The next day dawned bright and deceptively calm — the kind of morning that promised peace but whispered of storms beneath.
Toshio woke with the sound of Airi's laughter echoing faintly through the open window. She was watering the small garden between their houses, her hair catching the sunlight like liquid amber.
For a moment, it felt like nothing had changed — no Ren, no tension, just the quiet rhythm of life next door.
But as Toshio watched her, something strange stirred in his chest. A faint pull — like a memory that wasn't his trying to surface.
He blinked. What was that?
Later at school, things felt… different. Ren was unusually quiet during class. Airi avoided his gaze. And Toshio couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
It wasn't paranoia. When he looked out the window, he caught a reflection — a flash of silver eyes.
But when he turned, there was no one there.
"Toshio?" Airi whispered beside him. "Are you okay?"
He nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Just… spaced out."
But inside, something was gnawing at him. Those silver eyes — they felt familiar.
After school, Airi asked if he could help her carry some things from the clubroom. Toshio agreed, happy for the distraction.
When they got there, the building was quiet. Dust hung in the air as they pushed open the door to the old literature club room.
Stacks of forgotten books lined the shelves. As Airi searched for something, Toshio's eyes landed on a dusty journal lying half-open on the table.
Curiosity won. He picked it up and brushed off the cover.The name written there froze him.
"Airi Kurogane."
His heartbeat stumbled. "Airi… you wrote this?"
She turned — and for a split second, her expression wasn't the same Airi he knew. There was shock… and something like fear.
"Toshio," she said quietly, "put that down."
He hesitated. "I just—"
"I said put it down!"
The sharpness in her tone startled him. He set the journal back, his chest tightening.
Airi closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. "I'm sorry. It's just… that book shouldn't even be here."
"Then what is it?" Toshio asked softly. "Your last name isn't Kurogane."
She bit her lip, looking away. "It used to be."
The silence that followed was deafening.
They sat down together, the air heavy with tension. Airi finally spoke, her voice trembling.
"My family name was Kurogane before my parents changed it. Ren… he's my cousin. But we grew up as if we were siblings. When his parents split, he changed — and my family wanted to cut all ties. That's why we moved here and changed our name to Arisawa."
Toshio's mind reeled. "So Ren—"
"He knows who I am," Airi said softly. "And he wants to bring me back."
Her hands clenched. "He thinks we belong together — like the past can be fixed if I just follow him."
Toshio's pulse raced. "That's why he's here."
Airi nodded, tears shimmering in her eyes. "I didn't want you to get dragged into it, Toshio. But… I think you already are."
That night, Toshio couldn't sleep.
He lay awake, replaying her words. "Kurogane"… the name echoed through his thoughts, pulling at something deep inside him.
Then it happened again — that dream.
He stood in a burning field. A girl's voice called his name — not Toshio, but something older. Something ancient.
"Come back to me… before it's too late."
He turned — and saw Airi, dressed in white, her hair long and silver, her eyes glowing like the moon.
Then a shadow appeared behind her — Ren — his eyes the same silver he'd seen in the classroom reflection.
"You can't change fate," Ren whispered. "You never could."
Toshio gasped and jolted awake. His room was cold, his skin damp with sweat.
Outside, the wind howled softly.
And from the house next door, Airi's light was still on.
She couldn't sleep either.