The rooftop had become their sanctuary—a place for new beginnings, healing, and laughter that no longer felt borrowed. But as the mirror stood still, quietly reflecting their growth, Kuro's eyes often lingered too long.
He never said anything.
Never asked to be alone.
But Renji and Aoi noticed.
Kuro was drifting.
And something… or someone… was pulling him back.
---
Unspoken Memories
That evening, as the sky burned gold, Kuro stood in front of the rooftop mirror after the others had gone.
It showed him something different than it showed Renji.
Not futures. Not dreams.
Just a room. Dimly lit. A low ceiling. A boy with bruises on his arms and a notebook clutched tight.
Him.
Alone.
He didn't flinch.
He just whispered:
> "I'm still carrying it, aren't I?"
---
A Visit to the Past
Kuro didn't tell Renji or Aoi when he left town the next morning.
He boarded a local train and rode an hour into the countryside—into a place that felt scraped from another life. Weeds choked the sidewalks. The streets hadn't changed in ten years.
At the end of the road stood a faded house.
Paint peeling. Curtains closed.
A mailbox with the name "Haruto Minami" still carved in crooked kanji.
Kuro stood outside for a long time before finally knocking.
---
Father and Ghost
His father opened the door.
Thinner than he remembered. Older. Eyes dull with cheap liquor and disappointment.
They stared at each other.
Then his father scoffed. "So. You didn't die after all."
Kuro didn't flinch.
"I'm not here for your approval. Or your permission."
His father laughed bitterly. "Then what? Pity? Closure?"
Kuro's hands curled into fists. "No. I'm here to say goodbye."
The old man stepped back.
Kuro stared one last time into the house that had hurt him more than any Spiral or monster ever could…
And then turned and walked away.
Free.
---
A Train Ride and a Call
On the train back to Yukihama, Kuro sent a text to Renji:
> "Went home. Burned the last of the ghosts. Thanks for waiting."
He didn't expect a reply. But one came:
> "We always wait. You're not alone anymore."
Kuro smiled.
The window reflected the setting sun—and this time, he didn't look away.
---
A Mirror's New Reflection
When he got back, Aoi was waiting on the rooftop with Renji. The mirror stood silently between them.
"Find what you needed?" Aoi asked gently.
Kuro nodded. "Yeah. I found that… I'm still angry. Still healing. But I don't need him to be whole."
He stepped up to the mirror.
Three reflections.
Three survivors.
Three friends who had chosen each other.
And in Kuro's gaze, for the first time—
No shadow.
Only light.
---
End of Chapter 65
---
To Be Continue