Akino sat on the edge of his now disheveled bed. His eyes that were sunk deep into his head in fear watched as his hand shook violently, finding himself unable to write in his journal. His pen, only grazing the surface of the page ever so slightly, occasionally made incomprehensible scribbles. He took an unsteady breath and dropped his pen on the floor, closing his journal soon after. He glanced over to the clock beside him.
6:00a.m.
'People's pills should start wearing off right about now. Which means-'
Akino jumped up and ran to the nearest mirror, otherwise known as his reflection in the kitchen's television. He stared at himself, taking note of his crusted over blue and purple locks of hair, his tired yellow eyes, his pale face that was caked over with dust and ash.
He sighed. Standing back upright, he made his way to the bathroom. Stripping off his torn pajamas, he stepped into the white tiled shower. The boy stood there, standing still like a statue as he looked at the wall. He ran his hands over his face and rubbed his eyes, sighing again.
"What the hell…"
After squatting in the shower, soaking wet, contemplating his entire life that lead him to that night, he turned the water off and stepped out. Akino continued his morning routine as Sakagami awoke and stumbled into the kitchen tiredly.
She let her gaze travel up to her son who's head was dug into the deepest crevices of the fridge. "You're head is going to freeze off if you stay in there too long," she slurred, continuing to waddle to the table.
Akino slowly retracted his head from the refrigerator. Closing the door with one hand, he glided a plate of leftovers onto the table with another. Sakagami sat down, Akino doing the same. She watched as he pulled the plate over to him.
"Akino," she proclaimed.
His shoulders arched up and his eyes widened. He looked up at the girl sitting across from him, startled. "S-Sakagami!" He immediately jumped up, pushing the chair into the counter behind him, and ran to the fridge once more. "I-I'm sorry I didn't grab you an-"
"You didn't even know I was here, did you?" She sighed, resting her chin in the crevices of her palm.
"Th-that isn't it at all, I was just kinda tired, and-!"
Akino grew quiet and looked at the refrigerator racks mindlessly. After the silence, he spoke softly, "is there anything special you want?"
"I-I'll just split with you." Sakagami lifted her head as she struggled to see over her son's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
He turned his head then smiled at her. "I'm fine, Sakagami. Just swallowed a faulty pill last night, that's all. Speaking of, I'm almost out."
He fibbed again.
'What are you doing? Is lying to Sakagami really going to benefit you? No, I can't tell her. If I can barely wrap my head around it, what would she do? She could remove me from school entirely! Maybe it was just a one time thing… and if I keep my mouth shut, nothing will happen.'
The blonde pulled the plate towards her. "We're getting refills Thursday, can you wait till then or do I need to call you in?"
Akino paused a moment to think. He looked down at her and nodded. "Yeah, that should be fine."
Sakagami poked her plate of Tamagoyaki as her eyes trailed over the omelet-like dish. "Isn't as good as it was a few days ago," she mumbled to herself. She glanced at Akino but focused her attention on the clock behind him. "Hey, you might want to get going. School starts soon."
Akino looked behind him at the clock as he stepped towards the door. "Y-Yeah. See you, Sakagami!"
She groaned in response. "It's mom…"
He sped down the cobblestone pathway that lead him to the narrow allies that cut through the buildings surrounding his house. The allies then led to the ten meter sidewalks trampled with people. He walked his normal path as people pushed and shoved their way in front of him as they usually did. He glanced up towards the news being broadcasted on the skyscrapers.
"Security measures have already been put in progress. As of now, transportation has been heavily restricted. Public commute is expected to suffer greatly from this. Busses and trains will only allow people with a District Citizenship Identification Card, or D.C.I.C., to board. Public transportation like busses and trains are also only allowed to travel within the district they are assigned to. Sorry tourists, but you aren't going anywhere," the reporter said slyly.
People began to slow their pace as they listened. Akino laid his sights on the dozens of people lined up against the sidewalks, their heads extended up towards the television.
"What?"
The crowds exclaimed.
