Morning sunlight poured through the curtains.
Akira’s eyes opened slowly.
His breathing was uneven.
His heart still raced.
The dream.
It kept replaying inside his head.
The grave.
The dark clouds.
The black spikes piercing through Nitagawa’s body.
And his voice—
“Save me.”
Akira stared at the ceiling.
“…What was that?”
His mind refused to let it go.
Again and again— the spikes.
The pain in Nitagawa’s eyes.
The guilt in his voice.
Soon— a tear dropped onto Akira’s bedsheet.
He stared at it.
His chest felt heavy.
“…This isn’t just a dream.”
Slowly— he rose from his bed.
He walked downstairs.
Washed his face.
Brushed his teeth.
But even after the cold water touched his skin— the feeling remained.
Something was wrong.
Something was calling him.
When he entered the living room—
Hanoka was already awake.
Sitting on the couch.
Reading a book quietly.
Akira walked behind her.
Then leaned down close.
“Good morning.”
Hanoka jumped.
Her book nearly flew out of her hands.
She turned toward him— angry.
Akira laughed.
Hanoka pointed at him.
“YOU IDIOT!
Who startles a person like that?!”
Akira brushed it off.
“Wow.
Guess who’s up early today.”
Hanoka crossed her arms.
Then smiled.
“Slept good.
Duh.”
Akira smirked.
“Well… are you hungry?”
Hanoka immediately nodded.
“Yes.”
Without another word—
Akira walked into the kitchen.
A little later— he returned carrying breakfast.
Rolled omelette.
Steamed rice.
Fresh and warm.
Hanoka’s eyes lit up.
“Yay.
A housewife.”
Akira stared at her.
“…Seriously?”
Hanoka grinned.
Akira sighed.
“Fine.
Whatever.”
Hanoka laughed.
For a moment— everything felt normal.
But Akira’s mind wasn’t.
Not anymore.
After breakfast—
Akira walked toward the television.
Turned it on.
And switched channels.
A Nitagawa movie.
He sat down.
Staring.
Watching with intense focus.
Hanoka noticed.
At first— she ignored it.
But it kept happening.
One movie.
Then another.
Then interviews.
Then old drama reruns.
For two days—
Akira kept watching Nitagawa.
Like he was searching for something.
Hanoka finally asked him.
“Akira.”
He blinked.
“Hm?”
“Are you okay?”
Akira smiled faintly.
“Yeah.”
Hanoka narrowed her eyes.
“You’re lying.”
Akira looked back at the screen.
“…Maybe.”
But he said nothing else.
And Hanoka didn’t push.
Because she knew— this was about grief.
And grief moved differently for everyone.
The third night.
Hanoka was out with Rin and her friends.
The house was empty.
Silent.
Akira sat alone in the dark.
The television off.
The room cold.
Then— he stood up.
Grabbed his keys.
The S13 keys.
And walked outside.
The black S13 Demon cut through the empty streets.
Its headlights sliced through the darkness.
Akira drove without thinking.
Like his body already knew where to go.
Soon— he arrived.
The graveyard.
Nitagawa’s grave stood beneath the moonlight.
Still.
Silent.
Akira stepped closer.
Then stopped.
White light.
Coming out of the grave.
His eyes widened.
A portal.
Pure white.
Swirling.
Glowing.
Breathing.
Akira stepped closer.
“…What the hell…”
He leaned over.
Trying to look inside.
Then—
A hand shot out.
And pulled him in.
White.
Darkness.
Silence.
Then— light again.
Akira opened his eyes.
Hospital ceiling.
Machines beeping.
His body felt weak.
He turned his head.
Hanoka stood there.
Beside her—
Nitagawa.
Akira froze.
The hospital.
This moment.
He recognized it instantly.
The day everything changed.
Hanoka looked worried.
“Akira?
Are you okay?”
Akira slowly turned toward her.
“…Hanoka.”
His voice was quiet.
“Please… can you step outside for a minute?”
Hanoka blinked.
“But—”
“Please.”
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
And walked out.
The door closed.
Silence.
Nitagawa stared at him.
Then smiled.
“You came back?”
Akira’s eyes widened.
“…You know?”
Nitagawa smirked.
“Seems like you really miss me.”
Akira looked down.
Then nodded.
“…Yeah.”
His voice shook.
“I really do.”
Nitagawa stayed silent.
Akira clenched his fists.
“I consider you like a brother.”
Nitagawa laughed softly.
A grin appeared.
“Akira… that’s so unlike you.”
Akira looked at him.
Then spoke.
“Nitagawa.”
“I forgive you.”
The room went silent.
“All of it.”
“The school.”
“The fights.”
“The pressure.”
Akira swallowed hard.
“I understand now.”
“You wanted me to stop living split into two.”
“To stop being Akira in one world…”
“And Isamu in another.”
“You wanted me to become one.”
A tear rolled down his cheek.
“I forgive you.”
“And I’m sorry.”
“I couldn’t handle your death.”
Nitagawa leaned closer.
Then smiled.
“Well… that’s a relief.”
Akira laughed weakly.
Nitagawa’s smile softened.
“But I’m sorry too.”
“For not listening.”
Akira shook his head.
“It’s okay.”
Then— his face changed.
Serious.
