(Raneko’s Viewpoint)

  “Ahhn…” I yawned aloud as I stretched my arms out and climbed out of bed.

  The sun seeped through my window brightly.

  Glancing over to my nightstand, a black cat alarm clock sat neatly alone in the center.

  [10:32am]

  “Guess I slept in a little today. That’s fine though, it’s a Saturday.”

  I stretched out my arms one more time, doing a little ritual of calisthenics before heading for the door.

  “Alright. Time for some warm milk to start my day.”

  I descended from that short set of steps from the top floor, turning to make my way to the living room.

  “Aye, if it’s not my little kitten of a brother, Ran.” A familiar voice said to me in a teasing tone. “Seems like you slept in today.”

  I glanced over at the kitchen to see an equally familiar grin— so familiar that it often became quite a nuisance to look at.

  “Ah. Nii-san, it’s just you.” I deadpanned as I looked at Ashura Kuroshin– my older brother.

  “How cute. You still call me ‘Nii-san’ like a c–” Ashura began to say as he stirred a pan around in his hand over the stove.

  “You seem to be a little over-the-top today. Does that mean you’re hiding something from me again?”

  “Hmph.” Ashura let out a small, soft grunt and went silent. He closed his eyes and grinned even wider. “Already so perceptive first thing in the morning. I’d expect nothing less from my younger brother, Raneko. But alas.” He flicked the pan up, flipping a pancake out of it and catching it in the pan. “The answer to your question will soon be answered. Assuming you go about your mornings like you usually do.”

  I looked at him with a blank face, pausing for a moment to think about his words.

  ~No. Overthinking what he says never does me any good.

  “Whatever.” I responded as I reached into the fridge for a milk carton.

  I poured myself a glass and went to sit down on the couch. I could sense Ashura’s gaze fixating on me from behind.

  Shrugging it off, I reached over and grabbed the remote, turning on the television.

  “Let’s see the weather report for today.”

  I flipped through the channels, arriving on the local news channel.

  But what showed was not the weather report.

  Instead, a loud distortion of a helicopter screamed out of the television as live footage of a city street in ruins was shown on screen.

  “What the…”

  I narrowed my eyes.

  Blinked once.

  Pinched my nose.

  Shook my head.

  Blinked twice.

  It was real.

  “This is truly a tragedy. Just thirty minutes ago, sudden explosions wreaked havoc on Solace Street. As you can see from our live footage here, these explosions took chunks of most of the buildings on this street, including a popular maid cafe called ‘Cafe Hape’. Investigations are still ongoing and as the destruction only ended moments ago, first responders have only just arrived on the scene to check for survivors. Let’s check with our ground team to see if we can learn more.”

  My grip on the remote loosened and it slowly slipped out of my hand, softly clanking onto the floor.

  “Huh?”

  ~Cafe Hape? Isn’t that…

  My mind began to match thoughts together, piecing together fragments of my memory as I felt my heart go into a silent panic.

  But the program continued before I could finish collecting my thoughts.

  “Here we are on the scene. You can now see up-close the damage to the street, but instead of dwelling on this, how about we ask our local authorities about the progress they’ve made in their search for survivors.”

  The reporter approached a firefighter.

  “How about it, what are your thoughts on this sudden tragedy?”

  “Well, I’m not sure what to say. Sure, we’ve only just began searching but there’s something strange going on here.”

  He points up at the buildings and along the street.

  “Chunks of the top of a number of the buildings here have been taking out, yet after looking inside and around the building, the debris for some of them is nowhere to be found. Not even a pebble. This street is quite narrow and yet there’s barely any rubble, dust, or even glass for a long stretch. So the likelihood anyone actually got hurt in this tragedy is rather low. I’m not sure what caused this but I think we should at least be thankful for that much.”

  “There you have it folks. It seems we have some kind of mystery on our hands. Let’s go check with our other reporter who’s talking to witnesses just outside the destruction’s radius.”

  I couldn’t speak.

  I couldn’t think.

  I couldn’t even react.

  My eyes and ears were glued to the screen.

  I could feel myself bracing, looking for something that wasn’t there.

  The footage flipped to another area, where people appeared to take refuge by a large church.

  The reporter held the microphone up to one of them, allowing them to speak.

  “It was strange. First we were running, chunks of metal and brick were falling ontop of us. I froze. So did a few others. But next thing we knew, a light breeze were blowing across our heads, and the sky above us was clear. It was as if that falling debris didn’t exist to begin with.”

  “Yeah! I was there, too! It was crazy! After the first explosion, there wasn’t any debris! Perhaps God is real after all!”

  “I wasn’t near the explosions when they occured, but still I ran. But… I think I saw a boy run in the opposite direction… I wonder if he’s okay.”

  “A boy? Could you describe him?”

  “I don’t know. He disappeared so quickly, I couldn’t really get a good look at him.”

  My breath caught.

  I immediately stood to my feet.

  I turned around to face Ashura.

