Chapter Text
Extra Chapter 5
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“So, where are we flying to?” Kaito asked his father as he fastened his seatbelt.
“You look nervous—don’t tell me you’re afraid of flying?” Toichi asked, slightly surprised, ignoring the question.
“Don’t dodge my question! A-And no, I’m not afraid of flying!” Kaito defended himself.
“It would be strange if you were, considering how often you glide through the skies, have already been on an air ship, and even traveled in planes as KID.” Toichi replied, unimpressed.
Is he trying to provoke me? Kaito fumed internally.
“It’s different when you have a goal in mind and your life is on the line. Being strapped into a chair like this feels way more confining!” Kaito tried to justify himself.
Feigning surprise, Toichi raised an eyebrow. “So you are afraid of flying after all.”
Kaito’s eyes widened in irritation, but he looked away with a sharp “Tsk!”
“Don’t worry, I brought a glider just in case. If it makes you feel safer, you can always jump out through the emergency exit.”
Even without seeing Toichi’s face, Kaito could hear the amusement in his voice.
He snorted in annoyance. As much as he was known for being a nuisance himself, his father was even worse when it came to riling people up.
And yet, Kaito was also aware of the warm undertone in his father’s voice—he just didn’t know how to respond to it.
When Kaito stayed silent, Toichi laughed lightly, breaking the tension. “Here, you wanted to know where we’re going?”
Kaito turned back to him in surprise and saw Toichi handing him a colorful flyer.
He took it.
“Las Vegas… Las Vegas?!” Kaito looked up at Toichi in excitement. His father just smiled softly.
Kaito’s eyes sparkled. As a magician, he had always wanted to go to such a dazzling place of entertainment and endless possibilities. A wide grin spread across his face.
“By the way, I had to make some adjustments to your passport. According to this, you’re 21.
To enjoy the full Las Vegas experience, you’ll need that.”
Kaito’s face twisted.
So I was wrong to think I’d finally be doing something with him legally.
He pulled his passport from his pocket and eyed the falsified birth date suspiciously.
“I see… Why Las Vegas, though?” he asked cautiously.
Toichi gave him a warm smile, leaving Kaito unsure how to react.
“You wanted to know what I’ve been doing all these years. Now I want to show you.”
Curiosity flared again in Kaito’s eyes.
“Oh, I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve been up to,” Kaito said with a mischievous grin. “And since I’m 21 now, I can definitely get up to a lot of mischief there.” he added playfully.
Toichi laughed, clearly amused by his son.
When they finally arrived at the Las Vegas airport, Kaito was exhausted.
Since he hadn’t known the destination, he hadn’t expected a flight of over ten hours. Toichi, however, seemed used to it.
After picking up their luggage, Toichi called a taxi that drove them to their hotel.
During the ride, Kaito’s eyes lit up as they passed the bustling Vegas Strip. Even though it was still dark in the early morning hours, the city shone with colorful lights and buzzed with life like a fantasy world.
For Kaito, Las Vegas was a place of limitless illusions, where reality and deception blended seamlessly. A place where even the wildest tricks hardly stood out, because the entire city felt like one enormous magic act.
Not much later, the taxi stopped, and Kaito was a little taken aback when he stood in front of the hotel. From the outside, it looked extremely luxurious, adorned with golden elements. A giant illuminated fountain bathed the surroundings in soft light.
At the same time, he wondered skeptically how much money Toichi had already spent here.
The interior of the hotel reflected its exterior perfectly, which Kaito absorbed with sparkling fascination.
Although they could have taken the elevator, Kaito insisted on using the stairs, just to take in as much of the overwhelming hotel as possible. Besides, he liked to get a sense of the building’s layout.
Once in their room, still marveling, Kaito dropped his suitcase in the hallway.
The hotel room wasn’t really a room—it was practically a massive apartment with multiple bedrooms, a huge bathroom, and something resembling a living room. The only thing missing was a kitchen—but whoever could afford a place like this didn’t need to cook.