"How the hell am I supposed to get to work then?"
"Is she serious?"
"Momma, does that mean we get to stay at the hotel longer?!"
Akino squeezed past the frozen people and continued his way down the sidewalk.
'That's right, the East District was leveled yesterday. The same people who leveled South-East District. Miki said something about that, didn't he? Ah, Omegas- the robot girls! He said they might be responsible. Was that girl… one of them?'
Sweat collected on his face as he came to a halt. With eyes wide, he continued to stare at the feet of people walking past him. His hands twitched with fear. 'That girl,' he told himself, 'was one of the people who destroyed the East Districts!'
He leapt forward and began on a fast pace towards the school. 'If that's the case, then I have to tell the Grand Hall! B-but how am I supposed to get through all those rallies and protests? Crap, I'll just go after school! There shouldn't be that many people after that. Wait…'
Suddenly, Akino remembered what she said to him that night.
"I'd recommend that you run back from whatever hole you crawled out of before I'm forced to hand you over to the authorities. You never saw anything tonight, and if you did, you didn't see me."
'That's right, she threatened to turn me in. Does that mean… she's on the government's side?! I almost forgot about that monster…,' he gulped nervously. 'Why did she come to mind first… and not that thing?'
He approached the gates of the school. Noticing the long line in front of him, he took a quick sigh of relief then continued to think to himself in peace.
He eventually made it through the line and walked into the building. He proceeded up the scenic back stairwell and up to his classroom. Sliding open the doors, he happened to catch notice of Miki and Yukino crowding around Matoi- who has unfortunately pinned into the corner of the classroom.
He approached them. He tapped Miki on the shoulder, causing him to whip around instinctively. "Oh, hey, Akino."
Yukino turned as well, her eyes wide with innocence. She smiled tenderly as she welcomed him as well.
Akino looked around the class, wondering why they haven't noticed this. He stepped forward to see Matoi peaking over Miki's shoulder at him. She wrinkled her nose as she spoke, "they're harassing me about that magazine."
Akino chuckled in response and turned to Miki. "Slacker, don't you have anything better to do?"
He shook his head emphatically. "She has more! She brought another one to school today and I'm starting to wonder if she's in on it!"
Akino blinked, dumbfounded. A small part of him grew hesitant to pursue this topic, but he did nonetheless. "In on it? Like leveling entire districts?" He chuckled again. "Yukino, do you believe him?"
She shrugged. "Not really, I just don't have anything better to do."
Matoi retaliated. She stepped on Miki's foot, causing him to back away as he cried out. She made her way to Akino's side and glared vigorously. "I told you, they aren't mine. Someone's leaving them in the hallways and they're inappropriate! Have you seen these covers?!" She lifted up the new magazine to show off the 'nude' girl.
Miki was bent over, holding his foot, as he lifted his head in an effort to reply. "Th-they aren't naked, it's a skin colored shell."
Matoi snickered. "Then if you know so much, why do you feel the need to take this one from me?!"
Akino smirked after deciding to play devil's advocate. "Why are you protecting it so much, Matoi?"
She spun around, shocked. "I thought you were on my side!"
He put his hands up, his smirk remaining. "My bad, my bad."
Suddenly, the shaky voice of the teacher from behind caught their attention. They all turned their heads as the room grew silent. Mrs. Mikami, who's body stood in the classroom, had her head peaking out into the hallway as she talked to someone.
"N-now?" She whispered anxiously. "Why didn't I get informed about this earlier? He can't d-. Yes, I know that. Class is starting soon so hurry up."
Akino narrowed his eyes in concentration. Miki blinked, stupefied.
"…The hell has her all riled up?"
Mrs. Mikami walked back to her podium, leaving the door open. Without even looking at the class, she told them to take their seats. A brief period of silence filled the air as she arranged her papers. Students looked at each other, bewildered. Eventually, she looked up at them. "I'm sorry I couldn't inform you all earlier. I just found out as well. I want you all to be respectful and treat them with nothing but kindness." She glanced towards the open door and nodded.
