Ervin took Kato and the others to a second house and provided Kato with a room and a change of clothes for the next day.
Kato found it hard to sleep, overwhelmed by the events of the past two days.
His transformation into a Shadow, the ongoing pursuit by the Kaimi Daja group, his mother's uncertain fate, and the reality of his fugitive status weighed heavily on him.
To add to his turmoil, Mira, the girl he had feelings for, was also a Shadow.
Reflecting on Isaiah's words about Shadows not being inherently evil, Kato considered how his best friend Takimo would react to the situation.
The next day rolled in....
Mira awoke and gazed at a picture of her and her mother on her bedside table. She smiled at the picture and jumped from her bed.
She took off her clothes and moved to the bathroom to take a shower.
She recalled Kato's anguish the night before and felt empathy for his loss, understanding the pain of losing a mother.
Ervin had already left, but he had mentioned that Kayomi would arrive to get them when the time came. Isaiah was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Kato emerged from his room and encountered Mira in the hallway.
Mira: Good morning Kato
Kato: (yawns) Good morning Mira
Mira: Didn't sleep well?
Kato: No. Still having time processing everything.
Mira: I guess its lot for you to process
Kato: (suddenly recalling his earlier words) I'm really sorry for how I spoke to you yesterday. I didn't mean to after everything you did for me.
Mira: (sighing) It's okay. It's natural to react that way. Everyone believes Shadows are monsters, so it's understandable.
Kato: But how did you manage to find me?
Mira: (face turns red) Ummm...that's-
Isaiah: She found out after going to your house and not seeing you there and found out your mom was in a coma because of the shadowfication process. She started looking for the Kaimi Daja immediately because she suspected they were behind it.
Kato: (Looking at Mira) You did all that for me?
Mira: (hides her face)
Isaiah: She did all that because she...
Mira: (interrupting) Don't just say things like that!
Isaiah: (cartoonish face) Sorry. I'm so sorry.
Kato: (puzzled) I don't get what's going on.
Later, they gathered for breakfast, which Isaiah had prepared. The food was delicious.
Kato: Wow. This is really good!!!!
Mira: I know right. Isaiah's cooking is really good.
Isaiah: (drinks water, avoiding further comments)
Mira: (playfully) At least say something, Isaiah.
Kato: ((remembering Isaiah's earlier frustration) I've been thinking about what you said last night. I've always been taught that Lighters and humans are inherently good and Shadows are evil. But my mom once told me a story about a Shadow who just wanted to live peacefully. And now, seeing what you did for me, it's clear that my perspective was wrong. My mom used to say, "We treated them like monsters, so they responded to our hate and became monsters." But you both risked your lives for me.
Isaiah: So what are you saying?
Kato: I want to change my perspective. Since my previous beliefs were wrong, I want you to show me the right way.
Isaiah: I guess we can do that.
Mira: I was worried that you two won't get along after last night but it seems you guys will turn out just fine.
Isaiah: (to Mira) It's no wonder that you....
Mira: (covers Isaiah's mouth before he says anything further) Don't say that stuff so casually!
Isaiah: (looking embarrassed) Sorry.
Kato: (puzzled) I still don't get what's going on here
After they had all eaten, they sat down and waited for Kayomi to show up as Ervin had previously mentioned.
Kato: So where are we heading? And who's Kayomi?
Isaiah: You'll meet him soon.
Mira: And we're heading to the Hashido estate.
Kato: The Hashido estate? What's that??
Mira: It serves as a safe Haven for shadows and the headquarters of the shadow society. Its also my real home.
Kato: Real Home??
Mira: Oh yeah I forgot to mention that my real surname isn't Smith. It's Hashido. So I'm Mira Hashido
Kato: But why hide your real surname??
Isaiah: There are three major clans among the shadows and three major clans among the lighters. The major clans among the shadows are The Hashido Clan, The Hamorabi Clan and The Hemo Clan. The major clans among the lighters are The Snyder Clan, The Sakamoto Clan and The Egoshin Clan. Unlike the lighter clans who can still use their names till date, shadows have to hide by using different surnames so we can't be rooted out by the Hunter Force Association.
Kato: (to himself) The Hamorabi Clan???? That's similar to Hamura.....
Mira: So in other words my dad is the head of the Hashido Clan and that makes that place ours.
Kato: (to himself) A Clan head? HIM? (to Mira and Isaiah) So hiding your real surnames helps protect you. But if that's your real home, what about this place we're in?
Mira: It was my mom's place. And Smith was my mother's surname.
Kato: (noticing Mira's use of "was" regarding her mother) I won't press further.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Mira opened it to find Kayomi and Kinara, Ervin's childhood friends.
Kinara: (rushes and embraces Mira) Mira!! I was worried sick when you said you were going to rescue your friend from that group. Did they hurt you?
Mira: (head stuck in between Kinara's big boobs) I can't breathe
Kinara: (releasing her) Sorry. I was just really worried.
Mira: I'm fine Kinara. You know no one can hurt me.
Kato: (to himself) No one??
Kayomi: (approaching Kato) You're the friend Mira went to save?
Kato: (nervous) I'm Kato Hamura.
Kayomi: I'm Kayomi. Nice to meet you.
Isaiah: Is it time, Mr. Kayomi?
Kayomi: Yes, we should leave now. Kinara, let's go.
Kinara: Okay dear.
Kato: Dear??
Isaiah: (to Kato) They're married.
Kato: Oh
Kinara approached a door in the living room and placed her hand on it.
Kinara: [Black: Open]
The door changed color from brown to black, and they walked through it. Kinara's Shadow technique, Shadow Transportation, allowed her to create doorways to places she had marked, enabling her to teleport herself and others.
Upon stepping through the door, Kato found himself at the Hashido estate, a sprawling area with multiple houses and a larger house atop a mountain, which he assumed was the main residence of the Clan head.
Mira: (taking Kato by the hand) Let's go