The sun hung low in the sky above Sakura High School, casting long shadows on the pavement as students bustled about, eager to escape to the comfort of home. Haruki Fuyuki leaned against the cold metal railing of the school rooftop, glancing at the horizon, lost in thought. The warmth of late afternoon wrapped around him, but it felt distant—much like his connection to the other students. 

He pulled out his phone, checking the time. There were only a few minutes left until the final bell. He watched a group of laughter ripple through the courtyard below, a mix of familiar faces enveloped in their carefree energy. Haruki sighed, feeling that familiar sensation of isolation creep in. His classmates were just a few feet away, yet they might as well have been miles apart. 

It wasn’t always this way. Once, he had tried to fit in, to connect with others. But the day he discovered his ability, everything changed. A flicker of time—a nano-second pause when a teacher’s voice was drowned out and the world hung suspended in stillness. It had been exhilarating at first—until he realized he couldn’t control it.

The bell rang, jolting Haruki from his reverie. Students poured out of the classrooms, a tidal wave of youthful exuberance. He tucked his phone away and decided to head down the stairs, hoping for a peaceful walk home, one uninterrupted by unwanted conversations or lingering glances.

As he descended, he couldn’t shake the tension in his chest. Memories of that incident—how he had misused his powers to ace an exam—played in his mind like a broken record. The fallout had left one of his classmates, **Kota**, in the hospital—an accident caused by manipulating time to avoid a confrontation. Kota's life now hung in uncertainty, and the weight of his guilt was something Haruki could never escape.

Haruki stepped out of the building and into the buzzing hallways, where students joked and teased one another. He shot a glance toward a corner where a small group had gathered, their faces lit with laughter. Among them was Miyako Akane, known for her outgoing nature and radiant smile that seemed to draw people in. With her warm demeanor, she effortlessly bridged the gaps that Haruki felt lost in.

“Haruki!” Miyako’s voice broke through the noise, pulling his gaze toward her. She waved, her dark hair catching the light as she sauntered over. 

For a brief moment, Haruki felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could connect with her too.

But just as he opened his mouth to respond, that familiar hesitation constricted his throat, and words escaped him, as if time had slowed down once more. 

“You okay?” she asked, concern etching her delicate features. “You look pale.” 

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He shrugged, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just tired from studying.” 

“It’s Friday! You should hang out with us! We’re having a gaming night at my place.” 

Haruki felt an inviting warmth wrap around him at the suggestion, but his instincts kicked in—a remnant of his previous experiences. “I can’t. I have… things to do,” he stammered. 

“Things? Or are you just avoiding everyone again?” she pressed, her tone light yet probing. 

He felt the weight of her words shove against the last threads of his resolve. “It’s not like that,” he retorted, but even as he said it, he recognized the lie woven into his defense. It was exactly like that.

Miyako tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scrutinized him. “You know, you don’t always have to push everyone away. We want you there.” 

Haruki smiled faintly. “Thanks, but I really should…”

Before he could finish, a commotion erupted from the other side of the courtyard. A student, **Riku Tanaka**, was in a heated argument, wild illusions flickering around him—a chaotic manifestation of his average ability to create visuals that could deeply mislead and confuse. Riku’s temper bubbled over, and before anyone could react, the images morphed into monstrous figures, causing panic to spread among onlookers.

Haruki felt the pull of instinct. He’d never interacted much with Riku, but the boy’s powers had an erratic history, often resulting in unintended consequences. 

“Stay here,” he told Miyako, unsure of why he felt the need to intervene. He couldn’t let another accident happen—not again. 

With that, Haruki surged forward, the familiar feeling of time slowing surrounding him. He skated along its edges, his heart racing as he focused on Riku. “Calm down!” he shouted, his voice firm. “You’re losing control!” 

Riku’s eyes widened, the illusions flickering like candle flames. Haruki pushed through the tension, reaching for the boy’s mind—tentatively nudging time momentarily to encapsulate Riku's moment of fury.

In that breath of a second, the images evaporated; the monster illusions dissipated into harmless tendrils of vapor. Gasps filled the courtyard, students standing frozen in awe. Riku was left wide-eyed and confused, the eruption of anger replaced by uncertainty.

“Thanks,” Riku muttered, lowering his gaze.

Just then, a sharp voice cut through the air. “What are you doing, Fuyuki?!” 

Haruki turned to see the school’s vice principal, **Ms. Sayaka**, storming toward them. Haruki's heart sank. The last thing he wanted was to attract more attention to his abilities, especially when they were already shrouded in secrecy.

Miyako rushed to his side, standing firm. “He helped Riku control his ability. It was a legitimate intervention.”

“What do you mean, helped? That’s dangerous!” The vice principal’s voice rose, but as she examined Haruki closer, her expression shifted to something more intrigued than angry. 

The crowd began to disperse, murmurs trailing like whispers in the wind. Haruki's relief came with a pang of awareness; each intervention, each reckless use of his power, could lead to dire consequences—an echo of the past he couldn’t outrun.

For now, the danger had passed, but the question looming in his mind remained: **How long could he keep running from the truth of his powers? 

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Haruki realized that the heaviness in his heart wasn’t just guilt—it was the weight of uncertainty that shrouded him. And somewhere, hidden within the shadows, an unsettling truth awaited.