CHAPTER 48: YURA.

After Kira’s story... Kentaro stood frozen, unable to breathe. Her words left him speechless.

He’d heard tragedy before. He’d seen broken lives and haunted eyes. But nothing like this, nothing as traumatic as this.

And what crushed him most wasn’t just what Kira had endured, what she saw at such a young age; she lost her sister, her parents, her very place in the world.

But it was that he had been there.

He had saved her.

And he couldn’t remember a single thing about it. It infuriated him; he wanted to remember, but for the life of him, he had no recollection of the memory, and Kira was adamant that it was him.

"I... Kira, I-" Kentaro’s voice cracked, his hands tightening into fists. "I don’t remember any of that. I wish I did. God, I wish I could remember pulling you off that bridge. But... My past is... Blurry. From middle school on, it’s like pieces of my life got erased. I barely even saw my parents. It was just me... and Tenka most of the time."

Kira’s expression remained flat and unreadable.

Kentaro swallowed hard. "But if you say it was me... Then, I have no reason not to believe you. In fact, I do believe you, Kira. I know you would never lie to me."

As he said those kind words, Something flickered in her eyes, but she quickly looked away, her voice firm but soft at the same time. "You were the only one who saw me that night. I’d recognise you anywhere, Kentaro. Your face hasn’t really changed that much since then," She paused for a second before smiling just slightly, "Maybe your voice has gotten a tiny bit more manly"

He hesitated, then stepped closer, his eyes locked onto Kira.

"Kira... I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve carried all these years. Losing Akia, then your parents... And having everyone act like none of it happened? That’s not something anyone just... Moves on from." Kentaro stopped as he looked down. "I know I would find it hard to" He said softly.

He reached out slowly, like he was trying not to scare off a wounded animal.

"But this path you’re on... Killing Alberlines out of revenge... Do you really think that’s what Akia would want for you? Would that be what your parents want you to do?"

Kira finally turned her head toward him, her eyes sharp.

"They’re dead because of them. My family is gone because of them," she said, voice low but shaking with anger. "You think I can just forgive that? Pretend Alberlines aren’t dangerous? That they won’t destroy other families like they destroyed mine?"

Kentaro didn’t flinch he was determined to get through to her. "I think... You’re not the monster here, Kira. And I think you deserve something other than living in hatred."

She let out a soft, bitter laugh, quiet, cold. "You sound just like him at first. He promised answers. Promised to help me find the truth about Akia, about my parents. But the only truth I’ve found is that Alberlines are a disease.

And if Cradle is the weapon to cure these diseases called Alberlines..." She met Kentaro’s gaze head-on; they were sharp and filled with determination. "Then I’ll wield it until my last breath."

Kentaro’s chest tightened, but he didn’t look away.

"Then let me fight beside you. Let me help you find those answers. But... Without turning into the thing you hate. I don’t want to see you destroy yourself chasing revenge."

Kira’s face softened for just a second, so brief it could’ve been imagined. Then her usual cold resolve slid back into place.

"...You won’t change my mind, Kentaro," she whispered. "Even if part of me wishes you could."

Kira stared at him for a long, suffocating moment. Then, finally, a breathless laugh escaped her lips-not mocking, not bitter... just small and tired.

"You really haven’t changed," she said quietly. "Even if you don’t remember me."

Kentaro blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Is that... a good thing?"

Before she could answer, Kentaro tried to walk but tripped on a loose stone and pitched forward straight into her.

Both froze. His face inches from hers, his hands awkwardly on her shoulders, their faces only inches apart from each other.

An unusual blush crept across Kira’s cheeks. If this was more of a normal moment, Kentaro was sure she would try to kiss him, but this time, though her voice stayed flat. "...Pervert."

Kentaro scrambled back, flustered. "S-sorry! That wasn’t-"

She shook her head, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "It’s fine... I’ve survived worse."

Kentaro didn’t have any comebacks to that answer, so he let out a small and awkward laugh.

As they walked back to the hotel, Kira glanced sideways at him, her tone quieter now, almost too cute.

"...Thank you... For listening. And... For today."

Kentaro smiled, finding her shy side much more cute. "Anytime"

The smallest hint of pink crossed her face.

Kentaro lingered in the hallway long after saying goodbye to Kira. His chest felt heavy, his mind tangled in everything she’d said.

"You heard that, Shogo?" Kentaro muttered into the comm.

"Yeah..." Shogo’s voice lacked its usual joking edge. "Damn, kid... Fate can be cruel."

