“In the mirror’s reflection, it proclaims that I am young while it gazes at my pale skin and sturdy body. However, I have seen more than anyone has or will, for I am neither a human nor a monster anymore. I merely exist, following the faint determination my past self once had.”

The forest was drenched in midnight darkness. Ordinary bushes and small trees rustled as a gust of wind traveled through them, startling Kaiyo into petrified silence. She had mistaken them for a monster or even an enemy participant due to the lack of natural light created by the canopy of trees. A few rays of moonlight did pass through occasionally, but it didn’t ease the unnerving and chilling feeling she had while walking. Even if the forest were to explode with light, Kaiyo wasn’t sure if her anxiety would disappear either, for darkness wasn’t the reason she was afraid in the first place.

Kaiyo stopped in the middle of the forest’s pathway, looking at the shadow that followed right next to her. Unlike the rustling branches, this shadow was much more alive. It watched her when she paused, its ruby-red eyes glowing despite the darkness.

“Keep on moving,” the shadow said in a soft yet icy cold tone. Kaiyo would have never imagined she would hear that from her. “Please peacefully listen to my orders. I do not want to harm you.”

“Why did you do it?” Kaiyo asked. “Why did you spread the rumor, Hono?”

Hono stepped into a small ray of light that escaped from above, her young and innocent face illuminated by the moon’s cold glow. She didn’t wear her smile anymore. That had been nothing more than a piece of old clothing that could have been thrown out at any time. How long was she wearing that mask? Who was beneath it? Who truly was Hono?

“Why would I tell you?” Hono asked, taking her arm and steering her to keep moving. Words were stuck in her throat as she reluctantly complied.

“Because… well, I… need to know,” Kaiyo uttered. She felt the grip of Hono’s hand tighten, making her cringe in pain. Kaiyo didn’t want to believe it. She didn’t want to believe that someone so friendly to them, so willing to be a part of their team–

“Why would you do such a thing?”

Hono stayed silent.

“We were talking about your horrible childhood around the fire,” Kaiyo said. “We were comforting you. Are you just able to throw that out? Was it all a lie?”

“Please stop asking questions,” Hono said with a solemn and flat face. “It’s for the best.”

Kaiyo couldn’t accept that answer. “Is it… is it really that hard to answer one question? Don’t you think we at least deserve an answer after you betrayed us like that?” No matter how hard she tried to raise her voice, Kaiyo couldn’t. She was too afraid. Even though her mind was running blank with bitterness, the fear overpowered the courage to speak up.

“My hands are tied,” Hono said. Kaiyo glanced at her with confusion.

“What do you mean?”

Hono paused. “Do you honestly think I care enough to do this on my own free will? All the reasons why you think I’m doing this, erase them. None of them are the answer,” Hono said bluntly. “I understand how you must feel. I bet it’s frustrating. Infuriating even. You must hate me right now, don’t you? You’re probably quietly thinking that you wish you’d never met me. I bet I’m right, aren’t I?” Hono barked bitterly. She flinched, a putrid ring starting to echo in her ears from the loud exclamation. Kaiyo covered her ears with a whimper.

“I…” Kaiyo started, waiting for the sharp pain to fade away. “I don’t wish that at all. I enjoyed my time with you. Before this, at least,” Kaiyo said truthfully as Hono fell silent. “The fact I feel betrayed means I found you as a friend in the first place.”

“A friend?” Hono whispered, staring at her. “You viewed me– someone you’d just gotten to know– as a friend? Are you dumb?”

“Maybe I am. Maybe that’s why I'll never be a good Knight, no matter how much I try to change my personality. But I’d rather be a fool who trusts everyone than a scholar who only doubts those they meet.”

Hono didn’t respond; she just gripped Kaiyo more tightly by the arm and continued charting up the forest toward the mountain. Kaiyo knew she couldn’t run even if she wanted to. Hono made it quite clear that their team would face consequences if she even attempted that. She had no idea whether that was true or not, but she’d rather not test it. I don’t know what she’s capable of, nor do I know her motive either. This isn’t someone that I should get mad at, Kaiyo thought to herself, shivering as a chilly gust of wind streamed through her, undoing the hoodie she had over her head.

The silence that persisted as they paced through the clustered trees was more bitter than the cold air, it seemed. She had never been in a situation as uncomfortable and confusing in her life. On the one hand, Hono was her enemy– the one responsible for the rumor and the one who was kidnapping her at this very moment– yet when Kaiyo occasionally glanced at her face, it didn’t appear to be one full of hate toward her. In fact, she felt as if Hono was almost sad, no matter how blunt her expressions may seem.

