Kento stepped forward and looked closely at a spot on the road. The street had a dark, brown stain on it. It didn't look like water or oil. Near the ditch, the grass was flattened and crushed, as if something heavy had been dragged over it.
'3:00 AM,' Kento thought. The time kept repeating in his head. 'This is the place.'
Shido walked up beside him. He wasn't acting like his usual energetic self. He stared at the yellow police tape with sad eyes. "There is no car or broken glass," Shido said quietly. "Just... that." He pointed at the stain on the ground.
"The police must have taken the big evidence away already," Kento whispered. He looked toward the trees. "But an accident at high speed usually leaves more mess. Unless someone cleaned it up before the police got here."
Tamiko stood a few steps behind them. She looked scared and ready to run away. "Can we please keep walking?" she asked. "This place feels wrong. I don't like it."
Shido looked at her and his face softened. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go home."
They started walking again, but they moved more slowly now. As they passed the police tape, Kento saw something in the bushes. It was a small, crushed pink box with a torn ribbon. It was half-buried in the mud, forgotten by the police.
It was the "birthday present" the teachers had talked about.
Kento didn't say anything. He didn't want to scare Tamiko any more than she already was. But as they walked away, he couldn't stop thinking about that pink box.
'A girl on her birthday. A car in the dark. And my parents leaving at the exact same time.'
The walk home was very silent. The whole city felt too quiet, as if everyone was waiting to find out the name of the girl who had died.
The heavy silence of the road ended as they walked into the Kamitani house's neighborhood. This was a rich, quiet area with big houses hidden behind tall stone walls. The Kamitani home was very impressive—a large, modern two-story house with a beautiful garden. It looked much nicer than the small, crowded apartments near the school.
Kento and Tamiko walked at a steady, even speed, but Shido suddenly started running. He reached the front gate first. He kept moving his weight from one foot to the other as if the ground was made of hot coals.
"Kento! Hurry up! Open the door!" Shido yelled, his face twisted in a desperation.
Kento didn't speed up. He strolled casually, his hands still in his pockets. "Why the rush? The house isn't going anywhere."
As Kento approached, his eyes drifted toward the driveway. His parents' car was parked in its usual spot, cooling under the grey sky. They were back. But then, Tamiko softly called his name, her voice trembling with a hint of confusion.
"Kento... look over there," she said, pointing toward the sidewalk just past their gate.
A shiny, Black Audi sat waiting quietly. It was a very expensive car. It was a high-end vehicle, polished so clean that it looked like a black mirror. It looked too fancy for the rainy morning. Kento's eyes sharpened a stheh landed closely on the license plate. He recognized the special logo and numbers of the Kanzaki family.
"Maybe Kashima is here?" Tamiko whispered, glancing at the tinted windows of the car.
"Hey! Are you listening?" Shido shouted, practically jumping in front of the front door now. "Kento! The keys! I need the restroom! My life is flashing before my eyes!"
Kento ignored the dramatic show of Shido. He stepped up to the door, but instead of reaching for his keys, he calmly extended a finger and pressed the doorbell.
DING-DONG.
Shido stopped jumping and stared at Kento as if he had grown a second head. "What are you doing? We have the keys! We locked the door when we left! Why are you ringing the bell like a guest?"
"Have a little patience, Shido," Kento said smoothly.
Tamiko stood behind them, blinking in confusion. "Um... Kento? Don't you want to go inside?"
Suddenly, the heavy wood of the door clicked and swung inward. Kento turned to Shido, a small, triumphant smirk appeared on his face. "Use your common sense Shido. If the car is here, someone is home to open the door."
Standing in the entryway was Hori. Her long hair was slightly messy, and she looked surprised but relieved to see them.
"Kento! You're back!" she said, her eyes brightening with a warm, happy glow. "Good morning!"
"Good morning, Hori," Kento replied, his voice softening instantly. A small, genuine smile crossed his face as he stepped inside.
Hori took a step toward him, her arms beginning to reach out as if to pull him into a hug, the tension of the morning finally melting away into a romantic, quiet moment.
WHOOSH!
"OUT OF THE WAY!"
