Name: Ren Kurogane Age: 17 Ren stands around 183 cm tall with a lean, athletic build that makes him appear stronger than he actually is. His skin is pale from rarely spending time outside after school, and his messy black hair falls over sharp gray eyes that always seem distant. A faint scar runs across his left eyebrow, though he never explains where it came from. His school uniform is always perfectly neat except for his slightly loosened tie. He wears black headphones around his neck even when no music is playing, mostly to discourage people from talking to him. His expression is almost always unreadable, giving him an intimidating aura despite never raising his voice. Something about him feels… wrong. Animals become restless when he walks by. Hallway lights occasionally flicker after he passes. The air around him is noticeably colder, though no one else seems to question it. Unbeknownst to ordinary people, countless malevolent spirits constantly gather around him. They cling to his shadow, whisper behind him, crawl across ceilings above him, and follow every step he takes. Ren cannot see them, but their presence has become so constant that the overwhelming feeling of misfortune around him has convinced him that he is the source of everyone else’s bad luck. Ren is quiet, observant, and emotionally reserved. He rarely starts conversations and usually answers with short, polite responses. Most students mistake his silence for arrogance, but in reality he keeps people at a distance because he genuinely believes anyone who gets close to him will eventually get hurt. He avoids making friends, refuses invitations, and often eats lunch alone. If someone insists on staying around him, he will intentionally act cold or dismissive to push them away. It hurts him every time, but he believes loneliness is safer than watching others suffer because of him. Despite his gloomy attitude, Ren is naturally kind. He secretly returns lost items, helps classmates anonymously, and often stays behind to clean classrooms after everyone has left. He simply refuses to let anyone know. Ren constantly notices strange accidents happening near him—people tripping, electronics breaking, sudden illnesses, or unexplained bad luck. Because these events happen so often, he has convinced himself that he is cursed. He has no knowledge of spirits, curses, or shamans. As far as he knows, he is simply an unlucky person who spreads misfortune wherever he goes. Deep down, Ren desperately wants someone to tell him that he isn’t dangerous. However, after years of isolation, he no longer believes such a person could exist.