The day of graduation finally arrived.
The day every student had been waiting for.
The day that marked the end of their high school lives.
The school auditorium was packed.
Students filled every seat.
Parents occupied the back rows.
Teachers walked around making final preparations.
The atmosphere was filled with excitement.
Laughter.
Memories.
And the realization that this chapter of life was finally ending.
Akira sat beside Hanoka.
Their classmates surrounded them.
Takumi.
Kaito.
Everyone was talking about their future plans.
Universities.
Jobs.
Dreams.
The future.
Nobody noticed the small smile Hanoka gave Akira.
Nobody noticed the way Akira quietly intertwined his fingers with hers beneath the chair.
Their secret remained hidden.
For now.
Two hours before the ceremony ended—
Hanoka stepped outside for some fresh air.
The hallways were mostly empty.
As she walked near the athletic field— a voice suddenly stopped her.
Athlete: “Hanoka!”
Hanoka turned.
One of the school’s star athletes jogged toward her.
She recognized him immediately.
He looked nervous.
Very nervous.
Hanoka: “Can I help you?”
The boy scratched the back of his head.
Then took a deep breath.
Athlete: “I like you.”
Hanoka froze.
The athlete immediately continued.
Athlete: “Would you go out with me?”
Silence.
A very long silence.
Then—
Hanoka: “No.”
The answer came instantly.
Without hesitation.
Without thinking.
The athlete blinked.
Athlete: “…That fast?”
Hanoka: “Yes.”
Athlete: “But you’re single, right?”
Hanoka’s eye twitched.
Hanoka: “Please stop snooping into my personal life.”
The athlete immediately knew he had messed up.
Hanoka: “And no.”
Hanoka: “I’m not changing my mind.”
The athlete sighed.
Athlete: “Worth a shot.”
Hanoka nodded politely.
Then walked away.
Completely unaware that Akira had witnessed the entire thing from a nearby hallway.
The athlete never stood a chance.
Eventually— the graduation ceremony reached its final stage.
Students gathered inside the auditorium.
The principal delivered the final speech.
Awards were handed out.
Photographs were taken.
Teachers struggled not to cry.
Students struggled even harder.
Then the announcer suddenly stepped forward.
A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
Announcer: “Before we conclude today’s ceremony…”
The crowd became quiet.
Announcer: “We have one final award.”
Whispers spread throughout the hall.
Announcer: “This award was voted on by students.”
More whispers.
Announcer: “The winners are…”
A dramatic pause.
Announcer: “Couple of the Year!”
The entire auditorium erupted.
Immediately.
Everyone started guessing.
Names flew across the room.
Then— the announcer smiled.
Announcer: “Akira Tamayama and Hanoka Todoka!”
Silence.
Pure silence.
Then— the entire auditorium exploded.
“WHAT?!”
“NO WAY!”
“SINCE WHEN?!”
“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”
One student literally stood up.
Pointing toward the stage.
Student: “YOU GUYS WERE DATING?!”
Laughter erupted everywhere.
Akira sighed.
Hanoka buried her face in her hands.
Then both of them walked toward the stage.
Hand in hand.
No reason to hide anymore.
The crowd lost its mind.
Phones appeared.
People screamed.
Teachers looked equally shocked.
Akira reached the microphone.
He looked at Hanoka.
Then at the audience.
Then smiled.
Akira: “Yeah.”
The crowd immediately became louder.
Akira: “We’re dating.”
Screaming.
Whistling.
Chaos.
Someone from the back yelled:
Student: “FOR HOW LONG?!”
Akira adjusted the microphone.
Then answered calmly.
Akira: “Eight months.”
The auditorium nearly collapsed.
Student: “EIGHT MONTHS?!”
Student: “YOU HID THAT?!”
Student: “HOW?!”
Akira laughed.
Then raised a hand.
Akira: “Actually…”
The crowd immediately quieted.
Akira: “There are a few secrets we should probably reveal.”
Hanoka immediately knew this was a terrible idea.
Akira: “First secret.”
Everyone leaned forward.
Akira: “We came to school together almost every morning.”
Gasps.
Akira: “I just made Hanoka walk ahead so nobody would notice.”
The crowd erupted again.
