On the morning of the day of Kuno Nozomu's funeral, a fine rain fell continuously. This rain wasn't heavy, but it lasted long, like a hazy veil gently covering the whole of Tokyo.
The memorial ceremony held by the Metropolitan Police Department for Kuno Nozomu took place inside a solemn auditorium. The venue was arranged simply and grandly, black and white funeral couplets lined up neatly on the left and right, and a carefully framed black-and-white photo hung right in the center.
In the photo, the handsome youth wore a dark blue police uniform, his posture straight, the hair ends on both sides tilting up stubbornly, and his mouth still carrying a bit of a smile. This identification photo taken when entering service perfectly froze the moment when he was full of high spirits.
Since Kuno Nozomu had no relatives, the group of five who were his friends took over many matters that should have been managed by family. They wore black formal suits, white small flowers pinned to their chests, standing on one side of the auditorium, welcoming every colleague and teacher who came to offer condolences.
In fact, the people who came to participate in the memorial were more than they expected. Besides all the members of the EOD squad, there were also many classmates from the police academy. Those trainees who once received pointers from Kuno Nozomu and benefited greatly, the girls in the cafeteria who always liked to surround him and chatter, and fans who purely admired his personal ability, all kept silent in a long queue at this moment, writing down their names on the sign-in book.
Instructor Onizuka and Instructor Fujii stood in the very front row, their usually strict faces filled with sorrow at this moment. Even the old principal who didn't have much contact with Kuno Nozomu took off his police hat, walked before the photo, and bowed deeply.
Furuya Rei's purple-gray eyes scanned the crowd, suddenly noticing some unfamiliar faces. After Hagiwara explained in a low voice, only then did he know these people were all victims of cases Kuno Nozomu had helped before. Among them, there was also an old person who suffered a sudden illness in the mall and was rescued by him in time.
"Really..." Furuya Rei's fingertips tightened unconsciously.
"Clearly always putting on an appearance as if things don't concern him, yet he would still extend a helping hand to others at the crucial time."
"So... you are the one who is least frank."
The sobbing sounds rising and falling inside the auditorium intertwined together, making even the pattering rain sound outside the window seem exceptionally sorrowful.
"Officer Kuno... at the final moment of life, with calmness surpassing ordinary people and a selfless spirit of sacrifice, chose to protect the safety of more colleagues. His sacrifice is a huge loss for the Metropolitan Police Department, but his courage and responsibility will be engraved in our hearts forever..." Kuno Nozomu's direct superior, a middle-aged policeman with a resolute face, read the condolence speech in a low voice.
Below the stage, the colleagues of the EOD squad already had red eye sockets long ago. These days, they had clearly come to know what a decisive choice that seemingly playful youth had actually made. The five people of the Onizuka class stood quietly in the front row, their gazes freezing on the black-and-white photo, as if wanting to carve that familiar face into the depths of their souls.
After the memorial ceremony ended, a group of people held black umbrellas, walking slowly along the winding path. The umbrellas connected into a piece between each other, like a dark river flowing under the gray sky.
Only when arriving at a quiet public cemetery did they stop their steps. This was a resting place specially established by the government for police personnel who died in the line of duty and had no relatives to claim them.
Gray-white stone monuments lined up neatly among the pines and cypresses, every piece carved with the four big characters "Justice Endures Forever," the epitaph simply recording the deceased's name, police rank, and dates of birth and death.
Since Kuno Nozomu's body was seriously damaged in the explosion and couldn't be buried completely, the Metropolitan Police Department set up a cenotaph for him. Except for his uniform, inside the grave there was only a small ash casket, containing that cherry blossom police badge burned till charred black.
"This is good too." Hagiwara Kenji said softly, "Rather than letting us see items and miss the person, it's better to let it sleep long with you." As the words fell, he placed the wreath gently on Kuno Nozomu's tombstone.
This brand-new tombstone was placed in a newly opened area on the very east side of the cemetery, far from the main road, surrounded by a few newly planted cherry blossom tree saplings. These small cherry blossom trees were only as thick as a wrist now, but after a few more years, the branches and trunks would become thick and strong, the tree crowns would unfold, and when the spring wind blew past, the pink-white petals would float down like snow. Presumably, it would be quite a beautiful picture.
"This child... could originally have become one of the most dazzling stars in the police circle." The commander of the EOD squad stood on one side and sighed, "Really a pity."
