Kyouka POV
Current Location: Yamagata Prefecture
I crossed my legs and closed my eyes, taking whatever brief rest I could manage.
Yet, despite my weariness, I remained aware of my surroundings inside the transit carrying me forward.
"It really has been a while since my last visit," I murmured to the empty air, opening my eyes and letting out a quiet sigh.
Leaning back against the seat, I began to drift into my own thoughts. My gaze lingered on the music box resting in my hand, and before I knew it, a faint, unconscious smile curved my lips.
I had planned to visit my family's grave last November, but life had been too hectic at the time. Fortunately, this week in January was finally a free time for me, so now I found myself traveling back to my old hometown to go there.
When my stop arrived, I stepped out as soon as the doors slid open. I looked around; the area was quiet, with only a few other passengers disembarking behind me. Which made sense, given that it was still early afternoon.
I'll probably grab a bite on my way back after the visit.
"Guess I really picked the perfect season for this, huh?" I muttered sarcastically, glancing at the cold, still surroundings.
I boarded another form of public transport and watched the scenery pass by until I finally reached my old hometown in Mount Gassan. Carrying a small bundle of flowers in my arms and a bag of snacks, I walked slowly through the rows of graves, following a familiar path until I found the one I had come for.
A grave bearing both surnames Uzen stood quietly before me.
Before placing the flowers I had brought, I scooped water with the hishaku and gently rinsed the stone, cleansing it of dust and time.
"Sorry your daughter's been so busy," I murmured with a wry smile, carefully arranging the flowers before the graves that rested side by side. "Still… don't worry. I'm living well and healthy"
I fell silent for a moment, drawing in a soft breath.
"Mom."
"Dad."
Taking out a lighter, I lit the incense stick, letting it burn briefly before extinguishing the flame. I brought my hands together, bowed slightly, and began to pray for my parents.
After spending some time by their graves, I finally smiled, offered a quiet farewell, and turned to walk toward the final grave.
Even after all these years, I still haven't moved on. I still want to talk to you, to laugh with you again, to sing beside you like we used to.
That innocent, blooming smile of yours.
The way you would happily listen as I told you about my day, eyes shining with curiosity.
The way you called big sister so brightly, tugging at my sleeve to play hide-and-seek, then coming home with small bruises on your knees yet brushing them off with a careless grin.
I gazed at the familiar grave before me, the quiet snowfall blanketing the world in white.
A feeling of isolation shared only between me and the one resting here.
A soft chuckle escaped my lips.
"I'm home, Aika."
I set the small bag down gently in front of the stone after rinsing it.
"Your Onee-chan brought you your favorite snack."
Just as I had done for our parents, I paid my respects at my younger sister's grave.
Afterward, I slowly lowered myself to sit in front of it, my back facing the stone as I gazed out at the falling snow. Each breath I exhaled drifted into the cold air in a faint, pure white mist.
"..."
Silence.
I remained still for a brief moment.
Compared to the sturdy, strict attitude I carried as a chief, right now I only wanted to be left alone. I just want to stay motionless, with nothing to do and nowhere to be.
Was it the snow doing this to me?
Maybe it was.
Breaking the tranquility, I turned my gaze back to her grave.
"You know, Aika. Onee-chan has so many friends right now," I said with a small smile, letting out a soft chuckle. "I would have loved for you to meet them."
I talked.
"Last week, I accidenta—"
And talked.
"Onee-chan is really working hard right now—"
And I kept talking.
"Nei is actually a really good ki—"
I went on, rambling about mundane things, just like I used to back then. I talked about what was happening in my life now, even if none of it might reach her ears.
I didn't care. I just wanted to do what I always did.
I didn't care what others might think if they saw me talking to no one. The only thing I cared about was you.
The chance that you might hear me again, Aika.
Till this day, I will never forget it.
The blazing flames, your cries for help as you called my name, and the smiling Shuuki who wiped out everyone I held dear.
That spawn of the devil, Unihorn.
Everything about my life has been built for that purpose: to hunt that Shuuki down and slay it, to the very end.
"I swear I will find you," I murmured, teeth clenched. "And I will kill you."
Just as my anger was about to take over, I forced myself back to my senses.
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
"What am I doing?" I said with a self-mocking laugh. "There's no way you'd be happy seeing your big sister like this."
I slapped my cheeks hard.
"Get a grip," I told myself, deciding to leave the cemetery.
But before that, I remembered the music box I had brought.
Gently, I took it out of my bag and placed it beside the grave.
Turning it on, I played the usual song. The one I always played before ending my visit to Aika.
The familiar tune filled the air, a nostalgic melody Mother used to sing to me and Aika. Without realizing it, I softly hummed along, then began to sing the lyrics myself.
"At the edge of the world, listening to the galaxy."
"In the gentle breeze, autumn bell-flowers shining by your feet."
"In the palm of the rolled-up earth."
"Once embraced, it's bittersweet."
I sang until the very end, listening as the music box slowly wound down. When the final note faded, I stared blankly ahead for a moment before crouching down to pick it up.
I looked at it one last time, then carefully placed it back into my bag.
A small chuckle escaped me.
You know… I really want to cry right now. But that's not the big sister you looked up to. So don't worry.
I'll be fine, my lovely angel.
"Then… I'll be going now."
"Aika."
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Tenka POV
Current Location: 6th Unit Dormitory
Wearing casual clothes, I sat at my desk, laptop open as I reviewed various reports from the past few months.
"With the Kamen Rider showing up at Kyou-chin's place, it might be worth taking a shot and connecting it to this," I muttered, my eyes never leaving the screen.
The mouse scrolled steadily through the files.
Mysterious individuals had been killing Shuuki on the far side of Mato. The incident that occurred once within Yakumo's jurisdiction could have been dismissed as a mishap but multiple cases of Shuuki being annihilated along the edge of the map, all near Varvara's and Bell's locations, made one thing clear.
This wasn't a fluke.
Someone was able to enter Mato freely.
I wasn't one hundred percent certain yet, but I was close to that conclusion.
The Kamen Rider was the one responsible.
Yakumo mentioned that she was certain that when she and her members investigated the site of a aftermath of a battle, she sensed the presence of a woman being there earlier.
I may not be fond of Yakumo's methods, but one thing is clear even if it's strange. Her senses, perverted as they may be, are not something to underestimate.
The Kamen Rider was seen with a masked accomplice, and based on the figure's physical features, that accomplice was a woman. If that's true, then there's a real chance she's the reason they're able to trespass into Mato.
"Can she manipulate space like I do?"
That was the question I needed answered.
Entering through the permanent gates was far-fetched. Those routes were heavily guarded. Even stealth abilities won't stay undetected there. I wouldn't rule the possibility out entirely but the odds were slim.
There was a much higher chance that the masked woman was the key and the reason the Kamen Rider could roam Mato so freely, as if he were merely taking a stroll through a park.
A smile crept onto my lips.
This might be the first time I've felt excitement because of a man. An unknown individual wrapped in mystery. You know what? I'm curious about what lies behind that mask.
"This might be worth my time," I chuckled softly.
Assisting in the investigation of the Kamen Rider would benefit the Defense Force as a whole, but I knew that was just a convenient excuse. The real reason was far more selfish
My desire to know more of him.
Who knows? Maybe something worthwhile would come of it.
I had never felt such a strong urge to know something before.
As a woman who had rarely faced setbacks in life, I found it ironic how empty I still felt, even after joining the Defense Force. Strength, status, purpose.
None of it had filled that hollow space.
Yet now, this mystery… this thrill—
It finally made me want to move forward and do something.