"Oh.. Kavei, there is something I must confess," Kai admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.

"You fell in love with the whiteboard 'girl'," Kavei teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

"That is not a confession! It was bound to happen! I'm single, and you gave me food. Not just any food. Good food!" Kai protested, his cheeks flushing slightly at the accusation.

"Haha," Kavei laughed, amused by Kai's reaction.

"The hell, man! Ugh," Kai pouted, crossing his arms in mock annoyance.

"Okay, alright, boyfriend," Kavei said, mimicking Kai's pout with a playful grin.

"Ugh. Jesus. What gave you the idea to meet me?" Kai questioned, his curiosity evident.

"I didn't know it was you," Kavei confessed, his tone sincere.

"Oh, you know what I mean!" Kai retorted, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement.

"Well.. I was tired of meeting you in letters and whiteboards... that's why," Kavei explained, his voice softening as he revealed his reasons.

"Oh," Kai replied, his expression shifting as he processed Kavei's words.

"The confession?" Kavei inquired, his tone tinged with anticipation.

"Oh yeah. Kavei. Me and the others," Kai began, hesitating slightly before continuing.

"Who others?" Kavei interrupted, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"It's been one month and you forgot us all?"

"No. Stop overreacting. Are you talking about Himeko and people?" Kavei responded, attempting to diffuse the tension with his good old sarcasm.

"Yeah, them. And Sebiki too," Kai confirmed, his expression guarded.

"So the crew. What did you guys do?" Kavei asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the sinking feeling in his stomach.

"We... eavesdropped," Kai admitted, his nerves palpable in the air.

"Okay," Kavei replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"On you," Kai confessed, his eyes unable to meet Kavei's gaze.

Kavei didn't reply, his mind racing with a mix of emotions.

"Want a pie?" Kai asked nervously, attempting to lighten the mood.

"You spied on me? Kai, you-" Kavei began, his voice rising in disbelief.

"Wait, wait. There's more," Kai interjected, his words rushed.

"Ugh," Kavei sighed, feeling a sense of resignation settling over him.

"And then we heard your plan on investigating Aroshi-san's case," Kai continued, his voice low with guilt.

"What?!" Kavei exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.

"Wait. There's more," Kai repeated, his voice barely audible.

"Ugh," Kavei groaned, feeling overwhelmed by the revelations.

"And then we kept following you everywhere. So I was in Yokohama and Osaka as well," Kai confessed, his words hanging heavy in the air.

"W-what? ... Is there more?" Kavei stammered, feeling a sense of betrayal creeping in.

"No... You can get mad now," Kai conceded, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"And you guys wanted me to trust you all. See how well that went?" Kavei muttered, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

"Kavei. Let me explain, please. It was all Sebiki's idea... not like I opposed to it but... You made new friends and stuff but never let us in," Kai pleaded, his voice tinged with remorse.

"Kai. Those three and I barely know each other. If something dangerous were to happen, I could count on the fact that the criminal won't find strings to connect us. But you guys? We study in the same goddamn school. And now we live next to each other!" Kavei exclaimed, his voice rising with each word.

"Kavei-" Kai began, but he was cut off by Kavei's outburst.

"I loved the whiteboard thing we had. I wish I hadn't got selfish to move on and come here," Kavei confessed, his voice cracking with emotion.

"Kavei!" Kai pleaded, reaching out a hand in an attempt to comfort him.

"Don't you dare scream at me. I should be screaming. And if you were there today you must know how my leg and hand turned this way. We are done here, Kai," Kavei declared, his eyes flashing with anger and hurt.

"Wait. What do you mean?" Kai asked, his heart sinking at the finality in Kavei's tone.

Kavei's attempt to rise from the couch was halted by Kai's sudden push, causing him to fall back onto the cushions. Gripping the edge of the couch with one hand and clutching the coffee table with the other, Kavei found himself pinned beneath Kai's weight, who wore a nervous and apologetic expression.

"Kavei. Please. Listen to me," Kai implored, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Fine. Talk," Kavei acquiesced, his tone subdued.

Kai took a deep breath, his grip on Kavei tightening slightly as if afraid he'd slip away if he didn't hold on. "I know you're mad. I know this looks bad, but I swear, we never meant to go behind your back." His voice wavered, but he pressed on. "We just... we saw you struggling, Kavei. You take everything on yourself, and you never ask for help. So we thought... maybe if we did this, you wouldn't have to carry everything alone."

Kavei scoffed, turning his face away. "That's not your decision to make."

Kai winced but didn't move. "I know. But you wouldn't have let us help if we asked. You always say 'I don't care about it anymore' or 'Don't worry about it.' But Kavei, we do worry. I worry."

Silence stretched between them, the weight of Kai's words pressing down just as heavily as his body.

