The sound of the shrine bell rang once more. The hustle and bustle of visitors once again filled the air. As if nothing had happened, the world moved normally again.
However, for the three of them, it felt as if they had just been dragged out of a strange dream that was far too real.
Raku stood stiffly in front of the altar, his eyes blank as he stared at the sky. His breath was slow yet heavy, as though something was pressing down on his chest.
Beside him, Onodera and Chitoge couldn't hold back their tears. Their cheeks were wet, though neither of them truly understood why their hearts felt so heavy.
Ruri, who had just finished lighting incense, turned around and froze when she saw them.
"Eh? Onodera-san… Chitoge-san… you're crying?"
Onodera quickly wiped her cheeks, trying to smile even though her voice trembled.
"A-ah, it's nothing… I just… somehow it feels so heavy in my heart."
Chitoge also suddenly realized she was crying, hurriedly turning her face away.
"Don't get the wrong idea! I also don't know why… it just suddenly…"
Shu approached, his expression more serious than usual. He normally liked to joke, but this time was different.
"…Oi, Raku. What's wrong with you? Your gaze is so empty."
Raku didn't answer immediately. He only stared far into the sky, his lips slowly trembling before a faint voice escaped.
"Even the Goddess Amaterasu… cannot give me an answer. Who… am I, really?"
That sentence made the four of them fall silent.
Onodera lowered her head, both hands clutching the strap of her small bag tightly. New tears fell before she could stop them.
'…Ichijou-kun. Even if you don't remember who you are… I just want to stay by your side.'
Chitoge bit her lip. Amaterasu's words earlier—about "a fake girlfriend who could become real"—still echoed in her ears.
'…Why does my heart ache like this?'
Ruri looked at the two of them, then let out a long sigh. She already understood that there was something much bigger than just "ordinary amnesia."
"…So even the Goddess cannot answer, huh? How very interesting."
Shu patted Raku's shoulder, this time without laughter or jokes.
"It doesn't matter who you really are, Raku. What matters is that you're standing here with us now."
Raku finally lowered his gaze from the sky, turning to his friends. A faint smile appeared on his face—fragile, yet real.
"…Thank you. Even though I don't know who I am, you're still here."
Onodera lowered her head further, Chitoge turned her face away so her damp eyes wouldn't be seen. Meanwhile Shu and Ruri exchanged glances, both knowing: today was only the beginning of something far greater.
The shrine once again became lively, but for the five of them, time seemed to move slowly. The New Year that should have been filled with joy now left behind questions and feelings that could not be ignored.
The crowd of worshippers grew denser around the shrine, the sound of bells echoing alternately with prayers being offered. The cold New Year air bit at the skin, yet for Raku, his heart felt far colder than the weather outside.
After praying together, the five of them walked out through the shrine gate. Shu stretched his body while yawning.
"Well then, a long New Year awaits. I'm heading out first, Raku."
Ruri waved her small hand, her face still expressionless but her tone soft.
"Don't think too much about it, Raku. See you at school later."
Onodera bowed slightly, holding tightly to the small bag she carried.
"Ichijou-kun… be careful on your way home, okay." Her voice was faint, filled with feelings she kept to herself.
Chitoge only glanced briefly. Her cheeks were still faintly red, but she covered it with a tough tone.
"Don't get sick, you idiot. The New Year has to start healthy!"
Raku looked at them one by one, then smiled faintly.
"Thank you, everyone. See you again."
They parted ways along streets lit by paper lanterns.
In front of the shrine, a black car was already waiting. Ryunosuke opened the door and bowed.
"Please get in, Bocchan."
Raku entered without saying much. Issei, seated in the back seat, looked at his son with eyes full of concern. As the car began to slowly drive away from the bustle of the shrine, Issei finally spoke.
"Raku… what's wrong with your face? You've looked… empty since earlier."
Raku lowered his head, both hands clasped together on his lap. The faint hum of the engine filled the silence, making his words feel heavier.
"It's just that…" he took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "…I haven't found the answer. Who am I, really? Even the Goddess Amaterasu… couldn't tell me. All she did was give me… a Blessing."
The atmosphere inside the car instantly grew quiet. Ryunosuke, driving, glanced briefly through the rearview mirror, his expression tense.
Issei closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them again. His face was serious, yet carried the calmness of a father trying to contain his emotions.
"…I understand. That must be difficult for you."
Raku bit his lower lip, his eyes trembling slightly. "I just… want to remember who I am. It hurts to keep going like this, as if I'm… empty."
Issei didn't answer right away. He looked toward Ryunosuke, but the two only exchanged glances briefly—and remained silent.
The car continued on, passing streetlights that reflected their glow against the windows. Each passing light seemed to emphasize the silence inside the car.
Raku gazed out the window, his eyes fixed on the dark night sky without stars.
Issei looked at his son once again, this time with a heavy yet loving gaze. He wanted to say something—to give an answer, or even just comfort—but in the end, he only placed his hand on Raku's shoulder. A simple touch, yet warm.
Raku turned slightly, then nodded weakly.
Ryosuke remained silent, only watching the road. In his heart, he felt pain at hearing the words of his young Bocchan. They both knew Raku's wound was no ordinary wound, and the answer… who knew when it would be found.
The car continued driving through the New Year's night, leaving behind the bustle of the shrine and carrying home a young man whose soul was increasingly shrouded in questions.
...
Inside the quiet room, the window curtains half-open allowed the soft afternoon light to filter in. The faint sound of sparrows could be heard in the distance, mingling with the breeze that rustled the leaves outside. Raku sat on the edge of the bed, his back slightly hunched, his eyes blank as he stared at the pale blue sky that was beginning to turn tinged with orange.
His hands rested on his knees, loosely clasped as if trying to hold onto something he couldn't grasp. His gaze didn't move from the sky, as though hoping that among the slowly shifting clouds, he might find the answer he sought.
"Those memories… will return on their own, or so they say…" he murmured faintly, almost like whispering to himself. The voice broke into the quiet air, then vanished, swallowed by silence.
A faint image of a pair of lovers appeared in his mind. A man standing while gazing at the sky, accompanied by a girl smiling gently at his side. His heart trembled violently, as if something was tightly bound within, yet their faces remained shrouded in mist. He knew… that was him. But along with that certainty came a bitter feeling—as though there was a distance, something preventing him from reaching them.
"Looking at the sky… calms me." Raku muttered softly, his eyes never leaving the fading horizon. His lips curved faintly, yet the smile was filled with confusion and emptiness. "It feels like that's me… yes, the me from before. But…"
He fell silent, his breathing steady yet heavy. The ticking of the wall clock sounded clearly, each chime striking as if mocking the time that kept moving forward without waiting.
"…what does it mean? To return home… to my world?"
The words slipped out just like that, and after being spoken, silence once again dominated the room. Raku closed his eyes for a moment, his head lowering. His heart grew tighter with an unfamiliar feeling he couldn't understand.
Outside, the orange light was nearly gone, replaced by the dark blue that marked the coming of night. Yet Raku still sat in the same place, staring at the sky as though the answer he sought would descend with the first star that would soon appear.