In the gymnasium, Akuri stood momentarily lost in thought, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular as the shouts and laughter of dodgeball players echoed around her. The game was in full swing, but Akuri's mind was elsewhere.
"Akuri, heads up!" someone shouted.
She blinked just in time to see a dodgeball flying toward her—and not enough time to dodge. It struck her square in the face with a dull thwack, and the gym fell silent for a split second before a few students stifled laughter.
"That looked like it hurt," Sato remarked as he walked over, tossing the ball back to the other team. He studied her with mild concern.
Akuri rubbed her nose, wincing. "Yeah, it did," she muttered, her voice muffled by her hand. She glanced at Sato, her expression softening. "You think she's doing okay?"
"Who?" Sato asked, already knowing the answer.
"Aria," Akuri replied with a sigh. "It's her first day, and I just... I know she'll be fine, but I can't help worrying about her."
Sato leaned against the wall, tossing the ball casually from hand to hand. "She's tougher than you give her credit for. She'll figure it out."
"She's like the sister I never had," Akuri admitted. "Of course I'm going to worry."
Sato nodded, deciding not to press further. A sharp whistle signaled the end of the game, and students began heading toward the locker rooms. Akuri lingered a moment longer, stealing a glance out the gym window before following the crowd.
In the adjacent gymnasium, Aria sat cross-legged on the floor, her hands resting in her lap as she watched her classmates take their turns at the long jump. Her brow furrowed slightly as she leaned toward the girl sitting beside her. "So... are we just jumping?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.
The girl blinked, then smiled. "It's called the long jump. You try to jump as far as you can from that line," she explained, pointing at the marked strip on the ground.
"Oh, okay," Aria said, nodding. Her turn was approaching, and she stood nervously, brushing imaginary dust from her gym clothes. The teacher called her name, and she stepped up to the starting line.
"Aria's Akuri's twin, right? Bet she's just as athletic," one of the boys whispered, watching with mild curiosity.
Aria broke into a run, but her steps faltered as she approached the jump. She leapt awkwardly, landing with a stumble that sent her sliding onto the mat in an ungraceful heap. The class collectively winced.
"Well, she's... not like her sister," another boy muttered.
"That was adorable, though," a third chimed in.
Aria sat up slowly, brushing her knees with a red face. How embarrassing... she thought, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor.
The buzz of voices filled the locker rooms as students changed out of their gym clothes. Akuri leaned against the shower divider, letting the hot water soothe her sore muscles. Her thoughts drifted back to Aria, a faint worry gnawing at her despite Sato's reassurances.
In the adjacent stall, Aria's voice echoed faintly. "Wait... people were talking about it?"
Akuri smirked, turning toward the divider. "Of course. That fall was the highlight of the day."
Aria groaned. "That's so embarrassing."
"You need to be more careful," Akuri replied, her tone tinged with genuine concern. "I don't want you getting hurt."
Aria blushed as she responded. "Okay, but can you not stare at me? It's embarrassing."
Akuri folded her arms on the shower divider, her tone teasing. "I don't know why you're embarrassed. I'm looking at myself in the mirror."
Frustrated and flustered, Aria threw her towel at Akuri's face. "Stop staring!" she exclaimed.
On the way home, Sato walking down a bustling street with Akuri on his left and Aria on his right. Aria looked embarrassed, her cheeks still flushed from the earlier incident.
"It was embarrassing," Aria muttered.
Sato glanced at her, smiling reassuringly. "Everybody has something they're not good at. You can't expect to be good at something the first time you try it."
Akuri looked at Aria, smiling warmly. "And seeing how people act around you, I doubt you had any problems making friends."
Sato smiled with a teasing glint in his eyes. "The boys also seemed to like you. It won't be long before you start seeing love letters in your shoe locker."
Akuri's eyes narrowed as she looked at Sato with an annoyed expression. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Sato looked down at Akuri, confused. "What's that look for?"
Akuri crossed her arms, glaring at Sato. "You're not one of those boys that would hit on her, are you?"
Sato looked genuinely puzzled. "Why would I be?"
Aria stopped, looking at a colorful crepe stand. Sato and Akuri also stopped and looked at Aria.
"Wait a minute," Aria said, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What are those?"
Akuri smiled and looked at the crepe stand. "Those are crepes."
"I've never heard of those before," Aria said, still looking curious.
Sato pulled out his wallet from his back pocket. "Do you want one? I'll get it for you."
Aria waved her hands in protest. "No, no! Save your money."
Sato turned to Akuri with a smile. "What about you?"
Akuri's eyes widened, and she blushed as her stomach growled loudly. Sato smirked, enjoying the moment.
"You sound hungry," he teased.
Akuri closed her eyes, her blush deepening. "I guess I could eat."
Sato, still smirking, asked, "Strawberry, banana, and ice cream?"
Akuri, still blushing with her eyes closed, nodded. "Yes, please."
Sato turned to Aria with a gentle smile. "And for you?"
Aria smiled shyly. "I'll have the same."
The three stood at the crepe stand, the vendor preparing their order. The atmosphere was light and cheerful. The vendor expertly added the ingredients, creating the perfect crepes.
Sato, Akuri, and Aria were sitting on a nearby bench, each holding their crepes. Aria took a bite and smiled with delight.
"This is delicious," Aria exclaimed.
Akuri nodded in agreement as she savored her crepe. "Totally worth it."
Sato looked at the two girls with a satisfied smile. "Glad you like it."
As Sato turned to Aria to ask her something, Akuri was eating the last bit of her crepe.
Once Akuri noticed her crepe was gone, she looked at the empty wrapper then at Sato's almost eaten crepe then smirked and took the last bite of the crepe.
Aria noticed and was stunned. "what's the matter?" Sato asked, confused.
Aria looked at Sato's now empty hand "Akuri ate your crepe."
Sato quickly looked at the empty wrapper in his hand in shock. He looked at Akuri with frustration, but Akuri quickly turned her head away.
"What the hell, Akuri?" Sato asked with frustration.
Akuri hesitated before answering. "I didn't do anything." Sato wasn't convinced with Akuri's answer.
