I don't know what the hell happened, first I was walking on cloud nine after Kirino had told me she would forgive me for accidentally cheating on her, even when I didn't want her to, then out nowhere she just acts like she didn't mean any of that. I tried talking to her but after threatening to call the police there wasn't really anything I could do but retreat with my tail between my legs back to Kouhei's where I told him and Sena about what happened.

Se: "Are you sure you didn't hear her wrong over the phone or something?"

Ky: "No, it was loud and clear and she wasn't lying, I can tell."

Se: "This is strange."

Ko: "Uh…maybe she got hypnotized?!"

Se: "…"

Ky: "…"

In response to Kouhei's inference Sena walked over to him and swiftly struck him on the head.

{Bonk!}

Ko: "Agh!"

Se: "Your best friend is going through serious emotional turmoil and you're making jokes about it?! The hell is wrong with you?!"

Ko: "I wasn't joking, we all know how Ayase is after everything Kyousuke's told us, she's a serious yandere, maybe she hypnotized Kirino."

Se: "Ugh come on Kouhei this isn't some crappy romance novel, hypnosis doesn't work like that."

Ko: "It's the only explanation we have, what else could've made Kirino act like this?"

Se: "Well I'm going to go find out."

Sena then grabbed her keys and her purse and headed for the door.

Se: "I'm going to go and try to talk to Kirino, don't know when I'll be back but hopefully I can find out what going on with her."

So Sena left and Kouhei and I sat there in silence.

Ko: "Hey, you know I just remembered something."

Ky: "What?"

Ko: "Let me see those pictures again."

Ky: "…"

Ko: "You don't have to look at them just pull it up for me."

So I gave Kouhei my phone and he inspected the photos.

Ky: "So what is it?"

Ko: "Some of these were taken by a different person, someone else was in there with you, maybe this whole thing with Maria was a set up."

Ky: "Ugh Sena's right you read too many love novels."

Ko: "Well why else would the pictures be like this?"

Ky: "Maybe she put the camera on a tripod…"

It was then I decided to get up and head to the door.

Ko: "Where are you going?"

Ky: "I need to do something, I'm going to call Miura and ask him about Maria, see if I can track her down."

Ko: "Why?"

Ky: "Just something I need to figure out."

So I left the house and called up Miura.

Mi: "Kyousuke?"

Ky: "Yeah, what's up?"

Mi: "Listen I'm sorry about what happened."

Ky: "It's fine, it's not your fault."

Mi: "How are things going with you and Kirino."

Ky: "Not well but let's forget about that for now, I need to ask you something."

Mi: "What is it?"

Ky: "Do you know Maria's address?"

Mi: "Oooh no, if you're thinking of doing what I think you're thinking of doing-"

Ky: "I'm not going to murder her, even if I really want to right now, I just need to talk to her, ask her a few things."

Mi: "I see, I trust you Kyousuke but if you end up doing something crazy that ends up coming back to me I'm taking you down with me, got it?"

Ky: "Yeah, don't worry."

So Miura gave me Maria's address and I headed to her apartment where I knocked on her door.

"Hello?"

Instead of Maria there was a rather pale and portly woman with long, scraggly, black hair.

Ky: "Hello is Maria home?"

"That's me."

Ky: "Um, Maria Shimizu?"

Mar: "Yeah."

Ky: "…"

Mar: "Wait you looking for a different girl? Reddish brown hair, really pretty?"

Ky: "Y-yeah."

Mar: "Listen before I say anything you have to swear you aren't a cop."

Ky: "Um, okay I swear."

Mar: "Jeez I told that bitch to make sure nothing comes back to me, sorry man but that girl's long gone."

Ky: "What do you mean?"

Ma: "Haah come in, I don't want anyone hearing this and you have to also swear not say anything about what I'm going to tell you, do you swear?"

I knew this was a bit too shady and it was my duty as an auxiliary officer respond to any illegal activity but I honestly didn't care so long as I got answers and I didn't end up in a body bag.

Ky: "I swear."

So I followed her in and she closed the door, I was expecting her apartment to be that of a stereotypical neet character but is was only a little messy and actually smelled kind of pleasant though the kitchen sink was crammed with dishes.

Mar: "Alright have you heard of the new thing going around called "identity borrowing"?"

