The black car moved quietly through streets gradually filled with the evening light. Snow fell gently, causing the windshield wipers to sweep across at intervals. In the back seat, Raku sat with a Christmas gift on his lap. His hands gripped it tightly, as if it were something he could never let go. His gaze was vacant, staring out the window at the traces of snow whitening the sidewalks.
Ryunosuke, driving calmly, glanced in the rearview mirror. A small smile appeared on his face as he saw how seriously his Bocchan was guarding the gift.
"Bocchan," Ryunosuke said softly, "you hold that box as if it contains the gem of the world."
Raku flinched slightly, then lowered his gaze to the gift in his hands. "I don't know why… it feels like this object is very important. I don't even know why I want to protect it like this. Even though… I don't remember who 'Ojou-chan' is that Father and you mentioned…"
Ryunosuke let out a thin sigh, his eyes fixed ahead. "The human heart is sometimes more honest than the mind, Bocchan. Even if memories are lost, feelings remain. Maybe you don't know who Ojou-chan is, but your body, your heart, still remembers to protect her."
Raku fell silent. The words pierced something deep inside him. A faint vibration, like a distant voice trying to be recalled, yet still shrouded in fog.
After a moment of quiet, Raku gave a small smile. "Ryunosuke… when they looked at me with those surprised faces earlier, I felt… guilty. They said I was friends with them, but I couldn't remember a single name before you introduced me. Did… I look pathetic?"
Ryunosuke chuckled softly, low and calming. "No, Bocchan. Quite the opposite. You look sincere. When you said you wanted to be friends from the start, it meant far more than just remembering the past. The courage to start again… not everyone possesses that."
Raku blinked, then smiled faintly. "For some reason, hearing that makes me feel a little lighter…"
Silence filled the car again, only the sound of the engine and the tires rubbing against the wet asphalt. Raku looked back down at the gift in his hands. This time, his expression was warmer, a glimmer of certainty shining through his confusion.
Ryunosuke added quietly, "Bocchan… Christmas might be difficult. Many people will look at you differently. But don't be afraid. Just smile, and let them know that even though your memories are gone, the new Ichijou Raku… is still here."
Raku nodded softly. "I'll try, Ryunosuke… I want to… make them smile. Even if I don't know who I was before, at least I can be someone who won't disappoint now."
Ryunosuke glanced through the mirror, seeing his Bocchan smile innocently while hugging the gift. He couldn't help but smile himself. "That's more than enough, Bocchan."
The car continued home, accompanied by the snow falling heavier in the evening, as if the world was preparing to welcome a hopeful Christmas night.
The black car slowly entered the large courtyard of the Ichijou residence. The garden lights were already on, reflecting warm light on the thin layer of snow covering the walkway. When the engine stopped, the side door was quickly opened by Ryunosuke. Raku got out, still clutching the gift box tightly in his arms, as if it were something immensely precious.
On the front porch, Issei was already standing with his arms crossed. His smile was wide, yet his eyes were full of curiosity. "Oh, Raku finally home." His voice sounded a mix of relief and slight mischief. "How was your trip? Did you get a gift for Ojou-chan?"
Raku bowed his head slightly, then showed the gift box he was hugging. "Yes, Father. I found it… though I'm still not sure if it's the right choice. But for some reason… it feels like this is something I must give her."
Issei looked at his son for a moment, then smiled more gently. "That's more than enough. A gift isn't about right or wrong, but your sincerity. Ojou-chan will understand, just trust that."
Ryunosuke, standing beside him, added in a low but clear voice, "Bocchan was very serious about protecting it during the trip. He held the box the entire time, like a child afraid of losing a toy."
Issei chuckled at that. "Hahaha, I see. That's fine. Better that than leaving it behind in the store."
But Ryunosuke's expression then became slightly more serious. He glanced at Issei, signaling for a more private conversation. "There's another matter, Mr. Issei."
Issei raised an eyebrow. "Hm? What is it?"
Ryunosuke bowed slightly before continuing, his voice calm yet thoughtful. "During the trip, Bocchan met three of his friends—Shu, Ruri, and Onodera. They were shocked to learn of Bocchan's condition… that he lost all his memories after the accident in the snow."
