Hikaru now stood outside the grand Tomita Estate after his meeting with Mei's parents.
But he wasn't alone.
Mei was there too, standing a few steps away to see him off. Her hands were folded behind her back, her hair catching the gentle breeze. She wore a soft smile that made Hikaru's chest feel a little lighter.
"Hikaru, thanks for coming over," she said warmly.
Hikaru returned her smile. "Absolutely no problem, Mei. Thanks for inviting me."
Then–
Silence.
Awkward silence.
The two of them weren't even looking at each other directly anymore. Their gazes wandered – Hikaru stared up at the sky, Mei glanced down at the pebbled path. Neither knew what to say next.
It was Mei who finally broke the silence.
"So… um, Hikaru, if… you don't mind… you can come over some other time," she said softly, her voice almost shy.
Hikaru blinked. "Um… sure, Mei. I… I'd love to," he replied with an equally awkward smile.
Then–
A voice echoed behind them.
"Honey! Looks like we will being seeing more our baby's man of her dreams!"
Hikaru and Mei immediately froze.
They turned around – slowly – to see Mei's parents, Shinji and Natsumi, peeking from behind a curtain inside the estate's entrance. They'd been spying on them the entire time.
Mei's face turned beet red. "Mom! Dad! Would you please stop!"
Shinji and Natsumi burst into laughter.
Hikaru scratched the back of his head, chuckling nervously. "W-Well… I should get going now."
"Please do," Mei muttered under her breath, still bright red from embarrassment.
Despite her flustered state, she smiled.
And Hikaru?
He smiled too, walking down the steps of the estate with a war, fluttering feeling in his chest.
Later…
Hikaru had finally arrived back home. As soon as he opened the door–
BANG!
He was tackled to the ground.
By none other than…
Hikari Nozomi.
Hikaru groaned, pushing himself up off the floor as Hikari giggled behind him.
"WHAT THE HELL, HIKARI?!" he shouted, glaring at her.
Hikari laughed, hands on her hips with a mischievous grin. "I've always wanted to do that, dear brother."
She casually plopped down onto the couch like nothing happened.
"Oh, and by the way," she added with a smirk, "keep it down. Mom's talking to one of her clients."
Hikaru, still rubbing his back from the fall, shot her a death glare, silently planning his revenge.
He sat down beside her, still visibly annoyed.
"So…" Hikari leaned in with a knowing grin, "how was your date?"
Hikaru froze.
She leaned even closer, the grin only widening as she watched her brother's face turn a deep shade of red.
"It wasn't a date," he muttered, looking away.
Hikari gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "Ohhh, so you just had lunch alone with Mei and her entire family? How romantic!"
"Shut up, Hikari!" Hikaru groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"Come on," she teased, "just admit it. You like Mei."
Hikaru didn't respond.
And to Hikari? That silence was all the confirmation she needed.
"Aha!" She pointed at him triumphantly. "You do!"
"Hikari, please," he said, exasperated.
But she just leaned back, satisfied, her grin full of pride.
Then–
Something on the table caught Hikaru's eye.
A book. No… not a book.
A photo album.
"What's this?" Hikaru asked, picking it up.
"Oh," Hikari replied, still lounging on the couch, "just a photo album. It has pictures of Mom and Dad back when they were younger."
"Really?" Hikaru blinked, flipping it open.
He slowly turned the pages.
A photo of their father, Sasuke, during his flight school days.
A snapshot of their mother, Sayaka, smiling brightly in her high school uniform alongside Yami's mother, Misaki.
Pictures of Sayaka and Sasuke at their wedding – young, radiant, full of life.
And then… a photo of Sayaka in the hospital, exhausted but beaming, holding newborn twins – Hikaru and Hikari.
"Look at them, Hikaru…" Hikari said softly, her eyes gleaming as she stared at their parents. "They looked so happy back then."
Hikaru nodded, smiling gently.
Then–
He flipped to another page.
And there it was.
A single photograph that immediately made him pause.
Three young women stood together, smiling brightly at the camera.
One of them was unmistakably their mother, Sayaka Nozomi.
The second was Misaki Utsuro – Yami's mother.
But the third.
Neither Hikaru nor Hikari recognized her.
A red-haired woman. Gentle eyes. Holding a baby in her arms.
The same photo that Yahi had seen.
The same photo that haunted his thoughts.
And now… Hikaru was staring at it too.
"…Who is she?" he whispered.
Hikari leaned closer to the photo, squinting at the image.
"Not really sure," she muttered. "I was gonna ask Mom, but she was busy."
Her eyes drifted toward the baby cradled in the woman's arms, and almost instantly, they began to sparkle.
"Look at that baby – he's so cute!"
