The sky was blue, almost as blue as the shop's canopy, serving as a roof for a young girl in red. The soft patter of the rain comforted her, so she reached out her hand. The wet drops of rain slid down her palm, and she closed her eyes.
"I wish everyday would be like this." she whispered. Across the street, there was a small candy shop, where she would go to every weekend, and there was also the bakery, whose delicious aroma would fill the streets.
That was what this street was known for. Frugen's bakery, where the nice old lady would give free loaves of bread to the kids who loved to play around in front of her bakery.
"Mitsu, dear?" Frugen's voice called out to her. She opened her eyes, and saw her grandmother's worried expression across the street.
The girl called Mitsu smiled, and replied, "Don't worry, Grandma, I'm just gonna stay here for a bit longer."
But. She wished she didn't do so.
A few minutes later, a bombing shook the street, and Mitsu quickly stood up. It was still raining, but it didn't feel comforting. Instead, it felt cold. Ice cold. Unbearably cold. Was someone using their ability to do this? Or was it just her?
It must be. Right? After all, who else was there to see the scene before her? The fiery remains.
What remained of the bakery she once loved was fire. Ashes. Memories.
Tears started rolling down her cheek, and she could do nothing about it. The last person to help her... was gone. For good. What was she going to do? Did she have a choice? Does she? She closed her eyes, and covered her ears as tightly as she could.
Someone, she thought, please save me.
For a fleeting moment she thought the world really did turn quiet, but when she opened her eyes, her mouth grew sour.
There was a silhouette amongst the remains. And it definitely wasn't her grandma. It was a person that the latter always told her about. The evil man who had killed three of the best ability-wielders, and mortally wounded another.
His hazel-brown hair was swept back, and when he turned his head, Mitsu thought she was going to die. Absolutely. Literally. Terribly.
"I know who you are." he said, his hoarse voice sending shivers down her spine. "You're -"
How does he know my name? she thought, How?
"Hey. You're supposed to be dead. Mind you, if anyone uses you as a witness, I'll kill them. Anyone affiliated to you in your current identity will be erased from existence."
"W-w-why?" she stuttered, unable to take in what was going around her.
"Your ability. I'll give you a chance to kill me in the future." he turned his back on her, but didn't move from his spot. "I don't like who I am now. It's complicated for even me to understand. I know it's petty, but I am sealed to this fate."
"Hey," he continued, "Do you know me?"
He smiled as warmly as he could, but it brought even more fear on the child instead. "Huh. I didn't know I was so famous."
"You-- You EVIL MAN."
He frowned. "I'm sorry. I forgot. I should have been more careful. But... Forget what I said about giving you a chance to kill me."
He smiled a bittersweet smile.
"I take back evrything I said early."
He turned back towards the child. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes, but Mitsu believed in none of it. She thought, This is a conman! I am taught not to be gullible... Right...?
...
...
...
"Let's start on a clean slate." he said.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"I'm sorry. I'll change myself. I won't be able to die. I can, but I don't want to. Instead, I..."
He closed in on Mitsu, who was too petrified to move.
"Here."
Everything went blank. Silence. As if time itself stopped.
She looked at the picture in her hand, and when she looked up, he was not there anymore. But. The image of the burning bakery was embedded into her memory. No matter what, she'll find that man. That man named...
Masao. Masao Hiroyuki.
The devil who ruined her life and future.