The Curtain of Night

Since then, we've been tracking Masuoka, and now we find ourselves at this hotel. But last night...

"Huh?! What do you mean we're stopping?!" I exclaimed, my voice rising in disbelief.

"I think... I don't want to make you do this any longer," she replied, her tone resolute as she turned to walk away.

"W-wait..." I called out, desperation lacing my words, but she continued walking, never glancing back.

"It was a long night..." I murmured to myself, confusion clouding my mind. Why did she say that? I lay down on the bed, closing my eyes as exhaustion overtook me.

"Hey there," a voice called out, startling me awake.

"Huh?" I found myself in a featureless, blank space, the girl's voice echoing around me. I looked around, trying to locate the source of the sound.

"In front of you," she said.

I was taken aback to see her standing right before me. "You..."

A girl with white hair and turquoise eyes materialized before me. Of course.

"Long time no see, Kagami... or should I say... Himeya?" she said, a knowing smile on her lips.

Kagami was my name before I reincarnated here. "Why are you calling me here... um... Your Highness?" I asked, my voice tinged with unease.

"Stop with the formalities, just call me Attila," she replied, waving off the title with a dismissive gesture.

"So, why am I here, Attila?" I inquired, trying to keep my composure.

"I wanted to inform you that tonight, your choice will determine everyone's fate," she said gravely.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Your future self has been assisting you. He's given you a lot of spoilers, don't you think?" she said, her expression unreadable.

"So?"

"That's all I wanted to say. I wish you well, Himeya," she said, her form starting to fade away with a smile.

I opened my eyes, blinking as the room came into focus. Touka was nowhere to be seen. The first thought that crossed my mind was a gnawing uncertainty about what to do next. "She must be... huh?" As I stood up, I noticed a note lying on the bedside.

"No way..."

The note read:

[Thank you... but I can't involve Himeya anymore. Masuoka's release date was a lie. He has already been released and is hiding somewhere. I'll go alone. Sorry. I love you. 0707]

"That's a lie... Touka..."

'This choice of yours... tonight, will determine everyone's fate.'

[HEY!! ARE YOU THERE??]

[ANSWER NOW, PLEASE!]

[I NEED YOUR HELP!]

[TOUKA IS GONE]

No response. Where could she have gone? I had been searching for Touka for days without success. There was no sign she'd returned home. Maybe she's at a hotel or heading towards where Masuoka is.

"Why are you doing this now? You said you wanted to be with me forever. I believed you..."

I suddenly realized, "Right... why didn't I notice this from the start... the story is different from the manga... I broke the story..."

I was left behind.

Ring-Ring

'Touka?!' I grabbed my phone, my heart racing.

It's me from the future...

[Have you found her?]

[No, I haven't. I've been searching everywhere but still can't find her.]

[Maybe she's already on her way to Masuoka.]

[Did she leave any clue?]

[Only a note.]

[Send me a photo of the note.]

[Alright.]

I sent the photo.

...

[The last thing on the note... is that a date in your time? The day she wrote it?]

[Don't you find it strange?]

[What?]

[Why did she write the date as 07/07 instead of July 7th?]

[It's strange, right?]

[July 7th was a meaningful day for her, don't you remember?]

That's right... the day we climbed the lighthouse and lit our flashlight together. Reviewing my notes again, I saw, "I love you. 0707." If this number isn't a date...

"Fhuh... Fhuhh..." I struggled to catch my breath, the weight of realization hitting me hard.

"There you are..." I spotted her looking up at a business hotel. I rushed over and touched her shoulder.

"I finally found you—"

"WAAA!"

The world spun as she grabbed my hand and threw me. I felt a sharp, cold sensation on my neck.

"HEY, it's me. Himeya."

"Eh... Himeya?" She looked shocked, and the cold sensation subsided. The stun gun in her hand wasn't activated.

"Can you stand?" she asked, extending her hand towards me.

"Y-yeah..."

With her help, I managed to stand up. "I'm glad I made it in time..."

My back ached from the fall, but the relief of seeing her outweighed the pain.

"Are you staying near here?"

She looked down, silent.

"Are you waiting for an opportunity to confront Masuoka?"

"Why..." she began, her voice trembling.

"Huh?"

"Why did you come...?"

"Even if you ask me why—"

"Why do you think I disappeared from your sight?! I didn't want to involve you!"

"But how could you... why would you..."

"Because I made up my mind," I said firmly.

"Eh..."

"I already decided that no matter what happens, I'll be with you until the end. Even if I have to go through hell, I'll always be by your side... if that's what I should do."

"..."

"Do you need any more reason than that?" I asked.

"...Enough..." Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I already know... that Himeya is a bottomless idiot..."

"Both of us are idiots," I said with a soft smile.

"I agree..."

"But, how did you know I was here?"

"Well, the power of love?" she said with a faint smile.

Actually, I found out about Touka's whereabouts through a chat from my future self. He helped me get to her. He discovered that Masuoka had been hiding at his mistress's shop after being released. I was informed that Touka would be nearby, so I kept an eye out and found her exactly as he described.

[Touka is likely to be there. She's probably staying at a nearby hotel and looking for opportunities. Be sure to find and save her.]

[I understand. Thank you.]

[Take care of Touka. I need you both to live.]

--Future--

"Himeya-kun, the other party has arrived. Are you ready?" Atsuko asked. Atsuko Matsumiya, a director-editor at my company, was leading today's meeting for the drama adaptation of *The Girl in the Sea Candle*. Last time, it was just an introductory face-to-face, but now we were finalizing the details. Failure wasn't an option.

"Yes, everything is fine," I replied.

I was concerned about Touka, but I had to leave those thoughts behind. I needed to focus on the present.

On the next supermoon, the past and present would converge again. I didn't know the outcome, but I had to trust in him. I no longer felt like a reincarnated person... just myself.

"Yo!" someone called out.

I looked up to see Yuka standing there.

"Why are you here?" I whispered, surprised.

"Well, I'm here on behalf of my little sister," she said casually.

"You have a sister?" I asked, my eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Oh... you didn't know?" she replied, taken aback.

I shot her a sharp look, but she waved it off. "I'll explain later, but let's focus on the meeting for now."

"Alright," I agreed.

The meeting began.

…

--Past--

The day after finding Touka, we resumed our mission and waited for Masuoka to leave the hotel. As I was on stakeout, a man emerged from the building.

"Masuoka..." I murmured, noting he appeared thinner than in the photo but still fit and well-trained.

"Looks like he's taking a taxi," Touka observed.

"What's our plan?" I asked.

"Of course, we'll follow him," Touka replied decisively.

"Understood." I wasn't sure what to expect next. My knowledge of the story had been interrupted—probably because I had altered it. I hoped I was making the right choices.

We both got into the car, and I started the engine. I exhaled deeply, trying to ease my tension.

