Rinji opened his eyes.
Under the dark night sky, moonlight fell on him.
In the distance, the scattered lights of the residential area allowed him to barely make out the scene.
Before him stood an abandoned hospital overgrown with weeds, and beside him, an old man stared at him curiously.
"Young man?"
"Hm?"
"You seed to drift off just now. Were you thinking about sothing?"
"Nothing much, Mr. Chibiki," Rinji said with a smile.
"Mr.? For a kid like you to call an old man like that, that's quite rare."
The white-haired Chibiki gazed at Rinji, his clouded eyes carrying a trace of mory.
"You still haven't answered my question just now."
"What question?"
"Your surna—it's Takamine, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Is that so… Then that's truly remarkable."
Chibiki nodded with a smile, turning his head toward the abandoned hospital.
"Maybe it's just age, but I find myself wanting soone to listen. Would you mind hearing a story, Takamine?"
"Please go ahead."
"There was once a class cursed with sothing dreadful. Every year, like a cruel ga, the curse claid the lives of students, year after year. Those who entered that class were ruled by fear," Chibiki said slowly. "But in the twenty-sixth year, a hero ca to that class."
"A hero?"
"Yes, a hero."
Chibiki's aged face lifted into a smile.
"He single-handedly ended a curse that had lasted twenty-six years. His story has been passed down ever since, and nearly every student who entered that class knew of the hero who defeated calamity, sparing later generations from death and fear."
"I see… So the curse never happened again? That's pretty good."
"Yes… but that hero only stayed with the class for a month. Once the incident ended, he left without even saying goodbye, vanishing as if into thin air, never to be seen again."
"That sounds like a dull story," Rinji laughed.
"Indeed, it may sound dull, but only those who lived it could truly realize that hero's greatness," Chibiki replied.
"Mr. Chibiki, I have a story too. Would you like to hear it?"
"Please, Takamine."
His tone remained warm and gentle.
Rinji cleared his throat slightly and began: "Once, there was a cruel, numb devil who saw humans as nothing. By chance, he transferred into a cursed class. In a place where no one knew him, he rembered the teachings of a friend, and wanted to live as an angel worthy of praise. He thought his life would only ever bring harm, but the students of that class were willing to give him a chance to prove himself."
As he spoke, there was a gleam in his eyes.
"With their help, that devil beca soone he could be proud of. In the end, he left the school with gratitude in his heart and returned to where he belonged."
"…"
"My story's pretty dull too. It's amazing you'd sit through it, Mr. Chibiki," Rinji smiled.
"No, you told it very well. You revealed a side I never knew," Chibiki replied.
Glancing at his phone, Rinji saw it was already very late.
"Mr. Chibiki, it's dark. I should head to the inn to pack up, and you should get ho too. It's not safe for soone your age to be out at night."
"Hahaha, thank you for the concern."
The elderly Chibiki Tatsuji smiled, nodded, and turned to head toward his ho.
As Rinji was about to walk toward the inn, Chibiki suddenly turned back and called out: "Takamine!"
"What is it?"
"It's New Year now. Many from that class have returned for a reunion. Make sure you join them."
"…"
"And though this is twenty years late, it's not too late to say it now."
After pausing for a mont, Chibiki raised his voice:
"Congratulations on graduating, Takamine."
The old yet steady voice reached Rinji's ears. After standing still for a few seconds, he smiled. "Thank you."
Only a month together, yet twenty years apart.
It was like a dream.
But it was a dream more fulfilling than any other.
Rinji asked Chibiki for the reunion address—it was at the sa inn where they'd once gone for training camp.
Traditionally, they gathered every New Year's, once every five years. In the first decade, almost everyone showed up, but later, work and life pulled people away. Now, not everyone attended anymore.
"Well, doesn't matter."
Rinji smiled, walking toward the inn.
"It'll be nice to see how they've changed over twenty years. Most of them must be parents by now."
Those two decades for them were nothing more than a fleeting instant for him.
---
Western Pacific, on a deserted island.
Due to the ti difference, while night had fallen for Rinji, it was still dayti here for Sousuke.
Earlier, Rinji had called him multiple tis at dawn, ruining his sleep, and now he had to start work. Sotis he really wished he'd stayed in Japan.
But since he had once boasted that he'd keep their organization shining, Sousuke could only force himself to keep working.
Buzz—
"Hm? Another call? Don't tell it's Rinji again."
He quickly checked his phone.
The number wasn't Rinji's but soone else he knew well.
Sousuke frowned slightly before answering.
"Hello?"
"Hello, President Sagara."
It was a woman's voice.
"Ah, Misaki. Do you have sothing to report?"
"Yes. I'll be going to Japan in a few days."
"…Did sothing happen there?"
"No, I simply want to go."
"…"
Dealing with her always gave Sousuke a headache.
"Um… Misaki, there's already Mr. Shechick overseeing everything in Japan. If anything happens, you can just—"
"There's nothing wrong. I'm only informing you of my plans, not asking your permission."
Her cold voice ca through the line.
"After all, the Paranormal Departnt is a division directly under IW's founder. Neither you nor the Senate has the authority to interfere with my schedule as its minister."
"No… I wasn't trying to stop you."
"Then that's that. Goodbye."
Beep—
"…"
Hearing the busy tone, Sousuke let his head drop onto his desk.
He was finding the president's seat more and more difficult to hold.
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