Day 9
Riku walked to school in Mei's body, as usual.
The world felt distant. Blurred. Routine had become a mask—one he wore well.
But something inside him refused to sit still.
During lunch break, as everyone chatted, Riku stepped away. Quietly. Carefully.
He walked to the staircase and stood near the railing of the first floor, staring down.
In his hand: Asahi's phone.
He'd stolen it earlier. No one noticed.
He hesitated—then let it drop.
Clack!
The phone bounced once, then slid across the ground floor tiles, out of sight.
He walked away without a word.
Afternoon – Classroom
Asahi stormed in, face tense. His eyes scanned the room.
"Who took my phone?" he demanded. "If I don't get it back in the next five seconds, I'll make sure everyone here gets punished."
His tone was sharp—loud enough to quiet the entire class.
Silence.
Then a voice from the doorway.
"Kenta," someone whispered.
Kenta stepped in casually, holding something up.
"Looking for this?" he asked. "It was downstairs. Ground floor."
Asahi's expression shifted.
He walked up, snatched the phone from Kenta's hand, checked the screen—it still worked.
"Tch. You drop your own stuff next time," Kenta said, walking past him with a yawn.
The class resumed its rhythm—but the air had changed.
Riku sat in his seat, silent. Watching. Waiting.
His plan over.
He failed.
Day 10
Riku returned to school as Mei, the weight of failure pressing against his chest.
Last days…
His plan yesterday hadn't worked. The video was still safe in Asahi's hands, and Riku had no way of knowing if it was backed up again.
He tried to act normal in class, but every glance felt sharp. Every whisper felt directed at him.
At lunch, he followed Asahi quietly. Waited until the hallway was empty.
Then reached for the phone in Asahi's pocket.
But Asahi turned.
"Still trying to be brave, princess?" he smirked. "You're predictable."
Riku stepped back.
Asahi leaned in. "Go ahead. Try anything. I dare you. One move and that video hits the school group chat."
Riku clenched his fists.
But he didn't move.
Evening – Alone
Back home, Riku sat in Mei's room, staring at the ceiling.
I wasted my days… and nothing to show.
He replayed the day over and over—what he could've said, could've done.
But every path led to the same thing:
Failure.
Night – Mei's Home
The room was quiet, the only sound the ticking of the wall clock. Riku, in Mei's body, lay in bed, eyes open. Sleep came slowly, and when it did—it brought him somewhere else.
Dreamscape – A Faded Classroom
Riku stood in a dim, washed-out version of their school. Mei was there, or rather, her voice—soft, distant.
"I wasted my time…" Riku whispered.
"You did nothing," Mei's voice echoed from nowhere. "Just like always."
"Tell me, Mei… who complained about you?" Riku asked, looking around.
There was silence… then:
"You don't know?" Mei's voice was trembling now.
"I don't," Riku admitted.
"I'll tell you."
A soft light revealed Mei standing by the window, facing away. Her shoulders shook.
"I had a dream… I wanted to become a police officer," she said, voice breaking. "I wanted to protect others. To help students like me… to make sure they wouldn't be alone."
"Your dream…" Riku said quietly.
"But Asahi… and Kenta… and you, Riku." Her voice cracked. "Your names were on the complaint. That complaint ruined me. I never bullied anyone. I never even talked back. But no one listened. I lost my future. My dream was erased."
Riku dropped to his knees, the weight of her words crashing down like thunder.
"No… Mei… I didn't know. I didn't mean to—"
She turned to him, tears in her eyes.
"Goodbye, Riku. You'll live longer in my body than I ever did."
"No! Mei, don't go—I want you, I need you—I'm alone without you!" Riku's voice broke.
She smiled faintly, fading into the darkness.
"Goodbye… Riku," she whispered.
And then she was gone.
Riku woke up in the dark, tears wetting the pillow.
Day 11
The morning sun rose.
But Riku didn't.
He sat in Mei's bed, motionless. Eyes open, but empty.