Hikaru turned to her, deadpan. "Seriously? You're fawning over a baby in an old photograph?"
"Yep!" Hikaru grinned without shame. "Look at those chubby cheeks! Ooohhhh, I just wanna squeeze them!"
Hikaru sighed, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."
Still, his gaze returned to the photo.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The baby had soft red hair… and golden eyes.
"Is it just me," he thought, "or does this baby look… familiar?"
Before he could ponder further–
"Hey, Hikari."
Sayaka's voice floated in from the hallway as she walked into the living room. She had just finished a video call with one of her clients. Her eyes lit up when she spotted her son.
"Oh! Welcome back, Hikaru."
Hikaru glanced up. "Hi, Mom."
Sayaka stepped further into the room and noticed what her twins were looking at.
Her expression softened.
"What do we have here?"
"It's your and Dad's photo album, Mom," Hikari replied cheerfully.
Sayaka moved closer, peeking over their shoulders. She smiled warmly at the familiar images.
But Hikaru wasn't paying attention to any of that.
His eyes were locked onto the picture – the same one that had been gnawing at Yami since the moment he found it.
His mind raced. There was something about the baby… about the woman holding him.
And he couldn't keep it in any longer.
He turned to his mother.
"Um… Mom?"
Sayaka looked at him, "Hmm? What is it, Hikaru?"
He hesitated, then gently turned the page to the photo in question – the one with Sayaka, Misaki, and the mysterious red-haired woman holding the baby.
He pointed to the unfamiliar woman and the infant in her arms.
"Who is this woman?" he asked quietly. "And… who's the baby she's holding?"
Sayaka glanced at the picture – and her eyes softened.
"Oh, this brings back memories," she murmured, a gentle smile forming on her lips.
She pointed to the unfamiliar woman in the photo.
"Her name was Hana Kanashii. And this little guy…" She tapped the baby's face with a fond touch. "That's…"
"Hinote Kanashii."
Sayaka chuckled, the warmth in her voice undeniable. "He was the most adorable baby I'd ever seen."
"Isn't he, Mom? I thought the same thing," Hikari added eagerly.
Sayaka clasped her cheeks with both hands, eyes sparkling with nostalgia.
"I used to always squeeze his chubby cheeks. He would cling to me like a little koala."
"Awwww, that's so cute!" Hikari squealed.
As Hikari and Sayaka continued to fawn over the baby, laughing and reminiscing, Hikaru sat quietly, his mind turning.
He had a question.
"Mom?"
Sayaka turned to him with a warm expression. "Yes, Hikaru?"
"How old was this 'Hinote' in the picture?"
Sayaka's eyes softened even more as her gaze returned to the photo.
"Little Hinote in that picture was two years old. That was taken twenty-two years ago."
Hikaru blinked.
"That would mean… Hinote would be twenty-four years old right now."
Sayaka nodded slowly. "Yes… my little Hinote would've grown up now."
Hikaru's breath caught.
Twenty-four?
That was the same age as… Teshii.
His mind spun. Was that just a coincidence?
Before he could process more, Hikari chimed in–
"Mom? Where is he right now?"
The moment the words left Hikari's lips, Sayaka's smile vanished.
It faded into something heavier… something hollow.
"Mom?" Hikari asked again, noticing the change.
Sayaka snapped out of it a beat too late. "Oh, sorry. Um… uh…"
Her hands fidgeted slightly in her lap.
"Hinote… would be… somewhere," she finally said.
Hikaru tilted his head, confused. "Somewhere?"
Sayaka avoided their eyes, staring at the floor.
"Yeah. Somewhere."
Hhikaru and Hikari exchanged a glance. A glance of shared concern.
Something wasn't right. Sayaka was clearly holding something back.
And for now… they weren't going to press further.
Not about Hinote.
Not about Hana.
Not until their mother was ready to say more.
Somewhere…
Nestled among snow-draped mountains, the Shaolin Temple stood like a timeless sentinel – its crimson walls weathered by centuries of wind and war, yet still proud and unwavering.
Stones lions flanked the entrance, their ancient features smoothed by countless prayers and passing seasons.
The scent of incense curled through the air, mingling with the distant sound of a monk's bell, echoing like a heartbeat in the quiet hills.
Inside, rows of monks moved in perfect unison across the training courtyard, their movements a seamless blend of strength and serenity.
Each step, each breath, carried the weight of generations – discipline, honour, and unyielding tradition.
This was no mere temple.
It was a sanctuary of body and spirit.
A place where warriors trained not for bloodshed… but for balance.
And among them.
Was a monk with snow-white hair and piercing blue eyes.
He crouched down silently, placing his hand on the cold, worn stone.
Then–
The floor beneath his palm shimmered.
And in an instant–
It began to freeze.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!