Remenissions

From Ben.to: “I’ll make sure you die this time.”

From Ben.to: “It won’t be long until everything’s over, and you won’t be able to do anything about it.”

From Ben.to: “I just want you dead already. Die! Fucking die, you ruined my life! I will end yours!”

From Ben.to: “Ryota… I hate you. But I guess you don’t know how much I enjoy seeing you and everyone suffer like on the day of the explosion. It was so funny to see their panicked faces… But now, with their memories altered, they've become calm, as if they were never disturbed. And that's what makes it all so fun. I love manipulating their memories and leaving you in despair, not knowing what to do on your own.”

This was the last message Leo sent me after ten long minutes of insults and threats, demonstrating the anger he felt.

It only nurtured my own anger. My teeth nearly shattered under the pressure of my clenched jaw, my eyes almost popping from their sockets. Every part of my body coursed with a rage I longed to unleash on Leo.

I tried to click on his profile, but nothing appeared – only a white screen, nothing else. It didn’t help me gather any more information. 

I went back to the messages and stared at the last one, a crack forming on my phone, nearly breaking it in my hand. I read it again and again until my tangled thoughts reached a single conclusion, one that made me loosen my grip and relax my body.

A revelation struck my mind. My eyes were fixed on that message – something had become clearer to me.

“Oh, Leo… anger made you commit an error you shouldn’t have made. Not everyone was calm after the explosion.”

The message disappeared from the screen a second later. Too late – I had already memorized it.

I turned off my phone and began laughing quietly to myself.

“You finally understood what you needed to.” The doll said from inside the backpack.

“Yes. And to think that anger would cause his downfall is very amusing to me. He probably didn’t even reread what he sent.” I opened the backpack and set it on the ground, placing the notebook inside and leaving it open as I spoke to the doll. “But you already knew. You knew what would guide me to him. You knew this neighbor didn’t react like the others. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“What would have forced me to? I had your memories, and because I am far superior to you, it was evident from the start. But that day, you were too focused on telling the authorities it might not have been an accident, so you didn't pay much attention to this man.”

“Well, I couldn’t do much more than that. After the explosion of my apartment, the firefighters and police arrived and questioned many witnesses and neighbors about what happened. Most of them told the same story – that no one had seen anyone cause it and that it might have been an accident… And even when I told them it couldn’t have been one, they didn’t listen to me… They even started inventing things, like claiming Atsuko hadn’t been there, or whatever... They simply focused on the accident theory without considering my version.”

I clenched my free fist and punched the wall in frustration as I thought back on it all. It enraged me to relive it – especially knowing Leo was behind everything.

“But Leo made a mistake… Yamazaki Naoto wasn’t as calm as the others while waiting to be questioned… Even more, he didn’t even get the chance to fully tell his version. Since so many people shared the same story, the police didn’t want to hear it again and again, so they let some of them go without taking their testimony. Who should I blame – Leo or the police?”

“And the fact that he was still disturbed even during the police interrogation does not align with Leo's statements.” The doll uttered.

All the gears in my mind began to turn. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and clues revealed themselves one by one.

“Yes! If I’m right, Naoto might know the truth – and maybe even things we don’t. His memory might not have been altered by the curse, and Leo…” I caressed my chin thoughtfully, resolve building with each passing second. “I’ll go find him. After that, Leo will be done for good.”

“Are you certain? What about your friend your friend Hayate? Would you really pursue your enemy without knowing if your friend is safe?”

“You care about me now…?”

“No. I’m simply exposing the dilemma you’re facing. I won’t intervene in your choice, but choose wisely.”

I took a few seconds to think. The cold night air helped cool my fevered mind. I had made my decision.

“I’m sure Leo is responsible for Hayate’s disappearance. Even if I deciphered this notebook, I'd find the same answers I already have – and it would take far too long. So I’m going after Leo. That’s the right decision.” I said it confidently, determined to see it through to the end.

