The secret we didn't see coming

The second week of the new term had just begun at Sakura High, but something about today felt unusually heavy.

Hayato arrived at school a few minutes earlier than usual. The courtyard was quiet, with just the soft rustle of cherry blossoms drifting in the breeze. He looked up at the sky. It was cloudy — a gentle gray that made everything seem dreamlike… or maybe unreal.

His mind wandered back to Ren’s words the day before.

> “Don’t trust anyone after 3:17 p.m.”

What kind of warning was that? A prank? A threat? Hayato had laughed it off then. But now, he wasn’t so sure.

---

The Change in the Air

When Hayato stepped into class, Hina was already at her desk, doodling in the corner of her notebook. Her usual radiant energy seemed dimmed — she didn't even glance up at him.

“Morning,” he said, slipping into his seat beside her.

She responded with a quiet “Morning,” without looking away from her sketch. It was unusual for her — Hina was always the one who started conversations with a smile or a joke.

“Are you okay?” Hayato asked.

She nodded, but it wasn’t convincing.

“Just tired. Had weird dreams last night.”

Yuri walked in next, dropping her bag with a dramatic sigh.

“Ugh, I hate Mondays. They always feel cursed.”

Sanemi followed right after, munching on a piece of toast.

“You say that every week, Yuri.”

She shot him a glare. “Because it’s true.”

The group chuckled softly — the kind of moment that used to feel comforting. But today… something was off.

---

Missing Ren

By lunch, the four had gathered on their usual rooftop spot — but Ren hadn’t shown up all morning.

“He didn’t even text,” Yuri said, tapping at her phone. “That’s not like him.”

Hina bit her lip. “Do you think something happened?”

“Maybe he’s sick,” Sanemi offered, unwrapping a rice ball. “Or just skipping class.”

Hayato didn’t say anything. The memory of Ren's eyes — serious, almost scared — played in his head. That single sentence he’d whispered…

> “It starts again at 3:17. Be careful.”

Hayato reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out a small paper he had found in his locker earlier. It wasn’t addressed to anyone. Just a few chilling words written in black ink:

> “The cracks have returned. Don’t look at the glass too long.”

---

Signs Begin to Appear

After lunch, the group had cleaning duty in Class 3-C. It was an old classroom that hadn’t been used in years — one the school mostly kept locked.

“How is this still even in rotation?” Sanemi asked, pushing a broom lazily.

Hina was near the window, trying to clean the frame when she noticed something.

“Guys,” she called. “Look at this.”

A thin crack had formed across the glass — like a vein running through it. It hadn’t been there yesterday. Or this morning.

Hayato stepped closer, peering at the reflection. For a brief moment, he thought he saw someone — a fifth person — standing behind them in the glass.

He spun around.

No one was there.

“What is it?” Yuri asked.

Hayato shook his head. “Nothing. Just my eyes playing tricks.”

But he wasn’t convinced.

---

After School

By the end of the day, the group walked together down the hallway as the school emptied. Laughter from other students echoed around them, but their group stayed unusually quiet.

Sanemi finally broke the silence.

“So… are we just going to pretend today wasn’t weird as hell?”

Yuri stopped walking. “You felt it too?”

“Of course,” Sanemi said. “Ren’s missing, the cracked window, weird vibes all day… and Hayato’s been quiet since morning.”

Hayato looked at the school clock on the wall.

3:16 p.m.

His phone buzzed.

He pulled it out slowly, his stomach twisting. A message from an unknown number blinked on the screen.

> From: Unknown

“Don’t trust the reflection. One of you isn’t who you think they are.”

Yuri’s phone buzzed. So did Sanemi’s. Then Hina’s.

All of them stared at each other, each realizing they’d received the same message.