This young woman was Kiyomi Takashi, a 19-year-old who had graduated from Miyagi Ishinomaki High School. She was known as something of a prodigy among her peers. All her classmates recognized her as the perfect student with perfect grades and attendance.
Her fellow students often said things like:
"Takashi-san? Oh, she's on another level entirely. I don't think she's ever scored less than perfect on any test."
"I heard Kiyomi-chan has never missed a single day of school, not even when she had a fever. Talk about dedication!"
"I sat next to Kiyomi-san in class once. Her notes were so neat and organized, it was like looking at a textbook. No wonder she aces everything."
Nonetheless, while the complaints were many, Kiyomi still received her fair share of insults. Yet, no matter the insults or rumors, she usually kept a level head, resolving conflicts with cuteness and kindness, outshining her insulters and hurting them via the heart.
However, unnoticed by her family as well as classmates, Kiyomi had a secret life. Often, she would travel to a childhood friend's house, using the excuse of studying or tutoring a peer. In actuality, she played countless video games day in and day out, though she still spared the time for studying even though she didn't need it.
She had an admiration for anime-style RPGs, some might say bordering on otaku levels of enthusiasm. Of course, she would have rather been playing video games than standing on a beach celebrating her entrance into university. However, she understood the quality time that came with family. It was a situation that was unavoidable, forcing her into socializing, but she didn't have an issue with that. After all, she truly loved her family, even if they could get over-enthusiastic.
"Oi, Kiyomi!" Her brother called out, giving her a hearty pat on the back that was more of a thump. Though rough, she was used to it—just his way of showing affection.
"Look at you, all grown up," he said, his voice cracking with exaggerated emotion. He draped himself over her shoulder dramatically. "Can't believe my little sis is leaving me in the dust. I'm so freakin' proud of you!"
Kiyomi rustled him off her shoulder and pushed him away. "Ugh! You need to stop being so clingy! I know I'm leaving you in the dust. Maybe if you didn't go to cosplay conventions all day, you'd be where I am!"
Her brother, Kenji, recoiled back dramatically. "B-but I love those conventions! How could I live without them?"
As the two siblings teased each other back and forth, their parents, Hiroshi and Yumiko, intervened.
"Oh, you two, enough already," Yumiko interjected with a weary sigh. "We're here to enjoy the beach, not squabble over trivial matters."
Hiroshi cleared his throat, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Well... Kiyomi does have a point, son. You do spend an awful lot of time at those cosplay conventions of yours."
The siblings' bickering came to an abrupt halt as their father's words sank in. Kenji slumped in defeat, while Kiyomi's lips curled into a sly grin, savoring her victory backed by parental approval.
"Alright, alright, let's get this celebration underway!" Yumiko announced cheerfully. The family of five quickly set up their beachside chairs. Yumiko and Hiroshi settled in, basking in the warm sunlight.
Meanwhile, the two siblings raced into the water. Before long, Kiyomi's black hair was drenched as Kenji unleashed a barrage of splashes. In a surprise move, he scooped her up and tossed her into the waves—a playful revenge for her earlier triumph.
As Kiyomi emerged from the water, her black eyes locked onto Kenji's. He visibly flinched, suddenly aware that retaliation was imminent. True to form, Kiyomi launched a counter-attack, dousing him with a massive splash. She then attempted to tackle him, though her smaller frame proved little match for his sturdier build in the water.
As those two played within the water, their parents chuckled on the beach, overlooking this playful scene. But their laughter was cut short as the ground began to shake ruthlessly. The parents were tossed from their chairs, while the siblings struggled to keep their footing in the surf. It was as if the earth itself wanted them to collapse then and there.
Kiyomi's voice rang out, strained but clear: "Earthquake! We need to get off the beach, now!"
The siblings scrambled for the shore, fighting against the now-choppy waves. Their parents, having regained their footing, were already sprinting towards the street just beyond the beach.
As Kiyomi and Kenji stumbled across the sand, the earth's violent shaking began to subside. Yet, a palpable sense of fear still hung in the air.
"Th-that was massive," Kenji stammered, his voice shaky.
Kiyomi nodded, her mind racing. She guessed it had to be in the upper magnitudes. But a more terrifying thought struck her - could a tsunami follow? Her eyes darted around, searching for any sign of warning sirens.
"We need to get to higher ground," she said urgently, her usual composure cracking. "The ocean... it might not be over."
As those words left Kiyomi's lips, tsunami sirens began to blare across the city. People on the streets, still reeling from the earthquake's shock, immediately started running for higher ground. Her parents and Kenji seemed frozen in place, stunned by the rapid turn of events.
"Let's go! Come on!" Kiyomi shouted, snapping them out of their daze. She pointed urgently toward a hillside in the distance. "Up there! We might be safe!"
The hill was far—maybe too far—but it was their only real shot at survival. The family exchanged quick, worried glances before breaking into a run, following Kiyomi's lead.
As they sprinted through the panicked crowds, Hiroshi called out breathlessly, "Kiyomi, are you sure about this?"
"It's our best chance," she yelled back, her eyes fixed on their distant goal. "We have to try!"
As they ran, the chaos around them intensified. People were shouting, car horns were blaring, and the wail of the tsunami sirens seemed to grow louder with each passing minute. Kiyomi led the way, her mind racing faster than her feet could carry her.
They had covered about half the distance to the hill when Kenji, glancing back, let out a horrified gasp. "The water... it's coming!"
The family turned to see a massive wall of water rushing towards the shore. Realization dawned on their faces - they weren't going to make it.
"We need to find a building, now!" Hiroshi shouted, grabbing Yumiko's hand.
Kiyomi frantically scanned their surroundings, spotting a tall concrete structure nearby. "There!" she pointed.
But as they changed course, the roar of the approaching tsunami grew deafening. The water moved faster than they could run, sweeping cars and debris along with it, sometimes even buildings.
Kenji reached out, his fingers brushing Kiyomi's as the first surge hit them. "Kiyo-" his voice was cut off as the water engulfed them.
In those final moments, as the world around them dissolved into a swirl of water and debris, Kiyomi's last thought was of the quiet afternoon they'd shared on the beach, lost forever.
She didn't want to lose all of that. She didn't want to die, not here, not now, as water rushed into her lungs, and debris smashed against her.
'I WON'T DIE HERE!' Her thoughts screamed. 'I NEED TO LIVE! TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PROTECT EVERYONE I LOVE!'
[System Receiving Request Now Processing]
"Wh-what? Who's there?" Her fading mind grasped at the strange voice.
Then she slipped into unconsciousness as the waters claimed her.