It had been several months since Yamado's grisly demise, and the city had finally begun to breathe easy. The wave of disappearances and murders that had gripped the news for months had come to an abrupt end. The police, baffled yet relieved, concluded that Matsui Yamado had become the final victim of the serial killer. The truth, however, was known only to two people: Hikaru Kagawa and Kaito Kazan.
Since that day, Hikaru had resumed a life that felt eerily normal. The winter winds had begun to blow in earnest, brushing the school walls with icy gusts. Students shuffled through the halls wrapped in scarves, hoodies, jackets, and oversized sweaters. Hikaru, in his usual understated way, stuck with the school-issued winter jacket, its navy fabric stiff against the morning frost.
That morning, he walked briskly through the residential streets, the chill nipping at his nose. Yuki, his sister, had waved goodbye to him from the front door in her fuzzy pajamas, clutching a mug of hot chocolate and yawning.
The school corridors buzzed with anticipation. Posters announcing the second-year school trip to Kyoto were pinned on every notice board, and students huddled in groups, chattering about food, sightseeing, and the potential for "accidental" room mix-ups.
As Hikaru turned a corner near the second-floor hallway, he nearly bumped into a familiar figure.
"Ah—Kagawa-kun," said a voice he hadn't heard in a long time.
Hikaru looked up. Riku Hayashi stood there, the same as ever, though the slightly awkward smile he wore gave away a hint of nervousness. Hikaru stopped, a bit surprised.
"Hayashi," he said simply.
"Can I talk to you for a minute? It's about what happened... a few years ago. I tried asking you, but you never gave me a straight answer."
Hikaru paused, watching his old friend's expression carefully. The sincerity in Hayashi's eyes wasn't easy to ignore.
"A lot of things were happening to me back then," Hikaru finally said, voice calm. "I couldn't explain it. I guess... it was depression."
It wasn't the truth—but it was close enough.
Hayashi looked down, his expression tightening. "I'm sorry. I didn't help you when I should have."
"It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself," Hikaru replied, forcing a small smile.
Hayashi seemed to relax slightly. "Aiko-chan was worried about you too, you know. She kept saying she should've tried harder, like Ayazawa-san did. You should talk to her. I think she'd really appreciate it."
Aiko Tanaka. Another thread from the past. She was the other old friend of Hikaru who was now in their same class.
"Yeah... maybe I should," Hikaru murmured. His voice was quiet, thoughtful.
Hayashi gave him a friendly nod. "I've got student council stuff to do. But I'm glad we talked."
As Hayashi walked away, Hikaru thought: Student council work must be soul-crushing.
He stepped into the stairwell and bumped into another familiar face—Souta Moriyama.
Souta was from class 2-D, but he was also a member of Hikaru's friend group.
"Yo, Hikaru!" Souta waved with both hands, nearly dropping the snack packet he was holding. "Dude, I swear, the vending machine ate my 100 yen again. It's like it's got a grudge against my face."
"Maybe it's allergic to ugly," Hikaru deadpanned.
Souta gave a loud, mock gasp. "I'll have you know this face is a national treasure. It's just that the nation hasn't recognized it yet!"
They both laughed, and Souta added, "Hey, did you hear about the school trip? Kyoto, baby! Geishas, temples, and public baths! I'm bringing a whole spa set."
"I thought you said you weren't going to bathe during the trip."
"That was yesterday's me. Today's me is trying to be less of a biohazard."
They reached the classroom and were immediately met with chaos.
Renji Kanzaki was holding an umbrella like a katana, dueling Yume Amagiri who had equipped herself with two rulers taped together.
"You dishonored my clan, Renji! Prepare for vengeance!" Yume shouted, leaping from one desk to another.
"Bring it on, traitor!" Renji yelled back, swinging the umbrella.
A loud THWACK echoed through the room as the umbrella broke in half.
"NOOOO! My trusty blade!" Renji fell to his knees dramatically.
"You two are idiots," Sakura Ayazawa muttered from her seat, sipping tea from a thermos. She glanced at Hikaru. "They've been at this since morning."
"Wasn't the umbrella yours?" Hikaru asked.
"It was. I'm mourning quietly."
"The teacher's coming!" someone yelled.
Yume and Renji scrambled to their seats, panting and still grinning.
Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Sakamoto, entered with a stack of papers and his usual expression of exhausted tolerance.
"Class 2-B, settle down. I come bearing news of your school trip, and I do not have the patience to talk over your samurai reenactments."
He passed around the permission slips and began outlining the itinerary.
"We'll be traveling to Kyoto, visiting Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Rooms will be assigned by gender and class. You'll also have free time in the Gion district, so I expect zero trouble, especially from you, Kanzaki."
"Who, me?" Renji blinked innocently.
"Yes, you. Last year, you tried to prank the principal by sneaking hot sauce into the staff ramen."
"In my defense, it was hilarious."
Mr. Sakamoto sighed.
The rest of the day passed in a flurry of excited planning, outfit discussions, and predictions about ghost sightings in Kyoto inns. Renji made it his personal mission to convince everyone the Gion district was haunted.
"There's a geisha ghost who only appears to boys who fail math! Hikaru, you're safe. Souta, rest in peace."
"Why do I get verbally murdered every day?!" Souta wailed.
After school, as the sky began to darken early from winter's grip, the group gathered outside to talk about snacks for the trip.
"I'm bringing matcha Pocky," said Sakura.
"I'm bringing five bags of shrimp chips," said Souta.
"I'm bringing a shrine bell to ward off Renji's stupidity," said Yume.
"It won't be enough," muttered Hikaru.
They all laughed, even Hikaru, his chuckle soft but real.
For the first time in years, Hikaru felt a sense of warmth—not just from the winter jacket—but from the people around him. He still carried scars no one could see. But maybe, just maybe, he could be happy.
Even if fate lurked like a shadow behind him.
But for now, Kyoto awaited.