21- Fallout

Miko's heart pounded as Kaito's words hung in the air. Was any of it ever real?

Reiji stepped forward, his jaw tense. "Kaito, this isn't the time—"

"It's exactly the time," Kaito said, his voice even but sharp. "You knew I liked her. You knew I was looking for her."

Miko blinked. "You… were?"

Kaito scoffed lightly. "Yeah. 'Miki' the volunteer? I was trying to find you. Thought you were someone I could finally be honest with."

Reiji exhaled through his nose. "I didn't know. I swear."

Kaito looked between them, then let out a quiet laugh. "Of course not. Why would you? You never look over your shoulder, Reiji. You always just keep winning."

"I didn't win anything," Reiji said. "This isn't a game."

But it felt like one now. And all three of them knew it.

Miko stepped forward. "Kaito… I'm sorry. I never meant to lead you on. I never meant for this to happen behind your back."

"Yeah," he said softly. "But it did."

The silence that followed wasn't loud. It was heavy.

"I should go," Kaito said finally. "I'm not angry. Just tired." He looked at Reiji. "She's real. Don't forget that when your world gets loud again."

Then he walked away, not looking back.

Miko stood beside Reiji, quiet and still. "I didn't know he was that close to you."

Reiji shook his head. "I didn't know either. That's what makes this worse."

Neither of them moved for a while.

Because there was no way to walk forward without stepping on something that might break.

But eventually, they did.

Hand in hand.

And behind them, Kaito disappeared into the night—alone, but changed.