3rd JANUARY 2016 (2116) – 6:57 AM
(HOG-STein Military Base, Banglo (B-2B), SERYN STREET)
... Ten years ago...
The bus door slammed shut before me, cutting off the last glimpse of my mother. My hand, raised in a final wave, slowly dropped to my side as the bus began to move.
I saw her lips moving in the split second before the door close but,
I didn't even hear her reply.
'..I think about it later..'
I shook it off, turning to face the bus cabin. The seats were already filled with kids my age, their eyes on me, some curious, some indifferent. The tension in the air was palpable, but I ignored it.
I scanned the bus for an empty seat, my eyes landing on one in the second row by the window.
Jackpot.
I dragged my shiny dark luggage toward the seat with a soft grunt. "Oof."
I'd always loved sitting by the window on a ride. It reminded me of when my mom used to drive me places, to picnics or anywhere else, just the two of us.
Yes..It's always just the two of us..
As long as Mom's happy, and kept her promised for me… I wouldn't ask for more.
I thought to myself, my violet eyes fixed on the blur of HOG-STein's district buildings as they passed by. Pookie, my zombie bear doll, was still clutched to my arm. I gently placed it on my lap, my fingers fidgeting with its worn paws, while my gaze remained fixed on the passing world outside.
The promise I made with Mom...
I remembered her pinky promise—her words echoing in my mind.
"Don't worry, Mom... I'llachieveeverything... so you can see how I hold our promise."
I leaned back into the seat, pulling away from the window as the realization hit me: We were leaving HOG-STein, and im The last student to be picked up,meant we were on our way to other districts before reaching our final destination.
'SCHELVIA'
The city that promised to guide students from primary school to graduation, preparing them as leaders of tomorrow.
At least, that's what the brochures said.
That's what the broadcasts promised.
...
But I wasn't like the others.
I glanced around at the other kids. Some were chatting nervously, others stiff and silent, clutching their bags like lifelines. A few stole glances at me, their whispers barely audible above the hum of the bus engine.
"Isn't he from HOG-STein?"
"Yeah, the last one they picked up in that district.."
"I heard that place is just factories and old war zones..."
I tightened my grip on Pookie, my fingers tracing the worn-out stitching on the doll. HOG-STein wasn't much, but it was home—the factories, the scrapyards, the looming walls with faded military banners. It was all I had ever known.
And now, I was leaving it behind.
The engine's hum filled the silence as I let out a soft breath, trying to center myself. Around me, some of the kids were already forming tentative friendships, whispering to each other. But like me, some kept to themselves.
A few seats ahead, a boy with messy brown hair kept sneaking glances at me, as if trying to figure something out. I ignored him.
'Distractions..wouldn't help me succeed... Not now. I only need myself to achieve what I promised Mom.'
I let my head rest against the cool glass of the window, watching as the urban skyline gave way to endless highways, steel bridges, and glimpses of distant districts. The sky was still pale blue, the sun barely rising over the horizon.
It felt surreal—leaving home, stepping into the unknown. But there was no turning back now.
I rubbed my eyes, feeling the sleepiness start to creep in. I'd woken up early today, making sure everything was packed while my mom help me with it.. Sleep had been scarce the night before. My thoughts had been racing, wondering what awaited me in the city, far from the warmth and comfort of my mother's presence.
But I couldn't avoid this. The future was ahead, pulling me forward with every passing moment.
For my mother.
For my future.
I closed my eyes, the heaviness of sleep pulling at my eyelids. The journey was long, with more districts to pass through before reaching Schelvia.
I might as well sleep for now.
I shut my eyes, and the world outside faded away...
... My rest ...
-.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-. -.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-.
3rd JANUARY 2016 (2116) – 8:12 AM
(En Route to Schelvia CITY • PASSING THROUGH DRAKØria 03 DISTRICT)
-.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-.
I barely stirred as the bus came to a slow stop, my head still leaned against the cool window. Half-asleep, half-annoyed at the interruption, I debated ignoring it entirely.
Another pickup. More students. More noise. Whatever.
How long will this ride be?
I shifted slightly, adjusting Pookie on my lap. The soft weight of the zombie bear doll comforted me, a reminder of something familiar, even in the sea of unknowns.
And then—
A voice.
Loud... way too loud for this early in the morning.
"AH! THIS ONE LOOKS FREE!"
Before I even processed what was happening, a sudden weight dropped beside me—hard. The seat cushion bounced under the force, jolting me fully awake as my shoulder smacked against the window.
Thump!
