A simpler solution

Haruka realized that Zane had not eaten, and although the man insisted that he did not require food, he still felt like he should offer. So he leaves the dungeon for a while and heads to his room. Recently he has spent more time cooking and enjoyed it enough to write his recipe book.

The moment Haruka entered the room, he shared with Lila, surprisingly he found her there. Lila has not stayed in the same room as him for the last few days. The others thought if Zane did do something to him, it would affect Lila too, so they kept them apart.

Is she still angry?

He felt a pair of soft petal-like lips on his, and for a moment, he froze. But it did not take long before he had his arms around her waist.

'So she isn't mad? Thank goodness.'

"Lila, wait-" Haruka stopped her, and the girl looked displeased. She turned away to leave, but he wouldn't let her go. "I don't mind. You know I like touching you, memory or no memory. But, we have something to talk about."

'I wonder if it is alright to say it.' Haruka hesitated for a brief moment before explaining what he saw the other day.

Lila patiently listened, and after he finished the story. She looked solemn.

"I cannot trust that man fully. However, I can give him a chance if it is for you."

Haruka gently kissed her forehead. "Thank you, my wife."

Lila buried her face in her arms. "But, if he ever does anything weird. You can tell me right away. I will come flying to you."

"Mmm, thank you."

"Also, I'm jealous."

"Jealous?"

Lila sighed deeply. "Why is that the first thing you remember? Shouldn't your first memory be about me?"

Haruka blinked when he heard her words. He did not think this would bother her. So is that why she has been sulking the last few days?

'She truly does these cute things.' Haruka picked her up, carried her over to the beanie bag, and sat down. The girl was positioned on his lap. The moment she got comfortable, she caressed his cheeks.

"Is he that important to you?" Lila mumbled.

"Yes. I only have that one memory, but it is enough."

Now the story Zane told him makes sense. He said he left his woman to search for his friend. That friend he was talking about must have been him.

"I see. Mm, I think it was the same back then too. When I asked you why you followed Zane, you told me he was not bad. 'He just wants to be saved. Don't we all? I can't blame him even if his methods are wrong.'"

"Is his situation that bad?"

Lila tilted her head as she thought about it. "We are under the same situation; at least I thought it was like that. Haruka, can you come with me? There is something I need to check."

Haruka nodded.. He actually came to get Zane some food, but he wanted to hold her first when he saw his wife.

They stopped by the kitchen on the way, and Lila personally helped him with the food. Even though she is clearly wary of him, she is considerate for his sake.

It did not take them long before they reached the dungeon area again. Zane looked up. "You took you-" He paused mid-sentence when he saw Lila. "I see."

"I just want to make sure." Lila extended her hand out, and Zane grabbed hold of it. "So you can touch me now."

"Yes."

Uh- Haruka looked back and forth between the two, confused.

Lila quickly explained as she quickly drew her hand back. "We are both children of darkness, so normally that means not being able to touch each other. But a few days ago, Zane caught me. I thought that was weird. Haruka may have transferred his light energy to you, but at most, you would have been able to meet me with no negative impact on me. You shouldn't be able to touch me."

"Before you two went to New York, Haruka came to see me. He had been working on some type of medication for a while to help ease my pain. He tried many times but failed. However, his last attempt before you two left, I believe it was a success.

I felt the darkness in my body calm down. Since I was born, I could control my powers for the first time. I wondered how he was able to do that, and I reached an answer when I examined what he gave me." Zane pulled out a bottle.

The medication was long gone, but there were faint traces of dust, no sand.

He watched as his wife examined it closely and paused. "I see. Everything leads to Haruka needing his memories back."

"Yes. It seems he worked something out, a solution that will help you, me, and your mother too."

"The fastest way would be to return that piece of light energy to Haruka. But there is a risk of you losing your mind again-" Lila trailed off.

"There is a simpler solution," Zane suggested.

"That is?"

"I think it is working already, us spending time together and talking like we did before. It may seem so straightforward. But the fact is Haruka's first memory after so long is regarding me. I believe that is because of the short time we spent together with me as Zero."

At the words, first memory Lila frowned, and she suddenly buried her face in his arms.

"What's wrong?"

"She is acting jealous." Zane clarified. "Miss Lila, if you want him to remember, you need him to talk to people he knows well. On that note, do you know where Shinozaki Rika is? You should probably ask her too."

"Rikka-san doesn't want to meet with Haruka anymore, so that is no good. Ah, right, brother! I will call him over. Hubby, you show Zane to one of the guest rooms."

With those words, the girl quickly left; she was gone before he could even process things. Haruka turned to the man who easily broke the chains on his legs and arms. So, it seems like he did not need the key?

He could have left at any time, but he did not. Zane massaged his wrist and turned to him. "That girl likes you more than before."

"Huh?"

"I thought there would be a wall between you two now that you have lost your memories, but that is not the case."

Lila likes him more? But he no longer has any memories of anything or anyone. Moreover, according to the others in the manor, his personality is different. He still thinks of the past as a separate person from the current.

'It is true that I want my memories back, but only to help her. The reality is I am afraid of what will happen if I get them back. Will the current me disappear?'

Haruka felt frightened at that thought. However, only a short time has passed since he started to obtain some hobbies to pass his time. He likes the current version of himself more than the ones from the rumors.

He is only working hard to get his memories because of his wife. The old him would know how to help her.

When night falls, there is something terribly wrong with his wife. What stood out to him was the smell of death on her. It is the same smell as a rotten body decaying away. Her entire body would turn pale like she had no blood left inside her.

She keeps telling him it is normal and that she will get better in the morning. But how could he possibly accept that?