“Yeah. If Papa is still in that lab, keeping kids again, we have to stop him,” Risa answered, loading two flashlights and extra batteries into Kenji’s backpack.

“But what if it’s ghosts? Old Man Saburō lived near the building. He might’ve seen people and vehicles going in and out of the forest,” Kenji said.

“I fear people like Papa more than I fear the dead. What’s this deal with Mr. Saburō anyway? Do you trust him?”

“I do. He saved me when I got lost in the woods,” Kenji replied.

“Then why are we parked on the other side of the forest and not near Mr. Saburō’s house?” Risa asked.

“I just don’t want him stopping us. Plus, if Papa’s really there and he sees us, and Mr. Saburō follows, he won’t be fast enough,” Kenji laughed. He pulled his compass from the glove box and tucked a Glock into his waist.

“What the hell, Kenji?” Risa asked, eyes wide.

“Just in case it’s not ghosts floating around but people in white coats running after us,” he said.

They stepped out of the car when a voice shouted from behind. Someone was running toward them. Kenji quickly hid the gun in his waist, not wanting the cops involved.

“Where are you going?” the breathless voice called.

They turned — it was Riku.

“You scared me,” Risa said.

“Of all places… why the woods?” Riku asked.

“We’re not dating. We just have to check something out,” Risa said.

“Oh… can I come?”

“Why? And why are you walking around at this hour?” Kenji asked.

“Had a fight with my dad. Can I come?” Riku asked again.

Risa and Kenji exchanged a look. She nodded.

“Fine, but you have to run fast if we need to,” Kenji said.

“Man, I’m trained from all the running I did from cops. So… where are we going?”

“Aokigahara ruins,” Risa said. “Don’t tell the others tomorrow.”

Riku nodded as Risa handed him a flashlight. Kenji checked his compass. Risa explained their plan. They followed a rough map, guessing where the old building might be. The forest was silent and dark, and they passed the tree where Kenji had once hung his belt — a landmark from his memory.

“Maybe the old building is a myth? Mosquitoes are feasting on me. If we did a DNA test on them, we’d be related,” Riku joked.

“You can go back if you want,” Risa said. “Kenji, are you sure this is the right way?”

“There’s no way to know. When I got lost before, my compass malfunctioned…”

The needle on Kenji’s compass shimmered as if trying to pierce some invisible glass.

“We’re on track. North from here,” he said.

After fifteen minutes, they spotted the old building. Kenji pointed to a boulder in the distance.

“We’ll hide there. Perfect view of the lab without being seen,” he said.

Riku and Risa followed, Riku turning off his flashlight while Risa secured the backpack. Kenji stared at the tree behind them — the same one from his memory where he and Risa had once hidden.

“What exactly are we looking for?” Riku asked.

“Any signs of life… or death,” Kenji said.

“You didn’t say we’re hunting ghosts!” Riku shouted. Risa shushed him.

They watched the building’s entrance. Red lights glowed faintly inside.

“Let me see—” Riku started, but the ground shook violently. Cracks, glowing red, split the forest floor beneath them. One fissure reached Riku, and a crater opened. He fell in.

“RIKU!” Risa screamed.

“Help me!”

“Kenji! Kenji, what do we do?!”

“Stay here,” Kenji shouted, leaping toward the crater. Risa froze, horrified. The cracks began to close. She couldn’t let Riku be trapped. She reached out, focusing her gift.

“Please… be fast,” she whispered.

Kenji jumped — but didn’t fall. He seemed to pass through reality itself, landing in the same building, only now the forest was gone.

“KENJI! HELP ME!” Riku’s voice echoed. Vines coiled around him, bats swarming, claws and wings striking.

Kenji fired his gun, the shrieking bats scattering. He yanked the vines from Riku, feeling bones crack under the pressure. He helped Riku back to the crater — now smaller, but still dangerous.

“You go first. I’ll follow,” Kenji instructed. Riku nodded, leaping safely.

Risa collapsed, blood trickling from her nose, pale as a ghost.

“You okay? I shouldn’t have come,” Riku said, tears in his eyes.

“I’m fine,” Risa smiled weakly.

“Let’s head back to the car,” Kenji said, brushing leaves off his shirt. A heat burned inside him, not from exertion but something more… primal.

The ride home was quiet. Riku muttered curses under his breath. Risa shook, still pale.

“Riku…” Kenji said quietly.

“Y-yeah?”

“You okay?”

“I’m fine. We should worry more about Risa. She’s ghost-white,” Riku joked.

“Promise me something,” Kenji said.

“What?”

“Whatever happened tonight stays between us. For everyone’s safety,” Kenji said. Riku nodded, sighing heavily.

Kenji’s grip on the wheel tightened. The Glock shifted on the dashboard. He glanced at Risa, sleeping and trembling beside him.

》》》》》》》》》》

Kenji spent the entire week buried in work, catching up on missed homework. He became an instant celebrity at school; everyone wanted to know how he survived the crash. He always shrugged and said he’d just been lucky.

Riku, however, had gone eerily quiet. He barely spoke or joked, often staring off into the distance, pale, sometimes vomiting without warning. His friends had dragged him to the clinic countless times, suspecting a fever — but his temperature always came back normal.

Risa kept a careful eye on him. She feared he might tell the others what had happened in the forest. This week had been brutal — she had to watch over Riku while simultaneously worrying about Santo, who hadn’t spoken a word to her since she told him they were better off as friends.

“My mom sent me on an errand to the market. I’ll head off first,” Riku told his friends.

“Are you sure? Want us to come with you?” Reiji asked.

“I’m fine. I’ll send a message once I get home,” he replied.

Kenji nodded. Haruto and Karu insisted on accompanying Riku to the market. Santo had already left, silent as ever.

“My bike’s broken. I took the bus here, but I spent my fare on lunch,” Reiji admitted, scratching his head. “Can I get a ride, Kenji?”

“Sure,” Kenji said, barely looking up.

They all waved goodbye. Haruto and Karu said they’d stop by the internet café first. Riku planned to take the bus.

“Take care,” Riku said, hugging Risa tightly. “Make sure she gets home safe. Always.”

“You’re being weird,” Reiji muttered.

Riku just smiled and walked away. If they had known this might be the last time they’d see him, none of them would have let him go alone.