Skeptically, Kaito looked at his father. “You really lived the high life, huh? How did you afford this? How can you afford it now?”
Toichi laughed, amused by Kaito’s reaction.
“I only stayed in this hotel once, when I had… let’s just say, an ‘assignment.’ Otherwise, I usually stayed in more normal places.
But since this is a special occasion, I booked the best of the best.
Soon, you’ll see how I made my living.”
Living? More like gold bars, Kaito thought suspiciously.
With a soft smile, Toichi asked, “Do you want to rest first? We’ve flown through almost the entire night.”
Kaito raised an eyebrow. “Did you forget what my hobby is? Sleepless nights are nothing new to me.” He paused briefly, walked over to the minibar, and grabbed a can. “An energy drink will do the trick,” he said with a cheeky grin, holding it up.
Toichi nodded, unsurprised. He glanced out the window—it was slowly getting brighter.
“Judging by your reaction, I’d say you’re curious. I’ll show you around the hotel first, and then we’ll have a relaxed breakfast. How does that sound?”
Kaito’s eyes gleamed, and he nodded with a wide smile, following his father.
As they walked through the hotel, Kaito carefully observed everything, his excitement impossible to hide.
The hotel wasn’t just a hotel—it had multiple casinos and other entertainment venues. Everything was open 24/7, with performances and shows constantly running. Kaito had never seen such liveliness. Not only was everything always buzzing, but the quality of the shows—even the magic acts—was outstanding. No matter the hour, the venues were full, which had to be encouraging for the performers putting on shows at strange times.
Before reaching the large breakfast hall, Toichi and Kaito passed through a beautifully planted indoor garden and a bustling bar.
At the buffet, Kaito’s eyes immediately darted to the massive dessert section, and he couldn’t hide the way his mouth watered.
Though he tried to appear refined—and was dressed accordingly, since Toichi had told him what clothes to bring—in that moment he nearly broke character as the elegant rich kid.
Rows of colorful desserts stretched before him: cakes, tarts, snacks, dainty pastries, puddings, and other delicacies Kaito couldn’t even name.
Before anyone could give him a strange look, he started with a small “normal” breakfast, just to save room for the ‘good stuff’.
Toichi smiled softly as he watched his son.
When Kaito sat down at the table with his modest plate, Toichi, who had also picked out some food, remarked:
“You don’t need to hold back. Eat as much as you like, whatever you like. In Vegas, the strangest people show up. Nobody’s going to care about your eating habits.”
Kaito raised his eyebrows in surprise as he took his first bite.
Even though he wouldn’t admit it, the comment was strangely reassuring.
“I wasn’t planning to hold back. That’s why I only got a little,” he said, pointing to his tiny meal with his fork. A mischievous grin spread across his face. “I’m not about to miss an opportunity like this!”
Toichi grinned back, sipping his coffee. “You really should pay more attention to your eating habits. Long term, it’s not healthy.” His tone was clearly playful.
“Oh, you’re sooo responsible. First you make me skip school, and then you bring your underage son to the city of sin.” Kaito shot back in the same playful tone.
“You like it though—just admit it,” Toichi replied, feigning indifference.
Still grinning, Kaito shrugged.
Moments later, Toichi stood up and returned shortly after, sliding a plate in front of Kaito.
As Kaito finished the last bite of his breakfast, he raised an eyebrow at the plate.
A slice of elaborately decorated cake covered in glossy chocolate, adorned with strawberries, mint leaves, and gold leaf.
“A recommendation from me—I think it’s exactly your taste,” Toichi said, amused.
Kaito’s eyes sparkled again. “Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to bribe me somehow?”
Toichi just shrugged, amused.
Kaito turned happily to his dessert, deliberately putting on a poker face.
He lifted the first spoonful to his mouth, expression unchanged.
Slowly, he raised his free hand to cover his lips and closed his eyes.
He couldn’t suppress a soft, blissful sigh.