The taxi carrying Masuoka stopped in front of a cemetery. We followed him inside, making sure to stay unnoticed.

"He's stopped," Touka said, her voice tight with frustration.

I glanced at her, noting her displeasure as Masuoka halted in front of a specific grave.

"That grave..." I began, but Touka's expression hardened.

"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered.

Masuoka glanced around, and Touka whispered, "Let's move closer so he won't see us."

After ensuring his surroundings were clear, Masuoka began shifting the stone slabs on the ground, retrieving something from beneath.

"A phone?" I noted.

"It's an old model," Touka replied, squinting to see from our distance.

It seemed Masuoka was inspecting the phone, but I couldn't make out the details.

"Do you think the money he stole is also hidden there?" I asked.

"There's no way..." Touka said, her voice trailing off as she stood up and started walking toward Masuoka.

"Hey, don't be reckless," I said, grabbing her arm.

"I know, but let's just act like we're visiting a grave," she said firmly.

"..."

Masuoka turned and noticed us. I deliberately looked away, pretending not to care.

Touka was already a few steps away from me.

As I walked past him, Masuoka suddenly called out, "Wait..."

"..."

When I turned around, a gun was pointed directly at me.

"W-what?" I stammered, my heart racing.

"Don't play dumb with me. You've been following me since I left the hotel," Masuoka said, his voice cold.

He... knew...?

"Next time you visit a grave, bring a stick of incense," he added mockingly.

"Who the hell are you? And why are you—"

zap

Masuoka collapsed immediately, a noise crackling through the air. Touka had used a stun gun on him.

Standing behind him, Touka held the stun gun firmly.

"...Gh... you brat..." Masuoka groaned, trying to lift himself.

zap

Touka tased him again.

"Gah...!"

"T-touka?" I asked, bewildered.

"I told you, I'm not being reckless," she said calmly.

"…You saved me..." I said, my voice trembling as my body began to shake uncontrollably.

The fear of dying again...

"Are you okay?" Touka asked, concern in her voice.

"Y-yeah..." I replied, clenching my trembling hands to steady myself.

"Alright then, let's continue our mission," Touka said, her tone resolute.

"Understood..." I replied, taking a deep breath.

"…Uh...ugh…"

"It looks like you're awake."

"Where am I?"

"The place where you'll die," Touka said with a chilling tone.

"HAH?!"

The place where we brought him was the Fukaya Radio Tower building. We had placed Masuoka, who had fainted, in a rental car and brought him here.

As Masuoka began to assess his surroundings, he realized he was in a locker.

"This will be your coffin," Touka said.

…

…

"Do you remember me?"

"Huh?"

"What do you think?"

"…How should I know? I've never seen your face before," he replied.

"…I see."

"Where is it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The money you stole. You killed the president of a real estate company and took the money from his safe."

"…."

"…I don't know."

"Liar."

Touka reached into her pocket and pulled out Masuoka's cell phone.

"The phone was locked. Can you unlock it?" Touka asked.

…

Masuoka fell silent.

"Well, that's fine," Touka said, slipping the phone back into her pocket. She then reached for another item.

It was the pistol that Masuoka had once pointed at me.

Without a hint of emotion, she aimed the gun at Masuoka.

"There are two things you must do to get out of here alive," she said.

"First, admit that you're the culprit behind the robbery."

"Second, return the money that you stole."

"What do you think? It's easy, right?"

"What if I refuse?"

"That's easy. I'll just kill you."

"Don't make me laugh," Masuoka scoffed.

"You've never killed anyone, have you, brat?"

…

"You act like it's easy to kill—"

Bang!

The gunshot echoed through the space. Empty shell casings clattered to the ground, creating a sharp metallic sound.

"It was easy, wasn't it?"

"Tch…"

"Can you unlock it for me now?"

…

"You can stay there until you remember," Touka said, kicking the locker door shut and locking it from the outside. The sound of Masuoka flailing inside echoed, a mixture of fear and desperation as he tried to find a way to escape.

"Let's leave him for a while," Touka suggested.

I nodded in agreement.

…

"What is it?" Touka asked.

"It's just... it's the first time I've seen a gunshot," I admitted.

"Oh... we're the same," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

…

Touka's hand trembled slightly as she held the gun.

--Future--

While I was riding the train home, I received a message,

[We're here now]

"Huh?"

At first, I didn't understand the message. However, when I saw the accompanying photo, I couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"…!?"

The photo showed a locker buried in the ground. Inside, a man with his hands and feet bound with rope lay unconscious.

…Masuoka…

"Did they do this?"

Once I got home, I couldn't stay still. I grabbed my bike and headed to the Fukaya Radio Tower.

Earlier, after the meeting about the serialization drama, Yuka had mentioned Touka's plan from the past. She had been abducting Masuoka and taking him to the Fukaya Radio Tower.

The location in the photo was definitely inside the tower.

There was a large padlock on the front entrance that I couldn't open. When I had visited before, I noticed a section of the fence where the wire mesh had been torn. Though it had been repaired, the holes were patched with much thinner wire than the original mesh.

"…Here."

Using the nippers I had brought with me, I cut through the wire, creating a hole big enough for a person to crawl through.

I slipped through the wire fence and made my way into the building under the radio tower. The door was locked, but several pieces of glass had been broken, allowing me to enter.

I illuminated the area with the flashlight I carried. The abandoned building was covered in graffiti, broken liquor bottles, and used fireworks.

It was just as Yuka had described.

Desks and chairs that might have been left behind were now heavily damaged.

"…Are you on the other side…?" I murmured, my voice barely audible over the groaning hinges of the battered door as I forced it open and stepped further inside.

"…Here?" I called out, my eyes scanning the familiar scene that matched the photo my past self had sent me. The ceiling was partially collapsed, with debris raining down to the floor. Broken glass and dust from the elements had coated the interior, making it almost unbearable to breathe.

"Damn…cough…cough," I choked as the dust filled my lungs. I cleared the fallen ceiling boards one by one, my hands brushing away the thick layer of grime. Gradually, an object emerged from the debris—a locker, its paint peeling and rust showing through. It was unmistakably the same locker from the photo.

As I moved, my foot inadvertently pressed down on something. I looked down to find an old, empty shell casing. My gaze immediately shifted back to the locker, my focus locked onto it as if it held some sort of secret. The image of the photo flashed in my mind—a tape with Masuoka tied up.

I fought to keep my composure, swallowing hard as anxiety surged. I quickly exited through the door I had opened, gasping for fresh air as I navigated through the wreckage. I climbed the stairs and pushed through another door, stepping out into an open area. It was as if I had emerged onto the middle floor of a radio tower. In the darkness, the steel-framed tower extended up into the night sky, and a helipad sat atop it, bathed in an eerie glow.

"Helipad?" I wondered aloud, noticing the strange ambiance surrounding it. The scene felt like a monument, a grim tombstone against the vast expanse of darkness.

