CHAPTER 9 — The Promise of tomorrow.
After finishing everything—
For the first time that day, I stopped.
Really stopped.
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The weight of it all had finally caught up to me.
Preparation.
Memories.
Tension.
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My body felt heavy.
But my mind…
Still restless.
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I walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and took out a chilled soft drink.
As I poured it into a glass, the soft sound of liquid filling the silence felt… calming.
Simple.
Normal.
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For a moment—
It almost felt like an ordinary day.
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But I knew better.
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Glass in hand, I walked toward the balcony.
I needed air.
And more than that—
I needed clarity.
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The moment I stepped outside, a cool breeze brushed against my face.
The sky was dark.
Scattered stars barely visible.
The city unusually quiet.
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Too quiet.
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I leaned against the railing and took a slow sip.
Then closed my eyes.
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And my mind…
Went back.
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"When I was thirteen…" I whispered.
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That was when everything started to change.
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My grandfather—
A man people called a legend—
Had decided to retire.
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For others, it was normal.
For me—
It felt like something important had ended.
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His voice echoed in my mind.
Clear.
Unshaken.
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"A strong spirit becomes stronger when you are afraid."
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I opened my eyes slowly.
The darkness in front of me felt deeper now.
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"And when you fight…"
"…you must stay confident."
"…and focused."
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Those weren't just words.
They never were.
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They were rules.
Rules to survive.
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My grip tightened around the glass.
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Then—
Another memory surfaced.
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The first time I saw him.
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Jason.
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Even now…
Just thinking about it felt wrong.
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Back then, I didn't understand anything.
I didn't know what I was facing.
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I only knew one thing—
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It was dangerous.
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I tried to fight.
Tried to attack him without understanding his strength.
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That was my mistake.
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"Jason didn't just fight back…" I murmured.
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"He cursed me."
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That moment—
Still clear.
Still sharp.
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The feeling of being targeted.
Of being exposed.
Like I was nothing.
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I looked down at my hand.
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"For him…"
"…I was just an easy target."
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Then—
Everything changed.
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My grandfather stepped in.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
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"He took the curse… on himself."
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My voice grew quieter.
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That decision—
Saved me.
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But it cost him everything.
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My expression hardened as the final memory returned.
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My seventeenth birthday.
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A day that should have been special.
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But wasn't.
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He was lying there.
Weak.
But calm.
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And before his last breath—
He said something I could never forget.
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"You can finish this case."
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The words echoed inside me.
Again.
And again.
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I had repeated them so many times.
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But even now—
I didn't fully understand.
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"Did he give me something…?" I wondered.
"Something that can help me finish this?"
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I tried to connect everything.
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The curse.
Jason.
The shadows.
The disappearances.
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His last words.
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There had to be a connection.
Something I was missing.
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I stood there for a long time.
Thinking.
Replaying.
Searching.
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But nothing fit.
Nothing felt complete.
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Finally, I sighed.
Took the last sip.
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"No…"
"This isn't enough."
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All that thinking—
And still nothing.
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Frustrating.
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But I knew—
Overthinking wouldn't help anymore.
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"Tomorrow…" I whispered.
"Maybe tomorrow I'll get answers."
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I went back inside.
Placed the empty glass aside.
And walked to my room.
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The night passed quietly.
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And eventually—
I fell asleep.
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Next Morning
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It didn't feel normal.
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There was something in the air.
Purpose.
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I woke up early.
Got ready without wasting a second.
Prepared myself—
Not just physically.
But mentally.
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Then I left.
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Haroku's house wasn't far.
Within minutes, I was standing at his door.
I knocked.
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It opened.
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"Hey," I said.
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"What's up?" he replied.
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I looked at him.
"You had breakfast?"
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He nodded. "Yeah bro, done."
Then he added—
"So… what's the plan today?"
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I didn't hesitate.
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"Bro… I'm ready."
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My voice was steady.
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"This time… we fight properly against Jason."
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No doubt.
No hesitation.
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Just determination.
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Haroku looked at me for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
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No more words were needed.
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We left.
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The journey was quiet.
No random talk.
No distractions.
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Both of us knew—
What we were walking into.
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After some time—
We reached.
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The school stood there again.
Silent.
Waiting.
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The principal was already there.
The moment he saw us—
Relief crossed his face.
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"Nice to meet you, sir… after half a week," he said.
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I stepped forward slightly.
"Sorry, sir."
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He shook his head quickly.
"No, no… I didn't mean it like that."
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I gave a small nod.
"It's okay."
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Then—
I looked at him.
My voice calm.
But firm.
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"From today…"
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"…we start the investigation again."
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This time—
We weren't just preparing.
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We were ready.
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Ready to face—
Whatever was waiting for us.