The weather was unusually warm that morning.
A dry breeze swept through the streets, carrying waves of heat across the city.
Because of the scorching temperature, only a handful of people could be seen outside. The usually lively streets felt strangely quiet.
Inside the Kurasaki residence...
Kye stood near the entrance, carrying everything he needed for the journey ahead.
His stay of nearly four days had finally come to an end.
Volume 2nd [ The truth they buried ]
Chapter no. 11 - Departure - begins....!
Kye: "Alright... Mom, Dad. I'll get going now."
Mira looked at him with a reluctant smile.
Mira: "Can't you stay a few more days?"
"We barely had the chance to spend any time together because of work..."
Kye smiled faintly before shaking his head.
Kye: "I'm sorry, Mom."
"I have to move forward with my own life now."
"Still... thank you for everything these past few days."
Daigo folded his arms.
His expression turned unusually serious.
Daigo: "Don't get yourself into trouble again."
"This time... be careful."
"Live a normal life."
"You don't have to play the hero every single time."
"And if something ever happens again..."
"Call the police..."
"Or call us first. Understood?"
Kye nodded.
Kye: "I understand."
"Well then..."
"See you."
Without looking back...
He quietly stepped out of the house.
The front door slowly closed behind him.
---
The sunlight fell across the road as Kye walked forward.
Kye (thinking):
"So..."
"My journey finally begins."
"These past few days didn't give me many useful clues..."
"But I did learn one important thing."
"SS Partners isn't limited to a single city."
"Their influence stretches across multiple cities and regions."
"Their main headquarters is located in the center of the city..."
He paused for a brief moment.
"But that's not where I'm heading."
A small map appeared on his phone.
His eyes settled on a single location.
Vorington Village.
"Near that village..."
"There's an isolated sub-headquarters belonging to SS Partners."
"There was almost no information about it online..."
"But somehow..."
"I managed to find its location."
Kye slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"The main headquarters is probably operating legally on the surface."
"Heavy security..."
"Constant surveillance..."
"Finding useful evidence there would be close to impossible."
"If I want answers..."
"The isolated branch is my best chance."
Lost in thought...
Kye stepped onto the arriving bus.
As its doors closed behind him...
The city slowly disappeared into the distance.
Scene Shifts...
After a long journey...
Kye finally returned to Brooklyn.
His parents lived in Manhattan, while his own apartment was located back in his old neighborhood.
Walking quietly along the roadside...
His thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Kye (thinking):
"What exactly is happening in this world...?"
"Are all governments really like this?"
"Will ordinary people ever get the chance to live normal lives?"
Lost in those thoughts...
His footsteps suddenly came to a halt.
Right in front of him stood a large school building.
Brooklyn Central Academy.
The sight brought back countless memories.
This was the very school where Kye had spent his high school years.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Kye:
"Huh..."
"I almost forgot..."
"There was a time when I actually lived a normal life."
"Going to school..."
"Having fun..."
"Spending time with my family..."
Without realizing it...
He slowly walked through the school gate, hoping to relive a few old memories.
As he wandered across the campus...
Something caught his attention.
Among the crowd of students...
He noticed a familiar woman.
His eyes widened slightly.
Mrs. Arisa Vale.
She seemed to be waiting for someone
Kye immediately turned around.
Kye (thinking):
"Yeah..."
"I should leave before she notices me."
The moment he took a step—
"KYE!!"
Arisa's voice echoed across the campus.
"That's you, isn't it?!"
"Don't move! I'm coming!"
Kye froze.
His expression instantly changed.
Kye (thinking):
"Seriously...?"
"How did she even notice me?"
"What kind of tiny school is this?"
A few moments later...
Arisa finally reached him, slightly out of breath.
She placed her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath before glaring at him.
Arisa:
"You were trying to run away after seeing me, weren't you?"
"You're seriously an awful person."
Kye raised an eyebrow.
Kye:
"Who told you that?"
"I didn't even see you."
A brief pause.
"By the way..."
"What are you doing here?"
(...Although I already know the answer.)
(Judging by her expression... now probably isn't the best time to tease her.)
Arisa folded her arms.
Arisa:
"I'm here because of admissions."
"Are you blind?"
"This is a school."
"Of course I'm here to pick up Luca and Ren."
"I had the day off today..."
"So I thought I'd come and bring them home myself."
---
Kye looked at her with a small, relieved smile.
For the first time in a while...
His expression seemed completely at ease.
Kye:
"Honestly..."
"I never thought you'd be able to stand on your own when we first met."
"Back then..."
"You were completely broken."
"All you could do was cry."
He looked at her for a brief moment before smiling again.
"But look at you now."
"I'm... genuinely happy to see you again."
Arisa pouted immediately.
Arisa:
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I'm not some crybaby, okay?"
Her cheeks slowly turned slightly red.
She looked away for a moment before speaking in a much softer voice.
"But..."
"Thank you, Kye."
"Without you..."
"I probably would've never found my little brother again."
A warm smile appeared on her face.
"And now..."
