remember me beyonder oblivion

Tokyo - 8:35 AM | Café Yoru

The clock above the counter read 8:35.

Café Yoru had always been their place. Every time there was an important event—an exam, a birthday, even just a new episode of the anime they followed together—they would meet there. It was a tradition.

But that morning, something felt different.

Kairo sat with his arms crossed, mechanically stirring his coffee as he tried to organize his thoughts. The masked figure he had seen at the station wouldn't leave him alone. Was it just an illusion? An effect of exhaustion?

Aenna, sitting next to him, stared at him without hiding her concern.

"Okay, mister mystery, tell us the truth. You're acting weird this morning."

Kairo looked up.

"Weird?" he tried to deflect.

"Yeah, weird," Lyra chimed in, resting her chin on her hand. "Usually, you're the one cracking jokes to lighten the mood. Instead, you're just sitting there staring into space like Riven when he can't finish a video game."

Riven crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, shot a playful scowl at Lyra, then turned serious, looking at Kairo.

"Let's not kid ourselves, Kairo. When we got here, you looked like you'd seen a ghost."

Kairo hesitated. What was he supposed to say?

That he had dreamed of a masked man talking about forgetting everything?

That the same figure had reappeared in the crowd like a harbinger of something terrible?

He shook his head. No. It was absurd.

"It's just exam anxiety," he said shortly.

Aenna studied him for a moment, then sighed.

"Alright... but if something's up, just say it."

Kairo nodded, even though he knew he wouldn't say anything.

"Anyway, we still have twenty minutes before we go," Aenna said, changing the subject. "Let's enjoy breakfast."

Lyra eagerly agreed, taking a big bite of her pastry, while Riven glanced around with a strangely tense expression.

Then, suddenly, he froze.

Kairo looked up at him, confused.

"What is it?" Aenna asked.

Riven ran a hand through his hair, scanning the café as if he were seeing it for the first time.

"This is a really nice place, guys. For once, Aenna's taste isn't too weird," he said, laughing.

"Riven, what do you mean?" Lyra stared at him, then laughed. "Come on, don't be dumb. This has been our spot for years."

But Riven wasn't laughing.

"It's my first time here," he said, looking around with a furrowed brow. "The name sounds familiar, but I'm sure we've never been here before."

Lyra's smile faded.

Aenna crossed her arms, trying to figure out if it was a joke.

"Are you telling me you've never stepped foot in our favorite place? The one we've come to a thousand times?"

Riven lowered his gaze to the table, as if trying to focus his memories.

"Yeah. Exactly."

A cold shiver ran down Kairo's spine.

His smile disappeared.

He looked at his friend and suddenly stood up, slamming his hands on the table.

Time seemed to freeze for Kairo as he locked eyes with Riven, his gaze icy.

His heart pounded as a few customers turned at the sudden noise of his hands hitting the table and the clattering of spoons falling to the floor.

"Riven, if this is a joke, it's not funny!"

He looked at his friend, worry in his voice.

Riven raised his hands in surrender, glancing around, a bit embarrassed by the scene.

"Kairo, come on, don't get worked up. It's fine, I'm probably just forgetful because of exam stress."

Kairo sat back down, sighing.

Aenna and Lyra exchanged uncertain glances but let it go—everyone was nervous about the exam.

Lyra pulled out her phone, showing a funny video to lighten the mood, just as only she knew how.

They all laughed and went back to their breakfast.

---

8:50 AM - Wasabe University

Kairo, Aenna, Riven, and Lyra stood at the entrance of the university.

"Guys, pass the exam, or I swear I'll headbutt you all," Aenna announced.

Everyone laughed and started walking toward the entrance.

They were all tense.

Kairo tightened the straps of his backpack. Another question crept into his mind.

If Riven had forgotten Café Yoru...

What else had he forgotten?

And more importantly—why?