It had been a month since Ryūta and Shinji met, and in that time, they had only grown closer. They spent almost all of their free time together, between csses and after school as well. They went to the same teahouse every day, ordered their favorites, and then always tried something new. They went over schoolwork and talked a lot about their hobbies, too.   Everything had been fine, until that day. As usual, the boys met in front of the school. This time, however, something felt different. The other students were giving them those same pitiful and knowing looks again. It was clear they were hiding something, and this time, even Shinji wasn't an exception, though a hint of uncertainty could also be seen in his eyes.   Csses and breaks passed as they normally did. The unsettling expressions among the students had faded, repced with the carefree demeanor typical of teenagers. Shinji was the only one who still looked unsure, and that began to worry Ryūta more and more. Still, he didn't want their friendship to suffer over something that might not even involve him, so he tried to ignore it.   However, during one of the breaks, he finally asked:   "Is everything okay?"   "What? Oh, yeah. No problem," Shinji replied, snapping out of his thoughts, a bit flustered.   "What were you thinking about? You looked like you were completely somewhere else."   "It's nothing. Forget it," he said, forcing a smile onto his face.   After school, the two boys walked down the street again, cutting through the dark alleyway as usual, and went into the teahouse. But Shinji's expression still hadn't changed. At that point, Ryūta was sure that something had happened, but he still didn't want to pry. He figured that if it was something that concerned him, Shinji would tell him eventually. And in the end, his theory proved correct.   "Hey, Ryūta..." Shinji began, but then stopped.   "What is it?" his friend asked, still idly pying with his fork.   "There's something you need to know," Shinji continued, his expression growing more serious.   "I figured..." Ryūta sighed, setting down his fork. "You've been acting strange since we met in front of the school this morning, and the others were giving me that look again. Did I do something wrong?" he asked, worried.   "No, of course not. Actually... it's about Himeko," Shinji said, then fell silent again.   "What... Why would you bring her up all of a sudden?" Ryūta asked in confusion.   "I don't even know how to say it..."   "Just spit it out already!" Ryūta urged, his patience wearing thin.   "Yeah... I guess that's for the best."   A few seconds of silence followed Shinji's agreement, seconds that felt like minutes to the increasingly tense Ryūta. Then he finally heard the words he had never wanted to imagine. The person dearest to him still couldn't rest in peace.   "Her body... it's gone."   Ryūta froze completely. He didn't want to believe his ears. He wanted to ugh it off, say Shinji had misunderstood something, but deep down, he knew that wasn't the case. His friend wasn't trying to mislead him. So he accepted that what he heard was true and let Shinji continue.   "Last night, someone dug up her grave and pried open her coffin. But her body was nowhere to be found.   "Why...?" Ryūta muttered under his breath, still in shock.   "They say blood was found too. Though I'm not entirely sure about that," Shinji added.   "You said 'they say'? Who did you hear this from?" Ryūta asked, a flicker of hope lighting up his eyes.   "From Sanae," Shinji replied pinly.   "I see. She's not the type to make things up," Ryūta noted as he stood up from the table.   "Are you going to see her?"   "No," he answered calmly. "It's better if I talk to someone directly involved."   "Like who?"   "Her mother," he said, already turning to leave when Shinji called out to him:   "Ryūta!"   "What is it?" he asked, gncing back.   "About Sanae... Please don't be mad at her. She didn't mean any harm," Shinji said, causing Ryūta to look at him, confused. "She was the one who asked everyone to keep it from you. She knew how close you two were."   "Right... How did she even know about it?" Ryūta asked suspiciously.   "This morning, while she was walking to school with one of her friends, they noticed unusual activity at the cemetery. You know she's not the nosy type, but her friend convinced her to sneak past the police and see what was going on. That's when they saw the disturbed grave. Sanae wanted to keep it a secret, but before she knew it, her friend had already spread it around the entire css."   "Except me..." Ryūta added with mild irritation.   "I'm sorry. I should've told you sooner," Shinji said, eyes cast down.   "It doesn't matter. It's not like knowing changes anything," Ryūta replied. "As for the others, don't worry. I'm not mad at anyone, except the ones who did this." Just as he reached the teahouse door, he paused and turned back. "Thanks, Shinji."   It was already dusk outside. Ryūta hurried more than usual, trying to catch the next avaible train. There was only one rail line leading to the isnd, and the first branch was in Yokohama. Since that was exactly where he was headed, he could hop on any train going that direction.   Once he arrived, he made his way through the square and toward the mansion where Himeko had once lived, and where he now hoped to learn more about what had happened. It was already completely dark. Though he felt guilty disturbing the grieving family so te, the matter felt urgent.   