Amused, Toichi let out a quiet laugh. “I’m glad you like it.”
Kaito looked up, cheeks faintly flushed. “Like it? That’s an understatement.”
Smiling, Toichi turned back to his coffee.
Kaito returned to the buffet several more times, sampling different desserts until he was completely stuffed.
The afternoon was spent exploring the Las Vegas Strip, sightseeing and admiring the most famous hotels and casinos.
Kaito watched several shows and marveled at the dazzling displays of light.
When they stopped in front of a massive casino, Kaito glanced at Toichi questioningly, who was already walking toward the entrance.
Inside, Toichi spoke briefly with a receptionist and soon returned with something in his hand.
He handed a small box to Kaito. When Kaito opened it, his eyes widened in surprise.
It was filled with chips for gambling.
“With these, you can entertain yourself for the rest of the day. Have fun,” Toichi said, amused.
“You’re such a positive influence on me. I can only imagine how I’d have turned out if you’d been around all the time,” Kaito replied in the same amused tone.
“I’m only allowing this because I know how responsible you are,” Toichi said, tapping Kaito lightly on the forehead.
Am I, though? Kaito doubted himself.
“These casinos attract the richest and craziest people from all over the world. If you want to disappear, there’s no better place,” Toichi explained.
So he wasn’t here just for fun, Kaito thought more seriously.
“I still have something to take care of. Take your time,” Toichi said as he headed toward the exit.
Kaito wandered from table to table, playing poker and other games. He had taken care with his appearance and makeup to look older and more refined. Quickly, he became popular with both the guests and the staff. His charming nature especially impressed the women.
He won some games, lost others. But he couldn’t resist cheating in certain rounds to secure victory. Even with all the security measures in place, he could see through them quickly, which gave him an intoxicating rush.
Even at roulette, he managed to influence the ball to land where he wanted.
Before drawing too much attention, however, he deliberately lost.
After several rounds of blackjack that went much the same way, he finally sat down in the lobby, his thirst for gambling satisfied.
Hours passed quickly, and night had already fallen again. Kaito wondered where his father was but wasn’t worried. Instead, he sat at the bar and watched a group of singers performing on stage.
With the soothing, gentle music, drowsiness overcame him, and his eyelids began to grow heavy.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Toichi sitting down beside him.
“And? Did you have fun?” Toichi asked in a pleasant tone.
Kaito laughed. “You bet! But you didn’t make your money by scamming people like this, did you?”
“Of course not. I already told you—I earned it legally. Tomorrow you’ll see. Today was only meant for enjoyment,” Toichi answered convincingly.
The bartender brought over two cocktails Toichi had ordered—one for him, one for Kaito.
The smell of alcohol filled the air, and Kaito wrinkled his nose.
He didn’t like alcohol—not because he wasn’t supposed to drink, but simply because he disliked the taste.
Toichi leaned forward and swapped the glasses, which looked identical—colorless liquid with a cherry floating inside.
Kaito eyed him skeptically, then sniffed his drink. To his surprise, it didn’t smell like alcohol.
Toichi smiled and raised his glass for a toast. Kaito clinked glasses with him, and after the soft chime, took a sip. The sweet flavor of coconut with a hint of lemon filled his mouth—refreshing, pleasant, and alcohol-free.
So he does have his limits, Kaito noted to himself.
When the band finished their set, Toichi stood. “Come on, let’s go. We’re both tired, and it’s late.”
Without protest, Kaito nodded. He needed sleep too.
They walked back to the hotel on foot, taking a different route than before.
Yawning, Kaito noticed the bright neon lights and the scantily clad women dancing provocatively in windows. His face flushed red, but a second later, Toichi covered his eyes with his hand and pulled him along.
“That’s not for you,” Toichi admonished, his voice slightly stern but still amused.
Kaito burst into laughter at his father’s reaction and freed himself from his hand.
