Volume 2: Chapter 11 – The Forgotten Face
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[Scene: Kenta's Expanded Room - Night]
(The room is quiet. Sui and Yui are asleep. Kenta sits at his desk, staring at an old photograph. It's worn. Faded. Three children in a sandbox. Sui. Yui. Himself.)
Kenta: (whispering) "Three. It was always three."
(He turns the photo over. On the back, in his mother's handwriting: "Kenta and his friends at the park. Summer. Age 7.")
Kenta: (thinking) "But there was someone else. I feel it. A face. A voice. A name I can't remember."
(He closes his eyes. Tries to focus. Memories flicker.)
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[Flashback: 10 Years Ago - Age 7]
(The sandbox. Bright sun. Laughter.)
Young Sui: (building) "My tower is the tallest!"
Young Yui: (also building) "Mine is prettier!"
Young Kenta: (calculating) "The structural integrity depends on the base width."
Young Sui: (laughing) "Kenta-kun is so funny!"
Young Yui: (also laughing) "Our funny Kenta-kun!"
(There's another child. Sitting slightly apart. Watching. Smiling. Long dark hair. Big eyes. She's holding something. A flower? A toy? The memory is hazy.)
Young Kenta: (noticing her) "Are you going to build with us?"
Mystery Girl: (soft voice) "Can I?"
Young Kenta: "There's room."
(She moves closer. The memory blurs. Her face. Her voice. Gone.)
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[Flashback Fragment: Later That Day]
(They're all playing together. Five? Four? Three? The numbers shift. The mystery girl is there. Then she's not.)
Young Sui: "Where did she go?"
Young Yui: "Who?"
Young Sui: (confused) "I... don't remember."
Young Kenta: (also confused) "There was someone. Wasn't there?"
(They look at each other. Blank. The memory slips away like water through fingers.)
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[End Flashback]
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[Scene: Present - Kenta's Room]
(Kenta opens his eyes. His hand is shaking.)
Kenta: (whispering) "There was someone. A fourth person. I know it."
(He looks at Sui and Yui. Asleep. Peaceful. He doesn't wake them.)
Kenta: (thinking) "They don't remember. Neither did I. Until now."
(He searches through old boxes. Photos. Letters. Childhood things. Nothing.)
Kenta: (frustrated) "Nothing. No trace."
(He sits back. Stares at the photo of three. But he sees four.)
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[Scene: Morning - Breakfast]
(Kenta is quiet. Distant. Sui and Yui notice.)
Sui: "Kenta-kun? You okay?"
Kenta: (pause) "Do you remember anyone else? From the park? When we were kids?"
Yui: (confused) "Anyone else? Just us three."
Sui: "Yeah. It was always us."
Kenta: "Are you sure?"
Sui: (worried) "Kenta-kun, what's wrong?"
Kenta: (shaking head) "Nothing. Just... a dream."
(He doesn't push. But he can't let go.)
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[Scene: Kenta's Room - Afternoon]
(He calls his mother.)
Mother: "Kenta! What a surprise!"
Kenta: "Mom, do you remember anyone else? From the park. When I was seven. Another child."
Mother: (thinking) "Another child? Just those two girls you were always with. Sui and Yui."
Kenta: "Are you sure?"
Mother: "Positive, baby. Why?"
Kenta: (quietly) "I keep seeing someone. A face. A girl. But I can't remember her."
Mother: (long pause) "Kenta... sometimes memories play tricks on us."
Kenta: "This doesn't feel like a trick."
Mother: (softly) "If she was real, she'll find you. Or you'll find her. The important ones always do."
Kenta: (eyes wet) "Mom..."
Mother: "I love you, baby. Trust your heart."
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[Scene: Evening - Kenta Alone]
(He sits at his desk. The photo in his hands. Staring.)
Kenta: (thinking) "Who were you? Why can't I remember? Why does it hurt?"
(He closes his eyes. Tries again.)
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[Flashback: 10 Years Ago - A Clearer Memory]
(The mystery girl is sitting beside him. She's holding a small flower. A white lily.)
Mystery Girl: (soft voice) "For you, Kenta-kun."
Young Kenta: (taking it) "Why?"
Mystery Girl: (smiling) "Because you're kind. You let me play. You didn't ignore me like the others."
Young Kenta: (confused) "You're nice. Why would anyone ignore you?"
Mystery Girl: (sad smile) "They don't see me. Most people don't."
Young Kenta: "I see you."
Mystery Girl: (eyes glistening) "I know. That's why you're special."
(She leans forward. Kisses his cheek. Soft. Sweet.)
Young Kenta: (freezing) (ears red)
Mystery Girl: (standing) "I have to go now."
