Kaito sat in his dingy room, the dim light from his computer monitor casting long shadows across the unkempt space. His fingers tapped aimlessly on the keyboard as he stared blankly at the screen of his smartphone. His mind was a thousand miles away, lost in a haze of self-doubt and despair.

  "I need to get my life back on track." in his mind, Shirai's inner monologue played out, "All these loose ends have to be tied up. If I can do that, if I can truly become the 'chosen one' from the ancient prophecy, then I can return to Techno City and finish writing my own story."

  A fire ignited within him. The boy knew that this was his chance, his only chance to reclaim the life he once had. He stood up from his chair, the sound of his chair screeching against the cold, hard floor, echoing through the room. His determination was unwavering, and he left the room with a newfound sense of purpose.

  The journey ahead of him would not be easy, but Kaito was ready to face the challenges that lay ahead. The weight of the prophecy on his shoulders only fueled his resolve. He would mend his broken life, and in doing so, reclaim his place in the other world and write the epic story that fate had chosen him for.

  "Okay, let's get this over with..."

  Kaito made his way to the living room, where an old-fashioned writing desk sat against the wall. He opened a drawer and pulled out a piece of paper and a fountain pen. With slow, deliberate strokes, he began to write his letter.

  ___

  Dear Father,

  I have an urgent matter to resolve. It will take some time, but I promise I will return. Please do not worry.

  I've been reflecting on our past, and I realize now how difficult it must have been for you. You were left to raise a child on your own, and the pain of being left all alone must have been unbearable. I'm grateful to have had Grandma Kazuko in our lives. She was a constant source of love and support.

  I hope that one day we can understand each other better. In the meantime, I ask for your patience.

  Love,

  Kaito

  ___

  As he finished the letter, Kaito's eyes welled up with tears. He knew he had a long road ahead, but writing this letter was a step in the right direction. He folded the paper and sealed it with a wax stamp, leaving it on the desk for his father to find.

  He walked over to the small shrine he had set up in his room, a photo of his grandmother Kazuko sitting prominently in the center. A single incense stick burned softly, filling the room with a calming scent.

  The boy knelt before the shrine, tears rolling down his cheeks.

  "Grandma, I miss you so much..." he whispered as he clasped his hands together, as if he were about to begin a prayer, "I know you're watching over me, and I promise to become the man you always knew I could be. I'll do the right thing, and I'll make you proud."

  He then lit another incense stick, watching as the flame flickered and caught on the new stick. Kaito stood up, taking a deep breath. The warmth of his grandmother's love washed over him, giving him the strength to continue.

  "Thank you, Grandma. I'll see you again someday."

  After that, the determined boy began to gather a few belongings, carefully packing them into a small bag. As he finished, he gave the shrine one last look, a smile on his face.

  "Well, now it's time to fix some things!"

  With that, Kaito left his house, the incense smoke trailing behind him. The path ahead was long and uncertain, but with the love and support of his grandmother, he knew he could face any challenge that came his way. He was determined to right the wrongs in his life and become the man he was meant to be.

  ***

  As the young man made his way through the bustling city streets, the sun began to set, casting long shadows and painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. He moved with a newfound sense of urgency, his mind focused on the high school that he had once called home.

  While he was walking, Kaito couldn't help but notice the beauty that surrounded him. The once-mundane scenery now seemed enchanting, each brick on the sidewalk and each leaf on the trees taking on new meaning. The sun, which had once irritated him with its harsh glare, now felt like a warm embrace, a reminder of the life and light that still existed in the world.

  A smile crept onto Shirai's face, the weight of his past troubles lifting just a little. He felt invigorated, the strength of the setting sun filling him with hope and determination. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, ready to embrace the world with open arms.

  "I hope there's still time..."

  Kaito's pace quickened as he approached the high school, the sight of the familiar building giving him a surge of motivation. He knew that his journey would not be easy, but with the strength of the sun on his face, he was ready to start anew.

  His heart skipped a beat as he saw Chinami and her two inseparable friends standing at the entrance of the school. He hadn't seen them in what felt like ages, and he was taken aback by their presence.

  "Chinami..." Kaito stammered, feeling a mix of guilt and relief.

  Vivi and Aina, the two other girls, watched the scene unfold with curiosity. Kaito recognized them as his classmates, and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous around them.

  "K-Kaito?!"

  Clearly upset, the worried classmate crossed her arms and glared at Shirai.

  "You know... I've been dealing with some personal issues, and I just needed some time to myself."

  "You could have at least told me! I've been so worried about you... What if something had happened?"

