Chapter Text
February 22nd 2026 8.00am
Mukuhara Kazui’s House
Kazui keeps having the same nightmare over and over again. Ever since that incident, the image of Hinako’s lifeless, dead body in a pool of blood won’t ever leave him. In that same dream, he keeps calling for her name over and over again even though he himself knows that it was already too late. And at a time like this the image of his childhood friend would flash right in front of his eyes before he jolts wide awake again.
Kazui would start getting out of his bed to shower and brush his teeth like always before going to his worn-out fridge to get something to eat… Ah, but it seemed like all the contents inside the fridge were already gone and he would need to go to the nearest market to buy more stuff. With a sigh, he slowly dragged himself across the messy apartment to change out before heading out.
It’s been supposedly 13 years since Kazui “murdered” his wife. He didn’t exactly get her killed directly but he knows he was the main reason why his wife chose to jump down that building. If only he didn’t marry Hinako in the first place, would he have landed himself in that situation. If only he was able to love women, maybe Hinako would’ve still been alive.
Kazui doesn’t understand why he goes on with his life. Every time he attempts to end his own, there would be voices inside his head that tell him not to do it. It wasn’t his own voice but the voices of many unrecognizable ones reassuring him and comforting him.
His mind still feels very hazy. He doesn’t remember the things that happened during that time period other than the death of Hinako from before. One day Kazui woke up feeling a shift in the atmosphere, and when he looked out the window he noticed all the old buildings feel more modernized and advanced compared to the last time he remembered.
Kazui was born on August 5,1974, he was a 39 year old man when Hinako died in 2013, but he’s still 39 years old as of today February 22, 2025.
Was he in a coma for that long because he couldn’t handle Hinako’s death? Or did somebody wipe off the memories of the last 13 years he spent. It didn’t take long for him to adapt to his new lifestyle so he didn’t think too much of the time skip but the same nightmares would keep returning to him, torturing him and it’s only the voices he heard that kept pushing him forward to live…just barely though.
Because what’s the point of living if he has nothing to look forward to in his life anymore? His parents are gone. Ryosuke is gone. Hinako is gone. So why do these voices in his head keep reassuring him and telling him to move forward. Hinako died because of him so why should he keep on living?
The voices would only pester him if he ever tried to attempt his life, but other than that they don’t disturb Kazui one bit which is really strange and he doesn’t understand why this happens.
It’s giving him a headache to keep thinking about it so he put those thoughts away in his head for now and focused on whatever was happening currently in his life — Getting his breakfast right away or he’ll go hungry.
February 22nd 2026 9.13am
Vegetable Market stall
Kazui was queueing up to make his payment by the bakery stall. He was in a state of daydreaming until he heard a sharp and loud voice of a man beside him.
“HEY! Give me back my wallet!”
He turned around to see a gray-haired, somewhat middle-aged man shouting at another man in a cap who’s facing in the opposite direction, obviously trying to flee after stealing someone’s wallet!
Without hesitation, Kazui dropped the groceries he was carrying and sprinted towards the man. Maybe this could turn my shitty life around. Kazui thought to himself. He dashed past streams of people and stalls chasing after the masked thief. He had chased couples of criminals in his past life as a detective and this shouldn’t be too hard of a task…hopefully!
The man with a surgical black mask and cap knocked over a couple of baskets and barrels that were conveniently placed beside the market stalls which would send vegetables and fruits rolling on the road to obstruct Kazui’s path. He would have no choice but to find alternative routes to catch up to the thief.
The thief was very cunning but he was no match for Kazui who had been training as a detective for the last…supposedly 20 or 33 years? Kazui doesn’t know if he was still a detective during the last 13 years where his memories mysteriously disappeared but he was still in top shape to catch criminals even though he wasn’t able to return to his old job.
February 22nd 2026 10.07am
Vegetable Market stall
The chase lasted for 30 minutes until the thief backed himself into a corner.
“I’ve got you now, there’s nowhere to run so give back that wallet!” Kazui spoke in a stern voice while steadily catching his breath.
Just then, Kazui noticed the thief’s eyes' previous dull expression lit up and he could tell the thief was smirking at Kazui. Something’s wrong. He turned around to see two other guys in dark caps and surgical masks already standing behind him with their knives out.
Kazui wasn’t afraid of course.
He had taken multiple classes of Karate and Judo for his detective job so this should be an easy task for him…hopefully!
And so the fight began with Kazui dodging and landing powerful blows and kicks in quick succession, sending the thieves crashing against the walls of the alleyway. The thieves tried
going up against him repeatedly but it always ended up in vain as Kazui started throwing them and causing the other guys to collide with one another. It all seemed too easy for Kazui…
Until he realized that the thieves just refused to give up they tried all sorts of tactics to get close to him. It’s been a while since Kazui had fought with other criminals, so towards the end, Kazui grew more and more tired and the thieves ended up cutting some parts of his skin and face.
After a long brawl of muscles vs knives, Kazui still managed to overpower them in the end, leaving the thief and his friends with a few bruises on the faces and body.
