"So, Uncle Wilson, like I said, I have no plans at all to inherit the organization."

"But young master…"

"You should know, IW must make the right adjustments to adapt to modern society. Uncle Sousuke's decisions in recent years have been correct."

"But the organization back then never followed the times. We were the ones deciding the flow of the era. When your father was still in charge…"

"I've heard all about that idiot's story from back then, but in the end, he just became a hands-off boss."

On the road toward the station, Rinji was on the phone with Wilson.

Wilson still hadn't given up on persuading Rinji to inherit the organization. Rinji, knowing this, had called him early in the morning.

Even when he was nearly at the station, Wilson still wouldn't give up and kept nagging on.

"Besides, it's not like the organization has completely abandoned force. Don't forget how many of our people die every year in the Middle East and Africa. We don't have the manpower left to make a big scene again, and the old men in the council have all retired…"

"If you were to succeed, the elders would return to their posts."

"Then why aren't they helping Uncle Sousuke right now?"

"Who would want to help that fool?"

"…Uncle Sousuke really is pitiful."

Rinji chuckled bitterly over the phone.

"As for succession, let's talk when I return to Tokyo."

"Huh? You're not in Tokyo?"

"I'm taking a trip today, somewhere far from Tokyo."

"Alright then, let's talk when you're back."

---

The reason Rinji went to the station so early in the morning was to head to the place his father had once entrusted to Sousuke, a town called Yomiyama.

A town most ordinary people had never heard of, but still marked on maps.

The population was about thirty thousand. Though it was more than two hundred kilometers away from Tokyo, fairly remote, it was surprisingly modern with complete public facilities.

After several hours on a train and then transferring to a bus, Rinji finally arrived at the town.

The town was surrounded by mountains, and looking out you could still see the sea.

It had to be said, geographically it wasn't convenient for trains to enter. Even the bus ride was bumpy.

It was already afternoon by the time he arrived.

"Though I was told to come to Yomiyama, no one said what I was supposed to do… how did someone with such a vague way of speaking even build an organization back then?"

Looking at the mix of old and renovated buildings, Rinji walked up the roadside slope aimlessly.

According to Sousuke, to resolve the consciousness exchange between him and Kaguya he might need to come here, but no one ever said what he should actually do after arriving.

Rinji took out the meteorite fragment from his pocket.

"I thought hiding this fragment would be enough, but it seems useless."

He had carried it with him all this time, but just yesterday he left it in the research department, thinking maybe without it nearby nothing would happen.

Yet their consciousnesses still swapped.

He had considered destroying it altogether, but the idea that the fragment caused the consciousness swap was only a guess. Besides, he wanted to know why the fragment in his hand was identical to the one his father entrusted to Sousuke twenty years ago.

"Forget it, thinking too much won't help. I'll eat first."

He had spent noon on the train and hadn't eaten lunch, so he decided to step into a random restaurant by the roadside.

Clatter.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, Rinji felt a warmth at his ankle.

Looking down, he saw a can of hot drink spilled by his leg, and a ten-year-old girl in a coat had fallen face down on the ground, apparently tripping while running.

"Ugh…"

The little girl covered her sore nose as she stood up. Seeing Rinji's wet pant leg, she looked like she was about to cry.

"S-sorry…"

"No, it's fine."

Rinji waved it off, glancing around and noticing no guardian nearby.

"Are your parents not with you?"

"Oh right, mama…"

The girl turned around, seemingly trying to find her mother, but couldn't.

Seeing her about to cry again, Rinji helplessly shook his head.

"Don't cry. I'll help you look, and if we can't find her, we'll go to the police station."

He had nothing else to do here anyway.

He'd probably stay overnight at a local inn—partly because he didn't want to ride the train twice in one day, but mainly because he really didn't want to risk another consciousness swap with Kaguya.

The one thing he'd confirmed was that if he and Kaguya were far enough apart, the swap wouldn't trigger.

Hearing that Rinji would help, the girl broke into a smile through her tears.

"Thank you, big sister."

"Call me brother!"

They didn't have to search far. The child's mother was nearby, and as soon as the girl pointed the way, Rinji led her there.

Her mother looked to be in her early thirties, with tea-colored hair, and quite a beauty.

Realizing her daughter's location, she quickly rushed over.

"So you were here."

"Mama!"

The girl leapt into her arms.

"Mama, I couldn't find you just now. This big sister helped me."

"I said brother."

"Thank you so much."

The mother bowed to Rinji.

But when she raised her head and saw his face, her pupils shrank, as if she had seen something unbelievable.

She stepped back two paces, murmuring, "…Impossible."

Rinji: "What's wrong?"

"No… nothing, maybe I'm overthinking." She quickly regained her composure and smiled. "Have you ever been to Yomiyama before?"

"No, this is my first time."

"I see… Then perhaps your family has been here before?"

"I don't know about that," Rinji said. "I only came here because of my dad's arrangements. Maybe he's been here before."

"I see."

Hearing this, the mother's expression suddenly relaxed.

Truth be told, her string of expressions left Rinji puzzled.

It was as if she had seen him somewhere before.