Sato quickly turned Akuri's head to face him and saw crumbs on her face. "You ate my crepe!"
As Sato bickered at Akuri, Aria looked down at her half-eaten crepe.
Sato, still bickering with Akuri and pulling on her cheeks, he felt two gentle taps on his back. "Sato"
Sato let go of Akuri's cheeks and looked back as Akuri rubbed her red cheeks to see Aria looking up at him with her big blue eyes and holding out her crepe with a smile.
"Since Akuri ate yours, I'll share mine with you". Aria said, looking up at Sato with an innocent smile that no one could resist.
Sato, stunned, politely refused Aria's kind gesture. "No thanks Aria, you can keep it."
Akuri, mischievously smirked and quickly jumped onto Sato's back and wrapped her arms gently around Sato's neck. "Do it, Sato!"
Sato glanced back at Akuri. "I'm not going to take something of hers."
Akuri playfully flirted with Sato in a gentle tone as she talked softly into his ear. "oh, come now. A beautiful girl like Aria and I is willing to share her crepe with you? Most guys would kill to be in your place."
Sato glanced back at Akuri with a confused look. "What kind of person do you take me for?" Sato looked faced forward with a straight face. "you're not my type anyway Akuri. you're not chesty enough for me."
Aria blushed, and Akuri blushed with an angry look. "What was that?!" Aria tightly wrapped her arms around Sato's neck. "Take that back! acknowledge my hotness!"
Aria finally snapped out of her daze and tugged at Akuri's arm. "Akuri, stop! You're going to kill him!"
Akuri released Sato with a huff, crossing her arms as he gasped for air. "Fine. But he deserved it," she muttered.
Before Sato could retort, the trio's attention was drawn to one of the massive screens on a nearby skyscraper. The bright "Breaking News" banner flashed across the screen, and the familiar face of a seasoned anchor appeared.
"This just in," the anchor began, her voice steady but urgent. "Reports of a shooting incident at the abandoned Kanagawa research facility in Shibuya. Sources confirm that multiple shots were fired earlier this morning, resulting in several deaths. Authorities have stated that at least three individuals have been transported to nearby hospitals in critical condition. The area remains under investigation."
The screen switched to blurry footage of emergency vehicles surrounding a decrepit building, the scene bathed in red and blue lights.
A heavy silence hung over the trio.
"That's scary," Aria said softly, her voice breaking the quiet. She glanced at Sato and Akuri. "It's so close by."
Akuri shifted uneasily. "Yeah, that's just a little freaky. What if... I don't know, what if whoever did it comes here?"
Sato straightened, his expression unusually serious. "We'll be fine, but we have to stay alert. Something like this happening nearby isn't something to take lightly."
Aria and Akuri nodded, though the unease lingered between them. The sunset cast long shadows on the street as they continued their walk.
As the sky deepened into a fiery orange, the trio reached the entrance to the girls' dormitory. Sato and Aria stood at the gate, watching as Akuri turned to wave goodbye.
"See you tomorrow!" Akuri called, her grin faltering slightly as the dormitory lights flickered on. She hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Sato and Aria before stepping inside.
The sun dipped lower into the horizon as Sato and Aria walked side by side through the quiet streets. The warm hues of the setting sun painted their surroundings, but the silence between them was tense and heavy.
Aria finally broke the quiet, her tone sharp and unwavering. "You need to stop slipping up like that. If Akuri caught on to what you almost said earlier, it could ruin everything."
Sato kept his eyes forward, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "I don't need a lecture," he muttered. "I know what I'm doing."
Aria's glare burned into the side of his face. "Do you? Because it doesn't seem like it. You're careless, and if you keep this up, it's not just Akuri—it's all of us you're putting at risk."
Sato abruptly stopped walking, turning to face her with a glare of his own. "All of you?" he repeated, his voice low but biting. "You think I wanted to be here, looking after you? Babysitting this mess?"
Aria stiffened. "Babysitting? Is that how you see us?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Sato snapped, his voice growing colder. "I liked my job before all this. Before I had to clean up after mistakes like yours."
Her expression wavered. "We didn't ask for this," she said, her voice quieter but laced with anger.
"No, you didn't," Sato admitted, his tone sharp. "But that doesn't change what you are. Or what happens when things go wrong."
Aria's hands curled into fists at her sides. "You think we're all just like that? That we're dangerous?"
Sato leaned closer, his glare hardening. "Dangerous doesn't even begin to cover it," he said, his voice laced with bitterness. "You've seen it yourself, haven't you? When things... unravel?"
Aria's breath hitched, her mind flashing to the incident she'd been told about—the destruction, the chaos. She quickly shook the thought away. "That's not who we are," she argued. "You're wrong."
"Am I?" Sato shot back. "Tell that to the people who died. Tell that to the one person who actually mattered."
Aria flinched as his words landed, her anger breaking through her restraint. "If you hate us so much, then why even bother staying?"
"Because someone has to make sure none of you lose control again," Sato spat. "Someone has to deal with it when you do."
His words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, neither spoke. Then, Sato took a step back, his tone icy but quiet. "If you don't like the way I'm doing things, maybe you should go back and have them send someone who actually follows orders instead of questioning them."
Aria's jaw tightened, her fury spilling over. Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed ahead.
"That's not where home is," Sato called after her, his voice calmer but still sharp.
Aria didn't stop. "I'm taking a walk!" she snapped, glancing back with a glare. "Go home yourself!"
Sato watched her retreating figure, his shoulders sagging slightly before he turned the other way, his expression unreadable as the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the buildings.
The sun cast long shadows on the quiet streets as Sato and Aria walked side by side, the silence between them heavy with unspoken tension. The golden light of the setting sun did little to ease the cold atmosphere.
"You need to be more careful," Aria said finally, her voice sharp but measured. "If Akuri caught on to what you almost said earlier, it could ruin everything."
Sato kept his gaze forward, his hands in his pockets. "I know," he replied curtly.
"Do you?" Aria pressed, stepping closer to him. "Because it doesn't seem like it. You can't just let things slip like that—it's careless. And if she starts asking questions—"
Sato stopped walking, turning to face her with a calm but firm expression. "And you think lecturing me is helping?" His tone wasn't sharp, but the weight in his words made her pause.
