[Location: store close by
Time: 10:56 am
Date: 30th July]

Kavei was halfway down the block when something in a shop window caught his attention—a neat row of writing pads in every color imaginable. He slowed, tilting his head slightly.

“...Huh,” he muttered to himself, stepping closer to the glass. Some of the covers were minimalist and sleek, others bursting with colors and little sketches. One had pressed flowers under a translucent film, another had a map design curling around the spine.

The shop door opened behind him, and a passing man glanced his way. “Thinking of starting a novel or something?” the man joked before walking off. Most of the locals from his apartment had recognised him from the news. He was simply one of those locals.

Kavei smirked. “Maybe,” he murmured under his breath.

He pushed the door open, and a soft chime announced his arrival. The smell hit him immediately—fresh paper with just a hint of printing ink. A clerk looked up from behind the counter and smiled.

“Looking for anything in particular?” she asked.

“Not really,” Kavei replied, his eyes scanning the shelves. “I’ll just… browse.”

The woman reminded him of Shiraka. Just the night before, Shiraka had called him in a fury unlike anything he’d ever seen from her. Her voice had been sharp, unrelenting, as she scolded him for what felt like the entire night. All of it over one thing—he hadn’t told her he was moving to a new house. It had taken ages to calm her down, and even then, he wasn’t sure she’d truly forgiven him.

He drifted down the aisle, fingertips brushing against smooth covers. Some were firm and professional, like something you’d take to a boardroom. Others were playful, covered in doodles, tiny stars, or abstract patterns.

“Those ones over there just came in,” the clerk called from the counter, gesturing toward a display near the back. “People have been going crazy for the textured covers.”

Kavei wandered over and picked one up. The surface was soft under his fingers, almost fabric-like. He flipped it open, letting the crisp, untouched pages fan out.

“Nice,” he said to himself, before grabbing another with a deep navy cover and gold-lined pages.

By the time he reached the register, he had three pads in his arms. The clerk rang them up with a knowing smile. “You look like someone with big plans.”

Kavei shrugged, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. “Maybe just… the right paper for the right thoughts.”

Back outside, he tucked the small bag under his arm. The weight of it felt oddly satisfying, like holding onto a secret you were eager to spill. As he continued toward home, the smile he’d been holding back finally made its way onto his face.

[Location: Kai's House
Date: 30th July
Time: 11:30 AM]

The doorbell rang, sharp and sudden.

Kai’s head snapped up from his desk. “Finally,” he muttered, already imagining a friend standing there with takeout or a ridiculous story to tell. He jogged to the door, tugged it open—

—and froze.

No one.

He frowned, leaning out and scanning the street. Empty. The only sound was the faint rustle of leaves in the summer breeze.

“…Weird,” he mumbled, starting to close the door—until something by his feet caught his eye.

On the mat sat a small paper bag and a clean writing board.

Kai crouched, picking up the bag first. The scent hit him instantly—sweet chocolate and warm red bean paste. His mouth twitched upward despite himself. “Okay… this is new.”

He ran his fingers over the writing board next, smooth and perfectly blank.

“I swear, the person next door is either a genius or a little too good at surprises,” he said under his breath as he read the note in the bag, stepping back inside.

Up in his room, he set the bag on his desk, the writing board beside it. Pulling out a pen, he tapped it lightly against the surface, thinking.

“Alright… keep it simple,” he muttered to himself, writing:

> Thanks for the food and the writing board. I was having a boring morning, so this made my day a little better. You’re surprisingly thoughtful, huh? :)

He stared at the smiley face for a second, debating whether to erase it. “Eh… leave it. Why not.”

With the note in hand, Kai slipped over to his window. The neighboring apartment’s window was just across the gap. He leaned out, checked the coast, and quickly propped the writing board up against the sill where it would be seen.

“Mission complete,” he whispered, retreating back to his desk. The sweets sat there waiting, and for the first time that morning, the day didn’t feel so dull anymore.

Kavei stepped inside, the sound of chatter greeting him from the living room. Benio, Saira, and Miyasi were gathered around the glass table, cups pushed to the side.

“We just finished eating,” Saira called as he kicked off his shoes. “Dishes are done too.”

Kavei gave a small nod, about to head for his room, when Benio spoke.

“Oh—by the way.” Benio leaned back in his chair, eyes flicking toward the window. “Your neighbor left something.”

Kavei’s brow rose slightly. He hadn’t expected anything back after dropping off the food and writing board earlier. Without a word, he walked to the window.

Against the neighboring sill sat a note on the very board he’d given.

> Thanks for the food and the writing board. I was having a boring morning, so this made my day a little better. You’re surprisingly thoughtful, huh? :)

“Thoughtful…?” he muttered, tilting his head. That wasn’t really the point. Grabbing a pen, he wrote on his own pad:

> It’s not a big deal. Just take it.

