With the machete, Wave cut her way free. Branches snapped off, fell to the ground, and leaves were thrown into the air. The path that had once led up the hill here was long gone. Yet she knew exactly where they were and where they had to go. The unmistakable smell of the sea drew her in, pointing the way that had looked so different in her memory.

Finally, she pushed through the edge of the jungle and reached the crest of the hill. The stuffy air of the forest was left behind and a breeze of fresh ocean air hit her. And just a moment later, he was at her side again.

His black, shoulder-length hair, fell into his face. Of course, he wasn’t wearing a hairband to tame his mane. Such a show-off! A breeze coming up from the sea blew it aside, exposing the scars of his childhood.

Aki had insisted that they recreate him exactly as he had looked before he died. That was the appearance he had grown accustomed to over the years. Even though he had really hidden himself at first, later on, CCR’s secrecy served more to protect him from the public as a celebrity. And, of course, to maintain the mystery that surrounded the radio station and its presenters. Now that the world thought he was dead and the station no longer existed, none of that mattered.

Still, in retrospect, they were both surprised at how unimportant his appearance had really been as they left Akimoto’s compound together and strolled through the streets of Citadel City, talking properly for the first time and gazing into each other’s eyes. If anyone looked at them obliquely, they didn’t even realize it.

The hardest part of saying goodbye to his old life had been meeting his parents, who were overjoyed that he was alive after all, and then had to let him go right away again.

That was now days - and an adventurous journey through the outside world - ago.

Wave looked down, at the beach and the waves that washed up rustling rhythmically. There stood the dilapidated beach house, just as she had expected. A shutter held on to a hinge, standing at an angle from the house, swaying squeakily in the wind. The holey roof made it seem as if it might collapse at any moment.

This was the place where her father - her biological father - had spent his last days. This was the first part of her journey to come to terms with everything. At the end of it, hopefully, there would be a reunion with her parents and a conversation. She didn’t want to blame them for what they had done to her. Her desire was to eventually be able to forgive them. To tell them what she had accomplished, thanks to the years they had so lovingly cared for her. It would take strength, but she had the best companion for this journey that she could ask for.

Aki smiled at her and took her hand. He could tell she was hesitant. “Come,” he said in his deep voice, which had not lost its effect even face to face. It tingled and she squeezed tighter. Everything felt so real and Wave kept forgetting that he didn’t have a human body at all. But it didn’t really make any difference. They were together and that was all that mattered. It was a miracle and that outweighed all the little things and problems that this state brought.

They walked down the beach together and something changed. A flicker passed through the picture before their eyes and the beach house was intact again. Freshly painted and the roof repaired. A man stood there. White hair, tanned, and in gray clothes faded by the sun. He gazed out at the sea. Longingly, as if he hoped someone would appear on the horizon after years of waiting.

Slowly, he turned and waved to them.

THE END