Akino was curled up in his bed, hugging his knees to his chest in a cocoon of blankets. He scratched his kneecap, entirely awake but with eyes still closed, observing the orange tint of his eyelids. He laid there, waiting, until his alarm went off. The boy begrudgingly pushed himself up and reached for the clock to turn it off. Patting his hair down, Akino leapt up from bed and stripped himself of his clothing, instead putting on a short sleeved hoodie and athletic shorts. His nose twitched, sensing a sweet aroma coming from the kitchen. Curious, he slipped his sandals on and walked into the kitchen.
Bright rays of sunlight poured through the open sink window, shedding light on Sakagami bringing a plate of fruit out from the fridge. Next to the plate of watermelon and grapes sat two plates of stacked pancakes bathed in sweet caramel syrup with a red cherry on top that reflected the sunlight back at the window with its slick skin. Beside the nicely displayed pancakes stood a plate of sizzling eggs, its yolk standing high and mighty next to a cup of juice.
With his mouth agape, Akino slugged towards the meal, overcome with hunger. His smile was massive, allowing for a single string of drool to swing down from his bottom lip. "Wow, where did you get this at? Out of town? It must have cost a fortune."
Sakagami pulled out the chair and sat in it, already having her hands on the utensils. "Well, it wasn't cheap," she confessed, "but I made it myself."
Akino turned to her, head tilted back with skepticism. "You didn't."
Sakagami smirked, arching her shoulders as she lifted a fork full of tender pancakes into her mouth. "Go ahead and try it," she muffled between bites.
Sliding his bottom into the seat and resting his elbows on the corner of the table, Akino extended his neck out towards the food to get a whiff. His suspicions were confirmed: that sweet aroma was definitely coming from the syrup. He pushed his fork into the pancakes, watching the syrup flood into the indent he formed. His fork dug into the pancake like butter, severing it from the main body and dipping it into the syrup along the rim of the plate. Sakagami watched closely as he chewed it. The corners of his mouth uplifted and his eyes were closed, fully savoring the taste.
The blonde slouched back in her chair, silently applauding herself with a smug expression.
Akino swallowed and opened his eyes, shiny with love. "Where did you learn to do that?!"
Sakagami dipped her fork into the yolk of the egg, breaking the surface and allowing it to cover the rest of her plate. She twirled her utensil around the whites of the egg, toying with it. "I'd always make Tamagoyaki or some other Japanese dish since that's what you preferred, so I never knew that I'd have a natural talent with western foods."
Akino shoved a mouthful of pancakes into his mouth, nodding with approval. "I think I like the pancakes more." He finished chewing before he continued. "Mhm, how do you make these?"
Sakagami continued spinning the food around her fork. "The instructions came with the box." She giggled. "There's no way in hell I'd try making them from scratch."
Mouthful after mouthful, Akino continued stuffing his face until not even a single crumb or puddle of yolk was left on the plate.
"You're all dressed up, where do you plan on going?" The mother asked as she rested her cheek in her hand, ignoring the food in front of her.
Akino chugged the glass of juice, finishing it with a single breath. He put the cup back down and grabbed the napkin to wipe the mustache from his face. "Me and the others are going to the Smile Festival today, is that okay?"
"Yeah, but-." Before she could continue, Akino emerged from his seat. He dusted off his lap and started towards the door. "Hey! Aren't you going to eat any fruit? It'll go bad soon."
Akino waved his hand around, rejecting her. "No, I'm stuffed." Akino suddenly turned towards his bedroom door and leaned inside, grabbing his phone and pushing it into his pocket. "…but thanks Sakagami, it was really good." He walked back into the kitchen, a pleased look on his face. "Maybe Matoi, Miki, Yukino, and I could share some sometime."
Sakagami crossed her legs, frustrated. "Only two of those names sound familiar," she pouted teasingly.
Akino dismissed her. As he started approaching the back door, a pair of fists knocked on the other side. Sakagami spun her head, curious to see the visitors. Akino opened the door, surprised that Matoi arrived so soon, but when he got a full view, he realized it wasn't only her. Makina stood tall beside her, giving an eerie resemblance to the day he saw her the first time in the alley way just behind her.
Pushing the chair out into a wall, Sakagami left the table and crept behind Akino to get a better glimpse, immediately stunned to see Matoi's growth- but the frightening, red-eyed demon more so.
Matoi noticed her peeking behind Akino's shoulder and instantly bowed her head, grinning widely. "Nice to see you again, Ms. Sakagami! Its been a while."
