—Shiina Mahiru, The Past, Day 5 After being 'transported'
…
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
It was raining again.
…
Shiver
Amane had fallen fast asleep, his chest going up and down in a steady rhythm
I'm scared.
…
I miss Akazawa-San, I miss Kadowaki-San I miss Chitose-San. I miss Amane-Kun's parents.
…
I miss everyone…
…
I'm sure you feel the same too right—
"Amane-kun." I said in a low voice, he looked thin, His once soft hair had turned rather stiff and oily, his body covered in dirt and sweat.
Stroke
Sniff Sniff
…
I want to go back…
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
BOOOOOOOM
Drip
Grumbleeee
—Day 7 after being 'transported'
Step Step
…
I could hear footsteps. My eyes slowly opened. For a moment, I simply stared at the ceiling. Then reality returned.
…
The rain had stopped. But the building was still cold—And we're still here. instinctively I tightened my grip around Amane-kun's hand. He was still asleep.
Step Step
The footsteps became louder. Someone was coming. I sat up, curling myself into a ball
"Mahiru?" Amane-Kun's voice was groggy and slow, his eyes looked unfocused
Squeeezeeeee
Step.
It sounded close. Too close. My body instinctively moved closer to Amane-kun. I didn't know who they were. And I didn't want to find out.
Not again.
We already learned what happened when people noticed us.
Remnants.
That word had followed us everywhere. A word I still didn't understand. But I understood what happened after people said it.
Fear.
Disgust.
Rejection.
Sometimes anger.
So I stayed quiet.
Maybe if we didn't move—
They would simply leave.
…
Step
"Wait."
A girl's voice.
"…There's someone here."
Ba Dump Ba Dump Ba Dump
Amane-kun opened his eyes.
Rustle
Without any hesitation He sat up and moved slightly in front of me.
"...Who's there?" His voice sounded dry, raspy too.
No answer.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
A girl slowly appeared from around the corner, wearing a rather oversize looking coat, the hood down, She had silver hair. Red eyes,
Step Step Step
"What is it Gaby—Oh." This time it was a man's voice following closely I could see 2 figures from the back, One of them had white hair, but her eyes were red and blue, the other one had some long ears… Like those Elves you see from animes.
All of them stopped in place, meanwhile the first girl had a look. A look that told me a single thing.
"Do you know us—?" I tried to speak yet my voice didn't come out the way I wanted it to.
Cough Cough
"Mahiru—!" Amane-Kun spoke, at the same time the girl tried took a step.
"Stay Back." Only for Amane-Kun to speak in a low voice, then he spoke another one, softer but it was obvious what he tried to say. "Please."
…
I realized I was gripping Amane-kun's sleeve.
Hard.
I didn't even notice I had done it. The girl slowly raised both hands before backing off along with the other three that followed her in. Soon enough they disappeared
Silence
I let out a small breath.
"...They're gone."
"Yeah."
Amane-kun slowly leaned his head against the wall. His eyes were already beginning to close.
"Amane-kun?"
"I'm just tired."
…
"Then sleep."
"What about you?"
"I'll wake you up later."
"...You promise?"
I smiled faintly.
"Of course."
He nodded.
His eyes closed.
Within moments—
Zzz…
…
I tried to stand up, only to realize my body wouldn't listen to me anymore.
"Ah." My legs trembled.
Wobble.
I quickly placed my hand against the wall.
Why?
I should have been able to stand. It wasn't that difficult. Yet my body felt so heavy. My arms. My legs. Even my head. Everything felt heavy.
Blink
I blinked slowly. The world seemed slightly blurry. I rubbed my eyes. Yet it didn't help.
Glance
I looked toward Amane-kun. He was already asleep. His breathing was quiet. Steady.
…
Thud.
At some point my knees gave in as I slowly slid down the wall until I was sitting on the floor.
"..."
I stared at my hands.
They looked dirty. My fingers trembling slightly.
…
I couldn't remember the last time I felt this tired.
No.
Maybe I could. But my mind just felt blurry as I looked at Amane-kun again. He was still asleep.
…
Maybe...
I could sleep too. Just for a little while. I would wake up later. I would wake him up. And then we'd figure out what to do. Just like we always did.
…
My eyelids became heavier.
"He'll be fine…"
I whispered.
I wasn't sure if I was talking about Amane-kun—Or myself.
…
Slowly
My head rested against the wall. The cold concrete no longer bothered me. My eyes closed.
…
Maybe I could just sleep for a while too.
Just for a little while.
…
—Several Hours Later
Sniff
Something smelled good.
…
I slowly opened my eyes. For a moment, I didn't know where I was. Then—
The cold concrete.
The broken ceiling.
The faint smell of rain.
…
Reality returned.
"..."
I turned my head.Amane-kun was still asleep. His hand was resting beside mine. Then I noticed something.
…
There was food.
I froze.
A small paper bag sat beside us.
Inside there was some bread, some dried meat. A few simple side dishes. And a bottle of water.
…
Fresh food.
Who left this here?
…
My thoughts immediately went back to the people from earlier.
The silver-haired girl.
The white-haired girl.
The strange man.
The elf.
…
Was it them? I didn't know. But there was nobody else here. I slowly reached for the bag. My hand stopped halfway.
…
What if—
I looked at Amane-kun. He was still asleep. He looked exhausted. His face had lost some of its usual color.
…
"Amane-kun."
No response.
I gently shook his shoulder.
"Amane-kun."
"...Nn…" As his eyes slowly opened.
"...Mahiru?"
"Look." He followed my gaze.
"...Food?"
