A report was taken to the police station.
A dead body has been found in an abandoned area, hidden away from the remains of the city.
The police investigated the scene carefully. There were no fingerprints anywhere—except one set. The victim's.
His fingerprints were found on the knife lying on the floor. The wound was deep, fetal. It looked as if he had stabbed himself.
Even though Aoi was a scientist, he was also a doctor.
He examined the body personally—and that was when he discovered something unusual.
There was a virus in the victim's system.
Aoi conducted experiments in secret, studying the sample over and over again. What he found made his chest tighten.
This was not a normal virus.
It attacked the human brain—canceling reason, erasing control, forcing the body to act without hesitation. To do anything. Even to die.
A thought crossed his mind, one he didn't want to accept.
What if the man wasn't a victim at all? What if he simply lost control—and killed himself?
The possibility terrified him.
If this virus spread... the world won't survive it.
The investigation dragged on for days, but nothing changed. No answers. No explanations.
—
One day, Aoi stepped out for fresh air.
For a brief moment, the world felt quite.
Then he heard it.
A struggle
He saw someone getting attacked by...something.
Aoi didn't think. He moved.
When he got closer, he realized the attacker wasn't fully human. It's movements were wrong—twisted, violent.
Aoi struck the creature without hesitation, grabbed the person it was attacking, and ran.
They didn't stop until they were far away.
Only then did Aoi finally look at the person he saved.
His breath caught.
The face in front of him felt painfully familiar.
Could it be?
Yes.
It was Ren.
Aoi stared at him, frozen.
Ren noticed.
"Thank you," Ren said quietly.
Then after a moment, he frowned. "Is something wrong?"
Aoi replied, "N-no... it's nothing. You just look like someone I know."
He hesitated, then added more quietly, "I'm afraid that wasn't a normal human."
Ren followed his gaze back toward the empty street they had escaped from. His jaw tightened slightly.
"...Yeah," he said after a moment. "I figured."
The answer surprised Aoi.
Ren wiped the dirt from his sleeve, his movements careful, almost practiced. "They've been appearing more often lately. People lose control... then they turn into something else."
Aoi's chest felt heavy. So he had seen this before.
"You're hurt," Aoi said suddenly, noticing a thin line of blood near Ren's shoulder.
Ren glanced down, then shook his head. "It's nothing. I've had worse."
That was when it hit Aoi again—
the way Ren spoke.
The way he stood. The way he looked at the world like it had already taken everything from him.
Just like before.
Aoi clenched his hands, forcing himself to stay calm. "You shouldn't walk alone. It's dangerous now."
Ren gave a small smile, tired smile. "I don't really have a choice."
Silence settled between them.
Ren tilted his head slightly, studying Aoi this time. "You're... a doctor, right?"
Aoi froze for half a second. "...Yes."
"Figures," Ren said. "You didn't hesitate. Not even for a second."
Aoi swallowed.
I never hesitated when it was you either.
"I'm Ren," he said, holding out his hand.
The name hit Aoi harder than any wound ever could.
He stared at Ren's hand, then slowly took it.
"Aoi," he replied. "My name is Aoi."
Ren nodded, as if committing it to memory.
"Thanks again, Aoi," he said. "If you hadn't stepped in—"
He stopped himself.
Aoi tightened his grip just a little before letting go
"Be careful," Aoi said quietly. "Please."
Ren looked at him for a long moment, like he wanted to say something else—then turned away.
As Ren walked off into the ruined streets, Aoi stood there, unmoving.
Because now he knew.
Ren was alive.
Ren was right here.
And Ren didn't remember him at all.
—
Ren lay back on the narrow bed, staring at the ceiling.
He has never seen that man before.
He was sure of it.
And yet—
His mind refused to let go.
Why do I keep thinking about this guy?
The thought slipped out in a whisper, barely louder than his breath.
A dull ache began to spread through his head.
Ren frowned, pressing his fingers to his temple.
"What's wrong with me me.?"
The door creaked open.
"Ren?" a woman's voice called gently. "Dinner's ready."
"Hey," she said, walking closer, worry clear in her eyes. "What happened?"
Ren shook his head slowly.
"...I don't know," he murmured. "But I feel like i forgot something important."
Ms. Aiko had been the one looking after him for years now. Not family by blood—but she
was the closest thing he had.
Something inside him twisted.
Something he wasn't supposed to remember. Something that was stil looking for him.
Even without his memories, his heart recognized what his mind could not.