Sunday.
Tetsu stood in front of a somber building that resembled a funeral home, its gray façade solemnly adorned with dark curtains at the windows and a heavy, muted sign reading "Memorial Hall."
The atmosphere was thick with an air of sadness, and he couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him.
He was dressed in standard funeral attire—a crisp black suit that felt oddly suffocating, a white dress shirt neatly pressed, and a black tie that hung heavily around his neck.
It was a far cry from the casual clothes he donned for school, and he could sense that many others shared his somber outfit. As he made his way toward the entrance, the silence of the day was punctuated only by the quiet murmur of people inside.
He briefly glanced around, his heart heavy with an inexplicable sense of loss, before stopping at the reception table where a middle-aged woman in a dark blouse greeted him.
"Please sign here," she instructed, her voice barely rising above a whisper.
Tetsu took the guest book, feeling the weight of the pen in his hand as he signed his name. The receptionist looked up and offered a polite nod.
"Thank you for coming," she said.
The receptionist was Haruto's sister, Matsuda Harumi.
"No problem," he replied, trying to maintain a sense of composure.
As he entered the hall, the sight before him was haunting; a small altar stood in the center, adorned with flowers and candles, and at its heart was a framed photograph of Haruto.
His friend's smiling face seemed paradoxically vibrant against the backdrop of muted grief.
Seated at the altar were Haruto's parents—a middle-aged woman whose eyes brimmed with unshed tears and a man with a pained expression carved deep into his features.
Their grief was palpable, echoing in the hearts of the attendees. Tetsu felt the pull of sorrow within him, a knot of empathy that tightened in his chest. As the ceremony began, attendees lit incense at the altar, the fragrant smoke swirling like whispered memories.
When it was finally Tetsu's turn, he stepped forward, the pang of reality hitting him hard. He picked up an incense stick, its tip glowing as he lit it.
Haruto.
I still can't believe you and Mio left me behind.
He clasped his hands together and began to pray, recalling a few days prior when he sat in front of Mio's altar, in another funeral home, grief lingering like a shadow.
He resolved silently.
I won't let the one responsible for this live peacefully. I won't let your departure go meaningless. I'll definitely bring them here before you, and Mio.
As he stood up, he cast a final glance at the altar, silently pleading.
Please watch over me from above, Haruto.
It was a moment steeped in sorrow, one he wished he could share with his friends who were now gone.
From the side, he noticed Detective Nakano observing him. The detective had been involved in the investigation surrounding Haruto and Mio's deaths, and to see him there added another layer of unease to the entire event.
Exiting the funeral, Tetsu spotted some of his classmates. Some greeted him with friendly eyes, while others shot him hostile glares.
His heart sank at their unspoken judgment, and he barely gave them a glance before turning away, the tension in his stomach tightening further.
The next day at school was no better.
Tetsu slumped in his desk in the classroom, mindlessly scrolling through his phone while the hushed chatter of his classmates swirled around him.
Suddenly, the classroom door swung open, and a teacher stepped in, her gaze sweeping across the room.
"Is Ishizawa Tetsu here?" she called out, her voice cutting through the distractions.
All eyes turned to him.
Feeling the weight of their stares, he raised his hand, replying, "Yes, I'm here."
The teacher's gaze landed on him, and she motioned him to come forward.
"Can you come with me?" Tetsu's heart raced.
I guess it's the police again, he thought, dread coiling in the pit of his stomach.
"Fine," he replied, trying to mask his apprehension.
As they made their way down to the school lobby, he spotted two familiar figure of Nakano, and another officer with black hair who appeared equally serious.
"Can you go with us?" Nakano asked, holding up the car keys. "Where?" Tetsu nervously inquired.
"To the police office," Nakano stated firmly.
The car parked at the school gate looked like an ordinary vehicle, but it felt a thousand times more intimidating as Tetsu approached.
He hesitated momentarily before climbing into the backseat, feeling trapped and vulnerable as the doors clicked shut behind him.
During the drive, his heart raced, panic creeping in, his mind spiraled.
What do they want from me?.
Seeing his distress, Nakano offered reassurance.
"Don't worry. We're not suspecting you. There's just something we need your help with."
Tetsu exhaled, a bit more relaxed but still tense, and tried to keep his thoughts focused.
The drive to the police office was brief, yet it felt like an eternity to Tetsu. He couldn't shake the feeling of something sinister lurking just beneath the surface.
Once they arrived, Nakano quickly opened the door and led Tetsu inside.
There, he noticed a group of officers milling about, their demeanor serious.
"Where's it?" Nakano asked a fellow officer, who pointed to a corner of the room.
"Here," the officer said, handing over a metallic box. It had a four-digit passcode lock and three tiny green dots on the top.
"Did you know what this is?"
Nakano asked Tetsu, holding the box just out of his reach. Looking at the box, memories crashed over Tetsu like waves.
He was five years back, the day he, Haruto, and Mio were at Mio's house.