I pulled out my phone and began typing a message to my past self.

[Are you both okay?]

[Yeah, we're both fine]

[Is Touka with you now?]

[She's here, sleeping right now]

[I'm watching over Masuoka now]

[He's still alive?]

[He's been quiet in the locker for a while]

[Never kill him, okay!]

[Promise me!]

[What's with you all of a sudden?]

[No matter what the circumstances are, Touka must never kill someone]

[The sins you commit will be exposed one day, and you will surely pay for them]

[When you kill someone, not only that person's life ends, but yours as well]

[My future will change completely, and the dreams I had envisioned will no longer come true]

[You'll end up destroying your own life too]

[I don't have anything more to say right now]

[Take it seriously!]

[The life you want with Touka will surely be gone]

[Let me also tell you one thing]

[I don't know where Touka is right now]

[Where is she now? What is she doing? Is she alive or dead? I don't know]

[You mean, she's missing now?]

[Yeah]

[I haven't seen Touka ever since she left me when I was a student]

[Maybe, I'll never see Touka again]

[But you're different]

[Touka is right beside you]

[Don't ever let her go]

[Don't let go of your life with Touka in it]

[Don't be like me, I beg you]

I hit send, my heart heavy with the weight of my message. If Masuoka was still alive, I couldn't let anything happen to him. The locker I had seen might have contained his skeletal remains, and if that was the reason Touka was missing, I had to ensure she didn't kill him.

Ring-Ring

A reply from my past self came through.

[I understand, no matter what happens, I will not let Touka kill Masuoka. I will stop Touka, I promise]

"I'm counting on you…me from the past," I whispered, a sigh of relief escaping my lips. While this message offered some comfort, it didn't guarantee safety. Touka might still act recklessly, and I had no idea what Masuoka might do next.

[The worlds here and there merge on the day of the supermoon, right?]

[It's just my guess, but maybe...]

[Then, if I stay with Touka forever, you might be able to meet her again.]

[Leave it to me.]

[I will definitely reunite you with Touka.] 

[I'll change your future.] 

You cocky little bastard…

hic…hic…

I couldn't help but cry. The past cannot be changed; that's common sense. But the past that I know has already been altered a long time ago. It began when I was born into this world. Events have occurred that I don't remember experiencing, and people I should have lost are still by my side. The past can be changed. And that will lead to a different future.

"I believe in you…"

…myself. If my past self can change the future, then I will change my own fate too.

Past

"I can't sleep…" I said, turning on the flashlight on my phone and scanning the room. Touka was nowhere to be seen. I assumed she was checking on Masuoka.

"Here," a voice came from the window. I got up and walked over to it.

"Can't sleep?" she asked.

"Yeah, my eyes are kind of wide open," I replied.

"It can't be helped," she said with a shrug.

"You were sleeping like a baby," I teased.

"Oh, really?" she responded, sounding curious.

"You were snoring and grinding your teeth," I added with a grin.

"No way," she said, looking flustered.

"I was lying," I confessed, smiling.

"Boo—"

"Hahaha," I laughed.

As we laughed, I noticed that Touka was holding a gun in each hand. In her left hand was a 3D-printed gun, and in her right was the real one she had taken from Masuoka.

"Hey, is that…?"

"Hm? Ah…"

Touka extended her left arm, revealing a pink gun.

"Himeya can have this one," she said with a casual tone.

"No, I…"

"Just in case, okay?" She offered a reassuring smile.

"Alright…"

I decided to accept it for now, taking the gun from her.

"Hey… when you said you were going to kill Masuoka, that was a threat, right?"

"Hmm…"

"Wasn't that supposed to be a threat to make him unlock the phone?"

"I wonder…"

"But, well… I do feel like I want him to die," she said, her voice carrying a tone that seemed almost joking.

But I knew Touka was serious about it.

"…Just don't kill him," I said firmly.

"Eh?"

"No matter what happens, don't kill Masuoka," I insisted.

"What's wrong, all of a sudden?"

"Revenge on Masuoka might give you some temporary satisfaction," I said, trying to explain. "But that doesn't cure the sadness or change the past."

"That's why—"

"I've thought about that many times," she admitted. "I also knew that…"

"But… I can't help but want to do it…" Touka's smile turned sad as she gazed up at the radio tower.

I knew that no amount of conventional persuasion would stop her. That's why I resorted to what future me had said in the chat.

"If you kill him… you kill your own life," I said.

"Eh?"

"If you kill Masuoka, not only will his life end, but yours will be irrevocably changed too."

"The future will change completely, and the dreams I had envisioned will no longer come true."

"It's not just about Touka; it's about my life too."

"I'm the one who will kill Masuoka. Himeya's life will never end," she said resolutely.

"Well, there might be some punishment as an accomplice, but Himeya can start over."

"I… maybe it's impossible, but…"

"It's the same," I said. "It's the same if Touka is no longer with me."

"I can't imagine my life without Touka."

"…"

"That's why, please don't kill Masuoka, no matter how much you want to. Please don't," I pleaded. "Not just for my sake, but also for yours."

"…I'm kind of talking a lot today…" Touka said, giving a small, nervous laugh.

"Hey, take it seriously—"

"I heard you. I'm taking you seriously," she assured me. "That… yeah, it kind of gives me comfort."

After saying that, Touka blushed slightly and gave me a soft smile.

"Promise me," I said.

"I would say… well… let's not aim for the vital parts," she replied.

"No, it's not just the vital parts that can kill him, okay?"

"I guess that depends on Masuoka's attitude," she said. "If he would just be honest, I wouldn't have to pull the trigger."

"…Telling him to admit that he was the main suspect in the robbery and reveal the whereabouts of the stolen money… I really need to ask you that…"

"I don't care about the money," she said, interrupting me.

"Eh?"

"Actually, I don't care where the stolen money is. What I want to know is…"

Touka raised her gun and aimed it at the top of the radio tower.

"The truth."

…

We went back to check the locker where Masuoka was locked up.

"How's it going? Ready to talk?" Touka called out to Masuoka, but there was no response from the locker.

"Is he asleep?"

"No… no way." If he was sleeping soundly under these circumstances, he must have an incredibly strong constitution.

"Hey, are you listening?" Touka asked, her voice carrying a hint of frustration.

As expected, there was no reply.

"…Is he dead?"

I felt a moment of panic.

"But it's not sealed tightly enough to cause suffocation," I said, trying to stay calm.

"…Do you want to try opening it?" Touka asked.

"…Yeah, let's," I said, nodding.

Touka pulled her locker key out of her pocket.

"I'll open it. Touka, stay a little further away," I instructed.

"Understood," she said.

I took the key from Touka and approached the locker. She followed my instructions, positioning herself a short distance away and readying her gun.

"H-hey…"

"Just in case," she said, her voice steady but alert.

Nervously, I inserted the key into the lock.