Ky: "No."

Mar: "It's a thing where people pay to borrow other peoples' identities, usually for some kinky fun with no worries about anyone they know finding out or if they're trying to hide from someone. That's what your little girlfriend did with me and I'm assuming you're here looking for her after she broke your heart when you tried to ask her out right?"

Ky: "N-no but do you know her real name or where she went?"

Mar: "Nope sorry, we have a confidentiality agreement, this whole deal may be illegal but these days people can sue anyone for anything and I'm not taking any chances."

Ky: "Shit."

Mar: "And I doubt you're ever going to see her again, she ended her session with me a few days ago so I'm pretty sure she's skipped town, I wouldn't have dealt with her if she had criminal background but she was a strange one."

Ky: "I see, thank you for telling me."

Mar: "Remember don't say shit to anyone or I'll be sending my Yakuza friends after you."

With that I left the real Maria and headed to the nearest bench to sulk.

Ky: "Jeez, when did shit like this start happening? I've heard of identity theft but identity borrowing? Miura's going to throw a fit after hearing about this."

After being hit with yet another dead end in this ordeal I decided to plop down in a nearby bench.

Ky: "Looks like my bad luck from childhood is starting to relapse, things keep going like this I might just have to leave town again, it'd be too painful to stay here."

I couldn't take it anymore, I was too stressed out, so I pulled out my pack of cigarettes, a pack I've had for the past few years and so far I've only smoked a few. I just needed something to help me relax, so I lit one up and took puff.

Ky: "Haaah…I'm pathetic."

I leaned back to look at the sky, watching as smoke from my cancer-stick trailed upward. As I sat there a few cars passed by slowly on the narrow street but then suddenly my cigarette was yanked from my mouth.

Ru: "What is this?!"

Ky: "R-Ruri what are you doing here?"

There was Ruri standing there with my cigarette in hand and an angry look on her face and behind her was a rather handsome looking young man with a face as surprised looking as mine at Ruri's out of character outburst.

Ru: "Nevermind that! What are you doing smoking?!"

Ky: "I was just having one."

Ru: "That's still too many! Ugh just give me the pack."

Ky: "But-"

Ru: "Hand! It! Over!"

So I pulled my old pack of cigs out and handed them to Ruri which she immediately began to inspect.

Ru: "One huh? There's three more missing in here."

Ky: "Look at the expiration date Sherlock."

Ru: "Eh? …Ugh this pack is years old."

It was then Ruri seemed to have a sudden epiphany and her expression softened, I was hoping she'd hand the pack back to me but instead she took out one more stick and tossed it to me before throwing the rest in a trash can.

Ky: "Hey!"

Ru: "You better make that last one count."

Back to normal Ruri.

Ru: "Now as for why I'm here I got a call from Miura telling me what you were doing so I decided to come over with Hikaru here-"

Hi: "Hello~"

Ru: "-to make sure you didn't do anything stupid."

Ky: "So that's the young professor you've been talking about? He certainly looks like a catch."

Ru: "Sh-shut up, don't talk about him when he's right there!"

Ky: "Heh sorry, anyway about Maria…"

I explained to Ruri about what happened though made sure leave out anything about Kirino and she and Hikaru seemed as shocked as I was.

Ru: "Identity borrowing? That sounds like some stupid made up thing."

Ky: "Yeah but then why would I be here knocking on some stranger's door if it wasn't that?"

Ru: "But still I'm confused, why do you want to see Maria in the first place?"

Ky: "A suspicion, Kouhei pointed it out earlier, some of the images she posted could've only been made if someone else was holding the camera."

Ru: "So you think someone else is involved?"

Ky: "Not just anyone…I think maybe it was Ayase."

Ru: "What makes you say that?"

Ky: "Just a gut feeling plus it would make sense for the two of them to set me up like this, break Kirino and I up and Ayase gets what she wants and Maria assumes I'll rebound towards her."

Ru: "I see, so you think this was all some kind of orchestration made to separate you and Kirino? As ridiculous as that sounds I wouldn't put it past someone as mentally unstable as Ayase and from what I've seen of Maria she'd definitely do anything for a chance with you."

Ky: "Yeah that's something I was never able to get about her, why the heck was she be so head-over-heels for me, my looks may have improved some since high-school but that doesn't justify this level of infatuation."