With that, a young girl strode into the classroom. White sneakers, long black stockings, a purple plaid skirt, a white button up shirt, a red tie, a black jacket with red and purple plaid, long braided purple hair with a single streak of red.
Pale skin. Red eyes.
Akino's stomach twisted and churned. Fear was lodged in his throat. His heart skipped a beat. He found his eyes glued to the girl that stood before him. Her eyes were down towards the floor but weren't any less menacing. Her hands hung beside her waist loosely, the complete opposite of Akino's.
"This is Makina. She's a new student transferring from the East District. I'm sure you all know what happened there…"
The class erupted in quiet chatter and murmuring.
"I don't want you to put any more stress on her. Treat her like how you treat your elders okay? This is your new classmate."
'She… is our classmate? No- this girl it… this can't be happening?!'
Makina brought her gaze over to the teacher, prompting her to continue. "You're going to be in the empty seat by the windows."
Akino looked to his side to see the empty street lined with power lines and surrounded by blue sky. His head then trembled to the sight before him.
An empty desk.
The boy became restless and he started to perspire. He forced a breath out from his lungs as he grew more nervous with every step the girl took towards him.
They locked eyes.
Akino found himself unable to look away. The girl, the transfer student, the Omega, Makina, stood, rooted in place as the two looked at each other for the longest seconds of their lives. He examined her and she examined him. Her pupils shrunk as she clenched her jaw in vexation.
"Maki…na…"
Akino's entire life flashed before his eyes at that very moment.
'A day that would change my life forever was yesterday. It's almost like something out of a fairy tail. I was saved from a terrifying monster by a girl who was almost just as terrifying, if not more. I got so many damn questions, I don't know which is more important than the next! Hell, I don't even know what to ask! What's the point of asking questions if I don't have anyone to answer them.'
Akino walked down the crowded hallway with Matoi not too far behind. As they dodged the cluster of students heading towards them and past them, Matoi shouted out his name. Akino stopped and looked back at Matoi who now stood beside him.
"You walk too fast!" She groaned, now pinching Akino's sleeve.
Akino delivered a crooked smile. "Ah, sorry."
Matoi returned the smile. "You know, that new girl gives me the creeps. Do you think she wears contacts or something? Her eyes are really bright."
He shrugged. "Not sure, but she is… scary." Akino gulped and tugged at his collar.
Matoi took note of this and tugged at his sleeve. "You okay? It looks like you're breaking out in a sweat."
He shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
The two turned the corner and began walking down the walled in stairwell. Posters and flyers were stapled to the walls all around. Above them was a florescent tube light fixture that casted a warm red on everything in the area.
Matoi took another step before speaking. "Have you met Makina before?"
Akino stopped. For a moment, it was like there was no one in the hallway except him and her. He put every ounce of strength into insuring his face did not give away his shock and fear.
"N-no, why? He mumbled.
Matoi stood straight, frozen to the stairs. "You two were staring at each other."
He looked away and continued down the stairs. "I was looking at her eyes, that's all."
Akino turned the corner into a more empty hallway, leaving the girl behind.
'Matoi's smart, she notices everything. If I'm not careful, she'll catch on and start interrogating me. Why the hell did she transfer here anyway? Did her school really get leveled or did she come here to find me…'
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around Akino's mouth and dragged him into a storage closet. Akino's muffled screams drowned out as the door behind him closed. The hand around his face tightened as it tossed him into the wall, knocking over a broom.
Akino rubbed his sore mouth before looking up at the person in front of him. The room was dark. A sliver of light peaked from underneath the door behind the person. They were shrouded in darkness and would be unrecognizable if it wasn't for the red eyes.
Akino clenched his teeth together nervously. "M-Makina…," he stuttered.
The tall, slender girl walked towards him until he backed himself into the wall.
"W-what do you want?"
"If you tell anyone about me, I'll break bones you didn't even think you had, understand?"
