And so, while Kai was immersed in his intrusive thoughts, his mother walked in.

  Fortunately, Kai quickly threw on some casual clothes. She immediately noticed his inner turmoil. Something was troubling her beloved son, though she couldn't quite figure out what it was. Haruka had sensed it from the very first glance she gave him outside the police station.

  Kai, surprised by his mother's sudden arrival, sat up straight but remained on his bed. He knew she had come to ask him some more... particular questions.

  Haruka entered with a maternal smile and sat down next to him.

  "Hey, Kai," she said softly.

  "Hi, Mom..." Kai responded, lowering his gaze.

  "Hey, look me in the eyes when you talk to me," Haruka said in a reassuring tone, gently stroking his head.

  Kai forced himself to lift his gaze toward his mother. She was looking at him with a loving smile. Then, he turned his head slightly to escape her touch. It had a strange effect on him—a mix of embarrassment and another strange, bitter feeling.

  Kai loved his mother deeply, but as he grew older, the caresses that once reassured him now made him feel uncomfortable. Perhaps it was just part of growing up. Haruka felt a little stung seeing Kai pull away, but she pretended not to notice, keeping her smile bright.

  "Kai, can you tell me what's wrong? From the moment I saw you, you've been... different," she said, her tone laced with concern.

  Each word felt like a knife aimed at Kai's heart.

  He couldn't possibly tell his mother that his girlfriend was actually a psychotic murderer who enjoyed eliminating anyone who tried to harm him. He couldn't tell her about his situation, the attack, or the fact that he had killed a man in self-defense.

  He had never lied to his mother, not even when he was little. But now, for his own safety—and hers—he had to.

  "Well, yeah..." Kai replied vaguely.

  "I figured as much... what happened?" Haruka asked, her voice soothing.

  "Mmh... I'm afraid I rushed things too much... I wanted to introduce you to Hina later on..." Kai said.

  In a way, he wasn't lying. It was the only way he could talk to her without breaking down. Omitting isn't the same as lying, he told himself.

  Haruka looked at her son for a few seconds, analyzing him before responding.

  "Oh, I see... so you're not sure if you want to be with her?" she whispered.

  Kai's eyes widened. It felt as if his mother had looked right into his soul.

  Kai was convinced he was in love with Hina; otherwise, he wouldn't have helped her this far. But at the same time, he wanted to escape the tragic situation that was consuming him from the inside, preventing him from truly living. He hadn't gone to school for some time, and perhaps his mother knew. That red flag might have been the reason she came home.

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  "N-No... it's not that. But sometimes I feel like I've rushed things... and I often wonder if what I'm doing is really the right thing..." Kai admitted, nervously fidgeting with his fingers and avoiding her gaze.

  Of course, Kai was referring to the chaotic reality surrounding him and the crimes he couldn't confess. Yet, he was desperate for advice.

  His mother chuckled lovingly and stroked his head again. This time, Kai remained impassive.

  "Oh... I understand you so well... That was the exact reason I felt bad when I was trying to win over your father during our school years," she said with a nostalgic tone.

  Kai looked up, genuinely interested.

  "You see, Kai, I was madly in love with your father... but at the time, he was happy with another girl. Despite that, he always stayed true to himself. He never changed, even after his old relationship ended. So many times, I wondered if it was worth continuing... You have no idea how often I cried because he was so distrustful." She gave a small, nostalgic laugh. "But I persevered. He changed, and the result was this: a beautiful relationship that lasted until marriage."

  Haruka looked deep into her son's eyes.

  "If you're happy and she makes you feel good, why do you have these doubts? Your father was on the brink of despair, and I wanted to save him at all costs—just like he unintentionally saved me by treating me like a human being."

  Kai was deeply moved by her words.

  In a way, their motives were the same. Kai was persevering to save Hina from her own fate so they could live a peaceful life, just as his mother had saved his father from depression because she loved him.

  "And... how did you know that was the right thing to do, Mom?" Kai asked.

  His mother chuckled softly. "Well, that's a good question, and I'll answer it right away. I didn't know. I just followed what my instinct told me," Haruka replied, placing a hand on her chest as she remembered the old days.

  That was exactly what Kai was doing. Following his instinct. Following his heart.

  "I see..." Kai's spirit calmed slightly. He took a deep breath and looked at her.

  "Thank you, Mom. I needed that," Kai said, finally smiling. "Now I know what I have to do."

  "Oh? You're thanking me?" She seemed almost touched. In fact, she hadn't had a conversation like this with her son in a long time. She had missed it.

  "Yes, Mom, thank you. You're the best."

  Haruka's eyes widened for a moment, shimmering with emotion. Then, out of pure maternal instinct, she hugged her son tightly.

  Kai was surprised, but he returned the hug immediately. He needed it. A reassuring embrace from the woman he loved most in the world. It had been a long time since their last hug, and every second in his mother's arms felt like gold. These were the only moments of true peace he could find, and so Kai clung to her clothes as if begging her not to leave.

  Just as the hug ended, a knock sounded at the door.

  "Who is it?" Haruka asked, turning her head.

  "Mrs. Suzuki, it's me, Ayame. Dinner is ready," came the voice from the hallway.

  Haruka sighed softly. "Thank you, Ayame, we'll be there shortly."

  She stood up from the bed and looked at her son one last time, her voice dropping to a serious, loving whisper.

  "Take a good look at your situation and find the right balance. If you're not 100% sure about something, don't do it."

  With that, Haruka left the room, closing the door behind her.

  Kai remained there, stunned. His mother had given him golden advice without even knowing the true gravity of his situation. He took a moment to collect himself, put on his shoes, and headed out for dinner.

  About two minutes later, Kai walked out the door and, to his surprise, found Hina waiting for him in the hallway like a sentinel standing guard.

  Kai flinched, not expecting her there.

  "H-Hina..! You almost scared me..." he said with a nervous laugh.

  "Haha... sorry... but I wanted to go to dinner with you," she said softly.

  Kai looked at Hina and realized she was dressed very... elegantly.

  She was beautiful.

  She wore a blue dress that reached her knees; she was even wearing makeup, and her hair was styled differently, smooth as silk with perfectly arranged bangs. She had prepared herself perfectly for dinner in such a short time.

  Kai was amazed. The mere sight of her beauty was enough to answer all of his lingering questions.

  "You look... beautiful..." Kai said, his voice filled with astonishment.

  Hina blushed slightly. "R-Really...? Thank you..." she replied, rubbing her legs in embarrassment.

  Kai smiled warmly and offered her his arm.

  "Yes. Now, what do you say we go to dinner together?"

  Hina smiled lovingly and accepted his offer. Together, the two headed toward the dining room.