Usagi and I crossed the hospital grounds together to make our way back to Building B. My gaze fell on a small playground a little further away. I stopped for a moment.

"Isn't that... that boy?" I asked. He had disappeared so quickly earlier that I hadn't had the chance to question him further about the strange things he'd said to me. But now, he was sitting all alone on a swing, moving back and forth with his feet.

"Looks like it."

"You can go ahead if you want. I'll catch up soon," I said to Usagi. She groaned briefly but didn't argue. Then, I limped over to the boy.

As I stopped in front of him, he slowed the swing with his feet and looked up at me expectantly.

"Um, so... what's your name?" I asked hesitantly.

"Kota," he replied curtly.

"Okay, Kota-chan. Earlier, you said none of us adults remember. What exactly did you mean by that? What don't we remember?"

The boy sighed.

"You wouldn't believe me anyway."

"At this point, I'd believe almost anything. I know there's something inside me trying to remember, but I have no idea what. So far, it's only fragments of memories. But you, you seem to remember everything, right? And obviously, you know me too-not just from school, I mean, but from somewhere else."

This time, he nodded.

"Yeah. We met in another world."

"Another world?" I frowned. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

"We were all briefly dead when the disaster in Shibuya happened. During that time, we were... away, in our minds. We had to play these games, and if you lost, you died. But the people who made it to the final game returned to this world and survived. My parents didn't make it."

He hung his head sadly, scuffing his feet in the sand. I stared at him, frozen. His story sounded absurd. Yet, for some reason, I knew it was true.

"I'm sorry about your parents," I managed to say, as my thoughts began to race uncontrollably.

For a moment, flashes of images filled my mind. I saw a group of people, including the boy named Kota, and beside him stood Usagi and Arisu. They were wearing strange glowing vests, chasing others through a parking garage in some kind of life-and-death game. A blimp bearing the banner of the Queen of Spades appeared in my mind's eye.

My hand went to my temple as a sharp pain surged through my head from the overwhelming flood of stimuli.

"You were the King in that game," I said, not entirely sure how I knew this. It was a memory I suddenly had access to.

Kota looked up, surprised, and smiled.

"So, you do remember."

"But what about Chishiya? Who is he? Was he in this world too?" I asked, still uncertain, as this part of my memories remained blurred.

"Yes, you were with him there. And he was a character in your comics."

Now I was truly stunned. Chishiya was real, but why had I made him into a comic character? Immediately, the drawing of him I'd made came to mind, and in that moment, I understood: he must have been very important to me.

But if he had been in that other world, it meant he was also caught up in the disaster. I shuddered at the thought.

"Is Chishiya... is he dead?" I asked, my voice trembling, terrified of the answer.

"I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me."

I shook my head, unable to stop tears from welling up. The thought that Chishiya might not have made it sent me into a panic attack.

The feelings I had for him ran deep, shaking me to my core, even though I still couldn't remember our time together.

But his face began to take shape in my mind. I could vividly describe him: his unusual hair color, his high cheekbones, the shape of his slightly curved lips, and even his dark, mysterious eyes.

Suddenly, Kota stood up.

"I have to go now, or I'll get in trouble," he said briefly. "Good night."

I nodded silently, waving a quick goodbye, though my thoughts were miles away.

The image of Chishiya in my mind was so vivid that I couldn't think of anything else.

A tear rolled down my cheek, and my breathing became labored. I began trembling uncontrollably, desperately gasping for air as I tried to push away the thought that Chishiya might no longer be alive.

Panicking, I fumbled for the inhaler in my jacket pocket, only to realize I'd left it in the room. My breaths came in short, erratic bursts. I let go of my crutches and stumbled backward against the climbing frame.

Sliding down its side, I tried to consciously breathe in and out, willing the dark thoughts away. Slowly, I regained control, my breathing steadied, and I slumped to the sandy ground, my mind spinning in the hope of unlocking more memories.

But nothing happened.

I gazed up at the sky, noticing how dark it was getting. Curfew had probably already begun, but I felt restless.

I had to find out what happened to him, even though I was equally afraid of the answer.

But I wouldn't give up until I knew what had become of him.

Determined, I grabbed the climbing rope in front of me and began pulling myself up.

At that moment, another memory overwhelmed me.

I was climbing a rope up to a wooden hut. Chishiya was there too, sitting beside me as I held his hand tightly in fear.

Around us, gunshots echoed loudly.

When the brief film in my mind ended, the rest fell into place. I remembered what happened next: my jump from the climbing frame, Chishiya catching me in his arms, his warm embrace, our tentative kiss.