Ru: "Well I guess we'll never know, haah I'm sorry about all this Kyousuke."

Ky: "Nah, I was the one who messed up."

Ru: "Maybe but if you're suspicion is correct then none of this is your fault."

Ky: "That awaits to be seen so for now I'm still a dirty cheater."

Ru: "You're so pessimistic, can't you be like a normal person and blame everything but yourself for once?"

Ky: "If only I could."

Ru: "Well I'll be going."

Ky: "Heh you and Hikaru off on a hot date?"

Hi: "Why yes actually-"

Ru: "N-no!"

Ky: "Oh so where are you headed?"

Ru: "Don't ignore me!"

Hi: "This new place I told Ruri about that's getting popular with new Maschera fans, believe it or not but we're both serious fanatics of the show and all its source material."

Ky: "Wow no wonder she likes you."

Hi: "By the way what exactly is your relationship with Ruri?"

Ky: "Oh well…she's just a really precious friend to me so make sure you take care of her."

Hi: "Don't worry, she's in good hands with me."

Ky: "Good."

I was liking Hikaru, pleasant, good looking (better looking than me) and he and Ruri seemed to share some interests, though just like any male friend I treated Ruri as my own so I wasn't going to trust him entirely from just our first meeting.

Ky: "Well I won't keep you any longer, you crazy kids go ahead and enjoy yourselves."

Hi: "Heheh will do."

Ru: "Take care Kyousuke, if there's anything you need just call me."

Ky: "Yeah."

Most people would assume that because I used to love Ruri that I'd be in pain at seeing her with another man but if anything seeing her happy with Hikaru actually kind of alleviated the pain I was going through now. After that I went back to Kouhei's house and Sena had already come back, she informed me about how she noticed a subtle strangeness in Kirino's behavior but all in all seemed normal and was still adamant on cutting me from her life, I told her about Maria and we contacted Miura about it which he didn't take well. With no other real options I decided to just stay with the Akagi's for now, days passed and Kirino didn't call, Saori and Ruri still kept in contact but had to be cautious around her, I was still welcomed at my parents' house as long as Kirino wasn't there. In the back of my mind I was hoping something would come along and just fix everything since things have gone so well for us for so long but nothing like that ever came.

1 Month Later

I was getting used to living with Kouhei, Sena and Yukio, despite my terrible position they helped me get through it and Yukio was especially enjoying having me as a sort of live-in dad. Maria never came back to work; Miura told the other workers that she simply left without notice preventing any rumors linked to me from going about.

"Thank you, please come again."

Ky: "Yeah."

After I had just gotten finished with work, I grabbed a couple of muffins from a bakery before I headed home.

"Kyousuke?"

Ky: "Huh?"

As I was walking back to my car I heard someone call my name and I turned to see a man in a business suit, glasses, brushed back black hair and he was carrying a suit case.

"Are you Kyousuke Kousaka?"

Ky: "Yeah?"

"Kyousuke it's me Iwao."

Ky: "Iwao…Tamura?"

Iw: "Yeah man! Long time no see! How've you been?!"

Ky: "Uh g-great."

Iw: "Man it's been years, what've you been up to?"

Ky: "You know just making a living and getting through it all."

Iw: "Hey you want to come to my place, my wife Fumiko will be starting on dinner soon."

Ky: "Yeah sure, got nothing better to do."

I thought I might as well catch up with friends since my life was coming apart at the seams. Iwao didn't have a car since he preferred public transport so I offered to give him a ride and he guided me right to the old Tamura household/bakery.

Iw: "Man it's so cool running into you and just in time too."

Ky: "How's that?"

Iw: "Well I don't if you'll like hearing this but Manami is staying with us."

Ky: "Manami?"

Iw: "Yeah I know you two had a falling out back in high school but at least try and talk to her some before she leaves. She'll be leaving for Kyoto tomorrow morning for a job she just got so today will probably be your last chance. To be honest I was actually hoping I'd find you so you two can finally bury the hatchet, heck the spot where I bumped into you was pretty far off my usual route home."

Iw: "I see, well Iwao I'll do my best but I'm not making any promises."

We finally reached it and I pulled into the old place.

Ky: "Place hasn't changed a bit."