Back in the hotel, Toichi took one of the smaller rooms and left Kaito the master bedroom with the enormous bed. Kaito accepted it happily with a shrug.
Only then did he notice the view from the huge glass front.
The entire Las Vegas Strip stretched out before him. The dazzling, colorful light shows mixed with the city lights created a breathtaking sight. Yet, in a way he couldn’t explain, it felt strangely lonely, Kaito thought.
After freshening up and getting ready for bed, Kaito quickly drifted into the land of dreams.
The next day was somewhat calmer. Toichi took Kaito to a few special sights outdoors and showed him a magician café, where waiters entertained customers with tricks. Toichi explained that he had helped out there several times.
They also attended a few small magic shows in which Toichi himself had once performed.
It was all fascinating and exciting, but Kaito longed to see something truly special.
Toichi seemed to understand the look on his son’s face and pulled a ticket from his suit pocket.
“I’ve planned something special for tonight. Then you’ll finally know how I spent most of my time here.”
Kaito accepted the ticket. It was for the MGM Grand Hotel—a magic show in the evening.
The performing magician was Corbeau. The picture on the ticket showed Toichi wearing a black mask adorned with feathers, performing a trick.
Kaito hesitated for a moment. “I see… The MGM Grand?! Isn’t that the biggest stage for magicians? The most famous magicians in the world perform there!”
Toichi nodded neutrally. “Will you come watch the show?”
“Of course I will!” Kaito exclaimed with a beaming grin.
The evening came faster than expected, and Kaito was already dressed up. He had put on his best clothes for the occasion, his hair neatly slicked back. He had respect for the MGM Grand Hotel and had no intention of showing up underdressed.
The enormous hall began to fill, and Kaito made his way to the seat indicated on his ticket. Naturally, it was the front row, a little to the left side. Kaito knew that the center seat wasn’t always the best for seeing everything and was grateful for his father’s choice.
The hall was now full. As the lights dimmed, the chatter of the crowd faded.
The curtain on the stage slowly parted, and a spotlight cut across the middle of the platform. At first, there was nothing but the light.
In the background, a ticking sound echoed. On the seventh tick, a gong struck, and in that instant, a flock of black ravens burst from the stage, scattering across the hall before vanishing just as quickly. And in the very next moment, Toichi was standing in the same spot where the birds had appeared.
The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Kaito clapped along, eager to see what would come next.
Toichi began with simpler tricks at first but built the performance higher and higher, each illusion more elaborate than the last. Soon the entire audience was involved. Mist filled the room, or bursts of water, or even snowflakes drifting through the air. And yet, everything dissolved just before it reached the crowd.
Kaito followed every move closely, and then he realized—the magic his father performed were all the same tricks from his childhood, only transformed and amplified. His lips pulled downward as memories flooded his thoughts.
Toichi’s magic on stage was nothing like the one he performed as KID.
The graceful movements of his hands, the way his body flowed with each trick, the mysterious aura surrounding him—it felt both achingly familiar and strangely distant. This was the magic he had adored as a child. The magic he had chased after for years. And now he realized, with a shudder, how much those beloved memories had faded.
How could I have forgotten? Kaito thought bitterly.
He didn’t notice the tears slipping down his cheeks. But when Toichi’s eyes met his mid-performance, Kaito swore his father flinched. For just the briefest second, the smile fell from his face. The trick Toichi was performing was one of the very last Kaito had seen before his supposed death.
More memories surged up—him cheering, his father lifting him up with a bright laugh.
Then, darker ones.
He remembered standing at the funeral, crying until his throat burned. He remembered clinging to the desperate hope that it was just another trick, that any second Toichi would appear with a flourish and a grin.
He remembered the coffin being lowered into the grave, and that desperate hope breaking apart shovel by shovel.
His sobs had only grown louder. And when people around him expected him to throw a handful of dirt onto the coffin, he panicked and hid behind his mother instead. He couldn’t do it. He was convinced his father might suffocate under the earth if they buried him.