My stomach fluttered intensely, and I had to cling to the rope to keep from collapsing.

The emotions in that memory were so overwhelming, it felt as if it was happening right now.

Cautiously, I touched my lips, almost tasting him.

If what we'd experienced in that other world had only happened in our minds, why did the memories feel so real?

But now I knew one thing for sure: Chishiya had been close to me. Very close.

And I also realized I had feelings for him, even though a significant piece of the puzzle was still missing.

But I was convinced now that those memories would surface soon enough.

Shaken, I picked up my crutches from the ground and headed back to our room. The hallways were deserted. It was already past 10:30 p.m. Quietly, I slipped through the door into our darkened room.

It seemed Usagi was already asleep.

I crawled under the blanket, listening to my loudly pounding heart.

"Everything okay with you?" came Usagi's sleepy voice from the other side of the room.

"Everything's fine."

"Did you find out anything?"

"Not really," I lied, knowing I couldn't possibly explain it all now.

"Alright, then... good night."

"You too."

But I already knew I wouldn't get a wink of sleep that night.

My mind was racing non-stop.

I wanted nothing more than to go out again and search the entire building for Chishiya, but I knew that was an absurd idea right now.

Still, I could barely handle the inner tension. The question of whether he was okay tortured me throughout the night.

And then another terrible thought crept into my mind: what if Chishiya had survived, like me, but didn't remember me?

If he remembered me, surely he would have shown up by now, wouldn't he?

So either he hadn't survived the disaster, or he, like the rest of us, had lost part of his memory.

Both options were terrifying.

But if I had to choose, it would undoubtedly be the latter.

Even though it would be painful if he no longer remembered me, at least he would still be alive.

And that was all I wished for.

I counted the minutes until dawn. Though I was utterly exhausted, my mind wouldn't allow me to sleep.

When the sun finally rose, I couldn't fight the fatigue anymore and fell into a deep sleep.

I didn't wake until the nurse came by with breakfast, obviously rousing me from my deepest sleep phase.

I was so groggy that I couldn't manage to stop her in time, as I had meticulously planned in my head.

I stared at the tray of food, but my nervousness completely killed my appetite.

It seemed I'd have to wait until one of the nurses had more time for my request, even though I hated the thought of waiting any longer.

For all I knew, Chishiya might have already been discharged.

I forced down a few bites of food and put the rest back on the tray.

Then, I rummaged in my bag for my AirPods and opened my music app. Somehow, I needed to distract myself from my relentless thoughts.

I scrolled absentmindedly through my playlist until my eyes landed on a particular song title.

The moment I read it, a strange sense of familiarity washed over me, one I couldn't quite put into words.

I clicked on the song and deliberately closed my eyes.

In the next moment, I was sitting in a car, in the passenger seat-beside me, Chishiya was at the wheel.

"You should really get yourself a therapist," he said, amused.

I smiled at the memory.

It all seemed like an eternity ago, but now I remembered every detail and the reason we had been in that car together.

It happened not long after our kiss on the playground. I had forgotten my things at Mei and Kota's because I had rushed off to the game Chishiya had participated in-the King of Diamonds' game.

Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together again.

Chishiya. The card game. The Jack of Hearts.

It was one of many games.

It was the game where Chishiya and I had consciously spoken to each other for the first time.

These moments flashed through my mind at lightning speed, filling in some crucial memory gaps.

How could I have ever forgotten all of that? Especially Chishiya. The person I never wanted to forget, with whom I had wished for a future together.

But after Borderland, our paths had parted, and now I was back at square one.

Without him.

I took a deep breath and pulled the earbuds from my ears.

Then, I grabbed my sketchpad, tore out my drawing of Chishiya, and folded it carefully to tuck it into my jacket pocket.

Usagi looked at me in surprise as I suddenly pulled myself up from the bed.

"What are you up to?"

"Just taking a little walk," I replied curtly.

She still looked puzzled but didn't say anything and let me leave.

Out in the corridor, I kept an eye out for a nurse-not just any nurse, but a specific one, since I wasn't sure if the others would be willing to help me.

I waited for a while, pacing nervously up and down the hallway.

Finally, I saw her. She was talking to one of the male nurses.

When she spotted me, she smiled warmly.

"What can I do for you, sweetheart?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

I glanced hesitantly at the male nurse next to her.

"Um... it's a bit of a personal question."

She nodded in understanding and gestured for her colleague to leave us alone, which I was immensely grateful for.

She stepped closer to me and lowered her voice.

"So, what's troubling you? Is it still about your lost memories?"

"It's related," I explained quietly. "I've started to remember some things."

