Ryūta stood frozen, staring at the stranger before him.

  “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” the man said with a smile, spreading his arms wide in greeting.

  The voice was familiar, painfully so, though the boy couldn’t place it. He had no memories of his parents. His hands trembled at his sides.

  “You’re not real,” he whispered.

  “I understand your confusion,” Ryōsuke replied gently. “But I assure you, I’m standing right here.”

  Was it a dream? His mind finally breaking under the weight of everything? Or someone playing with his feelings, pretending to be his father to deceive him?

  Either way, he had nothing to lose. Without thinking, he stepped forward and drove his fist into the man’s face with every ounce of strength he had.

  The impact sent the stranger sprawling to the ground. He lay there for a moment, then slowly pushed himself up, rubbing his aching jaw. As he lifted his gaze, there was no anger in his eyes, only a quiet acceptance.

  “What was that for?” he asked, his voice steady despite the blow.

  Ryūta’s expression twisted into something cruel.

  “I was just testing if I’m dreaming.”

  Ryōsuke blinked, confused.

  “Then why did you hit me?”

  “Because it would have hurt me otherwise,” the boy shot back, his voice dripping with mockery, but a moment later his tone hardened. “And because whether you’re my father or not, you earned it. If you’re not him, you tried to deceive me. If you are,” his voice cracked slightly, “then you abandoned me over ten years ago.”

  The man held his gaze for a long moment before lowering his head.

  “You’re right,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry. Truly.”

  Ryūta’s jaw clenched.

  “Sorry doesn’t fix anything.”

  “I know. But I had no other choice.”

  The words came out carefully, as if he knew how hollow they would sound.

  “What reason?” The boy’s voice rose. “What possible reason could justify a father leaving his son?!”

  “To protect everyone.”

  Silence fell between them. Ryōsuke stood slowly, brushing dirt from his clothes.

  “I don’t expect you to forgive me. That’s not why I came here tonight anyway.”

  Ryūta watched him warily, his fists still clenched.

  “Then why?”

  “I want to introduce someone to you. Someone who might help you trust me.”

  The boy’s eyes narrowed.

  “Who?”

  The man glanced toward one of the nearby buildings, then back at Ryūta.

  “Before I do, I need you to promise me something.” When the boy said nothing, waiting for him to continue, he went on. “The person I’m about to introduce to you doesn’t remember anything from before. She’s very frightened. When you see her, don’t rush forward, or you’ll scare her. Especially after...” he gestured vaguely at his bruised face, “after what you just did to me.”

  Ryūta exhaled, letting go of his anger.

  “Fine. I won’t move.”

  Ryōsuke studied him for a moment, then nodded. He turned toward the building and called out:

  “You can come here now.”

  For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then, from behind the corner of the building, a figure emerged. She wore a hooded coat that obscured her face, but her long, snow-white hair still spilled out.

  As she stepped into the lamplight, the boy’s world stopped.

  It was her.

  “Hime...” The name escaped his lips in a breathless whisper.

  Despite his promise, the shock left him unable to stay still. He took a step forward, but the girl immediately darted behind the man, using him as a shield.

  “Show me your face,” Ryūta’s voice cracked. “Please.”

  She looked up at Ryōsuke, as if seeking advice or permission. He gave a small nod, and slowly, she lowered her hood, revealing her face completely.

  “Is that really you?”

  The man answered before she could.

  “Yes. It’s her.”

  Doubt still gnawed at the boy.

  “You said she doesn’t remember anything. Why should I believe you? How do I even know this isn’t just another dream?”

  “I can assure you, this isn’t a dream. As for your other question,” Ryōsuke paused for a moment, “listen to your heart.”

  “What is that even supposed to mean?”

  “She’s not ready to stay by your side yet. But I can give you two some time alone.”

  Ryūta’s breath caught.

  “You mean I can talk to her?”

  “Yes.” The man glanced around. “I don’t know about you, but this place is rather oppressive. Why don’t we go somewhere more pleasant?”

  As soon as the words left his mouth, he clapped his hands together, and the landscape around them transformed completely. The night sky and lamp-lit concrete jungle vanished, giving way to a sunlit meadow, green and covered in flowers.

  “What the— Where are we?”

  “Somewhere in America, I think,” Ryōsuke replied simply, not entirely sure himself.

  The girl stared at the beautiful scenery with the same wide-eyed wonder as the boy.

  “I’ll leave you two alone now. Talk as much as you like. But if possible,” he hesitated for a moment, “don’t ask her about what happened. About how she came back.”

  With that, the man walked away, leaving them standing together in the field.

  Ryūta couldn’t speak. There was so much he wanted to say and ask, yet he didn’t even know where to begin. In the end, Himeko spoke first.

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  “You called me by my nickname just now,” she said quietly. “Do... Do you know me?”

