The morning sun was soft and golden as it poured through the hospital window. Kaito sat quietly on the bed, staring blankly at the wall. The door creaked open.
"We're here, Kaito!" his mother called cheerfully, her voice a brief warmth in the cold room. His little sister peeked in from behind her, waving with a shy smile.
Before leaving, Kaito paused at the hallway, turning toward a familiar room. Behind the glass, Yuna still lay unconscious, unmoving. Machines beeped rhythmically beside her. He watched her silently for a few moments before following his family out.
Back at home, the scent of fresh-cooked rice filled the air.
"Take a bath first," his mom said, walking into the kitchen. "I'll get lunch ready."
Kaito nodded wordlessly and made his way to the bathroom. He sank into the warm water, letting it wash over his aching body. The steam blurred the edges of the mirror and his thoughts alike.
But the questions in his mind wouldn't dissolve.
Why doesn't anyone remember?
What happened to their memories?
His eyes suddenly shot open.
"If it was just a normal day… then there should be class notes," he muttered.
He jumped out of the bath, barely drying off as he rushed to his room, water dripping from his legs. He grabbed his school bag, yanked open the zipper, and flipped through his notebook.
Nothing.
The pages were blank. No notes. No date. Not even a name.
He dropped onto his bed in disbelief, the towel loosely wrapped around his waist. He stared at the ceiling.
"…What happened?" he whispered.
A few minutes later, his mom's voice echoed from downstairs. "Kaito! Lunch is ready!"
His little sister opened the door and peeked in. "Big bro? Come on, it's lunchtime."
At the table, the family ate quietly. Kaito stirred his rice, lost in thought. His mom glanced at him with concern.
"You okay, sweetheart? If you feel any pain, tell me."
Kaito hesitated. "…I'm fine."
"You sure?"
He paused again, then forced a smile. "Yeah. Everything's fine. No need to worry."
After lunch, he stood up.
"I'm going for a walk."
"Come back before it gets dark!" his mom called. "We're throwing a little party for your recovery tonight."
He nodded faintly, stepped outside, and shut the door behind him.
Kaito wandered aimlessly through familiar streets until he reached the riverbank. The flowing water shimmered under the soft afternoon sun. He sat down on the grassy slope, watching the ripples pass.
Everything felt normal.
But nothing was.
He gripped a blade of grass between his fingers, his brows furrowed in thought.
"Why can't they remember?" he murmured.
He thought of Yuna, her quiet eyes, the locket, the shield, the way her hand reached toward him.
"Is she okay now…?" he whispered to no one.
He looked up at the sky, lost in silence.
"…Tomorrow, I'll check at school."
The wind blew gently, but something in the air felt off.
As if reality had shifted… and he was the only one who noticed.
End of Chapter