Whispers in the Dark

A few days passed, and Advanced Nurturing High School seemed to have fully settled into the rhythm of early summer. The sunlight grew scorching, and the air carried a lazy, humid weight. For Class D, plagued by a shortage of points and lingering low spirits, a physical education class in the indoor heated swimming pool became a rare chance to catch their breath and relax.

The swimming pool was hazy with moisture, and the massive glass dome filtered the sunlight into soft patches that danced on the shimmering water. The boys' changing room was thick with the mingled scents of disinfectant, sweat, and youthful hormones, buzzing with noise and energy. Most of the boys had already changed into their swim trunks, laughing and shoving each other in groups of two or three, ready to charge toward the pool.

Kazama In stood in front of his locker. He had already changed into a black competition-style swimsuit, the tight fabric outlining his lean, well-proportioned muscles—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and clearly defined chest and abdominal muscles that weren't exaggerated but radiated a restrained strength honed through intense training. However, unlike the others, he hadn't taken off his shirt. He still wore a dark gray short-sleeved athletic T-shirt, the collar slightly open.

At that moment, a necklace hung quietly against his pale neck. The main body of the necklace was made of a deep, night-sky-like dark silver metal, its streamlined shape carrying a futuristic, technological feel while also possessing the charm of ancient craftsmanship. At the center of the necklace was a dark red gem cut into a unique faceted shape. Under the changing room's ceiling lights, the interior of the gem seemed to have congealed bloodlight slowly flowing within, echoing the few strands of dark red highlights at his temples, exuding a mysterious and cold aura. It clung to his collarbone, like some kind of strange talisman, or a silent declaration.

"Hey, Kazama! What's the holdup?" A loud, brash voice rang out as Sudo Ken, Ike Kanji, and Yamauchi Haruki walked over, arms slung around each other's shoulders. Sudo wore only swim trunks, proudly showing off his muscular, basketball-toned physique, while Ike and Yamauchi looked comparatively scrawny.

Sudo saw that Kazama In was still wearing his shirt and grinned. "What, shy? We're all guys here, nothing to hide! Take it off, let us get a look!" With a mischievous intent, he reached out to lift the hem of Kazama's shirt. Ike and Yamauchi joined in, laughing and egging him on as they grabbed at it too.

"Hey! Sudo-kun, Ike-kun, Yamauchi-kun! Stop that!" Hirata Yosuke, who had just finished changing into his swim trunks, immediately stepped in to stop them. His brow was slightly furrowed, and his gentle face showed disapproval. He always worked to maintain a harmonious atmosphere in the class and disliked this kind of forceful teasing.

But Hirata's intervention came a moment too late.

"Rip—"

Under the trio's playful tugging, the hem of Kazama In's T-shirt was yanked upward, revealing his firm abdomen.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

The smiles on Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi's faces stiffened, replaced by shock and disbelief. Hirata Yosuke was also stunned, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

What was exposed under the light was Kazama In's sharply defined abdominal muscles and sides—a testament to a healthy physique. However, far more shocking were the scars covering them: some shallow, some deep, some long, some short. There were narrow, sharp knife scars crawling like centipedes across his side; dark, pale old injuries that looked like they came from heavy blunt force; and even a few newer, dot-like or thin, elongated scars that seemed to be... shrapnel wounds? These scars crisscrossed like ancient totems, branded onto his young, powerful body, silently telling of a brutal past far beyond what his peers could imagine. The contrast with his handsome, delicate face was stark and chilling.

The air was dead silent. The gazes of others in the changing room were drawn over, and they too fell into the same shock and silence.

Ike Kanji swallowed instinctively, his voice trembling slightly. "Th-These are..."

Yamauchi Haruki's face went pale, and he stammered, "Ka-Kazama... you..."

Sudo Ken's hand was still frozen in midair. He yanked it back as if burned. He looked at the scars, then at Kazama In's still-calm, expressionless face. A huge wave of shock and... an indescribable guilt washed over him. He suddenly remembered Kazama's casual self-introduction when he transferred in: "I've never experienced school life." Could it be... that what he meant by "never experienced" was because he had been suffering such terrible bullying all along?

That thought tightened Sudo Ken's chest. He had a short temper, but deep down, he had a strong sense of justice and protectiveness. He couldn't imagine what Kazama In had been through.

"S-Sorry! Kazama!" Sudo's voice carried a rare note of panic and sincere apology. "We didn't mean it! Really! We didn't know you..." He couldn't finish the sentence, feeling that his joke had been stupid and hurtful.

Ike and Yamauchi also quickly bowed and apologized. "Sorry! Kazama-kun! We were wrong! Please forgive us!"

Kazama In slowly lowered the hem of his shirt, his movements unhurried, as if he hadn't been the one offended. His jet-black pupils swept over the three panicked classmates in front of him, then landed on Hirata Yosuke's face, which held concern and apology.

"It's fine." His voice was low and calm, revealing neither anger nor pleasure, as if he were talking about something trivial. "Water under the bridge." He neither explained the origin of the scars nor accepted or rejected the apology, simply turning the page with an almost indifferent attitude.

This calmness made Sudo and the others feel even more ashamed, while also stirring a hint of sympathy and respect. What the hell had this guy been through?