Click

"…Ready?" I asked, glancing back at Touka.

"Yeah," she nodded.

Carefully, I opened the locker door.

…

"Huh?"

"What's wrong?" Touka asked, her tone filled with concern.

"…No…"

There was no sign of Masuoka in the locker.

"He's gone…" Touka's voice trembled with tension.

"But…!"

Inside the locker, only the rope that had bound Masuoka was left behind. I reached to pick up the rope, my hands shaking.

"Ah…?!"

I looked up in panic at the sound of Touka's surprised exclamation.

"Masuoka?!"

What I saw next was a horrifying sight: Masuoka had retrieved a gun and was pressing it against Touka's head while his arm was wrapped tightly around her neck.

"…!"

"You brats…"

"Shit," I muttered.

Masuoka had somehow escaped from the locker and hidden in the room. As soon as he saw an opportunity, he attacked Touka from behind.

"Let go of Touka!" I shouted.

I tried to rush towards Touka, but a gunshot rang out.

Bang

"…!"

"Himeya!"

The bullet fired by Masuoka missed and embedded itself into the wall behind me.

"I did it on purpose," Masuoka said coldly. "Don't move unless you want to die."

I was paralyzed with fear. My entire body tensed up, and my feet felt like they were glued to the floor; I couldn't move a muscle.

"Crawl on the ground and put your hands on your head," Masuoka ordered.

"…"

"Hurry up!"

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead as I struggled to stay still, despite the terror gripping me.

"…Run, Himeya!"

…

In the chaos, I saw Touka clinging desperately to Masuoka's arm.

"This kid…" Masuoka muttered, clearly frustrated.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and run away!" Touka urged, her voice strained.

"…No."

"He can't aim at two people!" she pleaded. "Hurry up!"

"There's no need for both of us to die. I told you before, it has nothing to do with Himeya in the first place!"

"That's why you need to run, now!" Touka's eyes were filled with tears as she begged me with a sad tone.

Touka reached towards Masuoka, trying to reclaim the gun.

But…

"Don't underestimate me!"

"Kya…!?"

Masuoka's fist connected with Touka's face, sending her crashing to the ground with a spray of blood from her nose.

"Touka!"

Seeing Touka's bleeding face broke the paralysis of fear that had gripped me. My body was suddenly freed from its immobilizing terror.

My anger overpowered my fear.

"Masuoka!!"

I lunged towards Masuoka, but he swung his gun in my direction.

I'm going to get shot… Am I going to die again…?

The thought raced through my mind as I braced myself.

"…!"

Bang

The sharp crack of the gunshot echoed through the air.

"Gah…!?"

In a desperate attempt, I lunged at him, trying to tackle him as I had practiced in training.

"Huh?"

To my shock, I felt myself being lifted off the ground.

Crash

"Argh!"

I was slammed hard onto the ground, pain shooting through my body.

"Ah…"

My vision flickered and wavered. I saw Masuoka's figure above me, his fist coming down in a menacing arc.

…

…

Everything around me blurred, and I struggled to keep my eyes open before finally closing them.

Is this the future…?

…

"Is this how you want it to end?"

"Attila?!"

I looked up, seeing Attila standing before me with a sad expression.

"Himeya…"

"Attila, please help me. Don't let Touka die!" I pleaded.

"…It's a fate…" she said softly.

"No, no. I can't accept this. I need you to help me!" I insisted.

…

Attila gazed at me with pity.

"Attila…"

Tears began streaming down my face.

I felt utterly helpless…

I could never keep the promise I made to my future self…

Attila approached me, gently cupping my cheek.

"I can help… but only this once. There will be consequences…"

"I don't care about the consequences. Please… just help her."

…

Attila leaned in, our foreheads touching. In that moment, a memory surged through me—a vision of the future, of how things were meant to end. And also… a memory of a certain person.

"…This is…"

"You're a troublesome little brother, aren't you, Himeya?" she said with a playful giggle.

…

"You're full of secrets, Sis," I said with a smile, feeling a mix of sorrow and warmth.

"Ugh…" My head was spinning as I staggered to my feet. My phone buzzed incessantly with notifications. I pulled it out and, as expected, they were from my future self.

[HEY, WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?!]

…

[HEY! ARE YOU OKAY?!]

[ANSWER ME PLEASE]

…

[What is it?]

…

[Where is Touka?]

…

[I don't know.]

[I don't know? What do you mean by that?!]

…

[Masuoka ran away from me.]

[Are you safe now?!]

…

[For the time being.]

[I'm going to look for Touka now.]

…

[One thing I do know for sure: Touka will kill Masuoka.]

[You must save her!]

[Please protect her.]

[I beg you.]

[Save her!]

"…!?"

From somewhere in the building, a gunshot rang out.

"Touka…!"

I stuffed my phone back into my pocket and stood up, feeling a surge of urgency.

"Damn it…!"

My leg felt shaky, but I couldn't afford to stop now.

…

"I've got this…"

I pulled out the gun from my pocket—the one Touka had entrusted to me.

I sprinted toward the direction of the gunfire.

…

…

--Future--

"Himeya!?"

"Huh? Yuka?" I looked up to see Yuka standing in front of me.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

"What happened? Are you having a stomach attack on the toilet?" she asked jokingly.

"Y-yeah… I think so…" I replied.

"If you're okay now, I have to go. You've got a meeting with a production company today, right?"

"Yeah… see you later, Yuka."

"Yeah, see ya."

After Yuka left, another woman approached me.

"So, you're Shin Himeya, huh?" The girl with golden hair said, eyeing me with a mysterious expression.

"Yeah, I'm Shin Himeya. And you are…?"

"Kirihara Michi. I'm Kousuke's little sister, and I'll be singing the opening song for your series," she introduced herself.

…

"Kousuke has a little sister?!" I exclaimed, surprised to learn that my friend had a sibling.

"Is that so surprising? Anyway, let's head to the meeting room. I think the producer is already there," she said.

"Y-yeah…"

Once we arrived at the meeting room, the producer informed us that we would be discussing the configuration changes requested by the production company.

--Present--

I proceeded cautiously toward the room where the shot had been fired. At the top of the stairs was the middle floor of the building.

Touka...

Bathed in moonlight, Touka stood there. For a moment, I felt a wave of relief.

"…"

A short distance away from Touka, Masuoka stood with a gun in his hand, the muzzle aimed firmly at her. The earlier shot had clearly been a warning.

"Are you going to kill me?" Touka asked.

"Do you really want to die that badly?" Masuoka replied, his voice cold.

"If being shot to death by you is my fate, then so be it," Touka said resolutely.

"Hoo…"

"If you kill me, you'll return to prison," Touka continued. "You'll be locked away and never come out."

"Hmm… as long as they don't find out, it won't matter," Masuoka said dismissively.

