Ruby is hit by a breathtaking surge of panic. She snaps forward like she would vomit, but only air comes out of her mouth. Seemingly unimportant encounters flood back into her brain.
That must've been the stranger from earlier…
No, wait, I knew him from somewhere.
That's right. That was the same guy I bumped into when I walked to Kana.
But back then, it also seemed like I knew him.
HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?
No, no, no. That's not good at all.
Am I really this stupid? How did I not notice this before?
Ruby jumps up, her phone, which was lying on her lap, clatters to the floor, but she is already halfway out of her room before she can stop herself.
No.
The old Ruby would've run to Aqua…
But I can't, it would just prove his point.
This is my problem.
I don't need him.
I'm perfectly fine with doing this on my own.
Ruby hesitantly steps back into her room, shutting the door behind her and locking it for the first time in ages.
She walks over to her window and opens it; the distance between her and the ground is easily 4 meters.
Did this guy seriously bring a ladder just to spy on me?
Miyako always told me to close the curtains.
I should've listened to her.
Maybe I should tell her; she would probably know what to do.
NO! It would only lead to the same result. Aqua doing it once again.
I need to make a plan on how to do this on my own.
Should I maybe go to the police? Would that be the right thing?
Or maybe he stops on his own eventually when I don't react.
Ruby shuts the window and turns around. She is now looking directly at the massive oak closet standing pushed against her wall. A sudden cold shiver runs down her spine as she walks closer.
Here it goes.
She rips the doors open, half expecting someone to stand there, but all that she sees are old costumes and clothes. After a moment, she closes the doors again, locking them too, just to be sure.
She turns the light off and lies down on her bed, her eyes are fixated on the window, she can faintly look through the blinds, and see how the branches of the neighbour's tree dance in the wind.
I don't want this… I think I'm scared.
What if he is still inside the house?
Or maybe even in my room.
Please…
Ruby's entire body shakes under her blanket. She just wants to see the sun again, knowing that it would be at least another 8 hours without it.
She pulls the blanket over her head, unable to look at the window for even another second.
6th of January, 7:00 am, Akane's house
Akane is in a hurry; she is currently cramming a spare set of clothes into her suitcase.
She has spent the last few days researching Gorou Amamiya, trying every Kanji combination possible and looking through archives for countless hours. Until something felt familiar.
After she tried everything else, she started to look through missing persons reports and death certificates. At first, only in Tokyo, and later expanding to Miyazaki, where Aqua was born.
Eventually, she found a Gorou Amamiya who was reported as dead just one year prior. She was about to click away again, but just then she remembered something. She remembered that she was the one who found this person alongside Ruby.
Akane decided, since her savings are still enough and she currently has no responsibilities, to just fly there spontaneously, hoping that this would refresh her memory, bringing her closer to who Gorou Amamiya is.
…
Packed suitcase in hand, she makes her way to Haneda Airport. She arrives and goes through check-in, eventually boarding the plane and taking off.
A few hours later, she finally arrives in Takachiho, Miyazaki. The air around her is warmer than in Tokyo. It almost feels pleasant, if the reason for her visit were just a bit less serious.
Okay, stay focused, Akane.
You need to remember…
You can book yourself another vacation once you're finally done with all of this…
A vacation…
I'm in desperate need of one.
Aqua will also come along, even if I have to drag him out of his room.
She begins strolling through the city, visiting places she can still remember from the first time she was there.
I remember this statue.
Ruby and I took pictures here.
But I don't think that this will help me remember…
I spent lots of time outside of the city,
walking through the forest with Aqua…
I thought of it as pretty romantic… Sadly, he probably didn't.
She distances herself further and further from the heart of the city. The loud noises of civilizations fade into the background, and the calmer ambient sounds of birds and quiet powerlines take control.
Maybe if I go back to the shrine cave where we found the body…
Maybe that will finally bring back my memories.
All of this is so weird. Why can't I remember?
It feels like my memories have just some kind of hole…
Is it because of the corpse…
Am I traumatized without even knowing?
After fighting her way along an overgrown path, she finally reaches the cave and climbs inside, passing by the shrine, climbing deeper towards the spot where Ruby found the body.
Then she stands there, exactly where she stood back then; she can still vividly see Ruby and the skeleton in front of her, the way Ruby seemed to care just a little too much. But apart from that, nothing.
She stands there for about 10 more minutes, desperately trying to remember.
Stupid,
stupid,
stupid.
Why won't you remember?
What is wrong with me?
I am so close to it,
I can feel it…
I can't give up.
DAMN IT…
No… When exactly did I discard my logic?
Akane…
You're standing in some cave…
Hundreds of kilometers away from Aqua, while he needs you,
thinking this could lead you to some revelation…
"This was a stupid idea."
Akane turns around, her head hanging low as she's marching towards the exit again, her voice slightly raised.
"Like what did I expect to happen once I'm in this cave? Enough of this, I worried my mom enough with these shenanigans. I should just be there for Aqua for real instead of chasing a ghost."
Akane climbs out of the cave, the sun is shining directly in her face, blinding her momentarily.
Suddenly, she feels a sharp pain in the back of her head. She instinctively reaches for it, only to see blood on her hand the moment she pulls it back.