If Ayame told the truth, that would mean Hono knew Sen didn’t have a Sense even before being part of our team. How is that possible? Kaiyo wondered, almost in denial, even though the proof that Hono was the culprit lay before her eyes. Maybe she’s a part of Sen’s school? Is that it? That’s the only explanation for knowing he was senseless before entering the challenge. But if that’s the case, why did Sen not recognize her? He has a relatively small school, and he’s known to remember everyone he sees. I just can’t believe that he would overlook something like this. How did you know Hono? she asked internally, knowing she wouldn’t get an answer from Hono’s mouth. Perhaps if she asked a different question?

“Where are you taking me?” she asked after building up the courage to speak. Nothing. I don’t know what I was expecting. Kaiyo frowned. That was the first question she had asked when Hono first threatened her, and the answer had always been bitter silence, so she shouldn’t expect anything more–

“I’m scared,” Hono whispered.

Kaiyo froze mid-step as Hono came to an abrupt halt. The hand that was tightly gripping hers had loosened slightly and was oddly… trembling. Why was Hono’s hand trembling? Shouldn’t Kaiyo be the one worried, given her situation?

“Hono?” she asked with uncertainty, the quivering only getting worse as they stood in silence. “What do you... mean? Why are you scared?”

Hono turned to meet her, her blunt expression breaking into twisted terror. However, it was more than just that. There was utter helplessness—the look of someone close to the gates of hell, catching a glimpse of the devil who lay dormant across from her. This wasn’t just fear, Kaiyo recognized. This transcended such a simple term. Hono saw something beyond what Kaiyo could perceive.

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“Kaiyo…” Hono’s voice was no more than a whisper. “This world is not as simple and black and white as you think. I’ve seen things... things you never would have thought were possible.”

“Seen things?” Kaiyo echoed, suddenly becoming all too aware of the chilly air. “What are they?”

“Things that made me look at the world differently. Even now, as I stand, I wonder if I truly am or if everything is merely someone else's creation. The burden I hold is something that no one can relieve me of; it’s something that I must hold alone. Because he entrusted it onto me.”

“Who did? Who entrusted what to you? I… I don’t understand. Please tell me instead of playing with words that I can’t understand. I can help you, Hono. I really can if you just give me the chance to understand what you're saying.”

Hono raised her hand, pointing behind Kaiyo. She turned, following the direction of the finger with confusion. Who was she pointing at? Who was behind them? There were only a few Kaiyo knew for certain. And that was her team. But why would she point at the team?

“He told me,” Hono said, “He told me that in fourteen years, you will throw a welcoming party to the one who saved humanity. To the one whom you thought was dead.”

Her words sent a shiver down her spine… no, they sent a shiver down into the pits of her soul. Hono spoke in tongues, and Kaiyo couldn’t understand even a fraction of them, yet a part of her believed—or, better yet, urged her to believe them. No, I can’t listen to a word she’s saying… I’m being fooled again, just like last time. If I keep trusting everything she says, I'll just be taken advantage of again and again, Kaiyo told herself.

But then why? Why were Hono’s terrified eyes so real and genuine? Why did Kaiyo feel the urge to believe everything she was saying? Was she truly this weak in rejecting someone’s lies?

Maybe she’s not lying… Kaiyo thought. Maybe she went insane. That has to be the reason why she looks so genuinely afraid. She truly believes what she’s saying is the truth because her mind is playing tricks on her. The person who’s telling her to do these things must simply be the voice in her head.

“Hono,” Kaiyo said softly. “I understand now. Please, just stop it; there’s no need to listen to that voice anymore—to the person who’s telling you to do these things. Trust me, this is not going to help anyone. You need to reject it–”

“You don’t understand anything,” Hono muttered, gripping Kaiyo’s wrist tighter. “He told me that I needed to do this in order to save the world.”

Once Hono said those last words, Kaiyo’s mind came to a firm conclusion. Hono had gone mad.

“This…” Kaiyo began struggling to come up with the right words. She had to tread carefully. It was very easy to upset a person that was mentally not there. “This is not going to save the world, Hono. You’re being tricked. You know me well enough to understand that I don’t lie to anyone. Please believe in me.”

Hono’s tensed face relaxed a little as she stared at Kaiyo’s sincere eyes. And then… she smiled slightly.

“You’re a good person,” Hono said, to Kaiyo’s disbelief.

“Then why are you doing this? Why are you tormenting my friends?” Kaiyo demanded.

She didn’t respond automatically; she merely continued to eye Kaiyo with soft and understanding eyes.

“Because if I don’t do this,” Hono started, “All humanity will die.”

Kaiyo frowned. She wasn’t sure why she thought it was possible to snap Hono out of her mental state, but it ended in utter failure. It was clear that she was too far gone to save.

Both of them continued arching their way up the forest’s slope to a destination that Kaiyo doubted existed, yet she silently followed, unsure what to do next. She contemplated whether to run away and hopefully reach her team before Hono caught up to her. However, she was still fearful of what Hono had implied– that their team would face consequences if that ever happened. Now that she was certain Hono was simply mentally insane, it also meant that, most likely, the consequences were an empty threat just to scare her.

