For a moment, he felt as if the room were growing smaller, stealing the air from his lungs.

  Sota’s words echoed in his mind.

  The voices around him faded, leaving only his thoughts, racing wildly.

  He avoided Dr. Akiyama’s gaze as they entered the room.

  It felt as though she could read him like an open book, understanding parts of him he hadn’t even faced himself.

  He wanted to thank her. To apologize.

  Maybe even to prove that he wasn’t the heartless detective she believed him to be.

  But he stayed silent, afraid that if he spoke, the storm in her eyes would finally erupt

  and confront him with truths he wasn’t ready to accept.

  He wasn’t ready to give up.

  Not now. Not when he was this close.

  No matter what it would cost him.

  Afraid of hearing any more of their conversation, he stood up before everything could fall apart, before she could convince Sota to give up.

  His voice cracked.

  “I think it's time for me to leave.”

  Knowing Sota would offer to drive him home, he opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

  “Dr. Akiyama…thank you for your help. And I’m sorry for bothering you.”

  Sota was right behind him, just as he had expected.

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  As he stepped out in front of the apartment door, a sense of relief washed over him.

  “Thank you again, Doctor. I’ll come to the hospital tomorrow, as you said.”

  He tried to sound polite.

  “Do as you please, Mr. Mori.” she replied coldly.

  “It seems you’re not someone who follows orders.”

  He knew she didn’t like him.

  And he understood why.

  She was angry because he had stepped too close to Sota.

  Walking down the stairs, he made a silent decision not to push any further.

  Sota’s words “I think I should help him.” were enough.

  For now, that was all he needed.

  They walked together in silence toward the cars by the road.

  There was no awkwardness between them

  only a strange familiarity, as if they had known each other far longer than they truly had.

  As he sat down and fastened his seat belt, his face tightened with pain.

  “Does it hurt?” Sota leaned closer to help him with the belt.

  “I’m alright.” Takashi said quietly.

  “It’s not my first time being shot. I’ll be fine.”

  “I always thought you became an architect… somewhere in a big city." He turned his head away, as if he couldn’t bear the pain in Takashi’s eyes.

  "That’s what your father told me.”

  Sota spoke as if he already knew everything, and Takashi was surprised by his words.

  “But here you are. I never thought our paths would cross like this.”

  “So…you knew who I was that night?”

  Takashi asked softly.

  “Your father spoke about you often.” Sota said.

  “He showed me pictures of you and your mother. He was proud of you.”

  The sadness in his eyes caught Takashi off guard.

  “My mother passed away not long after my father.” Takashi said quietly.

  “And here I am…not an architect, like he expected.”

  He lowered his head, as if he had failed everyone who had once believed in him.

  “Life isn’t fair…sometimes one decision can change the lives of those who did nothing wrong.” Sota’s words sank deep into Takashi’s heart, almost like a quiet revelation.

  He hadn’t imagined the pain behind his words.

  The look in Sota’s eyes held something deeper, something unspoken.

  Takashi wanted to know his story.

  He wanted to know everything.

  “You were my age back then…”

  Takashi hesitated.

  “How did someone so young end up in that world?”

  “It wasn’t my choice.”

  Then he added, as if trying to avoid talking about himself any further,

  “Where should I drive you?”

  “Just drive straight. I’ll tell you where to turn.”

  Takashi understood.

  Some truths needed time, especially the painful ones.

  They felt like two broken souls, drawn together by destiny.

  Perhaps not to destroy one another

  but to heal.

  His father had trusted him...

  Was he doing the right thing?

  Or was he about to shatter someone who had already suffered enough?

  It was already late.

  The streets were empty, and the cold could almost be felt through the car window.

  Takashi wanted to know more, but he didn’t ask.

  The conflict in his mind was overwhelming.

  He was closer to the truth than ever before.

  And maybe, after all these years spent chasing only one thing, he could no longer think clearly.

  He had no plan.

  He didn’t even know what he truly wanted from Sota.

  He only knew one thing.

  For the first time in all the years he had spent chasing ghosts, he finally had something real to hold on to.

  And that…felt good.