What the—
I turned, already irritated, and was immediately met with the sight of a girl grinning up at me like she'd just won a prize.
Dark hair with pink tips, sharp crimson eyes, and an energy level way beyond what should be legal at this hour. She had already made herself comfortable, tossing her bag onto her lap like she owned the place. She then turned her attention to something sitting on my lap.
I blinked.
She blinked back.
Then—
She gasped dramatically, pointing at Pookie with the excitement of someone who had just discovered a long-lost treasure.
"OH. MY. GOSH. IS THAT A ZOMBIE BEAR?!"
I stiffened, gripping Pookie tighter. "...No."
I tried to deflect.
"It totally is!" She leaned in, eyes sparkling with far too much interest. "I've never seen one up close! Where'd you get it? Wait, do you collect these? Do you name them? Is this, like, your favorite?"
I stared at her, utterly baffled.
Who was this?
And why was she talking so much?
She didn't seem to care that I wasn't answering. She just kept going, her mouth moving at an alarming speed.
"I used to have a stuffed rabbit! But then my dumb cousin ripped its ear off, and I tried to sew it back. I ended up injuring myself—my parents were always busy! But it looked like some cursed horror movie prop when I finished sewing it, so I—"
I exhaled sharply, cutting her off.
"...Can you be quiet?"
She blinked.
Then, with an exaggerated gasp, she threw a hand over her mouth.
"OH. Are you one of those 'mysterious silent types'?" She wiggled her fingers dramatically, as if casting a spell. "Brooding? Secret past? Tragic backstory?... Anyway, you don't need to be rude."
I closed my eyes.
This was a mistake.
I should have pretended to be asleep.
I should have let someone else suffer or turned my head away, ignoring her, but she kept running her mouth.
It was too late now.
This girl—whoever she was—had decided I was her new target.
And judging by the way she had already started poking Pookie's paw with relentless curiosity—
I was doomed.
---
"...Say, do you mind if I take a look at mister Zombie Bear for a sec?"
I blinked as I glanced at her, my violet eyes narrowing slightly as I stated firmly.
".. It's Pookie, and no... Might as well you're gonna tear its ear off like the one you told me."
"What?? But it's my cousin who ripped it off, not me! C'mon, just a hold... please?"
She pleaded.
What's wrong with this girl?
Why was she so insistent on taking Pookie from me?
Above all,
Who the hell is she?
My eyes narrowed at her as I tightened my grasp on Pookie.
She puffed her cheeks at my response, pouting dramatically as if I had just shattered her world. Her crimson eyes flickered with something between mischief and determination, like she wasn't the type to take 'no' for an answer so easily.
"But, but—just for a second! I swear I won't rip it apart! I mean, look at me—do I look like a bear killer to you?" She batted her lashes, trying to act innocent.
I deadpanned.
"Yes."
She gasped again—loudly, over-the-top, like I had accused her of some unforgivable crime.
"Wow. Rude." She clutched her chest as if she had been mortally wounded, before shifting closer. Way too close. The scent of something faintly sweet—like strawberry candy—lingered around her.
I stiffened.
She didn't seem to notice.
"You're really protective over that thing, huh? Is it, like, your childhood plushie? Or maybe your lucky charm? Oh! Or—" She suddenly grinned, eyes sparkling with newfound curiosity. "—did your girlfriend give it to you?"
I twitched.
"Shut up."
What kid knows about relationships?
"Oooh, so that is a reaction!" She beamed, triumphant, as if she had cracked some kind of impossible puzzle. "Come on, just let me hold it for a sec—"
Before I could react, she reached out—fast.
I yanked Pookie away.
Her fingers barely brushed against its stubby paw before I shot her a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"Don't. Touch. Pookie."
She froze.
She pouted at my warning. Her crimson eyes stared at mine as she pleaded.
"Come on, just a simple hold. I won't hurt your Pookie, I just wanna see!"
I shook my head firmly.
"I'll be careful!"
Silent stare at her.
She pouted.
She huffed, puffing her cheeks like some irritated hamster. Then, with an exaggerated groan, she flopped back against the seat, arms crossed.
"Geez, you're no fun, are you?"
I thought she left me alone at last.
But I was wrong.
In fact—she did the opposite.
Leaning forward, she tilted her head, resting her chin against her hand. Her crimson eyes gleamed with curiosity, like she was trying to solve me...
It was unsettling.
Annoying too.
I ignored it.
She went silent again..
For a moment, I thought she was finally done.
Then—
"So, what's your name?"
