Graduation day was supposed to be full of joy. Laughter echoed through the halls, smiles stretched across every face, and hope for the future hung in the air like sunlight after a storm.

But for Takimo, the day felt empty.

Kato was gone.

His best friend, the person he had imagined standing beside him at this moment, was nowhere to be seen. The seat next to him during the ceremony stayed painfully vacant, and that absence drained all the color from what should have been the happiest day of their lives.

After the ceremony ended, Takimo wandered through the school alone. Each hallway pulled him back into memory. The classroom where they had met. The stairs where they used to skip class. The window they leaned against while talking about the future. Every step felt heavier than the last.

Then he noticed the stares and the whispers.

“Isn’t he Kato Hamura’s best friend?”

“The HFA found out Kato is a Shadow, huh? What if Takimo is one too?”

“Ugh, I can’t believe I ever liked Kato. He could have killed me.”

“I feel bad for Takimo. He was played into thinking Kato actually wanted to be his friend.”

“Why feel bad for him? He chose to be friends with a monster.”

“No wonder he always stood out. He was one the whole time.”

“Thank God he was caught before he killed anyone else.”

“He was in my class. I can’t believe I sat near a Shadow and survived.”

“Monster.”

“Monster.”

“Monster.”

“Creep.”

“It’s good he’s gone. The world can finally breathe again.”

“Why do Shadows even exist? I wish the HFA would wipe them all out.”

Each word stabbed deeper than the last. Takimo kept walking, fists clenched, chest burning.

YOU’RE WRONG!

YOU’RE ALL WRONG!

The screams filled his head, but his mouth stayed shut. The weight of it all pinned him in silence.A gentle tap on his shoulder pulled him back to reality. He turned and saw Mira standing there, with worry written all over her face.

Mira: Takimo?

Takimo: Mira…

She gave a small, careful smile. 

Mira: Hey. Are you okay?

Mira led him to the football field, the same place she, Kato, and Takimo had hung out two weeks ago before their exam results came in.

They sat on the cold metal bleachers, the silence heavy between them. After a moment, Takimo finally spoke, everything he’d been holding back spilling out at once.

Takimo: I just… I hate how people are always ready to say the worst things about you the moment something bad happens. It makes me sick.

Mira: I get it. But you know how people are. Shadows are seen as evil, so they assume the worst. It’s hard to change what they’ve been conditioned to believe.

Takimo: That doesn’t make it right. I’ve known Kato for nine years. He’s not evil. An evil person wouldn’t be the kind of friend he’s been to me.

Takimo turned and saw Mira smiling at him which caught him off guard.

Takimo: Why are you smiling at me like that?

Mira: You really care about him, don’t you?

Takimo: Of course I do. He’s my best friend, and… he’s like a brother to me. 

Mira looked at Takimo, understanding the depth of his pain. 

Mira: So what do you think about Kato now? Do you think he’s evil? I mean, he’s a Shadow, but do you think that makes him bad?

Takimo thought for a second and then responded.

Takimo: No. I’ve accepted that he’s a Shadow. If he didn’t tell me, it’s probably because he was scared of losing our friendship. But that doesn’t change who he is. He’s still Kato, my best friend.

Mira smiled softly as she heard this.

Mira: I don’t either. 

Takimo noticed her smile and then asked the question he'd always wanted to ask.

Takimo: Mira, do you like Kato?

This question caught her off guard. 

Mira: HUHH?!!

Takimo: I mean, you always smile when you talk about him and I’ve seen how you look at him sometimes…

Mira: Okay, enough!! (playfully swats Takimo's head) Just stop!

Takimo: (laughs) So, that’s a yes?

Mira hid her face which had turned red in embarrassment, unable to answer.

Takimo: (laughs)

Mira: What's so funny huh????!!!!

Takimo: (still laughing) It's nothing really.

Takimo’s laughter lingered for a moment before fading, and with it, Mira’s thoughts slipped back to that morning.

******

Mira had dressed up and prepared for her graduation. The moment she stepped out of her room, she tried to avoid Kato so he wouldn’t have to see her in her uniform; a reminder of the life he was now cut off from. 

But as she stepped out of her room, Ervin, her father, was already waiting in the hallway, beaming with pride..

Ervin: Mira! You look just like your mother! (starts playing with her face)

Mira: Dad! You’re going to ruin my makeup! (swat his hands away) Don't be so loud!! I don't want...

But then she saw Kato walking behind her father and when Kato noticed Mira and realized what day it was.

Kato: Hey, Mira. You look pretty (scratches his head awkwardly) 

Mira blushed, feeling a pang of guilt. She had wanted to spare him the pain of seeing her like this, but now her plan had failed.

Mira: T… Thanks.(to herself) Damn it. I really wanted to avoid him seeing me like this. I don't want him to feel bad at all.

Kato however, put on a fake smile which could easily be seen by anyone. 

Kato: Today’s graduation, huh? Me and Takimo had plans for this day. Now he’s going to be alone.

Ervin watched his daughter’s conflicted expression. He knew how much she cared about Kato.

