The day felt longer than usual.
Classes ended.
Students slowly began leaving the school.
But Ishaan didn't move.
He stood near the gate, hands in his pockets, lost in thought.
That moment from yesterday.
That speed.
That feeling.
"…It wasn't normal."
"Oi."
Kabir's voice snapped him back.
"You coming or planning to stand here forever?"
Aisha and Anaya stood nearby.
Ishaan hesitated.
Then,
"I need to check something."
Kabir raised an eyebrow.
"Check what?"
Ishaan looked around.
Students were still everywhere.
"…Not here."
A few minutes later.
The four of them stood on a quiet open ground behind the school.
Empty.
No one around.
A slight breeze passed through.
Kabir stretched his arms.
"Alright, what's this about?"
Aisha crossed her arms.
"This better not be something stupid."
Anaya looked at Ishaan, slightly concerned.
"Is everything okay?"
Ishaan took a breath.
Then said it.
"…I think something happened to me."
Silence.
Kabir blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Ishaan looked at his hands.
"Yesterday… when I ran to save that kid from the Umbra…"
He paused.
"…I was faster than I should've been."
Kabir froze.
"Wait."
He frowned.
"Wait, wait… what did you just say?"
Ishaan looked at him.
Kabir stepped forward.
"You ran toward it?"
Silence.
"You ran toward an Umbra to save a kid?"
His eyes widened.
"Didn't you say the officer saved him?"
Ishaan hesitated for a second.
"Yeah… technically."
He exhaled slightly.
"He was the one who killed the monster."
A brief pause.
"But before he got there…"
His voice lowered.
"I pulled the kid out of its attack."
Kabir stared at him.
Processing it.
Then,
"Are you out of your mind?!"
Anaya flinched slightly.
Kabir's voice rose.
"You could've died, Ishaan!"
Aisha didn't interrupt this time.
Even she looked serious.
"Kabir's right."
Her voice was calm, but firm.
"That wasn't bravery. That was reckless."
Ishaan lowered his gaze slightly.
"…I know."
Kabir ran a hand through his hair.
"No, you don't know," he said. "That thing wasn't something you just run at like some hero."
Anaya stepped closer.
"But… you still saved him."
Kabir exhaled.
"…Yeah. You did."
His tone softened.
"But that doesn't make it okay."
A brief silence followed.
Then Ishaan spoke again.
"…Something happened."
All three looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Aisha asked.
Ishaan clenched his fist slightly.
"When I ran… I wasn't normal."
Kabir frowned.
"…Explain."
"My speed increased," Ishaan said. "Faster than it should've been."
Aisha's eyes sharpened.
"Increased how?"
"Way faster," Ishaan replied. "It didn't feel like just adrenaline."
Anaya's eyes widened.
"…You think you awakened?"
Ishaan shook his head slightly.
"I don't know."
A pause.
"But it didn't feel normal."
Kabir stared at him.
Then slowly—
A grin appeared.
"…You're serious."
Aisha crossed her arms.
"Then we test it."
Ishaan stepped forward.
The open ground stretched ahead of him.
He clenched his fists.
Focused.
"…That feeling…"
His heartbeat slowly increased.
He took a step.
Then another.
Then—
He ran.
At first—
Normal.
Then—
A sudden surge.
Wind rushed past him.
His speed increased sharply.
"—Whoa!"
Kabir's voice echoed from behind.
Ishaan's eyes widened.
"…It's happening again—!"
But just as quickly—
It faded.
He slowed down and stopped.
Breathing heavily.
"…Damn…"
Kabir ran up to him.
"That was NOT normal!"
Aisha walked closer, eyes sharp.
"Do it again."
Ishaan frowned slightly.
"I'm trying."
He focused again.
But nothing happened.
Just normal movement.
He exhaled in frustration.
"…It's not working now."
Anaya stepped forward gently.
"Maybe… it activates under pressure?"
Ishaan looked at her.
Kabir snapped his fingers.
"Yeah! Like yesterday—you were trying to save someone."
Aisha nodded slightly.
"That makes sense."
She looked at Ishaan.
"Your trigger might be emotional or instinct-based."
Ishaan stayed silent.
Thinking.
Kabir suddenly smirked.
"Alright, let's test that."
Before Ishaan could react—
Kabir picked up a small rock and tossed it toward him.
Fast.
"—Hey!"
Ishaan instinctively moved.
His body reacted on its own.
He dodged.
Faster than normal.
The rock missed.
Everyone froze.
Kabir grinned.
"There it is."
Aisha's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Reflex boost."
Anaya smiled softly.
"So it's real…"
Ishaan looked at his hands again.
This time—
He felt it.
Faint.
But there.
A small spark.
Kabir crossed his arms.
"So what now?"
Aisha replied calmly:
"Now we don't tell anyone."
Kabir blinked.
"Huh?"
"Think," Aisha said. "If this is an awakening, authorities will get involved immediately."
Anaya nodded.
"…They might take him for evaluation."
Kabir looked at Ishaan.
"You okay with that?"
Ishaan clenched his fist.
Then shook his head.
"…Not yet."
A small silence followed.
Then Kabir smiled.
"Alright then."
He extended his fist forward.
"Secret squad?"
Aisha rolled her eyes slightly… but didn't object.
Anaya smiled and placed her hand forward.
Ishaan looked at them.
Then—
He joined.
Their hands met in the center.
Kabir grinned.
"Looks like things just got interesting."
Ishaan looked at his hand.
That faint feeling still lingered.
Small.
Unstable.
But real.
"…Yeah."
For the first time—
He was sure.
Something inside him had awakened.