[24th August
Shinjuku - 7:00 AM
Kavei's House]

The past week had been nothing short of agonizing. After Nana's revelation about Aroshi's undeniable connection to the case, Kavei had collapsed into a state of denial, his mind shutting down completely. He barely responded to anything, and Kai had taken it upon himself to care for him. Every morning, Kai made him breakfast in bed, coaxing him to eat even when Kavei simply stared blankly at the tray. He dragged him to the bathroom when needed, sometimes even having to turn on the shower himself just to snap Kavei out of his trance. He made sure Kavei completed his summer holiday homework, ensuring that even if his mind was slipping away, his routine remained intact. When the house got too messy, Kai cleaned it up without a word, never once complaining about how exhausting it all was.

Despite the burden, he never hesitated. If taking care of Kavei meant preventing him from breaking apart entirely, then Kai was willing to do it for as long as it took.

But the others... they didn't stay.

The very night Nana had explained the results, Ryu had made his decision. He wanted no part in this anymore. Without a word, he packed his things and took his older brother with him, leaving the house without looking back. Kenma, too, had made up his mind. He grabbed Nana by the wrist and pulled her along, telling Ojiro and Narito to stay out of this mess before vanishing into the night.

Saira and Miyasi had hesitated, wanting to help, but seeing Kavei's catatonic state had scared them off. Himeko and Sebiki followed, and by the next day, Benio, after making sure Kavei had at least slept, also left.

The silence that followed was unbearable.

No one called. No one messaged. The group, once tightly bound by their shared determination, had crumbled. Each had chosen to retreat into their own world, letting the weight of the truth settle in solitude.

Only Daichi remained. He had nowhere else to go, too terrified of his own mother to return home. But he never asked Kavei for anything. He handled himself, making sure not to become another burden.

And so, for an entire week, this was how things remained.

Kai woke up with a tired yawn, stretching as he turned to glance at the person next to him. Kavei was curled up beside him, just as he had been every night since the others left. His face was turned slightly towards Kai, his expression peaceful in sleep, but the dried tear tracks on his cheeks told the truth of what his dreams were like.

Kai sighed, reaching over to gently wipe away the moisture that clung to Kavei's lashes. Then, with quiet movements, he got out of bed, heading for the bathroom.

The sudden ringing of the doorbell made him pause.

He frowned, glancing at the clock on the wall. Who could be visiting this early? No one had come for an entire week, not even Itsuhara Yukina, Kavei's superior. There were no active cases that needed his attention right now, and after what had happened, everyone had seemingly decided to keep their distance.

Still, curiosity and caution made him move. He approached the door, keeping the chain locked as he cracked it open slightly.

Benio stood outside, his usual grin softened by something almost... hesitant. Beside him, Saira and Miyasi waited, their expressions carrying the weight of something urgent.

Kai's breath caught.

Without a second thought, he undid the chain and swung the door open. He barely had time to react before Miyasi and Saira wrapped him in a tight embrace.

For a moment, he let himself sink into their warmth. The past week had been too quiet, too suffocating. Even if their presence now meant trouble, it was a relief just to see them.

Benio lifted a hand in a casual wave, though his usual playfulness was missing.

Kai nodded, returning the girls' hug before stepping back and gesturing them inside. They moved quickly, settling on the couch. The tension in the air was thick, but before Kai could even ask what they were doing here, Benio spoke.

"We found the green-eyed boy," he said.

Kai blinked, confusion settling in. "What?"

Saira leaned forward, her voice steady but tinged with something almost reluctant. "There are a total of twenty-five boys with green eyes. And according to Kavei's logic, four of them are loners who have adult friends. Six of them aren't loners, but they also have adult friends. Out of the four loners, one of them lives in Shinjuku. And out of the six, two live in Shinjuku, while the rest live elsewhere."

Kai's brows furrowed. "Wait. We stopped looking into the case. So why are you guys telling me this?"

Before Miyasi could respond, movement caught their attention.

The door to Kavei's bedroom creaked open, and all heads turned as he stepped out. He looked pale, his eyes still carrying the weight of exhaustion, but he was no longer lost in the haze of his own mind. He was holding several rolled-up sheets in his hands, his grip firm as if they were the only thing anchoring him to the present.

Kai's breath hitched.

Kavei moved toward the couch without saying a word, his steps slow but determined. He sat down across from Kai, unfurling one of the sheets and placing it on the coffee table between them.

The moment Kavei placed the rolled-out sheet onto the table, Kai finally saw what it was-a detailed map of Japan. The soft rustling of paper filled the silence as Kavei flattened it with his trembling hands, his fingers brushing over the familiar outlines of cities and prefectures. His movements were slow, almost lethargic, as though his body was functioning on instinct rather than conscious thought.

His swollen eyes, barely able to stay open, scanned the map in front of him. Dark circles hung beneath them, deep and pronounced, a testament to the week of emotional turmoil he had endured. The weight of exhaustion pressed into his shoulders, making him hunch slightly as he leaned closer.

Benio, who had been watching him, shifted his gaze from the map to Kavei. His expression was unreadable, but there was something careful about the way he spoke.

"You... I mean, we will find out if Aroshi was involved in all this after all," Benio said, his voice steady, but there was a hesitance there, like he wasn't entirely sure if this was the right thing to say.

Kavei's gaze slowly lifted to meet Benio's. His eyes were unfocused, his expression blank, almost as if he wasn't entirely present. He looked like a man under hypnosis, lost in the void of his thoughts, unable to move without being told what to do.

And then, without warning, he raised his hand and struck himself across the face.

The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the room, jolting everyone. Kai flinched, Miyasi gasped, and Saira's hand flew to her mouth in shock. Benio's body tensed, his lips parting as though he wanted to say something, but no words came.

A red mark bloomed instantly on Kavei's cheek. He grabbed his face with both hands, his fingers pressing into his skin as he let out a long, shuddering exhale. His breathing was heavy, uneven, like he was trying to force himself back into reality.

Kai swallowed hard.

Kavei finally spoke, his voice raw, thick with emotion, yet filled with a sudden determination that had been missing for the past week.

"Aroshi is not a criminal."

The words hung in the air, firm and unwavering.

"I will think logically," he continued, his hands slowly dropping from his face as he straightened his posture. "I will think like I always do, and I will find out who made her a part of this twisted cycle."

There was no hesitation, no doubt.

Something in the atmosphere shifted.

Kai recognized it immediately-the moment Kavei returned to himself. The man who had spent the past seven days drifting in a sea of despair was gone. In his place was the Kavei they all knew, the one who wouldn't stop until he unraveled the truth, no matter how tangled the web was.

And with those words, it was decided.

He was back in the case.

And in the next seven days, he would find a clue-no matter what it took.