Shido charged through the gap like a runaway train, physically shoving Kento aside. Kento tripped, nearly knocking Hori over, as Shido vanished down the hallway toward the back of the house. The sound of a door slamming shut echoed through the hall.
The 'lovey-dovey' atmosphere shattered instantly.
"That... that idiot," Kento said, checking himself. "I'm going to kill him. I'm actually going to do it."
Hori let out a startled gasp and rushed to Kento's side, her hands reaching over his arms. "Oh no! Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
Tamiko finally stepped inside, looking around the hallway with a confused expression. "Wait, what just happened? Did Shido just teleport?"
Kento looked at the closed restroom door and then back at the girls. He let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Don't mind him. His brain has finally been overtaken by his bladder. It's a tragic medical condition called 'BEING SHIDO '."
Hori burst into laughter, and even Tamiko couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. Hori watched Kento closely, noticing the way his eyes looked bright when he made a joke. 'He's okay,' she thought with a small sigh of relief. 'He's back to his normal self.'
Tamiko looked up at the ceiling, offering a tiny, silent prayer of thanks.' Thank God he's alright. I was so worried about that look in his eyes yesterday.'
The tension of the morning seemed to disappear for a brief moment as Kento settled into the warmth of the hallway. His eyes shifted to Hori, noticing a peculiar detail—she was wearing a light floral apron over her neatly pressed school uniform.
"Hori?" Kento asked, tilting his head. "What exactly are you doing in an apron?"
Tamiko walked around him, her eyes also fixed on the clothing. "Are you cooking, Hori? What's got you so busy in the kitchen all of a sudden?"
Hori noticed Kento's gaze, his green eyes scanning her from head to toe. She didn't look away; instead, she rested a soft hand against her cheek and tilted her head, a playful, mischievous look in her eyes.
"Does it look that strange?" she teased, leaning slightly toward him. "Tell me, Kento... do I look cute in an apron over my uniform?"
Kento lost his cool right away. His face and neck turned bright red. He quickly covered his face with his hand and looked away at the wall. "S-stop it! You're... you're doing it on purpose now, aren't you?" he muttered through his fingers.
"Hori! Stop playing and come help me with these vegetables!" A sharp, familiar female voice rang out from the kitchen. Kento's hand dropped from his face. He knew that tone—it was bossy, impatient, and unmistakable.
"Is Shiyi here too?" Kento asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the kitchen door.
Hori giggled and began to go towards the kitchen. "Yes, she is. And please, Kento, try not to start a fight with her the moment you see her."
"I'll help too!" Tamiko tagged in, happy to find a distraction from the heavy morning. She followed Hori, leaving Kento alone in the hallway.
Kento exhaled a long breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He turned left, stepping into the spacious living room. The sight that met him made him freeze in his tracks.
Sitting on the sofa, looking deeply engrossed in a serious conversation, were two people he didn't expect to see together: his father, Mr. Kamitani, and Kashima Kanzaki.
"Dad? Kashima?" Kento blinked, his voice full of confusion.
Before they could respond, the sound of heavy, dragging footsteps echoed behind him. Shido came into the room, one hand clutching his stomach, his face pale and in pain. "I'm never eating that street food again... my stomach is a war zone right now..."
Shido's eyes snapped open when he saw the guests. A mischievous, grin replaced his pained look. "Well, well! Are we having a high-stakes debate or something?"
Kashima let out a long, tired sigh. "It is nothing like that, Kirishima," he said.
Kento stepped closer and looked at his father. Mr. Kamitani looked terrible. Dark circles hung under his eyes, his hair was messy and uncombed, and his face was drained of color.
"Dad, you look like a ghost," Kento said quietly. "Did you even sleep?"
Shido, hearing this, turned to his father. "Forget the sleep. Dad, where did you and Mom go last night? It was like a secret escape at 3:00 AM."
Mr. Kamitani didn't smile. He leaned forward, resting his forehead in his hands. He looked very heavy-hearted. "A calamity struck the Amamiya household," he said. "Mrs. Amamiya's only child... her only family... Asuka... she is no longer in this world."
The air in the room turned ice-cold.
"What?" Kento whispered.
"Repeat that?" Shido asked, his grin vanishing. "Asuka? How?"
