At an underground research facility -

A man with maroon-colored hair stared aimlessly at the grey ceiling. There was nothing in this room, but a metallic and uncomfortable bed, a desk, and a thumb-sized window.

It seems she managed to return; that's good.

He clenched his fist as he recalled what happened. To think that he ended up hurting her with his own hands, even though it was to get her out of this place, he still hurt her. He went through all the trouble of returning to this place to regain his abilities, only for him to hurt her in the end.

How ironic; in the end, what was the use of coming here?

After seeing her like that, it occurred to him that maybe he should stop messing around and leave already. But this place has changed far too much. The level of technological advancement to improve this much. Unless they had a backer, it isn't possible. The only people who would support this place are that organization.

Some more regular people have nothing to do with this world in this place. Whenever he encounters them, they greet him like normal and say this is a great place to work. A week or so later, he would see those same people looking lifeless, and they avoid him.

From the information, he gathered those people enter this place thinking it is a normal work area.

Mamoru shook his head. What use is there thinking about that now?

Ki looked well, she seemed to have gained more weight, and she looked lovelier than when he last saw her. Also, he placed his hand over his eyes.

"Is it possible for somebody to become that pretty?" He mumbled.

Almost a year has passed, so it is natural for her appearance to change, but he didn't expect that. He has changed too, but he probably looks worse than before because of the experiments.

She looked so pretty, and Mamoru recalled the warmth of her hands. This is bad, he doesnt see her in a while, and he gets all worked up seeing her again.

He didn't think they would meet each other so soon, nor would she recognize him.

Mamoru spent the first six years of his life in silence.

His parents seldom spoke to each other; his father was always away on business trips. Whenever he came home, he looked exhausted, so it was difficult for him to talk to him.

On the other hand, his mother was always around, she was a housewife, and yet at the same time, it felt that she was never there. His mother avoided him. But it is not like she starved him. She would prepare meals for more people than necessary and then leave the kitchen right away. After he learned this routine, he would grab food and bring it to his room.

He felt that if he stayed there long, then there is a stronger chance of crossing paths with her.

There were rare times where their paths crossed, and unfortunately, those were the times where she was drunk. She would scream, grab his arm and chuck him in the wardrobe or mainly the cupboard under the sink.

They lived in a semi-modest-looking house, but it was still small; the kitchen was the smallest place in the entire house. It was dark and damp, and he could have sworn that the rats lived there.

He would stay there until his father came home. It was one of the first things his father did, search for him. Even though the man seldom spoke to him, at the very least, the man remembered his presence.

If his father didn't come home, he would stay there for days until his mother felt like cleaning that area. She would find him there and simply reach over for the cleaning tools beside him. She would never say a word, and he would simply use that chance to leave.

His thoughts broke off when he hears the sound of his phone.

This was the phone the facility provided them to communicate their schedule for the day. Although one could use it to make calls, it restricts calls from the outside; only those inside could contact each other.

Only one person would call him right now. Mamoru, however, would use his sonic powers to interfere with their jamming whenever he got calls.

"John, what is it?"

John was not a subject but the researcher in charge of him. The man had an unusual habit of smiling all the time, and he strangely resembled his old companion Jae.

"I helped your wife escape, but shouldn't you have gone with her?"

"I already know."

John chuckled. "Your powers are so convenient; answer my second question."

"You know I can't just go."

"Even though you can?"

It seems this person was very unusual; not only did he treat the subjects like humans, but he held a strange interest in him. Then again, John was one of the only people who realized that he could leave at any time.

"There is something I have to figure out first."

"By the way, that girl wrote you a letter. I cant deliver it at hand since they would notice, but I will send it via a safe line. You still have to delete it afterwards, though."

"Alright."

After a few minutes, he hears the sound of a beep from his phone.

(To Tsueno Mamoru-san,

This may seem strange, but even though we have repeatedly seen each other, I cannot seem to talk to you properly.

I hope you heard me though when I told you that I loved you because I would be troubled if not.)

Mamoru chuckled when he read those lines. Why would something like that trouble her?

Of course, he heard her; she was so loud when she said it. That fool, he already knew. But he never pressured her into saying it. That was fine for him; she didn't have to convey her feelings through words, her actions spoke loudly enough. Although he would be kidding to say he didn't want to hear it, he wasn't fussed.

(I don't understand the current situation very clearly. But one thing is clear to me, once again, you are doing something stupid for my sake.

If it is like that, I won't tell you to stop.

I know how stubborn you are when it comes to me.

I have a lot of questions for you, but I suppose it can wait.

You will be glad to hear that Yuhi has been treating me very well.

For the first time, I have felt the happiness that I haven't in so long.)

His gaze softened when he read those words; She is happy, huh? Yuhi is treating her well; he is glad. For a while, it worried him what would happen with those two. Initially, he did not intend to ask her out, but after Kanagawa Ren left, she said something ridiculous about giving up on romance.

When she said that so seriously, he had to ask her out; if none of the other guys can muster the courage to help her, then he will do it.