Hirata Yosuke immediately stepped forward and gently smoothed things over. "Alright, alright. The misunderstanding is cleared up. Kazama-kun, are you okay?" Seeing Kazama In shake his head slightly, he turned to Sudo and the others. "Sudo-kun, Ike-kun, Yamauchi-kun, don't do that again. Let's hurry to the pool. We don't want everyone waiting."

"Yeah, yeah! Let's go swimming!" Ike Kanji quickly chimed in, trying to break the awkward atmosphere. He stole a glance at Kazama's waist, now covered again by his shirt, still shaken, and couldn't help muttering under his breath, "But... Kazama, your muscles are really dense..." That fleeting glimpse of steel-like, solid muscle had left a deep impression.

Sudo and Yamauchi also nodded hastily, not daring to joke anymore. The three followed behind Hirata and Kazama In, looking a bit sheepish as they left the changing room.

As they exited, the noisy sounds of splashing water and laughter flooded their ears. The huge pool was full of splashing, brimming with youthful energy.

The girls were already playing in the water. Karuizawa Kei, wearing her school swimsuit, moved through the water like a mermaid, occasionally letting out crisp laughter that drew the attention of many boys. She enjoyed being watched, full of confidence. Sato Mari had chosen a relatively conservative one-piece swimsuit, her movements a bit stiff, but her face was bright with a happy smile as she splashed water with the girls next to her. Kushida Kikyo wore a cute pink two-piece swimsuit, as radiant as sunshine. She was patiently teaching a few classmates who weren't good at swimming in the shallow end, her gentle and patient demeanor earning her plenty of goodwill.

Away from the commotion, by the poolside, Horikita Suzune sat alone. She wore a simple dark blue one-piece swimsuit that outlined her well-proportioned figure, but she clearly had no interest in the fun. She held a book, open on her lap, but her gaze wasn't focused on the pages. Instead, she looked thoughtfully at the crowd in the pool, as if observing something. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat on a bench not far from her, wearing ordinary swim trunks, equally expressionless, quietly observing everything around him like a piece of the background, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Kazama In and the others as they came out.

Kazama In's eyes quickly swept over this peaceful scene, pausing briefly on Horikita and Ayanokoji. Then, his specially trained senses, like a precision radar, instantly caught an extremely faint, almost imperceptible sound nearly drowned out by the water and noise.

The sound came from... the ventilation duct?

The swimming pool's ventilation system hummed normally, a low drone. But beneath that drone, from deep within a section of the ventilation duct connected to the adjacent meeting room area, came the faintest, deliberately lowered voices. The words were fragmented and unclear, but the cold, calculating, commanding tone in them instantly triggered Kazama In's assassin instincts.

Someone was having a secret conversation in that meeting room, which should have been empty? The content was clearly not meant to be overheard.

Kazama In's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly. A sharp glint flashed deep in his jet-black pupils. His primary task was to blend in and observe, but any potential source of intelligence couldn't be ignored—especially such suspicious behavior.

"Kazama-kun! Come swim with us! Let's have a race!" Sudo Ken, trying to make up for his earlier blunder, called out enthusiastically, attempting to close the distance.

"Yeah, Kazama! With a body like that, you must be a great swimmer!" Ike Kanji chimed in.

Kazama In quickly suppressed all outward emotion, his face returning to its usual calm. He turned to the enthusiastic Sudo and Ike, then glanced at Horikita and Ayanokoji, who seemed indifferent but were likely observing him too.

"Sorry," he said, shaking his head slightly, his voice carrying a hint of well-timed apology. "Suddenly feeling a bit off. I need to go to the restroom. You guys go ahead." He casually picked the most ordinary, least-questionable excuse—needing to pee.

"Huh? Not feeling well? Is it serious?" Hirata Yosuke immediately asked with concern.

"It's nothing. Probably just drank too much water. Excuse me." With that, Kazama In didn't give anyone time to react. He turned and walked away from the pool area, his steps steady but quick.

His figure quickly disappeared around the corner leading to the changing rooms and internal corridors.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gaze followed Kazama's disappearing form. In his utterly unreadable eyes, a faint flicker of doubt passed. "Suddenly not feeling well?" He had clearly seen that when Kazama left the changing room entrance, his posture showed no abnormality, his breathing was steady, and his eyes had even been unusually sharp for a moment. That excuse... was too abrupt. Combined with the earlier conflict in the changing room and those shocking scars... Ayanokoji felt that Kazama's departure was definitely not just a trip to the restroom.

Horikita Suzune also frowned slightly, closing the book she hadn't actually been reading. Kazama In's departure struck her as somehow off, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

The pool's noise continued, water droplets refracting colorful light under the sun. Karuizawa Kei's laughter was crisp, Sudo Ken dove headfirst into the water and started sprinting, and Hirata Yosuke smiled as he watched everyone. Everything seemed perfectly normal, full of carefree school life.

But Kazama In had already silently merged into the shadows of the swimming pool's complex internal corridors, like a top-tier hunter, following the faint whispers like dying embers toward the source of the sound from the ventilation duct—that mysterious meeting room. The dark red gem on the necklace at his throat occasionally caught a cold glint of light in the dim corridor. Beneath the calm surface, the undercurrents stirred once more.