Akino nodded frantically.
"I don't care if it was coincidence or not, but I'm just a transfer student to you. You don't know me. You saw nothing last night. If you do so much as look at me I'll kill you." The girl leaned towards him. "…and you can bet your ass I'd get away with it."
Akino attempted to back up further but just pushed himself further into the wall. He found himself unable to look her in the eye in fear of getting killed. Instead, he focused on the necklace hanging from her neck. It was made from normal string but what hung from the string was far from normal.
But it was recognizable.
What looked like a miniature version of the weapon she wielded the night before hung from the string. The red, two sided sword with a circular handle in the middle.
Makina backed away. She turned the handle and cracked open the door, casting a line of light across Akino's face. "Your mouth is shut."
"Makina," Akino stated, "did you… destroy the East Districts?"
She snickered. "Is that how you see us? I guess Hetsu is right, we were never meant to be anything but a secret."
She closed the door behind her, leaving Akino in the storage closet.
Makina continued down the hallway, her arms swaying back and forth with her legs. Suddenly, she heard a lingering echo of someone's feet clapping against the tiles behind her. She turned her head, half expecting Akino to be exiting from the storage closet. But to her surprise, that wasn't all she saw.
Matoi stood behind her, staring at her with an irritated expression. Akino trailed not too far behind Matoi, making sure to keep his distance.
Akino chuckled nervously as he lifted his hands towards her. "M-Matoi, it's okay, it isn't what you think."
Matoi stiffened her body. "Makina. Is that right?"
The transfer student stepped back and eyed Matoi up and down. "You've gotten muscles, Matoi." She made eye contact with her. "Don't tell me you plan on going through the operation again."
Akino furrowed his brow.
The brunette narrowed her eyes. "Don't bring him into this, Makina. It's your job to protect, not to kill."
"You're wrong," she responded, "I kill to protect. There's a difference."
"Still, you have no business doing things like trapping Akino in the storage room. Keep away or else I will retaliate," Matoi threatened.
A bead or two of sweat slid down Akino's forehead. He stepped forward, waving at Matoi. "Hey, Matoi, what are you saying?! It's fine, just calm down… o-okay?"
Makina glanced at Akino then back at Matoi. "Smart, Matoi. You just exposed yourself." She started retreating further into the hallway. "If you ever want to retaliate, you know where to find me."
And with that, she was gone.
The sun peeked out from the clouds, allowing a warm light to shine through the windows and onto the pair standing beside them. Matoi's eyes almost stood a chance against Makina's as they grew even more fierce by the second.
"Matoi…?"
Suddenly, a male staff member tapped Akino on the shoulder. He turned around, unlike Matoi, to face him. His head lacked hair and his eyes lacked interest. He lifted the corners of his mouth at the boy.
"Hey, now," the staff member said, "what're you two doing out here? Get to lunch."
Akino smiled back. "S-sorry sir, we were on our way there."
The man nodded and walked away, turning the corner into the stairwell.
Matoi spun around to face Akino, her skirt twirling along with her. "Stay away from her as best you can. She isn't a normal person. She… really could get away with killing you."
Akino gulped.
"How do you know Makina," he said uneasily.
Matoi's eyes trailed off to the floor. "I guess you could say we went to school together." She looked back up at him. "I've gotten to know her quite well. After I moved schools, I never expected to see her again, especially here. I'm sure you can understand why I'm on edge."
Silence.
"…hey, Matoi?"
"Yes?"
Silence.
"What… is she?"
Silence.
Matoi's eyes widened as she stared at him intently. "What…?"
"Tell me… is she one of those…"
Omegas.
'Matoi avoided my question. She even did so much as to turn the tables on me, claiming that I'm unbelievable, and that I'd bring up the magazines after she just argued for me. I shouldn't be asking her questions about that kind of stuff, she has no idea what's going on with me. But, I can't shake off the feeling that she knows more than she's letting on. Her and Makina seem like they had some beef in the past, but I couldn't understand what they were saying; it all went over my head. Maybe I should just keep all my questions between Makina and I. If only I could make her budge a little… No, if only I could grow the balls to talk to her at all…'
Akino's feet made a rhythmic tapping sound as he continued down the hall, going opposite direction of Matoi. She had turned into the left corridor, taking a significantly longer way to the cafeteria. About a 10 minute walk.