Aria's frustration bubbled to the surface. "Someone has to say it," she shot back. "You're putting all of us at risk with the way you handle things."
"All of you," Sato repeated softly, almost to himself. His eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw tightening. "You think this is easy for me?"
Aria crossed her arms, unwilling to back down. "I think you don't care about making it easier for anyone else."
Sato exhaled through his nose, his voice dropping lower. "You're right—I don't. I didn't sign up for this, and I don't owe any of you anything. I liked my job before all this started."
Aria stiffened. "Before what?"
Sato didn't answer right away. His gaze shifted, distant and heavy with something unspoken. "Before everything changed. Before I had to clean up after someone else's mistakes."
Her chest tightened. "We didn't ask for this," she said softly, but her tone carried more defiance than sympathy.
"No, you didn't," Sato admitted, his voice steady but colder now. "But that doesn't change what you are."
Aria's fists clenched at her sides. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Sato hesitated, then sighed. "You know exactly what I mean. Things go wrong. They always do. And when they do, people get hurt."
Aria's breath hitched, but she refused to look away. "That's not going to happen. Not with us."
Sato's lips pressed into a thin line. He studied her for a moment before speaking again, quieter this time. "I hope you're right."
The words weren't an accusation, but they carried the weight of doubt—and something else. Regret, maybe. Aria couldn't tell.
"If you don't like the way I'm handling things," Sato continued, his voice calm but firm, "then maybe they should've sent someone who knows how to follow orders instead of questioning them."
The silence that followed was deafening. Aria's jaw tightened, her frustration breaking through her resolve. She stepped forward, brushing past him without another word.
"That's not where home is," Sato called after her, his voice even.
"I'm taking a walk!" Aria snapped, throwing a glare over her shoulder. "Go home yourself!"
Sato watched her retreating figure for a moment, his shoulders slumping slightly. His gaze flickered with a mix of exhaustion and something unreadable before he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
The orange hues of the sunset faded into deep purple as Aria stomped down the quiet street, her muttering growing louder with each step.
"'If you don't like the way I'm handling things,'" she mocked in a low voice, imitating Sato's calm but infuriating tone. "Who does he think he is?"
She stopped abruptly, spinning around and jabbing a finger toward the empty sidewalk. "And another thing!" she snapped, her voice echoing in the silence. "You act like you're the only one who's ever had it hard! Newsflash, Sato—not everything's about you!"
Aria crossed her arms, glaring at the empty space where Sato had been. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Always talking down to me, like I'm just—" She cut herself off, realizing mid-rant that there was no one there. Her face flushed red as the weight of her own ridiculousness sank in.
"Oh, great," she muttered, covering her face with her hands. "I'm yelling at air now. Perfect."
Letting out a long sigh, she turned back and kept walking, trying to shake off the embarrassment. "Why do I even bother..." she mumbled under her breath. Her footsteps echoed against the pavement, her earlier anger simmering down to quiet frustration.
It wasn't until a few minutes later that Aria glanced around and realized the street had changed. The neat rows of shopfronts and streetlights were gone, replaced by overgrown weeds and crumbling concrete. The buildings here were darker, more dilapidated, their broken windows and faded signs casting eerie shadows in the dim light.
"How far did I walk?" she murmured, a hint of unease creeping into her voice. She glanced behind her, but the familiar streets were nowhere in sight. Swallowing hard, she adjusted her grip on her school bag and kept moving forward.
The air grew colder as she continued. A faint, metallic scent lingered, making her stomach churn. Then, up ahead, a hulking structure loomed into view—its jagged silhouette unmistakable even in the fading light.
Aria froze, her breath catching in her throat. "The... Kanagawa facility?" she whispered.
The building stood silent and foreboding, its cracked walls and shattered windows like scars from some forgotten battle. The surrounding area was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Aria's heart raced as she stepped closer, her curiosity battling with the warning bells in her mind. The facility looked exactly like the one she'd seen on the news earlier—abandoned, crumbling, and yet alive with an unshakable sense of dread.
She hesitated at the rusted chain-link fence surrounding the property. Her fingers brushed the cold metal as she peered through, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. For a moment, she considered turning back.
But then she remembered Sato's words—his dismissive tone, his refusal to take her seriously. Her jaw tightened as determination flared in her chest.
"Maybe it's better if I figure this out myself," she muttered, pushing open the gate with a metallic groan.
The air inside the facility grounds felt heavier, each step bringing her closer to something she couldn't quite name. Aria clutched her bag tightly, her gaze darting between the darkened windows and the shadows that seemed to stretch toward her.
She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Let's see what's really going on here."
She stepped further into the facility grounds, the eerie silence swallowing her whole.
Aria walked along the cracked sidewalk, her eyes locked on the towering Kanagawa facility ahead. The building loomed over her like a shadow, its broken windows and crumbling walls stark against the deepening twilight. Each step she took seemed to pull her closer, the silence around her amplifying the weight of the structure's presence.
Her next step landed on something that gave a sharp, distinct crunch beneath her shoe. She froze mid-stride, looking down with quiet curiosity. Moving her foot aside, she revealed a shard of glass, fractured further under her weight. The broken edges caught the last rays of sunlight, reflecting faint, scattered glimmers across the pavement.
Aria crouched slightly, staring at the shard with an unreadable expression. Her fingers twitched, as though tempted to pick it up, but instead she straightened and brushed off her skirt. Her gaze lingered on the glass for a moment longer before drifting back toward the facility.
It was different now.
The cracks and broken windows were gone. The jagged facade had smoothed itself out, restored to perfection. Aria tilted her head slightly, studying the pristine building as though seeing it through a veil of time. The automatic doors stood intact, gleaming under the imagined glow of sunlight. For a fleeting second, it looked alive, untouched by decay or destruction.
Then her gaze fell to the entrance, where the vision shifted again.
The pristine doors shattered in an instant, their edges jagged and broken once more. Beyond them, ghostly figures flickered to life—police officers, heavily armed and rushing into the building. Fire trucks and ambulances materialized behind them, their lights faint and flickering like dying embers. The faint echo of sirens filled the air, distant yet unmistakable.