Sakagami nodded her head, extending her neck so the girls could see her entire face. "You've gotten so much more mature-looking since I saw you last," she stated with a suggestive wink, immediately giving Akino second hand embarrassment.
Matoi's cheeks shifted to pink as she giggled. "Thank you, you haven't aged too bad yourself." She pointed to the purple headed girl beside her, changing the topic. "This is Makina, a new girl at our school."
Sakagami rolled her eyes. "She's working for Hetsu, isn't she?"
The three students' eyes widened with shock, particularly Matoi and Makina's. Akino, already fed up with Sakagami's behavior, nudged her back into the house and closed the door behind him.
"S-sorry about that," he said, chuckling nervously.
Makina wrapped her hand around her necklace cautiously, preparing to unleash her weapon.
Noticing this, Akino immediately shook his head and stepped down to their level. "No, no, no! It isn't like that! Y-you don't need to kill her," he pleaded, sweat running down his forehead.
Matoi, with wide eyes, glanced back and forth at the two, trying to process the sudden revelation.
Akino shook his head and walked past them, ushering them to follow him into the street. "Look, I wont ask why Makina's here and you wont ask about Sakagami. Deal?"
The Omegas stood frozen, watching him walk away. "D-deal," they said in unison.
Back in the house, Sakagami leaned over the sink gagging, holding her disgruntled stomach. "Ugh, I think I prefer Tamagoyaki," she said between groans.
The sky was a light shade of blue, endlessly stretching over the busy city, now on its second day of re-opening. Fluffy white clouds dotted across the horizon line, outlining the fantastical empty sky that wrapped around the scorching sun. The day could have well been into the high nineties if it wasn't for the crystal clear ocean pushing the refreshing breeze onto land with its crashing waves. Playful seagulls and pelicans glided along the ocean, occasionally dipping the tips of their wings into the water to spray the other bird behind them.
Further inland was a bullet train racing over the bay hundreds of feet high, connected by railroad unifying two mirroring mountains. Akino looked out the train window, amazed by the view this free ride provided him with. Matoi who sat beside him leaned over his lap, not paying personal space any mind.
"Oh, oh! Look at the birds!" She exclaimed, pointing out the pelicans flying past them. Matoi adjusted her posture and peeked behind her seat. "Did you see that Yukino?! They're so much bigger than I thought they were!"
Yukino, who sat behind her, crossed her arms, grinning softly at Matoi's excitement. "They're not that big," she replied, looking out the window over Miki. "See them?" Yukino asked him.
Miki nodded, not even looking out the window, instead continuously staring at the back of Akino's seat. "Mhm."
Ignoring his attitude, Yukino turned to Makina and her little sister, Yuki. "Isn't this cool, Yuki? "
Yuki nodded back, shuffling around in her comparatively massive seat. She was clearly frightened and uncomfortable sitting beside Makina, who stared blankly and silently out the window. Yuki scratched the bandaid over her small nose, crossing her eyes to see it. "W-when can I take this off? Sis?"
Yukino turned back around, reaching over to Yuki to push the bandaid back over her nose. "Not yet. You have an open cut there, remember? In a germy place like the festival, you don't want that cute little nose to get infected and fall off, do you?" She teased.
Yuki's eyes lit up with fear and her cheeks filled with red. She cupped her small, chubby hands over her nose and shook her head, her short pink hair swinging behind her. "N-No! B-but it itches, sis…"
The older sister raised her eyebrows smugly, turning back around in her seat. "Then maybe you shouldn't have skipped that step going down the stairs."
Yuki furrowed her brows back, her large eyes glistening with tears. She kicked her short feet against the chair and muffled something, still cupping her scratched nose. Makina leaned over to her, whispering in her ear, "you know, when you turn twelve, you can regenerate and never be hurt again?"
Yuki's mouth widened with disbelief. "No way! Really?!"
"Mhm," Makina confirmed, slouching back in her seat. "Happened to me."
The six eventually arrived to their destination. Hurrying out of the train station, Matoi led the way to the outdoors, pushing open the revolving doors as she ran to the glistening sun. The four were close behind her, smiling in awe as they realized the true power the festival's name has.
Lights and multicolored flags were strung over hundreds of thousands of people. Tents and booths lined the streets as far as the eye could see. Upbeat music played in the background along with the infectiously cheerful chatter of the crowd. The six persisted into the festival, walking past the parents with strollers, the friends skipping about with ice cream dripping from their chins, the elderly sitting happily in folded out chairs and blankets, and the animals dancing through the streets. The mouth-watering smell of fresh, greasy food shoved its way into their senses as they passed the booths of amateur chefs.
