‘Why don’t we go home now, just us. Time’s running out.’

The Wolf Queen’s howls grew more shrill.

‘Let’s go!’ Fuka shouted, and grabbed Ureshino by the arm.

‘But Aki’s not—’

Ureshino’s body started to pass through the mirror – but when he was halfway through, he was violently dragged all the way back.

Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

A piercing scream.

Ureshino was back in the grand foyer. With all the others.

The scream was Aki’s.

The five looked at each other in horror and were suddenly bathed in a violent blinding light, like a ball of fire, which swelled up, splitting open the mirrors with a deafening bang that echoed through the castle.

DAZZLED BY THE LIGHT, KOKORO found her consciousness returning.

The pitch-black interior of the castle was now completely quiet. She was crying. Why, she wasn’t sure. ‘Guys,’ she said, wiping away tears with the back of her hand.

She reflected on what she’d seen. Reflected and reflected.

There was something she had to be sure of.

If what she’d seen just now by touching the X in the fireplace was Ureshino’s memory. And if what she saw in the kitchen pantry was Masamune’s …

If she could follow their memories to the point when they were eaten …

It wasn’t as if she was some voyeur or anything, but she wanted to make sure. She slowly got to her feet.

She remembered her conversation with Tojo-san a little while ago. In her reality that existed beyond the castle.

Kokoro had expressed how sad she was that Moé was moving away in April. To which Moé had replied, ‘Dad wanted to move in March, but the first of April is a Saturday this year so he has the day off.’

This year.

Kokoro squeezed the hardback book to her chest, pressing it into her with her palms.

I’m going back, she thought. To return this book and say a proper goodbye to her.

The earlier howling had come from the grand foyer, where the clock was.

That meant she still couldn’t go there.

Without further thought, she dashed quickly in the opposite direction, towards the bathroom.

The Wolf Queen’s words really were clues for them, weren’t they? Kokoro’s chest was ready to burst. But not out of fear, like a moment ago.

I never said you can’t meet up, or can’t help each other. It’s time you people worked things out. Don’t start barking up the wrong tree. Think about it, and don’t expect me to tell you everything. I’ve been giving you clues all along.

The small laundry basket was still inside the bathtub.

She moved the basket to one side. There it was. She reached out a finger and touched the X.

SHE FELT THE SCALDING HOT air of a hairdryer on the top of her head. In her vision, she could see … a bathroom. In the bathroom mirror Subaru was reflected, with his unmissable dyed hair.