"Move, move, move!" one of the officers barked, his voice sharp and commanding.
Aria didn't flinch as the translucent responders stormed past her, their forms flickering like holograms on the verge of failure. She watched them run through the shattered entrance, their urgency palpable even in their ghostly state.
"The Valkyries are inside!" a voice rang out, firm and urgent. "Make sure you don't target them!"
Her gaze followed the phantom figures as they disappeared into the shadows of the building. Slowly, the vision dissolved, leaving behind the hollow, broken doors and the empty street around her.
Aria exhaled softly, the cold evening air brushing against her skin. Her hand drifted toward the strap of her bag, clutching it tightly as her eyes lifted to the upper floors of the building.
The world shifted again.
Flickering flames erupted inside, their orange glow lighting up the darkened windows. The sharp crack of gunfire echoed through the air, each burst illuminating the chaos within. Shadows moved erratically, darting past the windows as shouts rang out from somewhere deep inside.
Her breath steadied as she stood there, unmoving. The phantom heat of the flames brushed against her face, vivid and overwhelming despite its unreality. The chaos of the scene surged louder, the shouts and gunfire reaching a crescendo—
And then it was gone.
The flames disappeared, the gunfire ceased, and the building stood silent and hollow once more. Aria blinked slowly, her gaze dropping back to the shard of glass she had stepped on earlier. It lay there, unchanged, a tiny fragment of the broken story she had glimpsed.
She exhaled again, her jaw tightening slightly. My home, she thought, the weight of her visions lingering in her mind. Destroyed, just like that.
Without a word, she stepped forward, her footfalls crunching faintly against the scattered debris.
Meanwhile, Sato walked briskly down the darkening street, his hands buried in his pockets. The faint hum of the city surrounded him—traffic in the distance, the occasional chatter of passing strangers—but none of it registered. His mind was too busy replaying the argument.
"Why does she always have to push?" he muttered, shaking his head. The sharpness of her words lingered. You don't care about anyone but yourself. She'd said it so confidently, like she'd been waiting to throw it at him.
He sighed heavily, his pace slowing. Maybe I shouldn't have snapped back like that. But she never knew when to stop, always prodding at things better left alone.
A faint flicker of memory broke through his thoughts. He saw her face from earlier that evening—eyes wide with curiosity as she stared up at the broadcast on the giant screen. The Kanagawa facility... the gunfire... He'd noticed how intently she was listening, the way her expression shifted, just for a moment
Sato's steps faltered. He glanced over his shoulder at the bustling street behind him, his chest tightening. She wouldn't.
His hand moved instinctively to his pocket, pulling out his phone. He tapped her contact and pressed it to his ear, his heart pounding as it rang once. Twice. The longer it went unanswered, the tighter the knot in his stomach grew.
"Pick up, Aria," he muttered, pacing in a tight circle. "Don't do something stupid."
The call went to voicemail, and his breath hissed through his teeth. He stared at the phone for a moment, then shoved it back into his pocket. Turning sharply, he broke into a run, heading in the direction of the abandoned facility.
The streets blurred around him as his thoughts spiraled. If she's there... if she actually went... He forced the thought aside, focusing only on moving faster.
"Damn it, Aria," he muttered, his breath quickening. You better not get yourself killed.
Aria pushed the broken double doors aside, the jagged edges scraping faintly against the floor. She stepped inside, her phone held tightly in her hand. The cavernous lobby stretched out before her, its shadows deep and unwelcoming. The beam of her flashlight hadn't yet cut through the dark when a faint vibration from her phone made her pause.
The screen lit up in her hand, Sato's name glowing against the black background. She frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. "What now?" she muttered, her thumb hovering over the answer button.
The memory of their argument flashed in her mind, and with a frustrated grumble, she rejected the call. Shoving the phone back into her pocket, she muttered, "Not now, Sato."
Pulling the phone out again, this time to use the flashlight, she switched on the beam and swept it across the room. The cone of light revealed cracked marble floors, dirt, and scattered debris. The walls, streaked with grime, rose high above her, their once-pristine surfaces now marred by years of decay.
She took a cautious step forward, her shoe crunching softly on glass. The sound echoed faintly, sending a chill down her spine. The vastness of the space felt oppressive, the silence wrapping around her like a heavy blanket.
Her light passed over the front desk, and suddenly the room shifted.
The dirt and grime vanished. The cracked floors gleamed, polished and pristine. The broken walls repaired themselves, their sleek surfaces glowing under bright overhead lights. Figures appeared, bustling through the space—men and women in crisp uniforms, walking with purpose or chatting in small groups.
Aria froze, her breath catching in her throat. The scene was vivid, alive, and impossible.
Slowly, she approached the front desk, her heart pounding in her chest. Her flashlight felt useless against the brightness of the room, its beam swallowed by the glowing scene around her. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the desk.
And then everything changed.
The clean, bustling lobby dissolved into chaos. Flames erupted from unseen sources, licking at the walls and casting wild shadows. The figures in uniforms were no longer walking or talking—they were running, screaming, their faces twisted in terror. Blood smeared the floors and walls, pooling around lifeless bodies.
Aria's breath hitched, her chest tightening as panic surged through her. "What... what is this?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
A scream pierced through the chaos, high and desperate. It was familiar, too familiar. Her heart dropped as she turned her head toward the sound. "That voice..." she murmured, her legs moving before she could think.
She ran toward the source, her shoes skidding on the blood-slicked floor. The heat of the flames grew unbearable, sweat forming on her brow as she darted through the surreal scene. The scream came again, louder this time, cutting through her like a knife.
"Big sister!" she cried, her voice breaking as she pushed forward. But the chaotic scene offered no direction, no clear path.
She stumbled over something unseen, her foot catching hard on the ground. With a cry, she fell, her hands barely breaking her fall as she hit the floor. The moment her body hit the ground, everything went silent.
The flames were gone. The blood, the bodies, the screams—all vanished. The lobby was dark and empty once more, its decayed reality returning with crushing finality.