They had been having a typical afternoon when Haruto discovered this very same box while rummaging through the shelves.
"Hey Mio, what is this?"
Haruto had asked, pulling it out and grinning. Mio, seated in an armchair with a book, had looked up and replied.
"My parents gave it to me before going abroad."
Tetsu and Haruto exchanged glances, their playful excitement bubbling over.
"What's the code?"
Haruto had probed. Mio had shrugged, her brow furrowing in deep thought.
"I don't know. They didn't tell me."
"Seriously?" Tetsu had feigned shock.
"They gave you a locked box with no way of opening it?"
Then, curiosity piqued, the three tried entering her birthday as the code: 2607
When they failed, one of the tiny green dots turned red.
Haruto had pointed that out, laughter bubbling in his voice.
"Looks like we better not gamble on this one!"
Mio rummaged through her things and returned moments later with an unopened envelope.
"My parents gave me a clue though."
"Wait here," she had said, excitement bubbling in her voice.
Tetsu and Haruto had shared perplexed looks as they waited for her return. Confusion turned to eagerness as she returned with an envelope, labelled:
"Only open when you're ready."
But they never actually opened it, respect for her premonition keeping them at bay.
Back in the present, Tetsu faced the officers, recounting the whole story. Nakano listened intently, his brow furrowing in concentration.
In a thoughtful tone, Nakano ordered another officer, "Hey. Search for an envelope in the evidence box."
"Yes, sir," the officer replied, hurrying to a back room. When he returned with an envelope.
Nakano examined it closely before showing it to Tetsu.
"Is it this one?"
"Yeah," Tetsu confirmed, his heart beating faster.
"Mr. Ishizawa," Nakano began, his tone serious.
"For the sake of uncovering the truth, we need to open this envelope. Are you okay with that?"
Tetsu thought about it—the weight of what it could hold was immense.
"If it's important evidence, then… sure."
He knew he needed to find answers, even if it meant dredging up old promises.
As Nakano opened the envelope, Tetsu leaned closer, his heart racing. Inside was just one sheet of paper with a cryptic message:
"The first sign that you are on hallowed ground, a vermilion archway that invites you to leave the world behind."
Everyone in the room stared at the message, confusion etched on their faces.
Nakano passed it around, but no one could decipher its meaning.
After a long silence, Nakano sighed, "Let's call it a day. Mr. Ishizawa, I'll take you back to school." Tetsu nodded, feeling like a boat in a storm without a compass.
The drive back to school was tense, a weight of unspoken questions hanging in the air.
When they arrived, Tetsu stepped out into an atmosphere thick with suspicion.
As he entered his class, he felt a wave of antagonistic gazes fixed on him. One student, his voice dripping with accusation, stood up.
"Tetsu, the police have been talking with you continuously. Are you still saying that you're innocent?"
"Yeah! The police wouldn't meet you that many times unless you're their number one suspect," another chimed in, their brows furrowed with concern.
Tetsu opened his mouth to respond, about to defend himself, but then, a loud cough erupted from behind.
Detective Nakano stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate silence.
"Mr. Ishizawa," he said, placing a reassuring hand on Tetsu's shoulder, "thank you for your assistance in our investigation. We hope your cooperation continues until we find a resolution."
Tetsu's classmates shifted uneasily. Nakano turned to address them directly, his tone stern.
"I'd like to confirm one more thing. Ishizawa Tetsu is not a suspect. We have evidence that suggests he isn't guilty."
He locked eyes with a few of the more confrontational students.
"Therefore," he continued, his glare cutting through the air.
"Be cautious of what you say. Any attempts to frame an innocent individual can result in legal consequences."
"On behalf of Mr. Ishizawa, I'm willing to overlook this moment. However, there will be no mercy for a second offense."
"This is your final warning."
With that, Tetsu felt the dagger of relief pierce through him. His classmates were left in stunned silence, mouths agape.
"Thank you, Nakano," Tetsu breathed, feeling momentarily buoyed by the sudden support.
"That's everything for now, Mr. Ishizawa," Nakano replied, turning to leave. "We may be in contact again."
As the detective stepped out, a nearby officer caught up with him.
"Nakano," he said carefully, "did you say something to them?"
He paused for just a moment, his expression inscrutable.
"No, nothing," he eventually replied, and the officer seemed to believe him.
"Okay. Let's go then," the officer responded, heading out of the classroom.
Nakano trailed behind, a well of unspoken thoughts swirling in his mind.
As he walked, he discreetly pulled out a pocket notebook and opened it.
There, a photo caught his eye—a picture of a high school girl in a different uniform, her body lying lifeless on a wooden floor, unresponsive to the world around her.
The weight of his discoveries pressed down again, and the path ahead remained shrouded in uncertainty.
Tetsu stood in the classroom, the echoes of Nakano's words lingering in the air.
The day felt heavy, and with every passing second, he knew he had a decision to make.
Who was truly responsible for the horrors that had befallen his friends, and how far was he willing to go to seek justice?