Matoi gawked at her surroundings, completely entranced by the beauty and happiness around her. Yukino felt a tug at her skirt. Yuki, with passion in her eyes, pointed to the left. Yukino looked past the crowds of people to see several caged puppies set up for adoption. She sighed, picking up Yuki from the sidewalk and lifting her up to meet eye level.
"You don't want a puppy now, do you?" Yukino asked. "Why… how would we get to ride the rollercoasters if we have to watch over a puppy?"
Akino grinned as he waited behind while the others continued. Miki stopped a few feet ahead of him as well.
Yuki's smile grew massively and thrashed about in excitement as her older sister put her back down. "We get to ride another one?!" The young girl balled her fists, unable to control herself.
"Haha, no," Akino said, welcoming himself into the conversation. "That was a train, this one is different."
"You mean they get better?!" She jumped with anticipation.
"You guys, look!" Matoi called out from the other side of the crowd.
The four squeezed past the hoards of people till they met Matoi and Makina. Before them was a large, comparatively unpopulated plot of land. A massive cement water fountain was erected in the middle with a statue of Hetsu Koboshi at the top with the Division-A flag in her hand, waving in the wind. Along the edges of the area were lines of people waiting for their turn for a spot in the ride, explaining why this area was basically deserted. There was small kiddy rides to the left of them, and a separate pathway to the right where the thrill rides in the distance towered over the trees.
"I'm going this way," Makina informed them, already heading towards the thrill rides.
"Yeah, come on guys!" Matoi skipped backwards towards Makina. "Let's go!"
Yukino looked down to Yuki for permission. Yuki looked back to the kiddy rides, writing them off as for children and instead walked to the right, leading Yukino and Miki along.
The friends all lined up, eyes to the sky as they watched the screaming people fly past them in the rollercoaster. Makina was basically at the heels of the people in front of her, eager to get her spot in the ride. Matoi looked behind her, noting Yuki's frightened expression. She pushed past Miki and Akino, kneeling down to her.
"Hey, you'll be fine. Show me how strong and brave you are by riding it with us."
Yuki pointed to the ride as another set of people rode through the sky. "B-but we're gonna fall!"
Matoi giggled, her cheeks tinted with red. "We won't fall, I promise."
"We won't?"
"Nope!"
"Next!"
The six walked up the entrance, pushing open the gate with their hips. Makina jumped in and pulled the handles down over her, not realizing the fact that Akino was already half way in and his leg was being crushed.
Yukino and Miki walked along side by side, waiting for the next row of seats to unlock. The girl leaned to her boyfriend discreetly, whispering in his ear. "I don't know what your problem is, let loose for just this one day, please."
Miki stared back at her, betrayal in his eyes.
"I'm fine," she stated, although that didn't seem to comfort him any better.
Yuki was trailing behind Matoi as she squeezed herself into the seats. "I'm going to ride with this girl, sis!"
Yukino backed away from Miki, startled, but content nonetheless. "Oh, alright," she answered, ushering Miki to the spot behind them.
The rollercoaster roared as its engine started, shaking them in their place. Anticipation built up as they stared at the tracks waiting for them, the tracks that would lift them up to clouds. With a sudden jolt, the ride started at a steady pace up the mountain of tracks. The 'oohs' and 'aahs' of the people behind them grew stronger as they reached the top. Akino took a deep breath of the thin, cold air as they bathed in the sunlight. The rollercoaster stopped, giving the people a second of relieved tension.
"Is that as fast as it's going to go?" Yuki asked Matoi.
Matoi chuckled back, feeling guilty as she realized the repercussions of her actions that would soon follow. "Heh, I don't think s-"
With a click of the machine, the six plummeted down to the ground. Raw, unadulterated screams followed as gravity flooded their stomachs with butterflies. The pavement came into focus and the shouting got louder until they curved back into the sky.
Makina, being the only one not screaming, lifted her hands up in bliss, inspiring the others to do so as well- all except Yuki and Miki, however. The sweat from Akino's palm dried as he flew through the air, much like the white bird he spotted a few days ago did.
Matoi dropped her hands and cupped them around her mouth, shouting, "Wooooo! Let's do this!"