I fished the drawing out of my jacket pocket and handed it to her.

The nurse looked at me questioningly as she unfolded the paper.

"Oh, did you draw this?" she asked, impressed.

"Yes. It's someone I remembered. He must have been involved in the Shibuya disaster too. I think he was admitted to this hospital. Do you happen to know him?"

I tried to keep my anxiety hidden, but I feared my fidgeting hands, constantly running through my curls, gave me away.

"I think I've seen him here before. You don't forget such a handsome face, especially not with that hair color."

Her words made my heart skip a beat.

"Could you tell me which room he's in?" I asked eagerly.

She shook her head and handed the drawing back to me.

"Sorry, love. I suspect he's in the West Wing, but that's not my area."

"But... if I gave you his name, maybe you could look it up?"

She smiled faintly and sighed.

"I could, but I'm not allowed to share personal information just like that."

My gaze became pleading.

"Couldn't you make a tiny exception? I need to talk to him. I promise I won't tell anyone you helped me. Please!"

I even made a slight bow, lowering my head submissively.

The nurse sighed again, rubbing her forehead thoughtfully.

"If I got caught, I'd be in big trouble," she said. But she didn't sound entirely dismissive-more like she was weighing the risks.

With teary eyes, I looked up at her again.

"I'm begging you! You're my only hope," I whimpered, not needing to act to convey my desperation.

She studied me with compassion, then turned away, but only to grab a small notepad and pen from the counter.

"Write the name down. I'll see what I can do," she said vaguely.

It took all my self-control not to scream with joy.

Eagerly, I grabbed the pen and wrote: 𝓒𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓲𝔂𝓪 𝓢𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓸.

"Thank you so much," I said, relieved.

"But this stays between us."

I nodded.

"Of course. And, uh... could you maybe hurry a bit?" I asked timidly.

"My, you are impatient," she replied with a playful smile. "This must be a great love." She winked at me, and my cheeks grew noticeably warmer. "But I'll do my best."

Shortly afterward, she disappeared.

Reluctantly, I trudged back to my room and sank back onto my bed.

I put my AirPods back in, not feeling like talking at the moment, and also because I wanted to replay the song that reminded me of Chishiya over and over again.

I unfolded the drawing and stared at it for what felt like the hundredth time.

What was I even going to say to him when we finally met again?

The likelihood that he wouldn't remember me was pretty high.

But perhaps seeing me would jog his memory.

After all, I had eventually remembered, even though it had taken a few days.

And Kota also knew about Borderland. Even Usagi had mentioned feeling some connection to Arisu.

So, it wasn't impossible to overcome this amnesia.

Perhaps Borderland was comparable to dreams. Some people remember every detail of their dreams as vividly as reality, while others could only recall a vague outline of events.

And then there were those who couldn't remember their dreams at all.

However, Borderland was definitely not a dream. But it wasn't reality either. It was something in between-a liminal world.

I jumped slightly when someone tapped me on the shoulder, quickly pulling out my earbuds.

It was the nurse from earlier, placing a tray with lunch on the table beside me.

She pointed to the cup.

"Lavender tea," she explained. "It calms the mind and helps with inner turmoil."

She smiled softly and winked again before walking away.

When she left, I reached for the cup and noticed a folded note underneath it.

Quickly, I unfolded it.

It was the slip with Chishiya's name on it.

Below it, she had written: Building B, West Wing, 5th floor, Room 211.

I clutched the note to my chest with immense relief.

Finally, I would see Chishiya again.

My gaze fell on the lunch tray.

As luck would have it, Usagi had a scheduled medical examination after lunch.

This was my chance to leave the room without her noticing.

Sure, I could have told her everything, but I wanted to handle this alone for now.

Chishiya was my top priority.

Everyone else could wait.

Only after seeing him could I finally rest easy again.

I quickly wolfed down my lunch, partly because I was genuinely hungry after barely eating anything in the morning.

When Usagi was finally called for her examination, I sat up attentively and waited a few more minutes after she left to avoid making my escape too obvious.

I got up, hobbled to the mirror, and tried to tidy my hair a bit.

The dark circles under my eyes were thanks to the sleepless night I had just endured. There was nothing I could do about those now.

I didn't look my best, but honestly, who did in a place like this?

I tore my eyes away from my reflection and left the room, heading toward the West Wing.

I had to ask around a bit to find my way, but when I finally reached the correct floor, it was easy to locate the room numbers.

Dragging my injured leg, I made my way down the long corridor that began with Room 195.

Moments like this, when I desperately wanted to move faster, made me hate this physical limitation even more.

Finally, I reached Room 211.

