After Kaoru and Akitsu Shouga climbed down from the giant oak tree, the sun had already begun its slow descent, casting long, slanted shadows across the mansion grounds. The golden light shimmered against the windows, painting the manicured lawns and garden paths with warmth, while the air cooled subtly as evening approached.

  Kaoru brushed the dirt from her hands, smiling softly to herself, before quietly heading inside. Her footsteps were light on the polished floors, almost as if she didn’t want to disturb the quiet of the fading day. She went straight to her room and retrieved a small wooden figure, its surface smooth and worn from years of handling, edges rounded by constant touch. Holding it carefully, she stepped into the hallway and began making her way toward Akitsu Shouga’s room, her movement hesitant, almost reverent.

  As she reached his door, she slowed. Something felt… off. The door was slightly ajar.

  Kaoru pushed it gently, peeking inside.

  Akitsu Shouga was there—standing near the bed, speaking softly. But there was no one else in the room.

  Her brows knit together.

  “Who is Shouga-kun talking to?” she whispered to herself. “I don’t see anyone…”

  She leaned closer, holding her breath. Then she heard his voice clearly.

  “If I said that,” Akitsu muttered, “it would break her heart. She loves climbing trees.”

  Kaoru froze. Her fingers tightened around the wooden figure. What… does he mean?

  Her heart began to pound. He had been talking to himself the entire time they were climbing the tree…

  Before she could make sense of it, she heard him speak again.

  “I don’t know,” Akitsu continued quietly. “She’s more like a sister to me.”

  The words struck Kaoru like a blade. Her breath caught. Her vision blurred.

  Without making a sound, she stepped back, gently closing the door before he could notice her presence. She turned away and walked down the hallway, each step slow and unsteady.

  She passed Liora without a word, head lowered, and entered her room. Once inside, Kaoru shut the door and slid down against it, sitting on the floor. The wooden figure slipped from her hands and landed beside her with a faint thud. She hugged her knees to her chest, staring at the ground in silence.

  Night fell. Silence swallowed the mansion, thick and almost tangible.

  Suddenly—Akitsu Shouga jolted awake, sitting upright on his bed, chest heaving.

  “What—?!”

  “What happened to my mother?!”

  “Did she die?!”

  Cold sweat clung to his skin, prickling along his neck and back. Beside him, lying casually atop the blankets, Seraphine Orion blinked at him, small tails twitching lightly.

  “…Did you have a nightmare?” she asked softly.

  Akitsu turned toward her, still disoriented.

  “Oh? You’re still here?”

  “Yeah. I’m still here,” she replied calmly. “But what was that about your mother?”

  Akitsu lowered his gaze, voice quiet. “Well… I had a nightmare. She was telling me to go find my sister.”

  Seraphine Orion tilted her head, eyes observant. “So… have you found your sister yet?”

  “I don’t know,” Akitsu answered. “I don’t remember much about my family… or where I come from.”

  Her expression softened. “That’s sad,” she said quietly. “Being separated from your family is a terrible thing.”

  She paused, tilting her head slightly. “…But something doesn’t add up.”

  Akitsu stiffened. “I’d rather not say.”

  His mind flickered—blood. A blade. Riyusei Arai collapsing to the ground.

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  “…Alright,” Seraphine Orion said after a moment. “Suit yourself.”

  She lay back, curling her tails gently around herself. “You should go back to sleep. It’s still night.”

  “I’m going to get something to drink,” Akitsu said, standing and stretching.

  “Alright,” she replied. “Don’t get lost in the dark.”

  He went downstairs and entered the kitchen. The house was eerily quiet, shadows stretching along the walls, distorted by the dim overhead lights. He took a glass, filled it from the tap, and drank in one long gulp, water trickling down his throat before he set the glass back down.

  As he turned to leave, a faint sound froze him.

  “…Help.”

  He froze, ears straining. The whisper echoed again. “…Help.”

  The sound grew louder as he approached the stairs. It’s coming from… under the stairs?

  Akitsu crouched, peering into the dark space beneath them. There was nothing.

  “Who’s calling for help?” he whispered. “Is it coming from upstairs…?”

  He placed his hand against the wall beneath the stairs—and it passed through.

  “…What?” His eyes widened. “Is this… a secret passage? A hidden room?”

  Before he could react, something grabbed his hand. He was yanked forward.

  Akitsu stumbled, falling onto sand. Endless, shifting sand stretched in every direction. No walls. No ceiling. No visible end.

  He spun around, panic rising. There was no exit.

  “Where am I?!”

  “Who pulled me in here?!”

  No one answered.

  “Orion?!”

  “Kaoru?!”

  His voice trembled, cracking. “Where are you…? I’m scared…”

  He walked forward, but the scenery never changed. The sand stretched endlessly, stretching like the void itself.

  “Why is this place so empty?”

  “Hello?! Is anybody there?!”

  Silence. Too much silence.

  “This place is really dark…”

  “Is there even an exit…?”

  Meanwhile, back in his room, Seraphine Orion floated above his bed, tails flicking. “…Where is he?” she muttered. “It’s taking too long.”

  She moved quickly through the mansion, gliding past the kitchen, hallways, and stairs. Nothing.

  “Where did he go? He should be here…” Her voice sharpened, panic creeping in.

  Back in the sand world, Akitsu ran, sand shifting beneath his feet. “There’s no end to this place!”

  “I don’t want to die yet!”

  His legs gave out. He collapsed to his knees, sand sifting through his fingers. “Am I really going to die here…?”

  “Someone… help me…”

  “…Help.”

  He turned—and froze.

  Behind him stood a girl. Long black hair obscured her face, eyes and mouth hidden. Chains bound her limbs. White rags hung loosely from her body, fluttering faintly despite the still air.

  “W-Who are you?!” Akitsu stammered.

  “…Help. Me. Please,” she said softly.

  “Help you with what…?”

  “…Revenge.”

  “…Kill.”

  Akitsu swallowed hard. “Who… who do you want revenge against?”

  “…Haurya.”

  “…Takeda.”

  “If I help you…” Akitsu’s voice shook, trembling with fear and uncertainty, “will you help me in return?”

  “Yes.”

  “…Then help me escape this place first.”

  The girl raised her hand and pointed. A rift opened before him.

  “…Adopt. Me.”

  “…What?”

  “How can I adopt you?”

  She reached out, fragile and desperate. “…Please. Help.”

  Akitsu stepped forward, grasping her hands, trembling. “I’ll help you,” he said firmly. “You helped me, so I’ll help you.”

  “…Thank you.”

  She vanished. The rift remained, glowing faintly.

  Akitsu stepped through it—and returned to the mansion.