Kato: Hey Mira, can you help check on Takimo and see how he's doing?

Mira: I know… I was going to do it without you asking me. He's my friend too. 

Kato nodded, relieved.

Kato: Thank you Mira. See you later.

Mira and Ervin watched him walk away. Her chest tightened as she stared at his back.

Ervin: Woah! Don't cry now. You'll ruin your makeup.

Mira: But… Why him, dad? Why? He doesn't deserve any of this.

Ervin gently tapped her forehead, trying to comfort her.

Ervin: You’re right. He doesn’t deserve it. But we live in a world where it doesn’t matter who deserves what. Most of the time, it’s the innocent ones who suffer the most, especially when they’re just trying to live their best lives.

He looked down the hallway where Kato had disappeared.

Ervin: I can tell he thinks about that every day. And honestly… I don’t know if he’ll be able to stay strong on his own.That’s why I’ll be there for him when he falls.

He smiles softly.

Ervin: I promise you that, Mira.

******

The memory comes back to her, and Mira can’t help but smile.

Takimo: You're smiling again

Mira: Of course I'm smiling. We just graduated from high-school.

Takimo: (laughs) That's true. 

Mira remained silent and then she spoke again. 

Mira: Takimo, I don’t think Kato is evil. No one is born that way. It’s the life they live that shapes them. Kato saved you and became your best friend. He’s helped me in ways he doesn’t even know. I’ll never believe he’s evil. 

Takimo's eyes widened. 

Takimo: For real?

Mira: (nodded) I won’t let the world’s perception of him change how I see him. You shouldn’t either. He's like a brother to you after all isn't he?

Takimo smiled.

Takimo: Yeah. Man, if Kato could see you now saying all these nice things about him. 

Takimo smiled as a wave of confidence and happiness filled him until he finally yelled out into the sky. 

Takimo: Alright!!!! I know what I'm gonna do now!!!! 

Mira: (tilted her head) Really? What's that? 

Takimo: I'm going to enroll into the Hunter Force Academy so I can become a hunter and find a way to reach out to my best friend and ask him what really happened. 

Mira: That's great! 

What they didn’t know was that Kato and Ervin had been watching from a safe distance. Ervin had snuck Kato out, knowing how much it would mean for him to see Takimo and Mira. Kato wore pendants on his neck that changed how he looked to everyone else to prevent anyone from recognizing him. 

Kato had heard everything, and it brought a rare smile to his face. He was relieved to know that Takimo still considered him a friend, despite everything.

Kato: Thank you Mr Ervin. I really needed this.

Ervin: No problems. I couldn’t stand to see you hurting when you didn’t do anything wrong. It's the least I can do. 

Kato: At least I know Takimo doesn’t hate me. I’m glad.

Ervin: That's a good friend you got there. Make sure you hold on to him

As they left the school grounds, Ervin turned to Kato. 

Ervin: So… Mira told me that you already arrived at your answer. 

Kato: Yeah. 

Ervin: So now you believe everything we were trying to tell you back then?

Kato: N..not really. I still don't think talking it out is going to solve this long ongoing issue. But…

Kato’s mind flashed to everything he had seen in the Hashido estate and his conversation with Daniel and Lyra.

Kato: After hearing and seeing everything that I saw, I realized that I could no longer stay ignorant to it. This world is completely messed up and I don't want to pretend that it isn't. And I decided that I won't sit back idly either.

Kato then turned to Ervin with a determined look on his face.

Kato: Mr Ervin, Mira told me about the group you lead and how they're trying to make a change in the world. I want to be a part of that group too. Please, let me help out! I want to find the people who did this and stop them! 

Ervin's face was filled with amazement and he wondered if this was the same boy he met a few nights ago. He smiled and then patted Kato on the head.

Ervin: Sure. I'll brief the others so we can start training you on how to fight and defend yourself. It's gonna be a rough ride so be ready for it.

Kato: Yes sir!

Ervin: Hey, I'm not a military commander you know? (pauses) Also about your mom…

Kato immediately turned his head once he heard this. 

Ervin: Dana was able to pull some strings since she works at the same hospital your mom is at and now she's the doctor in charge of her. So if there's any substantial update, I'll be sure to let you know. 

Kato smiled and quickly wiped the small tears that were about to fall out of his eyes.

Kato: Thank you… THANK YOU SO MUCH. 

Ervin smiled and after Kato cleaned his eyes, he spoke again.

Kato: Can I see her? 

*****

Later that evening, with Dana’s help, Ervin managed to sneak Kato into the hospital. Kato slipped quietly into his mother’s room, his heart heavy as he took in the sight of her lying there, still trapped in a coma. An IV line ran into her left arm, and an oxygen mask covered her face, the soft hum of the machine beside her the only sound in the room.

He sat down next to her bed, gently taking her hand in his. A small, sad smile formed on his lips.

Kato: Hey, Mom… I’m here. I’m sorry it took me so long to come see you.

His voice was barely above a whisper, weighted with the sorrow he’d been carrying for the past two weeks. Yet, being there with her, even without an answer, brought him a fragile sense of peace.