Iw: "Yeah my wife is even keeping the bakery running with a couple of part-timers, since Manami moved away our parents decided to teach her their craft before they retired and she's been keeping the tradition alive since."

Ky: "That's good, it'd be nice to try a Tamura pastry after so long."

So we went inside where I met Iwao's two kids, two year old boy Issei still sucking on his pacifier and running around in his diaper while screaming baby babble and four year old girl Emi playing an educational game on a handheld.

Iw: "I'm home!"

Em: "Hi daddy!"

Is: "Dada!"

Fu: "Welcome home! Oh who's that? A work friend?"

Iw: "Actually he's an old childhood friend I just bumped into."

Ky: "Hey, Kyousuke Kousaka, nice to meet you all."

Fu: "Will you be joining us for dinner? We have plenty."

Ky: "Sure if you'll have me."

Iwao's wife was a real looker, I mean she still wasn't anywhere near as pretty as Kirino but she was certainly a woman you'd like to have around the house and I honestly felt proud of Iwao for managing to land that. I sat down at the chabudai where the Emi curiously eyed me and Iwao began to play with Issei.

Iw: "You might want to get ready Kyousuke, Manami will be home any minute, oh by the way you might not recognize her."

Ky: "Hm?"

Iw: "Yeah she's had a bit of work done on her face."

Ky: "You mean like plastic surgery?"

Iw: "Yeah, a few years ago, really pissed our parents off, so don't get shocked too much when she walks in."

Ky: "Got it."

Several minutes went by with my nerves all a jumble and my bladder suddenly shrinking at the prospect of meeting Manami again, I then heard the front door open.

Ma: "I'm home!"

I was on the verge of just running out of there, I was practically shaking and manami opened the door to the dining area…

Ma: "Hey there everyo-"

Em: "Hi auntie Mana!~"

Fu: "Welcome home."

Iw: "Uh hey big sis, look who I found."

Ma: "K-Kyousuke?"

Ky: "Ma…ria?"

Before me stood Manami but it was Maria, exact same look, exact same hair style, she was even wearing an outfit I recognized from the last office birthday party we had before Miura's.

Iw: "Maria? Where did that come from?"

Ky: "Uh sorry slip of the tongue, hey Manami long time no see."

Ma: "Hey Kyou, it's been a while."

She sat down over next to Emi and we began to chat, asking about this and that, how are things just the usual, Iwao seemed to be pretty happy about us getting along though honestly it was taking everything I had not to strangle her.

Fu: "Dinner's ready! Manami can you help me serve."

Ma: "Sure."

So we ate dinner, I answered a few of Fumiko's questions about Iwao to his partial chagrin and Iwao told me about his hobby band that he played with a couple of other amateurs and was actually pretty well known around the neighborhood though he was only the guitarist. Manami told me about the new job she got at Kyoto, it was well paying and in an area with affordable housing though it didn't give her much time off so she wouldn't be able to visit Chiba often.

Ky: "Hah that was good."

Fu: "Well thank you very much, alright Emi time to get ready for bed."

Em: "Okay mom."

So Fumiko carried Issei out while Emi followed behind leaving the rest of us.

Ky: "…Well I better get going."

Ma: "Oh, I'll walk you out to your car."

Iw: "Alright later Kyou, make sure to visit again sometime."

Ky: "Will do, hey maybe I can introduce you my drinking buddies."

Iw: "Huh, didn't know you drank."

Ky: "Oh no I've sworn off of alcohol entirely my friends are just a bunch of alcoholics but I'm sure you'll get along with them."

Iw: "I see well contact me when you can and well set a date."

Ky: "Alright then later."

Iw: "See ya."

So I walked out with Manami and once outside I stopped.

Ky: "So you ruin my life and try to skip town huh?"

Ma: "I was hoping I'd be gone before you decided to contact Iwao."

Ky: "…Why'd you have to do it? Why couldn't you just leave me alone after that?"

Ma: "Why do you think I changed my face? …Why do you think I changed my body? I made myself beautiful for you, even after that fight I still had feelings for you, I just couldn't let you go."

Ky: "…"

Ma: "I hoped that after you left Kirino, you'd see me like this and love me instead but then I saw you with her again, so I did what I needed to do."

