The next morning, Tokyo looked completely normal.
People were busy with their lives—trains on time, coffee hot, the city indifferent.
But for Akari, nothing was normal.
She stood in the college washroom, staring at her lips in the mirror. The black line was no longer just a mark—it felt like it had sunk into her skin. Trying to hide it with makeup was useless. The black color was slowly spreading, almost alive.
“This is just my imagination,” she told herself.
But there was no confidence in her voice.
As soon as she entered the classroom, her eyes went to Ren.
Ren was calm as always—straight posture, sharp jawline, and that cold self-control in his eyes. He spoke little, but when he did, people listened. Akari had a crush on him… maybe from before.
Ren lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
Just for a second.
That same cold feeling filled Akari’s chest again. Her lips tingled, as if the black line was pulsing.
Ren frowned.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Akari quickly looked away. “Yeah… just a headache.”
Ren didn’t say anything else. His ego did not allow him to ask too many questions.
Just then, Mika arrived.
Mika was always energetic—too close, too observant. Her eyes constantly followed Ren, as if he belonged to her.
“I knew I’d find you here,” Mika said, standing beside Ren. Then her eyes fell on Akari.
“Oh. Your lip color… is that a new trend?”
Akari’s heart sank.
“It’s just lipstick,” she lied.
Mika smiled—but the smile did not reach her eyes. She looked at Akari, then at Ren. Her gaze paused for a moment—too long.
Suddenly, Mika grabbed her head.
“Ugh… why am I suddenly feeling so cold?” she said.
Akari froze.
Yui stood up from the back seat and came closer.
Yui was always soft—low voice, gentle eyes. She spoke little, but felt everything.
“Mika, your hand is very cold,” Yui said.
Mika laughed it off, but her lips had turned slightly blue.
After class, in the canteen, Kaito joined them.
Kaito’s charm was effortless—half-smile, messy hair, and that vibe that made everyone feel comfortable. He walked up to Ren and casually touched his shoulder—like it was completely normal.
For the first time, Akari noticed:
Ren and Kaito were not just friends.
“Why do you all look so serious?” Kaito asked. “Did you see a ghost or something?”
Akari picked up her glass—and it slipped from her hand immediately.
Where her fingers had touched the glass, a faint black line remained. Like a frost burn.
Everyone went silent.
Yui looked down at the floor.
“I feel… strange,” she said softly. “Like the air is heavy.”
Ren looked at Akari. This time, his gaze stayed longer.
“Something is wrong,” Ren said. “And it’s not just you, Akari.”
At that moment, Mika raised her wrist.
Under her skin, a faint black shadow appeared—exactly like Akari’s lips.
“This… what is this?” Mika’s voice trembled for the first time.
Akari said nothing.
But she knew the truth.
What was only her curse at night,
had now become theirs.
The black mark was not just a sign.
It was an invitation.
And now—
they had all accepted it, even without knowing it.