"Someday, your sins will be exposed, just as I have exposed yours. Just like I know your sins," Touka said, her voice trembling.

She's going to confess?

"What do you mean by that?" Masuoka asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"You killed two people," Touka said, her eyes locked on his.

"What are you talking about? I only killed that one rich guy," Masuoka retorted.

"No, you killed another person," she said firmly.

"And who is this other person you're accusing me of killing?" he demanded.

"My mother…"

"Huh?"

"Kashima Masuoka, you're the one who killed my mother," Touka declared, her voice breaking with emotion.

"I'm not someone who harms women," he said, his tone defensive.

"No, you killed her," Touka insisted.

"…"

"You stole my mother's life," Touka continued, her voice filled with anguish. "You took everything from her—everything that made life worth living, everything that brought her joy!"

"Miyako Chika… don't tell me you've forgotten!"

"Miyako… Chika…?"

"Two assaults on women by you… one of the victims was her. You raped my mother, impregnated her, and placed a curse on her that would never be broken! Mom couldn't love me, she couldn't hate me. She died in pieces, body and soul, because of the curse you put on me. It's my fault that I have your blood in my veins!" Touka said, her voice filled with pain and rage.

"…Don't tell me… you are my…?"

"I will never forgive you… never! Do you have any idea the kind of life my mother and I have led because of you?" Touka said, taking a step toward Masuoka.

"I've thought many times about killing you. I've lived my whole life consumed by the desire to kill you!" Touka took another step forward.

"I've decided that if I can't kill you, then I'll make sure you kill me. I'm going to frame you for the murder of your own daughter and throw you back in jail!" She took yet another step closer.

"I'm not going to let you get away with serving just 15 years in a cage. You must pay for the devastation you caused in my mother's life… with your own life!" she declared.

"Don't come any closer!" Masuoka shouted, firing a bullet that grazed Touka's cheek but missed her.

"Where are you aiming? If you're going to kill me, at least have better aim."

"Kgh…!"

Masuoka took aim again, but Touka didn't flinch and took another step toward him.

"Stop it! Masuoka!" I couldn't hold back any longer and jumped out, aiming my gun at Masuoka.

"Himeya?"

"Touka! Get away from Masuoka!" I shouted.

"Thank God… you're alive…" Tears welled up in Touka's eyes.

"Touka, come here! Quickly!" I urged.

There was no time to respond to Touka's words. My only priority now was to get us out of this situation safely.

"Drop the gun, Masuoka."

Masuoka looked at Touka, his gun still pointed at her, his expression vacant.

"Touka, come here quickly! We need to get out of here," I said.

"Run… away?" Touka repeated, a hint of confusion in her voice.

"You don't need to risk your life or get your hands dirty for this man! Come with me, and we'll escape together," I urged.

"…I can't…" she said softly.

"Touka!"

"No… because I haven't had my revenge yet…" she said, her voice resolute.

"Enough with revenge! Enough is enough!" I said, frustration evident in my tone.

"It's not enough at all! I'm going to curse him too! I curse him as the murderer of his own daughter," she declared fiercely.

"You're not a curse! I was always happy when I was with you. I'm grateful you were there for me… and I hope you will continue to be there for me. It doesn't matter whose child you are, what kind of life you've led, or what burdens you carry! So… please, run away with me! Run away with me!" I pleaded, my gaze shifting back to Masuoka.

"Drop the gun, Masuoka! Drop it or I'll shoot! I'm really going to shoot you!" I shouted, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.

Masuoka didn't throw away his gun. Instead, he pointed it at me, his hands shaking as if he were genuinely frightened.

"No! If you're going to shoot, shoot me!" he yelled back, his voice a desperate plea.

"…!" My heart raced. Masuoka seemed genuinely confused and deeply shaken by the revelation that Touka was his daughter.

I had failed once in my life… but I couldn't afford to fail again. I couldn't let this chance slip away!

Bang

I fired at Masuoka's leg, the bullet striking with a sharp report. He fell to the ground, his gun slipping from his grip. I lunged toward him, trying to grab the weapon while he was still disoriented. I aimed the gun at his thigh.

The gun Touka had given me was a 3D-printed model, designed to fire just a single shot. That's what I thought it was supposed to be, but...

I only had one chance.

"Masuoka!!" Touka's scream pierced through the chaos.

"Gahhhh"

Masuoka, still reeling from the pain, raised his gun again, aiming at Touka.

'This is bad!' My mind raced. I had to act quickly. I pulled the trigger once more and—

Bang

The bullet grazed Masuoka's thigh, causing him to stumble and fall, momentarily dazed. I didn't hit him cleanly, but I couldn't afford to stop now.

"….!"

Seizing the opportunity, I rushed at Masuoka and tackled him.

Blam I landed a punch squarely on his face.

"You brat!"

In a desperate struggle, I managed to wrestle Masuoka's gun from his hand. Channeling the self-defense techniques, I had learned in junior high, I prepared for the final move.

Bang

"Kgh!"

Masuoka fired a shot, but because of my tight grip on the gun, the bullet veered off course, hitting nothing but air.

"HAAA!"

With a forceful heave, I grabbed Masuoka's arm and threw him with a backbreaking move, mirroring the technique Touka had used on me.

"Gah!" Masuoka hit the ground hard, writhing in pain.

I took this chance to snatch his gun and leveled it at him.

"…Shoot me… c'mon… what's wrong?" Masuoka taunted, struggling to his feet.

"…You're not worth killing," I said coldly.

"Get lost, Masuoka… get out of our sight now!"

"Huh?" Masuoka, dazed and defeated, slowly rose, turned away, and shuffled towards the stairs.

I kept the gun trained on him until he disappeared from view.

"Phew…"

With Masuoka gone, I finally lowered the gun and turned to Touka.

"Touka?"

She was slumped against the wall, her body seemingly drained of all strength.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, leaning in close. I placed the gun on the floor and wrapped my arms around her for support.

"Himeya…" Touka murmured, lifting her tear-filled eyes to meet mine.

"And you told me not to be reckless…" she said weakly.

"I'm sorry, but I knew I had to be reckless to help you," I replied.

"Dummy…"

"You're so… reckless… and dumb…"

"…Sorry…" I said, feeling a pang of guilt.

"But I'm glad… thank you… Himeya…"

"Y-yeah…"

"Can you stand? Come on, let me help you up…" I said, offering her a hand.

I tried to help her to her feet, but she sagged back down.

"…Hey, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Ugh… Kgh…"

"Touka?" I noticed her frowning in pain, and my heart sank.

No…

"Hey, Tou—" I started to call out, but then I noticed the red staining her sides.

"Touka!"

"I'm sorry… I don't think I'm going to be able to stand up for a while…" she said.

"…Why…?" I asked, panic rising in my chest.

What's going on?! Why is she bleeding? Can fate really not be changed?

"…Maybe…haha…a bullet bounced off somewhere…" she said weakly.

