Diamond awoke abruptly from his slumber, sitting upright on his bed.
Breathing heavily, he appeared speechless, his expression marked by terror and fear as he recalled the traumatic events from his past, particularly the brutal loss of his parents and the extinction of their unknown race. The psychological impact of this experience lingered, manifesting in persistent nightmares.
"I need to move past this tragedy," he reflected, "but it continues to haunt my dreams every time I sleep."
Turning to his left, he noticed a photograph featuring himself, Aika, and their adoptive family. Taking a moment to breathe deeply, he rose from his bed and exited the room. As he left, he observed his mother, Sofia, and Aika assisting her in preparing breakfast. This family had provided a refuge for Diamond and Aika, who were once without a place to stay. Sofia and her husband, Mark, had adopted them, offering both support and companionship for which Diamond and Aika were exceedingly grateful.
At the dining table, Mark sat reading the newspaper and sipping coffee. Diamond took a seat beside him, while Aika brought the meals and placed them on the table, subsequently returning to the kitchen to assist Sofia. The scene was one of tranquility and familial warmth for both Diamond and Aika. After a brief period, Sofia and Aika joined them at the table.
During breakfast, Sofia addressed Diamond and Aika, inquiring, "You both should has reached the age where you can attend the school, so do y'all want to attend school?"
The siblings exchanged glances and nodded in unison, indicating their desire to pursue education.
"Certainly, Mother we are eager to go. We have never attended school, so this will be our first experience," Diamond responded.
Sofia's satisfaction was evident, as a smile spread across her face. "Then it is settled. You two will attend the school near our home. However, please be aware that there will be an entrance examination."
Diamond and Aika replied affirmatively, saying, "Okay, Mother." Once they finished their breakfast, Diamond promptly collected the dishes and proceeded to the kitchen to load the dishwasher. He and Aika consistently assisted their new family, motivated by a desire to avoid losing them again.
Meanwhile, Aika returned to her toys scattered throughout the living room. Mark prepared to leave for the day, gathering his belongings as Sofia and Diamond stood behind him.
"Be safe, dear," Sofia said.
"Be safe, Father," Diamond echoed.
Mark responded, "Okay, goodbye to you both," as he waved and exited the house.
Once in the living room, Diamond sat on the couch, gazing at Aika with an expression of concern and sadness. Memories of his past family and the horrific experiences associated with it weighed heavily on his mind, contributing to his post-traumatic stress disorder. Noticing Diamond's distress, Sofia approached him with curiosity.
"Are you all right, dear? Is there something that troubles or concerns you?" she inquired gently.
Diamond turned to Sofia and replied, "I assure you, Mother, I am fine. You need not worry about me."
Despite his reassurance, Sofia remained concerned, driven by maternal instinct. She desired to see Diamond's smile rather than a look of worry.
"Are you truly okay? Please feel free to share your thoughts; I do not wish to see you in distress. If you are feeling worried or anxious, please talk to me, as well as Aika," she encouraged.
Diamond shook his head, unwilling to divulge his secret, and lowered his gaze before making a hasty retreat to his room. Observing his unusual behavior, Sofia decided against pressing him further for explanations. Aika observed Diamond's exit and the subsequent locking of his door, tilting her head in confusion.
"Mother, why did Nii-san run to his room and lock the door? Has something happened?" Aika inquired.
In response to Aika's question, Sofia leaned in to comfort her daughter, patting her head gently. She then turned her attention back to Diamond's room, contemplating how best to support him. An idea formed, prompting her to ask Aika for assistance, to which Aika readily agreed.
Together, they proceeded to the kitchen to bake a cake entirely from scratch. Upon completion, the kitchen was a flurry of flour and remnants from their effort. Though they had grown fatigued from the task, they felt satisfied with their creation. Carefully, Sofia lifted the cake and, with Aika in tow, headed toward Diamond's room.
They arrived in front of Diamond's room. Sofia gently knocked on the door while calling his name with a tone of concern.
"Diamond, are you feeling well? I have prepared a cake for you. Could you please open the door?"
"Nii-san, please open the door."
Meanwhile, Diamond sat on the disordered bed, leaning against a wall and curled into a ball. Tears formed in both of his eyes as troubling flashbacks flooded his mind, evoking feelings of anxiety, fear, sadness, and terror. Typically, Diamond's eyes were bright, resembling neon lights, glowing even in complete darkness.
Diamond had the ability to regulate the brightness of his eyes based on his emotions; when he was sad, the brightness diminished and gradually faded. Conversely, moments of happiness caused the brightness to increase.
Upon hearing Sofia and Aika's voices demanding his attention, Diamond raised his head and hesitated, uncertain whether to open the door. However, their concerned tones indicated their genuine worry for his well-being, especially considering their efforts in baking the cake.
Feeling a sense of regret, Diamond stood up from the disarrayed bed, approached the door, and opened it wide, revealing the entirety of his room. He observed Aika standing in front of Sofia, who was smiling and holding a plate containing a homemade cake, highlighting the effort invested in its preparation. This gesture deeply touched Diamond's heart, reminding him of the love of a mother, despite Sofia's young age.
Aika exclaimed, "Nii-san!" and immediately embraced Diamond upon seeing him. He looked down as she tightly hugged him, her face nestled against his chest. Diamond then lifted his gaze to Sofia.
