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A month had already passed, and you still hadn’t found a new lead on Bonten. The news articles kept repeating the same headlines over and over—nothing new, nothing useful. Just the same vague statements about them being dangerous, powerful, untouchable. You were starting to realize that maybe you were wasting time when you could be using it to rest your exhausted body.
You groaned, tossing the newspaper aside. Having a full month off was supposed to be a blessing, not a frustrating hunt for dead-end clues. Takemichi had warned you countless times to leave it to him, reminding you he had gone to the past and present over and over just to fix things.
And he was right about what happened in France. Rindou had saved you—but that was it. It was in the past now. And truthfully, it’s been a while since you’ve seen him. Maybe that’s for the best. After everything that happened, seeing him again was the last thing you needed.
You slapped your cheeks, trying to shake off the memory of that moment—the kiss.
“Forgive my sins, dear Lord, for letting a criminal kiss me,” you muttered, making the sign of the cross (or not, depending on your beliefs).
As of today, you officially decided to spend the month as a proper vacation in Tokyo. Your mom, knowing how drained you were, took charge of the twins and even walked them out so you could rest in peace.
She insisted you take this time to recover and enjoy life with your friends. But instead, you dressed in something comfortable, grabbed your bike, and pedaled off—drawn to the idea of visiting your old school… the one you never got to graduate from.
After ten minutes of riding, you arrived. The building had changed a lot—new paint, new structures—but the atmosphere still held so many memories. As you stood in front of the gate, you spotted a teenage couple talking near the entrance.
And just like that, it all came rushing back.
That exact spot… that’s where you threw your green tea at the most annoying delinquent you ever met in high school.
You chuckled softly at the memory, then made your way to the old hangout spot by the shrine. It had been spruced up—fresh plants, new benches—but the peaceful vibe remained. You didn’t linger too long before heading to your next destination: the riverbank where you used to kill time after class.
You smiled as the river came into view. It looked so different now—cleaner, more peaceful. You made your way down the slope and found a patch of clean grass to sit on. Thankfully, the sky was cloudy, keeping the sun at bay.
You watched the fish leap out of the river and wondered: Why am I even revisiting all these old places? You didn’t have a clear reason. Something just pulled you here—maybe closure, maybe answers.
