Unraveling the Past

Ethan's breath caught as Kaito stepped into the café, the air around him suddenly feeling heavier, charged with something unspoken. Mira's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked it with a neutral expression, though Ethan could sense the tension between them.

Kaito didn't move to sit. Instead, he stood by the door, his eyes scanning the room like he was waiting for something—or someone. Ethan couldn't help but feel the presence of the past tugging at him, memories he couldn't access but felt deep within him.

"You…" Ethan began, standing up, trying to keep his voice steady. "What do you want?"

Kaito glanced at him, the corners of his mouth twitching in what might have been the hint of a smile. But it faded as quickly as it appeared. "I told you. I'm not the one who's been hiding, Ethan. You've been running away from this for too long."

Mira's grip tightened on her coffee cup. "Kaito, you don't have to do this." She shot Ethan a quick look, one that seemed to say stay calm.

Ethan didn't know what to think anymore. Everything was becoming too convoluted. He had never asked for any of this—this connection to Mira, this strange dream, the unsettling familiarity of Kaito. And now, Kaito was standing in front of him like a ghost from the past, a shadow that wouldn't let go.

"What do you mean, hiding?" Ethan demanded, his voice betraying the confusion he was trying to suppress. "What's happening? Why do you keep showing up?"

Kaito finally stepped forward, his eyes locked on Ethan with an intensity that made him feel as though Kaito could see right through him. "Because you need to remember, Ethan. You can't run from this, no matter how hard you try. The things that are happening... they're not just dreams. They're fragments of a reality you've forgotten."

Mira's eyes flicked between Ethan and Kaito, her expression filled with uncertainty. "Ethan," she said softly, "Kaito's right. There's a reason we keep coming back to each other. A reason we can't remember, but our hearts… they know."

Ethan shook his head, trying to clear the fog clouding his mind. "I don't understand. I don't remember anything."

Kaito's gaze softened for a brief moment, and for the first time, there was something almost human behind it. "That's because you're not supposed to. Not yet. But you will. Everything will make sense when the time is right."

Mira stood, suddenly closer to Ethan, her voice urgent. "We need to go, Ethan. This place isn't safe anymore."

Ethan could feel the pull in her words, the urgency in her tone, and it sparked a sense of unease in him. Something was happening—something bigger than any of them realized.

"What do you mean, it's not safe?" Ethan asked, his voice growing steadier. He could feel the weight of the unknown pressing down on him, but there was something else—an undeniable pull toward Mira that he couldn't ignore.

Mira's gaze hardened, her voice low. "I'm not sure, but I think they've found us. And when they do, it won't just be Kaito they're after."

Ethan looked at Kaito, his mind racing. "Who's after us?"

Kaito's face grew serious, the playfulness from earlier replaced by something darker. "People who know more than they should. People who want to keep you from remembering."

Mira's hand brushed against Ethan's, and he felt the warmth of her touch seep into him, calming his nerves for a split second. But it wasn't enough.

"We need to leave," Kaito said, his voice commanding.

Ethan's heart raced as Mira tugged at his arm. "Come on, Ethan. We don't have time."

Without another word, they moved swiftly toward the door. But before they could make it outside, the door swung open with a force that sent a gust of cold air into the café.

Three figures stood in the doorway, their presence looming like shadows.

Ethan's heart sank.

One of the figures stepped forward, their eyes cold and calculating. "So, this is where you've been hiding, Kaito," the man said, his voice sharp. His gaze flicked to Mira and Ethan, lingering on them for a moment before he spoke again. "We've been looking for you."

Kaito's body tensed, and for the first time, Ethan saw the fear in his eyes. "It's time. You need to run, both of you."

Ethan's mind raced. Run? He wanted answers, but the look in Kaito's eyes told him that whatever was coming, they weren't ready for it. He glanced at Mira, who was already moving toward the back door.

"Ethan, we don't have a choice. We need to go. Now."

Without thinking, Ethan followed Mira, his heart pounding. He couldn't quite understand what was happening, but he couldn't deny the deep connection he felt to her. And now, there was no turning back.

As they ran through the alley behind the café, Ethan heard the distant sound of footsteps. They were being chased, hunted.

But why?

"Mira, who are they?" Ethan asked, breathless as they rounded a corner, trying to put distance between themselves and the pursuers.

Mira's voice was low, barely a whisper, but filled with an emotion that sent chills through him. "The people who want to keep the truth buried. They've been watching us, waiting for the moment we would find each other."

"But why?" Ethan's voice shook.

Mira's eyes met his, her gaze fierce. "Because the truth about us could change everything. And they'll do whatever it takes to stop us from remembering."