The click of the door latch was still echoing in Haruto's ears.
The hallway was quiet unnaturally quiet.
As if the building itself was holding Rin's fear.
Haruto took a few steps back toward the bench outside the corridor…
but his mind was disturbed, restless, constantly replaying ONE thing
Two notebooks.
Same lines.
Zero memory.
This could not be a coincidence.
Haruto didn't even sit on the bench. He stood right against the wall near it.
Rin was behind the door.
And if her breathing got heavy, if she cried, if she panicked…
he would hear it instantly.
He had to stay.
Not because he promised…
but because his heart wouldn't let him leave.
Time passed.
The night grew quieter.
12:35 AM.
Haruto unlocked his phone
but for no reason, the screen looked blurry.
As if his focus wasn't on the memory… but on the moment.
He slowly rested his head against the wall.
Closed his eyes.
Just for a second.
Just a tiny moment.
And
CLICK.
A small sound the door handle moved slightly.
Haruto's eyes snapped open.
Rin?
But the door didn't open.
Haruto knocked softly.
Rin? Are you okay?
Two seconds of silence…
Then a faint rustle from inside.
Ha Haruto?
Rin's voice was weak…
like she had woken up not from sleep, but from shock.
Haruto was immediately alert.
Open the door.
Rin slowly turned the latch.
The door opened just a little just enough for her face to show.
Her eyes were slightly red.
Breathing uneven.
Rin… what happened?
Rin whispered shakily:
Haruto… I… feel like another memory moved again.
Haruto stepped forward.
What do you mean?
Rin glanced toward the corner of the room
and Haruto noticed something for the first time:
The older notebook the one they had seen earlier
was no longer on the desk.
It was lying on the floor in the corner.
Open.
As if someone had thrown it there.
Haruto's heart dropped.
Rin… did you move it?
Rin shook her head immediately.
I came in, sat on the bed… and I don't know when I fell asleep.
I haven't touched that notebook since you left.
Haruto slowly entered the room.
Rin stayed at the doorway like something inside made her uneasy.
Haruto picked up the notebook.
The cover edges looked even more peeled.
Like it had been dragged with force.
Rin… are you sure? Do you sleep walk?
Rin looked confused.
No… never.
And even if I did tonight… I would feel it.
Sleep walking has patterns…
Then she froze.
Haruto noticed instantly.
Her eyes widened at something behind him.
Wait
Rin whispered.
The table.
Haruto looked at the table.
On the table…
the original notebook was OPEN.
But neither of them had opened it.
And on that open page was a new line
fresh ink…
fresh pressure…
He is not the one you should remember.
Haruto's blood froze.
Rin's lips parted in silent shock.
H Haruto… I… I didn't write that.
I never wrote anything like that.
Haruto immediately shut the notebook.
Where's the pen?
Marker?
Anything?
There was no pen.
No uncapped marker.
Nothing on the table.
Haruto gripped the notebook firmly.
Rin… did you lock your door before sleeping?
Rin slowly said:
Yes.
Haruto… I always lock it.
Since childhood.
Haruto's heartbeat spiked.
Are you sure?
Rin touched the handle.
Tested the latch slowly.
Still locked.
Meaning…
no one came in.
Meaning…
either Rin wrote it
and her memory loss erased the act…
or something else.
Some trigger from her past.
Some reflexive writing.
Rin.
Haruto tried his best to keep his voice steady.
When was the last time you wrote things without remembering?
Rin took a slow nasal breath almost crying.
In childhood.
During therapy days.
When I used to get night terrors.
I would write things in my sleep…
like messages.
Like warnings.
Warnings.
The word stuck in Haruto's mind like a pin.
Rin… did you feel anything like that tonight?
Rin whispered while looking at the moon:
Tonight… when I was on the bed…
I felt like someone pressed my shoulder lightly.
Haruto's breath stopped.
What?!
Rin quickly raised her hand.
It wasn't real… I think.
Maybe hallucination from the memory shift.
Or stress.
Haruto held her hand gently.
Rin. Why did you message me?
You were safe in your room.
Rin stared for a few seconds.
Then spoke very slowly:
Haruto…
I felt like I wasn't in my room.
My mind was wandering in corridors…
where I've never been.
What do you mean?
Rin closed her eyes, her throat tightening:
I felt like I was in another building.
Another room.
Another desk.
Same notebook.
Haruto's whole body went stiff.
Rin… that's not normal.
Rin's voice cracked:
Is this… dissociation?
Or trauma memory bleed?
Haruto… if my brain is repeating those old patterns…
it means…
my past is pulling me back.
Haruto held her shoulders.
Your past won't hurt you.
Not this time.
Rin looked directly at him
eyes glossy, scared, exhausted.
Haruto… if there was someone in my past…
someone I don't want to remember…
but my brain is forcing him back…
then what?
What if the him mentioned in the notebooks…
is not you?
Haruto fell silent.
His chest compressed
like the weight of that word settled inside his ribs.
Rin… what are you trying to say?
Rin's trembling voice came:
Haruto…
these lines in the notebooks…
Don't forget him.
No matter what happens.
Maybe…
maybe they're not about you.
A sharp ache hit Haruto from inside
but he held himself together.
You think there was someone else?
Someone from your past
someone you're suppressing?
Rin gave a slow nod.
Yes.
Someone important.
Someone I don't want to remember…
but my brain keeps sending his shadow.
Haruto spoke softly:
Rin.
You are not forced to remember anyone.
You chose me.
That's what matters.
Rin's throat trembled.
Haruto… what if you're just a replacement?
Haruto went still for a moment.
Then he held her hand tighter.
Firm.
Unshakeable.
Then I'll still stay.
Whether I'm a replacement or your first choice
I'm here.
Until you push me away.
Rin suddenly squeezed his hand harder.
Haruto… please…
don't go tonight.
Haruto answered without thinking:
I'm not going anywhere.
Rin looked toward the corner beside the bed.
Can you sit on the floor here?
I won't turn off the light…
I get more flashes in the dark.
Haruto nodded.
Fine.
I'm right here.
Rin sat on the bed.
Haruto sat on the floor by the corner.
The room wasn't warm.
Rin's breathing slowly settled.
Haruto's heartbeat steadied.
After a long silence Rin whispered softly:
Haruto…
if tomorrow I remember you zero percent…
will you still find me again?
Haruto replied without blinking:
Yes.
Until you find your own reason to remember me.
Rin broke into a faint smile.
Thanks…
good night.
Haruto spoke softly:
Good night.
Rin's eyes began to close…
but suddenly she whispered:
Haruto…
Yeah?
That notebook…
the older one…
there is another page.
One I never opened.
Haruto instantly became alert.
What?
Rin slowly, fearfully, looked toward the corner.
The page with the cut dates…
and a faint sentence.
Which one?
Rin's next words made Haruto's spine freeze:
It says…
He returns when she starts forgetting.
Haruto opened the notebook slowly.
Between some uncut pages there was a faded writing.
Barely visible.
But the meaning was crystal clear.
He returns
when she starts forgetting.
Haruto's throat dried.
Rin…
who was this written about?
A slow tear fell from her eye.
I don't know…
but Haruto…
I think
I never stopped running from him.
Haruto closed the notebook.
And whispered:
Rin…
whoever he is…
I'm not letting him take you back.
Outside, the hallway light flickered.
Rin gripped her blanket tightly.
Haruto looked at her…
and finally understood:
Memory loss isn't the real danger.
The danger is what comes THROUGH those gaps.
And the night fell completely silent.
But both of them knew
This silence wasn't safe.
It was a warning.