9:00 am June 23rd, 2018
Eikos father was sitting at the dinner table reading a newspaper. As he did, a woman with brown hair and squinted eyes, placed a normal ceramic plate containing a sunny-side-up egg and two pieces of bacon in front of him.
As he ate, the TV played loudly from the living room,
"Today on Heiwa News, Late last night a mysterious storm kicked up which seemed to only last around 2 hours. Signs showed that the chances of a storm appearing during that time were 0 to none, making this truly an impossible event. Coincidentally, in the centre of that storm, the butcherer of Heiwa was detained and identified as Ikumi Bruno, a former construction worker who disappeared 6 months ago. His current whereabouts are unknown however authorities have informed us that he will no longer be roaming the streets. In a home in north Heiwa, another woman has gone missing, with her clothes being left behind as the only evidence. This marks the 501st person to go missing as the perpetrator remains unknown. Thankfully, however, we can predict that the rest of this summer will be filled with rays of sunshine, so be sure to enjoy the current weather."
While the news played, Eiko sneakily tip-toed down the stairs in hopes of not alerting her father. She wore a bright blue dress and a white hairband which kept her hair tidy.
As she made her way to the door her father shouted, "Where do you think you're going Eiko Yamori?"
She suddenly flinched before saying, "Im going shopping with some friends??"
"Don't play games with me. If you are planning on visiting that boy again then I'll forbid you from leaving this house!", he demanded.
Eiko argued back, "You don't tell me what to do. I'm just trying to help someone for once in my life."
He then suddenly stood up while walking towards her as he shouted, "Do you not understand what you are doing to yourself?? Or can you not see that me and your mother are worried for you?? Ever since the day that your sister died, your mother has lost the ability to speak. If she loses you too, do you understand how devasted she would be?? After she heard about what happened yesterday she almost had a cardiac arrest."
Eiko made a "Tch" sound before leaving the house, slamming the door behind her. Her father tried to chase after her, but the mother softly grabbed his hand, while shaking her head.
He sighed before quickly going back to finish his breakfast.
Eiko walked down a busy street. As she did however she was stopped by a boy not that much older than herself. He had blonde hair pulled to his left side, bright blue eyes and fair skin. He wore a white blouse-like shirt with various adornments, a red rose and a flamboyantly designed collar.
He radiated an aura of unbound confidence as he then quickly went down on one knee to bow. He said,
"Eiko-chan, fancy seeing you on this fine morning. The sun's light is still nowhere near as bright as you."
He tried to kiss her hand, but Eiko slapped him away as she said coldly,
"We aren't in school right now Satou. I told you not to speak with me unless it has to do with the student council. Disappear."
Satous' eyes turned white as his heart broke, sending him into shock. Eiko however, walked past him as if it was a daily occurrence. He then said while calling out to her,
"At least please tell me. Who is the man in this photo? I need to know who my new competitor for your love is!"
He then pulled out his phone from his pocket and showed Eiko a photo of her walking together with Shiro. Eiko then shouted at him,
"YOU'RE TAKING PHOTOS OF ME NOW?? I SHOULD HAVE YOU ARRESTED YOU CREEP."
He then panicked while saying, "It wasn't me who took this photo! It was Tsubaki and her gang that took it. It's been spreading like wildfire in the schools' group chat."
Eiko clenched her teeth before quickly running off. She maintained this attitude until she arrived at Heiwa City Hospital.
Once she got there, however, her mood only got even more sour when Doctor Kyobi told her, "I can't allow you to see Shiro today."
In anger, she asked, "Why??"
The doctor bluntly responded, "After what happened yesterday the higher-ups have gotten even more strict. Im sorry, but I really can't do anything this time."
She then stormed out of the hospital while cussing as the doctor sighed, "I don't get paid enough to deal with this. I want to see Tenohira again..."
11:00 am June 23rd, 2018
Eiko was now walking by herself on Heiwa Beach. Since it was still morning many of the tourists that had come to Japan for the summer had yet to fill the city, letting her walk freely with her own thoughts.
Eventually, she made it back to the spot where she was prepared to kill herself, as well as where she found Shiro. She then crouched on the sand while drawing 2 stick figures with her finger, which both held hands. As she did she thought about days from the distant past.
8:17 pm July 12th, 2012
Two young girls ran across the beach shore as their legs were half buried in the sea.
Daylight was especially long that day, so despite the late time, the sun's light still peaked over the horizon. The parents of the two girls were busy packing up their car unable to see what would happen to the two.
The two young children were almost identical. They both had dark brown hair and dark greyish eyes, however, one of them had her hair tied into one large ponytail and the other was tied into 2 divergent ponytails.
As they chased each other the girl with 2 ponytails shouted, "Slow down Eiko I can't keep up!"
Eiko however continued to laugh while splashing water at the other girl. The two then fell to the ground half sinking in the ocean. When they finally calmed down, Eiko asked,
"This was fun, Fuka. We have time for one more game, what should we play next??"
As she thought about it while splashing the water she then said, "Let's see who can hold their breath underwater the longest."
"I agree, let's do it quickly."
The two then took great breaths of air as they prepared to shove themselves underwater.
They both raised their right arm while
counting with their fingers,
"3...2...1.. GO!"
The two siblings then shoved their heads underwater with neither backing down. Fuka then started making stupid but funny faces which caused Eiko to laugh. As she opened her mouth, she accidentally swallowed a decent amount of ocean water. She quickly jumped up while shouting,
"Awwww, I guess you win this time. Let's have a re-match right now!"
When she finally cleared her face to look, she struggled to see Fukas' submerged body in the water. She then called out, "Fuka? Where are you?"
She quickly submerged herself underwater, thinking that Fuka was playing a prank on her, but when she opened her eyes she could only see the empty ocean and sand. When she emerged back from the underwater she shouted,
"Where are you Fuka? This prank isn't funny anymore."
But there was still no response.
She ran back to her parents and said, "Have you guys seen Fuka? She won't show up no matter how many times I shout for her."
Then her mother asked, "Where were you two last playing?"
Once Eiko told her what happened she suddenly shrieked while calling for her husband. The father ran to the ocean to try to find Fuka while the mother stayed on land and called for help.
Eventually, the fire department, lifeguards, and even local surfers were looking for the girl. All to no avail.
Within the first week of Fuka going missing the family was still hopeful that she was still alive somewhere. After the first month, the father began drinking while the mother stopped eating. After the first year, the father lost his job but continued to drink while the mother lost her voice. Then 5 years later, the family was largely able to recover however the mother still remained mute.
Eiko would try to kill herself, thinking that it was her fault that Fuka went missing but luckily she met Shiro who had saved her life twice now.
Back to the present day
As she played in the sand wondering this, she then thought,
"Shiro was regrowing body parts as if he was an axolotl the other day. And then there is that floating man who could summon thunder. What is going on?"
While she wondered this, she got curious and began to dig into the sand once again. It was just curiosity at first, but since she found Shiro the first time, she wondered what else could she find. As she dug and dug, she breathed heavily realizing how delusional she was acting.
But that was when she something sticking out from the ground, it was pure white and flimsy but it was enough for Eiko to notice.
She quickly plunged her hand into the hole that she had made before quickly pulling the object out.
It looked like a torn and worn-out armband, which was silver and white in colour. It had the words engraved on it, "P.E.S."
Eiko recognized it as the same words that the Weatherman had on his black armband.
Thinking that the two were related, she quickly rushed back to the hospital.