  And for once, Ashura looked at me with the same straight face I always put on— he looked at me without a smile.

  “Huh? Hang on, everyone. We’re going to swap back to our on-scene reporter. There’s breaking news.”

  “We found a body in the cafe’s ruins! He’s alive!”

  I swiveled around to look at the television screen again.

  The EMS carried a white-haired boy on a stretcher to the nearest ambulance.

  My heart dropped at the sight.

  ~Yoiya…

  “We found him in a big pile of dirt and dust. If his hand wasn’t sticking out, we may never had noticed him. We’re going to dig up the rest to see if we can find anything else.”

  The EMS walked up to the firefighter and handed him a card.

  “Huh? He has no visual injuries?”

  “An ID? Let me see. Yoiyami… Yuruichi.”

  Riiing.

  Ashura stared at me, gave me a small smile then took out his phone.

  “Yes?” He said, answering the call. “Ah. I see.”

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  He hands his phone over to me. “It’s for you.”

  Slowly, I accepted the phone from him and put it up to my ear.

  On the other end, the panicked voice of girl yelled out at me.

  “Raneko! Why aren’t you picking up your phone!?”

  “Ake? My phone’s in my room–” I muttered, trying my best to stay calm.

  “I just saw the news! Everybody in the group chat is worried!”

  I shoved the phone back into Ashura’s hand and rushed back to my room upstairs.

  Quickly, I picked up my phone and turned it on.

  Blip. Blip. Blip. Blip. Blip. Blip. Blip. Blip.

  Messages popped up one after another from the group chat we made for the Winter Comiket.

  [How…? - Doll of Glass]

  [The cafe. I can’t believe it. My sister was there too… - Ceruba ]

  [We gotta go see him! I don’t know how this happened but we move out! Assemble! Squad up for a rescue mission– I mean hospital visit. - Wizard of the Opera]

  [I’m worried too… - Doll of Glass]

  [I’ve contacted Raneko. But I’m not sure how we’ll find out where he’ll be admitted… - SweetKarage]

  I quickly typed a response.

  [I will figure something out. - Kuroneko]

  With a quick breath, I spun around and prepared to head out.

  After quickly putting on my clothes and grabbing my bag, I dashed for the door.

  But there, leaning againts the doorway was my brother Ashura, his arms crossed.

  He looked at me with the most seriousness I’ve ever seen in his expressions and then smiled softly at me.

  Ashura placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a thumbs up.

  “Go. I’ll find out which hospital they’re going to admit him into and send them over to you.”

  I blinked.

  I hugged him.

  “Thanks, nii-san. I owe you big time.”

  Then I ran out of the room in a hurry.

  …

  Elevator music played as the machinery hummed. The numbers on the screen softly dinged as we ascended each floor.

  With the tension lingering from the news, the enclosed space was rather suffocating.

  Not to mention…

  I looked around me.

  Eliba stood quietly in the corner, her arms crossed.

  Ake twiddled with her thumbs and fingers as she tried to remain calm.

  Rea clung to my jacket sleeve, her expression subtly strained as she was clearly trying to hold back her tears.

  And Mashiro was…

  “What are you doing?” I asked the swaying blonde as her body bounced up and down.

  “Huh? It’s catchy.”

  “It’s elevator music— No. Nevermind.”

  Mashiro was always rather light-hearted. I should only expect this kind of behavior from her.

  Besides, she could be coping with the situation as well. She’s certainly not a fool, though she may often act like one.

  Ding.

  The elevator doors slowly slid open. I began to quickly walk out, practically power-walking at full speed.

  But before I even made a single step, a gust of air brushed past me as Ake shot forward.

  “Huh?”

  She was gone in a flash. For a moment, I thought she awakened some kind of superpower from the sheer stress.

  Rea’s tugged on my sleeve and then her grip loosened. She walked ahead of me and turned at us.

  Her shoulders trembled as she bowed apologetically.

  I simply looked at her, but she turned away too quickly for me to see her face.

  Then she, too, ran down the hall.

  “They seem to be in a hurry.” Eliba stated. My fellow black-haired club member looked me in the eyes. “You seem like you want to rush over there as well.”

  With a heavy sigh, she walked out. Her face was stern as always, yet her posture was extremely stiff. Her fingers dug into her arms, as if holding herself together by force.

  It made sense, though.

  On our way here, Ashura updated us on the news.

  Four more bodies were found.

  Mia Yuruichi, Yoiya’s adoptive sister and legal guardian.

  Hati Tomoda, a cheerful waitress at the cafe with auburn hair as Ashura described her.

  Lois Dahl Fuyuki, a brown-haired girl who was said to be friendly with everyone.

  And…

  Serbi Cerubi, Eliba’s older sister.

  They were all deceased. Their bodies ice cold even after being dug up from the heated pile of dust they found Yoiya in.

  I closed my eyes and pinched my nose.

  ~Surely, she’s even more shaken than we are.

  “Let’s go.” The words came out naturally, yet with a solemn undertone.

