Whispers . 静かな囁き

"Naomi, do you want to get possessed by a ghost or something?"

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The gymnasium was alive with energy—shoes squeaking against the polished wooden floor, the rhythmic sound of the volleyball being passed between players, and the excited cheers of the spectators echoing through the hall. Naomi stood on the court, her sharp gaze locked onto the ball, knees slightly bent, ready for the next play.

"Alright, Naomi! You're up!" Riri's voice cut through the noise as she tossed the ball toward Naomi for her serve.

Naomi caught it effortlessly, rolling it in her hands for a moment before taking a deep breath. Just focus.

She took her stance, bouncing the ball once—twice—before tossing it into the air. Her body moved in sync with the motion, her arm swinging forward in a perfect arc—Boom! The ball shot over the net like a bullet, landing just inside the opponent's boundary.

"OUTSTANDING SERVE, GOJO!" the referee called.

Her teammates cheered, and Riri bumped her shoulder playfully. "See? I told you, you're on fire today!"

Naomi laughed, shaking out her arms. "Let's keep it going."

The match continued, the intensity rising with each point. Naomi was in the zone—every movement calculated, every reaction instinctual. But then—something shifted.

A strange sensation prickled at the back of her neck. The gym seemed to blur around the edges, the sound of the crowd fading into an eerie silence.

And then she heard it.

"Naomi..."

Her breath hitched.

A whisper—distorted, unfamiliar—slithered through her ears. It was neither near nor far, yet it rang loud and clear in her head.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. The court, the players, even the ball in motion—it all felt distant, like she was submerged in water, watching from afar.

The voices grew stronger.

"You are not supposed to be here...

"It's breaking."

Her fingers twitched. The world around her darkened at the edges, the voices overlapping, pressing in—

"NAOMI!"

A hand grabbed her arm.

She gasped, her vision snapping back into focus. The gymnasium lights blazed overhead, the cheers returning like a wave crashing over her. Riri was gripping her arm, brows furrowed in concern.

"Hey! What the hell was that?! You just—froze!" Riri demanded.

Naomi blinked rapidly, shaking her head. "I—I don't know. I just... zoned out."

Riri studied her for a second before sighing. "You better not be getting sick. We need you out here!"

Naomi exhaled, forcing a grin. "Yeah. No way I'm sitting this one out."

"Good! Now get your head in the game!"

She nodded, pushing the strange feeling aside. It was nothing. Just stress. Maybe exhaustion.

She refocused as the game resumed. The moment the ball was in the air, instinct took over. She leaped, arms outstretched, spiking the ball straight down the middle—point won. The gym erupted in cheers. Naomi smirked, shaking off the lingering unease. Whatever that was—it didn't matter. She had a game to win. The crowd's cheers rang loud in Naomi's ears, yet they felt... off. Like a distant echo rather than real voices. She exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders as she prepared for the next serve. The ball soared over the net—fast, but not impossible. Naomi positioned herself, knees bent, arms ready— And then it happened.

A shiver ran down her spine, cold and foreign, like an unseen presence brushing against her skin.

Whispers.

At first, they were barely audible, like wind rustling through trees. But as she moved, trying to shake off the unease, the voices grew louder, overlapping with the sounds of the game. "Watch." Naomi froze. The ball zipped past her, untouched. A whistle blew. Another lost point. "Naomi, focus!" one of her teammates called out.

She blinked rapidly, shaking her head. What was that? She must've imagined it. Maybe she was exhausted—she had been staying up late studying... right? The game resumed. She moved automatically, muscle memory kicking in as she positioned herself for defense. The ball spiked toward their side, and she reacted— But the moment she jumped, the world around her tilted.

The gym, the players, even the ball—everything blurred. For a split second, it felt like she was somewhere else. Somewhere cold. Somewhere dark. A sharp pain stabbed at her temple.

"She doesn't know yet."

Naomi's vision flickered. What? The ball hit the ground again.

"Naomi, what's going on with you?!" She barely registered the voice. A strange pressure wrapped around her chest, her breaths growing shallower. It wasn't normal exhaustion—this was different. Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out everything else. Riri appeared in front of her, eyes filled with concern. "Naomi, are you okay?"

Just like that—the whispers stopped. The court returned to normal. The air felt lighter again. Naomi sucked in a shaky breath. "I... I'm fine," she muttered, forcing a small smile. But Riri didn't buy it. She exchanged a glance with the coach before turning back to Naomi. "You need to sit this one out."

"No way." Naomi's voice was sharper than intended. "I can still play." Riri placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "You're not yourself right now. Just take a break, okay?" Naomi clenched her fists. She wanted to argue, to prove that she was fine—but deep down, she knew something wasn't fine. She just didn't know what. As she trudged toward the bench, gripping her jersey tightly, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. And whatever it was, it wasn't done with her yet.

The final whistle blew, signaling their victory, but Naomi barely reacted. Her teammates erupted in cheers, jumping in excitement, but she felt disconnected—like she wasn't really there. She quickly grabbed her bag and slipped away before anyone could stop her. Riri, standing nearby, immediately noticed. She watched Naomi weave through the crowd, her posture tense, eyes fixed on the ground.

