The girl in the photograph

CHAPTER 2 - THE GIRL IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Akito didn't sleep. Not properly.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw it. The girl. The river. The strange blue sky. And those three words on the back.
BLUE HOUR IS COMING.
He turned the photo over twenty times that night. The words didn't disappear. Didn't change. They just waited.
By sunrise, Akito had three theories.
One: Someone was pranking him.
Two: He took it and forgot.
Three: His camera was broken.
He chose three. It was the least terrifying.
6:42 AM
Akito sat on the edge of the bed. Camera on the table.
"You're the problem." The camera didn't answer.
He picked it up. Scrolled through yesterday. Station. Flower. Village. Grandma. Garden. All normal.
Then the photo.
The girl appeared on the screen. He zoomed in. Her face was blurred. The red ribbon wasn't.
"Who are you?"
A knock. "Akito?"
He locked the camera. "Yeah?"
Hana opened the door. "You're awake early." "Couldn't sleep."
"Bad dream?" "No."
It wasn't a dream.
Hana smiled. "Breakfast's ready." "Coming."
She turned. "Grandma." Hana stopped. "Hm?"
"Do you know anyone here who wears a red ribbon?"
For half a second, Hana's face changed. Akito caught it.
"Why?" "Saw someone yesterday." "Where?" "Near the garden."
Hana looked at him. Then smiled.
"Maybe you should ask her yourself." "Ask who?"
She was already walking away.
Breakfast
Rice. Miso. Fish. Vegetables. Akito ate in silence.
Hana watched him. "You're thinking too much." "How do you know?" "You've been holding that fish for thirty seconds."
He looked down. He was.
He ate it. Hana laughed. "Still the same." "What's that mean?" "You were always like this."
Akito stopped. "Always?"
Hana's smile faded. She looked out the window. "When you were little."
"I don't remember coming here when I was little." "You wouldn't." "Why?"
No answer. She took his bowl and left for the kitchen.
Something was being kept from him. And everyone knew except him.
After breakfast, Akito walked.
He told himself it was for fresh air. It wasn't. He was looking for the girl.
The road ran between houses and trees. Kids on bicycles. An old man sweeping. A woman watering flowers. Too quiet.
Click. A bicycle. Click. A cat under a bench. Click. A mountain.
He lowered the camera.
"Are you seriously taking pictures of everything?"
Akito turned.
Her. Long dark-brown hair. Red ribbon. School uniform. Tote bag full of flowers.
He froze. The girl from the photo.
"Why are you staring?" Akito couldn't speak. She tilted her head. "Hello?"
"...You." "Me?" "You were in my photograph."
Silence. Then she laughed. "What?" "You were." "I'm pretty sure I wasn't."
Akito opened the camera. Searched. Stopped.
Gone. The photo was gone.
"What?" He checked again. Nothing.
She watched him. "You okay?" "Did you just—" "What?" "Never mind."
She smiled. "Weird way to start a conversation." "Sorry."
She held out her hand. "I'm Miko."
Akito looked at it. Then at her. "Akito." "I know." "How?" "Your grandmother talks about you."
"Of course she does." Miko laughed. "You're exactly how she described you." "What'd she say?" "That you're quiet." Akito raised an eyebrow. "And?" "And you look like you're always trying to solve something." "I'm not." "You are right now."