  Aina, the athletic girl wearing a fashion scarf and a ponytail, looked at Kaito with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

  "We all thought you'd dropped out, you know."

  Vivi, the dark skinned girl from America, seemed a bit more reserved, but her perfectly painted nails tapped against her sweater as she watched the interaction.

  "I don't know what Chi sees in this weirdo..." the foreigner gal muttered to herself.

  Kaito took a deep breath, his mind racing with a million thoughts.

  "I know, there's no excuses for the way I've been acting... But I'm here now, and I promise to make things right. I need to take care of some things, but I'll make it up to you, Chinami!"

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  The girl softened slightly, her expression still one of concern.

  "Just like that? I care about you, and I don't want to see you disappear like that!"

  The boy nodded, feeling grateful for his friends' support.

  "I... I just..."

  The group fell into an easy silence, the sunset casting an orange glow over them. Kaito knew that his reunion with Chinami and her friends was just the beginning of his journey to repair the broken connections in his life.

  Kaito's heart raced as he decided to express his gratitude and apologies to that kindhearted classmate and her friends. He knelt down in front of Chinami, taking her hands gently in his. The reddish tint in her eyes seemed to brighten as she stared at him in surprise.

  "Look, I'm so sorry for being such an asshole. I couldn't have made it this far without your support and help. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart." he lowered his head in apology.

  "W-Wha-?!"

  Tears welled up in the blonde colleague's eyes, and she nodded, unable to speak. Vivi and Aina, watching the scene unfold, gasped in surprise, their painted long nails digging into their palms.

  "I need to go overseas for a while." he continued, "I've been given an opportunity to write a book, and I need to focus on that. But I promise, I'll return sooner than you think. I'll come back and make it up to all of you."

  Chinami's cheeks flushed, a mixture of emotions playing across her face. Kaito's words had clearly touched her deeply.

  "You're not going to disappear for good, right??" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Kaito squeezed her hands, a determined glint in his eyes.

  "Don't worry, I will come back and sort things out with the school board. I promise."

  The four friends stood there, the sunset casting an orange hue over them. Kaito knew that his journey would not be easy, but with the support of his friends, he felt more confident than ever before. As he prepared to leave for his 'overseas' otherworldly adventure, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and determination. He would return, and he would make things right.

  As the dark haired boy stood up, he gave a considerate Fudou and her friends one last smile before turning to leave.

  "I'm sorry, I don't have much time before the sun sets. I need to take care of one more thing before I head out."

  The three girls watched Kaito's retreating figure, a mix of emotions playing across their faces.

  Vivi, the dark-skinned foreigner, finally broke the silence.

  "Well, now that I actually look at him... He's kind of cute, you know?"

  Aina, the athletic and fashion gal, nodded in agreement.

  "Yeah, I never realized he had such an slender form. Chinami is so lucky."

  Chinami's face flushed with anger, and she glared at her friends.

  "Oh, shut up you two!"

  But even as she scolded them, her gaze drifted back to the street where Kaito had disappeared. She whispered his name to herself, a soft, longing look in her eyes.

  "Kaito..."

  ***

  The hasty boy's heart raced as he sprinted towards the Cafe Konditorei, the patisserie owned by Elise, Marie's mother. The memory of the elegant European-style decor from his past visits filled him with a mix of nostalgia and excitement.

  "So this place is still here and it looks exactly the same as before..."

  He paused for a moment outside the glass doors, slipping on a flu mask to conceal his identity. He didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention, so he made sure to blend in with the crowd.

  Once inside, Kaito scanned the room, searching for Marie. It didn't take long for him to spot her. She was sitting at a table near the window, her fiery orange hair and striking eyes unmistakable. His heart skipped a beat as he noticed what appeared to be a young boy sitting across from her, their hands intertwined.

  "Bingo, there they are."

  Kaito's stomach churned as he observed the intimate scene. It was clear that Marie was happy, and he didn't want to disturb that. But, as he continued to watch, he couldn't help but feel a pang of longing.

  "Hmm..."

  He made the difficult decision to leave without revealing himself. As he exited the patisserie, he took a deep breath and reminded himself that it was time to move on. Kaito had his own journey to embark on, and he needed to focus on that.

  But then he heard something that caught his attention.

  "Don't worry, I made sure the role of princess was yours. Our play will be the best our school has ever seen. Everyone will be able to see how cute you really are, Makoto!" said the childhood friend, looking at the person sitting next to her.

  His heart raced as he realized that Marie's "boyfriend" was, in fact, a shy, tomboyish girl named Makoto. The contrast between the two couldn't have been more striking.

