Morning came quietly.
For once, Rin didn't wake because of an alarm, a strange magical disturbance, or someone shouting his name from outside the door.
He woke because sunlight had found its way through the curtains.
Rin opened one eye. Then the other. For several seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling.
Everything felt normal. Almost. Then he remembered the previous night.
The hidden room. The clock.
11:17.
Then—
11:18.
Rin sat up.
"...Right."
He rubbed his face.
"That happened."
He reached for the notebook on his bedside table. It was still there. He opened it and looked at the last page.
The hidden room.
The clock.
11:17 → 11:18.
Aiden remembers someone.
Aiden remembers being late.
And beneath it, Rin had written:
Don't force the memory.
He stared at those words for a moment. Then nodded.
"Good."
That was probably the most sensible thing he'd written in weeks. The mystery was finally giving them pieces.
