---
The room was quiet, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Ayame glanced away.
"Yeah… she can join," she said flatly.
Eriya's eyes lit up. She bounced on her feet, her voice brimming with joy.
"Yes! Finally, I can repay him! Thank you, Kirota!"
Kirota simply looked at her without a word.
Eriya paused mid-celebration.
"Huh? I… don't even know your name. Can you please introduce yourself?" She grinned and added playfully, "Pretty please?" 😜
Ayame sighed.
"My name is Ayame Tsukino."
Kirota raised his hand slightly.
"Kirota Hoshigawa."
Eriya pointed to Ayame with a smile.
"Tsukino!" Then she turned to Kirota.
"Hoshigawa!"
She clapped her hands like she had just solved a puzzle.
Ayame crossed her arms.
"Why did you just call us by our surnames?"
Eriya looked away sheepishly.
"Uh… because we're not that close yet?" 😅
"Don't call me by my surname," Ayame said, her voice firm. "Call me Ayame."
Eriya's eyes widened.
"Really? Why?"
Ayame turned away.
"Because we're partners now, okay? Same goes for Kirota."
Kirota gave a slight nod.
"Yeah. You can just call me Kirota."
Eriya stared at them for a moment before her eyes began to water. Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Eh? Why are you crying?" Ayame asked, frowning. "Did we say something wrong?"
Eriya wiped at her face.
"I… I've just never felt accepted before. In primary school, people only used me because they knew I was an idiot." Her voice broke. "That's why I wanted to be a hero. I thought maybe… people would forget the old me and see the new me."
Ayame watched her silently before looking away.
"We're not friends. Remember that. Just partners." She turned toward the door. "I'm going to get something to drink from the vending machine. Do you want anything?"
"Black coffee," Kirota replied.
Ayame glanced at Eriya.
"And you?"
Eriya quickly wiped her eyes again and smiled faintly.
"Strawberry milkshake, please."
"Coffee and milkshake. Got it." Ayame muttered before stepping out, leaving Kirota and Eriya alone.
For a moment, neither spoke.
"Is that why you want to join the Truth Seeker Society?" Kirota finally asked. "To find the Blackgrave and repay him?"
Eriya nodded.
"He saved my life. I just want to thank him."
Kirota studied her quietly.
"And what's your reason for joining?"
He looked down at his hands.
"To be honest… I don't have one. I just wanted to try something new."
Eriya tilted her head.
"Try something new?"
"Yeah," Kirota said, leaning back in his chair. "Because we never know when we'll die. Might as well make the best moments we can and keep them—play them over and over in our memories."
Eriya stared at him, her mouth slightly open, unsure of what to say.
Meanwhile, just outside the door, Ayame had stopped. She had heard every word. Without a sound, she stepped back into the room.
"Here's your coffee," she said, handing it to Kirota.
"Thanks," he replied.
"And your milkshake," she said to Eriya.
"Thanks, Ayame."
Ayame sat down, sipping her drink. Kirota's thoughts lingered. I didn't really want to be that vulnerable… but I knew she was listening. He let out a quiet sigh.
The school bell rang.
Kirota stood and slung his bag over his shoulder.
"So, we'll start the investigation tomorrow."
Ayame stood as well.
"Yeah."
"I can't wait!" Eriya beamed.
Ayame walked out first, followed by Kirota and Eriya. At the gates, they waved goodbye and split in different directions.
---
Kirota walked alone toward his apartment when a flock of birds suddenly scattered overhead.
"Is this where you live?" a voice said.
Kirota turned to see the black bird from before, perched nearby.
"Damn, I feel sorry for you," it said with a smirk.
"Why are you here?" Kirota asked.
"You should be happy," the bird replied. "I came to give you this." It dropped a small DVD case into his hand.
Kirota frowned.
"What is this?"
"You'll see."
Kirota entered his apartment, shut the door, and went straight to his room. He turned on the TV and slid the disc into the player.
The screen flickered—and there she was.
His sister. Lying in a hospital bed, waving with a warm smile.
"Hey, big brother! I can't wait for you to visit me tomorrow."
Kirota's eyes softened.
"…I can visit her tomorrow?"
The bird nodded.
"Yeah."
A rare smile spread across Kirota's face. The bird tilted its head.
To be honest… this is the first time I've ever seen him smile like that.
Finally… I can visit my sister, Kirota thought.
---
The next day, he woke early, brushed his teeth, and left in a rush. His pace quickened until he reached the hospital. The hallways were filled with patients resting in their beds.
He opened a door—and there she was.
Her eyes lit up.
"Big brother!"
Kirota crossed the room in seconds, embracing her tightly.
"You don't know how much I missed you, sis."
"Okay, okay, you're hugging too tight," she laughed.
He released her, smiling.
"Sorry."
"So, how's work?" she asked.
Kirota froze.
"Work… huh?"
She tilted her head.
"Yeah. Work."
"Oh, uh… fine," he said with an awkward chuckle.
She doesn't know I'm an assassin. He clenched his fists. Or maybe… she did. But she lost her memory. Every day, more of it fades. One day… she might even forget me.
A tear slipped down his cheek.
"Big brother? Why are you crying?"
He quickly wiped it away.
"It's nothing."
They spent the afternoon together until the doctor stepped inside.
"Visiting hours are over. You need to head home."
Kirota stood.
"See you tomorrow."
"Promise you'll come back?" she asked.
He smiled.
"Yeah."
---
Outside, he walked with the doctor, slipping him an envelope.
"You know this still isn't enough for the surgery," the doctor said.
"I know," Kirota replied, his gaze hardening. He walked past without looking back.
I'll get the money. Even if I have to kill for it.
His expression turned cold—colder than ice.
Next time.
---