The morning sky was clear, the cold air piercing even though the sunlight had begun to rise slowly. Each breath turned into a white mist in the air. Ichijou Raku looked at his reflection in the mirror of his room: a simple dark blue yukata wrapped around his body. He adjusted his sash, then took a deep breath. Today was New Year's—the day that felt like a new beginning for him.
In his hand, the smartphone vibrated. He typed a short message:
"Happy New Year. Let's meet in front of the shrine this morning."
The message was sent to Ruri, Shu, Onodera, and Chitoge. For a moment he stared at the phone screen, then exhaled. Somehow, his chest felt heavy—as if today would bring something unusual.
Issei was already waiting in the living room, wearing a black kimono with the family crest. Ryunosuke stood behind him, carrying a thick coat. "Bocchan, are you ready?" he asked politely.
"Yes," replied Raku.
The three of them then departed in a long black car. The road to the shrine was full of pilgrims, red lanterns hanging along the street. In the back seat, Raku leaned back and looked out the window. His gaze was fixed on the pale blue winter sky.
'If angels really exist… then God must exist too, right?' he thought. Images of Gabriel and Arcelia flickered in his mind. 'If I pray… will they answer? Or is there someone higher… who can give me the answer of who I really am?'
"Raku." Issei's voice broke his thoughts. "Don't think too much. Enjoy your New Year."
Raku only gave a faint smile and nodded. But his eyes returned to the sky.
Not long after, the car stopped outside a large shrine. The sound of the crowd was clear, people bustling about in winter clothes and yukata. Issei patted Raku's shoulder. "We'll separate here. Once it's over, we'll meet again."
Ryunosuke looked a little worried. "Is it alright to leave Bocchan alone?"
Issei smiled. "Trust me. He'll be fine."
Raku stepped out of the car, the cold air greeting him immediately. He walked slowly to the agreed meeting place. There, four figures were already standing: Ruri with a long black coat, Shu with a bright jacket and a wide grin, Onodera with a soft pastel floral yukata, and Chitoge with a red scarf covering her neck.
"Sorry, am I late?" Raku asked a little awkwardly.
"No, not at all," Shu answered quickly. "We also just got here."
Raku let out a sigh of relief, then smiled. "Well then, let's go."
They walked side by side toward the shrine. A large crowd stretched ahead, the sound of people praying, and the ringing of shrine bells echoed one after another. The line moved slowly, but the atmosphere felt warm.
Raku held a coin in his hand. His heart was pounding. 'If I really pray… will anyone hear it?'
His turn arrived. He stepped forward, placed the coin into the offering box, then reached for the bell rope. With a gentle pull, the bell rang.
DOONNGG.
But—the sound was different. Not like the metallic echo resonating in the air, but a sound that pierced directly into his soul. The echo vibrated in his chest, making his entire body stiffen.
Suddenly, the world around him changed. The colors vanished, replaced by black and white. The sounds disappeared. The wind stopped. The people waiting in line behind him froze like statues.
"Eh…?" Chitoge widened her eyes, looking around.
"This…?" Onodera held her chest, her face pale.
Shu and Ruri did not move at all, as if time had completely stopped for them.
Raku's heart pounded loudly. Behind the shrine, a dazzling light slowly formed. From within that light, the figure of a woman emerged.
A long white kimono flowed, long black hair shining golden under the radiance, her eyes glowing like the morning sun. A warm aura enveloped the air, but also pressed on the soul until it was hard to breathe.
"A… Amaterasu…" Chitoge whispered, her voice trembling.
The figure looked at Raku. Her gaze pierced through, gentle yet heavy. "Young one…" her voice echoed, clear, but felt inside the heart, not the ears. "There is something wrong with you."
Raku swallowed, his steps faltering. "I… I just want to know who I am. I lost my memories. But strangely… there are memories of someone else inside my head. It makes me sad…"
Amaterasu walked closer, each step seemingly making the world tremble more. She stopped right before Raku, then extended her hand. "I am Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun. Where there is light, there too lies truth. May I… see your soul?"
Raku trembled, but finally nodded. "…Go ahead."
That glowing gentle hand touched his chest. Instantly, Amaterasu's vision was pulled inside.
Darkness.
Then it opened—the sight of Raku's soul. Not full of light like a normal human, but a fragile sphere full of cracks. Many parts were missing, hollow, empty. Only a small fragment of light remained, desperately trying to endure.
Amaterasu gasped. Tears suddenly flowed from her eyes.
"This…" her voice shook.
A faint memory flashed: a small child stood alone in the Void. Not ordinary darkness, but total nothingness. No laws, no colors, no concepts. There, something terrifying lurked—an entity whose name even gods were unwilling to speak.
That child fought, even as his body was torn apart, even as his existence was nearly erased. Time and again, his soul was stitched back with existential seams, only to break apart again.
Amaterasu sobbed, her tears falling to the ground. "How is this possible…? A child so small…"
Onodera covered her mouth, her eyes widening. Chitoge felt her chest tighten. Seeing the Goddess Amaterasu cry shook their hearts deeply.
Raku looked at her in confusion. "You… are crying? Do you know who I am? Why can't I remember anything? All I want… is to remember everything."
Amaterasu wiped her tears, her voice breaking. "The truth is sometimes too painful. It could even destroy you if you force yourself to remember it. Those memories… will return. But… I am not sure you will remain the same once everything is revealed."
Raku fell silent, his heart clutching that emptiness.
Amaterasu lifted her hand. A gentle golden light enveloped Raku's body, warm and soothing. "What I can give you now is only a Blessing. So that your soul… does not fade."
Raku staggered, feeling that warmth seep into his chest.
Then Amaterasu turned. First toward Chitoge. Her gaze was sharp, yet full of compassion.
"You call him your boyfriend because of circumstance, and your heart is still uncertain. But… a false feeling guarded with sincerity can sometimes become real. Don't let go of that hand."
Chitoge froze. Her chest tightened, her face reddened, her lips trembled.
Then Amaterasu's gaze shifted to Onodera.
"You love him. But he has lost his memories of you. Don't let that pain make you retreat. He needs someone who will remain, even when he himself does not know who he is."
Onodera covered her mouth with her hand. Tears streamed down uncontrollably.
The light slowly dimmed. The bustling sound of the shrine returned. Shu blinked, Ruri exhaled—they were unaware that time had briefly stopped.
Only Raku stood frozen. He clutched his chest, his face pale. "Even… Goddess Amaterasu could not give me the answer of who I truly am…"
Chitoge and Onodera looked at him, their tears falling as well. A heavy feeling filled their hearts—for they realized, just how lonely the figure of Raku standing before them really was.