[Shinjuku
August 13th, 2016
Kavei's House - 1:12 PM, Afternoon]

Kavei blinked awake, his vision still hazy with the remnants of deep sleep. His eyes slowly adjusted to the familiar sight of his ceiling, the cracks in the paint, the way the sunlight from the window made strange patterns on the surface. His body felt heavy, sore from the previous day's events, but at least he was alive.

With a groggy sigh, he shifted onto his elbows, pushing himself up to sit. As he moved, his gaze dropped to the floor beside his bed-and there, curled up in an awkward position, was Kai, fast asleep. His arms were tucked close to his chest, his breathing steady, his expression peaceful despite the uncomfortable posture.

Kavei furrowed his brows, his voice hoarse from sleep as he muttered, "Damn. Why are you sleeping there?"

He shook his head, stretching his legs slightly before carefully moving his foot away from Kai's curled-up form. Not wanting to disturb him, he reached for the blanket at the foot of the bed and draped it over Kai's shoulders. With a quiet exhale, he pulled himself to his feet, his joints cracking in protest as he trudged toward the bathroom.

Thirty Minutes Later

The bathroom door creaked slightly as Kavei stepped out, a towel draped loosely around his neck. His damp hair clung to his forehead, and the fresh scent of soap still lingered on his skin. He had changed into a simple green shirt and black jeans, his body feeling somewhat lighter after the shower.

As he turned to shut the bathroom door behind him, he noticed Kai now sitting groggily on the bed, rubbing his eyes with slow, lazy movements. His hair was a mess, and his face held the soft, unfocused expression of someone who had just woken up.

"You should have woken me up," Kai mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep. He rubbed at his eyes again, trying to shake off the drowsiness.

Kavei tilted his head slightly as he walked toward the mirror mounted on the wall. Grabbing a brush, he dragged it through his damp hair, watching Kai's reflection through the glass. "For what? You were sleeping peacefully," he said casually, continuing to fix his hair.

Kai let out a quiet grumble before crawling to the edge of the bed. He grabbed his phone from the end table, pressing the power button absentmindedly. The bright screen illuminated his face, and the moment he registered the time, his entire body tensed.

His eyes widened in horror as he pointed at the phone with one shaking finger. "It's afternoon?!" he practically screamed, his voice cracking from the abrupt realization.

Kavei chuckled under his breath, but quickly cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. He flicked his gaze back to Kai's reflection in the mirror, watching as the other boy sat there, completely dumbfounded. "Big deal. We came late today. And Daichi is still such a sound sleeper," he remarked, shaking his head slightly.

Kai exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in disbelief. He adjusted his position, sitting cross-legged on the bed. "Yeah. Today, when I opened the door for you, he didn't wake up."

Kavei scoffed as he turned to face him. "Some sound sleeper, honestly." He leaned against the dresser, arms crossed over his chest. Then, after a pause, he nodded toward the bathroom door. "Freshen up. We have work today."

Kai groaned but nodded, stretching his arms before finally getting up. He moved toward the bathroom, grabbing the spare towel hanging on the doorknob before stepping inside. The door clicked shut behind him.

Kavei exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders before stepping out of the room. As he shut the bedroom door behind him, his gaze landed on the couch in the living room.

The girls were still fast asleep, their bodies huddled together, their hands intertwined as if holding onto each other for comfort. Their heads rested against one another, rising and falling with soft, rhythmic breathing.

Kavei raised an eyebrow at the sight, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "What a beautiful friendship," he muttered, voice laced with sarcasm.

Then, without warning, he slammed his fists onto the coffee table. The loud bang echoed through the room like a gunshot, sending a jolt of panic through the sleeping girls.

They snapped awake with wide, startled eyes, their bodies stiff with shock. For a moment, they stared at each other in confusion, trying to process what had just happened. Then, as their eyes locked onto Kavei, realization-and irritation-set in.

