"As days rolled on, their camaraderie deepened, strengthened by their shared secret of exam strategies. Haru, Kenji, and Hina had grown accustomed to Ishikki's unorthodox study methods. It was a strange symbiosis, where Haru's sharp mind supplied the answers, Kenji's occasional cram sessions helped him scrape by, and Ishikki's keen listening skills proved unexpectedly effective."

In the midst of the usual school morning commotion, students chatted and laughed while rushing through the hallways. The classrooms were alive with activity, the air filled with the sound of conversation. For everyone, it was just another ordinary morning, but for Isshiki, things felt different.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes, an uneasy feeling settled within Ishikki. Something seemed amiss, a subtle unease that he couldn't quite grasp. He chalked it up to not feeling his best that day, not realizing that his entire body was quietly protesting, sensing an impending shift in his world.

"For a normal human, the brain gets clouded with thoughts and desires, consequently influencing their judgment and actions. It also naturally filters out the unnecessary, allowing focus on one thing at a time, hence the saying 'You can only serve one master at a time.' However, for Ishikki, it's a distinct experience. It feels as though he's receiving everything at once, which is why he seeks refuge in music, using it as a shield. Yet, his disposition leans towards lack of energy when it comes to less important matters. He simply goes for the basics, seeking a calm life and avoiding problems without much desire to fix them."

The next day, after school, Haru extended an invitation to Kenji, Ishikki, and Hina to check out a new coffee shop near the station. With no pressing matters at hand, they all readily agreed. Given their earlier discussion about Ishikki's frequent use of earphones, he decided to go without them this time, not wanting to appear impolite. As they approached the coffee shop, the thunderous noise of a passing train jolted Ishikki's senses. Suddenly, everything seemed heightened, each detail registering with intensity as he settled into a chair inside the cafe.

Haru: "I'm really glad you all agreed. This place is a bit out of the way, but it's worth it."

Hina: "How did you even find this place in the first place?"

Kenji: "We're the only students here. It's pretty fancy."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Haru: "Well, it seems a piece of mail was delivered to my house by mistake, and that's how I stumbled upon this place."

Hina: "That's not the answer I was expecting."

Kenji: "Mail? Shouldn't it have an address to send it back to? Did you check?"

Haru: "Yeah, I did, but there was no address. Just a poster about this coffee shop, so it didn't seem important."

Hina glanced at Ishikki, who appeared to be sweating.

Hina: "Are you okay?"

Isshiki: "Yeah, I'm fine..."

A moment of silence followed. Concern washed over the faces of the others. Then, abruptly, Ishikki spoke up.

Isshiki: "Right now, my mind's racing. It's like I'm seeing things before they happen."

Haru and Ishikki simultaneously: "What do you mean?"

Isshiki: "See? I even knew what you were going to say."

Haru: "Are you sure? That could've just been a coincidence."

Hina: "Calm down. Should we go to the hospital?"

Isshiki: "Nah, I'm fine. It just... makes me feel sick."

Haru: "Let's head home. You need some rest."

As they left, they stopped by a convenience store. Haru and Hina were clearly worried about Ishikki, when Kenji suddenly mentioned that he thought they were being followed.

Kenji: "I hate to say it now, but when we entered the coffee shop, I noticed someone watching us from outside. I figured he might've been looking at the table near us, but when we left, I saw him again."

Haru: "Did you see his face?"

Kenji: "No, he was wearing something. I couldn't make it out."

Haru: "Since there are four of us, I doubt he'd try anything. But he might be tailing Hina."

Kenji: "How far is your place from here, Hina?"

Hina: "About 15 minutes."

Haru: "Mine's not too far either. We'll walk with you until you're home."

Hina: "Thank you."

Kenji: "Alright, let's do that. If he follows any of us after that, we'll call the police right away."

They safely reached Hina's house, leaving only the three of them. Kenji kept an eye out for any signs of being followed.

Kenji: "Looks like he's not following us anymore."

Haru: "Thank goodness. I've still got a five-minute walk ahead."

Isshiki, still feeling unwell, chimed in.

Isshiki: "No, he's still there. No, they're... I can hear them."

Kenji: "I can't hear anything though."

Haru: "Let's head to a well-lit area with more people. We can figure out what to do there."

Kenji: "Look, there's a police station. Let's go there."

As they crossed the road, a car suddenly struck them. Haru bore the brunt of the impact, his injuries severe. Kenji was covered in blood, while Ishikki's arm had been torn. Haru, struggling to feel his lower body, collapsed.

"Kenji got his consciousness back and he woke up in a dark, abandoned room. He was scared, barely able to move, covered in blood. While his injuries weren't fatal, the sight was chilling. He carefully sat down and saw Ishikki and Haru unconscious beside him. As he tried to wake them, he heard noises from the other corner of the room—crying and panicking. Turns out, they weren't the only ones locked up. A few minutes later, Ishikki stirred, his eyes wide with horror. His left arm was missing, the pain unbearable. Despite Kenji's earlier attempt to staunch the bleeding, it persisted. Ishikki bore his suffering in silence, tears streaming down his face. Meanwhile, Haru remained unresponsive, and Kenji, his hope waning, faced the cruel reality of their situation."