Young Kenta: "Will you come back tomorrow?"
Mystery Girl: (turning, smiling) "If you remember me, I will."
(She walks away. Fades. Like mist.)
Young Kenta: (calling) "Wait! What's your name?!"
(No answer. She's gone.)
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[End Flashback]
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[Scene: Present - Kenta's Room]
(Kenta opens his eyes. Tears. Streaming down his face. He doesn't wipe them.)
Kenta: (voice breaking) "She kissed me. She gave me a flower. She said I was special."
(He touches his cheek. Where she kissed him. Decades ago.)
Kenta: (crying) "And I forgot her. I forgot her for ten years."
(Sui and Yui burst in. They heard him.)
Sui: (panicking) "KENTA-KUN! What's wrong?!"
Yui: (also panicking) "Why are you crying?!"
(They rush to him. Hold him.)
Kenta: (voice thick) "There was someone. Another girl. At the park. She gave me a flower. She kissed my cheek. She said I was special."
Sui: (confused) "Another girl?"
Yui: (also confused) "We don't remember anyone else."
Kenta: (looking at them, eyes red) "I know. Neither did I. Until now."
Sui: (wiping his tears) "Kenta-kun... it's okay."
Kenta: (shaking head) "It's not. I forgot her. For ten years. She was real. She was there. And I forgot."
Yui: (holding him) "You remembered now. That's what matters."
Kenta: (quietly) "I need to find her."
Sui & Yui: (in unison) "We'll help."
Kenta: (looking at them) "You're not jealous?"
Sui: (firmly) "We're your girlfriends. We love you. If someone else was important to you, she's important to us."
Yui: (nodding) "We'll find her together."
Kenta: (fresh tears) "I don't deserve you."
Sui: (kissing his wet cheek) "You deserve everything."
Yui: (kissing his other wet cheek) "Including us."
Kenta: (holding them) "Thank you."
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[Scene: Searching Begins]
(They look through old photos. Yearbooks. School records. Nothing.)
Sui: "Kenta-kun, are you sure she existed?"
Kenta: "I'm sure. The flower. The kiss. Her voice."
Yui: "What did she look like?"
Kenta: (closing eyes) "Long dark hair. Big eyes. Soft voice. She said people didn't see her."
Sui: (thinking) "That's... not much to go on."
Kenta: (determined) "I'll find her. Even if it takes years."
Yui: (grabbing his hand) "Then it takes years. We're with you."
Sui: (grabbing his other hand) "Always."
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[Scene: Night - Three Together]
(They lie in bed. Kenta in the middle. Still emotional.)
Sui: "Kenta-kun... can I ask you something?"
Kenta: "What?"
Sui: "When you remembered her... you cried. Really cried. I've never seen you cry before."
Kenta: (quietly) "I don't cry. I solve problems."
Yui: "But you cried for her."
Kenta: (pause) "She saw me. Before anyone else. Before you. She said I was special. And I forgot her."
Sui: (holding him tighter) "You didn't forget. You just... buried it. Too many years alone."
Kenta: "Maybe."
Yui: "When we find her, what will you say?"
Kenta: (thinking) "I'll say I'm sorry. For forgetting. And thank you. For seeing me."
Sui: (kissing his cheek) "That's perfect."
Yui: (kissing his other cheek) "She'll understand."
Kenta: (touching his cheeks) "Two more."
Sui: (smiling softly) "Count them all."
Yui: (also smiling) "We'll help you count forever."
(They hold each other. Quiet. Emotional.)
Sui: (drowsy) "Kenta-kun... we'll find her. Promise."
Yui: (drowsy) "Promise."
Kenta: (closing his eyes) "I know."
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[Scene: Kenta's Desk - Night]
(Thirteen items now.)
· Father's astrolabe
· Competition trophy
· Professor's medal
· Olympiad gold
· District chess trophy
· National chess trophy
· World championship trophy
· Photo of Sui and Yui
· Photo of his mother
· Photo of the three of them at the park
· Small rock from the sandbox
· A white flower (drawn by Kenta from memory)
· A note: "Find her."
Kenta: (looking at them) "Thirteen."
(He picks up the drawn flower.)
Kenta: (whispering) "I'll find you. I promise."
(He joins them in bed. Three together.)
Sui: (mumbling) "Kenta-kun..."
Yui: (mumbling) "Love you..."
Kenta: (holding them) "Love you both."
(He looks at the ceiling. One last thought.)
Kenta: (thinking) "Whoever you are... wherever you are... I'm coming. Wait for me."
(He closes his eyes. Tears. Just a few. But different now. Hopeful.)
End of Chapter 12
Ready for Chapter 13! 😊💕