The hall’s lights came back on. Wet drops spotted Kaito’s lap, and only when the crowd began to move did he realize what had happened. Frantic, he tried to wipe his tears away, but then nausea gripped him violently. He bolted from his seat, hand clamped over his mouth, and ran straight back to his hotel room.
He locked himself in the bathroom, collapsed by the toilet, and vomited. His tears streamed endlessly down his face. He heaved again, but only water came up, his body trembling with sobs as long-buried memories and emotions crashed to the surface.
A knock rattled the door, but he ignored it, leaning over the bowl again as another wave of nausea tore through him.
A click sounded. The door opened.
“Kaito… what happened?” Toichi’s voice was heavy with worry.
Kaito couldn’t answer. Hearing his father’s voice, seeing his face—it only made the sickness worse. He doubled over again, sobbing wretchedly.
Toichi knelt beside him, a hand rubbing gently over his back.
Suddenly the words spilled from Kaito, raw and broken:
“Y-You… you were dead!” he choked between sobs. “Wh-When the coffin was lowered… I-I thought you couldn’t breathe!” His voice cracked. “I hoped—I hoped you’d just jump out and say it was a joke, but when they buried you…” Another sob ripped through him, and he buried his face in his hands.
Toichi froze, face hollow with shock.
“Kaito… what have I done to you?”
He wrapped his arms around his son, holding him tightly.
“I’m so sorry… It’s all my fault,” he whispered, his voice trembling.
The familiar scent of him turned Kaito’s stomach again, but he fought down the urge to retch.
“Kaito… I’m here now…”
But Toichi had no idea what words could possibly make a difference—if there were any at all.
He had torn a hole in Kaito’s heart that could never be mended. He would have to live with the fact that he had broken his own son.
When Kaito’s sobs finally weakened, he whispered, exhausted, “Your performance tonight… it reminded me of the past…”
“I see… I’m sorry, Kaito.” Toichi realized that in trying to revive happy memories, he had only triggered the deepest trauma.
When Kaito was down to faint sniffles, Toichi helped him into bed. The empty look in his son’s eyes frightened him, but he didn’t know if there was anything he could say. He stayed beside him, stroking his hair until Kaito drifted into sleep.
Kaito opened his eyes, and before he could think, a stabbing pain pierced his temples. He clutched his head, face twisted in agony.
He cursed under his breath and sat up, only to find Toichi sitting on the bed beside him, holding out a bottle of water.
“Here. You haven’t had anything to drink since yesterday… You’ve lost a lot of fluids. Once you drink, the headache should ease,” Toichi explained gently.
Kaito took the bottle and drained most of it in one go.
Only then did he notice Toichi’s pale face. No trace of his usual faint smile—his mouth hung heavy, his whole expression weary and burdened.
Kaito groaned as the memories of last night flooded back.
“Kaito, I’m sorry. I never wanted that,” Toichi said, his voice carrying a note of quiet desperation.
“I-I know! I don’t know what came over me… I’m sorry,” Kaito muttered, looking away in embarrassment.
“Don’t apologize… This is all my fault. I only wanted to give you an unforgettable weekend…” Toichi’s gaze was empty.
“It’s fine now, really…” Kaito murmured, eyes cast down.
Toichi sighed, then pulled him into another hug.
Kaito blinked, startled, but didn’t resist. Emotion welled up again, his eyes glassy. He slowly returned the embrace, burying his face in his father’s shoulder.
“Kaito, I promise… I’ll do everything I can to make this right, even if it’s impossible,” Toichi whispered.
Kaito let out a loud sigh.
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. And I’m fine now… Don’t be so depressing.” His tone carried a hint of mischief again.
Breaking the embrace, he looked aside, curiosity creeping back into his voice.
“So… what’s planned for today, our last day?”
After breakfast, the two of them headed to another hotel, where magicians would be performing almost the entire day.
