Kōki leaned back slightly in his chair, the folder still firm in his hands. The names inside weighed more than paper should. He kept his gaze steady, voice calm but edged with resolve.
"Ayaka," he said. "I want you to set up a get-together. With Sayoko's old friends. Anyone on this list… or anyone else you know who might've known her."
Ayaka blinked, frowning a little. Her fingers drummed once against the table. "A… get-together? You mean like a reunion?"
"Something like that." Kōki's eyes narrowed with quiet determination. He leaned forward, his thumb brushing over the edge of the paper. "I'll come too. I have an idea that might help us narrow this down. Figure out who had a reason… or the opportunity. And once I'm there, I'll be able to find out who's hiding something."
Ayaka tilted her head, curiosity mingling with caution. "And how do you plan to do that?"
Kōki gave a small, confident smile. "Don't worry. I've got a plan. It's far-fetched… but if it works, it could reveal a lot."
Her lips parted, then pressed into a thin line. "And Nanami? You think she'll…?"
Kōki's gaze hardened, his expression unreadable. "If she really wants to find Sayoko's killer, then we can use her own words to draw her in. But it depends on her intentions. If she's sincere, this might just work."
Ayaka leaned back slightly, her hand sliding over the table. Her fingertips traced faint circles on the wood, as if stalling for time. She finally exhaled and nodded slowly. "Alright… I'll start contacting them. But, Kō… are you really sure about this?"
Kōki lowered his eyes to the list again. His hand lingered over the names, not quite willing to touch them. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, almost weighed down. "I have to be. For Sayoko to move on… for her to finally be set free."
The air in the room turned heavy, the silence stretching until Ayaka gave a small, resolute nod.
The next morning, sunlight spilled across Kōki's room. The curtain swayed gently from the breeze sneaking in through a half-open window. Birds outside chirped cheerfully, filling the air with a sense of peace that didn't belong to him.
Kōki groaned, rolling over and burying his face into his pillow. He was just about to slip back into sleep when—
"Oi, wake up already, dude!"
The voice rang sharp and teasing.
Kōki jolted upright, smacking the back of his head against the headboard. "Ow! Damn it, Takuto!" he hissed, clutching the sore spot.
Hovering just above his bed, Takuto floated lazily with a cocky grin. His translucent form shimmered faintly in the morning light.
"Oh… it's you," Kōki muttered, his pulse still racing. He forced himself to calm down, steadying his breathing. "Where the hell have you been?"
"You know me," Takuto said breezily, twirling midair. "Just roaming around, picking up bits of info. Keeping myself busy."
Kōki's eyes narrowed slightly. Something about Takuto's tone felt… off. He's hiding something. I know it. But if I push, he'll just dodge me.
He shoved the thought aside, sliding out of bed and pulling on his uniform. The fabric clung cool against his skin, still crisp from being washed last night.
Sayoko stood quietly near the window, her expression unreadable, her form faintly glowing in the morning light. She hadn't said much these past few days. Her usual warmth had dulled, replaced by a fragile silence.
Kōki glanced at her briefly as he adjusted his collar. Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but no sound came. He tightened his backpack straps. He couldn't push her right now. Not when she still looked that broken.
Kōki walked with his hands shoved loosely into his pockets, his schoolbag swaying slightly against his side with each step. Sayoko and Takuto drifted near him, invisible to everyone else, their presence familiar and—at least until now—comforting.
The streets buzzed with the morning rush. Cars honked in the distance. People hurried past, the shuffle of shoes against pavement mixing with faint conversations. Somewhere, a delivery bike clattered over uneven stone.
Kōki rubbed the back of his neck as he walked. His body felt restless, nerves simmering under his skin.
On the way to school, Kōki brushed past a man he hadn't noticed until it was too late.
The impact was small, but enough to make him glance back. The stranger wore straight black clothes, the fabric neat but plain, almost blending with the lingering morning shadows stretched along the sidewalk. His shoes clicked sharply against the pavement when he stopped.
With a calm motion, the man adjusted his shades, lowering them slightly. Beneath the dark lenses, his sharp, pale eyes became visible—and locked directly onto... the two floating beside him.
Sayoko stiffened. Takuto floated closer, his usual easy grin faltering.
A chill crawled up Kōki's spine, stiffening his shoulders.
"Oi, Kōki… is it just me, or did that guy just look straight at me?" Takuto whispered, lowering his voice even though it was pointless. His body wavered faintly, betraying his nerves.
Sayoko's hands curled in front of her chest. "You think… he can see us?" Her voice trembled, soft and uncertain.
