The low murmur of an engine rumbled through the air, a steady vibration that barely reached through the thick silence inside the police car. A firm hand shook Hikari awake, pulling him out of the murky depths of sleep. His eyes blinked open, vision still foggy from the remnants of his dream.
"Son, wake up. We're here."
His father's voice was calm, but there was a tired weight behind it, something only noticeable to those who had known him for years. Hikari sat up, stretching slightly, and took in his surroundings.
His mother was beside him, hands neatly folded in her lap, while Mitsumi sat on the other side, staring out the window, lost in her own thoughts. The car had stopped in front of their house, the glow of the streetlights casting long, eerie shadows on the pavement. The air outside was still, heavy, like the city itself was holding its breath.
For a moment, he sat there, letting reality settle around him. The events of the night hadn't changed. They were real. The attack, the irregular, the shadow manipulator—everything had happened.
With a quiet sigh, he pushed open the car door and stepped out, the crisp night air cooling his skin. His parents exchanged a few words with the officer before bowing slightly, a customary sign of gratitude.
The officer nodded in return, his sharp gaze lingering on Hikari for a second longer than necessary before he turned back toward his car, likely returning to the scene they had left behind.
As they stepped inside, the warmth of the house greeted them, a stark contrast to the cold that had clung to their clothes. It was a familiar warmth, comforting in a way that made it easy to forget the chaos they had escaped just hours ago. Hikari inhaled deeply, the scent of home filling his lungs.
"Well, that was quite something, right?" His father's voice cut through the silence as he removed his coat, glancing at his son with a small, tired smile.
Hikari managed a nod, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Mitsumi, the guest room is just upstairs next to Hikari's room. You can stay there for the night," his mother said as she made her way toward the kitchen, already gathering dishes to clean.
He turned to Mitsumi, who still seemed dazed, as though she was processing everything at once.
"This way," he told her, leading her up the stairs.
The second floor was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the faint glow of the streetlamps filtering through the curtains. As they walked down the hallway, Hikari gestured to different rooms.
"That's my room at the end of the corridor, and the restroom is right in front of it. You can use the washer and dryer if you want to clean your uniform before tomorrow." He paused for a second, his mind flashing back to his dream, remembering how his mother had told him the same thing. Shaking off the thought, he pointed to the room near the stairs. "That's the guest room."
He pushed the door open, revealing a neatly kept space that mirrored his own, though it had a more classic feel. The wooden tones of the furniture gave it a warm, inviting atmosphere, and a soft gray carpet stretched across the floor, contrasting with the pristine white mattress on the bed.
"It's pretty…" Mitsumi murmured as she stepped inside, taking in the space with wide eyes.
"I'll be in my room," Hikari said, turning to leave. "If you need anything, just knock. Or you can go to my parents' room—it's downstairs near the living room." He gently pulled the door shut behind him.
His feet carried him automatically to his own room, though his mind was already ahead of him. Training. He was late. His pulse quickened as he rushed to the window, already considering whether he should jump and head straight for the bridge.
"You can rest for now," a familiar voice came from behind him.
Hikari turned to see the shadow manipulator standing near his bookshelf, his form partially melded with the darkness of the room. The sight no longer startled him the way it had before. Perhaps he was growing used to his presence.
"Thanks, Master Ryu."
The older man nodded. "Goodnight, kid. Make sure you don't miss anything in our training tomorrow at midnight."
"Yes, sir."
The shadow manipulator's gaze lingered for a moment before he added, "But if another irregular like the one tonight appears, I'll postpone training." With those final words, he dissolved into the darkness, leaving behind nothing but silence.
Hikari exhaled slowly before heading toward his drawers, pulling out a fresh set of clothes. The realization hit him like a slap—he hadn't taken a bath since yesterday. The thought alone made him grimace. Without another moment of hesitation, he grabbed his towel and made his way to the restroom.
The warm water did little to ease the tension in his muscles, but at the very least, it washed away the grime of the day. He stood there for longer than necessary, allowing the water to cascade over him as he replayed everything in his mind. The irregular. The attack. The shadow manipulator.
What exactly had he gotten himself into?
Once he was done, he tossed his clothes into the washer and made his way back to his room. The lights were already turned off. His father must have checked in on him while he was in the shower.
He yawned, exhaustion finally creeping into his bones. It had been a long day. Too long. Without thinking, he jumped onto his bed, a habit he had kept since childhood.
"Urk—!"
A muffled sound came from beneath his blanket.
Hikari froze, his entire body stiffening as realization crashed into him like a wave. He practically threw himself off the bed, his face burning with embarrassment.
Mitsumi.
She was lying under his blanket, her startled eyes meeting his as she peeked out from beneath the covers. He opened his mouth to say something—anything—but words failed him.
"S-Sorry, Mitsumi!" He stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't see you because the lights were off. What are you doing here, anyway?"
Her fingers clutched the edge of the blanket, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is it okay if I sleep here, Hikari?"
He blinked. "Uh… yeah, I guess? But I can sleep in the guest room if—"
"No." She cut him off, hesitating for a second before continuing. "I mean… I don't want to sleep alone. Not after what happened tonight." Her voice wavered slightly.
"I can sleep on the floor if it makes you uncomfortable. It's just… every time I close my eyes, I keep seeing that thing again. The irregular. I feel like if I close my eyes, it'll be there when I open them."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Hikari exhaled, rubbing his temples. He understood. He really did. If it had been anyone else in her place, they'd probably feel the same way.
He ran a hand through his damp hair before finally nodding. "Alright. You can stay."
Her shoulders visibly relaxed, a quiet relief washing over her face.
"Thanks," she whispered.
Hikari grabbed an extra pillow and dropped it onto the floor. "I'll sleep here then."
Mitsumi frowned. "You don't have to do that. The bed is big enough for the both of us."
He hesitated, but in the end, he relented. It wasn't like he had the energy to argue. Letting out a tired sigh, he climbed onto the bed, keeping a comfortable distance between them.
"…Goodnight, Hikari."
"Yeah. Goodnight."
As he closed his eyes, the weight of the day finally settled in, pulling him into the depths of sleep. But even in his exhaustion, one thought lingered in the back of his mind.