Morning sunlight gently streamed through the windows of Akira’s house.
A cool breeze drifted through the slightly open window, carrying the fresh scent of the morning air.
The warm rays of the sun slowly reached Akira’s face.
His eyes gradually opened.
For a brief moment…
He simply lay there, quietly listening to the gentle rustling of the trees outside.
Three weeks had passed since the accident.
Most of his injuries had healed.
The cast on his wrist was gone.
Only a few fading bruises remained, along with a thin bandage on his forehead.
Akira slowly sat up, stretched, and got dressed before making his way downstairs.
A few minutes later…
He emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl of miso soup and a bowl of freshly cooked white rice.
He placed them on the dining table and quietly began eating.
Not long after…
Soft footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Hanoka had finally woken up.
Still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she spotted Akira sitting at the table.
A playful grin spread across her face.
Hanoka (snickering): “Good morning…
my idiot, Akira.”
Akira looked over his shoulder and smiled faintly.
Akira: “Good morning.”
Hanoka quietly walked downstairs and sat on the sofa a few feet away from the dining table.
Akira glanced towards her.
Akira (quietly): “Hanoka…
if you’re hungry, your breakfast’s in the fridge.
Just heat it up.”
Hanoka immediately noticed something.
His voice.
It sounded…
empty.
Without saying a word, she got up, heated her breakfast, and returned to the table.
She sat opposite Akira.
Leaning forward slightly, she studied his face.
Hanoka (serious): “Akira…”
“…are you sad about something?”
Akira looked up.
For a brief second…
Their eyes met.
Akira: “Y-Yeah…”
“…I’m fine.”
Hanoka wasn’t convinced.
She leaned in a little closer.
Hanoka: “If something’s bothering you…”
“…tell me.”
“I’m here.”
Akira forced a small smile.
Akira: “Hanoka…”
“I’m fine.”
Hanoka sighed.
Hanoka: “If you’re worried about your fans or your acting career…”
“…don’t.”
“Your injuries will heal.”
“And once they do…”
“You’ll be back to stealing everyone’s attention.”
Akira looked down at his bowl.
“…Yeah.”
His voice lacked its usual warmth.
As he quietly ate…
His thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Nitagawa.
The damaged S13.
Questions that refused to leave his mind.
After a long silence…
Akira placed his chopsticks on the table.
He looked towards Hanoka, who had just taken another bite of her breakfast.
Akira: “Hanoka…”
“…we need to talk.”
Hanoka looked up.
Hanoka: “Now you’ll tell me?”
Akira nodded.
Akira: “Yeah.”
Hanoka gently placed her chopsticks down.
Hanoka: “I’m listening.”
Akira took a slow breath.
Akira: “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Nitagawa.”
“What happened after…”
“Do his parents know?”
“How did they handle it?”
“Where are they now?”
“My mind’s full of questions.”
Hanoka lowered her gaze.
Hanoka: “…”
“…That never crossed my mind.”
Akira: “I’ve decided.”
“I want to find them.”
“I want to know how they’re doing.”
Hanoka looked at him.
Hanoka: “Do you know where they live?”
Akira shook his head.
Akira: “No.”
“But…”
“I know someone who might.”
Hanoka: “Who?”
Akira: “Kyoko Ryuen.”
The moment another girl’s name left Akira’s mouth…
Hanoka’s expression changed.
She narrowed her eyes.
Hanoka (jealous): “Who’s this Kyoko?”
“Where does she live?”
“How do you know her?”
“What does she look like?”
Akira blinked.
Akira: “Hanoka…”
“Calm down.”
“She’s two years older than me.”
“And she’s Nitagawa’s relative.”
Hanoka folded her arms.
Hanoka: “So?”
Akira let out a quiet sigh.
Akira: “If anyone knows where Nitagawa’s parents live…”
“It’s probably her.”
“I want to visit her first.”
Hanoka immediately shook her head.
Hanoka: “Absolutely not.”
Akira looked confused.
Akira: “What?”
Hanoka: “There is no way I’m letting you visit another girl’s house alone.”
Akira couldn’t help but laugh.
Akira: “Then…”
“…come with me.”
Hanoka answered almost instantly.
Hanoka: “Fine.”
A small smile appeared on Akira’s face.
