The warm morning sunlight slipped through the curtains.
“Niku…
wake up.” Niku slowly opened one eye.
“Hmm…
Good morning, Mom…” Her mother smiled.
“Good.
You’re finally awake.
Get ready for school.” “Okay…” Her mother left the room.
The moment the door closed…
Niku pulled the blanket over her head.
“…Five more minutes.” Within seconds…
She was asleep again.
Outside the window, hidden by Invisible Magic, Kakashi sat quietly on the roof edge.
He looked at the sleeping girl and sighed.
“…I should have expected this.” — About thirty minutes later…
“Niku!” Her mother’s voice echoed through the house.
“Breakfast is ready!” There was no answer.
A few seconds passed.
Still nothing.
Her mother walked upstairs and opened the bedroom door.
Niku was sleeping peacefully, hugging her pillow.
Her mother’s eyebrow twitched.
“Niku!” She gently shook her shoulder.
Niku suddenly sat up.
“Huh?!” She looked around in confusion before grabbing her phone.
“…WHAT?!” “It’s already this late?!” She jumped off the bed.
“Mom!
Why didn’t you wake me up?!” Her mother folded her arms.
“I did.” “You even answered me.” Niku froze.
“…I did?” “You said ‘okay’…
then went back to sleep.” “…” “…Oops.” Outside the window…
Kakashi silently covered the lower half of his face with one hand.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“No matter what happens…” “…she never changes.” — Chaos filled the house.
Niku ran from one room to another.
“My bag!” “My notebook!” “Where are my socks?!” Her younger sister shouted from downstairs.
“Didi!
Hurry up!
The school bus is here!” Niku’s eyes widened.
“The bus?!” She rushed downstairs, wearing one shoe properly while trying to fix the other.
Her mother placed a plate on the table.
“At least eat breakfast!” “No time!” “Niku!” “I’ll eat after school!” Before anyone could stop her…
She grabbed her bag and ran outside.
The bus had already stopped in front of the house.
“Hurry!” her sister called from the bus door.
“I’m coming!” Panting heavily, Niku climbed onto the bus just before it started moving.
She leaned against a seat, trying to catch her breath.
“I…
made it…” Outside, Kakashi watched the bus disappear down the road.
A small eye-smile appeared beneath his mask.
“…Mission accomplished.” Then, with a flash of magic…
He disappeared.
— The bus was filled with the usual morning noise.
As soon as Niku sat down, one of her classmates looked at her and laughed.
“Wow.” “You almost missed the bus again.” Another student grinned.
“At this point, the driver probably knows to wait for Niku every morning.” Someone from the back added, “Maybe we should buy her an alarm clock.” The bus filled with light laughter.
Niku scratched the back of her head.
“Come on…
it only happened…” She paused.
“…Okay, maybe more than once.” Everyone laughed again.
Even Niku couldn’t help smiling.
“Fine.” “You all win.” “I’ll try not to oversleep tomorrow.” A boy immediately replied, “That’s exactly what you said last week.” More laughter spread through the bus.
Niku sighed dramatically.
“…Why is everyone against me today?” — Far away…
On the roof of a tall building…
Kakashi stood silently, watching the bus from a distance.
His smile slowly disappeared.
His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
“…Something feels wrong.” The air…
It felt different.
Someone…
Was watching.
Not Niku.
Not the bus.
Him.
Kakashi slowly turned his head toward the empty rooftop across the street.
Nobody was there.
But the uneasy feeling remained.
For a brief moment…
The wind carried a faint trace of unfamiliar magic.
Kakashi’s expression became serious.
“…So…” “…I’m not the only one searching anymore.” The morning had only just begun.
But somewhere in the city…
Another pair of eyes had already started watching.
To Be Continued…