Aria pushed herself up onto her arms, her breathing shallow and ragged. She stared at the dusty, cracked floor beneath her, her fingers trembling against the cold surface. Tears welled in her tightly shut eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she muttered, "Why am I seeing this? Her scream... it was so real."
Her voice dropped to a whisper, her shoulders shaking. "I'm scared, big sister."
She stayed there for a moment, the weight of the vision pressing down on her. The cold reality of the facility did little to comfort her, the oppressive silence only amplifying the pounding of her heart.
Akuri sat on the edge of her bed, dressed in soft pajamas that hung loosely around her. A towel hung around her shoulders, soaking up the last traces of water from her damp hair. The faint hum of the dormitory buzzed around her—doors opening and closing, muffled conversations in the hallway—but she barely noticed.
She glanced at the clock on her desk, its green digits glowing faintly in the dim light. A small smile tugged at her lips as she leaned forward, rubbing the towel through her hair absentmindedly. "I wonder if Aria liked her first day," she murmured softly.
Her thoughts lingered on the awkward moments from earlier—the way Aria stumbled through gym class and blushed under the attention of her classmates. Akuri chuckled, shaking her head. "Bet she tripped over her own feet," she said, her voice tinged with fondness.
Despite their differences, there was something comforting about having Aria around. It wasn't like having a sibling, exactly, but the bond they shared was undeniable. Akuri couldn't quite explain it, but it was there, unspoken and unshakable.
She stood, tossing the towel onto the back of her chair, and stretched, her arms reaching high over her head. Her joints cracked faintly, and she let out a satisfied sigh. But the ease didn't last.
A sudden cough racked her chest, sharp and dry. She froze, her body tensing as the tightness in her lungs grew worse. Another cough followed, harder than the first, leaving her breathless. Her hand shot to her mouth, muffling the sound as her body trembled.
When the fit subsided, she lowered her hand and blinked at the crimson streaks staining her palm. Her heart skipped, and her breath hitched. She stared at the blood, her mind racing.
"What the hell...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her chest tightened again, but this time it wasn't just the coughing—it was fear. Real fear.
She stumbled toward the small sink in the corner of her room, her legs shaky beneath her. Turning on the tap, she scrubbed her hands under the cold water, watching the blood swirl down the drain. The sight made her stomach twist, but she forced herself to keep going. She splashed water onto her face, the chill biting at her skin and snapping her back to the moment.
Leaning on the sink for support, Akuri stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was pale, her usually vibrant eyes dull and tired. The sight sent a pang of unease through her, but she quickly shoved it aside.
"I'm just tired," she muttered, gripping the edge of the sink. Her knuckles whitened as she steadied herself. "That's all it is."
She turned off the tap and dried her hands on a towel, her movements deliberate and slow. Glancing back at her bed, she hesitated before sitting down heavily on the edge. The ache in her chest hadn't gone away completely, but the coughing had stopped. For now.
Her gaze drifted to the clock again, its numbers ticking away the seconds. Her thoughts wandered back to Aria—her clumsy charm, her soft smile. It wasn't like Akuri to worry about someone else so much, but Aria was different. Their connection was deeper than she liked to admit.
"Maybe I should tell someone," she murmured, her hand drifting to her chest. But the thought made her stomach twist. She shook her head quickly. "No. It's probably nothing. I'll just scare them for no reason."
Lying back on the bed, Akuri pulled the blanket over herself and stared at the ceiling. The room felt colder than usual, the faint buzz of the dormitory's background noise doing little to comfort her.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to focus on something positive. The image of Aria's awkward gym class antics made her smile faintly, and she clung to the thought as sleep began to creep in.
"I'll be fine," she whispered to the empty room. "It's nothing."
But the unease lingered, settling in her chest like a weight she couldn't shake.
Outside, the streets were a different story.
Sato's shoes pounded against the pavement as he ran, his breath coming in sharp bursts. The city lights cast long, flickering shadows across the cracked sidewalks, and the cool night air stung his lungs.
I should have stopped her, he thought, the memory of Aria's stubbornness replaying in his mind. His jaw tightened as he rounded a corner, his eyes scanning the street ahead.
The towering silhouette of the Kanagawa facility came into view, its jagged, broken windows glinting faintly under the moonlight. The sight made his stomach twist, but he didn't slow down. He sprinted the last stretch, stopping just short of the shattered glass doors.
Sato bent over, catching his breath, his hands resting on his knees. The air around the facility was heavy, almost oppressive, and a faint metallic tang lingered in the back of his throat. Straightening up, he took a cautious step forward, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the dark lobby beyond the broken entrance.
"Aria," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and edged with frustration.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and tapped her name in his contacts. The screen lit up as the call connected, the faint ringing sound filling the silence. He waited, his grip tightening around the phone.
No answer.
"Damn it," he hissed, shoving the phone back into his pocket. His frustration burned hotter now, mixing with the creeping unease that had settled in his chest.
He stepped through the shattered doors, the crunch of glass under his boots echoing faintly. The lobby stretched out before him, a cavernous space swallowed by shadows. Sato swung his flashlight around, the beam cutting through the dark and illuminating the remnants of a once-functional facility.
"Aria!" he called out, his voice bouncing off the walls.
The silence that followed was deafening. Sato's jaw clenched as he moved deeper into the lobby, the flashlight's beam sweeping across overturned furniture and scattered debris. Each step felt heavier, the sense of something being wrong growing with every passing second.
He paused, his light catching on faint footprints in the dust near the center of the room. Kneeling, he examined them closely. They were fresh.
"Aria," he muttered again, his tone softer this time, tinged with worry.
Standing up, he followed the trail, his flashlight leading the way. The shadows seemed to grow darker, the air thicker, as if the facility itself were trying to keep him out. But Sato pushed forward, his determination outweighing his unease.
"I swear, if you've gotten yourself hurt..." he muttered under his breath, his frustration masking the worry that gnawed at him.
The hallway stretched endlessly before Aria, dim and silent. Her flashlight swept over the crumbling walls and debris-laden floor, guiding her steps. She approached an open doorway, its edges scorched and warped as though by fire. The sight made her chest tighten. She knew this place. She had been here before.
