[Outside Graveyard]
Nodoka and Taro walked side by side, still clad in their funeral black, the gravel crunching underfoot. Nodoka's face carried a quiet gloom, her dark silk hair swaying with each step, while Taro's mood churned—a volatile mix of moody anger and stress etched into his furrowed brow, green eyes shadowed.
"So… how long had you known, Taro?" Nodoka's voice lacked its usual cheer, soft but probing.
"I only just figured it out today," he replied, his tone firm, clipped to the point.
"In that case, how did you find out?" she pressed, her gaze fixed ahead.
Taro's face darkened, unhappiness tightening his jaw. "Well, to be honest, I didn't even care about your friends at first—it didn't really have anything to do with me…" His anger surged, brows knitting together like storm clouds. "…But what *did* concern me was a major anomaly—they weren't there. Someone's parents' funeral is such an important moment. How could the people you claim to be your 'best friends' not be present? That's just… messed up. On so many layers." He exhaled sharply, composing himself, his voice steadying. "So I did a lot of digging… connected a few dots… and… yeah, that's how I found out they weren't real."
Nodoka tried to laugh, forcing a brittle lightness. "Since when did you suddenly become all concerned about anomalies?"
"It's…" Taro sighed deeply, the weight of secrets pressing down. "…a really deep and long story."
"Hmph," they said in unison, exhaustion syncing their breaths.
Silence stretched for a few seconds, heavy with unsaid words. Taro's face twitched—he had something on his mind but couldn't spit it out.
"I know you have something you want to say," Nodoka said, her voice calm, almost nerving.
Taro jolted, caught off guard. "Ugh… how did you—?"
"It's okay, Taro. Just say what you want to say," she urged, her tone gentle as a breeze.
He scratched the back of his head, his face flushing slightly, green eyes averting. "Fine."
He stopped walking, turning to face her directly, his black jacket creaking. "Um, first of all, don't get the wrong idea, but Nodoka… since your house got burnt… I'd like you to stay with me."
Nodoka's gloomy expression ignited—a slow, red blush creeping across her cheeks. "W-w-what?"
Taro stepped back, his own face reddening, hand rubbing his neck. "Hey, hey, wait, hold on—hear me out now…" He stuttered, green hair falling into his eyes. "You know, since your house got burnt and all… I figured you could kinda stay with me. If you wanted to… I mean, it's also okay if you have other places to stay, like with your aunt and uncle—"
"No, I don't," she cut in, her face turning expressionless, anger and hostility simmering beneath. "I hate my aunts and uncles." Her voice sharpened, eyes flashing with an insane stare. "They're the *worst*."
Taro's green eyes widened, shock rippling through him. *Whoa, that's pretty damn deep. I don't know what they did, but they must've done some insane level of evil for Nodoka of all people to seriously *hate* them. Best not ask what they've done, Taro.*
"Oh, um, that's also cool too, I guess. So… I guess you'll be living with me," he said, recovering.
Nodoka calmed instantly, reverting to her gentle demeanor. "Ah, yes, thank you."
*Wow, it's kinda terrifying the way people can switch their characters. She's a bright example,* Taro thought, blinking.
[At Taro's Apartment]
They pushed open the door, revealing an unexpectedly spacious apartment—high ceilings, polished hardwood floors, and large windows flooding the space with late afternoon light. Nodoka's eyes widened. "Wow, this is a big place. I assume all your family stays here too?"
Taro slumped into a chair, flipping open his laptop, his expression suddenly grave. "I don't have any family."
"Huh?" Nodoka raised a brow, settling onto the bed, her black dress pooling around her. "No parents, siblings, relatives?"
"Well, if you really must know, it's pretty boring if you ask."
"I still wanna know," she insisted, her dark eyes mixing concern and wonder.
Taro studied her for a moment, then sighed, the sound heavy with memory. He leaned back, his gaze drifting to the ceiling as if reading the story from the cracks in the plaster. "Alright then," he murmured. "But don't say I didn't warn you it's depressing.
[Flashback – Taro Narrating]
From as far as I can remember, I don't have a single memory of my parents. But when I was 5, all I had were my aunt and uncle, and their son Tomoya—he was around the same age as me. So at least I had someone to talk to.
The flashback showed a young Taro, dark hair shorter and wilder, playing in a cramped backyard with Tomoya—a lanky boy with messy brown hair and a gap-toothed grin. They laughed, kicking a battered soccer ball, their small world bright with innocent chaos.
But then, all of a sudden, one day when I was 10, they just… left me. With Tomoya too. At that point in my life, I was truly all alone.
The scene shifted—empty house, young Taro standing at the door, a note crumpled in his fist, Tomoya's toys scattered like ghosts. Rain pattered against the windows.
"So I had to learn a skill or two. I pickedupfreelancing and dropshipping with intense care. I didn't have to pay bills—they were still covering them from wherever they were."
Montage: Tiny Taro hunched over a glowing laptop, eyes bleary, fingers flying across keys, bank accounts ticking upward—mid-level success by age 12.
And that's when it happened. When I was just 12, I found out they died—along with Tomoya—in a fatal car accident.
Newspaper headline: "Family of Three Perish in Crash." Young Taro at the funeral, alone, staring at three coffins, rain mixing with tears on his face.
I had reached mid-level freelancing and dropshipping by then, plus savings from before—that's how I survived. But I truly felt despair when I figured out Tomoya died too—my only friend.
Young Taro curled on the floor, clutching Tomoya's soccer ball, wracked with sobs.
I couldn't stop thinking it was my fault. What did I do that made them abandon me and then go die like that? It was all my fault. I must've done something because that wasn't a normal thing to do to a 10-year-old, right? I even got Tomoya killed. I didn't even need other friends because I had him, but he died too.
And from then on, that's when I started pushing people away, not making any more friends, choosing to be alone. I decided it's better for me that way—and others too.
Final image: Teenage Taro, dark hair hiding his eyes, walking alone through school halls, invisible walls keeping everyone at bay.
[End of Flashback]
"So yeah, that's about it," Taro finished, turning to Nodoka—only to have his jaw drop.
She was a mess—tissues crumpled around her, nose red, tears streaming. "Oh my God…" she sniffed, blowing her nose again. "…that's one of the most tragic backstories I've ever heard…" Another blow. She opened her arms. "Do you need a hug?"
Taro regained composure, fake-coughing, face flushing red. "Huff huff, I'm good, really…"
Taro's lips curved into a deep smile. "Things changed ever since I met *him*—Mexus."
"Who's *him*?" Nodoka tilted her head, confusion creasing her brow.
"Oh, it's nothing really, Nodoka—" Taro tried to pivot, but she cut him off with burning intensity.
"No, tell me, Taro! You just put me on this emotional rollercoaster—isn't it a bit brutal to just yank me off immediately? I wanna know!"
Taro's face twisted in conflict, his mind racing. "This can't be a good idea. If I tell Nodoka about the Dream World and everything, she'll insist on coming with me. I don't want her to get hurt. No, it's best I don't tell her—to protect her.* But then, a self-correction hit. "Wait a second—Nodoka obviously said she didn't want to be some damsel in distress. She can get powers too. There must be a way. She's not my little sister who needs protection, and I'm no Superman or protector. I'm a friend who can help. She deserves to know the truth."
Taro shot to his feet, fierce intensity blazing in his green eyes. "Brace yourself, Nodoka. What I'm about to say… makes the revelations in the Bible look like children's rhymes."
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