The couch was empty. An abyssal void that felt like a punch to the stomach. Had she run away? Or worse... had my memory played another trick on me? Paranoia instantly settled into my skull.

"No, don't tell me she's..."

I rushed into my room, heart pounding wildly. I shoved the door so hard it slammed against the wall. Nothing. But my note was still there, sitting next to the watch. I let out a sigh of relief so deep it almost hurt. I stuffed my precious evidence into my bag and bolted back out, determined to search every corner of the house.

The problem was Kaede. I couldn't exactly scream Yuni’s name with my sister around. I stepped into the kitchen, where Kaede was inhaling her cereal while standing up, eyes glued to her phone, scrolling through photos of guys who looked like porcelain dolls.

She raised an eyebrow as I blew past like a tornado. "What exactly are you looking for?"

"My watch," I snapped, heading back to the living room.

"A watch? Since when do you even wear a watch?"

"Someone gave it to me, that's all."

She turned off her screen, looking intrigued and suspicious.

"Gave it to you? Who would give you a watch? Don't tell me you stole it!"

"A friend owed me cash, he gave me this old watch in exchange," I grumbled, heading toward the bathroom, increasingly annoyed by the situation.

I opened the toilet door. No one. Kaede followed me with her eyes, clearly unconvinced by my story.

"A friend? I know perfectly well you don't know anyone at that school. And besides, you still haven't explained that bullying thing..."

I took a deep breath. My sister's questions were starting to suffocate me. I headed for the bathroom without answering. I grabbed the handle, but as I pushed, I felt resistance. Something was blocking it from the other side. I pushed a bit too abruptly.

BAM. A dull thud echoed behind the door.

"OW!!" a muffled voice cried out from behind the panel.

I froze, hand on the handle. I’d found her. But Kaede had heard it too.

"What was that?!" she asked, a mix of surprise and misplaced curiosity in her voice.

I spun around in one block to bar her path, my brain overheating.

"It’s... It’s just something blocking the door. A small object, nothing big. Anyway, you wanted to know who’s really bullying me, right? Come on, I’ll tell you everything!"

"YES! I WANT TO KNOW! Is there another guy bothering you? How’s it happening?"

Kaede’s eyes were wide, overflowing with a morning energy that was almost frightening. Seeing her so enthusiastic about discovering my "problems," I wondered if she actually cared about my well-being or if she was just looking for the scoop of the year. Her excitement killed any urge I had to explain that Haruka was draining my energy, and Ren was making it worse.

"No, forget it. I don't feel like talking about it now."

"What? Are you kidding me?!" she exploded.

"You bring it up and then chicken out?"

I couldn't dump the whole truth on her about the PVDS, Haruka’s trap, or the invisible girl probably standing two feet away from her. She crossed her arms, her brows furrowing in an unusually serious way.

"Salkony... just tell me if it’s really serious. I’m your sister, dammit. If you won't talk to me, do you want us to call Mom?"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her protective tone. It was rare. But I still wasn't ready.

"Mmm... later, then."

"Promise? You're really going to explain without making up some tall tale?"

"Yeah, don't worry... mmm... promise. Someday."

She stepped closer and held up her pinky, her gaze solemn.

"Promise?" she repeated. I stared at that raised pinky. By sealing this pact, I knew I was obligating myself to reveal something important. The problem was that I didn't have an actual

"bully" to report. I already felt the weight of regret washing over me, but to get her to finally leave me alone, I had to do it. Besides, if I told her the truth, she’d think I was insane.

"Yeah, yeah... promise." Our two pinkies hooked, sealing our sibling pact. A small smile lit up her face before she dashed toward her room.

"Alright, big brother, I’ll remember that! I’m off to middle school, or I’ll be late!"

I stood there, alone in the hallway. She wasn't the only one who had to leave. And I still hadn't showered, brushed my teeth, or eaten, and I was still in my pajamas.

I let out an exhausted sigh, but the click of the door behind me made me jump. Yuni was there. She had traded my oversized t-shirt for her own clothes, the ones she’d been wearing at the mall.

She wasn't looking at me. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, or maybe on my toes, and one hand gripped her shoulder tightly. My eyes went wide as the obvious hit me: she had heard everything. Every single word of my conversation with Kaede. She stood there, head down, wrapped in a heavy silence.

Great. Now she’s also convinced I’m a victim. I tried desperately to change the subject to break the awkwardness.

"So... uh... You okay? I'm sorry, I hit you with the door by accident."

She looked up, displaying a politeness that was almost too formal.

"No, no... It's not your fault. I should have warned you I was in there. I just wanted to fold the clothes you lent me."

"Oh... I see."

She dropped her gaze back to the floor, avoiding mine. I wanted to bury myself alive. I got ready at record speed, lightning-fast teeth brushing and dressing before stepping out the door. During all that time, Yuni hadn't uttered a single word.

She walked behind me, lost in thought, eyes wandering through the void. The silence between us was so thick it was like two strangers speaking different languages, forced to walk side-by-side toward the school. But that precarious calm was shattered when she finally opened her mouth.

"Hey, Salkony?" I pivoted toward her, almost too reactive, because I was so fed up with the tension.

"Yeah? What is it?"

She nervously gripped her arm, her gaze clouded by a mix of disgust, fear, and shame.

"I... I was bullied too," she whispered, without taking her eyes off the ground.

The shock rooted me to the spot. Huh? Her too? I absolutely didn't expect a confession like that. I had the denial on the tip of my tongue; I almost told her my story was just an excuse for Kaede, but a thought held me back.