Once inside, Toichi explained, “This day happens once a month. It’s when amateur or aspiring magicians all come together. Each magician gets thirty minutes on stage. At the start of the performance, a random theme is chosen, and the magician has to improvise a little show around it.
It’s not serious—nobody cares if you mess up or the performance falls flat. In fact, the performers usually end up making each other laugh. That’s why I signed you up. You’re scheduled as the last act at 5 p.m. After that, the professionals begin. Even though I trust you could pull off a professional act, I didn’t want to throw you into that without warning.”
Kaito’s mouth dropped open before Toichi even finished his last sentence.
“What!? I mean, this is already exciting… but you just signed me up without telling me??? I haven’t prepared a single thing!” Kaito blinked rapidly, panic flashing in his eyes.
Toichi chuckled, and for the first time today, his pale face seemed to come alive again. “The standard here isn’t that high. At least not for you. The whole point is to have fun and get your name out there. Honestly, I think you’ll enjoy it. Even unprepared, you’ll put everyone else in the shade.”
Kaito blinked nervously again but couldn’t hide the grin tugging at his lips. He secretly loved challenges like this. “If you say so… fine! But I don’t even know how this works.”
“That’s exactly why we’re here. You’re the last to perform, so you’ll see how it goes. Unless you don’t want to, of course… that’s fine too,” Toichi added softly.
Kaito grinned. “Of course I want to!”
The shows began, and the first magician was called. A theme popped up on the screen beside the stage, and the magician started laughing as he tried random tricks that could fit. Then the theme switched, forcing him to abruptly change gears and improvise something new. It was clumsy and awkward, but hilarious—the crowd burst into laughter again and again.
Kaito couldn’t help smiling.
The next magicians were similar, many leaning even more into comedy, leaving the whole hall roaring with laughter—including Kaito himself. He got swept up in the fun and slowly began to understand the point of it all.
When his own slot drew closer, he prepared backstage, with Toichi by his side. Once his props were set, Kaito stood at the mirror, fixing his appearance one last time.
That’s when Toichi stepped up and handed him something. Kaito looked down, then rolled his eyes.
It was the black mask Corbeau wore during his performances.
“For safety reasons, you shouldn’t show your face. You understand,” Toichi said.
“Yeah, yeah, fine,” Kaito muttered, annoyed, slipping on the mask.
The announcer’s voice boomed: “And now, for the final performance!”
Kaito rolled his eyes again. He already had a bad feeling about what was coming.
“The last performer is a very special guest—the son of the famous magician Corbeau! Let yourself be enchanted by this unique act!”
Kaito swore under his breath.
So much for low expectations. With my father’s name tied to this, I can’t afford to disappoint. If I mess up, I’ll ruin his reputation along with mine…
The lights went out. Kaito drew in a deep breath, then leapt onto the stage.
When the spotlights flared on, a flock of birds burst into the room—not ravens, but sleek black doves.
The crowd applauded. Kaito bowed elegantly, his mask fitting perfectly in place.
On the screen, the first theme appeared: “Time.”
Kaito smiled. With a whistle, he called the doves back. But their wings moved strangely—so slowly it seemed they were flying in slow motion. They circled the room, slower and slower, until at last they froze in midair, suspended as if time itself had stopped.
The audience gasped, then erupted in cheers.
The next theme appeared: “Light and Darkness.”
Kaito chuckled, then cleared his throat dramatically to pull the audience’s attention back—many were still fixated on the frozen black doves.
With a snap of his fingers, the birds began to flap again, soaring gracefully.
But as they flew, they shed so many feathers it seemed unnatural. Then the crowd realized—their feathers weren’t black anymore. The doves were pure white, glowing against the stage lights.
They swirled toward Kaito, engulfing him. With another snap, they vanished into thin air.
And when the feathers cleared, Kaito was standing there in a new mask—the same design as before, but now gleaming white, decorated with white radiant feathers.
The audience roared, wild with excitement. This was the first act that made them feel like they were witnessing true magic.
