Location: Riku's House — Nightfall
The road home was a blur. Streetlights smeared across Riku's vision as he ran, Mio limp in his arms, Hana cradled against Tetsuya's back. Each step thudded like a drumbeat inside his chest.
Riku shoved open the door with his shoulder. Dust scattered into the air. He hadn't cleaned in days. He stepped inside first, his breath shallow. The hallway light flickered, casting warped shadows along the walls. Tetsuya, half-conscious, groaned softly behind him, and Mio's weight in his arms made each step heavier, but not from strain. From the memories clinging to her.
He gently laid Mio onto the couch, her hair spread like ink across the cushions.
He quietly carried Hana to the bed and laid her down, adjusting the pillow under her neck. Then he helped Tetsuya lower himself to the floor. Blood was drying at the corner of Tetsuya's mouth. He grunted, tried to speak, but Riku raised a hand — not now.
Hana stirs. Eyes flutter.
Riku turned quickly and ran to the kitchen. The faucet squeaked. Cold water gushed into a basin. He returned with a damp cloth and a faded towel, kneeling beside Hana. "Eve-Everything is going to be okay, You don't have to wor-"
Her hand twitches, swings weakly , she is trying to say something, Riku tries to listen to her, he puts his ear near her mouth to listen, "It's-"
Hana groans with cough-
Riku : "Yes it is?"
Hana with those swings weakly hands flicks - smack's Riku's forehead "It's okay you dumbass" She mumbles, "I just need rest .... for a little bit"
Riku in relief "yes, ahh yess you sure do" adjusted the blanket around Hana on the bed.
Tetsuya in mocking way let out a little laugh : Ha
Riku: Moves to Tetsuya. "Shut up, You can't even say anything right now!" Wipes his mouth. "You're a mess too."
Then he stands up and goes outside the living room, shutting the door behind.
And then, for the first time, he let himself feel it.
The silence.
The shame.
The rage.
He clenched his fists so hard his nails bit into his palm.
"Yuki!" he called, voice hoarse.
Footsteps thundered from the staircase.
Yuki appeared at the landing in a hoodie and socks, a half-eaten popsicle in her hand. "Yo, I was just about to—"
She stopped mid-step.
The popsicle hit the floor.
"Wait—WHAT. THE. HELL. HAPPENED?!" Did you fight a bear?!
Riku pointed backward with his hand, fingers spread and thumb out, in a casual wave.
"What happened to them?!" Her voice pitched in panic. "Did you all fall off the school roof? "Why does Hana look like she was in a car crash?!"
Riku didn't answer.
Yuki took a step forward. "Riku…"
And the look in his eyes made her freeze.
"I couldn't protect them."
His voice was low — almost too calm.
Yuki blinked. "Wait, what—"
He looked at his hands. Blood. His blood. He looked at Hana, He looked at Tetsuya.
He looked at Mio, "These three..."
He stepped closer to the window, out of the shadows. His eyes looked sunken, haunted—but behind them, something had ignited. Something sharp. Unforgiving.
"I thought ghosts weren't real. I thought it was just a curse, or some weird mark on this town."
He exhaled hard through his nose. "But now I know better."
Riku raised his hand, staring at his fingers as if he didn't recognize them. He turned to Yuki, making a fist. Faint traces of blue shimmered beneath the skin — power that still hadn't fully faded.
"I don't care what it is. Spirit. Curse. Demon."
He looked Yuki straight in the eyes now — the room felt colder.
"I'm going to find it."
He stepped past her, brushing his shoulder against hers.
"And I'm going to kill it."