Chained Memories (English Version)

Chapter 1: Touch Under the Moon

Kaito Tsukihiko was sitting on the bed, his hands tangled in his hair, trying to organize his thoughts.

The cell was an oppressive place. The metal walls and floor reflected the light of the Moon shining outside, casting soft, unchanging shadows. There was a sense of constant isolation and emptiness, as if time didn't flow naturally.

He took a deep breath, trying to remember something—anything—beyond the cycle of waking up in that place with no memory. The events of the day were one of the few things he could retain.

His introspection was interrupted by a low sound, a mechanical hum that spread through the cell. Kaito looked around in surprise and saw a compartment opening in the floor. From it, a simple tray emerged: a glass of water and a plate with a modest portion of food, accompanied by wooden chopsticks.

He stood still for a moment, as if doubting his own eyes.

— Is this real? he murmured, unsure whether to believe what he was seeing.

Still, hunger drove him to grab the glass of water and drink it in one gulp, feeling the cool liquid quench his thirst. A quick thought crossed his mind, an idea that might help him.

Soon after, he approached the cell bars and called out to the others.

— Hito? Akane? Did you get anything?

Hito was the first to respond, his voice laden with sarcasm.

— Oh, yes, Kaito! The royal feast has arrived! he laughed. — A plate of gourmet food and a glass of water. We're living like kings!

Kaito rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile slightly. Hito's sharp humor seemed to be a way to cope with the despair of the situation.

— Hito, don't exaggerate, said the woman in the adjacent cell, her voice soft and slightly irritated. — That's not going to help. And yes, Kaito, the same thing happened here.

She was the only one capable of calming Hito, and there was a deep connection between them, even though they were in separate cells.

— Hey... What's your name? Kaito asked.

— Hana, she replied.

Kaito frowned, but before he could ask more questions, a mechanical sound echoed again, and the bars of his cell began to move on their own.

He quickly stood up, staring at the phenomenon in disbelief. The doors opened, revealing a dark path leading outside.

— What is this...? he whispered.

— Are the cells... opening? Akane asked loudly, finally approaching the bars as well. Her red hair shone under the Moonlight, making her intense blue eyes stand out even more.

Kaito looked at her, surprised and relieved to finally hear her speak, even though he could barely see her in the darkness. Akane was enigmatic, beautiful in a way that made his heart race, even without remembering exactly why this connection existed.

Hito laughed, breaking the silence.

— Finally! Let's get out of here before the door decides to close again!

Without thinking twice, they left their cells, stepping onto the cold surface and heading towards what resembled a garden hidden in the darkness. The Moon shone in the sky, its crescent shape casting a silver light over the scene. The vegetation ahead seemed to sway gently with the chilly breeze, and the path was illuminated only by moonlight.

— This... is beautiful, Kaito murmured, almost unable to believe what he was seeing. That garden was the only thing in that place that seemed alive.

— We've been here before, Hana commented. — It always happens when the Moon is in that position.