The next day at school, the atmosphere felt charged, almost electric, as if the air itself knew about the secrets swirling around you. You walked through the hallways, trying to shake off the heavy weight of your thoughts—Killua, the timelines. It was all too much.
As you turned the corner toward your locker, you spotted a figure leaning against the wall, shrouded in shadows. He had silver hair that caught the light, striking features, and an intense gaze that sent an inexplicable chill down your spine. You had never seen him before, but something about him felt strangely familiar, as if he were a piece of a puzzle you hadn't yet put together.
"Y/N, right?" His voice was smooth, almost too calm for the chaos in your mind.
You hesitated, unsure how he knew your name. "Yeah... who are you?"
He pushed himself off the wall, stepping closer. "Illumi. I've heard a lot about you."
Your heart raced. "From who?"
"Killua." The name sent a jolt through you, a mix of excitement and dread. "He talks about you. A lot."
You frowned, suspicion creeping in. "What do you mean?"
Illumi's lips curled into a knowing smile that sent an unsettling wave through you. "He cares about you. But you both have to be careful. There are forces at play that you don't understand."
Your curiosity piqued despite the wariness. "What are you talking about?"
He took a step back, as if assessing your reaction. "You think the strange things happening to you are mere coincidences? The timelines shifting, the repeating numbers? It's not just bad luck, Y/N. There are consequences for meddling with time."
His words hung in the air like a thick fog, obscuring your understanding. "What do you know about that?"
Illumi tilted his head, his gaze piercing through you. "Let's just say that sometimes, fate has a way of ensuring certain people stay apart. It's for your own good, really. You wouldn't want to be tangled in something beyond your comprehension."
Your pulse quickened. "Are you saying you want us to stay apart?"
He smiled again, but this time, it felt colder. "I'm saying it's better if you do. Killua and I... we have our own history. And let's just say, he's not the only one with ties to the past."
Confusion clouded your thoughts, mingling with fear. You didn't understand what he meant, but the way he said it felt threatening. "I don't understand. Why do you care?"
"Because it's important to protect family, Y/N. And sometimes that means keeping certain people at a distance." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Trust me, you don't want to get caught in the crossfire."
Before you could respond, the bell rang, slicing through the tension like a knife. Illumi straightened up, his expression unreadable. "Just remember what I said." And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the throng of students.
You stood frozen, your mind racing. What had just happened? Who was he really? And what connection did he have to Killua?
As you tried to process the encounter, your thoughts turned to Killua. You needed to talk to him, to warn him about Illumi and whatever plans he had. But deep down, you couldn't shake the feeling that Illumi knew much more than he let on—and that he had the power to influence the very threads of your reality.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, your mind only half-focused on your classes. You kept glancing at your phone, waiting for a message from Killua, wanting to share what you had learned and figure out how to confront Illumi together.
