He clearly remembered that when they touched that fragment, both he and Kaguya felt the electric shock.

It was on that Christmas Eve night that Rinji and Kaguya's consciousnesses inexplicably switched.

Right now, that was the only explanation Rinji could think of. Apart from that shopping trip, he had no other contact with Kaguya.

For now, this was the only possibility.

After finishing her talk with Kaguya, Kaguya returned to handle the mess Rinji left for her, while Rinji bought a ticket to leave Kyoto, heading for the research department located in Chofu, Tokyo.

The matter of their body-swapping had been dragged on for too long. If it continued, both Rinji and Kaguya would not be able to endure it.

When he arrived back in Tokyo, it was already close to evening. Rinji didn't hesitate and directly stepped into the IW-affiliated research department.

Inside, as usual, people in white coats moved about. They couldn't possibly be working 24 hours a day. When there were no urgent projects, they actually had plenty of free time.

"Ah, consultant, you're here."

"I almost forgot I had a position here."

Rinji scratched his head, then handed over the meteorite fragment from his pocket to the researcher in front of him.

"Can you analyze its components?"

"…What is this?"

"A meteorite fragment that fell in Itomori Town two and a half years ago. I encountered some things because of this fragment, so I need it studied."

"We can, but starting up the flotation machines and such will take time. Please wait a moment."

"No problem."

---

The department gathered a group of researchers to analyze the mineral for Rinji, while he himself made a phone call to his father.

But…

[The number you have dialed is out of service area…]

"Tch, slipping away so fast. He clearly knows the full story but says nothing. Does he really enjoy watching his son make a fool of himself?"

Buzz~

"Hm?"

Just as he hung up, Rinji received another call. The display showed it was from Sousuke.

He answered.

"Hello? Uncle Sagara?"

"Rinji, I've already returned to headquarters."

"I see… wait, you called just to tell me you're back?" Rinji asked with a laugh.

"Of course not." Sousuke shook his head. "It's about your father."

"My old man? What about him?"

"When I returned, I received a message from him. He said that at this point, you should also be investigating the meteorite fragment."

"…How does he know everything? And even knowing, he won't help me solve it. That's really nasty."

"Don't blame him. According to him, this matter must be resolved by you yourself. If he intervenes, something very bad may happen."

"He worries, too?"

"Of course. From the time I met him, he's always been someone with strong foresight, someone who controlled the future's course. He asked me to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"'If you want answers, go to Yomiyama.' That's what he said."

"…Seriously? He could solve this directly, but instead he sends me across the country. Does he think he's some NPC handing out quests?" Rinji muttered.

"That's all. If you need my help, just call."

"…Alright."

Rinji hung up and opened his phone map. Yomiyama, mentioned by Sousuke, was a very remote town in Japan, surrounded on three sides by the sea, with only one city-level hospital.

He had no idea why his father wanted him to go to such an obscure place.

"Consultant, the analysis is ready."

"Oh? What's the result?"

"Just an ordinary meteorite," the researcher read from the report. "Composed of silicate minerals like olivine, pyroxene, and a small amount of plagioclase. Also contains minor metallic iron particles. Density: 3.2."

"No, I mean, does this stone contain any substances not yet discovered? Organic lifeforms or energy bodies maybe?"

"No, just an ordinary meteorite."

"I see…"

"But now that you mention it, there is one strange thing."

"What is it?"

The researcher handed Rinji the report, then took out a file from a folder. The document was old and yellowed but still legible.

"Compare these two documents."

"…?"

Both were analyses of meteorite fragments. The older one was dated March 2, 1999, nearly twenty years ago.

The responsible name on it was Fujisawa, the former head of the department's projects.

It detailed a meteorite fragment's crystalline structure and composition. And…

It was identical to the one Rinji had just asked them to analyze. Even the structure matched.

"This is…"

"This fragment was given to President Sousuke by the organization's founder twenty years ago, and analyzed by Chief Fujisawa back then."

"So it was Mama Ayana who handled it."

"…You call the chief 'Mama'?"

"Well… when I first came here, she spoiled me a lot and insisted I call her Mama. Eventually, I couldn't break the habit," Rinji admitted.

When he was a child, many women doted on him. Supposedly, most of them knew his father. Among them, this chief spoiled him the most.

"I see… Anyway, today's test results prove that the fragment you brought is astonishingly similar to the one from twenty years ago," the researcher said seriously. "I believe the resemblance is not a coincidence. The fragment you hold and the one from twenty years ago are, in fact, the very same piece."