Neon found herself at a loss for words! How could Keiwa—I mean, Keisuke-kun—remember her? Weren't everyone's memories—besides the current DesiGra player's—supposed to be erased once any rounds or session of a DGP game had been concluded? Shouldn't that apply to Keisuke-kun?

Or had she... really met the boys before on some other occasion? Inugami Keisuke... also just now, what did he call his younger brother—?

"Ah!"

Both Neon and Michinaga jumped in surprise as she turned towards 'Ace'.

"The water bottle oneesan! That was you, wasn't it?" exclaimed 'Ace' cheerfully as Neon gasped in realisation. Ah! She vaguely remembered that she had done something like returning a bag containing a pair of water bottles a few years ago, which had belonged to a pair of siblings. Were they the same kids as the ones in front of her right now? So she really did meet them in the past without knowing!

"Oh... really?" Neon turned her head towards Keisuke as the boy still looked confused. "Is that really—ah!"

Almost right away Neon reached out towards Keisuke, and both she and 'Ace' caught the boy before he could collapse onto the ground. Neon hurriedly ushered them towards a nearby bench.

"Are you okay, Kei—kun?" Neon hurriedly stopped herself from saying the wrong name. The two boys glanced up towards her as Keisuke frowned at her.

"Big sis, how did you know my name—?"

"Didn't your brother just call you by your name earlier?" Neon hurriedly explained as Keisuke nodded his head numbly. Luckily she did recall hearing 'Ace' call his brother 'Kei' earlier. Obviously, she couldn't tell the boy that she had asked for his name earlier after she took him and Kaho away to safety, just before someone finished the last of the zombies and the second wave was concluded. And now she realised that Keisuke and Eisuke were the same twin brothers she had met by chance five years ago...

Neon let out a soft sigh as she patted Keisuke's head fondly.

"Would you like me to get you something?" she started to ask before the boy hastily waved his arms at her.

"Ah... you don't have to!" Keisuke exclaimed before scratching his head. "I just... had a slight headache. It'll pass. Eisuke's with me anyway," said the boy before Eisuke got up to his feet.

"I'll get something for Nii-chan at the pharmacy—" Eisuke smiled at his brother. "Also, nii-chan. What was that you wanted to get for mum? I'll go and get it for you as well."

"It's the usual herbal tea that Mum used to get—" Keisuke started to say before shaking his head. "Ace, you don't have to—"

And then Eisuke made a familiar sign on his hand before bopping their fingers on Keisuke's lips. Both Neon and Michinaga stared at the taller boy in surprise as Keisuke's face went red.

"Hey—!" exclaimed Keisuke red-faced as Eisuke quickly jumped away before his brother could catch him.

"Don't worry, nii-chan! I'll come back for you as soon as I can!"

The cheeky boy grinned widely before skipping away, leaving their grocery with Keisuke. Michinaga hurriedly chased after the boy to make sure that he was all right.

.

Neon let out a soft chuckle as Keisuke sighed heavily. The boy glanced up towards Neon.

"Sorry... that you had to see that. Ace always acts like that when we're outside..." said the boy apologetically as Neon just giggled at him.

"Hahaha... it's fine. It's too adorable, the two of you seemed to be very close."

Keisuke just shrugged at her. "Well, I guess we can't help that. We're twins... actually," Keisuke explained further.

If that bit of new information had startled her a bit, Neon didn't let it show. And just in case, considering the two of them were still chatting so comfortably now... she risked asking yet another question to be sure. The more she spends time with both Keisuke and Eisuke, the stronger her gut feeling becomes about the thoughts she is having about the boys.

"Keisuke-kun, may I ask... how old are the two of you right now?"

The boy blinked at her puzzled, before shrugging.

"We'd be fourteen next Tanabata—why?" Keisuke asked as he noted that Neon suddenly seemed to be in shock. She hastily shook her head at him to reassure him that she was fine.

"Anyway..." Keisuke started asking again, "...is there something you wanted to say to us? Wasn't that why you and your friend came to see Eisuke and me earlier?"

"Ah!" Neon cried out without thinking. "About that—" she leant her head to her side,"—it just so happens that you and your brother remind me so much of some two friends that I used to know, but then I soon realised that I was mistaken. The two of you were a lot younger than our old friends..."

"Ah... is it? What an odd coincidence!" exclaimed the boy.

"Indeed..."

Neon let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully she could think up an excuse to explain to the boy about the reason she and Michinaga had approached them. And it wasn't exactly a lie either. She should have thought it out properly before rushing over towards the boys, but she was worried that she wouldn't see them again. Glad that things had turned out fine.

Neon smiled at Keisuke as she ran her hand over Keisuke's head.

"Honestly... you really looked like my friend a lot. So much... that I wanted to cry—"

xxx

Kyuun smiled weakly as he eyed the two from afar. Thank goodness, it didn't look as if Neon was feeling unwell. And from the look of it, it seemed that Neon didn't face any difficulty in approaching the younger boy.

Earlier, he was slightly worried when Neon happened to stumble into a civilian who looked like Sakurai Keiwa by chance. From the way Neon had exerted herself to protect Kaho and the kid during the zombie game earlier, he was worried that she'd get hurt badly. After all, Neon had been blaming herself for not being able to help some of the players who had perished during the first Treasure Hunting round, so she was anxious about keeping Kaho safe. When the boy suddenly appeared before Neon, Kyuun noticed that her expression had suddenly changed. As if now she had a new reason to fight for her wish.

He sighed... as Kyuun recalled the wish that Neon had written for herself in this new season of the Desire Grand Prix.

"Give me the power to protect my precious people."

Supposed now Neon had renewed her resolve to try to win the DGP this time...

"Is that what you want this time, Neon?" Kyuun muttered softly to himself as he continued watching Neon. For the first time in a while, he saw her smiling so freely.

Ever since she had rejoined the DGP this time, Kyuun had noticed that Neon had been forcing her smiles too much at times. And he couldn't fault her much, since she should have recovered her memories from 15 years ago. She would have recalled her memories about Ukiyo Ace and Sakurai Keiwa and must have felt the burden of carrying the wishes of her fallen friends on her shoulders. Kyuun was aware of the risk of this happening but he still put her name in the DGP list of participants. And now it seemed that he had made the right choice.

Whatever Neon decided to do from now on, Kyuun was determined to keep supporting her until the end. No matter what happens in the future, he'll keep her safe somehow.

Until the time Kurama Neon could find her true happiness...