Mr. Kamitani rubbed his face, his voice trembling. "Last night, between 2:00 and 3:00 AM... Asuka got into an accident and died. That is why we rushed out. We had to be there for them."
Kashima jumped. The words 3:00 AM hit him like a physical blow. In his mind, he saw his own driveway—the damaged car, the cracks, and the dark stain on the bumper. A sharp, piercing headache bloomed behind his eyes. He stood up abruptly, holding his forehead in pain.
"Kashima? Are you okay?" Kento asked, noticing his pale face.
"Where are you going?" Shido added.
"Restroom," Kashima replied in a shaky voice. He didn't wait for an answer and walked out of the room with panicked steps.
Shido watched him go, then turned back to his father, trying to nag to fix the mood. "You know, Dad, we really need to build a bigger bathroom. People like Kashima have bathrooms the size of our whole house. I bet He probably feels trapped in there."
Kento didn't laugh. He just rubbed his eyes, feeling the weight of the news.
A moment later, Hori appeared at the door. She offered a gentle, sad smile. "Breakfast is ready."
Mr. Kamitani stood up, offering a tired but grateful look to the girl. "I'm sorry for troubling you girls with the cooking while we sat here."
Hori shook her head softly. "Don't mention it, Mr. Kamitani. It was no trouble at all."
The walk to the kitchen was quiet. The only sound was the rhythmic thud-thud of their slippers on the polished wood. As they opened the door, a wave of warmth hit them.
The air was thick with the scent of toasted sesame and a steaming pot of miso soup.
Shiyi was a shadow against the bright morning window. The kitchen tap was wide open, and the water crashed against the ceramic sink with a loud, splashing sound. She was scrubbing a plate so hard that the bubbles flew onto her cheeks.
Mr. Kamitani stopped, his eyes widening. "Shiyi? Why are you doing that? Please, put the sponge down."
Shiyi didn't turn. "It's just a few plates, Mr. Kamitani. Besides," she added, her voice high to compete with the rushing water, "if I don't do it, Shido might try to help, and then we'll have to buy a new set of dishes."
Mr. Kamitani let out a hearty laugh, the lines of worry on his face softening. "You have a point there! She knows you too well, Shido."
Hori stood by the fridge, watching Shiyi's fast hands. 'She looks so cool like that,' Hori thought, biting her lip. 'I want to help, but I'm afraid I'll trouble her or worse, break something. Why does she make hard work look like a dance?'
Tamiko was busy setting the table. The ceramic plates made a soft clack-clack sound as she laid them down. "Shiyi, really, I can take over," she whispered.
Shido leaned against the wall and took a deep breath."Look, if I'm stopping Shiyi from working, how could I ever let a delicate flower like you touch a dirty plate, Tamiko?"
Tamiko froze. She was holding a bunch of chopsticks, and they began to shake in her hand. She looked up at Shido, seeing his teasing grin. Her face turned the color red. "D-delicate flower?" she whispered, quickly hiding her face behind her long hair.
Mr. Kamitani sat on his chair with a loud creak. He grabbed the morning newspaper, the dry paper crinkling loudly in the quiet room.
Kento walked over to the sink. The water was still flowing. He reached past Shiyi and turned the silver handle. The splashing stopped instantly, leaving a strange, ringing silence.
"Hey!" Shiyi snapped, turning around.
Kento didn't back away. He reached into the soapy water and grabbed Shiyi's wrist. Her skin was red from the heat and the soap. He lifted her hand, looking at the rough spots on her palm.
"You're a pain," Kento nagged, his voice low. "Your hands are already rough from that part-time job. If you keep this up, you'll have hands like an old construction worker. Just sit down and eat."
Shiyi stared at him. She could feel the warmth of his fingers against her skin. She quickly pulled her hand back, splashing a bit of foam onto Kento's shirt.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Prince!" Shiyi teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She looked at Shido and then back at Mr. Kamitani. "Since both you and Shido have been a useless lump of meat since the day you were born, I figured I should be the one to show some spirit in this house."
Mr. Kamitani threw his head back and laughed. "A lump of meat! That's my sons you're talking about, Shiyi! But you aren't wrong!"
The door opened slowly, and Kashima walked in. He looked like he had just seen a ghost.