She stepped inside, the beam of her flashlight cutting through the darkness. The massive room beyond was lined with cylindrical tanks, their glass surfaces cracked, shattered, or fogged with grime. Her breath hitched as she took in the scene. It was just as she remembered it.
Rows of tanks stood like gravestones, silent and lifeless. Broken glass littered the floor, glinting faintly in the light. Wires and tubing hung limply from the machinery, their severed ends swaying slightly in the cold air. Some tanks were mere skeletal frames, their contents long gone.
Her steps slowed as she passed each one, her flashlight flickering faintly. Flashes of memory came unbidden—sharp, chaotic, and unrelenting.
The room had been alive once, filled with the glow of functioning machinery and the frantic movements of scientists. The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and the deafening sounds of gunfire. She remembered running through this very space, her heart pounding as she shouted orders to the others.
"Secure the tanks! Get those people out!"
Her voice had been strong then, unyielding. But now, it trembled in her chest, replaced by the crushing weight of the silence that surrounded her.
She stopped in front of a tank near the far wall. Its glass was heavily cracked, and dark stains marred its interior. Her hand brushed against the surface, her fingers trembling. She wiped away a patch of grime and leaned closer, peering inside. Tangled wires and fluid stains were all that remained.
"This one," she whispered to herself, the words soft and hesitant. "I remember this one."
The memory hit her hard.
She had stood in front of this very tank, yelling for someone to help her pull its occupant out before the fire spread. The person inside had been unresponsive, their face obscured by the murky liquid. But she had seen their eyes flutter open just as the world exploded around her.
The weight of the memory left her breathless. She stumbled back from the tank, her flashlight trembling in her hand. Her heart raced as her mind struggled to reconcile the past with the ruined present before her.
Aria turned toward the doorway, her flashlight beam cutting through the shadows. Her breathing quickened as another memory surfaced—the sounds of the firefight, the cries for help, and the desperate urgency of that day. She could still hear the voices, still feel the heat of the flames licking at her heels.
Then, a sound broke the silence—a sneeze.
Aria froze, her heart leaping into her throat. Her flashlight snapped toward the source of the noise, the beam catching on a faint movement near the doorway.
A figure stepped hesitantly into the room, illuminated fully by the light. The girl wore a damp school uniform that clung to her frame, her long blonde hair dripping and tangled. Her eyes were wide, mirroring Aria's shock as they locked gazes. One hand was hidden behind her back, clutching something Aria couldn't see.
Time seemed to stop as the two girls stared at each other, frozen in the stillness of the room. The air between them was heavy, charged with an unspoken connection that neither could deny.
Aria's lips parted, and a soft, trembling whisper escaped. "Another one?"
The girl flinched, her grip on the doorway tightening. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths as her gaze darted nervously around the room. She took a small step back, her damp shoes crunching on the broken glass.
The clone stood in the doorway, damp and trembling, her wide eyes locked on Aria. The silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. Aria raised one hand slowly, her palm open in a gesture of peace.
"It's okay," Aria said softly, her voice calm but steady. "I'm not here to hurt you."
The clone didn't move, her gaze flicking briefly to the flashlight in Aria's hand before darting back to her face. She seemed unsure, torn between staying and running.
Then Aria noticed the clone's hand behind her back. A sharp pang of worry shot through her as she thought, She's holding something. If it's a weapon, I have nothing to defend myself with.
Her heart pounded, but she kept her expression composed, her tone unwavering as she continued. "I'd like to talk to you," Aria said gently. "But... could you put whatever you're hiding behind your back away so I can?"
The clone hesitated, her grip tightening on whatever she was holding. Her knees trembled slightly, her damp clothes clinging to her as the chill in the air seemed to seep into her very bones.
"Please?" Aria added, her voice soft and almost pleading.
The clone's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she finally seemed to make a decision. Slowly, she began to move her hand. Aria tensed, ready to react as the clone brought her hand into view.
A handgun.
So she did have a weapon, Aria thought, her pulse quickening. The flashlight in her hand wavered slightly as she tried to steady herself. The clone's hands trembled violently as her knees began to buckle. She was shaking too much to keep standing.
The clone swayed, her legs giving out. Aria moved instinctively, rushing forward to catch her. But before she could reach her, another figure stepped in.
"Easy, kid," a calm, male voice said.
The clone froze, her wide eyes now darting up at the man who had caught her. Aria's heart sank as she recognized him.
"S-Sato?" Aria stammered, looking up at him in shock. "What are you doing here?"
Sato ignored her question, his expression unreadable as he glanced down at the clone, who seemed too stunned to react. He carefully steadied her, then turned his gaze to Aria with a straight face.
"I came to find you," he said flatly. His voice was calm but carried a distinct edge of disappointment. "And you have a lot of explaining to do later."
Aria opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. She watched as Sato bent down, effortlessly scooping the trembling clone into his arms. The clone flinched at first but didn't resist, her body too weak to fight back. Her wide eyes flicked between Aria and Sato, confusion and fear written all over her face.
Sato carried her to a nearby chair, carefully setting her down. He shrugged off his blazer, draping it gently over the clone's shoulders. She clutched it instinctively, her trembling slowing slightly as the warmth enveloped her.
For a moment, the room fell into a tense silence. The clone looked down, her damp hair shielding her face as she held the blazer tightly around her. Aria stood frozen, her thoughts racing as she tried to process what had just happened.
Sato finally broke the silence, his tone calm but firm. "We'll talk later, Aria," he said without looking at her. His focus remained on the clone, his sharp eyes scanning her for any signs of injury or immediate danger.
Aria nodded faintly, swallowing the lump in her throat. She couldn't shake the unease that had settled deep in her chest—not just from Sato's unexpected appearance, but from the strange connection she felt to the trembling girl sitting before them.
Sato took a step back after settling the trembling girl into the chair. His sharp eyes remained fixed on her, his expression calm but watchful. Aria stood nearby, her flashlight casting faint beams across the cracked walls and broken glass.
"What's your name?" Sato asked evenly, breaking the silence.
The girl hesitated, clutching the blazer wrapped around her shoulders. She looked between Sato and Aria as though weighing whether to trust them. Her gaze dropped to her lap, and for a moment, it seemed like she wouldn't answer.
