After a calming while, Emiko closes her eyes and falls asleep, feeling safe and protected in the arms of her "mother." Misaki watches her lovingly and promises to do everything she can to protect her.
A few minutes later, Misaki leaves the hospital with Emiko and takes a taxi back home. On the way, Misaki is deeply worried, thinking about how long her lie would last and what the consequences of revealing the truth to Emiko might be in the future. However, she knows that, for now, it's the best way to protect her and care for her emotional well-being.
When Misaki arrives home, before stepping out of the taxi, she watches from inside as her relatives carry away the belongings of her deceased brother. Misaki feels a surge of anger as she sees them getting rid of his things as if he had never existed.
"Excuse me, miss, are you getting out?" asked the taxi driver.
With a tone of frustration, Misaki replied, "No, take me far away from here."
The driver nodded and drove away from the house, taking Misaki far from that painful reminder of her brother's loss.
Misaki brought Emiko to her small apartment, which, though modest, was a quiet and safe place for both of them. Once inside, Misaki helped Emiko settle into her own room and gently tucked her in with a soft blanket.
"You're home now, sweetie," Misaki whispered as she gently stroked Emiko's hair. "You'll always be safe and protected here."
Emiko nodded with a small smile, comforted by the presence and love of her "mother." Though still confused by her lack of memories, she trusted Misaki and knew she would be there to guide her through this new chapter in their lives.
Misaki left Emiko's room and sat on the couch, lost in thought about how long she could sustain her lie. She wondered if she would ever be able to tell Emiko the truth, but the thought of Emiko suffering if the truth came out was unbearable.
Fear consumed Misaki as she contemplated the consequences of her decision. She knew the truth would eventually have to be revealed, but the pain and trauma it might cause Emiko were too much for her to bear.
At that moment, Misaki made a decision: she would never tell Emiko the truth. She would continue playing the role of her mother in such a way that her true identity would never be discovered. She would do everything in her power to protect her and ensure she had a happy and worry-free life.
Misaki hid all evidence of Emiko's father and her true origins. She burned the photographs in which he appeared, keeping only those where Emiko was smiling alone. She stored a video camera that showed Emiko with her father in a hidden box in the closet. That part of the past, she decided, would remain buried forever. Her focus was now on Emiko's present and future.
From that moment on, Misaki fully dedicated herself to raising and caring for Emiko as her own daughter. She made sure Emiko received a good education, participated in extracurricular activities, and had a healthy social life. Although she always carried the quiet worry that Emiko might discover the truth, Misaki strived to provide her with a childhood filled with love and security.
She did everything possible to protect Emiko from further trauma, keeping the details of the case private and avoiding any discussion of the past. She focused on creating a new present and future for both of them—one built on love and happiness.
As months went by, Misaki managed to find a job that allowed her to be financially stable and take care of Emiko. She worked hard to ensure they had a secure home and enough money to meet their needs.
As time passed, Emiko slowly began to adapt to her new life and fully trust Misaki as her mother. Though there were moments when she felt something was off, the constant presence and unconditional love from Misaki helped calm her. Emiko started to build new memories with her, feeling safe and loved.
Four years had gone by, and unfortunately, Emiko still hadn't recovered her memories. Misaki was relieved that her lie had worked so far, but she also worried as she noticed that Emiko was no longer the mischievous girl she used to be—she had become quiet and shy.
Concerned, Misaki wondered what had caused that sudden change in Emiko's personality. Every time they went to the park, Misaki would watch from a distance as Emiko tried to join groups of children to play. But because of her reserved behavior and timidity, the other kids would ignore or exclude her. Misaki felt a deep pain seeing her daughter suffer silently, unsure of how to help her overcome her shyness and find joy again.
After work, Misaki would return home to find Emiko immersed in drawing strange creatures and imaginary worlds. One particular drawing of a tall, slender creature stood out, and Misaki found it intriguing. Although the drawings were beautiful and full of imagination, she couldn't help but worry—Emiko seemed to be escaping reality, retreating into her own fantasy world.
The next morning, Emiko sat on the swing at the park, watching other children laugh and play. She longed to join them, but her shyness kept holding her back.
With her heart pounding, Emiko decided to approach the group. But her legs felt heavy as lead, and her voice caught in her throat. Unable to overcome her anxiety, she returned to the swing and let herself fall back into it, feeling sad and defeated.
As Emiko swung gently, she noticed a small girl with glasses slowly approaching her. The girl greeted her with a radiant smile.
Meanwhile, Emiko was undergoing surgery, lost in a deep sleep. In her dream, she watched gears around her fall apart and collapse. Confused, she didn't understand why it was happening or what it meant. Amidst the ruins, she came across a door and exclaimed, "Oh, it's this door again!" She opened it, revealing the same dark forest she had seen in a previous dream.
But something felt different this time. The forest was dry, nearly in ruins. Emiko walked slowly through it, observing how the trees disintegrated into dust. Everything was decaying and desolate, and she felt more alone and frightened with every step, unsure of what awaited her at the end.