So why did she still hesitate? There was no other room for making decisions. She had to run–

Kaiyo paused. Her sense automatically picked up dozens of footsteps shuffling against the forest floor. Kaiyo could tell they were not the footsteps of a monster but something far more coordinated and calculative.

They were people.

She picked up very low voices being shared between the unknown contestants, but they were too far away to distinguish what was being said. Her heart started to quicken as she realized Hono did have a destination to arrive at. With no option left, Kaiyo attempted to release her wrist from Hono’s grasp with a quick pull. Yet nothing even moved. Hono’s hold was so firm it almost felt like she had been handcuffed with steel. How was that possible?

How was Hono so… strong?

Her internal question was answered when Hono looked back at her, noticing her futile attempt to escape. Kaiyo’s heart dropped.

Hono’s eyes were glowing– they glowed with a brilliant blue.

“You…” Kaiyo breathed out. “You don’t only have Hearing, do you?”

Hono didn’t respond and began moving again, but the silence was as good as any answer that Kaiyo would have ever gotten. The voices and footsteps up ahead became more and more audible the closer they reached their destination. A large protruding branch blocked their path, but only for a mere instant, as Hono broke it with a swift swipe of her hand, clearly not caring to hide her other Sense that she’d hidden from them all this time.

As they traveled through the thick mass of trees, Kaiyo tried focusing on the growing voices she heard up ahead. The more she concentrated, the more her heart thumped in her chest, slowly drowning the ability to hear clearly. The sounds went muffled and blurry– replaced by an eerie ring and the soft thuds of her beating heart as it reverberated.

Kaiyo suddenly began to doubt… whether Hono had been insane at all. What if everything she’d told her was the truth? But if that was the case, then what did her words truly mean?

“Kaiyo…” The muffled sounds faded when Hono quietly called her name. Kaiyo's Sense gave out from exhaustion. Hono didn’t even turn around to meet her eye–maybe out of guilt or carelessness–she wouldn’t know. “I’m glad that I got to meet you,” Hono said, continuing to lead the path. They were getting closer, and the voices grew with every stride. “I didn’t make a lot of friends in my life… well, actually, I don’t think I’ve ever made a friend.”

They got closer.

“Tell me, Kaiyo, how many friends did you make?” Hono asked. Kaiyo stuttered out a reply.

“I–I’m not too sure. I don’t remember.”

“That’s a good thing,” Hono said. “That means you made so many friends that you aren’t able to count them all. I wish I had that problem.”

Kaiyo’s eyes were still locked at the back of Hono’s head as she led. “Are you… mad at that?” Kaiyo asked. Hono fell silent, making Kaiyo regret even saying it in the first place. Maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say–

“I’m not….” Hono said. “I’m envious, but I’m not mad.”

They got closer.

A part of her wanted to feel sympathetic, and the other told her to refuse it. I… I can’t trust her. It doesn’t matter how nice she may seem. I can’t allow myself to get manipulated by her again. This is all part of her game, right? It has to be, Kaiyo’s thoughts raced.

“Hey Kaiyo? Answer truthfully this time. Did you actually view me as a friend at one point?” Hono asked.

…

“I didn’t lie to you before. I really did. Even right now, I’m struggling to hate you.”

They got closer.

“I see,” Hono said, almost contently. “Thank you. I’m glad that I was able to find at least one friend before I…” Her words trailed off. Kaiyo wondered what Hono had wanted to say before she stopped herself.

There was a sadness intertwined with the silence that persisted—a grieving silence. It was as if Hono had an urge to say something, yet something stopped her. Kaiyo opened her mouth and immediately closed it. Not because she was scared this time.

But because they were no longer alone anymore. They had arrived.

The trees abruptly stopped, opening to a large, earthy clearing ridden with people. She counted at least two dozen, and they all wore academy tracksuits with their hoodies up, making their features almost unrecognizable in the dark. Yet Kaiyo didn’t need to see their eyes to know that they looked at her with shivering coldness and scorn.

Kaiyo could feel it… but maybe that was simply the cold air.

One dozen flanked her right, and the other flanked her left, as she just stood there, not even attempting to run or hide, knowing that it would be a waste of her effort. Kaiyo didn’t even know their motive, and she was already prepared to give up.

One tall and muscular contestant stood alone in front of her, silently… like a predator judging its prey. Kaiyo thought that at any moment, he would pounce. She didn’t know why he would do that, but she expected it. However, that moment never came. Instead, the large contestant pulled back his hoodie, revealing his stocky, blockish face. Kaiyo wasn’t able to tell exactly who it was at first due to the darkness, but then—with a streak of good luck—a cloud that covered the moon ran away, making a giant ray of light stream down as if to aid her.

The moon’s rays illuminated the tall man’s face, and she gasped.

“You?…” Kaiyo whispered. “I recognize you.”