No words.
No thoughts.
No movement.
He didn't eat.
Didn't drink.
Didn't change.
Didn't even cry.
The world moved on outside the door.
School bells rang. Birds sang. Time ticked forward.
But inside that room, everything stood still.
Day 12
The second day came like fog.
Food left untouched.
Water warm and stale.
Riku remained where he was—arms limp at his sides, gaze fixed on the wall.
As if waiting for something.
Or someone.
Day 13
The third day.
The final day.
Rain tapped against the windows.
Riku's body felt weak. His lips dry.
But he didn't move.
He couldn't.
In his silence, the pain swallowed everything—guilt, fear, regret.
Then… a whisper.
"You still have time."
He didn't know if it was real, or just a fading echo of Mei in his mind.
But something stirred in him.
A tear fell.
And then, a breath.
Inside the silence, Riku laughed.
A broken, chilling laugh.
"Haaahaaa… haaa… I'll destroy them all…"
He buried his face in his hands.
Then slowly, painfully, he stood.
His legs trembled—weak from days without food—but his heart burned with something new.
Wrath.
Resolve.
He ate. Drank. Changed into clean clothes.
And stepped out.
That Evening
He reached Asahi's house.
But she wasn't home.
"She's in Kenta's room," a neighbor said casually.
Riku went there.
He opened the door.
Asahi.
Kenta.
And other students from school.
They laughed. Talking.
Then silence.
Asahi noticed him. "Mei's school is on vacation. Why are you here?" she asked.
Without a word, Riku walked forward.
He slapped the phone out of her hand.
It hit the ground. Cracked.
He stepped on it again. And again.
Smash
Crack
Snap
"Stop, what are you doing?!" Asahi shouted, trying to push him back.
But Riku didn't stop.
His voice was cold, shaking with rage.
"Delete my video. Now."
Everyone went silent.
Riku stared at them all—fire in his eyes.
Then, without waiting, he turned around, walked out of the room, and disappeared into the night.
Later That Day – Police Station
Riku, still in Mei's body, walked into the local police station.
His hands trembled slightly—but his eyes were cold.
He placed a USB on the officer's desk.
"These are videos of bullying. Blackmail. Harassment.
I want to file a case."
The officer glanced at it, then leaned back casually.
"Hmm… you know how it works, right? Filing this kind of case isn't free. It needs… a little something."
Riku clenched his fists.
He knew what that meant.
Slowly, he pulled out an envelope.
Inside—was Mei's savings. The money she had hidden for her future.
He handed it over.
"This is all I have. Take it. Just make sure this case goes forward."
The officer smirked and began processing the complaint.
That Night
Riku walked alone under the streetlights.
His body felt light.
His soul—heavy.
He looked up at the stars.
"I'm sorry, Mei… I used your dream money.
But I promise… if I keep living in your body—
I'll become a police officer for you."
"I'll protect people like you."
A single tear fell from his eye.
But his steps grew stronger.
This was the first time in days…
That Riku walked with purpose.
The Next Day
Riku, still in Mei's body, walked into a mall.
He bought clothes—not fancy ones, just something clean and fresh.
He picked up some food and drinks.
But his body…
Hadn't eaten properly for days.
As he stepped out onto the busy street, bags in hand—
His vision blurred.
His legs trembled.
Thud.
He collapsed right there, on the side of the road.
Moments Later – Darkness
Silence.
Cold.
Then
A flicker of light.
A familiar warmth.
Riku opened his eyes.
But something felt different.
He sat up slowly… looked at his hands.
"My hands… this isn't Mei's body…"
He rushed to a mirror.
His face.
His real face.
"I'm… back?"
"I'm in my body again?!"
He looked around.
He was in his home.
No one else there. Just silence.
Riku stood in front of the mirror, still in shock.
"Mei… where are you now?"
"Did you… give me my body back?"
A moment of silence.
Then he whispered:
"Thank you. I'll live for both of us now."
He something realise and run.