Kento stepped forward and looked closely at a spot on the road. The street had a dark, brown stain on it. It didn't look like water or oil. Near the ditch, the grass was flattened and crushed, as if something heavy had been dragged over it.
'3:00 AM,' Kento thought. The time kept repeating in his head. 'This is the place.'
Shido walked up beside him. He wasn't acting like his usual energetic self. He stared at the yellow police tape with sad eyes. "There is no car or broken glass," Shido said quietly. "Just... that." He pointed at the stain on the ground.
"The police must have taken the big evidence away already," Kento whispered. He looked toward the trees. "But an accident at high speed usually leaves more mess. Unless someone cleaned it up before the police got here."
Tamiko stood a few steps behind them. She looked scared and ready to run away. "Can we please keep walking?" she asked. "This place feels wrong. I don't like it."
Shido looked at her and his face softened. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go home."
They started walking again, but they moved more slowly now. As they passed the police tape, Kento saw something in the bushes. It was a small, crushed pink box with a torn ribbon. It was half-buried in the mud, forgotten by the police.
It was the "birthday present" the teachers had talked about.
Kento didn't say anything. He didn't want to scare Tamiko any more than she already was. But as they walked away, he couldn't stop thinking about that pink box.
'A girl on her birthday. A car in the dark. And my parents leaving at the exact same time.'
The walk home was very silent. The whole city felt too quiet, as if everyone was waiting to find out the name of the girl who had died.
The heavy silence of the road ended as they walked into the Kamitani house's neighborhood. This was a rich, quiet area with big houses hidden behind tall stone walls. The Kamitani home was very impressive—a large, modern two-story house with a beautiful garden. It looked much nicer than the small, crowded apartments near the school.
Kento and Tamiko walked at a steady, even speed, but Shido suddenly started running. He reached the front gate first. He kept moving his weight from one foot to the other as if the ground was made of hot coals.
"Kento! Hurry up! Open the door!" Shido yelled, his face twisted in a desperation.
Kento didn't speed up. He strolled casually, his hands still in his pockets. "Why the rush? The house isn't going anywhere."
As Kento approached, his eyes drifted toward the driveway. His parents' car was parked in its usual spot, cooling under the grey sky. They were back. But then, Tamiko softly called his name, her voice trembling with a hint of confusion.
"Kento... look over there," she said, pointing toward the sidewalk just past their gate.
A shiny, Black Audi sat waiting quietly. It was a very expensive car. It was a high-end vehicle, polished so clean that it looked like a black mirror. It looked too fancy for the rainy morning. Kento's eyes sharpened a stheh landed closely on the license plate. He recognized the special logo and numbers of the Kanzaki family.
"Maybe Kashima is here?" Tamiko whispered, glancing at the tinted windows of the car.
"Hey! Are you listening?" Shido shouted, practically jumping in front of the front door now. "Kento! The keys! I need the restroom! My life is flashing before my eyes!"
Kento ignored the dramatic show of Shido. He stepped up to the door, but instead of reaching for his keys, he calmly extended a finger and pressed the doorbell.
DING-DONG.
Shido stopped jumping and stared at Kento as if he had grown a second head. "What are you doing? We have the keys! We locked the door when we left! Why are you ringing the bell like a guest?"
"Have a little patience, Shido," Kento said smoothly.
Tamiko stood behind them, blinking in confusion. "Um... Kento? Don't you want to go inside?"
Suddenly, the heavy wood of the door clicked and swung inward. Kento turned to Shido, a small, triumphant smirk appeared on his face. "Use your common sense Shido. If the car is here, someone is home to open the door."
Standing in the entryway was Hori. Her long hair was slightly messy, and she looked surprised but relieved to see them.
"Kento! You're back!" she said, her eyes brightening with a warm, happy glow. "Good morning!"
"Good morning, Hori," Kento replied, his voice softening instantly. A small, genuine smile crossed his face as he stepped inside.
