Chapter 4: Ghosts Always Win
ETERNAL ECLIPSE
Season 1, Episode 1: The Boy With No Power
Chapter 4: Ghosts Always Win
Kazuki Arata was standing near the college gate, a bag slung over his shoulder and a sword club jacket on his back. When he saw Ren approaching, he narrowed his eyes and looked him up and down.
"You look like you fought a ghost."
"Lost."
"Ghosts always win."
Ren said nothing, merely raising one eyebrow slightly. Arata burst out laughing. The two began walking side by side.
Arata was a swordsman, brave, and—something most people failed to notice—very good at reading people. But when it came to Ren, he was always a little quiet. He could ask questions, but he never did.
"Are you free after class today?" Arata asked.
"Why?"
"They've added something new to the cafeteria menu. I heard it's terrifying. Come on, let's be scared together."
"I'll decide."
"Doesn't seem like you have much in your life worth deciding about anyway." Arata gave him a light nudge with his elbow.
This time, Ren actually smiled. It was a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. But a smile was still a smile.
Arata noticed it. He said nothing.
Classes continued throughout the day. The sound of lectures, the scratching of pens, and the clouds drifting past the windows. Ren was taking notes in his notebook, and without realizing it, he was drawing that same symbol in the margins again. A circle, a curved moon, a circle, a curved moon.
From the seat beside him, Arata whispered, "What are you drawing?"
Ren covered his notebook. "Nothing."
"Why do you draw that 'nothing' so carefully?"
"Habit."
Arata said nothing more. But for a second, his eyes shifted toward the covered page of Ren's notebook, and a question flickered in his gaze before disappearing.
The new cafeteria dish really was terrifying. After taking one bite, Arata twisted his face in disgust.
"This is a crime."
Ren calmly finished the entire thing.
"Do you have no sense of taste?"
"I do. I just don't have the urge to complain."
Arata stared at him for a while. Then he spoke.
"You know what your problem is?"
"What?"
"You accept everything so calmly that nobody can tell when you're not okay."
Ren set down his spoon. He remained silent for a moment.
"I'm fine," he said.
Arata nodded. He didn't believe him, but he didn't argue either.
"Alright," he said. "When you're not fine, tell me."
Ren didn't answer. He simply kept staring at his plate.