"Yeah." Instructor Onizuka's voice was hoarse, "That kid although didn't let people feel at ease, was always very smart. I didn't expect him to be so young—" The words reached here and stopped abruptly. He looked toward the five people with lonely expressions not far away, his lips tightly pressed, his rough big hand pressing heavily on the shoulder of Furuya Rei who was closest to him. "No matter what, you few... all brace yourselves for me, know that?"
Facing the instructor's clumsy comforting, the five people could only nod without making a sound.
Beside the tombstone, a woman with short golden hair and a soft face looked dim. She was precisely Natalie, the girlfriend Date Wataru often mentioned. Natalie had never seen Kuno Nozomu, yet didn't feel unfamiliar with him. After all, before this, Date Wataru said he would introduce her to the remaining five people, it was just that work was too busy, and he temporarily hadn't found an opportunity.
But this agreement could never be fulfilled completely.
"Kuno-kun." She said softly, "Although we never met, I feel I already knew you long ago. Wataru always mentions your matters, saying you are a very interesting and also very excellent person."
"I really hope there could be an opportunity to chat with you..." Speaking, she crouched down, placing a bunch of light purple hyacinths beside the tombstone.
The one lined up behind Natalie was the neat female police officer named Tachibana Yuki. Except for fresh flowers, she also brought a box of animal-shaped cookies, clearly handmade.
Even today, Tachibana Yuki still remembered very clearly. At that mixer, Kuno Nozomu picked up a cookie she made and took a bite, his eyes lighting up instantly.
"This is su—per delicious!" Such a casual praise made her happy for a long time.
"Kuno-kun..." She took a deep breath, "When at the police academy, I knew you wouldn't like me, so I only wanted to look at you from afar, knowing you are doing well was enough."
"But... why did it become like this..." Facing her crush's grave, she covered her mouth, trying hard not to let herself cry out loud, but tears still fell uncontrollably.
In the damp air, the scent of soil mixed with rain spread. The surrounding crowd kept quiet with mutual understanding, letting her pour out those unspoken feelings intermittently.
After a while, Tachibana Yuki gathered her emotions, sniffed, and gave up the position for the next person offering flowers.
Hagiwara raised his eyes to look, recognizing that tall and thin man holding white chrysanthemums with a tired demeanor. After all, not long before this, Matsuda had pulled that person's collar tightly, almost fighting with him.
"Kuno..." Watanabe spoke with a dry voice, "I used to always think you were too proud, too arrogant, and even hated you. But now I want to say to you... sorry."
"If time could turn back, I would absolutely not leave you alone on the rooftop, saying whatever it takes to make you leave."
"Also just like you protected everyone... protect you well once."
Morofushi Hiromitsu who was closest to him didn't say much, just handed him a tissue to let him wipe the tears on his face.
After this, the remaining people also stepped forward in turn to offer flowers, some also placing handwritten letters or sweet treats and other small gifts beside the tombstone. In the blink of an eye, that cold tombstone was wrapped gently by a sea of flowers.
Seeing this scene, Furuya Rei's heart felt as if tugged gently by something, rising a burst of sourness, yet carrying an unspeakable solace.
"Nozomu, did you see?"
"There are so many people... all missing you."
...
After the funeral ended, the crowd gradually scattered, leaving only the group of five still staying before Kuno Nozomu's tombstone, no one willing to be the first to turn and leave. At this time the rain grew smaller, the sky was still a gloomy gray, but the distance seemed to reveal a sliver of weak light.
"Really, life is unpredictable..." Date Wataru took the initiative to speak, "Now I finally understand why old dad often says... those being police have to look at things more openly."
"Because no one knows which comes first, tomorrow or accidents."
"Yeah..." After a burst of silence, Hagiwara asked, "Speaking of which, when organizing Nozomu's room, was any special relic discovered?"
"No, simply clean to an unreasonable point." Date Wataru shook his head, "Probably only that letter he gave us before is left."
"I heard a lawyer contacted the Metropolitan Police Department, saying Nozomu made a will before his death, donating all property under his name to an orphanage?"
"Correct." Furuya Rei nodded, "It's the orphanage in Nagano Prefecture... that place where he stayed when he was small, called 'Home of Tomorrow'."
Date Wataru frowned: "The orphanage side didn't have anyone ask about it at all, or participate in the funeral?"
Mentioning this, Morofushi Hiromitsu's gaze turned dark: "Actually, I already made a trip before... but, they didn't seem to care."
"The director expressed verbal condolences, entrusting me to send some sympathy goods, probably also looking at the share of the donation... the people over there treated Nozomu's death just like treating a stranger they never met, without any extra emotions."