  The boy froze again. The sound of her voice, soft, uncertain, and still so familiar, was enough to make his chest tighten painfully.

  “Yeah, I did,” he answered at last.

  The girl tilted her head slightly, studying him. Her expression was calm, almost detached, but her eyes showed a faint trace of curiosity.

  “You looked like you were about to cry. Why?”

  He exhaled shakily.

  “Because I thought I lost you forever.”

  She didn’t react right away, just stared at him, her face unreadable.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t remember you. Or anything,” she said finally.

  Ryūta lowered his gaze, his hands curling into fists before relaxing again.

  “It’s all right. I didn’t expect you to.”

  Silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant rustle of grass swaying in the breeze.

  After a long moment, Himeko took a small step closer.

  “If I really was important to you,” she said softly, “then maybe you can tell me who I was.”

  The boy looked up, startled by her words. For a heartbeat, he saw a faint echo of the Himeko he used to know, the gentle warmth behind her eyes, hidden beneath the fog of forgotten memories.

  His lips curved slightly.

  “You were someone who could always make me smile, no matter how bad things got.”

  The girl blinked, as if the words stirred something faint within her.

  “That sounds nice,” she murmured. “I hope I was kind.”

  “You were,” he said simply. “You still are.”

  A quiet happiness settled over her face.

  “I see. Then maybe we can start again... as friends?” she asked softly, holding out her hand. Ryūta took it gently, his fingers closing around hers.

  They stood there in the golden light, neither daring to speak further. For him in that moment it was enough that she was there, alive, and smiling, even if she no longer remembered the life they once shared.

  “Maybe. One day. I promise.”

  “What?” She looked at him, startled and confused, but when she saw his sincere smile, her worry faded.

  They couldn’t have put it into words at the time, but deep down, they understood. They wouldn’t see each other again for a while, and they knew that was how it had to be.

  As their hands slipped apart, Ryōsuke appeared once more, standing beside both the boy and Himeko. The man and his mirrored image each placed a hand on one of their shoulders.

  Then the two pairs slowly began to drift away from each other. Himeko seemed completely unaware of what was happening, her faint smile never fading. Ryūta could feel the shift, but he didn’t move or speak, not until the others vanished beyond his sight.

  “I guess… you already know,” Ryōsuke finally spoke. The boy sighed.

  “Yeah. You’re the one who sealed her memories and appeared in my dream before.”

  “Then you also understand that this is for the best. She will be safe with me until you’re strong enough to protect her yourself.”

  “Will I see her again?” Ryūta asked, but the man shook his head.

  “For a while, it’s better if you don’t. Her memories will return over time, and when that happens, she will want to be with you. Until then, things will be easier for her if you meet as little as possible.”

  “I see...” The boy lifted his head, accepting their situation, but a moment later, his expression turned into a grimace. “Wait... You said this was real, right? Then how did we get here, and why the hell are there two of you?”

  “I said you weren’t dreaming,” Ryōsuke replied, recoiling slightly, caught off guard.

  “What?”

  “This is an illusion I created. In truth, you’re still asleep in your bed.”

  In that instant, whatever trust Ryūta had begun to feel toward him shattered completely.

  “Are you kidding me?!” he shouted again, grabbing the man by his coat with both hands.

  “Calm down! It may be an illusion, but everything in it is real. Himeko is safe.”

  The boy glared at him for a long moment before finally letting go.

  “So what now?” he asked.

  “Now, you rest. Live your life until it turns upside down again. Don’t worry, that won’t take long.”

  “I’m seriously tempted to hit you again,” Ryūta muttered.

  Ryōsuke ignored the threat and pulled something from his pocket. It was a pendant shaped like a sun and a moon entwined together.

  “Here, wear this,” he said, placing it in the boy’s hand.

  “What’s this?” he asked, staring at it curiously.

  “A protective charm.”

  “A charm?”

  “Yes. It will keep you safe from danger.”

  “How does it work?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Great. That helps a lot,” Ryūta muttered, earning a sigh from the man.

  “It works best when you don’t know how it works. That way, you won’t rely on it too much. But since you insist on knowing, I’ll explain. It reacts to your emotions, especially fear. When you feel threatened, it forms a shield around you that protects you from physical and magical harm. However, it won’t work against sudden attacks, and if you depend on it too often, it will lose its power.”

  “So basically…”

  “Yes. It’s best if you forget you even have it. But still, keep it close to you at all times.”

  The boy’s heart warmed at the small gift, even though he still wasn’t sure he believed any of it was real. But his doubts began to fade when Ryōsuke continued.

  “It has another function as well.”

  “What kind of function?” Ryūta asked curiously.

  “When you wake up in the morning and find it still in your hand, you’ll know I was telling the truth.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” the boy said with a genuine smile, the first one since their reunion began. The man returned it.