Kentaro leaned against the wall, staring blankly down the corridor. "Can you... Dig into that, Alberline Vale showed her? Maybe we can find something, some proof she’s wrong about what happened to her sister?"

Shogo let out a quiet breath. "I’ll get Haruka on it. If there’s even a scrap of truth out there, we’ll find it."

"Thanks..." Kentaro said softly. But the gratitude felt thin. Right now, no amount of intel could erase the look in Kira’s eyes when she told her story.

He eventually found himself outside Room 23. Yura’s room.

Kentaro smoothed his shirt, inhaled deeply, and knocked. The door muffled hurried footsteps, and then a bright, almost singsong voice came through.

"Coming!"

The sound made his chest tighten; it wasn’t angry, just... Hopeful.

When the door opened, Kentaro’s words failed him.

Yura stood there in a dark purple sundress that hugged her figure softly, black leggings accenting her long legs. A small pendant rested above her chest, catching the fading sunlight like a shard of moonlight.

"...Wow," Kentaro breathed before he could stop himself. "You look... amazing."

Colour rushed into Yura’s cheeks, her eyes darting away. "It would have been nice to say hello first, silly," she said softly, almost shyly.

Kentaro flailed slightly. "Ah, sorry, sorry! Long day. It’s just... You really do look incredible, Yura. And... I’m sorry for being so late."

Her gaze slid back to him, gentler now. "I know... Those two girls are a handful, aren’t they?" She let out a delicate giggle, one hand brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Kentaro couldn’t help but laugh too, though there was exhaustion in it. "Yeah... They are."

They walked along the quiet beach, the last blush of sunset painting the sky. For a while, they said nothing, only the sound of waves filling the silence.

Then Yura glanced up at him. "You’re troubled."

Kentaro kicked lightly at the sand as they walked, his eyes on the fading line of the horizon. The orange glow brushed across the waves, but all he could think about was Kira’s voice, flat, cold, but trembling beneath the surface.

And even though they hadn’t known each other for long, it was clear that Yura could sense something was wrong with him.

"Kira... The girl with the short hair who was with Serica, she lost everything," he said finally, his voice quiet. "Her sister died when they were young. And then her parents... It’s like they forgot she ever existed. She came home screaming for them, begging them to remember, and they just looked at her like she was crazy."

Yura slowed her steps, her eyes softening.

"She ran away," Kentaro continued, "thinking maybe it was shock, or grief... But when she came back, they were gone. Just... Gone. No answers. No closure." He swallowed hard, looking down at his hands, imagining Kira’s pain. "And then Vale, this bastard from Spire, shows her a picture of an Alberline and tells her that that’s who took her sister from her. And from that day on, she swore to kill every last one of them."

The sound of the waves filled the silence between them, soft but heavy.

Kentaro shook his head. "She’s not evil, Yura... She’s just... Lost. And broken. And now all that’s left holding her together is revenge. I don’t... I don’t know if I can pull her out of that, without destroying everything she’s built herself up to be."

He didn’t realise his hands had clenched into fists until Yura’s fingers gently wrapped around one of them, prying it open.

When he looked up, she was already smiling softly at him.

"Kentaro," she said, her voice like a calm tide, "that’s exactly why you’re the one who can save her."

He blinked in confusion. "...Huh?"

"You saved me," Yura whispered, stepping a little closer, her other hand brushing his sleeve before sliding down to join the first, holding both of his hands in hers. "When no one else even tried to understand me... You did. You didn’t run. You didn’t hate me. You just stayed... And because you stayed, I’m still here, I get to look at this view with you."

She tilted her head slightly, her smile warming. "Kira’s hurting worse than I ever was. But you’ve already proven you can reach people like us. So if anyone can pull her out of that darkness... It’s you."

Kentaro’s throat tightened. For the first time since Kira’s confession, he felt like he could breathe. "...Yura..."

She squeezed his hands gently, leaning in just enough for her voice to soften even further. "And no matter how dark it gets, I’ll be right by your side to make sure you’re holding a torch all the way, silly boy."

A small, genuine smile tugged at Kentaro’s lips. "...Yeah. Thanks, Yura."

She giggled lightly, letting one of his hands go only to swing the other as they started walking again along the beach, the stars slowly peeking out overhead.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel...

Kira finally entered her room after her date with Kentaro. The door clicked open, and she stepped inside with the rarest thing anyone had seen on her face: a hint of contentment.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, could ruin her mood tonight.