  “Right. But what about her?” Eliba turned around as she asked.

  “Her?” I questioned.

  I looked to the elevator.

  Mashiro was still there, humming along to the elevator music even though it had long ended.

  “Oh. Right. I’ll snap her out of it.”

  I stepped towards her, touching her shoulders.

  “Mashiro. We’re headed to Yoiya’s room.”

  No reaction.

  I grabbed her shoulders and shook her lightly.

  “Mashiro? The elevator ride is over. It’s time to go.”

  Still no reaction, still swaying and humming.

  ~It wasn’t quite like Mashiro to get distracted like this. This is truly a dire situation indeed.

  I pinched her nose.

  And immediately her humming stopped. She looked straight at me— through me. It was a look I had never seen on Mashiro’s face before.

  A blank slate, devoid of emotion.

  Yet still, she smiled and grabbed my hand.

  “Let’s go.” She repeated my words as she led me down the hall, though I’m unsure if she actually heard me say them.

  ~Yes. Truly a dire situation indeed.

  …

  A large, white room came into view as I opened the room.

  A small kitchen to the side, a private restroom across from it.

  Further in, the typical set-up: A large hospital bed, a nightstand, and a couple of chairs for visitors.

  But what was important was who was in the bed.

  There lay a small boy with white hair, his eyes shut, the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

  A mask was put on him, with a tube that connected it to a machine that whirred steadily.

  An IV drip was placed into his arm.

  ~Life support, huh? I suppose even knowing there was something off about him, they’d still treat him the way they’d treat any human.

  I approached the bed, placing my hand on Ake’s shoulder as she silently wept at Yoiya’s side. Her hand tightly clutched his.

  Rea knelt at the other side of the bed, staring at Yoiya’s face as she clutched his other. Her eyes were beet red, but her expression was as soft as ever.

  It appeared as if she already cried out all her tears.

  I glanced over at Yoiya’s face.

  ~But you’re not human, are you, Yoiya?

  The room was silent.

  None of us made a peep, not even—

  Mashiro stepped forward.

  “What’s going on?” She asked with those empty eyes.

  The gremlin we loved forced a smile, as cheerful as she can muster. “He’s not dead, right?”

  The two girls by the bed immediately perked up and looked at her.

  “Th-the doctors said… he was asleep. Just… asleep.” Rea’s voice stuttered. Her fear was clear yet something inside me clicked.

  ~Just… asleep?

  My mind raced.

  The news report said he had no visual injuries.

  My mind flashed back to the scene at karaoke. Wounds appeared on Yoiya’s body yet immediately closed and healed themselves as if they didn’t even exist.

  Like the debris.

  But considering that Yoiya isn’t human and the regenerative powers I saw before, there’s no way any injury would stick for very long.

  ~Asleep… Just asleep…

  ~If that’s the case, then… If it’s like before… Like before… Before…

  My head perked up.

  ~Before… when Yoiya fell asleep!

  I took a deep breath.

  “Let’s try calling his name. Maybe he’ll wake up.”

  Mashiro leapt forward. Her eyes sparkled with delight. “What a grand idae, my dear familiar! Let us try it!”

  Rea shuddered and blinked. “Call… his name…?” She bowed her head. Her face became a little flushed, as if quietly realizing something.

  Mashiro trotted forward, quickly approaching the foot of the bed. “Please allow yours truly to go first! I have the best method in mind to wake our sleeping protagonist!”

  Ake leapt forward, blocking Mashiro and reprimanding her.

  Soon the room was filled with the usual banter I knew and loved.

  With a smile, I bowed my head and heaved a sigh.

  “This time…”

  ~This time, Yoiya… I’ll find out the truth.”

  Riiing.

  I checked my phone.

  [Ashura is calling…]

  I tapped the green icon and held it up to my ear.

  “Nii-san… what is i–”

  “Ah. Little Ran! Glad you picked up. I just wanted to let you know I won’t be home for awhile. Don’t worry, though! Your big bro will handle things on his end. You take care and be sure to do the same! Ciao!”

  Kzzt.

  The call ended. A sense of dread washed over me once more.

  “Huh? What…” I muttered, slightly annoyed.

  ~And everything seemed to be looking up again, too. Though, I suppose things can never be that simple.

  I glanced behind me.

  Eliba continued to clutch her arms. Her fingers clawing at them more violently than earlier.

  I had some thoughts about it, but I did not wish to set off a bomb.

  Besides—

  “Mashiro! You can’t get on the bed like that! The nurses will get angry with us if you do that!”

  “Loosen up, Ake! This is a surefire way to wake him up! It’s a Mashiro Guarantee!”

  “That’s not the issue…!”

  “Uhm… Yoiya… Yoiya… Please wake up… Yoiya…”

  The sudden return of dread brought by my brother’s call was quickly consumed by the noisy scene in front of me.

  Once again, a smile returned to my face.

  ~For now, I’ll enjoy this moment. For everyone’s sake.