Kōki's throat tightened. Before he could respond, the man took a single step forward, shoes striking the ground with sharp, even rhythm.
"Hey. Kid. Hold it right there," the man said. His tone was casual, but it carried weight, as if used to being obeyed.
Kōki froze. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to keep on moving, but his feet wouldn't move. His heart hammered hard against his ribs, and his palms began to sweat.
The man tilted his chin toward him. "Do you realize you're being followed by ghosts?"
The words dropped so naturally, as if he were commenting on the weather.
Kōki's eyes widened. Wait—he can actually see them?!
His mouth went dry, but he forced a nervous laugh and raised a hand. "What a weird question to ask, huh? I don't see any ghosts. So, no… I'm not being followed."
The man studied him with an almost wolfish patience. Slowly, he slid the shades down just a little more, his gaze sharp enough to cut. "That's funny. Because I could've sworn the male ghost called your name just now. Kōki, wasn't it?"
A jolt of panic tore through Kōki's chest. He definitely can see them.
Kōki's lips pressed together, but he steadied his voice. "…So you can see ghosts too?"
The man smirked faintly, then pushed his shades back up, hiding those pale eyes once more. "Yeah. I can." His voice dropped lower, steady and self-assured. "And I also hunt them."
The man's tone didn't waver. "I'm an exorcist. It's my job to hunt down evil spirits. Now…" His head shifted slightly, chin angling toward Sayoko. "That girl ghost—her soul is pure. Clean. No corruption. I'll let her go."
Sayoko flinched, hands trembling as she tried to cling to Kōki's sleeve. Her fingers slipped through, leaving only a faint chill along his arm.
"But," the man continued, his voice hardening, "that male ghost—" his eyes shifted toward Takuto "—his soul reeks of red. He's committed sins while alive. I can't let him stay. Leave him alone, and he'll become an evil spirit sooner or later."
Takuto's face twisted. He floated back, raising his hands in panic. "What the hell are you talking about?! I didn't do anything like that!"
Kōki quickly stepped forward, body shielding Takuto. "You've got it wrong! He's not like that!"
The exorcist ignored the protest. His hand slid into his coat, pulling out a folded parchment covered in dense markings. His movements were sharp, practiced, no hesitation at all.
"I bind you to this spot," he intoned, his voice firm and commanding. "You're not moving anywhere until I'm done."
The parchment glowed faintly once it touched the air. Takuto's body jerked violently, his form rattling as if chains had snapped around him.
"I—ugh—I can't move!" Takuto's voice cracked, panic flooding it. He strained against invisible force, but his body remained stuck in place.
Sayoko gasped sharply. "What's happening?! What did you do to him?!"
Kōki's chest clenched. "What... did he do?"
The man was already pulling another item free, this time a small vial filled with clear water. He whispered under his breath, words too quick to catch.
"Now I'll cleanse your soul before sending you to the afterlife." He raised the vial high, voice sharp. "This will burn away the corruption in your soul."
He hurled the water directly where Takuto struggled.
Steam hissed into the air as the liquid splashed across Takuto's body.
"AHHHHHH!!!" Takuto's scream pierced through the street, raw and pained. His entire form twisted violently, writhing as if scorched alive.
Sayoko clapped her hands over her mouth, her voice breaking. "Stop! Please, stop!" Her eyes welled with tears of shock.
Kōki's body moved before his mind caught up. He surged forward, slamming his hand around the exorcist's wrist. His grip shook, but his eyes blazed.
"Stop it!" His voice cracked but carried force.
The man's expression twisted into irritation. "Get the hell out of my way, kid!"
With a violent shove, he threw Kōki aside. The impact knocked the breath from Kōki's lungs as his back smacked the pavement. A sharp sting flared along his side, and he gasped desperately for air.
"Kō…Kōki-kun!" Sayoko cried, her voice high and strained. She reached toward him, but her hands passed through his shoulder helplessly.
Kōki groaned, forcing his eyes open. His vision swam, the world tilting. The man loomed above Takuto, lifting the vial again with cold resolve.
"No…" Sayoko whispered, her body trembling violently. She couldn't breathe right, panic choking her throat. "What do I do? How can I save Takuto?"
Takuto's body writhed, his scream tearing through the air, each sound ripping into Sayoko's chest like open wounds. She pressed her palms together, desperate.
"I have to stop him," she whispered to herself. Her voice cracked, barely audible. "But how…?"
The morning sun crept higher, casting light across the quiet street. But despite the warmth, the air around them felt cold—so cold it sank into their bones.