13.1 — Stillness After the Scene
Even though the case had been solved and the police praised them, the emotional weight didn't fade for Chiharu.
The blood.
The lifeless eyes.
The sound of that final breathless silence.
That night, as she and Minato walked down the familiar road toward their neighborhood, her fingers trembled at her side.
She hadn't said a word since leaving the scene.
---
13.2 — Minato's Concern
Minato glanced at her for the tenth time.
> "Chii-chan…"
No response.
She stared straight ahead, her usually sharp eyes glazed and distant. She was walking stiffly, her fists clenched at her skirt.
He stopped walking.
> "Chiharu."
She froze.
He gently stepped in front of her, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders.
> "You're still shaking."
> "I-I'm fine," she whispered. "I just… it caught me off guard."
> "It wasn't just surprise. You were terrified."
She bit her lip.
> "I train my body every day. I practice control, logic, martial arts... but none of that prepared me to look at death up close."
Minato didn't reply right away.
Then he did something she never expected.
---
13.3 — The Kiss
He stepped closer, slowly. Carefully.
And then—
He kissed her.
Soft. Brief. Right on the lips.
Just enough to steal her breath and shut off every overthinking gear in her brain.
Her eyes went wide. Her mind blanked.
No thoughts.
No trauma.
Just the warmth of his lips and the shock that he, of all people, had done it.
---
When he pulled back, his voice was barely a whisper.
> "You don't have to be perfect all the time."
> "Even gods cry, right?"
> "And if you're scared again… I'll hold your hand. I'll shield your eyes. I'll always be here."
She stared at him.
> "You… you kissed me."
He scratched his cheek. "Y-Yeah. Sorry. I didn't mean—well, I did mean, but I didn't plan—"
She touched her lips, stunned.
> It was warm…
It was real.
> He… kissed me before remembering me.
She took a shaky breath, then turned and walked the rest of the way home.
Minato watched her go.
Then walked to his own house in silence.
---
13.4 — POV: Sayaka Aizawa (Chiharu's Mom)
Chiharu stepped into the house, walked past the living room silently, and disappeared into her room.
Sayaka blinked. "That's odd. She always says goodnight."
Hiroshi looked up. "She's pale. Did something happen?"
Sayaka frowned. "She was hugging her schoolbag like a life preserver."
From the hallway, a soft voice came:
> "I-It was my first kiss…"
Sayaka and Hiroshi both froze.
> "Did she just say…?"
> "MINATO!!"
---
13.5 — POV: Aki Tachibana (Minato's Mom)
Minato walked in the front door.
Silent.
Not humming. Not ranting about a VR idea. Just… quiet.
He placed his shoes neatly. Went to the kitchen. Drank water. Went to his room.
Didn't say a word.
Aki peeked into his room ten minutes later.
He was lying on the bed, arm over his face.
Muttering.
> "Was that too much? No—maybe not. But… why did I do that? Did it feel right because I knew it was right? Did I make it weird?!"
Ryo passed by.
> "Did our boy finally do something romantic?"
Aki: "Oh, he kissed her."
Ryo nearly dropped his mug.
---
13.6 — That Night
In her room, Chiharu lay under the covers, fingers still touching her lips.
Her heart wouldn't stop racing.
> He kissed me. Not out of romance. But out of instinct. As if… he's always comforted me that way before.
Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.
> "You haven't remembered me yet… but your heart hasn't forgotten."
---
In his room, Minato stared at the ceiling.
> "I wanted to help her feel safe."
> "I didn't plan to kiss her. But something inside told me it was the only thing that would reach her…"
He closed his eyes.
> "Like I've done it before."
And in the depths of his soul, the void stirred.