"Really don't get it..." Matsuda said with injustice, "Even if the people of the orphanage don't ask, how about the Tokyo University side? His tutor, classmates, none come? Don't tell me except for the people of the police academy, there isn't a single person who truly cares about him?"
"There were phone calls, saying a few words of 'grieve over the loss' 'pity'... but no one attended the funeral."
"Ha?! Why!"
Furuya Rei sighed: "...Probably just like Nozomu himself said, the people who can be called friends by him are really very few."
Matsuda's fist tightened slightly, then loosened slowly: "That bunch of guys are really cold."
"Forget it... no matter what, there are still us few remembering him." Speaking, he took out a small velvet box from his jacket pocket, placing it on the back of the tombstone.
"This is the birthday present I prepared... now delivering it in advance, saving that kid from calling us stingy over there."
Hagiwara smiled, also following to take out a beautifully packaged small box: "Coincidentally, I brought it too."
"Seems everyone thought of the same place." Furuya Rei cleared his throat, taking out a gift box from his briefcase, placing it gently beside the gifts of his companions, "Okay, originally wanted to hide it for a bit longer."
Date Wataru rubbed the back of his head, taking out a slender box from the inner side of his suit: "Although it's not some valuable thing... placed here it shouldn't rot, right."
Seeing the small gift pile piled up suddenly, Morofushi Hiromitsu who had nothing on his body was a bit unable to laugh or cry: "You guys, didn't secretly make an appointment behind my back, right?" In reality, he had also prepared a birthday present for Nozomu, it was just that the size was too big, completely inconvenient to carry.
Matsuda gave a hehe: "This also counts as a late surprise party, right?" But just as the words spoke out, the curve at the corner of his mouth collapsed down bit by bit. He knew Kuno Nozomu's life had frozen at eighteen. Even if it was an even better gift, they were unable to see him show a surprised expression when opening it.
"Until now..." Hagiwara said softly, "We still don't know the specific date of his birthday..."
Just at this time, Furuya Rei seemed to remember something.
"You all forgot, doesn't the tombstone have the dates of birth and death written on it?"
The others also reacted immediately, turning toward that stone monument at the same time, their gazes focusing on that line of small carving. However, what was unexpected was—
"June twentieth?" Matsuda said strangely, "But he clearly told us it was on a very cold snowy day?"
They knew very well that the date above should be carved by the Metropolitan Police Department according to Kuno Nozomu's file.
"Could it be that the date on the file is not the real date?"
Date Wataru pondered: "Probably it was filled in wrong when the file was entered originally, right?"
"A snowy day was said by Nozomu himself, there won't be a mistake." Hagiwara said, "It should be the file's problem." Looking at it this way, what Kuno Nozomu's birthday exactly was still remained a riddle.
"If only he explained it a bit more clearly at that time..." Matsuda sighed, "When working together in the EOD squad, I should have asked."
"Maybe... he felt he couldn't hold out until that birthday, didn't want to make us sad, so he didn't say it clearly." Furuya Rei remembered the information revealed between the lines of that will, his throat getting a bit tight.
"..."
The remaining few people present fell into silence with one accord.
They really couldn't figure out—what exactly went wrong with Nozomu's body? Exactly what kind of pain was he bearing silently? Why was he so resistant to the hospital's checks? Was it because he knew the result long ago, or didn't want to make his companions worry? Clearly still so young, clearly still having so many unfulfilled agreements... why didn't he fight for a bit more time for himself?
Could it be that the situation was already serious to the point of leaving people helpless?
Questions rushed to the heart one after another, yet in the end couldn't get answers.
"Never mind, even if we know the truth, it can't change anything." Date Wataru raised his hand, brushing gently over the carving on the tombstone, "Dead people... in the end cannot return to life."
"True." Matsuda's voice was as light as a sigh, "Pursuing these now, what meaning does it have again."
"Already... can't hear him tell us the answer face to face..." Morofushi Hiromitsu stared at the tombstone quietly, his gray-blue cat eyes filled with sadness.
What was out of place was that a tiny sense of violation flitted across his heart.
"The file with an error, the director who doesn't care, the meaningful will..."
The truth of the matter might be more complicated than he imagined.
"Should I find time to go to the orphanage to ask again?" This flash of a thought quickly scattered into smoke due to the class leader's speech.
"We... must work hard to live on." Date Wataru looked at the sky, his tone firm, "Must live on well carrying Kuno's share."