The screen changed themes several more times, but Kaito flowed effortlessly, weaving each transition into another breathtaking moment. The crowd never stopped cheering.
When his thirty minutes were up, he bowed with a flourish. The hall shook with applause and shouts. Kaito couldn’t stop laughing—he had enjoyed it every bit as much as they had. His heart felt warm, and he knew it now. This was what he wanted to do in the future: enchant people.
“You’re so cunning!” Kaito complained to his father afterward.
Toichi laughed genuinely. “I knew you’d have the crowd in the palm of your hand. So? How does it feel, your first big performance?”
Kaito huffed. “You could’ve at least told me it was going to be something that big. Do you know how much pressure I was under?!” He paused, then smirked. “But… it was really fun! I guess I’ve got a weakness for risky situations…”
Smiling, Toichi replied, “If you knew everything beforehand, it wouldn’t have been half as fun. And look—you enjoyed yourself. That’s what matters most.”
Kaito rolled his eyes, but a broad grin spread across his face.
Sitting on the plane again, Toichi asked his son, “So, what do you think of my lifestyle so far?”
Kaito looked thoughtfully out the window. “Well, pretty exciting. I assume you’ve been doing some… ‘other’ things on the side, right?”
Toichi replied calmly, “Exactly. Vegas is also a place where some of the most influential people in the world gather from time to time. One of the best places to easily get information from all over the globe…”
Kaito nodded in understanding. “Even though Las Vegas is really thrilling and you can have a lot of fun, it feels… lonely over time. How should I put it… it feels empty. Everything important loses its meaning there…”
Toichi nodded, his gaze now distant, which Kaito noticed. “Exactly. That’s how it is…”
Back at his home in Japan, Kaito threw himself straight onto the couch, the suitcases still standing in the middle of the room. “Finally home!”
Toichi pushed the luggage aside and pulled a small box out of his own suitcase.
“Kaito, there was another reason I had to go to Vegas. That day, when I had something to take care of, I went to a bank to retrieve something from my safe.”
Kaito looked up curiously and took the small box his father handed him.
Toichi continued, serious but calm, “I left something in the safe in case something happened to me. If I didn’t check in within six months, this package would have been sent to you…” He paused briefly to find the right words. “That’s no longer necessary… once you see what’s inside, you’ll understand.”
Kaito studied the box thoughtfully, about to open it, when Toichi spoke again.
“It’s almost seven. School starts in an hour. Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”
Kaito looked at Toichi in shock. “What?! You made me skip school on Friday, and now, Monday, I have to go straight after the flight?! You know I’ve been awake the whole time!”
Toichi laughed. “Knowing you, you’d probably sleep through the whole lesson anyway.”
Reluctantly, Kaito got up to get ready for school. He carefully placed the box in his room and planned to check its contents later.
When Aoko left her house to wake Kaito, she was startled to see him already waiting at her gate.
“Kaito! Why are you up so early? Do I see some improvement?” she asked curiously.
Kaito yawned and answered, bored. “No, I didn’t sleep at all. Oyaji forced me to go to school right after the flight, even though we only got here at seven!”
Aoko raised an eyebrow in question but didn’t push further. As they walked to school, she asked, “So, where did you go?”
Kaito grinned mischievously. “Las Vegas.”
Aoko’s jaw dropped. “What?! I hope you didn’t cause any trouble???”
“Of course not. I watched a few magic shows and even performed one myself. Also… I spent half a day in a casino.” Kaito shot her a teasing look.
“What?! Kaito!”
He told her the rough outline of events but left out his breakdown—the walk to school wasn’t the right place for that.
“Well, if your dad was there, you probably didn’t do anything bad.”
Kaito grinned. If you only knew how he really is.
Aoko snapped him out of his thoughts. “Kaito. Somehow… you seem different.”
Kaito blinked in surprise and let her finish. “You seem… somehow more mature, grown-up…”
She didn’t mention the sadness lingering in his eyes.
