The black luxury car finally turned into the Shūei Clan. The large gate opened, revealing a traditional Japanese-style house, complete with a neatly kept garden. Small birds scattered as the car slowed to a stop in front of the main entrance.
Ryunosuke quickly got out of the front seat and opened the door for Raku. Issei stepped out from the other side, ready to assist.
"Take it slow, Raku," Issei said as he reached for his son's hand.
Raku stepped onto the ground, staring at the house with a blank yet curious gaze. His face showed no awkwardness or nervousness, only calmness, as though he were seeing a strange place—even though it was his own home.
"…This is my house?" Raku asked quietly.
Chitoge, standing beside him, held her breath for a moment. She wanted to reply in her usual sharp tone, but what came out was soft instead. "Yes… this is your house."
Claude observed Raku through his glasses, noting how different his expression was compared to before. "That's right, Bocchan. This is the Shūei Clan residence. You lived here before."
Raku gave a slight nod, then looked at the large building again. 'Strange… I should feel familiar with this. But somehow, everything feels foreign. Like it's my first time seeing this place.'
Ryunosuke added in his usual cheerful tone, trying to lighten the mood. "Well then, let's go inside. I've already prepared your room, Bocchan, along with some warm tea to welcome you home."
Issei helped Raku walk toward the main door, while Chitoge stayed at his other side, unsure whether she should hold his hand or not. In the end, when Raku's steps faltered, she instinctively supported his arm.
Raku glanced at her briefly, then spoke calmly. "Thank you… Chitoge."
Chitoge's heart skipped a beat at those words. Her face flushed, but she quickly looked away. 'Why can he say thank you so easily like that…? Usually he'd make a fuss if I helped him.'
As they stepped into the house, the distinct scent of tatami mixed with the fragrance of tea greeted them. Raku paused for a moment, taking in the interior. There was a sense of peace, yet also strangeness.
Claude folded his arms and spoke flatly. "Starting today, Bocchan will have to adapt again from the very beginning. Don't push yourself—take it slowly."
Raku gave a faint smile and replied, "Alright… I'll try to learn again… even what it means to call this place home."
Those words drew silence again, as though an unseen distance had formed between the old Raku and the one standing now.
After passing through the Ichijou household's main corridor, Raku was guided upstairs by Issei and Ryunosuke. Chitoge followed from behind, her expression a mixture of nervousness, curiosity, and unease because of how different the atmosphere felt compared to usual.
Claude continued to observe sharply, as if analyzing every reaction Raku made.
"Bocchan, your room is at the end of this corridor," Ryunosuke explained, pointing to a traditional wooden sliding door.
Raku stared at the door for a long moment, as though searching for something in his head. But no memory came. He simply looked blankly before letting out a quiet sigh.
Issei slid the door open, revealing a spacious room with a neatly laid futon, a low table, a small bookshelf, and a large window overlooking the back garden. The midday sunlight poured in, filling the room with warmth.
"…So this is… my room?" Raku stepped inside slowly, looking around. There was a faint feeling, but not enough to recall anything.
Ryunosuke smiled warmly. "Yes, Bocchan. You used to spend a lot of time here. Reading, studying, even taking naps. Though… perhaps it feels strange now."
Raku turned his head slightly. "I feel… like a guest in my own house."
Hearing that, Chitoge unconsciously bit her lower lip. 'This bean sprout… usually he'd complain about the room or the futon. But now… why do his words make me feel uneasy like this?'
Claude added in a flat tone, "That's normal. Lost memories take time to return. Don't force it."
Issei placed a box of medicine and a glass of water on the small table near the futon. "Raku, this is the medicine from the doctor for the afternoon. Take it before resting."
Raku sat down on the futon slowly, his body still weak though not as bad as yesterday. He took the medicine, staring at it for a moment as if confused. "Medicine… huh? Will this help me get my memories back?"
Issei gave a faint smile, trying to reassure him. "Not directly, but it will help your body recover first. As for your memories… let time handle that."
