The following evening.
Inside the Yamai residence, the television was the only source of sound.
A fight was playing on the screen.
The sound of gloves striking echoed through the living room.
Rin sat motionless on the couch.
His eyes were wide.
They hadn't left the screen for even a second.
On television, Daniel moved.
A punch came toward him.
Daniel leaned back.
The punch barely missed his face.
Another punch followed.
Daniel shifted his body.
Dodged.
Countered.
His movements were smooth.
Almost unnatural.
Rin's eyes followed every movement.
Every step.
Every punch.
Every transition.
Daniel didn't fight using a single style.
His movements constantly changed.
One moment, he moved like a boxer.
The next, his stance shifted.
His footwork changed.
His body adapted.
And then—
Another punch landed.
Rin's heart raced.
His fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the couch.
How does he do that?
Daniel took another step.
A combination followed.
The crowd on television erupted.
Rin continued staring.
He seems like a good person...
The television switched to another video.
An interview.
Daniel appeared on the screen with his usual bright smile.
He laughed at something the interviewer said.
The interviewer laughed as well.
Rin watched quietly.
Then the screen changed again.
Another fight.
Another interview.
Another video.
Rin had spent hours watching everything he could find.
Fights.
Interviews.
Podcasts.
News reports.
Anything related to Daniel.
His admiration continued growing.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Until eventually—
I want to be like him...
Rin stared at Daniel.
For a moment, something changed inside him.
His expression softened.
There was excitement in his eyes.
A feeling he rarely experienced.
Hope.
Rin slowly stood up from the couch.
His legs trembled.
As usual.
But he ignored it.
His eyes remained fixed on the television.
The fight was still playing.
Daniel stood on the screen.
South paw.
Rin slowly copied him.
His left hand moved forward.
His right hand stayed close to his face.
His feet shifted awkwardly.
For a moment—
Rin imagined it.
Himself.
Standing inside a ring.
Moving freely.
Throwing punches.
Dodging attacks.
Just like Daniel.
His lips almost curled upward.
Almost.
Then Rin threw a jab.
Pain immediately shot through his arm.
His body twisted uncomfortably.
A sharp sound echoed through his ears.
Rin froze.
His arm slowly lowered.
The excitement disappeared.
His body didn't support the movement.
It never did.
Rin stared at his own hand.
His expression slowly changed.
The hope he had felt moments ago disappeared.
I...
His fingers curled.
His shoulders trembled.
I hate this...
Rin slowly sat back down.
His eyes fell toward the floor.
I hate my life.
The television continued playing.
Daniel continued fighting.
The crowd continued cheering.
But Rin no longer watched.
His head lowered.
Tears silently fell from his eyes.
From the hallway—
Shinjo Yamai watched his son.
Silently.
He hadn't intended to stand there for so long.
But he couldn't bring himself to leave.
His eyes remained on Rin.
The television reflected faintly against the boy's face.
Daniel.
The person Rin admired.
The person Rin wished he could become.
Shinjo's expression slowly fell.
I wish I could give him a better life...
His hands slowly tightened.
I will find a way.
His eyes began filling with tears.
I will find a way to help you.
No matter what it takes.
Shinjo continued watching his son.
Rin quietly sobbed on the couch.
Then—
CLANG!
A loud metallic sound filled the living room.
Shinjo froze.
A steel glass had fallen onto the floor.
He had accidentally knocked it over.
Rin immediately turned around.
His eyes widened.
He saw his father standing in the hallway.
Shinjo awkwardly stood there.
His hand immediately moved toward his face.
Wiping away the tears.
Rin stared at him.
His own tears continued falling.
"What do you want?"
The irritation in Rin's voice was obvious.
Shinjo hesitated.
"Son... I..."
He awkwardly looked toward the fallen glass.
"I was just walking through the hallway."
Rin continued staring.
Then he slowly wiped his face.
"December 15th."
Shinjo looked toward him.
"Next week."
Rin's voice was quiet.
"There's a huge inauguration for a shopping mall."
Shinjo remained silent.
Rin looked toward the television.
Daniel's interview was playing again.
"I want to go."
Shinjo's expression changed.
Rin finally looked directly at him.
"I want to go."
For a moment—
Shinjo said nothing.
Then he sighed.
"But..."
Rin's expression immediately changed.
"I have a meeting that day."
Silence.
Rin stared at his father.
The words slowly sank in.
His face crumbled.
His fingers tightened.
His breathing slowly became heavier.
And suddenly—
Memories entered his mind.
Years.
Thirteen years.
Years of people staring at him.
Whispering.
Laughing.
Feeling sorry for him.
Years of isolation.