Suddenly, a cold wind blew, rustling the fallen leaves and sending chills down Emiko's spine. The darkness grew thicker, and the sense of danger intensified.
From behind the bushes emerged a shadowy figure. The strange creature let out eerie howls as it moved slowly. It was tall and thin, with long arms and a single eye that covered its entire face. Terrified, Emiko quickly hid behind a tree trunk, trembling. Cautiously, she peeked out and was horrified to see more creatures emerging from the bushes. One of them slowly approached, making guttural, threatening sounds. Emiko held her breath, praying it wouldn't find her.
Unexpectedly, the creature stopped and turned its gaze directly toward Emiko, hidden behind the trunk.
Just then, the loud crash of a falling tree distracted the creature, which turned toward the noise. Emiko seized the chance to run, but as she did, she stepped on a branch, creating a loud snap. The creature spun around and charged at her with a deafening screech. It began clawing and striking at Emiko.
Desperate, Emiko tried to fight back, but the creature was too strong. Blow after blow landed on her body, leaving her wounded and weakened. She struggled with all her might, but each hit pushed her closer to defeat.
In a final act of desperation, Emiko grabbed a sharp branch from the ground and stabbed it into the creature's eye. It screamed in agony, and with a strong kick, Emiko managed to push it away. The other creatures, hearing the cry, rushed toward the scene. Emiko used the moment to get up and run as fast as her injuries allowed, venturing deeper into the dark, desolate forest. The creatures chased her, growling and shrieking, but Emiko didn't stop. Her wounded, frail body kept moving, fueled by fear and determination.
In the distance, she spotted an old, abandoned house. Without a second thought, she ran toward it and burst inside, slamming the door behind her to keep the creatures out. They pounded and pushed desperately, while Emiko pressed against the door with all her strength. The sound of their pounding mixed with their terrifying screams. Emiko was in a panic, searching desperately for a way to escape.
She spotted an armchair moving toward her. Though confused, she used it to block the door. Pushing with all her strength, she finally managed to secure the door. The noise outside began to fade. While catching her breath, she looked at what had pushed the armchair—and was stunned to see her teddy bear, the one she had thrown away in anger. Now Emiko understood—it was her teddy bear that had moved the chair. The small bear raised its paw in greeting, and Emiko, crying, hugged it tightly, apologizing for having treated it so badly. The bear silently returned the hug. Emiko felt an immense sense of relief and happiness, knowing she wasn't alone in that dark and frightening place.
Together, Emiko and her teddy decided to explore the house. As they walked, Emiko felt a strange familiarity with the place, as if she had been there before.
They found empty, dusty rooms, broken furniture, and a general atmosphere of abandonment. Emiko's sense of déjà vu deepened.
Suddenly, she heard children's laughter echoing through the house. Curious, she followed the sound with her bear. When they reached the source, Emiko saw the dark silhouette of a man sitting in an armchair. She slowly approached, feeling a mix of fear and curiosity. As she got closer, she saw that the figure was just a shadow, with no facial features or defined traits. It sat motionless, as if frozen in time, radiating sadness and melancholy.
Timidly, Emiko spoke: "Hello? Who are you?" But there was no answer. She stepped closer and confirmed it was just a faceless shadow. The figure remained still, suspended in time. Emiko was filled with intrigue and examined it further.
Then, a powerful sense of déjà vu overcame her. It was as if she had been there before and knew that shadow. The feeling of sorrow it gave off was overwhelming.
Her teddy pointed toward a phone beside the figure. Emiko, curious, picked it up and pressed play. A woman's voice blared from the device—angry, threatening. Emiko shivered. The voice was filled with rage and pain. She couldn't recognize the woman, nor whom the threats were aimed at. The voice seemed familiar, yet distant. Uneasy, Emiko kept listening, growing more worried with every word.
The screaming continued. Emiko couldn't understand the words, but the emotions pierced through her.
When the message ended, Emiko realized the threats were directed at the shadow in the chair. That realization shook her. Why was this figure being threatened? Who was that woman? What was their connection?
Suddenly, a small girl appeared, walking toward the shadow. She took its hand and said, "Let's go, Daddy. I'm sleepy. Can we go now?" Slowly, the shadow stood and took her hand. Laughing, it replied, "Of course, sweetie. Let's go home."
Emiko was stunned. It was the first time she saw the figure move or speak. It seemed to care for the child—but so many questions remained.
As they walked toward the exit, Emiko looked closely at the girl—and her eyes widened in shock. The girl was her. A younger version of herself.
Emiko stood speechless, watching them leave into the darkness of the forest. Driven by curiosity, she and her teddy bear decided to follow. She moved quickly, trying not to lose sight of them. As she followed, Emiko felt a strange connection to the shadow and the child. It was as if she were witnessing a fragment of her past—but one she still couldn't fully remember.