  Marie, with her big eyes and vibrant personality, resembled a physical embodiment of Starfire, while Makoto's very short, black hair and dark blue eyes gave her an air of mystery and reservedness. Her clothing, consisting of large shorts, only served to reinforce her tomboyish appearance.

  Kaito couldn't help but listen in on their conversation, pretending to be absorbed in his music. They were discussing their school's play for the upcoming festival, and it was clear that Marie was eager to participate. She chattered excitedly, while Makoto nodded her head in agreement, offering the occasional "Y-Yeah" or "Mhm."

  "So it was all just a misunderstanding...?" he thought, as he tried to piece together the puzzle in his head.

  The boy's mind darted with thoughts and emotions. He was happy for Marie, that she had found someone who made her so content, yet a small part of him couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. As he continued to observe them, he reminded himself that this was a new beginning for him, and it was time to let go of the past.

  "Hello, girls! Sorry for the wait." Someone spoke loudly as they entered the establishment.

  The amateur spy watched as Elise and Dr. Itachi Takamiya, hand in hand, entered the patisserie with a young girl in tow. She was a miniature version of Marie, with twintails and skin more reminiscent of her father.

  "Come on Marie, Miss Sunohara, it's time to go home and get ready for your slumber party." said Dr. Takamiya, giving off a big, honest smile.

  "Her family hasn't changed much either." he thought to himself.

  A wave of relief washed over Kaito as he witnessed the loving interaction between the family. Marie's happiness and the presence of her little sister, that little girl, confirmed that she was indeed living her life fully, with no room for a romantic relationship.

  "Geez, Sarah, you are so clingy to your older sister!" Marie playfully scolded her sister, who clung to her leg.

  The discreet young man couldn't help but smile as he realized that the baby Elise had been carrying when he last saw her was, in fact, Sarah. It brought him a sense of closure, knowing that the family he had left behind was thriving.

  "A little sister, huh? I'm so happy for you, Marie." he continued with his thoughts, as he observed that cozy scene.

  While Marie and Makoto prepared to leave with their parents, the young man decided it was time for him to depart as well. He took a deep breath, sipped the last of his latte, and exited the patisserie. With a heavy heart, he knew that he could no longer be a part of their lives, but he also felt a sense of peace knowing that they were all happy and well.

  As he walked away, Kaito resolved to focus on his new journey and to cherish the memories he made with all his friends. He would carry the lessons he learned from them with him as he embarked on his path to become a hero.

  When the sun started to get lower on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the sky, Kaito couldn't help but feel a sense of peace. He had gained the closure he needed, and the promise he made to himself only served to reinforce his determination.

  "I'll come back, Marie. And when I do, I'll finally find the courage to talk to you, like I used to." he whispered to himself.

  With a newfound sense of purpose, the boy made his way to the nearest park. The serene setting, devoid of any people, offered the perfect backdrop for his contemplation.

  As he walked along the empty paths, Kaito took a moment to reflect on everything that had transpired. He felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he could finally focus on the future.

  He knew that his journey ahead would be filled with challenges, but the thought of eventually being by Marie's side once more served as the ultimate motivation.

  The young man's eyes scanned the park, taking in the sights and sounds of the peaceful setting. The sun continued to dip lower, painting the sky in shades of pink and purple.

  In that moment, 'Ghost' truly felt reborn. He was no longer the same lost boy he once was. Instead, he was a man with a clear purpose and the drive to achieve it.

  As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the park into a deep, calming darkness, Kaito smiled to himself. He knew that he was now ready to take on his role, one step at a time.

  "That's it. Every circle of my life here seems to have been mended at last."

  With a serene smile on his face, Kaito continued to sit on the park bench, lost in thought, as the night crept in. The gentle rustling of leaves and the chirping of nocturnal creatures provided a soothing soundtrack to his contemplation.

  Suddenly, Hedda's voice called out to him once more, "I've found you! It is time for us to come back to the other world."

  Kaito's heart raced as he willingly agreed to return. He had gained the closure he needed, and now it was time to focus on his true purpose.

  "Hedda, it's so good to hear your voice again. I've been waiting for you."

  As he closed his eyes, his form began to fade, growing more and more insubstantial. The world around him slowly receded, and the once-vibrant colors of the park faded to a muted hue.

  "Hold on, Immortal Ghost, for we are returning to where we truly belong!"

  Finally, Kaito vanished completely, leaving no trace of his presence behind. The park was once again silent, as if nothing had ever happened.

  The Immortal Ghost's journey in the normal world had come to an end, at least for now. With the promise of seeing Marie again in the back of his mind, he eagerly ventured back to the other world, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him.