He walked through the rotating glass doors and into the cafeteria. Bustling chatter filled Akino's ears as he approached the small line of students waiting for their meal. As he stood there, shifting his weight from foot to foot, his eyes happened to wonder over to the cluster of tables to his right. He began to run his sights over the area, identifying every student sitting at every table until he eventually spotted Miki and Yukino sitting at a table with a few others.
The line continued forward, prompting Akino to take a few steps more. As he did so, his gaze shifted over to the security guard standing next to the recycling bin. That wasn't anything new, but what was new was the other three security guards standing next to him. They each wore their skintight white suits with the grey belts, gloves, shoes, and other accessories. They were not only more guard than usual, but more weapons per person. Some of which weren't even identifiable.
Akino eventually followed the footsteps of the people ahead of him and grabbed the various food items from the carts. As he began to walk out into the cafeteria once more, he was stopped by a security guard. Akino looked up at him, startled. The guard glanced over to an elderly woman behind a computer near the exit and what appeared to be a conveyer belt.
The old woman spoke with her raspy voice and said, "please but your tray on the moving table and hand me your identification card."
Akino looked at her then at the guard who stood firmly in front of the exit.
"What's this? We didn't have this yesterday," he pointed out.
"Oh yes," the woman said in response, "it was installed overnight."
Akino put his tray on the conveyer belt and began fishing through his pockets for his identification card.
"This moving table scans your food to make sure you're eating healthy, young boy," she continued.
The security guard, who appeared to be in his early thirties, shook his head. "Incorrect. The conveyer belt is meant to scan your food using electromagnetic radiation to check for any lethal weapons or harmful substances."
'They've been amping up security to an absurd level. Scanning my food to see if I have weapons planted in them? That's insane.'
The woman pushed the tray to the still table next to the conveyer belt after it was finished scanning. He retrieved his identification card And continued into the cafeteria, squeezing in between the tightly packed tables and students. With Yukino and Miki's table in sight, he stumbled out of the way and sat down.
Miki looked at Akino, startled. "Hey man," he said, "what took you so long?"
"I had to go to the bathroom," Akino answered.
"Damn, what bathroom did you go to? The one across the school?"
"None of your business, Slacker," Akino retorted.
He shrugged. "Anyway, we were just talking about the new measures the government is taking for security."
Akino raised his voice over the other shouting students around him. "Yeah, I saw that. It's kinda over the top, don't you think?"
Yukino swallowed a bite of her food before contributing to the conversation. "I know, and I also heard that it'll be getting even more serious as the week goes on."
Miki leaned over the table, putting his weight into his elbow and the palm of his hands as he rested his head in them. "Look at you being knowledgeable."
"-look at you being knowledgeable," Yukino mocked. "All you know is conspiracy theories and naked cyborg girls."
"You're just jealous that I'm looking at them and not you," he stated.
Yukino had steam practically blowing out of her ears. He extended her neck and stood up, shoving her face in front of his. With tapered eyes, she threatened, "Don't make me get Matoi to take all your magazines away."
"You wouldn't!"
"I totally would."
Yukino blinked, snapping herself out of the frenzy. She sat back down and turned her head to Akino. "Hey, where is Matoi?"
Akino ran his hand through his hair, his fingers grazing against his scalp. "Not sure. She walked the opposite direction as me."
"She probably went to talk to a teacher about something. She's the Class President after all," Miki proposed.
"It's kinda weird that she'd skip out on lunch though, right?" Yukino twirled her chopstick in her lunch.
"I don't know, she's been trying to diet a lot recently."