He rang the bell. Moments ter, the elderly butler once again appeared at the gate.   "Well now, Young Master! I am gd to see you again! Although I must say, it is dangerous to be walking around alone at this hour. Please, come in! The Mistress is in the sitting room," the man said, surprised but polite, as he stepped aside.   Ryūta entered the mansion and made his way toward the sitting room. He didn't have to go far, as he immediately ran into a woman in her te thirties, Himeko's mother, the Mistress herself.   She had the same brown eyes and wavy hair as her daughter, and wore a bck blouse embroidered with flowers, a bck skirt, and a dark brown poncho.   "Ryūta... What are you doing here? It's dangerous to be out this te!" she said, echoing the butler's earlier words almost exactly.   "I'm sorry to bother you at this hour, but... could we talk?" he asked, sorrow and desperation in his eyes.   "So you know..." she sighed, her lips curling into a faint, mencholic smile. "Come on in, I'll make us some tea."   The sitting room, like the rest of the house, was quiet and dimly lit. The TV and radio were off, and even the lights weren't on. Only a few candles flickered in the space, amplifying the atmosphere of mourning that had settled over everything.   "Honestly, I had hoped you wouldn't find out," Himeko's mother said as she returned from the kitchen with a tray. After pouring the tea, she sat beside Ryūta on the sofa. "As you know, Himeko spent a lot of time in bed because of her illness. She missed school often and didn't have many chances to make friends. But thanks to you, she had someone her age during those st two years, someone she truly understood and could rely on. She was always smiling when you were around, and that's something we can never thank you enough for. May she rest in peace..."   For nearly a minute, they said nothing. They just sat there with hot tea in their hands, staring bnkly ahead.   "She can't," Ryūta said, breaking the silence. A moment ter, he got to the point of his visit. "Please, tell me what happened st night."   Himeko's mother sighed again before she began.   "I woke up to the phone ringing this morning. It was the police. They told me that someone had desecrated my daughter's grave during the night. The one who reported it was the security guard starting his morning shift. But the night guard was nowhere to be found, so he's currently the prime suspect."   "One of my friends heard they found blood as well," Ryūta mentioned, trying to learn more as gently as he could.   "Yes, there were a few drops of blood inside the coffin. And not just that. They also found pieces of broken fingernails, and the strangest part, the lid of the coffin was covered in scratch marks. As if they were made by hand..." she recalled, then fell silent again.   "Was there anything else unusual?" Ryūta asked, just to be sure.   "Yes. A few strands of hair. Gray, maybe. Not brown like Himeko's. They might belong to whoever took her body. Oh God, my poor little girl..." the woman said, then broke into quiet sobs.   Ryūta stayed silent through it all. He knew what it felt like to lose a close friend, but he couldn't even imagine what it was like to lose a child. So he decided to give her a moment.   When she finally calmed down, Ryūta spoke again.   "Just one st thing... could I ask a favor?"   "Mhm..." the woman nodded, wiping her tears.   "If you learn anything new, would you call me?"   "Of course..."   "Thank you for the tea. Please take care of yourself," he said as he stood up and headed for the door.   "Ryūta! You take care too," she called after him with a faint smile, which, though slowly, finally reached him as well.   "Goodbye," he replied, then stepped out into the pitch-bck night.   It was past eight by the time Ryūta got off the train. As he left the station and passed through the busier parts of town, he reached a much quieter neighborhood. Only a few streets still had traffic, mostly cars. That part of the city was infamous for street gangs and thugs, so most people avoided walking after dark. Still, Ryūta found everything peaceful, until he reached the street he lived on.   There, he noticed several shady figures harassing a young girl right in front of his house, and they were making quite a scene. As he got closer, the voices became clearer:   "Come on, don't be like that! We're just trying to have some fun!" one of them said.   "Yeah, what would you even be doing here all alone?" added another.   "This is a dangerous area, you know?" the third one chimed in.   Eventually, the girl, clearly not enjoying their company, was cornered against the wall, with no way to escape. A nearby siren wailed in the distance, and Ryūta seized the opportunity. Raising his voice, he called out to the three boys:   "Hey, you there! If I were you, I'd get lost! The cops will be here any second!"   The bluff worked. Within moments, the harassers were running out of the street.   "Are you okay?" Ryūta asked the girl, who was still frozen against the wall.   "Y-yeah... I think so. Thank you!" she said, taking a deep breath.   "Utsushino-san?" Ryūta recognized the cssmate who was a half-head shorter than him.

  Utsushino Sanae. A kind but reserved girl who always tries to be helpful, though she can be clumsy at times. She usually spends her free time with her best friend, Hoshizume Nao. In conversation, she seems lively and open, but she skillfully dodges personal questions, as if she has something to hide. A rather mysterious girl.