He paused, then smirked and added:

> You sounded like a sad old man in your note.

Placing the pad against his window, he stepped back.

From the couch, Benio squinted. “What is he even doing?”

“Let him be,” Miyasi said lazily. “We’re about to have enough stress without butting into his hobbies.”

“Yeah,” Saira agreed from the armchair. “Let him have his moment.”

Benio groaned. “Fine. But if he starts acting weird, I’m stepping in.”

Kavei ignored them, eyes on the opposite window.

A minute later, a new message appeared:

> I don’t sound like an old man! You’re just rude.

Kavei’s lips curved slightly as he scribbled:

> You definitely do. Go outside more.

The reply was set in place. Across the way, Kai’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter as he read it.

“This guy’s ridiculous…” he said under his breath, though there was something oddly endearing about the bluntness.

He wrote back:

> I’ll go outside more if you keep feeding me.

And just like that, the silent, window-to-window exchange continued.

[Location: Kavei's house
Time: 7:00 am
Date: 31st July]

The kitchen was washed in morning sunlight, dust motes drifting lazily through the air. Kavei stood by the counter, pen in hand, scrawling a quick note on the whiteboard. He stepped back, glanced at it once, then left it for the neighbour whenever he'd wander across next.

By 8:10 a.m., he was already at Shinagawa Station, arms folded, one foot tapping against the platform.

“You’re early,” Miyasi said as she, Saira, and Benio appeared.

“Early?” Kavei raised a brow. “You three are late. Let’s move.”

Before anyone could protest, he was already striding toward the train.

The ride to Yokohama was quiet, though by the time they stepped off the platform, Benio was already dragging his feet.

“Phew… and we just got here…” Benio groaned.

“Come on,” Kavei said, walking ahead without slowing.

They followed him through the bustling streets until he stopped near an ice cream shop, its bright pastel awning swaying in the breeze.

“Her house is across the street,” Kavei told them, glancing toward the intersection.

“Okay… alright… but…” Miyasi bent over, hands on her knees, breathing hard. “…let’s wait a bit.”

Without waiting for his reply, she sank onto one of the seats outside the shop. Benio and Saira joined her instantly.

“Oh, seriously, you guys…” Kavei muttered, but after a beat, he sat beside them. His gaze drifted toward the street, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Feels… nostalgic.”

“You lived here, right?” Miyasi asked softly.

“Yeah… with that messed-up family.” He let out a breath. “Still… there were things worth looking forward to. Aroshi-san. My friends…” His voice faltered. “I can’t… do this.”

“K-Kavei-kun,” Miyasi began, her tone cautious. “Hey. I know you’re going through a lot—”

“No, I mean I can’t sit here doing nothing.” He shot to his feet. “I’m going. You guys come across the street whenever you feel like it.”

And before any of them could stop him after his anti-climactic reveal, he was already weaving through the crowd.

Kavei stopped at the gate, eyes fixed on the house he’d sworn off for years. Its weathered facade seemed to watch him back, the silence pressing in.

“…Hah. I’m back here,” he murmured, almost to convince himself it was real.

He slid the door open. Unlocked. They had left it like because it didn't serve as evidence or anything remotely important. The air inside was still and stale, carrying the faint scent of dust. The rooms were stripped bare, and the emptiness made the space feel colder. Still, he toed off his shoes, stepping in with the quiet care of someone entering sacred ground.

His socks whispered against the dusty floorboards. He crouched now and then, pressing on the wood, prying up loose boards. Shoji doors rattled softly as his fingers traced their edges.

“They might’ve left something,” he muttered, half to the house and half to himself. “No one ever really investigated it.”

“Yeah… you’re right.”

The sudden voice snapped through the silence. Kavei spun, instincts kicking in before his brain could catch up. In a flash, he had the speaker on the ground, wrist locked, knee to the chest.

“W–wow—okay—guess you’re not getting kidnapped anytime soon,” Benio wheezed, face twisted in pain.

“Let him go, Kavei-kun!” Saira and Miyasi’s voices overlapped, sharp with alarm.

Kavei blinked, then released his grip, helping Benio up. “Oh—god—my bad. Reflex.”

Benio shook out his arm. “Man… what the hell was that?”

“Something I picked up,” Kavei said simply, already turning away, his eyes scanning the corners again.

For the next half hour, they combed through the first floor—every creak of the boards, every shadow under the tatami, every corner of the built-in closets. Kavei finally slumped against a wall, rubbing his temple.

“…Nothing. Dead end again?” he muttered.

From the far side of the room, Saira straightened, dust on her hands and resolve in her eyes. “Nah. Not yet, Kavei-kun. Let's not give up yet.”

On hold: Main Case Arc
Next: Case 04 Arc