Matoi slammed her fists against the locker. She slouched over the lockers while she panted. Sweat slid down her forehead and dripped down her nose. Rhythmic, exhausted breaths creeped out from her mouth. She slowly fell to the ground and groaned.
"What have I gotten myself into," she mumbled.
Akino jogged down the hallway and turned the corner into the infamous scenic stairwell. The words of Miki and Yukino ran through his head as he hunted for his classroom.
"You better eat fast; you're going to be late."
They were right.
He turned the corner into the next hallway where he caught a glimpse of her.
Makina.
With her were two security guards escorting her into the other direction. Makina appeared to be completely unphased with her menacing red eyes glued to the tiles she walked on. Akino was entranced once again as a result of her oddly hypnotic eyes that stared right back at his after a while.
The boy continued to scurry to his classroom with a steady pace as his mind ran through all the possibilities Makina seems to have gotten herself involved in.
'What the hell? I thought Makina was a part of the government! No, she's an Omega. Right? Wait, do Omegas even work for the government? Ngh, it doesn't matter! Why is she being arrested? Did she have cuffs on? Did Matoi tell a teacher about the storage incident? Dammit! How am I supposed to get any answers in a situation like this!'
After several more class periods, the bell echoed through the overhead speakers and school was dismissed. Thunder echoed through the thick, dark clouds as rain tumbled down onto the school, coloring the concrete pavement a few shades darker.
Akino stepped out into the cold rain. He sighed as it flattened his blue and purple hair and ran down his cheek. Yukino followed Akino's muddy footsteps up to him and elbowed him in the side.
"Don't tell me you forgot it," Yukino teased.
The boy tilted his head. "Forgot what?"
Yukino pulled a tied down umbrella out from behind her and pressed the button on the handle. She then pushed herself against him and tilted it over them. "This."
"Ah, no," he confessed, "the forecast didn't say anything so I didn't think to bring one." The girl giggled, pushing the umbrella further over him till she was the one getting soaked. Akino pushed it back, shaking his head with a smile. "It doesn't do any good if both of us get wet."
Yukino rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I came here to talk to you Matoi. She isn't the kind of person to not eat. I know what Miki said was true, she is on a diet, but she isn't starving herself. Do you know anything?"
Akino gulped. "Her and Makina sort of got in a little argument before lunch."
Yukino's eyes widened in shock. "Makina? The new girl? Matoi got in a fight with her?!"
"N-no," he chuckled nervously. "Not a fight, an argument."
"Still, she isn't the kind of person to do that," Yukino proclaimed before taking a moment to think. "But... the transf- I mean, Makina, seems like a person Matoi would bud heads with."
The sound of the rain plummeting to the pavement became even louder as it poured heavier. Children giggled as they ran together, briefcases, book-bags, and umbrellas over their heads.
"Yeah," Akino replied blandly.
The two stood there, silent as they stared blankly into the dark sky, illuminated by the light shining inside the cars that rested before them, as well as the school from behind and cityscape.
Yukino looked down towards her sneakers and sighed. "Well, I'll get going now. See you tomorrow?"
Akino nodded. "Yeah. Wait for me by the entrance if you get here before me."T
"Sure thing."
Yukino walked off with her umbrella and disappeared behind the gates, leaving Akino soaked once more.
The towering buildings shined through the rain, giving lights to the sidewalks Akino walked on in addition to the streetlights. Cars raced past him while the crickets chirped. The wet street was decorated with puddles that mirrored the world above them. Eventually, Akino turned the corner that lead to his house. The massive skyscrapers, the crowded sidewalks, the bustling streets, the bright lights, the litter, everything was there.
Everything was where it was supposed to be.
Except one thing-
The destruction Makina caused in the alley the night prior disappeared.
The fight might as well never happened.
It disappeared without a trace.
The scorched walls, the stain marks from the blood, all of which Akino walked past without another thought the next morning...
Had vanished.
Akino stared up at the bare alleyway, his mouth gaping open and his feet glued to the gravel road.
'The beginning of something that would change my life forever.'