...Or so she thought.

Because standing there, right in the middle of the room, was Serica with her arms crossed like she had been expecting her.

Their eyes met.

Both faces twisted into identical grins.

And then, perfectly in sync, they shouted:

"I GOT THE DATE WITH KENTARO!"

The room went dead silent.

Serica blinked first. "Wait... How did you get the date? I was with him."

Kira’s flat expression barely wavered, though a subtle twitch of her brow betrayed her. "Impossible. We went to the museum, grabbed coffee... There’s no way you had a date, too."

Serica’s hands balled into fists. "You’re lying! You’re just jealous he didn’t choose you!"

Kira’s eyes narrowed, a tiny pulse of irritation breaking her usual monotone. "...Jealous? You’re the jealous one, homewrecker."

Serica shot up from the bed like a firework. "WRONG! We played games, had lunch, and-" she whipped out a plush toy with triumphant flair. "I EVEN WON THIS!!"

Kira’s eyes widened slightly, actually showing emotion for once. She stared at the plushie, then slowly back at Serica.

"...But... If you were with him..." she muttered.

"...And he was with you..." Serica continued, her voice dropping to the same stunned whisper.

Both turned to face each other, horror dawning on their expressions at the exact same moment.

And then, in unison:

"THERE’S A KENTARO DOPPELGANGER!!!"

They began walking out of their room.

The plan was simple.

Find Kentaro.

Was it Kira that the real Kentaro saw... or Serica? Whoever it was, that girl was the winner.

That simple thought is what drove both girls through the hotel like two predators on the same hunt.

What started as calm walking quickly evolved into speed walking... And finally, full-on sprinting. They searched everywhere, his room, the dining hall, and even the bathrooms.

Nothing.

Kentaro had vanished.

Until they reached room 23.

The door of the newest resident’s room.

Yura’s.

Serica glanced at Kira, knowing full well the stoic girl wouldn’t knock. With a small sigh, she stepped up and rapped on the door.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

The door creaked open on its own.

The room was empty. No Yura. No Kentaro.

"No sign of either of them..." Kira muttered, her voice flat but her shoulders tense.

"What if Kentaro’s still inside, maybe hiding?" Serica suggested.

"Hmm... check the bathroom," Kira said, her tone suspiciously casual.

Serica frowned but shrugged. "I mean... kind of weird he’d be in another girl’s bathroom when he’s got his own... But sure," she said as she shrugged her shoulders.

She stepped inside and opened the bathroom door. Dark. Empty.

"Hey, Kira... nothi-"

"Wha-"

When Serica turned back, Kira was gone.

She’d bolted.

"That snake!" Serica screamed, charging out of the room like a storm. She had a hunch, maybe instinct, maybe jealousy, that told her where Kentaro would be.

"He’s gotta be outside... At the beach... Where I left him!" she shouted, barrelling down the hallway and out the main doors.

Meanwhile, on the quiet stretch of moonlit sand...

Kentaro and Yura sat shoulder to shoulder, the night’s gentle breeze carrying the sound of waves. The stars above shimmered brighter than any city light, a sky only a small island like this could offer.

For once, there was no chaos. No yelling. No interruptions in his earpiece. Just quiet laughter and the feeling of calm he hadn’t had all day.

Yura let out a soft, tired sigh. It was clear she hadn’t slept well last night. She shifted slightly, scooting an inch closer to Kentaro, before finally leaning her head on his shoulder.

Kentaro stiffened slightly at first, heat rising in his cheeks.

"Y-Yura?" he stammered.

Her voice came softly, almost carried by the breeze. "Hey, Kentaro..."

"Yeah?" he replied, his voice instinctively lowering to match hers.

"...Maybe my life wouldn’t have been so... Twisted... So lonely, if I’d met you earlier," she whispered, her fingers lightly curling into the fabric of his sleeve.

Kentaro’s smile faltered for a moment, the weight of her words sinking into him like a stone. He looked at her, at the quiet sadness hidden under her usual calm gaze.

"...Maybe," he said softly. "But I guess we’ll never know."

He turned his gaze back to the starlit ocean, a genuine warmth spreading across his face. "...Either way... I’m glad I met you, Yura."

Yura’s lips curved into a small, sleepy smile. "...Me too, silly boy."

The two sat there, quiet under the night sky, unaware of the twin storms, Kira and Serica, rapidly closing in from the hotel behind them...