Even if the flower bud slept long here, the petals wouldn't scatter just like this. The bond of the Onizuka class just changed a way to continue existing.
"Until the day of reunion in another world, we can tell him without any hesitation..."
"'We all lived very well, not letting down your expectations.'"
The wind blew gently, the wreath before the tombstone shaking slightly, as if responding to their thoughts.
"Yeah..." Furuya Rei slightly curved the corner of his mouth, "There will absolutely be such a day."
Just at this time, Date Wataru's phone rang. He picked up the phone, and after listening to a few sentences, his face became serious: "Okay, I know, going over immediately."
"What, don't tell me the Ikebukuro bombing case had progress?" Matsuda said urgently, "Is there news of 'Black Crow'?" This code name originated from that mysterious bomb culprit's signature crow mask, and had now become one of the key targets tracked by the Metropolitan Police Department.
"It's not the bombing case, it's another murder case. As for that bastard wearing the crow mask..." Date Wataru's tone was regretful, "We temporarily haven't traced any valuable clues yet."
"As long as there's crime, footprints will definitely be left." Furuya Rei said calmly, "We will catch his horse's hoof sooner or later." And then... avenge Kuno Nozomu.
"You are right." Date Wataru nodded, "I have to leave first, colleagues over there are still waiting."
"Indeed, the time is not early." Furuya Rei turned to Morofushi Hiromitsu, "Hiro, we should also return to work."
The blue-eyed youth nodded lightly, looking at the opposite tombstone one last time.
"Nozomu, we... will come to see you again."
"Let's go, Zero."
As police, they had duties that must be fulfilled; as the living, they had reasons all the more to continue moving forward. Just as they intended to leave side by side, Hagiwara Kenji suddenly spoke.
"You guys go back first, I want to say a few words to him alone."
"Hagi..." Matsuda opened his mouth wanting to say something, but still held it back. The others looked at each other, nodded, and didn't ask much.
Within a short moment, only Hagiwara was left in the empty cemetery. He put the umbrella aside, crouched down slowly, his line of sight level with the name on the tombstone. The hazy rain silk floated indistinctly, splashing to wet his trouser legs, and he was completely unaware of it.
"Nozomu... from where should I start?"
"Starting from that explosion, all this is like a nightmare that can't wake up. Coming back to my senses, I was already standing beside your tombstone." Hagiwara's tone was just like a normal chat, "Do you know? I plan to leave the EOD squad and join the First Investigation Division... this way, maybe I can catch that bomb culprit sooner and avenge you."
"Little Jinpei originally wanted to go with me too, but I convinced him to stay in the EOD squad."
"With his rare talent, leaving would really be too much of a pity." Hagiwara explained, "With him helping to dismantle bombs, maybe several hundred or thousand people could be saved... of course, I also told Little Jinpei many times, must be careful and cautious."
"...After all, I don't want to lose him like I lost you."
Seeming to feel the topic was too heavy, Hagiwara changed the direction of his words: "Everyone sent you so many sweet treats and gifts, if you see them, would you be very happy?" He paused, as if recalling that genius youth who showed his sharp edge upon first meeting.
"Don't know if you noticed... actually, my taking the initiative at that time to say to let you be my 'wingman' wasn't only because you look good and can attract girls' attention." Hagiwara's voice went lower, "It's because... I felt you are very interesting, and also, very lonely."
"Very strange, right?" He smiled, "When I was small, every time my older sister lost her temper, I could notice it immediately. Of course, the same after growing up."
"She said I can always accurately capture other people's emotions... probably, this is also the reason I can make friends."
"Meeting you for the first time, I felt that although you were smiling, there was always a kind of detachment around you that was hard to ignore."
"At that time, I was thinking—"
"If I could become friends with you, you should be able to show a true smile, right?"
Touching that cold tombstone, Hagiwara couldn't help choking up.
"Dammit... clearly having so many words wanting to say to you..." Water drops slid down his face, soaking a dark patch on his collar, unable to distinguish whether it was rain or tears in the end.
After a while, Hagiwara slowly pulled out a squarely folded fortune paper from his inner suit pocket.
[Spring cherry blossoms riding together in youth, dividing white heads toward each boundary of the sky.
Meeting today laughing before the wine jar, another year facing the moon still drinking together.]
The word "together" had obvious alterations over it, and what word it originally was could no longer be seen.
"Still remember this?" His finger brushed lightly across the paper surface, "That time at the mixer, the 'Future Good Luck' fortune I drew at the Gojo Shrine... you helped me modify the fortune text."