And with that single phrase, the friends all braced for impact as they rode to the ground for their final time. Akino looked out to the city, seeing the sky scrapers fall out of sight behind the trees and tents as they reached the platform. This was his city, his life. This place is his home, and he loves it after all. Even more so, he loves the people of Division-A, his family and friends.
Miki placed his feet onto the concrete, his legs trembling with horror. Yukino struggled to help him up, cursing at him as she tugged at his arm. Akino approached them and offered his hand to Miki. He looked at him, ashamed of his dependency as he gave his hand. The two pulled him out, laughing at him.
Matoi crept behind him, slapping his back. "Just like elementary school, Miki," she mentioned in between laughs. "You always had a weakness for these kinds of things. You haven't changed one bit."
Miki frowned, pouting as his friends ridiculed him.
"Funny enough, I'm feeling a little queasy myself," Matoi admitted, patting her stomach. "Yukino, come with me to the bathroom?"
Yukino looked back to Miki who was swaying back and forth, barely keeping his balance. "Do you mind? Watch Yuki for me," she said as she followed Matoi back into the crowd.
Miki looked back at her younger sister, who was groaning with a dazed and hypnotized expression on her face.
The girls approached a blue port-a-potty at the end of a line of tents. Matoi walked to the edge of it and leaned against its plastic exterior. Yukino, puzzled as to why she wasn't using it, tilted her head. Matoi pushed her hands into the pockets of her tight fitting jean shorts and kicked up one leg over the other.
"Yukino," she started, catching Yukino even more off guard. "You do know that we're friends, right?"
The pale school girl flinched with shock and embarrassment. She gripped her arms and looked off into the distance, blushing with shame. "Did Miki say something? I told him not to. I'm fine now, honestly."
Matoi blinked, her beautiful blue eyes colored with purpose. "Miki didn't say anything to me, I just caught on."
"Ah," Yukino mumbled, bringing her gaze closer to Matoi's. "You've always been the smart one."
Matoi uncrossed her legs and stood up straight, demanding Yukino's eye contact. "Honestly, I'm insulted that you think our friendship is that shallow. Yukino, I, nor Akino, would ever put your wealth against you."
Yukino held her hands together, touched by Matoi's statement.
"Moreover, I… I want to apologize to you." The brunette shook her head, struggling to keep her emotions in check. Predicting where this was leading, Yukino reached out to stop her from continuing, but to no avail. "I'm ashamed that I never said anything. Akino was right, it was wrong to keep you two in the dark about what was going on. But you need to understand that it was for the best, or that's what we thought. What hap-"
"Matoi," Yukino interrupted, a serious tone in her voice. "There's no need; The Royal Ambassador told us everything. I'm… I'm fine, really. You, Akino, and Miki are all safe… that's what matters to me."
Matoi stretched the corners of her mouth, feeling uneasy again.
"I am kind of insulted as well," Yukino continued. "I thought there was no secrets between us."
Matoi nodded her head in agreement. "I know, it was wrong. And from here on out, I promise that there is nothing between us; no secrets, no lies." She outstretched her arm and lifted her pinky finger out.
Yukino giggled, locking pinkies as they did so many times when they were younger. "Promise."
Akino bent back, his arm spinning behind him. "Please don't break this one!" He shouted before tossing a tennis ball to Makina. The Omega stepped back, aligning herself with the ball. Within a split second, Makina straightened her hand and sliced through the middle of the ball. The two half's dropped to the ground and rolled with the other set of split tennis balls.
Makina clenched her fists and shouted into the sky. "Come get me now, Compactor! I don't even need a weapon to kill you this time!!!"
Akino spun his head in every direction frantically. "Makina, be quiet!"
The solider ripped her weapon from her neck and unfolded it until the blade pointed directly at Akino's throat. "No! I will not let a pathetic excuse for a human like you defeat me again!"
A droplet of sweat ran down Akino's face as a nervous smile arched its way to his cheeks. "W-we were playing catch…"
Suddenly, a young boy with a red cape tied around his neck ran up to Makina. He turned to his rapidly approaching mother and pointed to her. "Mom, look! Superhero's do exist! I told you!"
The mother grabbed her son from Makina's side and pulled him away. Shaking her head in disappointment, she apologized to Makina. She turned back to her son, pulling him at the ear as she whispered heinously, "do not approach people like that without me! They'll force you to take a picture with them and then cost me for it later. Got it?"
The boy nodded, walking away with his mom in a stage of depression.
