"Bang!"...I fell off the couch in my sleep..."Ouch!" it hit me hard...
Hmm.. Where is Ken??...I saw the time..."it is only 5:00 Am".."Does he get up this early every day"?...."Huh? What's that sound?"..."It's probably coming from the kitchen...I'll have to go downstairs and check."
Ahm..wow!.... I can't believe... is my house this clean yesterday?...everything was unpacked and was in it's place...
"Ken!" Did you did this??..
Yeah!..everything was scattered ..i can't even walk..
"But it must have taken a lot of effort"
No..."it only took two seconds for me".
What! In just two seconds..You are not joking, right?
Since When did i start joking?..
What should I say now? Well, you have cooked food again, thank you but really you don't need to do this...anyway I don't seem like anyone to you...hey what are you saying, we spent so much time together, then didn't we become friends...don't think too much..so
"From today, we will follow some rules.",..He raised one finger....
"First—you will eat properly."
"...Okay."
"Second—you will not question everything I do."
"...That's unfair."
"It is necessary."
"...Fine."
"Third—you will improve yourself."
"...Improve…?"
"I will help you."
"...Okay…"
He raised another finger.
"Fourth—you will listen to me."
"...Why should I obey you?"
"There is no specific reason."
A pause.
"But if you do—"
He looked at me.
"I will teach you things."
"...Like what?"
" i can tell you some ancient stories and one more thing i have a good knowledge about art and many things that i can teach you"...
"...That actually sounds interesting."
"It is."
"...So I don't really have a choice, right?"
"No."
I sighed.
Then—
gave a small thumbs up.
"...Fine. I'll follow your rules."
He nodded slightly.
"Good."
Then he added calmly—
"And if you don't…"
I looked at him.
"I will send you to the world of ghosts forever."
"...Don't you think that's too much?"
"No."
"...You're scary sometimes."
"I know."
I laughed a little.
____________________
____________________
After breakfast—
we got ready for school.
Then suddenly—
I froze.
"...My homework."
I turned toward him.
"Ken! Can you show me yours?"
No response.
"...Ken?"
I checked the kitchen.
Empty.
Living room.
Nothing.
"...Where did he go?"
I walked to his room.
Opened the door.
Empty.
"...Seriously?"
I sighed.
Then took a paper and wrote—
"I'm going to school. Come quickly."
I left it on his table.
________________________
________________________
On the way to school—
I kept thinking.
Where did he go?
He was just here…
I reached the classroom.
"...He's not here either."
My chest felt a little uneasy.
"...Did something happen?"
For some reason—
the classroom felt different again.
More quiet.
More… empty.
I sat down slowly.
"...Ken…"
I looked at the empty seat beside me.
And for the first time—
I realized something.
Even though it had only been a short time—
I had already gotten used to him being there.
And now—
It felt strange without him.
I kept looking at the empty seat beside me.
"...Where are you, Ken…?"
"Everyone, settle down," the teacher said.
Class started.
But I couldn't focus.
Every few seconds—
my eyes went back to that seat.
Still empty.
Did something happen?
Why didn't he come with me?
My thoughts kept running.
Then suddenly—
the classroom door opened.
"Excuse me…"
I froze.
It was him.
Ken stood at the door.
Calm as always.
Like nothing had happened.
"You're late," the teacher said.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied.
No explanation.
No panic.
"Take your seat."
"Thank you."
He walked toward me.
Step by step.
Same calm presence.
When he sat down—
I immediately leaned closer.
"...Where were you?"
"Somewhere."
"...That's not an answer." But it's okay I will ask...
"...You disappeared again."
"I came back."...and one more thing you will not ask any questions from now on its that okay...
Okay...i am just worried that's all....
For a moment—
I just looked at him.
He looked… normal.
But something felt off.
"...Are you okay?" I asked quietly.
"...You don't look okay."
"I am fine."
But his voice—
felt a little slower than usual.
And his eyes—
slightly tired.
After a few classes—
the bell rang for break.
Students started talking loudly.
Laughing.
Moving around.
But I stayed seated.
Watching him.
Ken was leaning slightly on his desk.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
"...Ken?"
"Yes?"
"...You look tired."
"I am not."
"...Then why do you look like that?"
He paused.
"...Just a little dizziness."
My chest tightened.
"...Dizziness?"
"It will pass."
"...No, wait—"I stood up quickly..."I'll bring something."
"...That is unnecessary."
"Just wait here."....I didn't even listen to him.
I rushed to the cafeteria.
Maybe his sugar is low…spirits can also have low sugar I guess...
Or he didn't eat properly…
I quickly bought a drink and some snacks.
Then—
as I turned—
"Well, well… look who's here."
My body stiffened.
Yoshi.
And Kota.
"...What do you want?" I said quietly.
"Nothing much," Yoshi said, smirking.
"Just wondering why you're always running around like this."
Kota laughed.
"Yeah… you look like someone's servant."
"...Move."
"Or what?" Yoshi said, stepping closer.
Then—
he lightly pushed my shoulder.
I stumbled a little.
"...Don't touch me."
"Oh? He's talking back now?" Kota laughed.
"Say something louder," Yoshi said mockingly.
"Or are you still only 'yes' and 'no'?"
They both laughed.
My hands tightened.
But—
no words came out.
Just like always.
"...Pathetic," Yoshi muttered.
Then they walked away.
Still laughing.
I stood there.
Frozen.
"...Why am I like this…"
I took a deep breath.
"...Forget it."
I went back to class.
Ken was still at his desk.
"...Here," I said, placing the drink in front of him.
"You didn't have to—"
"Just drink it."
He looked at me.
Then took it.
"...Thank you."
A small pause.
"...What happened?"
My heart skipped.
"...Nothing."
"You are lying."
"...I'm not."
He looked at me quietly, Like he already knew.
Then—
the classroom door opened.
Yoshi and Kota walked in.
Still laughing.
"Did you see his face?" Kota said.
"Yeah—'Don't touch me'—like he could do anything!" Yoshi laughed.
They didn't even try to hide it.
My hands clenched slightly.
I looked down.
Then—
I felt it.
A shift.
The air changed.
I looked at Ken.
He was quiet.
Very quiet.
But his eyes—
were different.
Calm.
But cold.
"...Ken," I whispered.
He didn't reply.
He just stood up slowly.
And looked toward them.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just—
watching.
And for some reason—
That felt more dangerous than anything.
Chapter 7—innocence