Knowing that they didn’t stand any chance against him, the thief dropped the wallet and ran away with the other guys.
Kazui tried chasing after them but the wounds on his body were too painful and they didn’t allow him to run after them. He was only able to move a few steps before someone called out to him.
“Hey! Are you alright?” Kazui turned to see the same gray-haired man from before who was running towards him.
Upon arriving at Kazui's side, he started to notice the injuries right away. “Sir, don’t move, I have to tend to your wounds right away.”
Ugh, if only I was a little faster I would’ve definitely apprehended them…You’re so useless Kazui…. At least I managed to retrieve the wallet. He sighed and sat down against a wall and stared silently at the gray-haired man who quickly took out a first aid kit from his backpack. He hasn’t noticed the man’s features properly since he was busy chasing after the thief.
The man looked to be someone around his early thirties? Or maybe late twenties?
Some parts of his hair are partially covering his eyes while his right eye remains uncovered. The man was wearing thick-black gloves and grey jeans that fit him perfectly. Kazui’s kinda envious of how properly groomed this man is.
“You’re a doctor, huh?” Kazui asks
“Yes, I usually carry a first-aid kit around in case someone needs help. Consider this as my way of thanking you for helping me retrieve my wallet.” The man replied back. His voice was oddly soothing to Kazui. He stared intently at the doctor and took some wet wipes off to clean his wounds.
“Ow ow, that stings!”
“I’m sorry, this might hurt a little so bear with me.”
Kazui winces as he watches the doctor continue to treat his wounds.
“Even though treating patients isn’t usually my specialisation, I do try my best to help patients whenever possible.”
“Wow, you’re amazing, you seem like a wonderful doctor.” Kazui chuckled.
“Hah… I wouldn’t really say that…I’ve killed people before.”
That last sentence caught Kazui off guard. Oh that wasn’t what he was expecting at all but maybe he meant that he wasn’t able to save his patients.
After all, a doctor’s job is certainly a hard one, which is something Kazui could never dream of having since he lacked the brains for it but he didn’t mind that since he was able to help other people in other ways.
“Well you don’t have to be so hard on yourself, there are instances where you can’t save patients-.”
“It’s not like that.” The doctor cut him off, his tone suddenly appearing colder than usual.
“I have killed someone… with the intent of murdering them.”
Oh…that was…unexpected.
Kazui would have never expected such a response from a man who seemed so radiant and full of energy. Even if this doctor did kill someone with the intent of murdering them. It doesn’t make sense for him to still want to help treat Kazui’s wounds.
“You know I’m a detective, right?” Kazui asked.
“Yeah I had a feeling you were one, when you rushed off to chase after that thief.” The doctor replied back.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t mind if you arrest me right away since I have nothing to look forward to in my life. I don’t believe I should be forgiven for the sins I’ve done.”
Kazui doesn’t know what to think of that. He could tell the doctor probably really didn’t want to kill someone.
He silently observes the doctor as he carefully wraps around his injuries with bandages.
In a way, Kazui felt sympathetic towards him. From the way he acts, maybe he didn’t want to kill someone but was forced to do so under circumstances.
He’s now remembering his own murder of Hinako. The sight of her limp body in a pool of blood still haunts him. The once cheerful and positive Hinako lost all hope and purpose the moment Kazui confessed that he never loved her.
Hinako, who earnestly and sincerely loved Kazui, treated him with nothing but kindness and love. He, on the other hand, gambled and played with her feelings. Kazui went through the lengths to marry her just so he could live up to society’s expectations.
Of course he did wish he might be able to change and convert himself through this marriage which was unfortunately, futile.
No matter how many times he tried to love Hinako. He wasn’t able to love her romantically — only as a best friend.
He married Hinako for so many years and of course after she realised that her whole marriage and the man who she thought loved him was a lie. Hinako didn’t have the will to live anymore and decided to end her life that day and Kazui couldn’t blame her.
And this is why Kazui sees himself as a murderer. Even though he doesn’t technically count as one, according to the law.
Kazui doesn’t know much about the doctor’s situation so he can’t exactly understand what he’s going through but he knows for a certainty that the doctor probably didn’t want to kill that person.
Before Kazui realized it, the doctor had already finished treating him.
“I recommend that you visit a hospital to get your wounds treated properly. Is it alright if I take you there or will you be sending me to the police station?” The doctor asked with a weak smile.
“Okay so I’m actually no longer a detective, I was already kicked out of my job a few mon- years ago. Sorry for trying to scare you earlier.”
“Oh I already knew that.”
“Huh, how did you know-”
“Well if you were still a detective you wouldn't have gotten yourself injured and you would’ve already caught the thieves.”
“Okay now I regret helping you, I should have just-”
“I’m kidding, Mukuhara-san.”
Huh? How does he know my name?
“Mukuhara- wait, how do you know my family name?” Kazui asked.
“I see your memories haven’t returned back Kazui-san, I’ll tell you in a bit when we reach the hospital.”