Akira: “Second secret.”
Hanoka covered her face.
Hanoka: “Akira…”
Akira: “Too late.”
Laughter filled the hall.
Akira: “We’ve been living together for eight months.”
The auditorium exploded.
Absolute chaos.
Teachers nearly dropped their papers.
The boys screamed louder than everyone else.
Student: “EIGHT MONTHS?!”
Student: “THAT’S ILLEGAL!”
Teacher: “THAT IS NOT WHAT ILLEGAL MEANS!”
The hall dissolved into laughter.
Akira waited for the noise to settle.
Then smiled.
Akira: “And finally.”
The car enthusiasts immediately sat up.
They knew exactly what was coming.
Akira: “For all the car guys out there…”
The boys leaned forward.
Akira: “Yes.”
A pause.
Akira: “The black S13 parked outside belongs to me.”
Silence.
Then— absolute devastation.
Student: “NO WAY!”
Student: “THE DEMON IS YOURS?!”
Student: “WHAT DO YOU EXPECT HE IS ISAMU SAWADA OF COURSE HE OWNS THE DEMON”
Student: “I TOLD YOU!”
Student: “HE LIED TO US FOR MONTHS!”
The entire hall erupted into chaos.
Again.
For nearly ten minutes— graduation completely stopped functioning.
Teachers gave up.
Students celebrated.
People laughed.
Photographs were taken.
Memories were made.
And when it was finally over—
Akira and Hanoka walked through the school gates.
Hand in hand.
Exactly as Akira had once imagined.
The setting sun painted the sky orange.
Behind them— their high school years came to an end.
Ahead of them— their future waited.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But that night— everything would change.
The evening passed peacefully.
Graduation was finally over.
The chaos.
The laughter.
Everything now felt distant.
For the first time in months—
Akira and Hanoka had absolutely nothing they needed to worry about.
No school.
No exams.
No secrets.
Just each other.
Around 7:00 PM— both of them sat together on the couch watching a movie.
The television illuminated the dark living room with a soft blue glow.
Rain tapped quietly against the windows outside.
Hanoka sat unusually close.
Very close.
Suspiciously close.
Akira eventually noticed.
Mostly because she had been gripping his arm for nearly ten minutes.
Akira: “Hanoka.”
Hanoka: “Hm?”
Akira: “This isn’t even a horror movie.”
Hanoka blinked.
Akira: “Why are you holding my arm like your life depends on it?”
Hanoka slowly turned toward him.
A small smile appeared on her face.
The kind of smile that immediately made Akira nervous.
Hanoka: “What?”
Her voice sounded soft.
Almost angelic.
Hanoka: “Can’t I hold my boyfriend’s arm?”
A pause.
Hanoka: “Meanie.”
Akira immediately let out a small laugh.
Akira: “Okay, okay.”
Akira: “You win.”
Hanoka smiled proudly.
As if she had just conquered an entire nation.
Eventually—
Akira glanced toward the wall clock.
8:52 PM.
Akira: “Well.”
Hanoka: “Hm?”
Akira: “It’s almost nine.”
Akira stood up.
Stretching slightly.
Akira: “I’m going to the convenience store.”
Akira: “I feel like eating instant ramen.”
Then he looked at her.
Akira: “Do you want some too?”
Hanoka immediately pouted.
A dangerous move.
Akira pointed at her.
Akira: “Don’t do that.”
Hanoka: “Do what?”
Akira: “That.”
Hanoka: “What?”
Akira: “The pout.”
Hanoka blinked.
Akira: “You look cute when you do it.”
Silence.
Hanoka’s face instantly turned red.
Hanoka: “IDIOT!”
Akira laughed.
Hanoka: “Fine!”
Hanoka: “Get me some ramen too.”
She reached for her wallet.
Then held out money.
Hanoka: “And a soda.”
Hanoka: “Here.”
Akira looked at the money.
Then looked at her.
Akira: “Money?”
Hanoka: “Yes.”
Akira: “For what?”
Hanoka stared at him.
Hanoka: “To open the Chamber of Secrets.”
Akira laughed.
Hanoka: “What do you think?”
Hanoka: “To pay for my food obviously.”
Akira stepped closer.
Then gently pushed her hand away.