At that time, he was a bit worried that Nozomu would be handed a "divine punishment," but the other party didn't care about this at all.
"—There aren't any gods at all."
"Just a mere god, if Little Hagiwara wants, I can help you slaughter it, okay?"
Hearing such reassuring words, the faint worry also vanished naturally.
"But..." Why was the one leaving them first Nozomu?
Could it be that there really was some invisible god who grew angry because the fortune text was modified at will? Even, there was still a possibility... Kuno Nozomu was the one who bore the terrible bad luck instead of himself, and that's why he died so painfully. Such a thought became clearer and clearer in Hagiwara's mind.
"If there truly are gods in the world, yet letting that innocent child suffer punishment..."
"It must be the most cold-hearted god in the whole world, right?"
But even so—
As if possessed by a ghost, Hagiwara Kenji pressed that fortune paper tightly to his chest, as if that was a weak signal connecting to another world. He closed his eyes, praying silently in his heart.
"If a god truly exists..."
"Please, make Nozomu come back."
"I still want... to see him one more time."
A few seconds later—maybe longer, the cemetery was so quiet that only the sound of wind blowing past tree leaves could be heard. Matter-of-factly, nothing happened. At this kind of time, praying for a miracle from an airy god, except for proving one's own helplessness, what value could it speak of.
Hagiwara opened his eyes slowly, sighing with self-mockery: "Really, my head surely went wrong."
"Oh my, what went wrong?" A clear man's voice suddenly rang by his side.
Hagiwara's whole body shook violently, raising his head and turning around abruptly, almost falling over due to his unstable crouching posture.
"Nozomu...?!"
No, wrong.
A broad pure black umbrella appeared soundlessly, blocking the rain silk above his head. Under the umbrella crouched an exceptionally tall white-haired man.
Due to the relation of the angle, Hagiwara first saw the other party's hand holding the black umbrella handle—the fingers were long, the knuckles distinct, and the skin color was a coldness close to white. Moving the sight upward, it was a smooth and sharp jawline. Moving further up, it was the corner of the mouth curved slightly upward as if finding his reaction very interesting, a pair of round sunglasses sitting across the high bridge of the nose, the gaze behind the lenses impossible to guess.
A few strands of white hair were as dazzling as first snow, drooping down naturally and elegantly. Even only seeing less than half a face, that sculpture-like outline also gave people a strong, non-realistic sense of impact.
"This man... when did he appear in the cemetery?" Was he here all along just now? Why didn't he have any awareness at all?!
The professional instinct of being a policeman made Hagiwara alert instantly. However, seeing the other party wearing a black formal suit, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand, probably also coming to the cemetery to offer condolences, and the posture didn't have malice, only then did he relax slightly.
He could be certain he had never seen this man before. Was it a friend Nozomu knew at the orphanage? That childhood friend who hadn't contacted for a long time? Or... someone from Tokyo University finally came?
Hagiwara settled his mind, asking tentatively: "Are you also coming to see Nozomu? You and him... are friends?"
"Hmm, how should I say it..." The other party paused, as if pondering a most appropriate description, finally giving an ambiguous answer, "Should count as it."
His gaze scanned past the mountains of fresh flowers and gifts piled around the tombstone, raising an eyebrow.
"So he is this popular."
Hagiwara froze for a bit, then gave a bitter smile: "Yeah... a pity he himself probably doesn't know."
The white-haired man didn't catch the words, just staring at the tombstone quietly. Then, he placed the lily flowers in his hand gently before the tombstone, the pure white petals still carrying fresh water drops.
Just as Hagiwara intended to continue asking something, the other party suddenly spoke: "Have you heard a sentence?"
"...What?"
"All things will eventually be destroyed... but, death is also rebirth."
These words were really strange, Hagiwara for a moment couldn't distinguish whether the other party was comforting him, or pointing at something else. However, not waiting for Hagiwara to have any reaction, the white-haired man turned around clean and straight.
"Then..." He raised the umbrella surface slightly, "I should take my leave."
"Wait!" Hagiwara blurted out, "Excuse me, your name?"
A low and magnetic voice penetrated the rain sound, entering Hagiwara's ears clearly.
"The name is not important."
"Anyway, we... will meet again in the future."
Within a few breaths, that tall figure vanished into the winding path of the cemetery, blending into the gray rain fog, as if it had never appeared.
"..." Hagiwara stared blankly at the direction he left.
"Really a strange fellow..." But for some reason, Hagiwara always felt they might really meet again.