Lira's eyes were still damp, her voice trembling but steady enough to continue.
"After a few days…" she began softly, "Lena was hit by a car. It wasn't too serious..some injuries..but they admitted her to the hospital."
Everyone listened quietly, their attention wrapped in the story, the truth that had waited years to be told.
"I visited her every day," Lira said, "but I couldn't hold it in anymore. That night, I went to her again, alone, without my parents knowing. She was still awake, and I… I told her I was going to leave."
She looked down, her fingers gripping the edge of her skirt again.
"I told her I would go to her world. Because she always spoke about it. About the towers. About… another Yona."
Aria's hand slowly covered her mouth, her eyes fixed on Lira.
"She didn't agree," Lira continued, "she was scared. But I promised her.. if she didn't tell anyone, I'd bring Yona back to her. Because…"her voice faltered, "because she liked him too."
A silence fell over the group. Lira's voice dropped to a whisper.
"She believed me. So I went."
"It was the time for the gate to open again… and I entered the tower."
"That's how I came to this world. And I… never went back."
Tears rolled down her cheeks again. She tried to wipe them away quickly, but her voice cracked. She turned to Yona.
"I'm sorry."
Yona stared at her, stunned. His eyes wide with something between hurt and confusion.
"So I was just… replaced," he said softly. "You didn't really love me."
Her breath hitched. In an instant, she reached for him..grabbing his hand in both of hers tightly.
"No," she said, cutting him off, her voice firm despite the tears.
"Maybe I liked the other Yona… but the one who's truly in my heart...the only one I love now is you, Yona."
He looked at her, surprised. But in her eyes… he saw it. The truth. Raw, undeniable, and full of emotion. His shoulders softened. Slowly, he curled his fingers around hers, holding her hand back.
"I believe you."
She let out a shaky breath, and then, as if everything inside her finally broke..she leaned forward and collapsed into his chest. Her arms around him, crying silently.
Yona rested his hand on her back, holding her close. No more words. Just the comfort of being there. The rest of the group sat quietly, their eyes on the two..soft glances of understanding, sympathy, and reflection.
The weight of the past had been spoken. And in its place..something new had begun to grow.
The train slowed to a stop as it reached the city station, the soft screech of metal wheels meeting the platform.
The warm morning sunlight poured through the windows, casting long shadows over their tired faces. One by one, they stepped off, the air of familiarity settling in after the storm of emotions. Everyone seemed a little quieter now. A little heavier. But still together.
They exchanged gentle goodbyes, some quiet nods, others soft smiles..each friend slowly peeling off toward their own path home. Yona lingered on the platform when Lira caught up to him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yona…" she said, tugging at his sleeve gently.
He turned to her, his eyes calm but tired.
"Come stay with me," she said, trying to smile. "You can't stay alone in that half-fallen house… at least not yet. Please."
But Yona shook his head, a soft expression on his face.
"Thank you, Lira," he said."But I'm never really alone. I want to rebuild my grandfather's house. I'll live there, at least until we graduate."
She looked at him, unsure, her heart tightening at the thought of him being by himself. But then she saw the quiet determination in his eyes. She nodded slowly.
"Okay… But just promise you won't shut us out."
Yona gave her a faint smile, his hand brushing gently against hers for a second.
"I won't."
With that, they exchanged one last look..one filled with more words than they could say, and then they separated.
One by one, everyone made their way back to their homes. Back to silence. Back to a sense of normal… even if normal had changed forever.
Daiki walked beside Aria down a narrow lane, the silence between them calm yet heavy. Just as they neared her neighborhood, she suddenly slowed her steps… then stopped completely.
Her eyes were fixed on the ground. Daiki turned toward her, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Aria?"
She didn't meet his gaze. Her voice came soft, but clear.
"I need to go somewhere."
His eyes widened a little.
"Now?"
She nodded, then looked up at him.
"Could you come with me?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Of course."
They turned down another street..quiet, older. The path was narrow, the houses further apart. Daiki glanced around, something nagging at the edge of his mind.
