The sorrow of pain had ended. The rain finally ceased, the storm clouds parting as the first rays of light pierced the sky. The flowers, drenched but vibrant, began to bloom once more. The night—heavy with grief—faded slowly, yielding to the warmth of the morning. The sun rose steadily from the wet, muddy ground of the mountain, its light shimmering on the earth below. Yet despite the brightness of the day, something felt different. Something unseen.
The world continued on as it always did—children ran through the fields, laughing, while adults worked to gather the fruits of their labor. The sound of streams flowing, the distant roar of waterfalls, and the songs of birds returning to their nests filled the air.
Through the window of his room, Kyota's mother watched it all. Her face, usually full of warmth, was now etched with a quiet sorrow. She sat beside her son, whose form had not stirred for an entire day. She had not moved either, never leaving his side. She wept silently, her heart heavy. The world, vibrant and alive with color, carried on. But for her, and for the rest of Kyota's family, it was as though the world had stopped turning.
Kyota, too, lay still. Unmoved. Unaware.
But then, something shifted in the stillness. Kyota's eyes fluttered open—not in his room, but in a strange, otherworldly place. He found himself lying on the surface of a clear, shallow body of water. It stretched far beyond his reach, its surface perfectly still, reflecting the vast sky above like a mirror. The water was so clear, he could see every detail of the sky. The peaceful surroundings felt unreal, almost dreamlike. Yet, a sense of unease gnawed at him from within, as though something was not quite right.
Kyota pushed himself up, his hands skimming the smooth surface of the water. He stared at the reflection of the sky, which seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. There was no land to anchor him—just sky and water. Everything was still, silent.
And then, a voice broke through the stillness.
"You are awake at last, Kyota… or should I say, Kaito Sensaki."
Kyota's heart skipped a beat. He whirled around, eyes wide.
"Who are you? How do you know that name?" His voice trembled with disbelief. "Kaito… that was… my old name…"
The figure emerged slowly behind him, its form unclear at first, but it solidified the closer it got. It was the same presence that had haunted the edges of his unconsciousness. He had seen it, felt it—like a shadow behind his own. The figure was not human, not entirely. It was more like an extension of himself, something that existed beyond the boundaries of his mind.
The figure spoke again, its voice calm but heavy with mystery.
"I am you," it said. "But only half of you."
Kyota felt his heart race. "Half of me?" He shook his head, his mind struggling to understand. "What do you mean?"
"There isn't much time left," the figure continued, its presence darkening the air around them. "So let me explain. I am the one who guides this world into darkness. And there is another half of you who guides it toward the light."
Kyota's mind buzzed with confusion. "I know about light and dark magic," he said. "I've read about it in books in the library. I know what they mean."
The figure laughed softly, a sound that sent chills down Kyota's spine.
"No," it said, its voice low and heavy. "What you've read is a lie. That is not the truth of this world."
Kyota's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
The figure seemed to gather itself, the air around them growing dense with power.
"This world… this place is incomplete. The greatest detective and the finest secret agent Kaito, you were brought here to fill the emptiness created by you in this world. And yet, you do not remember."
Kyota took a step back, his mind struggling to process the words.
"What do you mean by 'emptiness'? And what does that have to do with me?"
The figure's form began to fade, its voice echoing as if from a great distance.
"Kaito Sensaki, find the truth of this world. Never let your eyes deceive you. Follow your instincts, and you will find the way. You are the only one who can stand at the top—forever."
Kyota gasped, his breath catching in his throat. "Wait! What does that mean?" But the figure was already gone, dissolving into the vast, empty sky.
Suddenly, Kyota's eyes snapped open. He was back in his room, drenched in sweat, his body trembling. His mother, who had been sitting beside him the entire time, immediately wrapped her arms around him, her tears flowing freely. She held him tight, whispering his name over and over.
Moments later, his father and sister entered the room after going fishing early morning. His father had a warm smile on his face, and his sister, ever so cheerful, beamed at him.
"Good morning, Kyota," they said together, their voices filled with warmth and relief.
Kyota blinked, his vision blurry with tears. He felt an overwhelming sense of relief flood through him. He had been lost in that strange, unsettling world, but now, he was back. He was home. He took a deep breath and smiled, his heart swelling with emotion.
"Good morning… everyone."
His father chuckled, ruffling Kyota's hair.
"You never cried, even when you got hurt. And now here you are, crying just from seeing us? Man up, kid."
Everyone laughed, the tension in the room easing. Kyota felt something inside him click, a sense of peace he hadn't realized he'd been missing. His mother handed him a towel, wiping away the tears.
"Go take a bath," she said gently. "Come downstairs when you're done. We need to talk about something important."
Kyota's heart skipped a beat. He sensed the weight of her words, but he didn't question it. Not yet. He nodded, his mind racing with the figure's words. Kaito Sensaki... the truth of the world...
Later, as Kyota sat in the tub, the lukewarm water around him offered little comfort. The giant cooking tub, since he was only four years old, no one was going to question him, he didn't mind it. His mind was too preoccupied with the storm brewing within his heart. He stared at the water's surface, watching the ripples distort his reflection.
Save the world. It's not what I see. Follow instincts. What does all that mean? His thoughts circled back to the voice he had heard. Who was he, really?
"I'm half you," the figure had said. But why had he been chosen? Why had those strange powers possessed him? Was he really destined to face whatever darkness awaited?
For the first time in a long while, after four years of silence and numbness, Kyota felt the stirrings of his detective instincts. He had always prided himself on his ability to see through lies, to uncover hidden truths.
I will find out the truth about this world, he promised himself.
A little dizzy from overthinking, he quickly got out of the tub, drying himself off. He walked to the window and gazed at the distant waterfall, its waters cascading down with power and grace.
Suddenly, his mother's voice broke through the silence. She appeared in the doorway, smiling softly as she saw her little boy, half-dried and lost in his thoughts. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and without a word, she moved toward him, gently taking the towel and finishing the task of drying him off.
Kyota felt a flutter of discomfort. Since he wasn't a small kid. Yet, in that moment, he allowed himself to be still. He looked into his mother's eyes, her tears a silent testament to the love and worry she felt for him.
At that moment, his father's loud voice rang through the house.
"It's time for breakfast!" he called from downstairs.
Kyota smiled faintly, the weight of the voice pulling him back to reality. There were things to be done. Questions to be answered. The journey ahead was long, and it began now, with the truth of this world just beyond his reach.