"Yuki, it's me and my brother."

Yuki struggled to speak into the walkie-talkie, tiptoeing and speaking loudly to compensate for the distance. She was torn between worrying that the walkie-talkie was too far away and increasing the volume and feeling embarrassed for speaking too loudly.

Yuki tried her best, clumsily.

Ziongzong stood silently behind her, holding a lunch box filled with dishes, pondering how the conversation with Mizuo would unfold. He wondered how Mizuo would react and what her responses would be, and how he and Yuki would handle it in order to persuade Mizuo to voluntarily attend Watanabe Gengo's funeral.

-Koga's mom and Watanabe, I ask for your assistance.

Ziongzong didn't have any religious beliefs and didn't think that there was heaven, hell, the Sanzu River, souls, or reincarnation after death. But he believed that a person's spirit would somehow exist in some form.

"Today, both of them came..."

Mizuo in the house observed the situation outside through a crack in the door and spoke softly.

Then, she closed the door, removed the chain, and opened it again.

"Come in."

After saying these cold words, Mizuo went back inside on her own.

Ziongzong and Yuki exchanged glances, entered the house one after the other, and locked the door again for Mizuo.

"Mizuo, let's have lunch together~"

Yuki took the bag from Ziongzong and quickly arranged the dishes on the dining table.

She intentionally didn't have lunch at home today to come to Mizuo's house and eat with her.

Someone once said that eating alone was like animal feed, while eating together was a proper meal.

It wasn't until today, when she ate with Mizuo, that Yuki realized how good it would have been to do it earlier.

Mizuo needed more than just someone to bring her food and watch her eat. She needed someone to eat with her.

With Yuki's presence, Mizuo's lunch this time didn't feel like dry animal feed.

During lunch for the two children, Ziongzong helped tidy Mizuo's house on the side.

When he finished tidying up, Yuki and Mizuo finished their meal.

"Oh, by the way, Mizuo, there's something I need to tell you about this visit."

Ziongzong brought up the topic at an appropriate time, observing Mizuo's expression to adjust his speaking manner and tone.

Mizuo didn't respond to Ziongzong's remark, but her gaze lingered on him. This reaction led Ziongzong to believe that they could continue the conversation, as Mizuo didn't show any obvious resistance.

"The officer from Toshiki Police Station, do you remember him? Yesterday, he informed us that this Sunday, which is tomorrow, is... the funeral of Mr. Watanabe Gengo."

After delivering this information, Ziongzong left a pause in the conversation, allowing Mizuo to accept and comprehend the content.

When Ziongzong mentioned the name "Watanabe Gengo," Mizuo visibly faltered.

Her previously expressionless face lost focus, clearly indicating that she was lost in her own thoughts.

Perhaps, it was in reminiscence, Watanabe Gengo, this person.

Every little detail of our time together.

"Ah... yes... he's also dead..."

Mizuo muttered to herself.

Imprisoned in the past of her mother's death, Mizuo had forgotten everything else until Ziongzong just mentioned it. She remembered that there was also a person named "Watanabe Gengo" who died for them.

"It's not just my mother... that I caused to die..."

Mizuo, forgetting the existence of Ziongzong and Yuki, completely retreated into her own world.

Ziongzong and Yuki, left unnoticed, exchanged glances, unsure if they should talk to Mizuo now and what they should say... This was the moment that determined the success or failure of their mission.