"This way looks familiar…" he murmured, mostly to himself.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, Aria's voice broke the quiet.
"You also… don't you remember her?"
Daiki looked at her, puzzled.
"Who?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her steps slowed again.
"Aria?" he asked, confused.
She turned her head slightly, her eyes unreadable.
"Who are you talking about? Is it about the girl… Mia? You mentioned her before."
Daiki's steps faltered.
"Is she someone we know?"
But before she could reply, they turned one final corner, and stopped. They had arrived. The house stood still in front of them, worn but not forgotten. There was a strange stillness in the air.
Daiki stared up at it, then turned to her slowly.
"Is this… her house?"
Aria nodded, silent.
Then she stepped forward and gently knocked on the door. The door creaked open slowly. A warm, familiar face appeared..Mia's mother. She blinked at first, then her eyes softened.
"Oh, Aria?" she greeted with a gentle smile.
Aria gave a polite nod and bowed her head slightly.
"Hello, Auntie."
Daiki followed with a small wave and a respectful nod.
"Good evening."
The woman's smile grew a little warmer as she looked between them.
"Come in."
But Aria didn't move. She remained at the threshold, fingers fidgeting at her sides. Then, with a quiet breath, she lifted her head and asked,
"Is Mia around?"
The woman's smile faded, confusion slipping into her expression.
"Mia?" she echoed, blinking.
Aria's heart skipped a beat. Her voice cracked as she tried again:
"Yes... my friend. Mia. You're her mother."
The woman's eyes searched Aria's face, then glanced at Daiki. A nervous smile twitched at her lips.
"What are you talking about, Aria? It's only me and my husband here."
She hesitated. "Yes, we always wanted a daughter… but we never had children."
Aria's chest tightened. Her gaze snapped toward Daiki, her voice trembling.
"Why…?"
Daiki held her stare for a beat, then looked back at the woman. With a quiet, steady tone, he said,
"Thank you, Auntie. Sorry to disturb you."
He gently took Aria's hand and led her away. As they stepped off the porch, neither spoke. Aria kept glancing back, her steps hesitant.
Behind them, the woman lingered in the doorway. Her eyes followed them silently. Then, almost in a whisper, she murmured to herself:
"Mia…?"
A shadow of confusion crossed her face.
"Why does that name… feel so familiar?"
She stood there, staring at nothing, long after the door slowly shut behind her.
Daiki walked silently beside Aria until they reached her house. The air was still, the sky above tinted with the soft fading blue of twilight.
The weight of the day pressed on both of them like a quiet fog. At her doorstep, Aria turned to him, her shoulders slightly hunched with exhaustion.
Her eyes, though heavy, still held that quiet storm of thoughts and unanswered questions. Daiki gave her a small, reassuring smile and spoke gently:
"Take a good rest, Aria. We're all exhausted… but everything's going to be okay. I'll call you later, alright?"
Aria nodded slowly, her eyes meeting his with a quiet sadness. She didn't speak..just gave him a soft look of gratitude, then turned and stepped inside. The door closed softly behind her with a faint click.
Daiki stood there for a moment in the quiet street. He let out a slow breath, then looked down, his hand coming to his chin as his brows drew together.
"Mia…?" he murmured aloud, the name lingering on his lips like a haunting echo. He paused. Thinking.
"That name... it feels so familiar," he whispered. "But why doesn't anyone else remember her?"
He looked up at the sky for a beat, then slowly turned his eyes back to Aria's door. Something pulled at him. His voice lowered, almost like a thought slipping free:
"Only… Aria."
A breeze passed down the street, quiet and cool, brushing past him as he stood there..still, uncertain, and heavy with questions.
Night had fallen completely, and the sky outside Noir's window stretched dark and wide, stars scattered like glimmers of forgotten memories.
He sat quietly on his sofa, phone in hand. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the city outside. He sent a message:
"Are you on your bed?"
Ayumi replied almost instantly:
"Yes."