Akira: “A boyfriend always pays for his girlfriend.”
Hanoka froze.
Akira: “Besides.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
Akira: “I’m getting you a gift too.”
Before Hanoka could respond—
Akira opened the front door.
Then disappeared outside.
The moment the door closed—
Hanoka buried her face into a pillow.
Hanoka: “Akira…”
A pause.
Hanoka: “Akira…”
Her face somehow became even redder.
Meanwhile— at the convenience store.
Akira grabbed two cups of instant ramen.
Two sodas.
A few snacks.
Then headed toward the counter.
Before reaching it— he stopped.
A cat plushie sat on one of the shelves.
Akira stared.
The plushie stared back.
A dangerous realization struck him.
Akira: “…It looks like Hanoka.”
He immediately picked it up.
Akira: “Yeah.”
Akira: “Definitely Hanoka.”
Several minutes later— he arrived at the cashier.
The employee looked up.
Then immediately froze.
Cashier: “O-Oh my God.”
Cashier: “Mr.
Isamu?!”
Akira smiled politely.
Akira: “Yep.”
Akira: “That’s me.”
The cashier looked completely shocked.
Cashier: “How did I recognize you?”
Akira nodded.
Akira: “That’s exactly what I was wondering.”
The cashier laughed.
Cashier: “A true fan always recognizes their favorite actor.”
A moment later— the cashier nervously spoke again.
Cashier: “Can I get an autograph?”
Akira smiled.
Akira: “Sure.”
The cashier immediately handed him paper and a pencil.
Akira signed his name.
Then paused.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
Beneath the autograph he wrote:
“Great eyesight.”
“Better than mine.”
And drew a small heart beside it.
When he handed it back— the cashier looked ready to cry.
Cashier: “Thank you so much.”
Akira: “No problem.”
They shook hands.
Then Akira left.
But the moment he stepped outside— something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
A cold chill crawled down his spine.
The night air suddenly felt heavier.
The street seemed quieter than before.
Almost unnaturally quiet.
Akira stopped walking.
Looking around.
Nothing.
Nobody.
Just darkness.
Akira: “…Weird.”
Another chill ran through him.
Akira: “Am I getting sick?”
After a moment— he shrugged.
Akira: “I’ll ask Hanoka.”
And continued walking home.
Several minutes later— he returned.
Opening the front door quietly.
The television still glowed softly.
The movie continued playing.
But Hanoka had completely lost the battle against sleep.
She was curled up on the couch.
Fast asleep.
Akira smiled.
Then quietly switched off the television.
The room became silent.
Carefully— he sat down beside her.
Watching her sleeping face.
A smile appeared on his face.
Then— without thinking— he gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Hanoka: “HA!”
Akira nearly launched himself off the chair.
Akira: “WHAT THE—”
Hanoka burst out laughing.
Hanoka: “I KNEW IT!”
Akira clutched his chest.
Akira: “You almost killed me.”
Hanoka continued laughing.
Akira: “Seriously.”
Akira: “My soul left my body.”
Hanoka wiped tears from her eyes.
Hanoka: “Worth it.”
Akira looked away.
Slightly embarrassed.
Akira: “So what?”
Akira: “Can’t I touch my girlfriend’s hair?”
Hanoka: “You can!”
A pause.
Hanoka: “Just not so suddenly!”
Akira laughed.
Then grabbed a shopping bag.
Akira: “Anyway.”
Akira: “Here’s your ramen.”
Akira: “Here’s your soda.”
Then— he lifted the cat plushie.
Akira: “And here’s your surprise.”
Hanoka’s eyes immediately sparkled.
Hanoka: “AKIRA!”
She practically launched herself at him.
Wrapping her arms around him tightly.
Hanoka: “Thank you!”
Akira laughed.
Patting her head gently.
Akira: “You’re welcome.”
Then he pointed toward the table.
Akira: “Now come on.”
Akira: “Let’s eat before the ramen gets cold.”
And together— they sat down to enjoy what neither of them realized would become one of their final peaceful nights.
Later that night— the house became silent.
The ramen cups had long since been thrown away.
The television was off.
The rain had stopped.
Even the wind outside seemed quieter than usual.
Akira lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Unable to sleep.