"I have two little brothers to take care of."
"So..."
"Thank you... truly."
Kye gave a small nod.
Kye:
"Alright then..."
"I should get going."
"I still have a lot of important things to do."
Arisa instinctively reached out, wanting to stop him.
Before she could say a single word—
Both of Kye's hands were suddenly grabbed.
One from the left.
The other from the right.
He blinked in surprise.
Ren looked up at him with an innocent smile.
Ren:
"Mister..."
"I want to talk to you."
"I don't think we've properly met yet."
At the same time...
Luca tightened his grip.
Luca:
"Yeah."
"And who exactly gave you permission to run away?"
"Care to explain?"
Kye stood there in complete silence.
Arisa watched the entire scene unfold...
Unable to hold back her laughter.
A small smile naturally appeared across her face.
---
Scene Shifts Towards.... Arisa's House.
A few minutes later...
Arisa placed a tray of snacks and coffee on the table before taking a seat across from Kye.
After a brief silence, she finally spoke.
Arisa:
"So... what exactly are you trying to do, Kye?"
"And this time..."
"Tell me the truth, okay?"
"Don't try to play the hero again."
Kye let out a quiet sigh.
Kye:
"I'm not a hero."
Without thinking too much about it...
He told Arisa almost everything he had learned about SS Partners.
He explained the clues he had gathered...
His plan...
And the reason behind his next destination.
Arisa listened quietly until he finished.
A deep sigh escaped her lips.
Arisa:
"You really can't live a normal life, can you?"
"You know..."
"I've never asked about your past..."
"Or how you're so unbelievably strong."
"Because there's no way an ordinary human could do the things you do."
"And I'm not forcing you to tell me."
She lowered her gaze for a moment.
"But whatever is happening..."
"It's not your responsibility to solve everything."
"You deserve to live a normal life too, Kye."
Kye smiled faintly.
Kye:
"I understand what you're trying to say, Arisa."
"I really do."
"I just wish things were that simple."
He looked out the window.
"Even I don't fully understand what's happening to me."
"But one thing I do know..."
"If I choose to live a normal life..."
"Then ordinary people may never get the chance to live one themselves."
"Someone has to take the first step..."
"Doesn't it?"
Arisa immediately shook her head.
Arisa:
"But why does it have to be you?"
"There are other people too..."
Kye answered without hesitation.
Kye:
"Maybe there are."
"Maybe someone else can do it."
"But I can't just sit around and wait."
A brief silence filled the room.
Kye stood up.
Kye:
"And Ren..."
"Luca..."
"I'm sorry."
"I'll spend more time with both of you next time."
"For now..."
"I should get going."
Just as he turned toward the door—
Arisa:
"Wait!"
Kye stopped.
Arisa:
"Then I'll help you too."
"If this is really the path you've chosen..."
"I don't want you to carry everything alone."
Kye's expression immediately turned serious.
He gently held Arisa by both shoulders.
Kye:
"Arisa..."
"You have your own life."
"What about Ren and Luca?"
"Think about them."
Arisa removed his hands from her shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes.
Arisa:
"Be quiet."
"Don't tell me what I should do."
"What's the point of saving us..."
"If you end up dying yourself?"
Her voice softened.
"I can't come with you right now."
"But someday..."
"I will."
"Until then..."
"Whenever you find a clue..."
"Contact me."
"We'll discuss it together."
"It'll make things easier for you too."
Kye let out a helpless smile.
He decided not to argue any further.
Kye:
"Alright, Madam."
"I'll remember that."
With those words...
He quietly walked out of the house.
As he stepped onto the street—
Kye (thinking):
"Girls can be so stubborn..."
"Hmph..."
"I've already wasted enough time."
"I should leave now."
---
It was around 3 or 4 in the afternoon.
The sky had begun to fill with clouds...
The once-clear weather was slowly fading.
Without looking back...
Kye continued walking toward his next destination
---
Scene Shifts...
To a massive mansion...
Deep inside the estate...
There was an enormous room.
Judging by its design...
It appeared to be a meeting hall.
The atmosphere was unbearably tense.
The air itself felt heavy.
Inside the room...
Four individuals sat around a long table.
Their faces remained hidden.
Only the lower half of their bodies was visible, making it impossible to identify any of them.
The four of them seemed to be discussing something important.
Standing behind each of them...
Were two bodyguards, perfectly still.
However...
Among those eight figures...
One of them seemed strangely familiar...
As if he had appeared somewhere before.
A brief silence filled the room.
Then—
Unknown Man #1:
"So..."
"Things are finally getting interesting."
"To be honest..."
"I never imagined someone would make it this far."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
"After such a boring life..."
"It looks like we'll finally have something entertaining to do."
The remaining three men burst into laughter.
The sound echoed throughout the silent room.
After a few moments...
One of them spoke.
Unknown Man #3:
"Indeed..."
"Let's see..."
"Just how far they can really go."
Silence returned once again.
The camera slowly pulled away from the mansion...
As the dark clouds gathered overhead.
End of Chapter 11: - Departure -