“In my dream…”
“Those black spikes…”
“I still can’t forget them.”
Nitagawa’s eyes darkened.
He looked away.
“…I’m sorry.”
Akira froze.
Before he could ask—
Nitagawa smiled.
“Akira.”
“Whatever we do.”
“Wrong or right.”
“We’re friends forever.”
Akira nodded.
Tears in his eyes.
“…Yeah.”
“Friends forever.”
Then—
CRACK.
The world around them began collapsing.
Walls split apart.
Ceiling shattered.
Reality breaking.
Nitagawa looked up.
Then back at Akira.
And smiled.
“Bye, Akira.”
He raised his hand.
“Friends forever.”
Everything collapsed.
Darkness swallowed everything.
And—
Akira woke up.
Lying on top of Nitagawa’s grave.
The cold wind brushing past him.
The moon above.
His breathing heavy.
His hands trembling.
He slowly sat up.
And whispered—
“…Friends forever.”
Akira slowly lifted his head.
Midnight.
The moon hung high in the sky.
Clear.
Silent.
Then— rain began falling.
Cold drops touched his face.
Akira looked around him.
His breathing was uneven.
Then— his eyes caught something.
A symbol.
Shining faintly near Nitagawa’s grave.
Akira narrowed his eyes.
It looked like a cross.
And inside it— the letter A.
The strange symbol glowed beneath the rain.
Akira stepped closer.
Akira: What the hell…
Slowly— he reached out.
The moment his fingers touched it— cold.
Unnatural cold.
His spine froze.
His breath stopped.
Then—
BOOM.
A strange force exploded outward.
Akira’s body was thrown backward.
He slammed into a tree.
Pain shot through his back.
Akira: GAH—!
He dropped to the ground.
Rain soaking his clothes.
His back burned.
Akira: What the hell was that…?
Slowly— he pushed himself up.
Then noticed something lying on the ground.
A note.
Half-soaked by rain.
He picked it up.
Opened it.
Two letters.
N.A
Akira stared.
Akira: …N.A?
Akira: How strange…
Before he could think further— his phone buzzed.
Caller: Hanoka
He answered.
Hanoka: WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, YOU IDIOT?!
Akira winced.
Akira: Nowhere.
Just sitting by a vending machine.
Hanoka: COME HOME!
Hanoka: I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THREE HOURS!
Hanoka: And you’re just chilling there?!
A pause.
Then—
Hanoka: You waiting for another girl?!
Akira blinked.
Akira: …What?
Hanoka: YOU ARE SLEEPING ON THE COUCH TONIGHT!
Click.
The call ended.
Akira stared at his phone.
Then laughed.
Akira: …She’s insane.
He walked toward his S13.
Started the engine.
And drove home.
A few minutes later—
Akira opened the front door.
Akira: I’m home.
FWIP.
A paper plane smacked him in the forehead.
Akira caught it.
Opened it.
Inside—
IDIOT
Akira blinked.
Akira: What is this?
From across the sofa—
Hanoka replied.
Hanoka: Communism.
Akira stared.
Akira: …What?
Hanoka: And a formal declaration of you being an idiot.
Akira sighed.
Akira: Whatever.
He took off his shoes.
Akira: Well, I’m off to make something for myself.
Hanoka suddenly stood up.
Walked toward him.
Akira frowned.
Akira: What are you doing?
Hanoka leaned closer.
Hanoka: Smelling your back.
Akira froze.
Akira: …Excuse me?
Hanoka crossed her arms.
Hanoka: To see if there’s another girl’s scent on you.
Hanoka: It’s a global girlfriend tactic.
Akira sighed.
Akira: Okay…
sure.
Go ahead.
Hanoka leaned closer.
But suddenly— she froze.
Her expression changed.
Her eyes widened.
Blood.
On his back.
Blood stains on his shirt.
Hanoka: What is this?!
Akira blinked.
Akira: What?
Hanoka pointed.
Hanoka: There’s blood on your back!
Akira’s eyes widened.
Akira: Wait…
there is?
Hanoka stared at him.
Hanoka: Yes, Mr.
Idiot.
Hanoka: Did you get into a fight?
Akira looked confused.
Hanoka grabbed his arm.
Hanoka: No bruises.
She looked at his face.
Hanoka: No scratches.
Then looked at his back.
Hanoka: But blood here?
Hanoka narrowed her eyes.
Hanoka: Something is suspicious.
Akira stayed silent.
Because honestly— he didn’t know either.
Akira: Well…
Akira: Can you clean it first?
Akira: I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.
Hanoka crossed her arms.
Hanoka: Fine.
Hanoka: But if I throw up—
She pointed at him.
Hanoka: I’m throwing up right on your face.
Akira smirked.
Akira: Fair enough.
Hanoka carefully cleaned his back.
The wound wasn’t deep.
But strange.
Like something cut through his shirt— without him feeling it.
That made Hanoka uneasy.
After it was done—
Akira slowly walked upstairs.
Stopping halfway.
Akira: Good night.
Hanoka looked up.
Then smiled faintly.
Hanoka: Good night…
Mr.
Idiot.
Akira smirked.
And disappeared upstairs.
Meanwhile— inside his pocket— the note marked N.A.
glowed faintly in the dark.