Panting from the effort, I stopped in front of the door.

This time, at least, I had remembered to bring my inhaler.

I took a puff, mostly to calm my nerves, which were threatening to spiral out of control.

For a while, I just stood there, frozen, staring at the door.

Should I knock or wait for him to come out?

But at worst case that could take forever.

Then the door suddenly swung open in front of me, and I stumbled back in surprise, one of my crutches clattering to the ground.

Standing there was the man from the support group with the awful burn scars on his face.

His expression was briefly surprised, but his mouth quickly twisted into an amused grin.

"Well, well, who do we have here? If it isn't the little chick from therapy. What was your name again? Tsuyu or something?"

I didn't respond, just stared at him blankly. His words felt strangely familiar.

"Niragi..." I murmured in a trembling voice.

My hands shook with fear as a wave of memories flooded back.

This was the reason I had felt such an inexplicable aversion to him during the group meeting.

"Oh, you remembered my name. Guess you do have a thing for me, huh? Otherwise, why would you be loitering around my door?"

His tongue slid over his lips suggestively, and I grimaced in disgust.

The memories his presence stirred up were some I would have preferred to bury forever.

"Dream on, you sleazy creep," I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him.

"God, I love it when you glare at me like that. It's such a turn-on," he chuckled, raising one singed eyebrow.

I tried to remind myself that this version of Niragi likely had no idea what he had done to me in Borderland.

Still, his sleazy demeanor was just as intolerable.

Why did he, of all people, have to share a room with Chishiya?

Oh, the cruel irony of fate.

"I'm not here for you," I said flatly.

"Oh? How disappointing..." he replied with mock sorrow. "I really thought you were into me. Who's hotter than me, huh?"

"I'm looking for your roommate. Is he here?"

"Ah, you mean Blondie with the baby face?" he asked, surprised.

"His name is Chishiya."

He shrugged.

"Could be. How do you two know each other?"

I groaned in frustration.

"That's none of your business! Just tell me if he's here, damn it!"

"Bruh, no need to get so snappy, Curly," he sneered, bending down to pick up my fallen crutch.

To my surprise, he handed it back to me.

"Uh... thanks," I muttered, caught off guard.

"He's not here right now," he finally said.

"Where did he go?"

"How should I know? Do I look like his babysitter?"

I sighed.

"You're really no help."

"Want me to leave him a message for you?" he asked mockingly, crossing his arms.

"Screw you," I muttered.

"Sure thing. I'll tell him," he grinned smugly. "Anything else?"

This guy was going to drive me insane.

"Forget it. I'll just wait here," I declared firmly, dropping onto a nearby bench.

"As you wish," he said with a shrug and sauntered down the hallway toward a vending machine.

I groaned heavily once he was out of sight. Finally, I had made it all the way here, and who did I run into? Of all people-Niragi. And instead of Chishiya, the one person I was desperate to see, was nowhere to be found. Where on earth was he?

I was already nervous enough, but this endless waiting only made it worse.

After another half hour of waiting, I got up and walked over to the vending machine myself, fishing some coins out of my wallet.

I stared indecisively at the selection before me. My eyes stopped on a small bag of cookies. They looked familiar-Chishiya's favorite kind. He had carried them with him during the Jack of Hearts game.

I counted my coins and was relieved to find that I had just enough for them. I inserted the money and punched in the selection number. The package dropped into the slot, and I grabbed it eagerly, smiling as I looked at the bag.

If I gave these to Chishiya, he'd definitely be happy, and maybe it would even jog his memory of that game.

Sighing dreamily, I hugged the bag of cookies to my chest before tucking it into my jacket pocket.

I returned to the bench and waited, another twenty minutes passing in silence.

Maybe I really should leave a message for him with Niragi.

But I had come all this way. Giving up now felt unthinkable.

By now, several hospital staff members had begun eyeing me suspiciously. Two had even asked if I was lost.

Maybe it would be better to try again in the evening when most patients would likely be in their rooms.

Feeling disheartened, I hauled myself up from the bench and headed toward the elevator.

I pressed the button for the ground floor and sighed as the elevator doors closed.

From there, I would make my way back to the East Wing.

As I stepped into the elevator and leaned against the wall, my hand brushed against the bag of cookies in my pocket.

I pulled them out and stared at them wistfully.

At this point, I was so frustrated that I briefly considered eating them myself.

But the thought of giving them to Chishiya held me back.

The elevator doors slid open, and I quickly tucked the cookies back into my pocket, grabbing my crutches as I prepared to step out.

When I looked up, I froze.

Standing right in front of me was him.

Chishiya.