Finally, she murmured, "01."
Both Sato and Aria exchanged a glance. Aria's brows knitted together in confusion, while Sato's face remained neutral but alert.
"01?" Aria repeated, her tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "That's... it?"
The girl nodded slightly, still keeping her eyes downcast. The name seemed both significant and insufficient, a fragment of a bigger puzzle. Her fingers tightened around the blazer as though drawing some comfort from it.
Aria took a cautious step closer and perched herself on the edge of a nearby desk. She spoke gently, her tone inviting. "What are you doing here?"
01's head lifted slightly, her wide eyes meeting Aria's. She blinked, then tilted her head with a faintly defiant look. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with an edge.
The response caught Aria off guard. Before she could answer, Sato raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "Good question, Aria," he said, turning his attention to her. "Why are you here?"
Aria froze, clearly caught. A nervous smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she avoided Sato's gaze. "I, uh..." she started, but her words trailed off.
01's lips twitched into what might have been a faint smile. "I'm just asking a question with a question," she said softly. "Seems fair, doesn't it? I just met you both."
Sato shifted his stance but didn't respond. His focus returned to the girl, who seemed more relaxed now despite the tremor in her hands. She glanced down at the blazer and gave a small nod.
"Thanks for this," she said, pulling it a little closer around her shoulders. "The shirt, I mean."
Sato inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her thanks without saying anything.
After a moment of quiet, the clone's expression shifted. She looked up at Aria again, her face troubled. "I don't know why I'm here," she admitted, her voice wavering. "I don't know what's going on. My memory's... fuzzy. I just woke up here, and now..."
Her voice trailed off, and her grip on the blazer tightened. "Now I'm being chased."
Aria leaned forward slightly, her eyes full of concern. "That's awful," she said, her voice soft.
Sato remained standing, his expression unreadable. "Do you know who they are or why they're after you?" he asked, his tone calm but direct.
01 shook her head, her damp hair falling into her face. "I don't," she said. "I wish I knew, but... I just want to leave this place. It freaks me out."
Aria spoke up, her tone decisive but gentle. "We should take her to Professor Masato. He'll know what to do."
Sato turned to face her, narrowing his eyes slightly. "The facility you live at?" His voice held a skeptical edge.
"Yes," Aria replied, folding her arms. "It's safe, and Masato can help her."
Sato huffed quietly, glancing at 01 with his usual guarded expression. "She's not staying with me. I can tell you that much."
Aria was exasperated. "Obviously. I wasn't suggesting she should."
Sato's tone flattened. "Good. I don't want…" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "…one of them living under my roof."
Aria's face hardened into a frown, disappointment flashing across her features. "You keep saying 'them,' like she's not sitting right here."
Sato didn't reply immediately, his gaze shifting to the side as though refusing to engage. "She's not my responsibility."
01 looked between the two of them, her voice barely audible. "What are you talking about?"
Aria turned back to 01, softening her expression as she offered a small smile. "Don't worry about him. We know someone who can help you."
Sato sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before finally speaking. "Fine. If Masato's place is the best option, then we'll take her there. But you'd better hope you're right."
Aria glanced at him, a quiet resolve in her voice. "I know I am."
01 blinked, processing their words. She tugged Sato's blazer closer, a flicker of hope in her tired eyes. "You're really getting me out of here?"
Sato walked over to her, crouching slightly so they were eye level. Without much ceremony, he scooped her up into his arms, drawing a surprised yelp from 01 as she instinctively clung to him.
"Yeah," Sato said gruffly, "let's get moving before anything else happens."
01, stunned but grateful, leaned her head lightly against his shoulder. Aria followed close behind, watching Sato with a small, knowing smile. You act tough, but you're a softy underneath it all, she thought to herself.
Sato, catching her expression, glanced back over his shoulder. "What're you smiling at?"
Aria shrugged innocently, unable to keep the playfulness from her voice. "Oh, nothing. You're just full of surprises, that's all."
"Don't push it," Sato muttered, though his tone lacked any real bite.
"yes, sir" aria said keeping her playful smile and grabbing 01's gun off the desk.
The rumble of engines faded as the convoy came to a halt outside the crumbling facility. Heavily armed reinforcements disembarked with practiced precision, their flashlights and scanning equipment illuminating the darkened structure.
The squad leader strode forward, his expression sharp and his tone commanding. "Status," he barked at the two remaining soldiers from the earlier team, who stood at attention near the facility's entrance.
One of the soldiers, his helmet slightly askew and his posture tense, stepped forward. "The target engaged us, sir," he began. "She managed to grab a weapon during the fight and fired on us. Two men down."
The squad leader's gaze hardened. "And you let her escape."
"She didn't leave the facility," the second soldier quickly added. "We followed her as far as we could. She slipped away deeper into the west wing."
The leader's eyes narrowed, his tone cold. "An untrained clone outmaneuvered both of you?"
"She's erratic," the first soldier admitted. "Wild shots, frantic movements. But resourceful."
The leader gestured sharply toward the facility. "Move out. If she's still inside, we'll flush her out."
The soldiers moved cautiously through the facility, their boots crunching over debris and broken tiles. The west wing bore the clear marks of the earlier firefight. Blackened scorch marks marred the walls and floor, and the air still carried the faint metallic tang of burned circuitry. Two bodies lay slumped in the hallway, their armor scorched and weapons still in hand.
The squad leader stopped near one of the bodies, his flashlight illuminating the burn mark on the chest plate. "Direct hit," he muttered. "Lucky, not skillful."
One of the reinforcements swept the area with a scanner. "Energy readings confirm standard-issue rifle fire," he reported. "Looks like the shots were concentrated here, but nothing beyond this point."
Another soldier crouched near the floor, his light catching something faint on the cracked tiles. "Tracks," he said, pointing to a trail of damp footprints. The prints shimmered faintly under the flashlight, leading away from the firefight and deeper into the facility.
"She's wet," the squad leader observed, running his hand over a faint damp patch on the ground. "Still carrying water from wherever she came out of. The trail's fresh."