Shido's eyes lit up. He suddenly pulled his shoulders in and tucked his hair behind his ear, batting his eyelashes like a drama queen.
"Oh, Kashima!" Shido said in a high, girly voice. "Is your poor little tummy-wummy feeling better? Do you need a soft pillow and a warm tea for your delicate body?"
Kashima's face turned into a mask of pure annoying disgust. He stared at Shido for five long seconds. "You are truly a peculiar brand of idiot, Kirishima."
Shido collapsed into a chair, clutching his heart. "Oh! Such cold words! My maiden heart is shattered!"
"Stop being a freak, Shido," Kento muttered, pulling out a chair for Shiyi.
"Hori," Shido said, turning his attention to the stove. "Tell me you didn't cook this soup. I'd like to live long enough to see my wedding day."
Hori's face turned red with rage. She grabbed a kitchen towel and hit it at his head. "IT'S A FAMILY RECIPE, YOU BRAT! EAT IT AND DIE!"
"Now, now," Mr. Kamitani chuckled, smelling the steam rising from his bowl. "It smells wonderful. I'll eat every drop, Hori. It's a blessing to have such a lively table."
Tamiko placed a bowl in front of him, her hands still shaking slightly. "I hope it tastes okay, Mr. Kamitani."
As they began to eat, the kitchen was filled with the sound of clinking spoons. Hori, Tamiko, and Kashima whispered about what to do with their day off. Kento and Shido were busy arguing with their father about the garage door. Shiyi sat quietly, her eyes drifting to Kento and Mr. Kamitani's conversation
"Dad," Kento said, his spoon hitting the bottom of the bowl. "What time did you actually came home this morning?"
Mr. Kamitani blew on his coffee, the steam fogging up his glasses. "About an hour ago. The sun was just starting to peek through the clouds."
"I see," Kento muttered.
The kitchen was warm and smelled like toasted bread and hot tea. Shido was mid-bite into a thick piece of toast.
"So," he mumbled, bread crumbs falling from his mouth. "Where's Mom? Is she hiding because she didn't want to see my face this morning?"
Suddenly, Shido's face turned a scary purple. His eyes bulged out. A loud, choking 'GHRK!' came from his throat. He dropped his toast and clutched his neck with both hands.
"Shido!" Tamiko screamed. Her chair fell over with a loud crash as she stood up. Tears immediately began to fill her eyes.
"Kento!" Shiyi yelled, jumping up from the sink. Her hands were still dripping with soapy water. "Tap his back, now!"
Mr. Kamitani stood up, his face serious. "Shido! Look at the ceiling! Keep your mouth open!"
Kento rushed over. He stood behind Shido and delivered a massive, open-palmed THWACK to his back. Shido's head snapped forward. Kashima quickly filled a glass of water and slid it across the wooden table.
Shido finally let out a giant gasp, coughing up the bread. He grabbed the water and drank it all at once, his chest moving up and down as he breathed hard.
"Is... is it over?" Shido said breathlessly. He held his chest like a tragic hero in a movie. 'I almost met my maker because of a piece of bread. How embarrassing,' he thought.
He looked at Tamiko and decided to play it up. "Tell Tamiko... that I fought bravely... against that piece of bread."
Shido wiped his mouth and suddenly jumped toward Tamiko. He didn't just lean; he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. He started swaying them both from side to side like they were in a dramatic dance.
"Tamiko!" Shido cried, his voice full of fake sadness. "I saw the light! It was cold and dark, but then I remembered your face and I fought my way back!"
He laughed and bumped his shoulder against hers playfully. "You're the reason I'm still here. I'm like a hero returning from war, and you're my prize! Don't I deserve a little comfort?"
----
✦ 🔮 A GLIMPSE INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER 🔮 ✦
"What awaits beyond this page...?" 🌙
(灬･◡･灬)♡
"Wait! Did the funeral not happen yet? Why is it taking so long?"
"I felt like the world just... broke. It's not fair. Life shouldn't just end at 3:00 AM on a cold road."
----
🌙 The stars may fade, and memories may sleep...
But the Spiral continues to turn.
Until we meet again beneath the same forgotten sky.
(>▽<)
— SakuraShinomiya