Nod Nod
Then—
Grumbleeeee…
This time it was Amane-kun's stomach.
I couldn't help it.
A small laugh escaped me.
"...Don't laugh."
"I'm sorry."
"You're obviously hungry too."
"..."
He sighed.
Then reached for the food.
"Let's eat."
"Yeah."
Munch Munch
…
"Mahiru—?"
"Yesh—?"
"You're crying."
"…" I raised my hand to my cheek.
Wipe.
My fingers came back wet.
"Ah."
I hadn't noticed. I quickly wiped my eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I don't know."
Amane-kun looked at the food.
Then at me.
Then—
He quietly pushed one of the pieces of meat toward me.
"Eat."
"...But—"
"You're hungry."
"…"
"...Okay."
Munch.
…
The food was warm.
Simple.
But warm.
—Day 9 after being 'transported'
Step Step
The silver-haired girl appeared around the corner.
Gaby.
She was carrying another bag. This time, there were two.
"Morning."
"...Good morning." She said with a smile.
"Did you sleep?"
"A little."She looked toward Amane-kun. He was already awake.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Amane-kun's voice was still cautious.
But—He didn't tell her to stay back as Gaby placed the bags down.
"I brought some more food."
She opened one, some bread, rice. meat, fruit. There was even some warm soup.
"You don't have to keep doing this."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Shrug
"Because I want to."
…
She then pulled out several bottles of water.
"Also these."
"...Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Thud
She sat down a little ways away from us. Not too close.
Then she started eating her own food.
Munch
…
For some reason—
That made me feel comfortable.
She wasn't watching us.
She wasn't waiting for us to say something.
She was just...
There.
Munch Munch Munch
—Day 10 after being 'transported'
Munch Munch
"Say how'd you guys even end up in here?"
"We were sleeping together and when we woke up—"
"We were in the streets" Amane-Kun replied, he no longer acted as cautious at the beginning,
"Is that so."
Munch Munch
"yeah."
Munch Munch
"Well, I gotta go then, see you."
"See you."
Step Step Step
"…"
"Mahiru?"
"Mmm?"
"You're staring at the entrance"
"…"
"Oh."
—Day 12 after being 'transported'
Step Step.
My head lifted. There she was.
Gaby.
"Morning."
"Good morning."
She walked over.
"You're awake already."
"Yes."
"Did I wake you?"
"No."
…
I paused.
Then—
"...I was waiting."
Stops
"Waiting?"
"For you."
…
I immediately regretted saying it.
My face became warm.
"I mean—Not like that. It's just…"
"I know."
She placed the bag down.
"Then I guess I should hurry next time."
A small laugh escaped me.
"...Maybe."
Amane-kun finally woke up.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He looked at the food.
Then at Gaby.
"Thanks."
Gaby blinked.
It was probably the first time he had thanked her directly.
"...You're welcome."
—Day 13 after being 'transported'
Munch Munch
The days had started to blend together. I couldn't remember what we had done yesterday. Or the day before that. But there was one thing I could remember. Every morning—
Step Step.
Gaby would come.
And every morning—She would bring food.Sometimes bread. Sometimes rice.Sometimes something I had never eaten before.Sometimes she would bring water.Sometimes she would bring small things too.A blanket. Some clean clothes.A towel.
Nothing particularly expensive.
Nothing particularly special.
But—
She always came back.
…
"Do you two have somewhere to go?"
"..."
"Ah."
Gaby looked away.
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
I smiled.
"It's not your fault."
…
Munch Munch
For a while, we simply ate.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable anymore.
It was almost peaceful.
Almost like—
We were having breakfast with someone we knew.
…
I looked at Gaby, that silver hair, red eyes, the oversized coat she always wore. I still didn't know much about her.
But—
I knew she would come tomorrow. At least… I thought she would.
—Day 14 after being transported
"...Well."
She stood up.
"I gotta go."
"..."
My hand stopped.
"What?"
"I've got somewhere to be."
"I'll see you around."
…
Something inside me tightened.
"...Oh."
She turned around.
"Take care of yourselves, okay?"
Step.
She took one step. Then another, and before I knew it—
Grab.
My hand had moved on its own.
"…"
Gaby stopped. So did as I stared at my hand. My fingers were wrapped around the fabric of her coat.
What was I doing?
"Ah."
I looked down.
"I—I'm sorry."
"I dirtied your clothes…" Instinctively I pulled my hand back. Gaby looked at me. She didn't say anything.
Rustle
Amane-kun slowly stood up. He looked at Gaby. Then—
Bow.
"Thank you."
…
"You've been helping us for the past few days." Amane-kun kept his head lowered.
"We don't know why."
"But…"
He raised his head.
"Thank you."
…
I looked at Gaby. as she opened her mouth.
"...I…" Yet nothing came out.
Only Silence.
…
For a while that was the only thing between us, an uncomfortable silence.
Thud
Suddenly she sat down.
…
I was looking at her, then at Amane-Kun
…
She sat there for what felt like a long time…
Then—She finally spoke.
"I know. You're definitely watching us."
"And I think I know you know what I want."
?
"So Please—Other me?" She said with a tone full of desperation
???
I didn't understand what she meant by that.
Snap
CRACK—FSHHHHH
As I looked at the space behind her—Fractured. For a second it looked like Reality tore open, then a hole orange and red in color appeared,
Squeeezeeee
"Amane-Kun…"
Step
Then—She stepped through.
Blue eyes that looked like they burned.
White armor with black and orange accents.
A cape that seemed to be made of flame.
And at the time—She spoke only one single word.
"Come."