Hello, Nino here. I am a very normal girl. I go to a normal school and my family is pretty normal.
That's what I expected. But, my mother has sisters. They are three sisters so I have cousins.
My cousin Mizuki is the total opposite of me. Good grades, athletic and friendly. I am friendly myself but I am not on her level.
She is also a peerless beauty. I can't compare to her and I was not jealous.
But my parents keep comparing me to her. Like why I can't be like her? Everyone is different but they want me yo become like Mizuki.
I am now in my first year of high school. She is already a third year.
We live also a little away from each other and don't see each other except the family meetings.
But recently, it became bad. My parents just keep comparing me. And that, reached its end.
I ran away. I just left the home without anything on me except some money.
And that was also used for the fare.
I am in Shibuya. But I have no money and I am hungry.
I am sitting by an apartment. I am so hungry that I think I might pass out.
"Hey, are you okay?" Someone called out to me.
I look up. A man. Kind of shady. But I was too hungry to think and I blacked out on the spot.
When I came to, I was on a bed. I don't think I was here.
But then I remembered. I leave the room. But I am kinda worried.
When I reached the dining hall, I stopped.
I saw a man in the kitchen.
"Yo! Woke up?" He asked me.
Then he gave me some food and I ate it.
I was so hungry that I didn't even consider it.
And he asked me my name. I gave him that.
He asked me my reasons. But I stayed silent. He didn't push it. He even let me stay at his place.
Isn't he a little too loose? Then he locked himself in a room.
He doesn't even come out of that room.
But he leaves money on the table. Is that for me?
Is he that good? And a week has passed. He is still in that room. What does he do?
I sleep in the bedroom. By the bedside table, there is a photo frame.
That man with a woman. But he is sitting on a wheelchair. But that woman is so beautiful that even Mizuki would have a hard time against her.
Now that I think about it, what was his name?
He probably gave it to me. What was it?
Ahhh..Akatsuki. That's his name.
I think I should thank him at least. He sheltered me for a week.
I leave the building to shop groceries.
When I came back, I find the door open.
I enter and met someone I never expected.
Mizuki was there. What's going on? Why is she here? However, how did she enter?
I locked the door. So how? Wait, there are two other girls.
Why? Also, they are beautiful. I feel like I am too plain compared to them.
And I smell something. It's rotten and putrid. Smell of alcohol but something else too.
That door is open. Did he come out?
I was busy in my thoughts that I forgot about them.
Mizuki is calling out to me.
"Nino-chan…Nino-chan, are you okay?" She is asking me.
"E..ahhh…yeah. I am okay. But why are you here?" I ask her.
But she made a dumbfounded face. Like I said something stupid.
"No no. Why are you here?" She asks me.
"I am living here for a week." I answered.
"But why? How do you know my brother?"
What? Brother? Aren't you the only child? I never heard anything about a brother from aunt or my mom.
"Ehhh." I let out a dumbfounded voice.
"How about we sit down." A girl said.
She looks dignified. A total Japanese beauty.
Mizuki nodded and we sat on the sofa.
I guess, we will be having a serious conversation.
I sit down and they sat facing me. All surrounded, I am nervous.
"So Mizuki, do you know her?" That Japanese beauty asked.
"Yeah. My cousin." Mizuki told.
"Unnn….. I am lost here. Who are they?" I ask.
It's inefficient not knowing their names.
"I am Yamato Nadeshiko. Akatsukis caretaker." That Japanese beauty introduced herself.
"I am Momoko. Akatsukis childhood friend." Another girl introduced herself.
She is cute. Not a beauty but cute.
"I am Mizuki. My brother is Akatsuki."
No no. Why are you introducing yourself?
And what's with Akatsuki? They are all bringing up Akatsuki and looking smug.
"So, why are you here?" (N)
"I….ran way from home. And Akatsuki sheltered me."
"You ran away? From home?" (M)
"Yeah."
Mizuki is holding her head. Maybe that's too absurd for me to do.
"How did you meet Akatsuki?" (N)
"I collapsed in front of this building. He brought me here and let me stay."
"Why?" Momoko is holding her head.
"He always does that." Nadeshiko is trying to calm her down.
"But you didn't know that Akatsuki is my brother." (M)
"That's what I want to ask. How is he your brother? I always knew that you are an only child." I say that.
To my surprise, Mizuki was surprised. She didn't know about it.
Nadeshiko is on her phone. Maybe messaging someone.
And then a call came.
She picked it up and put it on the table.
"Rihito, where is Akatsuki?" She asked this supposed Rihito person.
"Areehh. Why are you calling Nadeshiko-chan?"
"Just answer me."
"Ok. What happened?"
Nadeshiko-san told everything.
"So, he picked up another girl. That idiot."
"So, does he do that often?"
"No. But whenever he sees someone in trouble, he will help them. And about his limbs, I have an idea. But that's for later. If you are searching for Akatsuki, go to the cemetery. He is there."
"Wait, don't hang up."
"Now what?" He sounded irritated.
"I know that you are in the middle of your honeymoon but why is Akatsuki so estranged?"
"Ahh. That's because his mother never wanted her family to know about Akatsuki. She even told her family that her first child died. So in the end, Mizuki is only child. At least to them. Akatsuki never bothered with that so yeah." He said with a bitter tone.
But why would my aunt do that? What's the story? Mizuki is looking gloomy. No, dark.
"Ok. I am hanging up."
And the call ended.
"That man!!!" Momoko was angry. So were the rest.
I am still clueless as to what's happening?
"Let's go get him first." Nadeshiko-san said.
"Yeah." They both nodded.
"Come with us." Mizuki said to me.
I am pretty confused but I just go with the flow. They leave the apartment and we come to a cemetery.
It's still midday but this place looks deserted.
We enter the cemetery and walk through the graves until we reach a certain grave.
And I find Akatsuki sitting on the gravestone.
"Akatsuki." Nadeshiko-san called out to him.
He looked at us. But he looks kinda sad.
"Yo, girls?!!! You are here."
"Yes. Now, give us some answers." She demands answers.
"Yeah. Ask away."
"How are you like that? You grew limbs."
"Well, I will get to that. But first, let me ask him."
He said something and then someone appeared.
He was elegant. But I felt fear. Like chills ran down my spine. He was handsome yet his beauty was fearsome.
"Yo, Satan! Nice to meet you." (A)
"Ahh. The human who has been doing business with us. I thank you." (S)
"So, about our last deal, where is Sakura?" (A)
"She wished to become a creator herself so I opened the path and sent her to the outside. She is probably traversing the worlds and gaining experience." (S)
"That's good." (A)
"Don't ignore us. And also, where did you come from?" Nadeshiko-san stopped Akatsuki and asked Satan.
I am pretty lost. But let's just not say anything.
"Satan, how much time do I have left?" (A)
"A month." (S)
"Ok. I offer you my body and everything I have left. Just give the people I care about a small boost of happiness." (A)
"You sure? You only got your limbs back just a week ago." (S)
"I managed to witness a miracle. And my work is done. I have taken care of my human duties and responsibilities. So, I will be going to the god who did this to me." (A)
"I get it. So, your payment is done. I will leave the now. And I threw in an hour as a freebie. Enjoy your last moments."
That guy said and disappeared from there.
Akatsuki who was just standing fell.
I see that his hands and legs are gone.
He is a limbless person. An amputee. Mizuki and them were kinda worried about him.
So they rushed to him.