Kai licked his lips nervously. "I get it. You feel betrayed, like we didn't trust you to handle it. But it's the opposite. We trust you so much that we wanted to take some of the burden off your shoulders. You're not alone, Kavei. You never have to be. It sounds too much from someone you met not too long ago, but it's the truth. You confided in us and we just want to help."

Kavei let out a slow breath, his fingers loosening on the coffee table. He finally looked back at Kai, his gaze searching. "A big mistake that was. And what if I don't want you to carry my burdens?"

Kai gave a small, sad smile. "Then at least let us stand beside you while you carry them. And please don't say it was a mistake."

Kavei let out a deep sigh, his expression softening slightly. "Alright. You did it for me. But you could have asked," he conceded, his eyes searching Kai's face for understanding.

"Sebiki did ask you, Kavei. Before the summer break," Kai reminded him, his voice tinged with defensiveness.

"You. I meant you. You could have asked," Kavei clarified, his gaze unwavering.

"What do you mean?" Kai inquired, confusion evident in his voice.

"Aren't you smart enough to tell this time I genuinely wanted to pry as a stupid detective than when your friend Sebiki asked me?" Kavei questioned, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone.

"Yeah. You did look interested. You do. Why?" Kai pondered, his brow furrowing in thought.

"It happened when I solved a kidnapping case. You saw Miyasi nee right? The girl in the blue frock yesterday?" Kavei explained, hoping to shed light on his motivations.

"Yeah?" Kai confirmed, recalling the encounter.

"She is my senior. Two years older and she was the one kidnapped," Kavei revealed, his voice tinged with sadness.

"Oh. And that triggered your inner detective or something," Kai surmised, his understanding deepening.

"Maybe. Whatever. So many people are already in on this, Kai. Miyasi nee, Saira nee, Benio nii, Ojiro, Narito, and Kenma too. I don't want to burden anyone else," Kavei explained, his voice heavy with resignation.

"See. You still don't see me as a friend," Kai lamented, his disappointment palpable.

"Kai, that's not it at all," Kavei reassured him, his tone gentle yet firm.

"Then what is it?" Kai pressed, his gaze searching Kavei's face for answers.

Unable to meet Kai's intense gaze, Kavei remained silent for a moment, feeling the warmth of Kai's breath against his skin. As the ticking of the clock filled the room, Kavei finally found his voice.

"Look Kai. We are friends. Classmates. And even neighbors now but I just didn't want to see you and the others get hurt," Kavei began, his tone softening.

Kai's expression softened in response to Kavei's words. "I'm sorry," he offered sincerely.

"Yeah. Now get off of me," Kavei requested, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Kai immediately complied, helping Kavei sit up and releasing him from his pinned position.

"Man. Do you always pin your guests down on your couch like that?" Kavei joked, attempting to lighten the mood.

"I... well... You were going to leave. There'd be a huge misunderstanding to clear then... and..." Kai trailed off, his cheeks flushing slightly.

"I'm a detective, Kai. If not, at least smart enough to know misunderstandings are a waste of time," Kavei chuckled, his tone teasing yet affectionate.

"But you were mad," Kai observed, his concern evident.

"I was. I mean, I'm human," Kavei admitted, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

Suddenly, Kavei felt a strange sensation in his head-a knocking, ringing in his ears. Clutching onto his orange hoodie with one hand and pressing the other against his head, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that washed over him. Kai's concern grew palpable.

"Kavei? Kavei! What's happening? That is where the heart is right? Why are you holding there? I'll get the phone, wait," Kai exclaimed, reaching for his phone with a mixture of panic and urgency.

"You wait," Kavei interjected firmly, his voice strained as he grappled with the sensation pulsating through his head.

"Just wait, Kavei, the line will get through in a second," Kai insisted, his tone laced with apprehension.

"Kai!" Kavei's voice cut through the air, a note of frustration coloring his words as he swiftly grabbed Kai's phone from his hand and disconnected the call.

Kai stared at him in disbelief, his features etched with concern. "What did you do that for, huh?" he questioned, his worry evident in his voice.

"Kai, calm down. I'm fine," Kavei reassured him, though his words were belied by the pain etched on his face.

"But you-" Kai started, his voice wavering with anxiety.

"It's fine. It happens sometimes," Kavei interrupted, attempting to downplay the severity of the situation.

"Happens? Back at school it happened once. And then near that police officer's house and now here! Do you think this is normal? You need to get checked," Kai urged, his concern escalating with each instance recounted.

"Alright, sure. I'll go see a doctor tomorrow. Right now, I need to go back to Daichi," Kavei conceded, his tone resigned as he contemplated the inevitability of seeking medical attention.

"Daichi?" Kai echoed, his confusion evident as he struggled to recall the significance of the name.

