."
Sharon gritted his teeth.
"…You—!"
THUD.
One punch.
Clean.
Direct.
Sharon fell.
But Izumi didn't stop.
Something inside him—
Cracked.
"…Not enough…"
A whisper escaped.
His eyes changed.
A faint glow.
Cold.
Empty.
He grabbed Sharon.
Dragged him.
"…You don't get to touch her."
Punch.
"…You don't get to laugh at her."
Punch.
"…You don't get to exist like this."
Punch.
Again.
Again.
Again.
"…Stop—!"
Videl's voice.
But it didn't reach him.
Not yet.
His mind wasn't there anymore.
Flashes.
Pain.
Past.
Everything overlapped.
"…IZUMI!"
That voice—
Clear.
Familiar.
Real.
His hand froze mid-air.
Silence.
His breathing heavy.
His vision blurred.
"…What…"
He looked down.
Sharon.
Unconscious.
Broken.
"…Did I…"
He woke up immediately.
Before he could finish—
Arms wrapped around him.
Warm.
"…It's okay…"
Videl.
Her voice trembled.
"…It's okay…"
Izumi stood frozen.
Slowly—
His hand moved.
Resting on her head.
"…You're safe…"
His voice softened.
"…I'm here."
A pause.
"…I'll always be."
He closed his eyes.
"…No matter what happens…"
A quiet promise.
"…I'll protect you."
Silence filled the room.
But inside him—
Something moved.
Something dark.
Something that wasn't entirely his.
His eyes opened slightly.
For a split second—
He wasn't a human.
_________________________
[After School — Outside the Gate]
The noise of the school slowly faded behind him.
Students passed by.
Laughing.
Talking.
Living normally.
Izumi walked straight ahead.
Silent.
"…That wasn't normal."
His hand clenched slightly.
"…That wasn't just anger."
He could still feel it.
That moment.
When everything went quiet.
When his body moved on its own.
When he didn't stop.
"…I almost…"
He didn't finish the thought.
Because he knew.
He would have kept going.
If Videl hadn't stopped him.
A faint breath escaped his lips.
"…I need to talk to him."
And without thinking twice—
He changed direction.
[Goutham's House — Evening]
The door wasn't locked.
"…Of course."
Izumi stepped inside.
"Oi, I'm coming in."
No response.
"…He's definitely home."
He walked toward Goutham's room.
And opened the door.
___________________________
[Inside the Room]
Clink.
Clink.
The sound echoed lightly.
Goutham stood in the middle of the room.
Two daggers in hand.
Moving.
Smooth.
Precise.
"…Since when did you become serious?" Izumi said.
Goutham didn't stop.
"…Since yesterday."
He spun one dagger between his fingers.
Caught it perfectly.
"…Nice," Izumi muttered.
"…I know."
"…Where's your grandfather?"
Goutham finally stopped.
"…Went for a walk."
"…A walk?"
"…Yeah."
"…With weapons?"
"…Probably."
Izumi sighed.
"…That doesn't feel safe."
"…For others? Definitely not."
A small pause.
Then—
"…Something happened," Izumi said.
Goutham's expression changed slightly.
"…Yeah?"
"…At school."
He placed the daggers aside.
"…Start talking."
Izumi leaned against the wall.
"…It was Sharon."
"…Figures."
"…He was bullying Videl."
Goutham's eyes narrowed.
"…And?"
A pause.
Izumi looked down.
"…I lost control."
Silence.
"…Define 'lost control'."
Izumi exhaled slowly.
"…I didn't stop."
A beat.
"…Even after he went down."
Goutham didn't interrupt.
"…I kept hitting him."
The room felt quieter.
"…I couldn't hear anything."
"…Couldn't think."
"…It was just…"
He clenched his fist.
"…rage."
Silence.
"…And something else."
That part—
Felt harder to say.
Goutham walked closer.
"…Did you hurt him badly?"
"…He fainted."
"…Good."
Izumi blinked.
"…That's your reaction?"
"…You protected someone."
"…That's not the problem."
"…Then what is?"
Izumi looked at him.
"…It didn't feel like me."
That was the truth.
"…It felt like…"
He hesitated.
"…something took over."
Goutham stayed quiet for a moment.
Thinking.
Then—
"…Or maybe…"
Izumi frowned.
"…Maybe what?"
Goutham leaned back slightly.
"…You just didn't want to see her cry."
Silence.
"…That's it?"
"…Yeah."
"…That doesn't explain everything."
"…It explains enough."
Izumi looked unconvinced.
"…Think about it," Goutham continued.
"…You've been holding stuff in for years."
"…That guy bullied you."
"…You did nothing back then."
A pause.
"…And now…"
He pointed at him.
"…You had power."
"…And a reason."
Izumi didn't reply.
"…Anyone would snap."
Silence filled the room.
"…Maybe…" Izumi muttered.
But deep down—
He knew.
That wasn't all.
"…Still," Goutham added casually, "try not to kill people next time."
"…I wasn't going to kill him."
"…You say that."
"…I mean it."
"…Your face says otherwise."
Izumi sighed.
"…You're not helping."
"…I'm trying."
"…Poorly."
"…Effort matters."
A small silence—
Then—
Izumi let out a faint breath.
"…Thanks."
Goutham shrugged.
"…Don't get emotional."
"…I won't."
"…Good."
Another pause.
Then Izumi pushed himself off the wall.
"…I'll head back."
"…Already?"
"…Yeah."
He turned toward the door.
"…Oi," Goutham called.
Izumi stopped.
"…You'll be fine."
A simple sentence.
But it carried weight.
Izumi didn't turn.
"…Yeah."
He walked out.
__________________________
[Outside — Night]
The sky was dark.
The city quieter now.
Izumi walked alone.
"…I'll be fine…"
He repeated it softly.
But his hand—
Still trembled slightly.
"…Right?"
A faint breeze passed by.
For a brief moment—
He felt it again.
That presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
Izumi stopped.
"…Who's there?"
Silence.
Nothing.
But the feeling—
Didn't leave.
He exhaled slowly.
"…This isn't over…"
His eyes hardened slightly.
"…Not even close."
And somewhere—
Hidden in the darkness—
Something smiled.