Sofia stated, "I am aware that I am not particularly skilled at baking cakes, but I sincerely hope you will enjoy it."
Diamond was momentarily speechless. Her words resonated within him, leading to feelings of regret for not sharing the secret he held with Aika, neglecting to inform anyone else, including their stepfamily. Turning away, he walked toward his bed, gesturing for Sofia to enter. Aika continued to cling to him, not releasing her grip.
As Sofia stepped into the room, her instincts prompted her to glance to her right. She noticed an unusual book—antique and inscribed with unfamiliar writing—lying on Diamond's table. Though curiosity urged her to examine the book, she prioritized comforting Diamond. Eventually, she sat beside him, slicing the cake into twelve pieces and placing one portion on another plate, which she then offered to Diamond along with a spoon. However, Diamond passed the plate to Aika, who eagerly took it and smelled the cake before consuming it.
Sofia then presented another plate to Diamond, who stared at the cake it contained. After taking a spoonful and tasting it, he found it surprisingly delightful, causing his eyes to gradually regain their brightness.
Sofia inquired, "How does it taste? Is it good?"
Diamond faced her and nodded enthusiastically, providing her with relief regarding her concerns about the cake's flavor. His mood shifted to one of happiness and energy as he continued to consume the cake, even requesting more. Observing this transformation brought a smile of pride to Sofia, recognizing her ability to alleviate Diamond's sadness. Ultimately, Aika consumed most of the cake, even taking portions intended for Diamond without hesitation.
Diamond expressed, "Thank you, Mother. I'm sorry for my abrupt decision to retreat and lock myself in my room. I simply cannot disclose certain matters, even to you, Mother, it's remain a private secret."
Sofia smiled and gently patted his head, her comforting touch instilling a sense of calm within him, reminiscent of affection he had not felt in a long time, particularly since the traumatic events preceding the Avianthon incident. After that, Diamond gathered the dirty dishes, stating, "Allow me to clean these, Mother. I know that you prepared this with genuine love, and I truly appreciate it."
Diamond smiled and proceeded to the kitchen to wash the dishes, with Aika following him closely. Having departed from sight, Sofia sighed and slowly rose from Diamond's bed. As she prepared to exit, her gaze fell upon the mysterious book once more. Driven by curiosity, she approached it, reaching out for a closer inspection.
Upon lifting the book, she observed that its cover bore inscriptions in an indecipherable language. Even when she attempted to translate the text using her phone, the device failed to recognize the writing, ultimately becoming nonfunctional.
It became evident to her that the origins of these words were not from within this world or even this universe, but rather from a point far beyond. She resigned herself to the situation and returned her phone to her pocket.
Sofia still held the book in her hands and continued to gaze at it. She hesitated, unsure whether to open it or not. She questioned why Diamond had it and why he hadn't told her about it. Usually, when kids find something strange, they call their parents to let them know. But not Diamond. As soon as her fingers brushed the edge of the book, she was ready to open it to the first page.
On the other hand, Diamond was cleaning the dishes when a sudden instinct told him that someone was touching his book. Surprised, he quickly let go of the dishes and rushed toward his room, while Aika tilted her head in confusion. As soon as Diamond arrived at his room and saw her about to open the book, he swiftly grabbed it from her hands before she could.
Sofia, taken aback, stared in shock at Diamond, who had appeared out of nowhere to take the book.
"Holy fu—"
Sofia stopped just short of saying the word, slowly turning to Diamond, who was now hugging the book tightly.
"Mom, please forget what you saw in this book," Diamond urged.
"Wh—"
"Just forget it. This is really important to me."
He cut her off and revealed that the book is essentially important to Diamond, although the reason for her to know it is yet unknown. She sighed and reminded him that if he wanted to not show that book to anyone, just hide it anywhere that're safe from everyone. She also reminded him not to scare her, to which Diamond listened—nodding in agreement and obediently at her words, she patted his head once again and then left his room.
Leaving Diamond alone in his room as Sofia fades away from Diamond's sight. He immediately wandered around the room to find a place to hide his book, and he found a small wardrobe beside the bed that was safe to place. And so he hid it in the wardrobe, feeling relief. Diamond left his room and closed the door.
When Diamond was walking downstairs, he felt something off and quickly looked around right and left, up and down. But there's nothing. The feeling was he'd been watching by someone yet he couldn't see someone or something watching him. Little does he know that amidst Void, the figure watches Diamond from the monitor while smiling evilly.
"Finally, I found you..."
Back to Diamond, he continues to wash the dishes while Sofia goes showering and Aika plays with her toys. The times go moving and moving until the sky turns black, resembling nighttime. Mark, who is the stepfather of Diamond and Aika, also Sofia's Husband, has arrived back at his home; when Diamond and Aika hear the door of the entrance open—they rush toward it to greet their stepfather. After all, this is a peaceful life that they're hoping to not vanish.
"Papa!"
"Welcome home, Father."
"Hello, Aika and Diamond, I've brought y'all favorite foods."
Diamond and Aika sparkled in their eyes as Mark proclaimed that he'd brought their favorite foods.
"Really Father/Papa?!" They both said.
"Of course, all of the foods is for you guys."
So Mark, Diamond, and Aika go to the dining table and begin to eat together as a family. Meanwhile, someone still watches them from very, very far away. He especially looked at Diamond and Aika with unknown intentions as he smiled malevolently.
-To be Continued...