Something was wrong. Without hesitation, Riri followed.

Naomi didn't head toward the locker room or the school gates. Instead, she made her way behind the school building, toward the narrow, hidden pathway that students rarely used. A one-way trail that led to an overgrown, forest-like area—a place most avoided.

Riri's brows furrowed. Why was Naomi going there?

She picked up her pace, carefully trailing after her friend. Naomi didn't look back once. Her steps were steady, purposeful, as if something unseen was pulling her forward. The air felt strangely still as they entered the wooded area. The further they went, the more the sounds of the school faded, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of crows. Riri hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Naomi!"

Naomi finally stopped. She turned her head slightly but didn't meet Riri's eyes. "You shouldn't have followed me." Riri scoffed, walking closer. "Yeah, well, you shouldn't be sneaking off into the woods alone like some horror movie protagonist." She tried to joke, but Naomi didn't respond. Instead, she sighed, looking ahead at the towering trees. "I just needed some air."

Riri crossed her arms. "Liar." Naomi flinched slightly but didn't argue. Riri stepped beside her, lowering her voice. "You've been acting weird all day. You spaced out during the game, lost points, and then left the second we won. Something's up." She nudged Naomi lightly. "Talk to me." Naomi exhaled slowly, her fingers clenching the strap of her bag. "It's nothing. I just... I felt strange during the match. Like something was—" She stopped herself, shaking her head. "Never mind." Riri didn't push, but she could tell Naomi was unsettled. She wasn't the type to just walk off after a win. Whatever she was feeling, it wasn't just 'nothing.'

A cold wind swept through the trees, sending a chill down Riri's spine. "Alright," Riri said after a moment. "If you don't wanna talk, that's fine. But don't act like I won't notice when something's off with you." She offered a small grin. "It's kinda my thing." Naomi finally looked at her—really looked at her—and something in her gaze softened. A small, tired smile formed on her lips. "Yeah... I know."

The tension between them eased slightly, but deep inside, Naomi couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and fallen leaves. The hidden path behind the school was eerily quiet, untouched by the usual chatter of students. Naomi leaned against a tree, arms crossed, staring into the dense forest ahead. "I came here before the match," she admitted, her voice softer than usual. "I don't know why... I just felt like I needed to." Riri sighed, looking around. The place was unsettling—the way the shadows stretched unnaturally, the way the trees seemed too still. "You've been acting weird all day, and now you're telling me you wandered into some creepy forest alone?" She put her hands on her hips. "Naomi, do you want to get possessed by a ghost or something?"

Naomi let out a quiet laugh. "If ghosts were real, I'd ask them to help me win my matches."

Riri rolled her eyes but smiled. "You're impossible."

Silence settled between them for a moment. The air felt heavier than before, but neither of them acknowledged it. Naomi suddenly crouched down, picking up a small rock. "I used to collect these as a kid," she mused, turning it in her hands. "Every time Satoru left for 'work,' I'd come outside and pick up random rocks. I thought if I collected enough, he'd have to stay home longer to look at them all." Riri chuckled. "You were such a clingy kid."

Naomi smiled. "I still am." Riri plopped down beside her. "Yeah, but now it's different." She nudged Naomi's shoulder. "You don't have to collect rocks anymore. You have people who stay—like me." Naomi's smile faltered slightly. "Yeah... like you."

Riri raised an eyebrow. "What's with that face? You act like I'm gonna leave you or something."

Naomi quickly shook her head. "It's not that. It's just... I feel like things are changing." She frowned. "Megumi joined some high school in Tokyo. Satoru is always away. And lately, I feel like I'm—" She stopped herself, looking down at the rock in her hands. "I don't know." Riri studied her for a moment before resting her chin on Naomi's shoulder. "You overthink too much," she said, voice gentle. "Even if things change, you and I? We're solid."

Naomi leaned into her slightly, as if grounding herself. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Riri confirmed. "I mean, who else is gonna listen to you rant about Kageyama for two hours?" Naomi gasped dramatically. "First of all, it was one hour and forty-five minutes. And second—"

A sudden chill ran down Naomi's spine. The trees rustled—yet there was no wind. Riri sat up straight, instantly alert. "Did you feel that?" Naomi's hands clenched. The pressure in the air was suffocating, like something massive was lurking just beyond their sight.

Then, a whisper. Soft. Hollow. Hungry.

"Yo u wan  na  pl  ay-~"

Riri grabbed Naomi's wrist. "We're leaving. Now." Naomi hesitated. "But—"

"No buts—something's off." Riri stood up, tugging her along. "I've watched enough horror movies to know we don't stick around for the creepy whispering." Naomi opened her mouth to argue—but then she saw it. A shadow. Twisting. Crawling. Emerging from the darkness between the trees. Her breath hitched. "Riri—"

A pair of monstrous eyes snapped open.

Then everything shattered.

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