Hanoka: “But…”
“…how are we getting there?”
“Your S13 is still in the repair shop.”
Akira grinned.
He slowly raised four fingers.
Akira: “Four letters.”
“T.”
“A.”
“X.”
“I.”
Hanoka stared at him for a second…
…before lightly smacking his shoulder.
Hanoka: “Shut up.”
Akira chuckled.
Akira: “Fine.”
“Go get ready.”
“We’re leaving soon.”
A taxi quietly made its way through the busy streets of Tokyo.
Akira sat by the window in his usual disguise.
A black face mask concealed most of his face.
A pair of fake glasses rested on his nose.
A black hoodie and matching black track pants completed his casual appearance.
Beside him sat Hanoka.
She wore a mint green summer dress that gently swayed whenever the taxi turned.
A small brown handbag rested on her lap.
Neither of them spoke.
The taxi slowly turned onto Chuo-dori Street before continuing for another few minutes.
Eventually…
It came to a stop in front of a quiet residential house.
The two stepped out.
Akira paid the fare.
The taxi drove away.
For a brief moment…
The only sound was the gentle rustling of leaves.
Akira and Hanoka slowly walked towards the front gate.
Akira pressed the doorbell.
…
About a minute later…
The gate opened.
Standing before them was a young woman wearing a simple green T-shirt and loose pajama trousers.
Her bright eyes widened in surprise.
Akira: “Kyoko-senpai?”
A smile appeared on her face.
Kyoko: “Akira?”
“It’s been a long time.”
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Akira bowed politely.
Akira: “Pardon our intrusion…”
“…but we’d like to talk.”
Kyoko looked at Hanoka before stepping aside.
Kyoko: “Of course.”
“Come in.”
The house was warm and neatly kept.
Simple decorations rested upon the shelves.
Nothing extravagant.
Just enough to make the house feel welcoming.
The three sat down in the living room.
After a brief silence…
Kyoko spoke first.
Kyoko: “So…”
“What did you want to talk about?”
Hanoka quietly leaned back against the sofa.
Akira looked directly at Kyoko.
His expression turned serious.
Akira: “Senpai…”
“…do you know about Nitagawa’s death?”
The colour slowly drained from Kyoko’s face.
For several seconds…
She said nothing.
Then…
She quietly nodded.
Kyoko: “…Yes.”
Akira lowered his eyes.
Akira: “Do his parents know?”
A tear slowly escaped from Kyoko’s eye.
She wiped it away.
Kyoko: “No.”
“…No one in the family knows.”
“Nitagawa’s parents…”
“They’re still waiting for him to come home.”
“They still believe he’ll visit them one day.”
Her voice trembled.
“…They don’t know…”
“…that he never will.”
Silence filled the room.
Akira quietly explained everything.
The accident.
Seeing Nitagawa’s spirit.
The strange dream.
His visit to the grave.
Kyoko listened without interrupting.
Every word became another weight upon her heart.
By the time Akira finished…
She could no longer hide the sadness in her eyes.
After taking a slow breath…
She finally spoke.
Kyoko: “Akira…”
“Nitagawa’s parents live in a village called Oshino Hakkai.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
Kyoko: “Whatever you do…”
“…don’t let them think you were responsible for their son’s death.”
“And…”
“…don’t tell them about the things you saw.”
“The spirit…”
“The dreams…”
“Keep those to yourself.”
Akira nodded.
Akira: “Understood, Senpai.”
He slowly stood up.
Hanoka followed.
Akira: “Thank you.”
“We’ll take our leave now.”
Kyoko smiled weakly.
“…Take care.”
Akira and Hanoka bowed politely before leaving the house.
The front door quietly closed behind them.
The house fell silent once more.
Kyoko remained standing for a few moments.
Then…
She slowly sat down on the sofa.
She covered her face with both hands.
The tears she had been holding back finally escaped.
Soft sobs echoed throughout the empty living room.
Kyoko (whispering): “…Nitagawa…”
“…I miss you.”
Who knew…
That the death of one person…
Could leave behind so much grief.
Hey everyone, Isamu here!
I sincerely apologize for the delay in releasing Chapter 19.
I’ve been caught up with a lot of personal work lately and completely lost track of time.
Thank you so much for your patience and for sticking with the story!