Issei paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. He glanced at Raku, who was still standing innocently, unaware of the serious conversation. Bocchan was even smiling faintly while looking at the gift box in his hands, completely unburdened.
Issei let out a deep sigh, then spoke in a softer tone, "So they already know… unavoidable. And how did they react?"
Ryunosuke answered honestly, "They were surprised, of course. But Bocchan, in his own way, invited them to celebrate Christmas at this house. He even asked them to add their contact numbers to his phone, as if truly wanting to start over. Shu laughed, Ruri tried to restrain her feelings, but Onodera… looked very hurt."
Issei listened carefully, then gave a faint smile—a smile not entirely happy. "Hmph… our Raku is peculiar. Even without his memories, he can still reach the hearts of those around him. But I can imagine how difficult it must be for that girl… Onodera, yes?"
Ryunosuke nodded slowly.
Issei then approached Raku, patting his shoulder meaningfully. "Raku, you did well today. Inviting them for Christmas—that was a brave step. Don't worry about your memories. True friends will stay by your side even if you forget who you are. And if anyone feels pain because of it… the only thing you can do is keep showing them the person you are now."
Raku looked at his father, confused but slightly relieved to hear those words. "So… I didn't make a mistake, Father?"
Issei smiled broadly, this time full of confidence. "No, Raku. Not at all."
Ryunosuke added, giving a small bow, "They've promised to come on Christmas night. I think it will be an important moment, both for Bocchan and them."
Issei nodded firmly. "Alright. Let's prepare the best feast. This Christmas… will be different from usual. Raku, keep that gift safe. When the time comes, give it with your heart."
Raku bowed slightly with a smile, pressing his fingers gently on the surface of the gift box. "Yes, Father… I will."
Outside, the snow continued to fall quietly. Yet inside the Ichijou residence, the atmosphere began to feel warm—a mixture of hope, anxiety, and a new beginning.
.....
That night, at Onodera's house. Silence enveloped the room of a girl with soft brown hair, sitting on the edge of her bed. Kosaki Onodera stared blankly at the window, where snowflakes fell slowly, sticking briefly to the glass before melting. The room was warmed by a heater, but her heart felt otherwise—cold, empty, and tight.
Her small hands clenched in her lap, still trembling as if the afternoon encounter had just happened. Raku's voice kept echoing in her ears:
"Hello Ruri, Onodera, and Shu, sorry… was I really friends with you before? If so, how about we start over?"
It was like a sharp knife piercing the wound in her chest, making her breath heavy. Kosaki bit her lip gently, holding back the emotions overflowing inside. "Ichijou-kun… how could… you not remember me at all?" she whispered softly, almost inaudible, yet echoing within her own heart.
Since middle school, she had held that feeling inside. A feeling she never managed to voice, but it grew deeper each day. Every smile from Raku, every foolish word, even his nervous quirks—all of it made her days colorful. And now, it seemed as if it had all been erased. The Raku who smiled at her just now was not the Raku she knew. His smile was innocent, warm… but also foreign, because those eyes no longer recognized her.
Onodera lowered her head, tears finally falling, wetting the back of her hands. She hurriedly wiped them with her pajama sleeves, trying to stay silent so her family wouldn't hear. "I have to be strong… I mustn't make everyone worry…" she said, though her voice trembled.
But the more she tried to hold back, the more it hurt. The image of Raku reintroducing himself, saying her name as if to a stranger, struck her harder than she had imagined.
Onodera stood, walking slowly to her desk. There, in a small drawer, she took something: a key she had kept, a childhood promise that once made her smile when thinking of the past. She held the key tightly, pressing it to her chest.
"Are all those memories… left only with me?" she said, closing her eyes. Tears flowed again, soaking the ribbon she clutched.
Yet behind the pain, a faint resolve began to grow. "Ichijou-kun… even if you forget me, even if you don't know who I am… I will not give up. I will stay by your side, even if we have to start from the beginning."
Onodera returned to her bed, lying down slowly while hugging a pillow. Her eyes were still red, but her gaze was different now—not just despairing, but mixed with a faint courage. The snow outside continued to fall, covering the city streets, as if also wrapping her heartache that night.