"Boy, you-" Saira began, her voice dripping with anger, but before she could finish her sentence, the doorbell rang.

Kavei shrugged at her, unfazed, before spinning around and striding toward the door. He reached for the locks, undoing them one by one while keeping the chain latch in place. He cracked the door open just enough to see who was outside.

The sight of Benio standing there made him exhale sharply.

Without a word, he undid the chain latch. The moment the door was free, Benio pushed it open and stepped inside. Behind him, the rest of the team followed-Kenma, Ojiro, Narito, Nana, Ryu, and Ren.

Kavei sighed, running a hand through his hair as he glanced at the group. They were all here. The whole team.

Without a word, he stepped aside, allowing them to enter. Ryu, the last one in, pulled the door shut behind him.

The room, once quiet with the echoes of sleep, was now filled with the weight of their presence.

[Shinjuku
August 13th, 2016
Kavei's House - 2:12 PM, Afternoon]

The small living room was heavy with silence as they all sat gathered around the low coffee table. Scattered across the wooden surface were plastic bags, each one meticulously labeled with the name of a victim and the corresponding evidence sealed inside. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, the weight of what they had collected pressing down on them.

Kavei sat with his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers loosely interlocked as he exhaled deeply, his eyes scanning the items in front of him. The room was dimly lit, the curtains partially drawn, allowing only slivers of daylight to streak through the gaps.

Before he could speak, Kai, seated beside him, turned his head slightly and immediately frowned. His sharp eyes had caught something-just above Kavei's brow, a noticeable swell, a hint of dried blood clinging to the edge of his forehead.

"Kavei? You got hurt yesterday?" Kai's voice was laced with concern as he instinctively reached forward. His fingers curled gently around Kavei's chin, turning his face toward him for a better look.

Kavei blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden touch. He found himself staring directly into Kai's eyes, the warmth in them unmistakable. He could feel the light pressure of Kai's fingers, steady yet careful, making sure not to squeeze or cause more discomfort.

"Ah, this happened yesterday, yeah," Kavei admitted, his voice carrying a casualness that didn't match the situation.

Kai sighed, shaking his head slightly. "You- as always." His voice was laced with mild frustration, but beneath it, there was something softer-something unspoken.

A faint smile ghosted across Kavei's lips. His hands reached up, fingers brushing against Kai's, and he slowly lowered them away from his face. His touch was light, reassuring. "I am fine, so don't worry, okay?"

Kai hesitated for a moment before nodding, though his expression didn't fully relax. A weak smile flickered across his lips, but the concern in his eyes remained.

Kavei gave him a small nod before turning his attention to the other side of the table, where the girls sat opposite him. His gaze landed on Nana, who was sitting upright, her expression calm but focused.

"Nana-onee-sama. Here are your evidences. I'll get you some from the morgue room as well. Until then, check these."

Nana met his gaze, nodding firmly before reaching for the plastic-sealed bags on the table. She methodically placed them into her purse, her movements precise, almost mechanical. There was no hesitation, no wasted motion.

Once she was done, she stood up, smoothing the fabric of her skirt before bowing lightly to the group. Kenma followed her lead, standing beside her, his hands in his pockets, his usual unreadable expression on his face. Without a word, the two made their way toward the door.

Just as Kenma stepped out, he hesitated. His eyes flickered back toward Kavei and Kai, narrowing slightly. His gaze lingered on them for a beat too long-studying, observing. Neither of them noticed him staring. Kavei was leaning back slightly, and Kai, though quiet, still seemed preoccupied with the wound on Kavei's forehead.

Kenma's lips pressed into a thin line before he finally turned and stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind him with a soft click.

The silence stretched once again.

Kavei exhaled as he slumped back against the couch, tilting his head slightly as he stared up at the ceiling. His voice came out quieter this time, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it.

"The truth... we'll know the truth soon."

The words hung in the air, unshaken by the quiet that followed.