For some reason— the strange feeling from earlier still lingered.
That cold sensation.
That unexplained chill.
Akira: “…Weird.”
Eventually— his eyes slowly became heavier.
The darkness swallowed the room.
And little by little— he drifted asleep.
…
…
The sound of waves.
Akira’s eyes opened.
Immediately— he knew something was wrong.
The sky was black.
Not nighttime black.
Something darker.
Something unnatural.
The ocean stretched endlessly before him.
Violent waves crashed against the shore.
The wind screamed.
Thunder rolled across the heavens.
Rain poured from dark clouds.
Akira looked around.
Confused.
Akira: “…Where am I?”
No answer.
Only the roar of the ocean.
Then— he noticed it.
Standing near the water.
A lone grave.
Akira slowly approached.
His footsteps sinking into the wet sand.
The closer he got— the harder his heart began pounding.
Because he already knew whose grave it was.
The tombstone stood silently beneath the storm.
Rainwater flowed across the engraved letters.
TORU NITAGAWA
2004 – 2026
Akira froze.
Then— someone appeared beside it.
A familiar figure.
Standing motionless in the rain.
Head lowered.
Hands at his sides.
Toru Nitagawa.
Akira’s eyes widened.
Akira: “NITAGAWA?!”
The wind howled.
The ocean crashed.
Slowly—
Nitagawa lifted his head.
Something felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
His eyes looked empty.
Exhausted.
Broken.
As if he had been carrying something unbearable.
For a very long time.
Thunder exploded across the sky.
BOOM.
And suddenly—
Akira saw them.
Black spikes.
Emerging from Nitagawa’s body.
Dark.
Jagged.
Twisting unnaturally.
They crawled across his arms.
His chest.
His back.
Almost like they were growing from inside him.
Akira took a step forward.
Akira: “NITAGAWA!”
Another step.
Akira: “WHAT’S HAPPENING TO YOU?!”
Nitagawa finally spoke.
His voice sounded distant.
Weak.
Almost as if it was coming from somewhere far away.
Nitagawa: “Akira…”
The black spikes continued growing.
Nitagawa: “I’m sorry.”
Akira froze.
Akira: “For what?!”
Nitagawa looked away.
The guilt in his eyes felt unbearable.
Nitagawa: “I’m sorry for doing this.”
Thunder roared again.
The storm intensified.
The ocean became violent.
And the black spikes pierced further from his body.
Akira started running toward him.
Akira: “NITAGAWA!”
Akira: “STOP TALKING LIKE THAT!”
But no matter how fast he ran— the distance never closed.
The grave remained far away.
Nitagawa remained far away.
As if something was preventing Akira from reaching him.
Then—
Nitagawa raised his head.
And looked directly at him.
For the first time— fear appeared in his eyes.
Real fear.
The kind Akira had never seen before.
Nitagawa: “Save me.”
Akira stopped.
The world went silent.
No thunder.
No ocean.
No wind.
Nothing.
Only those two words.
Save me.
Nitagawa’s body trembled.
The black spikes spread further.
Consuming him.
Eating away at him.
His voice broke.
Nitagawa: “The guilt…”
A pause.
His eyes filled with pain.
Nitagawa: “It’s eating me.”
Lightning illuminated the sky.
For a single second—
Akira saw Nitagawa completely covered by darkness.
Then— everything shattered.
CRACK.
The ocean.
The sky.
The grave.
The storm.
Everything broke apart like glass.
Akira’s eyes shot open.
He sat upright in bed.
Breathing heavily.
Sweat covered his forehead.
His heart pounded violently.
The room was dark.
Silent.
Normal.
But one thing remained.
The feeling.
The feeling that Nitagawa’s voice had been real.
Akira looked toward the window.
The first rays of morning sunlight were beginning to appear.
And for the first time since Nitagawa’s death—
Akira felt afraid.
Very afraid.
Because deep inside— he knew.
That wasn’t just a dream.
I’m glad you’re following along with the story!
Are you enjoying the journey so far?
I’m currently planning some bonus side stories that will be released alongside the main chapters; these won’t be connected to the main plot, just some fun extra content for you all to enjoy!
SEE YOU IN NEXT VOLUME!