He looked at her in surprise, then after a pause, grinned.
“I’ve always been like this. You probably missed me so much you only noticed now.”
Aoko rolled her eyes, but the blush on her cheeks was unmistakable.
“I guess I was wrong about that, then.”
Kaito laughed heartily at his girlfriend’s embarrassed reaction.
Back at home, Kaito only remembered the box when he saw it lying on his bed.
Curious, he sat down and carefully opened it.
Inside was a small stack of letters.
He picked them up and counted ten. Beneath the letters were family photos.
Photos of him and his parents when he was little.
Also newer ones, after Toichi had disappeared from his life.
They showed Kaito, sometimes alone, sometimes with his mother, through various stages of his life.
The photos brought a wave of melancholy, and Kaito realized these were all Toichi had of him over the years.
He turned to the letters. Each of the ten letters had his name and a date on it.
His birthday.
The years varied.
The first letter was for his seventh birthday—the first one after Toichi’s disappearance. The hardest phase of his life.
Each following year had a letter, up to his sixteenth birthday.
Carefully, Kaito opened the first letter. The envelope was slightly yellowed.
He ran a finger over the neat handwriting and began to read.
“Kaito, today is your seventh birthday.
It hasn’t been long since I disappeared from your life. I know how painful this year is for you.
Even though this is the first birthday I can’t give you a magical show, I am sure you will remain strong.
You will grow and one day become an even more talented magician than I am.
I wish you all the best for the coming year. May you make beautiful new memories and have friends who support you.
I am trying to solve my case as fast as possible so I can return to you soon.
With love,
Dad.”
Kaito’s eyes welled up with tears as he realized what these letters were.
The contents were not long, but they spoke volumes.
The following letters were similar.
At the end of each, Kaito could see Toichi’s hope of returning strong and clear.
When he reached the letter for his tenth birthday, he read carefully.
“Kaito, another year has passed, and you are already ten.
It saddens me that I’ve missed so much time.
Your mother sent me pictures and told me what a joyful boy you are. I am genuinely relieved.
She also told me your tricks are getting better and that you have never lost your interest in magic. That makes me incredibly happy.
I laughed when I heard you joined Aoko’s dance class just to help her because she struggled and cried.
I am proud that you care about others and stand by your friends.
I hope that you and Aoko will stay together forever.
Even though you bring joy to so many people, don’t forget yourself.
I also apologize for leaving you alone again, as I occupied your mother. I needed her help. Hopefully, the nightmare will finally end.
I will certainly be back soon.
With love,
Dad.”
Thinking of Aoko, Kaito laughed and wiped away a tear.
Toichi had never lost hope that he would return.
He read through the rest of the letters, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying.
By the time he reached his twelfth birthday letter, he noticed Toichi no longer wrote about returning soon.
He probably had given up hope by then, Kaito realized sadly.
Before opening the last letter, for his sixteenth birthday, he took a deep breath and read slowly.
“Kaito, you are sixteen now, almost an adult.
Your mother told me how skilled you’ve become with magic, even if you mostly use it for mischief now. You’ve grown cheeky, which makes me happy.
I apologize in advance; the coming year won’t be easy.
I have prepared something to involve you in my mission.
It’s selfish of me and your mother, but I see so much potential in you.
It will be dangerous and exciting, but I will always be near to ensure nothing happens to you.
I am confident you can handle everything.
Im sure thanks to you, this mission will finally be completed.
Even though I always hoped to return to you and your mother, I now know it’s never possible.
I am sorry, Kaito. Thank you for everything.
With love,
Dad.”
Kaito could no longer hold back his tears and collapsed exhausted onto his bed.
His thoughts circled endlessly.
Why couldn’t it have ended differently?
When his tears finally dried, he packed the letters neatly back into the box and hid it in a safe place.
Fatigue overcame him, and despite his racing thoughts, he was glad to fall asleep quickly.
He would tell Aoko everything next time.