Raku's footsteps felt hesitant as he followed Ryunosuke into the shopping center. The warm air inside the building immediately welcomed him, a stark contrast to the bone-chilling cold outside. Yet, it wasn't only that which left Raku frozen—his eyes widened, as if he had entered another world, both unfamiliar and astonishing.
Christmas lights sparkled in every corner, reflecting off the glass display cases filled with shiny goods. People passed by in thick jackets, long scarves, and gloves, most looking like young couples holding hands and smiling at each other. Little children ran around, pointing at Christmas decorations hanging overhead, their laughter mingling with the soft music playing through the mall's speakers.
Raku gazed at the scene with an innocent expression, like a child seeing a night market in a village for the first time. Every corner felt full of color and life. His chest fluttered lightly, not just from the unfamiliar crowd, but also from a sudden curiosity that had emerged.
Ryunosuke walked a half-step ahead, his gaze calm as ever. Occasionally, he glanced at his Bocchan out of the corner of his eye and smiled slightly, seeing how awestruck Raku was. After several minutes walking through the main corridor, Ryunosuke stopped in front of a store. He turned, nodding towards it.
"How about this store, Bocchan? There seems to be a lot of interesting choices for gifts."
Raku shifted his gaze. Behind the glass display, various unfamiliar items were presented: small sparkling jewelry accessories, miniature Christmas ornaments, and dolls of various shapes. The chandeliers inside the store made everything appear even warmer.
"Ah…" Raku stepped in hesitantly, then slowly let his eyes wander over the shelves filled with items. His fingers almost reached out, as if wanting to touch each one, though in the end they stayed at a safe distance. His gaze was full of curiosity, like exploring a museum filled with magical objects.
And there it was.
On one of the shelves stood a doll in a white dress with delicate lace and a tiny crown on its head. The doll's face was crafted with gentle detail, a serene expression, as if a little princess from a fairy tale. The light falling on it made the dress shimmer faintly.
Raku unconsciously stepped closer, his eyes unable to leave the doll. There was something about it—something calming and at the same time… captivating.
Ryunosuke, observing from the side, could only smile. His mind drifted to an old memory of his stubborn Bocchan, who had once referred to Ojou-chan as a "Gorilla." Ironically, today Bocchan was choosing a princess doll, as if showing a completely different innocent side after losing his memories.
Raku finally turned to Ryunosuke. His gaze was slightly shy, yet firm as he pointed to the doll. "Ryunosuke… please get that doll. And… if possible… have it made into a gift box. A Christmas present."
"Understood, Bocchan," Ryunosuke replied with a smile wider than usual. "Now it's time to head to the cashier."
The two of them moved toward the cashier's counter. The store was fairly busy, a long line forming with people carrying full shopping bags. The whispers of couples, footsteps, and the crinkle of wrapping paper filled the air.
Behind the counter, a young man in a work uniform looked busy. His hair was slightly messy, expression flat but weary. He let out a small sigh while organizing wrapping paper next to the cash register.
Futaro Uesugi.
It was his long shift that day, and it was clear from his face that he was tired of the pre-Christmas crowds. Yet, as soon as Raku and Ryunosuke arrived in front of him, he quickly straightened into a professional smile.
"Good afternoon. Is this all?" he asked, pointing to the princess doll Ryunosuke held.
"Yes," Raku replied briefly. Then he added, a bit awkwardly, "Could… you also make it a Christmas gift?"
"Of course," Futaro responded quickly. His hands skillfully took light blue wrapping paper with a gold ribbon, wrapping the doll neatly. His movements were practiced, though his face still bore traces of fatigue.
"The total is… ¥5000," he said finally, handing over the neatly arranged gift box.
Ryunosuke didn't hesitate to take out his wallet and pay, while Raku received the gift box carefully, as if it were fragile. A faint smile appeared on his face—sincere, warm, and slightly trembling.
After the two of them left, Futaro let out a long sigh, gazing at the long line behind them. Inwardly, he murmured, "A gift, huh…? That doll isn't bad. But… I still don't even know what to give my little sister later."
He bent his head again, busying himself with the next task. Yet, for some reason, a brief smile flickered across his face before vanishing again into his work.
Snow continued to fall lightly, covering the city streets with a thin white layer. Streetlights glimmered, reflecting softly on the falling flakes. Raku walked slowly beside Ryunosuke, both hands gripping the neatly wrapped gift box with the light blue ribbon. For others, it might be just an ordinary present, but for Raku, who had lost all his memories, the object felt like the most precious treasure—a symbol of a new beginning he was trying to piece together.