"You were there, Kai," Kavei reminded him, his voice tinged with weariness.

"Oh, the kid. Right. Must be a hell of a sound sleeper," Kai mused, attempting to inject a note of levity into the tense atmosphere.

With a heavy sigh, Kavei rose from the couch, his head still throbbing with discomfort. As he made his way towards the door, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air, nor the worry etched on Kai's face.

Kavei approached his apartment unit with a mix of weariness and relief. The day had been filled with unexpected twists and turns, leaving him mentally and physically drained. As he swung open the front door, the lights flickered to life, casting a warm glow across the entryway. His eyes immediately fell upon a small figure sitting on the couch, swinging their legs back and forth in a slow rhythm.

"What... a ghost?" Kavei muttered to himself, squinting in an attempt to discern the identity of the shadowy figure.

"Nii san..." The figure stirred, rubbing their eyes with tiny fists.

"Daichi?" Kavei's voice softened as recognition dawned upon him.

The boy nodded sleepily, confirming Kavei's suspicions. With a sigh of relief, Kavei crossed the room and flicked on the hallway lights, banishing the darkness that had shrouded the apartment.

"What, you woke up too soon?" Kavei inquired, his concern evident in his voice.

"No...nii san wasn't home," Daichi mumbled, his words tinged with a hint of worry.

"When did you wake up?" Kavei pressed gently, hoping to glean more information from the sleepy boy.

"Five minutes ago, I guess," Daichi replied with a yawn, his eyelids drooping with exhaustion.

"Thank the lords," Kavei muttered under his breath, relieved that Daichi had not been awake alone for long.

"Nii san, where were you?" Daichi's curiosity was piqued, his eyes searching Kavei's face for answers.

"Just...outside. Shouldn't we go sleep now?" Kavei deflected, offering the boy a reassuring smile.

Daichi nodded eagerly, already yawning as he shuffled towards his bedroom. Kavei followed behind, tucking the boy into bed with difficulty for he was on crutches and after ensuring he was comfortable, he quietly slipped out of the room.

Alone in the hallway, Kavei retrieved his phone and dialed a familiar number. Standing in the hallway like that, he waited. It rang several times before a tired voice answered on the other end.

"Hello?" Itsuhara's voice crackled through the phone.

"Hey, it's Kavei," Kavei greeted, his tone serious and urgent.

"Yeah. What's up? At this hour of the day..." Itsuhara's curiosity was evident in her voice.

"I have something to ask of you, Itsuhara," Kavei began, his words measured and deliberate.

"What is it?" Itsuhara prompted, sensing the gravity of the situation.

"There is someone I want you to protect for me," Kavei explained, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Excuse me?" Itsuhara's confusion was palpable.

"He goes to this school in Osaka," Kavei continued, providing additional context.

"Elaborate, please," Itsuhara urged, her tone becoming more serious.

"Name's Daichi. Sixth grade. You know him," Kavei revealed, hoping Itsuhara would understand the significance of his request.

"The kid who was kidnapped? Oh yeah, we got news that he is found now-- wait. Are you the one who found him?" Itsuhara's voice betrayed her surprise.

"Just protect him, yeah?" Kavei redirected, avoiding Itsuhara's questions.

"So it was. The police, they won't tell us the details... Kavei, why do you keep pressuring yourself?" Itsuhara's concern was evident in her voice.

"We can talk about that later," Kavei deflected once again, unwilling to delve into his own motivations.

"But hey--" Itsuhara attempted to interject.

"The kid is afraid of his mother," Kavei interrupted, cutting off Itsuhara's protest.

"Hm?" Itsuhara's confusion was evident.

"I don't know what's going on, but he doesn't want to stay home. He is staying with me," Kavei explained, providing Itsuhara with more context.

"With you?" Itsuhara's surprise was palpable.

"Yeah. I want you to take care of him because he is going to be going to school anyway," Kavei requested, hoping Itsuhara would agree to his terms.

"Alright, fine. Hentai can pick and drop him. And we'll secure the house. Sounds good?" Itsuhara relented, agreeing to Kavei's request.

"Sure. Thanks. Good night," Kavei replied, grateful for Itsuhara's cooperation.

"Kavei, wait!" Itsuhara called out before Kavei could hang up.

"What?" Kavei's voice was tinged with exhaustion.

"Are you going out tomorrow?" Itsuhara inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Yeah..." Kavei confirmed, unsure of where the conversation was headed.

"Okay. I'll look into Daichi's mother as soon as I can. Good night, then," Itsuhara concluded, ending the call before Kavei could respond.

Alone in the dimly lit hallway, Kavei leaned against the wall, his mind swirling with thoughts and concerns. Despite the late hour, sleep eluded him as he grappled with the weight of his responsibilities and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.