Walking down the familiar streets, I unconsciously found myself back at my front door.

The unlit house stood in deep silence.

Ever since I became the only one left in this home, the lights never turned on unless I was inside.

Having grown somewhat used to the darkness, I silently shook my head and pulled out my keys.

"I’m home…"

Stepping inside, I called out habitually despite knowing no one might answer.

I slipped into my slippers and headed toward the living room.

Reaching the switch by the door, I flicked it up—the pitch-black room flooded with light.

"Kyuubi, are you here?"

I shouted Kyuubi’s name loudly after turning on the lights.

But Kyuubi seemed absent. I waited, receiving no reply.

"Not here? I’ll ask when it gets back."

Setting aside my question, a loud *gurgle* echoed from my stomach.

Hunger had crept up unnoticed.

Rubbing my empty belly, I glanced at the clock and chuckled.

"Dinnertime already."

For me, dinner meant instant noodles.

If my father were still here… I probably wouldn’t be boiling water alone.

But dwelling on that was pointless. My father…

He’d been brutally killed and devoured by Bonesoul right before my eyes. That scene—I’d likely never forget it, not even on my deathbed.

Maybe that memory was the very pillar keeping me unafraid to fight Bonesoul.

I pushed deeper thoughts aside, pulling out my prized "Soup Auntie" cup noodles. I tore the wrapper, placed the brick in a bowl, and poured hot water. Ten minutes of waiting, and dinner would be ready.

*Would anyone ask if instant noodles are nutritious?*

What nutrition matters to someone about to vanish?

Though I did wonder—if I disappeared, would this house automatically go to my mother?

Only vanishing would answer that. For now, certainty was impossible.

Thus, the day of my second battle slipped away in the blink of an eye.

By 11 PM, Kyuubi still hadn’t returned.

Silently, the next day arrived…

…

The next morning, perhaps tired of running, I returned to university—to my classroom.

But what greeted me…

was the same as before. My classmates seemed to have nearly forgotten I existed.

If I didn’t show up, they might not even recall my face.

One comfort remained: our homeroom teacher, Ms. Yang, still remembered my name.

A trace of warmth seeped into my icy heart, melting some of the chill.

It made the shivering winter feel slightly less cold.

But it was only a flicker—far from enough to thaw the frost within.

Resting my chin on my palm, I gazed out the window.

Below, the campus buzzed with energy.

On the basketball court, boys sweated and burned with youth.

Girls cheered on the sidelines, shouting encouragement to the handsome players.

The old me would’ve joined them.

Now, I couldn’t muster the will. Beyond whether they’d recognize me…

Just standing there while strangers asked, "Who are you?" would exhaust me.

I had no patience to repeat my name endlessly.

The cost of using those cards—just three had blurred my existence this much.

One more, and even my face might fade.

I gave a self-mocking chuckle, shaking my head. I stayed seated, content to be a background character.

People like me—plain-faced, unremarkable—rarely drew attention anyway.

I’d had friends once. But now…

Every greeting I offered met only with, "Who are you?"

I refused to hear those words again. So I stayed silent.

Watching others laugh, bicker, and sing their youth…

This almost-transparent person felt a strange urge to join them.

I crushed it instantly.

"Classmate, aren’t you going to join them?"

A sweet voice cut through my thoughts. I turned slowly.

A black-haired girl with a single ponytail stood there. Bundled in a thick white down jacket and warm cotton pants, she studied me curiously—as if she’d seen right through my heart.

"No need. I don’t know them."

I waved her off, shaking my head.

*I know them too well. But to them, I’m a stranger now.*

To avoid more pain…

I curled inward, like a turtle retreating into its shell.

"But your face just screamed that you wanted to go!"

"No, you’re mistaken."

"I’m not!"

"I said you’re mistaken! And stop bothering me, Shen Shiyu!"

*Who was this girl?*

I knew her perfectly.

Shen Shiyu. My childhood friend—past tense.

We’d parted ways over clashing dreams. To me, she was just a passerby in life’s journey.

"You’ve got to be kidding! I was worried about you, and you yell at me like that? I’m not talking to you anymore, Mr. Whoever-You-Are!"

Shen Shiyu’s eyes reddened instantly. Her expression screamed, *Yell again, and I’ll cry.*

Faced with that look…

I surrendered. Childhood friend or not, she was the first person who’d spoken to me willingly.

Treating someone like that…

wasn’t right.

"Alright, alright—I was wrong, okay? My lady. And I’m not ‘whoever.’ My name’s Chu Dongyu."

I lowered my voice, apologizing sincerely.

"Since you apologized so earnestly… I’ll *graciously* forgive you, Winter Melon! Be grateful!"

Shen Shiyu…

She was the type who’d climb three flights of stairs if you gave her one step. Offer her a way down, and she’d skip down without breaking a sweat.

That shameless streak was why I’d kept my distance.

But seeing her hands on her hips, practically *daring* me to react…

Something about it struck me as absurd. I snorted, my sour mood lifting slightly.

"By the way—I’m not ‘Winter Melon.’ It’s *Dongyu*."

"Winter Melon’s fine. At least it’s better than your weird ‘Taro’ name!"

This lady truly didn’t listen. No matter how I stressed "Dongyu," she insisted on "Winter Melon."

"Fine, fine. Call me whatever you want…"

I waved dismissively. Against such forceful cheer, I yielded. Good men don’t fight girls, after all.

Let her call me what she liked. I’d made peace with it.

Besides, this airheaded girl had always seemed a little… off, since the day we met.

"So, Taro-kun, you really won’t go with them?"

"You stopped calling me Winter Melon?"

"Suddenly ‘Taro-kun’ feels cuter~"

"I’m a guy. ‘Cute’ doesn’t fit. If you must compliment me, use ‘handsome’!"

"But your background-character face doesn’t look handsome at all!"

"Do you have to crush me like that? I’m at least—"

"At least?"

"…Nothing."

*I almost mentioned we were childhood friends.*

But this girl before me… probably didn’t remember.

I bit back the words to avoid awkwardness.

"Back to the topic—you clearly wanted to join them. Why not? No courage?"

*This demon. Shen Shiyu must be a demon!*

Still poking the thoroughly salted fish of my pride!

Her innocent (seemingly) eyes left me torn between laughter and tears.

I had no answer for her.

"Not talking? So it *is* about courage?"

Reading my face, Shen Shiyu analyzed my expression for seconds before declaring her conclusion.

She thought I lacked the courage to approach them.

"No. It’s not that."

Her transparent face confirmed she’d misunderstood.

She thought fear held me back.

But…

Maybe it did.

No courage to endure being hurt again.

No pain, no tears. If I locked myself away, fewer ties would ache when my final day came.

In a way, Shen Shiyu was right…

I just hated admitting it.

"Ah, so you’re a lonely Taro too!"

"Please don’t call a Taro ‘lonely’!"

"But don’t you look exactly like a lonely Taro?"

"First—I’m not a Taro. And being alone doesn’t mean I’m lonely!"

"Tch! Stubborn!"

"I’m not stubborn!"

"You are! You are!"

"Shen Shiyu, I’m telling you—"

"Wah! Taro’s bullying me again!"

"…"