Only silence answered me. The doll remained quiet throughout the night. I waited alone in that empty, chilling street, with nowhere else to go. I couldn’t sleep at all.

“I’ll have to wait until Naoto wakes up. I can’t even go back to the hotel… maybe that thing is still there…”

My heart, my soul, my mind – everything swung wildly from one emotion to another. Was I going insane? Was something wrong with me? I didn’t know. It just hurt.

At 7 p.m., I rang Naoto’s apartment door, on the second floor of the building where I used to live.

Several seconds passed before the locks clicked open and the door swung wide, revealing a frail, bald man in his twenties, dressed in pajamas.

“Ryota…? What are you doing here?” He asked, his voice tired, his eyes heavy with sleep.

“Did I wake you? Sorry, Naoto, but we need to talk. It’s really important.”

“It’s been a while since we last saw each other, and you’re already rushing me.” He said with a gentle laugh.

He opened the door wider and gestured for me to come in.

“Wait for me in the living room for five minutes. I’ll get changed. Make yourself at home.”

I sat on the sofa, setting the backpack next to me, and waited until he returned, now dressed in a suit and ready for work. 

“Well, I have work later, so I only have one hour.” He said, sitting in the armchair across from me.

“I’ll be quick. Tell me your version of what you saw the day my apartment exploded.” I asked bluntly, my face drenched in seriousness.

“I see… that’s why you look so diff–”

“Tired.”

“Yes… tired. I was certain this day would come, though I hoped – just a little – that you’d to never ask and would act as if nothing I saw mattered. But…”

“But you know what really happened, don’t you? I need to know to put an end to this.”

“An end to what? You want to arrest this man?”

“What man are you talking about?”

“The one that might have caused the explosion.”

“What happened? What did he look like? Where did you see him?” I shot to my feet, towering over Naoto, my voice filled with urgency. Despite my frightening, exhausted expression, he remained calm.

“Calm down, Ryota. Let me explain. I owe you this – for all the times you helped me. I have no right to hide anything. But if you wish to know… this man had black hair, clothes in a pitiful state, and really dirty, round glasses… those are the only distinctive traits I can remember.”

“So it’s really him...”

I sat back down, embarrassed by my outburst.

“The day your apartment exploded, I was returning from buying groceries. As I reached the building, it happened. That’s when I saw a man rushing out the entrance, laughing uncontrollably…”

His fingers clasped together as his gaze dropped to the carpet, fear creeping across his face. He grew pale, and I stood, placing a hand on his shoulder to reassure him. He was so thin I feared he might break under my touch.

“Don’t worry, Naoto. Go on.”

“That day… it was probably the only time I showed real courage. That man – when he looked at me–”

He stopped, covering his mouth, nearly retching before forcing himself to breathe slowly.

“His smile was horrifying. It felt like he was staring straight into my soul. I couldn’t move. But he ran off, and then I realized – he was responsible. I dropped my bags and chased him. After ten minutes, he turned into a narrow, dark street. I followed – but it was a dead end. No doors. No exits. He was just… gone. I searched, but found nothing. After that, I came back and… you know what happened after. Everyone started saying nonsense...”

He looked at me, guilt etched into his face.

“Since then, I’ve lived with the regret of not stopping him. I’m sorry, Ryota… I know losing Atsuko must have been unbearable.”

“Ah… so you know too. Don’t worry. You were incredibly brave, and telling me this helps more than you realize. Where was that street?”

“Are you sure? You won’t find anything there?” He asked doubtfully.

I smiled gently – a promise he could trust me.

He leaned closer and whispered the address into my ear. I chuckled softly.

“So that’s where you are, Leo!”

I thanked Naoto, shook his hand firmly, and picked up my backpack before stepping back outside.

In my crumpled, dirty clothes, with my unshaven beard, green eyes darkened by exhaustion, and completely disheveled short brown hair, I began walking toward that fateful place.