Hori took a step toward him, her arms beginning to reach out as if to pull him into a hug, the tension of the morning finally melting away into a romantic, quiet moment.
WHOOSH!
"OUT OF THE WAY!"
Shido charged through the gap like a runaway train, physically shoving Kento aside. Kento tripped, nearly knocking Hori over, as Shido vanished down the hallway toward the back of the house. The sound of a door slamming shut echoed through the hall.
The 'lovey-dovey' atmosphere shattered instantly.
"That... that idiot," Kento said, checking himself. "I'm going to kill him. I'm actually going to do it."
Hori let out a startled gasp and rushed to Kento's side, her hands reaching over his arms. "Oh no! Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
Tamiko finally stepped inside, looking around the hallway with a confused expression. "Wait, what just happened? Did Shido just teleport?"
Kento looked at the closed restroom door and then back at the girls. He let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Don't mind him. His brain has finally been overtaken by his bladder. It's a tragic medical condition called 'BEING SHIDO '."
Hori burst into laughter, and even Tamiko couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. Hori watched Kento closely, noticing the way his eyes looked bright when he made a joke. 'He's okay,' she thought with a small sigh of relief. 'He's back to his normal self.'
Tamiko looked up at the ceiling, offering a tiny, silent prayer of thanks.' Thank God he's alright. I was so worried about that look in his eyes yesterday.'
The tension of the morning seemed to disappear for a brief moment as Kento settled into the warmth of the hallway. His eyes shifted to Hori, noticing a peculiar detail—she was wearing a light floral apron over her neatly pressed school uniform.
"Hori?" Kento asked, tilting his head. "What exactly are you doing in an apron?"
Tamiko walked around him, her eyes also fixed on the clothing. "Are you cooking, Hori? What's got you so busy in the kitchen all of a sudden?"
Hori noticed Kento's gaze, his green eyes scanning her from head to toe. She didn't look away; instead, she rested a soft hand against her cheek and tilted her head, a playful, mischievous look in her eyes.
"Does it look that strange?" she teased, leaning slightly toward him. "Tell me, Kento... do I look cute in an apron over my uniform?"
Kento lost his cool right away. His face and neck turned bright red. He quickly covered his face with his hand and looked away at the wall. "S-stop it! You're... you're doing it on purpose now, aren't you?" he muttered through his fingers.
"Hori! Stop playing and come help me with these vegetables!" A sharp, familiar female voice rang out from the kitchen. Kento's hand dropped from his face. He knew that tone—it was bossy, impatient, and unmistakable.
"Is Shiyi here too?" Kento asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the kitchen door.
Hori giggled and began to go towards the kitchen. "Yes, she is. And please, Kento, try not to start a fight with her the moment you see her."
"I'll help too!" Tamiko tagged in, happy to find a distraction from the heavy morning. She followed Hori, leaving Kento alone in the hallway.
Kento exhaled a long breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He turned left, stepping into the spacious living room. The sight that met him made him freeze in his tracks.
Sitting on the sofa, looking deeply engrossed in a serious conversation, were two people he didn't expect to see together: his father, Mr. Kamitani, and Kashima Kanzaki.
"Dad? Kashima?" Kento blinked, his voice full of confusion.
Before they could respond, the sound of heavy, dragging footsteps echoed behind him. Shido came into the room, one hand clutching his stomach, his face pale and in pain. "I'm never eating that street food again... my stomach is a war zone right now..."
Shido's eyes snapped open when he saw the guests. A mischievous, grin replaced his pained look. "Well, well! Are we having a high-stakes debate or something?"
Kashima let out a long, tired sigh. "It is nothing like that, Kirishima," he said.
Kento stepped closer and looked at his father. Mr. Kamitani looked terrible. Dark circles hung under his eyes, his hair was messy and uncombed, and his face was drained of color.
"Dad, you look like a ghost," Kento said quietly. "Did you even sleep?"
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