"…No way…" I muttered, struggling to process the situation. I had only shot Masuoka, and Masuoka had only fired one shot. It couldn't be…

It seemed that one of the bullets must have ricocheted and hit Touka. "There's no way…" I said, my voice trembling as I gently laid Touka on the floor and pressed my hand against the wound to staunch the bleeding.

"Get a hold of yourself! Touka! Hey!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice.

"…Huh… I guess… it was destined to happen like this," Touka said, her voice barely above a whisper as she managed a weak laugh.

'Right!' I thought, grabbing my phone and quickly sending a message to myself in the future.

[Touka has been shot!] 

[Is she still alive?!] 

[She's alive] 

[At any rate, I've bound the wound with a strip from my shirt to stop the bleeding] 

[But her face is pale and she's trembling] 

[Shit, what should I do?!] 

[Go to the hospital immediately!] 

[Where are you now?] 

[Still in the radio tower] 

[Above the locker room] 

[Get down now and call an ambulance!] 

[If she can't walk, carry her on your back] 

[It's a bad idea to go down there; Masuoka might still be around] 

[Masuoka still alive?] 

[Alive] 

[He might be downstairs looking for his cell phone] 

[If I run into him, I can't fight him while Touka is on my back] 

[Then run upstairs!] 

[Upstairs?] 

[On the top of the radio tower] 

[There should be a helipad] 

[Call for a medevac and wait there] 

[Climbing up there with Touka on my back?] 

[Yes, can you do it?] 

[I don't want to move Touka] 

[Touka will die if she stays here!] 

[If you don't like that, move! Help Touka!] 

[Only you can do it!] 

[I'll try]

…

Step-step

…

"…?" I heard a weak voice.

"Hime…ya..?" Touka murmured.

"You're awake…" I said, relieved but exhausted.

"…I…" she started, but her voice trailed off.

"You passed out for a little while," I explained.

"…I see," she replied, her voice faint.

"Don't look down or you'll freak out…" I warned her.

"Huh?" As I said this, Touka glanced down and gasped at the dizzying height.

"Ugh…Kghh…!?" she exclaimed, clearly frightened.

"ARE YOU OKAY?!" I asked urgently.

"Ugh… I'm not sure if I'm okay… ouch…" she replied, her pain evident.

I was carrying Touka on my back while climbing the ladder of the radio tower. To ensure our safety, I had tied ourselves together with a rope in case of an emergency.

"Just a little bit more…ugh…hold on… If we can reach the top…hah…the medevac will come…hah…" I gasped, struggling to catch my breath.

"Don't push yourself too hard…" she urged, her voice filled with concern.

"You idiot…if I don't push myself…you'll die…kgh…" I said, my voice breaking with effort.

"If I die on Himeya's back…I guess that's okay…" she murmured, her words heavy with resignation.

"Don't say that! Don't talk like it's an option…!" I protested, my voice trembling.

"I still want to live with Touka…" she continued softly.

"We'll visit so many places together… We'll talk about everything… and we'll be together forever…" I reassured her, my heart aching with every word.

"Himeya…"

"I'm sorry for keeping this from you…" she began, her voice barely audible.

"Sorry for what?"

"About me being Masuoka's daughter… That I'm the daughter of a murderer… I thought you'd hate me if I told you…"

"Forget about Masuoka. He's his own person, and Touka is Touka," I said firmly. "The person I fell in love with is Miyako Touka. Your past doesn't change how I feel about you."

"Thank you… I'm so glad you're here…" Her voice was almost a whisper now.

"I… I've always hated myself. To my mother, I was a cursed child… No matter how much I longed for affection, it never came… I always wondered why I was born… I wished I had never been born… I've thought that for so long… But… Himeya told me he liked me… that he loved me… that he wanted to be with me forever… I was really… happy…"

"Don't talk too much," I said, tears threatening to spill. "Just hold on."

"I've had a terrible life… but now… even if I die, I won't have any regrets…"

"Hey, don't talk like that…!" I urged, trying to keep my voice steady.

"…No, I still want to talk with Himeya… I still want to hear your voice… besides… this… is the last time… I'll hear it…"

"Don't be silly! Don't talk like this will be the end…!" I said, trying to keep her with me.

"…I want to go… far away… to a distant country… somewhere no one knows me… I want to forget everything… and start over… with Himeya…"

"We can start over! We can begin from now!" I insisted, desperate to keep hope alive. "I'll take you anywhere! No matter where you want to go!"

"…I want to try Australia…"

"I'll take you there! Even if it's beyond the moon… I'll take you there! Hell, I'll ask Haru-nee to come with us, and if you want my mom to come, I'll make it happen!"

"Really? Do you mean it…?"

"I promise… so don't die… Promise me you won't die!"

"That's… wonderful…"

"Beyond the moon, just the two of us… huh…" She said, my voice cracking with emotion.

Hic

Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks.

"…Touka…"

"Hey…"

"Touka?"

…

--Future--

"Shin?"

"Huh?"

"The meeting will be resumed, you know," Michi said.

"Oh… yes…"

I have no choice but to leave Touka to my past self. No, I believe in myself. I believe that he will not make the same mistakes I did… and that's all I can do.

"We will now resume the meeting. Have you reached a consensus?" Matsumiya asked.

"Yeah… we've come to a decision," said the producer.

"Then, would you please share it with us?" Matsumiya inquired.

"Yes. We, on our part, would like to discuss the dramatization of 'The Girl in the Sea Candle,'" the producer said.

--Present--

"Haah… haaah…"

With Touka on my back, I managed to climb up the ladder. Gently setting her down, I fumbled to take out my phone with my weak hand. I had already requested a medical helicopter before climbing the ladder. In the meantime, I thought about contacting my future self about the situation.

"Ah…!"

However, with Touka's blood making my hands slippery, I struggled to keep a grip on my phone.

Tuk Tak Tuk

The phone slipped from my grasp, tumbling down the steel frame before crashing to the ground below.

"DAMN IT!"

I lay back on the floor, staring up at the sky. The horizon was beginning to brighten with the approach of dawn.

All we can do now is wait for the chopper to arrive. Once it gets here, I'll pick up Touka and we'll head to the hospital. She may need to be hospitalized for a while, but she'll be fine… When she feels better, we'll plan a trip somewhere together.

"I'm looking forward to it… Touka…"

Touka remained silent, her eyes shut tightly as if she were asleep.

"…Hey… wake up…" I urged, my voice tinged with frustration.

"It's almost dawn…"

"Hey… Touka…"

"You should at least answer me…"

"Hey…"

"Touka…"

"Touka…"

"…Touka…!!!!!"

...

-Future-

Today, like any other, I'm on my way to the office, squeezed into the crowded train. The same faces, the same scenery—nothing ever seems to change. My routine continues unchanged.

"Huh?"

