Would I find love like this? A single love that's mine alone.

Erika got back together with her boyfriend, so that wouldn't work. Shiori left on an overseas business trip. And Chiaki was still hospitalized.

「Why do you always wear pants?」 「...I don't like skirts.」 Her tone made it clear she was annoyed by my question.

「How's Midori doing, anyway? Has she grown any?」 「She did. A little bit...」 「That's great! They say girls grow up fast, so don't come crying to me when she suddenly brings home a boyfriend, haha.」

With her gone, I'd have nothing else to worry about. Midori's abuse would stop. She'd finally be able to smile all the time. I was confident I could patch things up with Suou, too. It would solve... all my problems.

My brother was pretty much the only person I'd interacted with. I would discuss everything with him. He was like a close friend.

A solemn atmosphere hung heavy in the air as I stepped into the church. Some wept, others looked ahead in silence. Were they all reminiscing about the time they'd spent with him?

The slumbering souls made no sound. They merely drifted around in limbo, waiting for the sky to whiten.

「Children can't choose their homes.」 「But I chose you.」 「Do you understand me, Ryou?」

「Hello there, Minato.」 All of a sudden, my reflection leaned out of the mirror with a twisted smile.

「I wanted to turn Mamiya into Santa Claus.」

It was a place I thought I loved. But now that it had lost the friends I had to protect, it turned into nothing but an annoying labyrinth that got in the way of finding the enemy.

「Perfume is best when it's only just strong enough to seep into the other person's brain without them even noticing.」

Would I find love like this? A single love that's mine alone.

With her gone, I'd have nothing else to worry about. Midori's abuse would stop. She'd finally be able to smile all the time. I was confident I could patch things up with Suou, too. It would solve... all my problems.

「Why do you always wear pants?」 「...I don't like skirts.」 Her tone made it clear she was annoyed by my question.

Erika got back together with her boyfriend, so that wouldn't work. Shiori left on an overseas business trip. And Chiaki was still hospitalized.

「And now it's an item left behind by a dead guy.」

「So? What did you want to show me?」 「This.」 He pulled out a DVD with a naked woman on the front cover. 「...Oh.」

「I'll be waiting for your reply.」