He smiled faintly, thumb hovering over the screen before he typed back:
"Sweet dreams."
A few seconds passed.
"I will miss you so much," she replied. He looked at her message a moment longer before he wrote:
"Me too."
With a soft sigh, he set the phone down beside him on the sofa. But before he could settle, the phone buzzed again.
A group call from REN & KAIRO.
Noir blinked. His heart skipped..not from fear, but from the sudden reminder of the world outside everything that had happened. He hesitated a second before answering.
Ren's voice hit first, loud and sarcastic as ever.
"Would you look at that! He lives!"
Kairo's calm voice followed.
"Noir… finally. We've been trying to reach you for days."
Noir ran a hand through his hair and leaned back.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. It's just… things have been rough lately."
Ren: "Rough? Bro, you vanished since that rainy day. What even happened to you?"
Kairo: "We saw the news. A city-wide blackout? Weird storms? You were right in the middle of it."
Noir paused.
"I don't know how to explain it… I wish I could."
Ren, quieter now:
"You're okay though, right? Not hurt?"
Noir:
"Not physically. But it's... a lot."
Kairo:
"We just want you to know, if you need anything.. literally anything..we're here."
Noir smiled faintly.
"Thanks. I mean that."
Ren:
"Alright. But next time, ghost us again and we're dragging you out of that mystery cave of yours."
Kairo:
"Seriously. Stay safe, Noir."
The call ended.
Noir let the phone fall gently into his palm. The echo of their voices lingered in his ears. A warmth in his chest… but it didn't quiet the unease.
He let out a breath and looked toward the window.
"Mia…" he murmured.
"Why does her name make my chest tighten?"
"Why can't I remember her?"
He turned the phone in his hand.
"Why only Aria…?"
Just as the silence settled in again.. His phone rang.
Loud. Sharp. Urgent.
He looked at the screen.. Ayumi.
Suddenly, his heart dropped. A strange weight settled over him like ice on skin. He stood up, hand gripping the phone tighter, and answered.
"Ayumi?"
The other end crackled. Her voice was barely audible through static.
"Noir… she's here."
His eyes widened.
"Ayumi?! What?!, who's there ?!"
"Please… Come…"
The line went dead.
He stood there frozen, the dial tone echoing for just a beat. Then he moved. He ran to the door, yanked it open..ready to sprint to Ayumi's house. But stopped dead. His body froze in place.
Right outside, beneath the pale porchlight..She stood. Just like in the vision. Her skin pale. Her dress still. Her expression… empty.
"Please hurry… she's killing everyone…"
The voice came directly from her lips.. not from the phone, not a memory, but real, right in front of him.
His breath hitched. His hands trembled. The air grew thick, heavy. His throat closed up as he whispered, barely audible:
"A…Aleria…"
His voice trembled as the name left his lips, barely formed. She was standing right there..just like in the vision,but real, alive, terrifying in her stillness.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed again violently in his hand, dragging him back into motion. The vibration pulsed against his palm, and his grip tightened around the device, trying to processing what is happening." .. as his mind raced to catch up with reality.
The ringing didn't stop.
His breath was uneven, chest rising and falling too fast. Finally, he raised the phone and looked at the screen.
Ayumi's name.
His heart pounded harder. This time, it didn't feel right. Something was off. Something was wrong. He hesitated for a moment before answering, his voice unsure:
"A…Ayumi?" he said, like he wasn't sure if it really was her.
There was silence. And then..laughter. Cold, echoing laughter, distorted through the speaker, crawling into his ears like static soaked in venom.
"You can call me… Yuinia."
The call ended.
The screen went black.
His eyes widened in horror, blood draining from his face. He jerked his head up..Aleria. But..She was gone.
The doorway was empty. No sound. No footsteps. Just the whisper of wind, and the echo of a name that wasn't supposed to exist.
Noir stumbled forward, eyes scanning the street, the shadows, the rooftops. But she had vanished..like smoke.Or like a nightmare that was just beginning.
THE END ...