As I approached my usual bento shop, I was met with a 'Notice of Closing' posted on the glass. I couldn't help but exclaim, "Are they closing now?"

"They're building a new station building around here—it's part of a redevelopment project," came a voice behind me.

"Seriously? … Huh?"

I turned to find Uguisu-senpai standing there.

"Senpai?"

"Good morning, Himeya-kun," she greeted with a smile.

"Good morning, Senpai. What are you doing here?"

"I was about to grab some coffee near Luna Café. Would you like to join me?" she offered.

"Ah, sure…"

...

'Redevelopment, huh…'

Even though the world seems to change little by little, it always feels like the same. That must be how the future is shaped.

"…"

While we walked to the café, I took out my phone, hoping for any notifications from my past self. I had tried sending messages to my past self multiple times, but I never received a reply or even a read receipt. Because of that, I remain unsure about what happened to me and Touka during that time.

I worry and constantly wonder, but time moves on regardless of my concerns. I have to live in the present and accept my fate, trusting that both of us are safe. I continue to check my notifications daily, clinging to the hope that one day, I might reconnect.

...

"Himeya?"

"What is it, Senpai?"

"Do you have any plans after this?" she asked, sipping her coffee latte.

"Uh… I think I have a meeting at my office at 9 a.m.," I replied.

"Oh…"

"What's wrong? Do you need something from me?" I asked.

"Well, how about tomorrow night?" she suggested.

"…I don't think I have anything planned for tomorrow night," I said.

"Great, it's decided then," she said with a smile.

"Decided? Decided about what?"

"Come to…"

...

...

After work, I return to my parents' house.

"I'm home…" I announced as I stepped through the door.

"Welcome home, Himeya," Mom and Haruka greeted warmly.

"Welcome back, son," my dad said with a smile.

...

It's been six months since I moved back in with my family. Due to the distance from my workplace, I had to rent an apartment. My dad returned home before I graduated from high school, saying he missed my mother. What a nostalgic old man…

"What's for dinner, Mom?" I asked.

"Before that, there's a package for you," Mom replied.

"Huh, it's not my birthday, though," I said.

"Haruka, give it to Himeya," Mom instructed.

"I already put it in his room," Haruka said.

"Alright, I'll go and check it out then," I said.

"I want to see it too," Haruka added.

…

We went to my room, and I saw three packages, each wrapped like a gift. I looked up to see who they were from, but there was no name—just an alias.

"'Moon'...? Who is that?" Haruka asked, frowning.

"…"

"Himeya?"

"Huh? Oh, um… I think it's from my friends?" I said, unsure.

…

Could it really be?

…

"Congratulations on the serial adaptation of 'The Girl in the Sea Candle.' I can't wait for it to be released soon," the note inside read.

"…Is it from the people at the office?" Haruka wondered aloud.

…

I opened the packages to find a pen, a book, and a sticker. The pen looked expensive—it was a fountain pen.

"Uwahh… A fountain pen. That'll be useful for you, Himeya," Haruka said with a smile.

"…I write my stories digitally, you know," I replied.

"Well, if you're a writer, you probably should have a fountain pen, right?" she said.

"…Is that so…?"

My sister was right. There is a certain image associated with writers and fountain pens.

…

Am I a writer?

…

That night, I went to Fujisawa Station before 7 a.m. and found Uguisu-senpai standing there.

"Senpai!"

"Good evening, Himeya-kun."

It looked like Hiro and the others hadn't arrived yet.

"So, we're having a reunion tonight, huh?" I asked.

"Yeah, I was consulting with Takamine-kun and Kirihara-kun while you were busy with work," she said.

"Is that so?" I replied.

"Well, I have to admit I was a little nervous about leaving them in charge of this reunion," she admitted.

"Um… sorry to hear that, haha," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Anyway, renting out an observation lighthouse for a reunion would be quite romantic," she said.

"Well, Takamine-kun suggested it. He said we should do it at an unusual place, not a regular restaurant," I explained.

…

"…That Hiro…"

"I hope Touka will come too," Senpai said.

"Yeah…"

In the end, Touka was missing until the very end. I hoped she would hear a rumor about the reunion and show up. But, as expected, such a miracle did not happen.

"Ah… looks like Takamine-kun and the others have arrived," Senpai said.

"Yo, long time no see, Himeya," Hiro said, extending his hand for a shake.

"Yeah, long time no see too, Hiro," I said, shaking his hand.

"Sorry for the wait," Kousuke said.

"There you are, at last," I replied.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"You're going to tell me about your sister, you know," I whispered.

"Ack…"

"…Bullseye," I said with a grin.

"Alright, now that we're all here, let's go and have a drink," Hiro said.

"…This is a reunion, right?" I asked, glancing at Senpai.

"Hehehe, you guys are the same as always," she laughed.

At the Sea Candle Lighthouse, Uguisu-senpai was the receptionist while we were busy hosting and entertaining the teachers we had invited.

"Ugh... I don't remember being this busy as a secretary..." Hiro complained.

"It's not on the same scale as the company's drinking parties, so there's nothing we can do about it," Kousuke said.

"I don't know... It's a reunion, and we're the only ones who aren't nostalgic for the old days..." Hiro said.

"Kousuke isn't even in the same class as us, you know. Besides, I don't see why I should complain. This is what being a secretary is all about," I said.

…

"Himeya-kun."

"What is it, Senpai?"

"At any rate, it looks like almost everyone who was scheduled to attend came," she said.

"Um… is Miyako Touka here?" Hiro asked.

…

"No… unfortunately, I still think she's absent," Senpai said.

"Is that so… I was hoping someone with Miyako's contact information would be able to tell her about today's events."

…

"Hey, secretary! We need more booze, booze!" someone called out.

"Let's go, boys…" I said.

…

As I was about to deliver the drinks, Senpai said, "There's one person who hasn't arrived yet."

"Ah, yeah… I don't think I've seen her yet."

…

"You're talking about Michigami, right?"

"Huh?" Senpai looked behind me.

"I just got here. Yahoo!" Yuka called out.

She was standing behind me.

"Sorry I'm late. I was in a meeting and just got back," she said.

"No… thanks for coming," I said.

"I'm glad I made it in time," she replied.

"So, that's everyone who's expected to attend?" Senpai asked.

"Thank you. Senpai, please get some rest," I said.

"I will," she assured me.

…

"There are a lot of people here," Yuka said, glancing around.

"Well, yes, most of our classmates are already here," I confirmed.

"Is that so? In that case, I'll grab a drink. Would you join me?" she offered.

"Me?" I asked, surprised.

"I need to talk to you about something," she said.

"Okay…"

…

With a glass of sake in hand, Yuka and I stepped out onto the deck.

"It's beautiful," she said, looking up at the sky.

"Yeah," I agreed.

The night view of the city from the deck was stunning, with a glittering array of lights stretching out below us.

