Raku's steps felt heavy as he left the terrace. The evening breeze still blew gently, but now it was no longer calming—it felt as if it was accompanying him with faint whispers he could not understand.
His feet stepped onto the wooden corridor floor of the large Ichijou residence. The sound of his footsteps was muffled, only occasionally echoing as he passed the pillars. Raku lowered his head, both hands clutching the edge of his clothes, as if trying to suppress the turmoil roaring inside his chest.
Until finally he arrived in front of his room. He pushed it open slowly, the door hinges creaking softly, then entered. The calm air of the room greeted him, the smell of textbooks and papers neatly arranged on the shelf was usually soothing, but this time it felt strange.
Raku sat on the edge of the bed.
Both hands covered his face, his heart beating fast.
"Who… am I really…?" he whispered faintly.
His head lowered, his shadowy face reflected dimly on the shiny surface of the study desk. The memory earlier returned to disturb his mind: a foreign city full of lights, air balloons floating in the sky, and that man—the figure who seemed like a fragment of himself.
And that golden-haired woman. Her warm smile. Her soft voice calling that man Darling.
All of it felt too real to be called just a dream.
"Was that… someone else's memory?" he thought, his inner voice growing more chaotic. "But why can I see it so clearly? Why can I feel the sadness and the weight of the burden he carried…?"
He fell silent for a long time, his fingers clutching tightly at the fabric of his pants.
"Why… do I feel like that wasn't someone else. As if… I was there."
Raku lifted his face, staring at the ceiling of the room. The twilight light pierced through the window, slowly shifting into the dark of night.
Behind his watery eyes, there was a question pressing harder, a question that made his chest feel tight—
"Am I… truly Ichijou Raku? Or… something more?"
Silence dominated the room.
The wall clock ticked softly, marking seconds that felt so long.
Raku finally laid his body on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, while his mind kept thinking with vague images of a world that wasn't his.
The night grew late. The great Ichijou residence sank into silence, only the sound of the wall clock ticking softly. Raku, who was restless before, finally sank into sleep, though his chest was still filled with the question of who he really was.
But, in his sleep—he did not enter ordinary darkness.
There was light.
At first faint, then growing brighter. That white light was like a gentle rain, descending from a sky without boundaries. The ground beneath was colorless, only a vast stretch of pure white, like a blank page in a sacred scripture.
Raku stood alone in the middle of that space. His breath fogged though there was no cold, his heart beating faster. "W-where am I…?" he whispered.
Then the light merged, forming the first silhouette.
A woman appeared slowly, walking in the air as if the world bowed to her. Her long golden hair, flowing beautifully, reflected unseen starlight. Her eyes were clear blue, warm, comforting—like the embrace of a mother always longed for. Six radiant white wings spread majestically on her back, enveloping the air with a peace that could not be described with words. Her long white gown fluttered, as if holy mist followed her every movement.
"Gabriel…" the word slipped from Raku's lips, though he didn't know where it came from.
The second figure soon followed.
Her steps were elegant, graceful. Her face shone yet firm, beautiful yet radiating sharp authority. Behind her, six silver wings glittered, not as warm as Gabriel's light, but like fine blades that could cut through darkness. Holy light shimmered gently around her body, but her aura was different—like a blade hidden behind prayer. She was Arcelia, the Watcher Seraphim.
Raku froze. His legs went weak, his heart pounded wildly, as the two figures slowly approached him.
Then without hesitation, Gabriel and Arcelia spread their wings, embracing Raku into their arms. Warmth flowed deeply. Raku was shocked, his body stiff for a moment—but then his chest felt like it burst, and tears flowed endlessly.
"You… still exist…" whispered Gabriel, her voice like a soft song that could erase wounds.
Arcelia held Raku's hand tightly, her tears falling, so different from her stern face. "Thank goodness… thank goodness you're still alive…"
Raku sobbed. "Who… who are you…? And why can't I remember anything…?"
Gabriel smiled gently, though her eyes were wet. She caressed Raku's cheek with her glowing hand. "I am Gabriel, the Angel of Love… who always watched over you when you were little."
Arcelia bowed slightly, her face serious yet full of affection. "And I am Arcelia… one of the Watcher Seraphim. Just like her, I too watched over you when you were a child. You were never alone."
Raku fell silent. His cries broke even more. "I… Ichijou Raku… or whoever… I don't know who I am. The first time I woke, I was only told I slipped on snow… but here—" he struck his own chest, his voice trembling—"I feel like there's something more! Why… can't I remember it…?"
Gabriel lowered herself, pressing her forehead to Raku's. Her smile was so gentle it was painful to see. "No need to force it, my dear. That memory… will come on its own. For now… just breathe. Just live."
Arcelia patted Raku's shoulder, her firm voice now trembling. "What matters is… we are happy you still exist in this world. Even if you are hurt, even if your memory is shattered… your very existence is enough."
Their embrace poured warmth that calmed Raku's heart. For the first time since his amnesia, he felt… not truly alone.
But that warmth suddenly began to crack.
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the white space. The light began to split, black lines spreading like cracks in a mirror.
"No… don't go…!" cried Raku, trying to hold Gabriel and Arcelia's hands tightly.
Gabriel smiled softly, though her body was starting to dissolve into fragments of light. "Don't be afraid. We… will always be here for you."
Arcelia looked deep, her eyes conveying something unspoken. "You are not only 'Raku'… remember that. When the time comes, you will know who you are."
Then that white world collapsed.
Raku awoke with a stifled cry, his breath ragged. His cheeks were wet with tears that would not stop falling. He stared at the ceiling of his room, then covered his face with his hands.
"Gabriel… Arcelia… why… does it feel like I know you…?" he murmured softly.
The wall clock struck, showing 5 a.m. Raku took a deep breath, gazing at the dim sky visible from the window.
"Who am I really…? Ichijou Raku… or… someone else?"
Only silence answered, while the morning light slowly entered, erasing the remnants of the dream still lingering in his heart.