Raku nodded lightly, swallowing the medicine with water. Then he lay down on the futon, staring at the ceiling.
Chitoge stood by the door, watching him with a complicated expression. She wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start.
Raku turned his head slightly, looking at her. "Thank you… for staying with me this far."
Chitoge was startled, her face heating up. She quickly looked away and snapped back, "Don't get the wrong idea, I just… yeah, I just don't want you doing anything stupid again. That's all."
Raku gave a faint smile, then closed his eyes. Slowly, his breathing grew steady, signaling he had fallen asleep.
Ryunosuke carefully closed the door, then whispered to Issei and Claude outside, "Bocchan looks more peaceful when he's sleeping… but I'm still worried."
Claude adjusted his glasses. "Peaceful, yet foreign. That's what unsettles me. Let's just see if he can adapt."
Chitoge lowered her gaze briefly, then looked at the closed door. 'The Raku I know… it feels like he's gone. But why am I so afraid of losing him completely…?'
The sound of sparrows echoed faintly outside the window. The golden evening light slipped in through the thin curtains, filling the room with a warmth different from the winter's cold.
Raku slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry at first, but eventually he could see the orange sky through the window. He tried to get up, but his movements were sluggish, so he leaned against the futon with a long sigh.
"You're awake?"
The voice made him turn. Sitting in a chair near the small table, Chitoge was holding a magazine. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the evening light, though her expression tried to remain neutral.
"Ah… yes. I slept quite long, didn't I?" Raku answered softly.
Chitoge closed the magazine with a soft thud, then looked at him. "Almost three hours. If you keep sleeping, you won't be able to sleep tonight."
Raku gave a faint smile. "But my body feels lighter now… though my head is still empty."
The atmosphere turned quiet. Chitoge shifted uneasily, her hand gripping the edge of the magazine. Normally, conversations with Raku were always filled with arguments. But now… there was only a strange calmness.
"Why are you so quiet?" Raku suddenly asked.
Chitoge froze. "Eh?"
"You've been sitting there without saying much. But… if you really are my girlfriend, like Father said, shouldn't we be closer?" His tone was sincere, but the words pierced.
Chitoge's cheeks flushed slightly. 'Idiot… he doesn't even remember that it's all just pretend…'
She turned toward the window, avoiding his gaze. "You… think too much. What matters now is you focus on recovering. Don't bother with weird thoughts."
Raku lowered his head briefly, then nodded softly. "Alright… thank you, Chitoge."
Her name slipped naturally from his mouth, making Chitoge whip her head around. "W-what? You still remember my name?"
Raku gave a faint smile. "Of course. My father mentioned it earlier, didn't he? And I feel… I don't want to forget someone who's stayed by my side until now."
Chitoge's face immediately burned red. She hurriedly stood, coughing loudly to cover it up. "D-don't get the wrong idea! I just… yeah, I just happened to be here. That's all!"
Raku stifled a small laugh, but quickly returned to calmness. He looked out at the evening sky through the window, murmuring softly as if to himself. "For some reason… looking at the sky like this, I feel something's missing. Like a promise… but I don't know what."
Chitoge, who was about to leave the room, suddenly stopped. Her heart pounded hard. Those words stirred something deep inside… the childhood promise they shared.
She bit her lip, then quickly replied so her voice wouldn't tremble. "If something really is missing… maybe, in time, you'll find it again."
Raku turned to her. "You think so?"
"Yes." Chitoge averted her gaze, holding back the turmoil in her heart. "Don't give up. Even if you forget now… there must be a reason you've come this far."
Raku nodded slowly. A faint smile crossed his face before he leaned back against the futon. "In that case… I'll believe in you."
Those words made Chitoge freeze. Her face turned bright red, but she quickly turned away to hide it. "I-idiot! Don't say embarrassing things like that with such a serious face!"
But deep inside, Chitoge knew—this Raku was truly different. Quiet, calm, and sincere. Yet his words… carried more weight than ever before.