"…If my sister is alive, then why have you and Mom barely ever ntioned her? And why have I never seen her?"
"Well… you'll see her eventually." Isaac spread his hands. "You're sixteen now, right? By the ti you get to college, you should be able to et her."
"You're not just making that up, are you?"
"Of course not. How could your father lie to you~"
Though he still had doubts, seeing that his youthful father clearly didn't want to say more, Rinji didn't push further.
"At least tell —what kind of person is my sister?"
"You'd have to ask the future about that… but she probably hasn't woken up yet in the future either, so asking is the sa."
As he spoke, Isaac lit a cigarette.
"To be specific… she's the type of child who doesn't show emotions on her face."
"Oh… is she your real daughter?"
"Sort of."
"'Sort of'? Feels like the mysteries are only piling up." Rinji rubbed his forehead.
From the very beginning, his father's answers had been unusually vague, offering no useful information.
"Anyway, don't ask too much about her. You'll et her when the ti cos."
"Fine. But if I get to college and still haven't t my sister, I'm coming back to question you."
After a pause, Rinji asked again.
"What's my sister's na?"
"Sa as your English na. Chaos."
"And no Japanese na?"
"She has one. Takamine Reiku."
"I swear, old man, you really didn't put any effort into naming us."
---
Saturday morning, at a café in Yomiyama.
Akazawa sat sipping coffee, occasionally glancing at her watch.
Even on weekends, she went out in her school uniform.
"I'm here… So, where are the others?"
"They haven't arrived yet." Akazawa set down her coffee cup and smiled at Rinji, who had just walked up.
"Tch, I wasn't even planning to co, and I still arrived before everyone else."
He set a notebook and pen on the table, then sat across from her.
"So, what made you co here today?"
"I figured I'd still ask you guys about so things. Always trying to protect twenty-sothing students on my own is pretty stressful," Rinji said.
"…I can see that. You really do seem weighed down."
Looking into his eyes, Akazawa thought Rinji didn't look very energetic today.
"No, my mood isn't because of you all. It's because I learned sothing shocking from my old man."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Nothing much… just that I suddenly found out I have a sister."
"Is that so…? And your sister?"
"No idea. My old man's words were vague. I don't even know if she really exists."
"!"
Though Rinji's words seed casual, they instantly set Akazawa on edge.
She suddenly stood and stepped up to him.
"Takamine, don't move."
"Huh?"
As Rinji sat there dumbfounded, Akazawa suddenly pressed her hand against his chest.
Rinji: "?"
"Excuse ."
As if confirming sothing, Akazawa let out a long breath and returned to her seat.
"Looks like you're not, Takamine."
"…What were you trying to confirm?"
"Whether you're a girl or not."
"Are you ssing with ?"
"I'm not joking at all," Akazawa said seriously, staring straight into Rinji's eyes. "After all, just by looking at your face it's hard to tell your gender. If soone simply said they were a boy, or wore a boy's uniform, it could easily create a false impression."
As she spoke, veins bulged on Rinji's forehead.
"You really have so misunderstanding about my rugged appearance. Even if I don't look that macho, can't you tell from my usual behavior?"
"Takamine, you normally don't interact with at all."
Akazawa calmly took a sip of coffee and continued.
"I truly had no intention of making fun of you, because this matter is very important."
"How so?"
"You should already know this—within the class, the 'dead' mixes in as one of the 'living,' and everyone's mories are altered."
"I've heard about that, but…"
"When I heard you had a sister you've never t, and even your father couldn't explain clearly, I started to suspect. I suspected you might be this year's 'dead one.' Fortunately, that misunderstanding's cleared up now."
"…Huh?"
Seeing Rinji's confused look, Akazawa sighed and explained: "My theory was that you and your sister were actually the sa person. Your sister died many years ago, and in this year's Class 3-3 she suddenly returned, disguised as a transfer student, pretending to be a boy and wearing the male uniform—that is, you, Takamine."
"…"
"But after confirming just now, you're definitely male, so my theory is invalid."
"I have to say, your theory really pissed off."
"Sorry, I didn't an to doubt you, Takamine. It's just that this concerns the safety of the entire class."
Akazawa smiled, then extended her hand.
"So, can we shake hands and make peace?"
"…"
Helplessly, Rinji shook her hand. But once she grasped his, she didn't let go.
"Your skin feels smooth, like a girl's hand."
"The so-called 'girl's hand' in your mouth could easily crush your entire hand into paste."
"I've heard the 'dead' have low body temperatures. Your hand does feel a bit cooler than normal."
"You're really paranoid."
"Just speculation," Akazawa smiled. "If body temperature alone could reveal the dead, then each year there wouldn't be so many accidental deaths."
With that, she finally released his hand.
Rinji shook his own hand and frowned. "So then, once you find the 'dead one,' what do you do?"
"What?"
"I an, even if you find the 'dead one,' how do you break the curse? You haven't told that part yet, right?"
"That's exactly why I asked you to co to this café," Akazawa said.
"Soone here knows what should be done next."
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