"You look like you've been busy. Are you working on a case?" I inquired.

"This time, it's not about a job," she responded.

"Then what is it?"

"I've been sorting through some file cases," she explained.

"That's still work, though," I pointed out.

"…I came across a lot of things," Yuka said.

I clinked the ice in my glass and took a sip of the thin cocktail.

"For example?" I asked.

"Have you ever heard of the Book of Spirits?" she asked.

"No… is it a famous book?" I wondered.

"Long ago, séances were all the rage in England and the United States. The book was written by the man who organized them. I checked, and it's a first edition," she explained.

"That sounds like it could be quite valuable…" I remarked.

"The content is worthless, though," Yuka muttered, clearing her throat. "There's a whole pile of such items out there. Not just books—there were antique trinkets, jewelry… even a ridiculously large mandala."

"Are you..."

"Well, yes, I've been looking through something from the national library," she said.

"The collective unconscious?" I guessed.

"…Collective unconscious?" I murmured, puzzled.

"There is only one possibility in this world. There is no space, no time, no past, no future. Behind the world we perceive, so to speak, lies a vast, deep, and unexplored realm that we might call the original consciousness of the universe. Our souls come from there and return there," Yuka explained, her voice thoughtful.

"The collective unconscious is something we all share in the depths of our unconscious minds. Some have speculated if there might be a place beyond that to which our souls should return…" she continued.

"You're talking about the afterlife?" I asked.

"There is no past or future in that world. If we could access it… we could potentially connect with another timeline via the cosmic original consciousness. Some foolish people have believed in such possibilities," she said.

…

Reincarnation…

"…I have a theory. Do you want to hear it?" she asked.

I nodded in response.

"Then…" Yuka began, her voice soft as she gazed out across the night sky. "The story… it's just too wild. But now, I can honestly believe it."

"…and that's all," she concluded. "That's my theory."

There was a pause.

"Why… why did you decide to tell me this story?" I asked.

"Somehow, I wanted Himeya to listen to me… that's all," she said, offering me a faint smile. "But I don't think we'll ever talk about it again."

"The D-WAVE transmission used by our technology will cease to function as of midnight tonight. D-WAVE's servers have been running all this time. But there's no need for that anymore. Humans are creatures that move toward the future. There's no need for all of that now. As of midnight tonight, in Japan time… D-WAVE will end its role. Miracles won't happen. Even if they did, they would end today."

After saying this, Yuka handed me the glass and walked away.

I looked up. In the distance, a faint, repetitive glow caught my eye. The irregular pulsation of light emanated from the top of the Fukaya radio tower.

"That is…"

"Morse code…"

I gazed up at the night sky, where a brilliant full moon hung.

"A supermoon…"

I rode my bike along the beach street, the wind slicing through the air. In my mind, Yuka's "theory" echoed repeatedly.

"There is an organ called the microtubule. Microtubules are tiny tubes in our brain cells. There is a theory that people are connected to a cosmic primordial consciousness through these microtubules… Through biometrics, we read the waves of the microtubules and project them onto an advanced wave that takes us to the past using Luxon subatomic particles... Sometimes I wonder if, by some miraculous chance, it succeeded in this attempt."

"Somewhere in the world… I thought maybe there was someone out there who could connect with the past. When the sender, receiver, and relay all come together, D-WAVE is connected to the past…"

As I pondered this over and over, a sharp, intense pain suddenly struck my head.

"UGH…"

"This is…"

Memories…

…A memory from the past…

"You did well, Himeya." ???

"Who is that?" I called out, looking around for the source of the voice.

"It doesn't matter. Now go!" a girl's voice urged.

…

…

"Haaah… haaa… haah…"

I leaped off my bike and dashed to the ruins of the Fukaya radio tower. Once inside, I hurried up the stairs, typing a message into my phone as I went.

[Did you do this?]

[Did you know about all of this?]

[Sending the message to myself in the past?]

[Am I right?]

[Touka!]

I sent the message and waited anxiously. After a moment, I saw the message was read.

"…!"

My heart raced. Someone had seen the message.

"I'm sure it's… NO!"

The screen suddenly went black. My battery had died.

…

"Haa… haa… haah…"

Eventually, I climbed out of the radio tower. Standing in the dazzling moonlight was a woman, bathed in its ethereal glow.

The woman laughed softly as she switched off the flashlight in her hand.

"You came," she said, her voice tinged with relief.

"...Because you didn't show up," I replied, my voice catching slightly.

"I've had so much going on lately," she admitted, her gaze dropping. "It's been difficult for me to face anyone. I thought if Himeya didn't notice, it would be okay."

"There's no way I wouldn't notice," I said. "How could I not... I... hic"

Tears began to well up in my eyes as I spoke.

"Ahaha, you've become such a crybaby since I last saw you," she teased gently, trying to lighten the mood.

"Shu...t...up... hic... I thought... you... were never... going to..."

"Ah... I'm sorry for being late. I wish I could have come back sooner. So much has happened..."

"I've made a lot of mistakes... I've been through so much... and I wanted to sort everything out before coming to see you."

"I thought I needed to meet Himeya as a new person... and hoped that you would forgive me if I did that..." Tears shimmered in Touka's eyes as well.

"Forgive you? When did I ever say I didn't forgive you? I... I've always thought about you, always remembered you... I never forgot... I've always been... about you..." I said, my voice breaking with emotion.

"...Crybaby," she murmured, a sad smile playing on her lips.

"You're the same, you know," I replied, attempting a weak smile.

"Yeah..." she agreed softly.

Tears flowed endlessly between us. This moment was a powerful blend of past experiences and the present reality. Tonight, under the glow of the supermoon, the past and present intertwined, flooding me with memories and emotions.

I had saved Touka... saved her life... That's why she stood before me now. The memories and experiences we shared, and perhaps even Touka...

"I'm so glad you're alive... Thank God," I said, my voice trembling.

"It's thanks to you, Himeya... You saved me... Thank you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

"Touka, I have something to say to you... I feel like I've said this many times before, but this is the first time I'm truly saying it..."

Touka nodded, her eyes reflecting the sincerity of the moment.

"I've always loved you..."

"...I know," she replied softly.

"I've always wanted to see you."

"...I know."

"From now on... forever... I want to be with you..."

"Me too..."

"I promise I will never let you go," I vowed.

"And I promise I will never leave you," she vowed in return.

"I, too, love you, Himeya."

"Welcome back, Touka."

I gently touched her, savoring the warmth of her body against mine.

"I'm back…!" she murmured, her voice soft but full of relief.

…

I had been waiting for this moment, longing for it with every passing day.

As the summer days slowly drew to a close, their fleeting warmth a bittersweet reminder of the season's end, I found myself gazing up at the sky. The clouds drifted lazily, painted in hues of gold and pink as the sun set, and I felt a profound sense of gratitude for my past self, who had endured and persevered through the trials that led me here.