As I left the house and walked to school, I spotted Sophia and Covi hiding behind a corner, whispering and giggling like children. I tried to ignore them, but before I could walk past, Sophia suddenly pushed me from behind and grabbed my arm with surprising strength.

  She pouted, her cheeks puffed in mock anger.

  “Why do you always try to avoid me?” she huffed.

  I groaned inwardly. Oh shit, here we go again.

  “I wasn’t trying to avoid you,” I said, running a hand through my hair.

  She rolled her eyes. “At least put some effort into your lie so it sounds convincing.”

  I let out a sigh and continued walking with her. As we passed the notice board, I noticed a list detailing everything about the tournament—dates, matches, participants. But Sophia quickly pulled me toward the classroom, making me forget all about it.

  “By the way,” she said mischievously, “do you think I can find all three festival orbs this year?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Festival orbs?”

  Sophia smiled slyly.

  “They’re items hidden by the student council every year. If someone finds all three, they get a reward.”

  I sighed deeply, slumping against the wall.

  “Whatever. I don’t care. Just leave me alone.”

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  Sophia only grinned wider, as if my apathy amused her.

  “You’re the worst,” she muttered before turning on her heel, her shoes clicking softly against the floor as she walked away.

  I should have felt relieved. Finally, silence. Finally, peace.

  But instead, a strange feeling crept up on me—like icy fingers trailing down my spine.

  My breath hitched. The hallway was quiet. Too quiet. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled, as though unseen eyes were staring at me.

  I glanced around, but the corridor was empty. The dim light flickered once, casting long shadows across the lockers.

  And then… a soft sound.

  Not footsteps. Not breathing.

  Something else.

  Almost like a whisper brushing past my ear.

  I froze.

  Later that day.

  I entered the classroom, but the headache returned. My vision blurred as I tried to focus, and then something caught my eye. I glanced out the window, and everything shifted.

  The trees. The birds.

  They all turned dark, their eyes glowing a menacing red.

  It was as if they were staring into my soul, and my consciousness began to fade. The last thing I heard was a cold voice whispering in my ear:

  Please die… for me.The voice felt familiar—like that “jumpThen everything went black.

  Suddenly, I woke up.

  I was in class, and it was almost evening. Sophia and Gru were walking out, heading toward the hallway. Just then, Neel rushed in and shouted, “I FOUND YOU!”

  I told him to calm down, but Sophia quickly added, “I told you a million times not to play games late at night! Especially that late! But you don’t listen to me! It makes me so angry!”

  I could still feel the aftereffects of the nightmare, but the details were fading, as if it had only been a distant dream.

  As we walked out of the school building, I turned to Gru, who had been silent beside me.

  “Hey, Gru, do you know how the tournament matches are decided?”

  Gru shrugged casually, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

  “Sorry, man. I don’t know. The matches are randomly selected. But I do know the participants.”

  He listed them without hesitation:

  “1. You

  2. Sophia

  3. Neel

  4. Alex

  5. Ryuga

  6. Miguel

  7. Foxsan

  8. K

  9. Meet

  10. …”

  Gru scratched his head.

  “Sorry, man. I forgot the tenth participant’s name.”

  My grip tightened around my bag.