Lia stood in front of the mirror, unsure of what to wear. She'd thrown on a few outfits, but none of them felt right. Eventually, she settled on something simple yet bold—a short skirt and a sparkly top. It wasn't what she normally wore, but that was the point.

She had spent so long being "plain Elaine," always blending into the background. Dressing up like this, even if it wasn't entirely "her," felt like stepping into a new version of herself.

Lia sighed. But who even is 'me' anymore? The memories of her past with Rin—if they were real—felt so close, yet maddeningly out of reach. It was as if they were buried just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to break free.

The knock at the door startled her. She opened it to find Rin standing there, his usual blunt demeanor softened by a hint of nervousness.

"Hello, Lia," he said, his eyes flicking over her outfit.

"Rin…" she said hesitantly.

"You look… I've never seen you dress like that before," Rin said, his face turning red as he stumbled over his words.

Lia smiled. "I wanted to look nice. Is it too much? I mean…"

"No! It's fine. You look… nice," he said quickly, turning even redder. "Just come on."

He grabbed her wrist and led her down the path through the gates of the Okumura dorm.

XXX

As they walked, Rin quickly released her wrist, his hand falling awkwardly to his side. He cleared his throat. "Uh… are you hungry, Lia-san?"

Lia stopped in her tracks, narrowing her eyes at him. "Why are you being so formal?"

"I thought…" Rin hesitated, glancing at her. "I thought it would be better if I pretended I didn't know you. Maybe… start over."

"Was our friendship so bad that you want to forget it?" she asked softly.

Rin froze, turning to face her. His voice broke as he replied, "Y-you're the one who forgot! You don't even remember me, and I… I realized I don't know you as well as I thought I did."

"What?" Lia asked, confused.

"What's your favorite color?" Rin asked suddenly.

"It's… blue," she replied.

"And… food? What food do you like?" he pressed.

"American food," Lia said with a faint smile. "You probably wouldn't know any of it. Like… you don't have McDonald's here, right?"

"In the cities," Rin said quietly, his expression unreadable.

He took her hand, his grip light but determined, and led her down the path toward the city. Lia followed without protest, curious about where he was taking her.

XXX

The McDonald's wasn't far, and soon they were seated across from each other, sharing a quiet lunch. Rin didn't speak much, only answering her questions with short, clipped responses. Instead, he just watched her, his gaze intense, as if trying to memorize every detail about her.

Lia tried to fill the silence with small talk, but eventually, she gave up, letting the quiet settle between them.

As they finished their meal, Rin finally broke the silence. "I've had a lot of fun… but I need to see Neuhaus today."

He stood abruptly, leaving Lia stunned.

He walked her home, silent the entire way. When they reached the house, Rin nodded awkwardly and turned to leave without another word.

Lia stood in the doorway, watching him go, her heart heavy with confusion.

XXX

Rin didn't head to Shura's house. Instead, he went straight to Neuhaus's office, his mind a storm of emotions. He knocked on the heavy door, his fist trembling as it struck the wood.

The door opened to reveal Neuhaus, his cold eyes narrowing as he took in Rin's disheveled appearance.

"Mephisto won't see you," Neuhaus said curtly. "What is it that you want?"

"As if you don't know!" Rin spat, his voice rising. "I don't have time for games. Tell me how to get Lia's memories back! You took them from her!"

Neuhaus adjusted his gloves methodically, his expression unreadable. "This is a foolish request," he said, his voice flat. "But fine. I'll tell you one thing. It requires a trigger. Something powerful."

"What kind of trigger?" Rin demanded. "Please, just tell me!"

Neuhaus sighed, the barest hint of emotion flickering across his face. "Act on your feelings for her," he said sharply. "Surely you're not as dense as they say. Only you can bring her back now. Even I can't undo it. Now get out before Mephisto finds you here."

Rin's heart pounded as he turned and bolted out of the building.

XXX

The rain started to pour as Rin made his way back to Shura's house. His thoughts swirled chaotically, Neuhaus's words repeating over and over in his mind.

Act on your feelings for her. A trigger. Only you can bring her back.

Rin stopped beneath a large tree, the rain soaking through his clothes as he leaned against the trunk. He was exhausted, emotionally and physically.

"What did he mean? Act on my feelings?" Rin muttered to himself. "My feelings…?"

Then it hit him.

I love her.

The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He had always cared for Lia, but now he couldn't deny the truth. He loved her. He had loved her for a long time.

The rain continued to fall, cold and unrelenting, but Rin didn't care.

He pushed off the tree, determination flooding his veins. It wasn't too late. Neuhaus had said it himself—only Rin could bring Lia back.

Act on your feelings.

Rin's mind raced as he ran back toward the house, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and hope. He didn't know if he could do it, but he had to try. Lia deserved that much—and more.