At Sako's house, everything was quiet.

Meanwhile, at Maya's house...

She was lying on the couch, thinking about the previous day.

She remembered Sako laughing.

His laugh wasn't loud.

There was nothing particularly special about that moment.

But somehow, it stayed in her mind.

She smiled without realizing it.

Then her phone rang.

She looked at the screen.

It was a name she knew very well.

She answered.

"Hello?"

A man's voice came from the other end.

"Maya? Are you awake?"

She quickly sat up.

"Yes... Haro?"

The voice laughed.

"Who else would call you at this hour?"

Maya sighed in relief.

"Where are you?"

"At the train station."

Maya was silent for a moment.

"What are you doing there?"

"I was told I'd be going on a mission outside the city."

Then he laughed.

"But I got lost."

Maya put a hand on her forehead.

"Haro..."

"What?"

"You're impossible."

"I know."

"Send me your location."

"I knew you'd come."

"Haro."

"...Fine."

Maya hung up.

She looked at the clock.

Then sighed.

"Why is it always me?"

She grabbed her umbrella and left.

---

An hour later...

Maya arrived at the station.

She was carrying a black umbrella while the rain poured heavily.

She looked around.

The station was almost empty.

The sounds of trains could be heard in the distance, mixed with the sound of the rain.

Then she saw someone standing beside one of the pillars.

A relatively tall young man wearing a dark jacket, with a bag over his shoulder.

He waved his hand.

"Maya!"

She approached him.

"Why did you ask me to come?"

He smiled.

"Because you're the only person I know who wouldn't leave me lost."

She looked at him in disbelief.

"You've been working for the P.S.A. for years."

"Correct."

"And you know the city."

"Correct."

"And yet you got lost."

He smiled.

"...Correct."

Maya laughed.

"Come on."

The two of them started walking.

The rain had weakened a little, but the streets were still wet.

Haro walked beside her, his hands in the pockets of his jacket.

After a few moments, Maya asked:

"Where are they sending you on the mission?"

"A city near the border."

"How long will you be there?"

"I don't know."

"Days?"

"Maybe."

"Weeks?"

"Maybe."

She looked at him.

"You don't know anything."

He smiled.

"I know I'm going."

She shook her head.

"As usual."

The two continued walking in silence for a few moments.

Then Maya noticed the bag over his shoulder.

"Did you bring everything?"

"I think so."

"You think so?"

"I put everything in the bag."

"And that means?"

"That I definitely forgot something."

Maya laughed.

"You haven't changed."

Haro smiled.

"Why should I change?"

"Because you work for the P.S.A."

He looked at her.

"Working doesn't mean I have to become boring."

"I didn't say boring."

"But you thought it."

"Maybe."

He laughed.

---

After a while, the street became quieter.

Haro looked at the closed shops on both sides of the road.

Then he said:

"You know..."

"What?"

"Sometimes I think about leaving the P.S.A."

Maya looked at him.

"You?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He shrugged.

"I don't know."

Then he was silent for a moment.

"Or maybe I do."

Maya looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I want a normal life."

He smiled.

"Nothing big."

"A small house."

"A quiet place."

"Maybe a garden."

He looked at the window of one of the houses.

"And I want to wake up in the morning without waiting for a call telling me there's trouble somewhere."

Maya smiled.

"That sounds nothing like you."

"I know."

He laughed.

"But I think about it a lot."

"What would you do if you got it?"

Haro thought for a moment.

"Plant something."

She looked at him in confusion.

"Something?"

"Yes."

"Like what?"

"I don't know."

He smiled.

"A tree."

Then he added:

"Or maybe take care of a small garden."

"You don't even know how to take care of yourself."

"That's slander."

Maya laughed.

"Do you remember when you forgot your own birthday?"

"I was busy."

"It was your birthday."

"And that made it less important."

She laughed again.

But this time, Haru smiled quietly.

It was a simple conversation.

And yet, it felt like he was talking about something he truly wished for.

Something he didn't have yet.

---

The two continued walking.

Then Haro looked at her.

"How is Sako?"

Maya stopped for a moment.

"Fine."

"Is he really fine?"

She looked ahead.

"I don't know."

Then she added:

"But he seemed different yesterday."

Haro raised an eyebrow.

"Different?"

"He was laughing."

Haro stopped walking.

"...Sako?"

Maya looked at him.

"Yes."

He opened his mouth in surprise.

"I want proof."

Maya laughed.

"You're not getting any."

Haro smiled.

"Then I'll consider it a miracle."

They continued walking.

But moments later...

Haro's expression became more serious.

"Maya."

"What?"

"Have you noticed anything strange about Sako lately?"

She hesitated.

Then said:

"Yes."

"What?"

Maya lowered her voice.

"His injury."

Haro's expression changed.

"What about it?"

"It was serious."

Then she looked at him.

"But it disappeared."

Silence fell between them.

Haru didn't laugh this time.

"Disappeared?"

Maya nodded.

"Yes."

"How?"

"I don't know."

Haru looked at the road ahead.

Then said:

"That's strange."

Maya said nothing.

But she noticed something.

For the first time since she had known him...

Haro wasn't smiling.

---

After a while, they reached a building belonging to the P.S.A.

Maya stopped at the entrance.

"You're going from here?"

Haro smiled.

"Yes."

Then he turned toward her.

"Thanks for coming."

"Don't thank me."

Then she added:

"And don't get yourself into trouble."

Haro laughed.

"No promises."

She shook her head.

"Haro..."

"Okay, okay."

He waved at her and entered the building.

Maya remained standing under the rain for a few moments.

She looked at the door behind which Haru had disappeared.

Then she looked at the sky.

And remembered Sako once again.

"...I hope you're okay."

Then she returned home.

---

As for Haro...

He was walking through the corridors alone.

The sound of his footsteps echoed through the building.

He passed several employees.

He smiled at one of them.

Then continued walking.

But after he had passed them...

His smile gradually disappeared.

He stopped by one of the windows.

He looked at the rain outside.

Then he took a small photograph from his pocket.

It was an old photograph.

It showed Haro at a younger age, standing beside a man whose face was unclear.

He stared at it for a few moments.

Then put it back into his pocket.

"Someday..."

he whispered.

"I'll leave all of this behind."

He fell silent.

Then added:

"But not now."

He continued walking.

After a few steps, he reached into his pocket again.

And took out a small piece of paper.

It had one name written on it:

Subject 0

He stared at it for several seconds.

His expression changed.

Then he raised his eyes.

He looked at the name again.

And quietly said:

"Sako..."

Then he folded the paper.

And put it back into his pocket.

He continued walking down the long corridor.

But this time...

He knew exactly where he was going.