Ryunosuke glanced at him and smiled slightly. There was something in the way his Bocchan held the gift—like a child afraid of losing their first toy. The innocent face he saw today was truly different from the Raku who used to be talkative and anxious.
However, their steps halted when a commotion was heard from another direction.
"Yo, Raku!"
Raku lifted his head. Three figures approached through the crowd—Shu with his characteristic bright smile, Ruri with her flat expression, and Onodera with a gentle face that looked slightly surprised.
Shu waved his hand while laughing, "Long time no see! Sorry I couldn't come to your birthday!"
Raku tilted his head, confusion evident in his eyes. He tried to respond with a polite smile, then spoke calmly, "Hello. I'm Ichijou Raku. Nice to meet you. Did we… know each other before?"
Suddenly, the air between them froze.
Ruri and Shu stared at him intently, their shocked expressions clearly visible. Shu chuckled, trying to take it as a joke. "Hahaha, you're something else, Raku. Is this some kind of Christmas joke, huh? Trying to scare us?"
Ruri added flatly but hesitantly, "It seems like you… can still joke around."
However, Onodera remained silent. Her heart raced, and a strange feeling spread through her chest. Her gaze was fixed on Raku's innocent smile—a smile that felt both unfamiliar and painful. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Ryunosuke immediately stepped forward, bowing slightly. In a serious tone he said, "I apologize. It seems I forgot to introduce myself properly. I am Ryunosuke, a servant of the Ichijou family. And this Bocchan… is indeed your friend, Ruri, Shu, and Onodera. But…"
He took a deep breath before continuing, "A few days ago, Bocchan had an accident. He slipped in the snow. His head hit hard, and… now Bocchan is experiencing amnesia. No memories remain."
Shu and Ruri's eyes widened simultaneously.
"Amnesia…?" Shu choked out, his face barely able to hide his shock.
Ruri stared at Raku for a long moment, then murmured softly, "So… it's really not a joke."
Meanwhile, Onodera felt her chest being squeezed. The surrounding atmosphere faded, leaving only the sound of her heartbeat in her ears. Ryunosuke's words echoed, cutting through her heart. Raku… the person she knew, talkative, kind, and warm—was gone. Standing before her was the same figure, yet with a foreign gaze.
Yet in the midst of the silence, Raku spoke again. He bowed his head slightly, trying to be polite, then looked at them with a gentle smile.
"Hello, Ruri, Onodera, Shu. Sorry… was I really friends with you before? If so… how about we start over? I really didn't know I had friends like you. By the way… would you like to celebrate Christmas at my house?"
His smile was innocent, sincere, free of past burdens.
Shu, Ruri, and Onodera could only remain silent.
Ruri finally turned to Onodera, seeing her friend's pale face and teary eyes. For a moment, she could feel the pain in Onodera's heart—how painful it was to see Raku like this. So she answered calmly, "Alright. We'll come."
Shu chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension though his voice trembled slightly. "Of course. Besides, I didn't get to come to your birthday yesterday. Didn't expect there'd be an accident too. Well… let us know, okay?"
Raku smiled in relief. "Thank you. By the way, could you add your numbers to my smartphone? I still don't really know how to input phone numbers… or use it."
He took out his new smartphone from his pocket, offering it hesitantly. Shu took it skillfully, then quickly typed.
"There. Here's my number, Ruri's, and Onodera's. Don't forget to send messages on SNS later, okay? Consider it practice," Shu said while returning the smartphone.
Raku took it carefully, then smiled again. "Alright. Thank you very much. Well then, I'll be off now."
Ryunosuke bowed respectfully, "We'll take our leave for now. You can chat with Bocchan later on Christmas Eve. Today, he's still in recovery."
The two of them walked away, leaving the three friends still standing in silence.
Ruri finally approached, gently patting Onodera's shoulder. "Don't be sad. Try to stay strong… and don't give up."
Shu added in a softer voice, "Raku feels… very different. Calm, innocent smile… like someone else. Not the Raku from before."
Onodera bit her lip, her eyes red. She tried to hold back tears, but the pain in her chest deepened. Raku… the person she had liked all this time… truly didn't remember her anymore.
The snow continued to fall, as if covering the wound with a cold white blanket. Yet in Onodera's heart, that cold pierced even deeper.