I exhaled slowly. "...Why do you care?"
Glares at her..
She gasped. "Ooooh, mysterious. I like it. You're definitely the quiet, brooding type, huh?" She wiggled her fingers dramatically again. "The lone wolf, haunted by a tragic past, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders..."
I stared at her.
She grinned.
"...That's stupid."
She pouted. "Hey! It's cool! You could totally be the main character of some dark, edgy story! You've even got the eyes for it!"
I blinked.
She was… weird.
Very weird.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, if you won't tell me your name, I'll just have to guess it!"
I tensed.
She pointed a finger at me, dramatic as ever. "Let's see… You look like a… Kuro? No—wait, maybe something more serious! Like... Kyouka? Or Rem? Or–"
I groaned. "You're terrible at this."
She gasped again, eyes lighting up. "Wait—you spoke again! That means we're officially friends now!"
"No, it doesn't."
"Yes, it totally does!"
I didn't respond. Just tightened my grip on Pookie.
She huffed, shifting in her seat, clearly not used to being ignored. After a moment, she leaned in slightly, eyes studying me like I was some kind of puzzle she was trying to solve.
"…You're weird."
I exhaled through my nose, my head still against the window. "So are you."
She beamed. "I know, right? Finally, someone who gets it!"
That's..Not what I meant.
I closed my eyes, hoping that would signal the conversation was over.
It wasn't.
"You haven't told me your name," she pressed.
I stayed silent, my hand fidgeting against Pookie's paw.
She nudged me. "Helloooo? Name? Or do I just call you Mister Zombie Bear Guardian?"
I cracked an eye open, giving her a dull stare.
She grinned, clearly amused. "Oh! Or maybe something cooler? Like ShadowPrince? Oooor Silent Reaper?"
She ponders for moment as she giggles..
-.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-. -.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-.
I shut my eyes again...fed up.
"… it's Yoshi… Yoshi Manami…"
I sigh.finally give in.
Silent…
She done talking?..
I open my eyes and glance at her. She's staring back at me, stunned, with a slight shock and awe—almost like she knows the name very well.
My eyes narrow.
"What?"
She snaps out of her daze and stares back at me, letting out a light giggle.
"Ohh, uhh… nothing, I thought your name was cute. Yoshi, yeah, Yoshi suits you well!"
She beams softly, explaining, though I can still sense something more behind it—behind that stunned reaction… almost like she's figured something out about me.
"… Do I know you?"
I ask, testing… if my suspicion is right.
If she knows me, she'd be nervous.
If she doesn't, she'd just straight-up call me no.
The question hangs for a second, tension thick in the air, as the girl freezes. She tilts her head awkwardly.
"… What?"
"… I said, do you know me… Yoshi?"
My eyes narrow once more as the girl flusters.
"O-oh no, I don't know you. Well, at least not now, but soon I'll uncover everything about you!"
She mutters softly, a nervous chuckle escaping her as she fidgets with her hands. She leans back down into her seat.
"… Name's MIERUKO! … Mieruko Miraileze. Or you can just call me Miko, or something… since you're my first friend, after all…"
She introduces herself softly, her nervous energy dying down as she glances back at me.
"Since we know each other's names, that makes us… for now and forever—we're officially friends!"
She declares, holding out her hand to me, expecting me to shake it.
...
...
…
'That's way too simple… and naive.'
...
I stare at her extended hand. Her eyes are filled with curiosity and hope, that soft, warm smile on her face.
Since the moment I stepped onto the bus, everything has been the same. Silent. The world I've grown used to.
But then she came… making it all feel… annoying, and…
Loud.
My hand reaches out and shakes hers.
In that moment, I don't know what got into me, but something tells me… she might be important. And it's not so bad to loosen up… I'm still a child. I should feel what others feel… that's what mom always said.. that's what she wants me experience too..
Her words trigger in my mind…
"You said you wanted to have lots and lots of friends, remember?"
… Yes, Mom.
I remember it now.
And I think I just made my first friend.
With a girl…
-.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-. -.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-.
"… Best friends forever!"
Mieruko beams excitedly, shaking my hand with that gleeful smile while her other hand reach to pookie's paw to shake it... Innocently playful.
But there's something more I catch in her crimson eyes when my hand gently shakes hers…
Something ignites within her that makes her pupils dilate for a moment.
Her statement feels like a seal for something.
But in that moment, I finally let myself smile softly with her…
As I can't help but tease.
"… Didn't you just say…"
"friends?"
...
"That's exactly what I said,"
"BEST FRIENDS!"