The soldiers followed the footprints, which wove through the corridors before stopping abruptly in front of an open doorway. One soldier stepped inside, his light sweeping over the room.
"Over here," he called out. The others followed, their beams illuminating the space.
At the center of the room stood a chair, its seat faintly damp. Nearby, a broken incubator stood against the wall, its shattered glass scattered across the floor.
"She stopped here," one soldier noted, touching the chair's surface. "Still cold, but not soaked. She's moving quickly."
The squad leader's sharp eyes scanned the room, noting the faint impressions of movement in the dust. "She wasn't alone," he said, his voice low. "Someone else was here."
The soldiers gathered near the damp chair, their movements deliberate as they assessed the room. One of them picked up a fragment of broken glass from the incubator, inspecting the jagged edge. "This place is a mess. If she came from here, it's no wonder she's disoriented."
Another soldier stood by the doorway, scanning for further footprints. "Trail ends here," he said. "No sign of where she went next."
"She's either hiding," the squad leader muttered, "or someone got her out."
One of the original soldiers from the earlier team shifted uncomfortably. "There were no signs of anyone else when we engaged her, sir," he said. "But... if someone came after, they'd have had to move fast."
The squad leader's jaw tightened as he turned to his reinforcements. "HQ needs to know about this," he said. "Report that the asset is still on-site but potentially compromised. If she's been taken, we'll track whoever did it."
"What's the call, sir?" one of the reinforcements asked.
The leader straightened, his voice cold and decisive. "Sweep every wing. If she's hiding, we'll flush her out. If she's gone, we'll find her trail."
He glanced back at the chair and the faint wet marks on the floor, his thoughts briefly flickering to the possibility of an unknown third party. "She won't get far," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.
The city lights shimmered faintly, reflecting off damp pavement as Sato carried 01 through the quiet streets. The rhythmic echo of his footsteps filled the silence, accompanied by the faint swish of Aria's skirt as she walked beside him. The chilly night air bit at their skin, but neither of them seemed to notice.
01 adjusted the oversized blazer draped over her shoulders, her damp hair clinging to her cheeks. She tilted her head slightly to glance at Aria, her voice soft but curious. "So, this place we're going to... who runs it?"
Aria turned to 01 with a bright, reassuring smile. "Professor Masato," she said warmly. "He's a family friend of Sato's, but honestly, he's more like an uncle. He's kind, brilliant, and always willing to help."
Aria's tone grew lighter as she added, "You'll love it there. It's comfortable, and he'll do whatever he can to make sure you're okay."
01 hesitated, fidgeting with the edge of the blazer. Her damp fingers toyed with the fabric as she looked up again. "You really think he'll want to help someone like me?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.
"Of course," Aria replied without hesitation, her smile unwavering. "Masato doesn't judge people. He's someone you can trust."
The clone's gaze shifted to Sato. A faint pink blush dusted her cheeks as she asked tentatively, "What's your opinion on this place?"
Sato didn't break stride, his eyes fixed ahead. "It's alright," he said evenly. "I don't live there, but Aria thinks it's the best place on earth."
The bluntness of his tone surprised 01. She blinked and tilted her head to look at aria. "Is he always like this?" she asked, her voice quieter, almost conspiratorial.
Aria sighed dramatically and gave Sato a disapproving look. "You have no idea," she said, her tone a mix of exasperation and teasing.
01's eyes flicked between the two. With a small sigh, she rested her head back against Sato's shoulder, adjusting herself in his arms for comfort. She clung to the blazer, finding its warmth comforting against the cold air. Her thoughts drifted as she glanced at Aria's reassuring smile and Sato's unyielding focus.
I do feel safer with these two, though.
The sterile hallways of the facility hummed faintly under the glow of fluorescent lights. Professor Masato stood near a lab station, deep in discussion with a staff member. His sharp gaze flicked across a monitor as he pointed to a set of readings.
"These levels are off. Run the diagnostics again and double-check the calibrations," he instructed, his tone calm but firm. The staff member nodded quickly, scribbling notes on a clipboard.
"Masato," a voice called from behind him, cutting through the quiet.
Masato turned, his brows lifting in mild surprise. At the entrance to the lab stood three figures. Aria was the first he noticed, standing beside Sato, who carried a girl in his arms. Wrapped in an oversized blazer, the girl's damp hair framed her pale face, her wide, curious eyes locked on him.
"Look what we found," Sato said, his tone as dry as ever.
Masato stepped forward, his sharp gaze immediately shifting to the girl in Sato's arms. "Who is she?" he asked, his voice low and cautious. "And why is she here?"
"Found her at the Kanagawa facility," Sato replied bluntly.
The mention of the abandoned research site made Masato's expression harden. "You went there?" he asked, his tone laced with disbelief. "Do you have any idea—"
"We know," Aria interrupted quickly, stepping closer. "But she needed help."
Masato exhaled sharply, his gaze returning to 01 still in Sato's arms. She clutched the blazer tightly around herself, her eyes flicking nervously between the three adults. "What's your name?" Masato asked gently, crouching slightly to meet her eye level.
01 hesitated, her fingers gripping the edges of the blazer. Finally, in a small voice, she said, "01."
Masato blinked, his neutral expression faltering for a moment. "01?" he repeated, his tone measured. "Is that all?"
She nodded, shrinking slightly against Sato's shoulder. "That's all I know."
Masato straightened, glancing between Sato and Aria. "She doesn't even have a name," he muttered. "And you thought bringing her here was a good idea?"
"She was being hunted," Sato replied firmly. "We weren't going to leave her there."
Masato's sharp gaze lingered on Sato before softening slightly as he looked back at 01. "Bring her to the examination room," he said, gesturing down the hallway. "I'll take a look."
As Sato adjusted 01 in his arms and began walking, she tilted her head slightly to look at Masato. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "You're… Professor Masato?"
"That's right," he replied, his tone gentler now. "And you're safe here."
01 blinked at him, her tense grip on the blazer loosening slightly. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice trembling.
Aria walked alongside them, casting a reassuring smile at the girl. "I told you he'd help."
01's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile, though her eyes remained wary. As Sato carried her deeper into the facility, her thoughts swirled.