  She had green eyes and long, reddish-brown hair tied in a ponytail, with a few strands falling around her face.   "K-Kagayaki-kun? Thank goodness it's you..." she sighed in relief.   "What are you doing here this te?" Ryūta asked, surprised.   "To be honest, I came to see you because... well... I wanted to apologize. Takeda-kun told me he spoke to you about what happened st night. I'm sorry for keeping it from you!" she said, bowing deeply. Ryūta only sighed and replied:   "You shouldn't have come here. As you can see, this is a pretty dangerous neighborhood. Especially at night."   "Yeah... I know that now," Sanae nodded, then suddenly lifted her head. "Wait! Now that they're gone, what are we going to tell the police?"   "It's not here they're going to. I just used the opportunity," Ryūta admitted, scratching his head in embarrassment, though clearly proud of himself.   "Ah, I see..." she said, dropping the topic. Then they fell silent until Ryūta's eyes wandered and nded on the distinct shopping bag hanging from Sanae's right hand.   That bag's from Murasakibara, the shopping district of Tachiaoi. They say you can find everything there from basic groceries to the most advanced electronics, and all top quality. I guess it's true. The first time I went there, I got lost and wandered around for two hours without passing the same pce twice. Unfortunately, it's a pricey area, so people like me can't afford to shop there regurly... Ryūta thought, just as his visitor followed his gaze and seemed to snap back to reality when it reached the bag.   "Oh, right, here, this is for you!" she said, lifting both hands to offer it to him. Ryūta peeked inside without hesitation. It was full of fruits and vegetables. But instead of gratitude, the girl received a puzzled look.   "Why?" he asked, confused by the sudden gift from someone he barely knew.   Sanae, whose face was already beet red, finally managed an answer through a flustered string of words:   "I thought... maybe it could cheer you up a bit after everything that's happened tely... and I wanted to make up for keeping things from you... and then you saved me, and I was worried if you've been eating properly..." Her voice trailed off, the st part barely audible.   Ryūta stared at her, mouth agape in surprise, but then finally smiled.   "If they're making trouble in front of my house and they even drag you in, of course I'll help. And I don't resent you for keeping that hidden from me, so don't worry about it," he said. Then, seeing her drop her gaze and grow disheartened, he added with a wide grin, "But as far as cheering me up goes, that performance of yours just now definitely did the trick!"   Hearing that, Sanae's expression shifted from disappointed to pouty, and a few seconds ter, both of them burst out ughing.   "Utsushino-san, it's nice of you to worry about me, but I'm fine," Ryūta said, hoping to reassure her, however it had quite the opposite effect. The girl lit up even more.   "Then how about dinner?"   "A what?" Ryūta asked back, confused.   "Din-ner. You know, I could throw together a sad from all this. Or have you already eaten?" she asked, a little defted again.   "No, not yet. But I don't want to be a bother. You've probably got better things to do than make me dinner," he replied, clearly searching for a polite way out.   "Like what?" she teased, tilting her head and pretending to think.   "I don't know... homework?" he offered.   "Already done."   "Aren't you tired?"   "Not really."   "Chores?"   "I do those on weekends."   And so it went for a while, until Ryūta completely ran out of ideas. After a half-minute pause, he finally thought of one st question:   "Do your parents even know you're here?"   At that, Sanae lowered her gaze, and the grin she'd been teasing him with vanished from her face.   "Like you, I don't have parents."   "I'm sorry... I didn't know..." Ryūta said, his tone softening.   "Don't be. I grew up in an orphanage, so I never even knew them," she replied with a faint smile.   "What happened to them?" Ryūta asked, though he hadn't meant to bring up anything so heavy. Still, he knew that if he didn't say something, the silence would turn awkward, or worse, he'd seem insensitive.   But the answer surprised him:   "Beats me. As far as I know, they're still alive. I guess I was just a burden to them, so they got rid of me."   Ryūta's eyes showed a mix of sympathy and regret. He had no clear memories of his own parents either, just a feeling that, while they were around, he had been happy.   "Sorry for boring you with all this! I think I'll go now. You know, vegetables lose some of their vitamins when cooked, so eat them raw if you can, okay?"   With that, Sanae turned to leave, but Ryūta caught her hand. His face clearly showed that his heart was about to break, and he just couldn't let the girl go like this.   "The streets aren't safe this te. I'll walk you home."   "That's really not necessary. I live far away," Sanae protested.   "Even so, I can't leave you alone at night. Stay here for the night then. I'll expin it at school tomorrow somehow."   "But wouldn't I be a bother?" she asked, though her eyes betrayed that she actually wanted to stay.   "Maybe. But I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing you are alone out there. I'll sleep on the futon."   At that, Sanae couldn't hold back her tears. They streamed silently down her face, and Ryūta had no idea how to comfort her. Eventually, he just smiled and said:   "In return... maybe you really could make that sad. I think I'm starting to get hungry."   A few moments ter, the painful memories had faded into the background, repced by awkward awareness of the fact that Ryūta's hand was still on her wrist. It was impossible to tell which of them was redder. While Sanae froze completely, Ryūta finally let go and started up the stairs.   "Well then, let's go in," he said, pulling out his keys and unlocking the door.   The girl, whose smile had returned by then, wiped away her tears and replied with shining eyes:   "Gdly!"