Akino and Makina paused, staring at each other- not entirely sure of what to make of the situation. Makina lowered her weapon and folded it back up, tying it back around her neck and pushing it into her collar.
Miki and Yuki came soon after, each with ice cream in their hands.
"Look, look what I got!"
"I see that, is it good?" Akino asked Yuki, who brought the treat close to her chest.
"Go get your own!" She demanded.
He smiled, his eyes turning to Miki who immediately looked away.
The day continued. Akino and Matoi competed in the video games barn. Offended that Matoi lost to Akino, Makina offered her hand in the game, who promptly finished off with first place in a fighting tournament. Yuki played hopscotch with the other kids her age, pushing on even though she failed every time. Yukino and Miki took silly pictures together in a photo booth, but it wasn't long before the entire crew photobombed them.
As the sun set, the multicolored string lights lit up, bathing the streets in color. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the friends decided to get a spot on the Ferris Wheel in time to see the lanterns be released. After patient waiting, only four spots were left. Matoi offered hers and Makina's seat up for the rest, allowing for Yukino, Yuki, Akino, and Miki to board. The girls sat together, forcing Miki and Akino to pair up.
The wheel turned and they were lifted up into the air. The cold night breeze picked up just as the sun disappeared, allowing the clusters of stars in the sky to shine at their brightest. Akino rested his arm on the edge of the cart, overlooking the festival. He could see the people with lanterns spreading around the area in preparation until they were nothing more but ants he looked down upon. The lights strung along the Ferris Wheel casted bright colors across Miki's and Akino's faces, both of which facing the other direction.
"I'm sorry," Akino blurted out, still staring at the festival. "There's no excuse. I… everyone told me what I was doing was wrong. I started believing them… Really, what was the point? I was just messing up people's lives… for what? I knew what I was getting myself into was dangerous, but it never once occurred to me that it could… put other people in danger."
Akino turned his head, meeting eye contact with the other. "I don't know what's wrong with me… I'm so stupid." Akino's head dropped and he ran his hand through his hair, stressed. "I'm so selfish."
"You are," Miki agreed, obviously still upset. "You have no excuses. There are people that I liked that are dead because of you and Matoi."
Akino's stomach sank and he was near tears.
"You did save so many others, though," Miki consoled, shocking Akino and causing him to lift his head back up. "I saw what you did. I know you tried to stop whatever that thing was. You came out into the lunch room looking like a crazy person, but it stopped us from endangering ourselves."
Akino's eyebrows arched up as he listened to Miki continue. He held his stomach, sickened by the memories flooding over him but eager for his friend to go on.
"I'm not happy with you," Miki concluded. "But… I am forgiving you… we survived because of you, so there's no way I cant."
Suddenly, a firework lit up behind Akino, bursting into the sky with a loud pop. Akino and Miki looked on as the lanterns floated to the clouds, dousing the environment in warm candlelight. Star struck, Akino watched on. He glanced downwards as the wheel spun him back towards the ground. There beside a tree was Matoi, looking rather distraught, conversing with Makina. She held her arms close to her chest almost as if she were hugging herself. Her body trembled before she completely bent down to the ground in tears in front of Makina. Matoi wiped her cheeks and walked into Makina's chest, embracing her tightly.
Akino leaned over the cart, swaying it back and forth, angering the conductor. He turned his head in an effort to listen but couldn't hear them over the music and crowds. Makina looked away, embarrassed. Burdened by Matoi's fit of unexpected sadness, Makina wrapped her arms around her, returning the favor.
"What?!" Yukino shouted as she leaned over as well, noticing the two girls.
Makina closed her eyes and tightened her grip around the distressed classmate and fellow Omega. Matoi opened her eyes, shocked but comforted. She continued the hug, fully immersing herself in the moment.
The four exited the Ferris Wheel in a hurry, immediately running towards Makina and Matoi. Miki followed as Yukino joined the hug, frantically asking Matoi what was wrong. Akino stayed just a few feet behind them, smiling at Makina who looked away in embarrassment.
Matoi sniffled, bringing everyone's attention to her. "I…" She looked up from Makina's chest for a brief second before shoving her face back into hiding, bursting out in tears again. "I have a family."
Akino's pupils shrank in surprise. It never occurred to him that being an Omega was directly corollated to being alone. Matoi was no stranger to loneliness after all. Although he lacked details, Akino knew that Matoi grew up with nobody but her classmates, and he could see that pain through every tear falling from her eyes.
She was right, she did have a family… it was right in front of her.