Prologue – Under the Moon’s Veil

"…It burns."

"It burns so much!"

With ragged, labored breaths, he pressed both hands to his chest.

The stab wound was deep—blood gushed out like water.

"When did this happen?!"

Glancing sideways, he recognized his friend's body lying beside him on the concrete, desperately clutching a slit throat to stem the bleeding.

"…Arata."

The heat turned to cold, and the strength in his hands faded.

When did this happen? Did I black out?

Questions flooded his mind, drowned only by the searing pain in his chest.

Their blood pooled together, so much that the two streams merged, warming the cold Tokyo alleyway.

Tears spilled from the slit-throated boy's eyes—soon followed by his friend's. They pressed their wounds harder, futilely.

The boy with the exposed trachea tried to clamp his neck shut, but with every attempt, the pain choked him silent, drowning him in his own blood.

Finally, a single word echoed in both their minds. Locking eyes with their last strength, they thought:

…I'm sorry.

I never wanted you to die!

Fighting to keep their eyes open, praying for help, they strained to stay awake.

But with no savior in sight, they surrendered to the inevitable.

It's my fault… I caused all of this.

Under the moon's cold glow, in that nameless alley, their arms fell limp, sleeves soaked in blood.

That night, Tanaka Daiki and Miyazaki Arata died.