  “You’re welcome, son. I know I haven’t earned the right to be called that again, but I want you to know that I’m proud of you. One day, when you’re ready, I’ll tell you everything, and you’ll understand why I had to leave my children.”

  Ryūta’s eyes widened.

  “Wait, your ‘children’? What do you mean by—”

  “Goodbye, son,” Ryōsuke said softly, squeezing his shoulder.

  The next moment, the boy shot upright in his bed, gasping for air.

  Morning light filtered softly across the room. Once his eyes adjusted to it, Ryūta stared at the pendant in his hand. The metal felt cold and real. Too real. He wanted to believe it was only a dream, but it was still there, heavy and undeniable.

  “Great,” he muttered. “Another night, another mystery. And I still don’t know what any of it means.” He rubbed his face, sighing. “He didn’t even explain what he meant by ‘children.’ And did he really say ‘magical’?”

  A quiet voice pulled him back to reality.

  “Good morning, Ryūta-sama! Are you feeling all right?”

  The boy turned sharply. Ninel stood next to his bed, her eyes filled with concern.

  “Ninel-san? How long have you been here?” he asked, looking at her in surprise.

  “Since early morning,” she said. “You seemed to be trapped in a vivid dream. I tried waking you several times, but nothing I did seemed to work. The only thing I could do was wipe your tears away.”

  “I’m sorry for causing you trouble,” Ryūta said, too embarrassed to look her in the eye.

  “It was no trouble at all,” the girl assured him softly, but mindful of his discomfort, she shifted the conversation. “What is that pendant? It is beautiful.”

  “Someone gave it to me. At least, I think they did.” Before she could reply, he locked the pendant’s chain around his neck and tucked it under his shirt. Finally meeting her eyes with a smile, he added, “I’ll be fine now. Thank you for checking on me.”

  Ninel nodded with a smile, relief visible on her face.

  “In that case, if you will excuse me, I should start preparing breakfast.”

  She gave him one last gentle look before stepping out and closing the door behind her.

  Once he was alone again, he stared after her for a long moment, but his thoughts circled around the same questions until he couldn’t stand sitting still any longer.

  A short while later, he found himself standing in the quiet hallway outside Nao’s apartment. He had thrown on his uniform in a hurry and barely remembered leaving his own room. His hand hovered near the doorbell, but he didn’t press it.

  “What am I even doing here?” he muttered, baffled by his own actions.

  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. For a moment, he even considered turning around and pretending he had never come. He actually took a step back.

  The door opened with a soft click. Nao stepped out, closing it behind her, as she greeted him.

  “You’re up early.” Her eyes narrowed as she took in his face. “And you look awful. Did you sleep at all?”

  “I’ve long forgotten what that is,” Ryūta replied with dry sarcasm.

  “In that case, just let me know. I’ll gladly drink you under the table anytime,” the girl said, trying to lighten the mood. When she realized the boy wasn’t up for jokes, she sighed. “All right, what happened?”

  He almost mentioned his dream, his father, Himeko, and the pendant that still pressed against his chest, but instead, he kept it brief and got to the point.

  “This might sound strange, but is there a way to tell if someone was in your apartment last night?”

  Nao tilted her head.

  “You think someone broke in?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I just need to be sure.”

  For a brief moment she only watched him, then relented and pulled her phone out of her pocket.

  “Give me a minute,” she said, her fingers moving quickly over the screen.

  The silence that followed felt heavy. Ryūta broke it first, guilt evident in his voice.

  “Sorry for bothering you with this...”

  She didn’t answer right away. Her focus stayed on the display while she navigated through a series of menus.

  “After Volkina-san left last night and before she came back this morning, your door stayed shut.” She finally lifted her gaze. “No one even touched the handle during that time.”

  “So no one went in or out?” He blinked.

  “Not unless they learned how to walk through walls.”

  “I see...”

  “You don’t look satisfied,” the girl noted with surprise. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s nothing. Sorry for holding you up,” the boy replied with a false smile, then turned on his heel and started toward the end of the hallway. Nao called after him with genuine concern.

  “Ryūta-kun! What I said earlier about drinking was only half a joke. If you feel like talking, you know where to find me.”

  “I know. Thanks,” the boy turned back briefly, then continued on his way. He pulled the pendant from under his shirt and stared at it intently.

  So no one entered my room except Ninel-san... Yet I still have this. It means that man, whoever he was, told me the truth, even if not all of it. I know for certain that Hime is alive and well, but I don’t know anything about that other girl. Mafuyu... Who is she and what does she have to do with Sanae? This whole thing keeps getting more tangled, and I’ve hit another dead end with no trail to follow. The only one who might have answers is that man, but I have no way of finding him. It looks like I have no choice but to do what he told me: wait until something happens.

  These thoughts ran through my head as I coldly said goodbye to the president, not knowing that barely two weeks later, I would kill someone...