A gentle breeze moved the curtains as light seeped into the hospital room back at the association.
The gentle beeping of the monitor was accompanied by the rustling of the sheets as Sora slowly opened her eyes.
She was heavy on herself — as if she were still in the fight.
Hunched over her bed was Ryo, his coat hanging on the chair, looking at his phone.
When he met her gaze, a relieved look spread across his face.
"You're awake," he told her, reclining in his chair. "You must've given it your all. You slept for two consecutive days."
Sora blinked, still dazed at first. "Two… days?"
"Yeah," Ryo replied. "Even Kagami was beginning to think that you weren't going to wake up on your own.".
Sora rubbed her head, recollections crowding in — "Idoku." "He—" she breathed, shivering. "He was incredibly strong. Usually, my blessing compensates for my lack of energy— big activation cost for less aura consumption. But… even when I gave it my all, it wasn't enough. I couldn't fully kill him in one snap."
Ryo smiled, his tone gentle. "You guys did great. I'm proud."
There was silence.
The quiet hum of the machines hung in the air. Then Sora's head jerked, "Are the others alright?"
Ryo replied with a playful voice, "No worries. Alice healed them, they are perfectly fine."
"And what about Kouji and Yumi?" she asked, her voice thick with worry.
Ryo paused before he talked. "Kagami told me they didn't return here. Nobody's heard anything from them since the battle.".
Sora's eyes darkened, guilt flickering across her face, "So they went with the guy—"
Before she could say more, Ryo's gaze shifted. "By the way… your hair."
She frowned. "My hair?"
He gestured vaguely at her head.
It was snow white like usual, but it had stands of black. As if someone spilled ink on it.
"Want to know, how to color it white again? Like I did with mine," Ryo asked.
Sora brushed it with her fingers, letting out a faint smile. "No, it's important to me," she said softly.
Ryo nodded but didn't insist. He got up to stand, bending his back.
"Rest well tonight. I already told Kagami to inform everyone, but since you were asleep, everyone's to wear black tomorrow."
Sora's face fell a little, understanding immediately.
The next day came.
Clouds hung over the sun. Rows of hunters stood in line in the association courtyard, dressed in proper black attire.
A white tent gave shade for the lines of graves — fresh soil still wet from morning rain.
Ryo stood before them, his spine straight, his voice strong as it echoed in the quiet.
"Today, we honor the dead," he began, his voice somber but unbreakable. "Who lost their lives because of Shinji's sudden appearance. Brave hunters, men and women who carried their hearts to defend this place — but never returned home."
Some in the crowd began to cry.
Ryo continued, "We've buried them all — some left their bodies here, others can't even be buried properly. I won't mention each of their souls here. They all fought in their own measure… and need to be remembered by those they loved."
He lowered his gaze. "Go to their graves. Say your prayers, your farewells. They need to hear it.".
Whispers circulated among the people as hunters and family members began to move.
Slowly rain fell once more — light and gentle, as if the world itself shed tears.
Time elapsed. People scattered.
The sun fell beneath the horizon, bathing the cemetery in orange colors.
Ryo remained, standing in front of a solitary grave with the name Akechi.
Kagami approached from behind him, quietly. "You okay? I thought you didn't like him".
Ryo didn't move. He stared at the stone, his face faintly reflected in the gleaming surface. "Do you remember when you first joined our association?"
Kagami tilted her head. "Yeah. You and Rintaro were still a duo then."
She gave a faint laugh. "And I thought you were a bigmouth."
Ryo smiled faintly. "I probably was."
She chuckled once more, this time quieter. "Fair."
He sighed slowly. "You know… before I became a hunter, I was a student. I was learning psychology", his gaze didn't leave the gravestone, "With two other friends — me, Akechi, and a girl by the name of Shiori."
Kagami's expression eased, "You studied psychology?"
"I was interested in it from the start," Ryo continued, his tone low. "Especially devils — how they think, why they are what they are. We had a lecture one day, but Shiori didn't appear. She skipped… she always did. That same day… a Demi-Human ambushed the campus."
"He went on a rampage, killing and wounding students," His fists tightened ever so slightly. "Akechi and I were fortunate. It didn't take long before a hunter arrived, to stop the rampaging Demi.So he couldn't hurt us."
"But Shiori… she didn't make it."
Kagami's eyes fell. "Sorry.".
Ryo shook his head. "Akechi and I vowed that day — we'd become hunters, protect people, so others won't die like that. I joined right away. But when I started, he wasn't there."
"Back then I was angry at him," he paused for a moment, "Now I know better."
Ryo's eyes softened, "Instead of running after his hatred, he graduated university and took his time afterwards to study kyoukai at its core until he eventually joined our association. The rest you know."
Kagami was quiet, but she gave him a subtle but gentle hug from the side.
"I can't even tell if he already had a devil contract back in university," Ryo said, his voice dropping lower. "He always had those empty yellow eyes. Maybe it was destiny."
"Isn't it ironic," His expression saddened, "I blindly followed my hatred and killed every nightmare I encountered, while Akechi searched years for a way to bring the two fronts together. Still I am praised as a hero and he is the evil one."
The silence between them lasted for a moment, only broken by the soft patter of rain.
Ryo finally broke away from the grave, shoving his hands into his pockets. "That's enough remembering. Let's go."
Kagami hesitated, glancing over to another gravestone nearby. "Aren't you going to visit Yuusuke's grave?"
Ryo's eyes followed hers, but he shook his head.
"Yuusuke wouldn't like that," he said quietly. "He wasn't the type of person who wanted people to mourn for him. And besides. I know someone out there will visit Yuusuke."
Kagami smiled weakly. "Didn't know you could be so sentimental," she laughed and bumped her elbow against him.
"Maybe," Ryo continued, moving on ahead.
The night arrived and the graveyard was empty now, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight.
Someone, a boy, walked towards Yuusuke's grave — hooded in a long coat, face obscured by shadows.
He sat down, placing a yellow rose upon the ground before the grave.
The wind swooshed through the trees.
"We've defeated him. You know, the doctor guy we fought back then." the figure whispered softly, near fondly. "He was way stronger than we thought, we were pretty lucky back then."
He stood up, smoothing dirt from their knees, and turned to go — the moon catching the faint sheen of tears on their cheek, "I see you on the other side."
"My friend."