WHEN I CAN CONTROL MY FATE SOMETIMES

Yamino's eyes fluttered open, the cold touch of reality seeping in as he became aware of his surroundings. The fluorescent lights above cast a sterile glow, and the familiar rows of desks and chairs confirmed it: he was back in the same classroom as before. Yet, something was different. It wasn't just the lingering disorientation or the faint hum of silence—something else was in the room with him.

Directly in front of him floated a translucent interface, glowing faintly with an otherworldly blue hue. Lines of text scrolled across it in neat, glowing characters. The words were crisp, as though they were etched into the very air.

[ Welcome back, Yamino. The Choice System awaits your decision. ]

Yamino blinked at the interface, his pulse quickening. This was the same interface he had encountered near the meteor. His hands gripped the edge of the desk, grounding himself against the surging wave of unease. Slowly, the scrolling text settled, revealing two options:

[ Option 1: Accompany Hikaru to a hotel and spend the night there. Reward: $1,000,000. ]

[ Option 2: Return to the villa with Hikaru. Reward: Force Slave Contract of a Celestial. ]

Yamino stared at the glowing text, his mind spinning. Both choices carried an air of impossibility. A million dollars—a fortune beyond anything he had ever imagined—and yet, it was nothing compared to the enigmatic promise of a "Force Slave Contract of a Celestial." What did that even mean? The phrase itself sounded both ominous and alluring, a mix of raw power and ethical weight.

"What… what even is this?" he muttered under his breath, his voice trembling.

The interface didn't respond to his question. Instead, it flickered briefly, as though urging him to decide.

Hikaru's voice broke through the tension. "Yamino? You okay?"

Yamino turned his head to see Hikaru standing by the doorway, his expression a mixture of concern and impatience. He looked as though he'd been waiting for Yamino to snap out of his daze.

"Yeah," Yamino replied, though his voice lacked conviction. He turned back to the interface. "Just… thinking."

"About what?" Hikaru stepped closer, his gaze following Yamino's line of sight. But there was no recognition in his eyes, no indication that he could see the glowing text hovering in midair.

"Nothing important," Yamino said quickly, shaking his head. "Just… hypothetical choices."

Hikaru raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Instead, he leaned against a nearby desk, crossing his arms. "Well, let's go. Staying here isn't an option."

Yamino nodded absently, his focus still on the interface. The timer at the bottom of the screen began to count down from ten minutes. [ 10:00 ]

He swallowed hard. Time was running out, and he needed to decide.

Option 1 seemed straightforward. The hotel would provide comfort, safety, and a staggering financial reward. A million dollars could solve countless problems, open countless doors. It was a tempting offer, one that any rational person would seize without hesitation.

But then there was Option 2. The villa. The place where all of this had started, where the mysteries and horrors of the previous night still lingered. The reward, though—a Force Slave Contract of a Celestial—was unlike anything he could have imagined. It was an opportunity that defied logic, a power that could reshape his destiny. Yet, it carried an undeniable risk. The villa was dangerous, and who knew what horrors awaited them there?

"Hikaru," Yamino said suddenly, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his mind. "If you had to choose between comfort and… something unknown but powerful, what would you pick?"

Hikaru tilted his head, considering the question. "Depends on the stakes," he said after a moment. "Power sounds great, but it usually comes with a cost. Comfort, on the other hand, is safe. Reliable. But if you're looking to change something big, comfort won't cut it."

Yamino absorbed his words, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. The timer ticked down: [ 05:37 ]

He clenched his fists, his gaze locked on the interface. The villa—despite its dangers, despite the fear that clawed at the edges of his mind—felt like the right choice. There was something about the celestial contract that called to him, a promise of power that he couldn't ignore.

Finally, he spoke, his voice firm. "We're going back to the villa, right?"

Hikaru's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't argue. Instead, he nodded, his expression resolute. "Yeah! Where else can we go right now? Let's go."

The interface flickered again, the text shifting to acknowledge Yamino's decision.

[ Choice acknowledged. Proceed to the villa. ]

With that, the interface vanished, leaving Yamino and Hikaru alone in the dimly lit classroom. The air felt heavier, charged with the weight of the choice Yamino had made. As they stepped out of the room and into the unknown, Yamino couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was only just beginning.

The journey unfolded just as it had before. They made their way from the school to the bus station, boarding the bus that would take them back to the village. The familiar route seemed almost mundane, yet it carried an undercurrent of tension. Stepping off the bus, they began the walk toward their villa, their path cutting through the graveyard. The chilling atmosphere returned in full force, wrapping around them like a sinister veil. Every rustle of leaves and whisper of wind heightened the eerie sensation, making the air feel thick with an unspoken dread.

As they entered the villa, a heavy silence enveloped them. Yamino's mind churned with thoughts about the celestial contract and the dangers that lay ahead. He could feel the villa's oppressive presence, a reminder of the events that had unfolded the night before.

"Hikaru," Yamino said as they began to prepare for the night. "We have to be ready for dinner."

Hikaru glanced at him, his expression serious. "I know. But we'll face it together."

The hours passed slowly, the anticipation building as the clock ticked closer to midnight. Yamino's excitement and apprehension grew in equal measure. Though he acted as though he knew nothing, he was acutely aware of the horrors that awaited them.

As the clock struck midnight, the atmosphere shifted. The oppressive silence was broken by a faint, eerie sound—a low, guttural moan that seemed to echo through the villa. Yamino and Hikaru exchanged tense glances, their bodies tensing as they prepared for what was to come.

Suddenly, someone knocked the door, and they goes to the front door. as they open it, the old man stumbled in, collapsing to the floor. Blood oozed from wounds that covered his body, pooling around him as he gasped for breath.

Hikaru sprang into action, rushing to the old man's side. "Yamino, help me! We have to stop the bleeding!"

Yamino hesitated for a moment, his mind racing. This was it—the beginning of the nightmare they had chosen to face. Steeling himself, he knelt beside Hikaru, ready to confront whatever lay ahead.