Chapter 64: Shadows Between Us
Rain fell gently over Hoshikawa City that evening, a soft drizzle that gave the streets a silvery sheen. The lamps lining the riverbank flickered to life one by one, casting elongated shadows on the wet pavement. Naoto walked with his hands deep in his pockets, head lowered as droplets trailed along his dark bangs. Each step echoed faintly in the hush of the hour, a rhythm that mirrored his disquieted heart.
His mind wasn't on the path or the cold air biting at his fingers—it was on the lingering memory of Himari's voice and the weight of Rika's growing silence.
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Flashback – Earlier That Afternoon
"You're lying again," Rika had said, her voice taut like a bowstring. "Why can't you just be honest with me?"
Naoto had stood frozen in the empty classroom. The air was thick with tension, and behind her words was something else—hurt. Pain.
"I'm not lying. I just… there are things I can't explain yet."
Rika's fists clenched at her sides. "You think that makes it better?" she whispered. "Do you know what it feels like to be left in the dark? To feel like I'm the only one trying to hold onto this... whatever we are?"
Naoto's throat tightened. "I'm trying to protect you."
"From what? The truth? Or from yourself?" Her voice broke then, and without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked out.
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Now, hours later, Naoto's footsteps slowed as he approached the old bookstore where he'd agreed to meet Himari. The shop stood like a relic of a forgotten time, its windows fogged over, its wooden sign creaking with every gust of wind. A dim golden light glowed from within.
He pushed open the door.
A chime rang.
"Naoto," Himari's voice welcomed him like warmth. She sat at a small table in the back, a cup of steaming tea in front of her and an open book laid to the side. Her silver-blue eyes shimmered under the lamp.
"You came," she said.
"I needed to see you."
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Perspective: Himari
She could read him the moment he stepped in. There was a heaviness in his shoulders, an invisible burden he couldn't hide. She gestured to the seat across from her.
Naoto sat down wordlessly, his eyes tracing the rim of the teacup.
"You argued with Rika again."
A nod. A sigh.
"She wants the truth. But the truth—it's ugly."
"She wants you, Naoto. Even if the truth is ugly."
Naoto looked up, surprised. Himari smiled softly but there was sadness in it.
"Sometimes people just want to be trusted with your pain. They don't want you to carry it alone."
Naoto swallowed. "It's not just about that anymore. I think… I think I've started to hurt her."
The silence stretched. Rain tapped gently against the window.
"You love her?" Himari asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
"I care about her. I really do. But… I don't know if it's love. Not the way I feel when I think about… us."
Their eyes met. For a moment, the world outside ceased to exist.
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Mini Flashback – Childhood
A younger Naoto, no older than ten, stood on a small hill overlooking a field of fireflies. Beside him, Himari's fingers intertwined with his, warm and sure.
"Promise me," she whispered. "No matter what happens, we'll always find our way back to each other."
"I promise."
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Back to Present
"I remember that night," Himari said softly, as if reading his thoughts.
Naoto looked at her. "You still believe in it?"
"I never stopped."
He let out a breath, part relief, part sorrow. "Everything's so tangled now. My mother, her condition, the company… and Rika's father. I know you said he's not the enemy, but I keep discovering things that make me question everything."
Himari leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "What did you find?"
Naoto hesitated. "There's a ledger. I found it in my house—my dad hid it before he disappeared. It lists transfers and connections to a project under Hayato Industries, but the names are blacked out. And there's a name I keep seeing in the margins—'Project Edenfall.'"
Himari's face paled.
"You've heard of it?"
She nodded slowly. "It was a program meant to engineer medical breakthroughs… but it was shut down years ago. Rumors say people were hurt. Experimented on."
Naoto's stomach turned.
"What if my mom was one of them?"
"Then we need to find out the truth."
"But if Rika's father was involved—"
"That doesn't make him the villain, Naoto. It means he might have secrets too. But he's also the one who gave you this job. Who pays for your mother's treatment."
Naoto stared into his tea. "Then what do I do?"
"Talk to him. But not as his employee. As his equal."
"And if he won't tell me?"
"Then we dig deeper. Together."
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Perspective Shift: Rika
Rika sat alone on the rooftop of their school, the rain a soft mist against her face. Her hands gripped the cold railing. She kept hearing his voice, his excuses, the look in his eyes when he said nothing but meant everything.
"Why won't you just tell me the truth, Naoto?" she whispered.
She remembered their study sessions. The laughter. The first time he called her stubborn and smiled. The way he looked at her during the fireworks.
Was it all real? Or was she just a substitute for someone else?
A memory came unbidden—Himari brushing Naoto's sleeve, their whispers, the way his expression changed when she was near. Something she hadn't wanted to admit took root.
"I'm not the one he's waiting for."
Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
"I'm not giving up. Not yet."
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Back to Naoto and Himari
They left the bookstore together, walking under Himari's umbrella.
"I'm scared, Himari."
"I know."
"If this breaks everything apart—Rika, the group, my job—"
"Then it breaks. But better broken than built on lies."
They reached a small crossroads where their paths split.
"I'll meet with her tomorrow," Naoto said. "And then… her father."
Himari paused. "Be honest. With her and yourself."
He nodded.
As she turned to leave, Naoto called out.
"Himari."
She looked back.
"Thank you. For still believing in me."
She smiled. "Always."
And then she was gone, fading into the rain like a memory.
Naoto stood there for a long time, feeling the storm inside him settle, just a little. Tomorrow would bring confrontation, maybe even more pain. But he wasn't running anymore.
And that was a start.
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