Years of being treated differently.
Years of hearing words he wished he could forget.
And now—
Another disappointment.
Rin slowly lowered his head.
His shoulders began shaking.
Shinjo noticed.
"Rin—"
Rin suddenly looked up.
His eyes were filled with anger.
And tears.
"Go to hell with your meeting!"
Shinjo froze.
Rin stood up.
His body trembled.
"You always have something!"
His voice echoed through the living room.
Shinjo's eyes widened.
"Rin, listen—"
"You should've abandoned me like your wife!"
Silence.
The words hung in the air.
Shinjo couldn't move.
Rin stared at his father.
His breathing became heavier.
For a brief moment—
Neither of them said anything.
Then Rin turned around.
He stumbled toward the stairs.
"Rin!"
Shinjo called out.
But the boy didn't stop.
Rin disappeared upstairs.
A few moments later—
BANG!
The sound of a door slamming echoed through the house.
Shinjo remained standing alone.
His eyes slowly fell toward the floor.
The television continued playing.
Daniel laughed on the screen.
Shinjo looked toward it.
Then quietly closed his eyes.
Meanwhile...
At the same time.
Inside Daniel's little mansion on the outskirts of Osaka.
A phone rang inside Daniel's room.
"Aghh, damn it... Who the heck is calling...?"
"Language, sir. Light might hear that."
Daniel groaned from beneath his blanket.
"I'll pick it up for you."
Bosvel answered the phone while Daniel continued lying lazily in bed.
After a short conversation, Bosvel hung up.
"What did they say?"
"Hmm. Just an invitation to the inauguration of a shopping mall in Tokyo."
Daniel's eyes opened.
"And we're not going."
Daniel immediately sat up.
"Tokyo? Inauguration? Fuck! Let's go!"
"Once again. Language."
"Come on, Bose!"
Daniel dramatically pointed toward his bed, repeatedly bobbing his finger at it as if presenting evidence in court.
"I've been buried in this thing for weeks!"
Bosvel stared at the bed.
Daniel stared at Bosvel.
Then Daniel pointed at it again.
"I hate this bed."
Bosvel sighed.
"Sir, you were instructed to rest."
"I HAVE BEEN RESTING!"
"Exactly."
Daniel paused.
"...That's the problem."
Bosvel rubbed his forehead.
"You're unbelievable."
Daniel immediately changed his expression.
"Come on. It's so boring being stuck here."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Just one time?"
Bosvel narrowed his eyes.
Daniel suddenly became serious.
"People might get suspicious, Bose."
That made Bosvel pause.
"I haven't made a single public appearance since Light collapsed."
Daniel continued.
"People are already going to make their own theories."
Bosvel remained silent.
Daniel leaned back slightly.
"You know how people on the internet are."
Bosvel sighed.
Unfortunately...
Daniel was right.
He had already seen several ridiculous videos and thumbnails regarding Daniel's disappearance.
THE KING OF HEAVEN HAS DISAPPEARED!
DID THE JAPANESE MAFIA KIDNAP DANIEL?!
DANIEL'S SECRET RETIREMENT?!
Bosvel's eye slightly twitched.
People were already creating ridiculous theories.
Bosvel rubbed his forehead.
"What you're saying is true..."
Daniel's eyes immediately sparkled.
"People might suspect something and make their own weird theories."
Bosvel raised a finger.
"But only once."
Daniel froze.
"It's next week."
"Wait..."
Daniel blinked.
Bosvel sighed.
"Fine."
"YES!"
Daniel immediately threw both arms into the air.
"You're the best, Bose!"
"Don't make me regret this decision."
"I won't!"
A short pause followed.
Daniel grinned.
"Go tell that stupid woman and Light about this."
Bosvel gave him an unimpressed look.
"She's your sister."
"And she's still stupid."
"Sir."
"Fine. She's occasionally stupid."
Bosvel sighed and turned toward the door.
For once, Daniel's tired eyes seemed brighter.
After months of darkness, hospitals, and endless rest...
He finally had something to look forward to.
He was finally going outside.
Back into the world.
He had no idea what was waiting for him.
In another part of Japan—
Rin sat alone inside his room.
The television screen continued glowing.
December 15th.
The date remained inside his mind.
His father had said no.
But Rin continued staring toward the screen.
Daniel's face appeared once again.
Rin slowly wiped his eyes.
I want to see him.
Outside the room—
Shinjo stood silently.
His hand rested against the door.
His eyes were closed.
December 15th.
The date remained inside his mind as well.
Two completely different lives.
One date.
One place.
And without either of them realizing it—
Their paths had already begun moving toward each other.
December 15th was coming.