Meanwhile, at the Hashido estate, Kayomi and Kinara wandered through a room filled with baby items; tiny clothes, soft blankets, and carefully chosen toys for the child on the way.
Kinara couldn't hide her excitement. Her eyes lit up at every little thing, her hands lingering on anything that looked even remotely perfect.
Kayomi, on the other hand, was quieter. She smiled when she needed to, but her enthusiasm was more restrained, her thoughts clearly elsewhere as she took everything in.
Kinara: OMIGOSH!!! THESE BABY OUTFITS ARE SOOOOO CUTE. I REALLY HOPE WE HAVE A GIRL.
Kayomi: (holding tiny clothes) They're small… and expensive.
Kinara: BABE, WHAT GENDER DO YOU THINK THE BABY IS GOING TO BE?
Kayomi: A boy.
Kinara: (cartoonish face) A BOY???? I WANT TO HAVE AN ADORABLE LOOKING GIRL CHILD FIRST!! BOYS ARE SUCH WUSSES.
Kayomi raised his eyebrows.
Kayomi: Whatever works I guess?
But Kinara wasn't satisfied with that response and she began to puff her cheeks in annoyance.
Kinara: AT LEAST SHOW SOME ENTHUSIASM. IT'S YOUR BABY TOO YOU KNOW. YOU'RE GOING TO BE A DAD AND I DON'T WANT OUR KID TO THINK HE HAS A GLOOMY AND BORING FATHER.
Kayomi: AM I GLOOMY AND BORING?
Kinara: NOT TO ME THOUGH. BUT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS SO.
Kayomi: Everyone?
Kinara: YEAH. I ASKED DANA, AROU, ROSHI, YOSHI, ERVIN, MIRA AND THE OTHER KIDS AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. EXCEPT FOR KATO SINCE HE DOESN'T KNOW YOU ALL THAT WELL.
Kayomi: I see.
Kinara: You're being gloomy right now. Smile a little.
Kayomi's phone rang and when he glanced at the screen and saw it was Dana calling, he stared at it and then answered.
Kayomi: Dana? You hardly call me. What's the occasion?
Dana: I know you're busy Kayomi but this is important. Kato's life is in danger and you're the only one who can find him right now.
Kayomi: Kato's in Danger? What do you mean?
Dana: You see…
After hearing what had happened, Kinara didn't hesitate. In a flash of light, she teleported Kayomi straight to the hospital.
The moment they arrived, Kayomi activated his tracking and locked onto Kato's location.
He took off immediately, moving fast, hoping he wasn't already too late.
Meanwhile, Kato and Arou arrived at Kato's old home. The house remained untouched since July, shrouded in an eerie stillness. Inside, memories flooded back; Takimo waiting for him at the kitchen table, his mom teasing Takimo about his Studio Ghibli obsession.
Kato: (to himself) Why couldn't things stay the way they were?
Arou: Come on, Kato. We need to leave before anyone sees us.
Kato: Right.
Once they got outside, Kato turned to Arou and apologized for dragging him into all of this.
Arou: Don't worry about it. I get how you miss the life you used to have.
Kato: Yeah. I wish things had stayed the same, but…
Before Kato could even finish, Kayomi suddenly appeared in front of them, so fast and abrupt that it startled both of them.
Kayomi: Found you!
Kato: (confused) Mr Kayomi? What's going on?
Kayomi began running towards the two of him with a sense of urgency in his voice.
Kayomi: KATO!!!! GET AWAY FROM HIM RIGHT NOW!!!! HE'S…..
Kayomi didn't even get the chance to finish his sentence. In the very next instant, Arou grabbed Kato by the hood of his hoodie and vanished, taking him with him. One second they were there; then the space in front of Kayomi snapped back to emptiness.
Kayomi: Damn it!! I was too late!!
For a split second, his thoughts raced back to what Dana had told him on the phone. It was the same warning Ervin had shared with her earlier; there was a mole among them. Someone secretly working with the Kaimi Daja. Kayomi's jaw tightened as the truth settled in.
That mole was Arou.