Ky: "Needed to do? You're lucky I don't kill you and I'm not joking around, your "needs" have caused my life to fall apart."

Ma: "I told you before your relationship was unsustainable, it would've failed eventually, if not by me then something else would've come and destroyed everything…you should take this chance Kyou, you could come with me to Kyoto, I'm willing to do whatever you want and be whatever you want, I'll even roleplay as your sister if you'd like."

Ky: "…You've seriously lost it, as if I'd ever do anything like that with you. You know, before I found out about this I actually entertained the idea of reconciling with you but now I hope you burn in hell after you die."

Ma: "I guess I was being overly optimistic hoping you'd accept my offer, oh well at least I got what I wanted from you."

Ky: "Yeah and all it cost was me losing everything I cared about."

Ma: "That's why I'm giving you this chance, get back everything you lost with me, we could have as many children as you want."

Ky: "Haah, Manami before I leave tell me, did Ayase have anything to do with this?"

Ma: "I don't have any more reason to keep her secrets, like I said I already have what I want. Yes Ayase helped me with all this, in fact she was there when we were together at the hotel, taking pictures. She even provided me with a disguise that would make me look like Kirino, at least to a drunk person, and I'm sure you know what her motives are."

Ky: "I see, is that all?"

Ma: "That's all I know."

Ky: "Why go this far? All these convoluted plans, just to get me into bed with you?"

Ma: "As they say, love makes you do stupid things."

Fortunately after hearing about what Kirino went through with that executive I've made it a habit to carry around a high-def voice recorder in my pocket and I had it active with the receiver sticking out since I walked outside.

Ky: "…"

Ma: "Continue to hate me if you want Kyousuke but just know that the time I spent with you these past few months and that night we were together will always be precious to me, someday if you ever change your mind come find me in Kyoto, I'll always have a place for you there."

Without another word I left, that would be the last time I ever saw Manami.

Iwao's POV The Next Morning

After rushing the kids out of bed we escorted my sister to the train platform and got there just in time.

Iw: "Jeez I was hoping Kyousuke would be here to see you off, guess he's still a little bitter."

Ma: "It's fine, if he really wants to talk to me he knows where to find me. Well I better board now, thank you for everything little brother, sister Fumiko."

Fu: "No problem at all, you're always welcome at our home."

Em: "Bye auntie Mana, I'll miss you."

Ma: "I'll miss you too Emi~ I'll come back to visit as soon as I can."

Iw: "Come on Issei say bye to auntie."

Is: "Hmm."

Not really being a morning person Issei just grumpily shook his head no before planting it back on his mother's shoulder.

Fu: "Haah, babies, speaking of which you better come back with one by your next visit."

Ma: "Haha no promises, goodbye now."

We waved to her as she boarded and headed back home, I always hated the empty feeling our house got after family visits so I was mildly somber the rest of the day.

Fu: "Honey can you take out the trash?!"

Iw: "On it!"

I headed to the kitchen and lifted the can's top but as I pulled on the edges of the bag I noticed something familiar buried down the side, my curiosity quickly took over as I pushed my hand down through the trash until I touched a small piece of plastic.

Iw: "Is this what I think it is?"

I pulled my arm back out and looked to see just a random white piece of broken plastic.

Iw: "Huh, for a second there I thought this was a pregnancy test, well whatever."

Heh come on Iwao don't start acting like a jealous idiot, you can trust Fumiko.

I threw the plastic piece back in the trash and continued about my day.

Kyousuke's POV

After sending copies to Ruri and Saori I showed Sena and Kouhei the recording I took the previous night and they were all overjoyed to hear of my innocence and with the following morning I immediately went to my parent's house to show them too. Though dad didn't believe it at first so he called one of his friends over to analyze the recording in exchange for some of mom's croquettes and after running it through some programs he confirmed that it was unedited.

Ky: "You see? I was innocent."

Dai: "Hm, yes, through this confession you have proven it."

Yo: "Hah, thank goodness, I'm so sorry about all this Kyousuke."

Ky: "It's fine mom."

Yor: "I can't believe that Manami would do something like this, she was always so sweet."

Yo: "I can't believe Ayase would be in on this too, I've known her and her mother since she and Kirino became friends."

Ky: "Well they aren't."

Yor: "So all you have to do is show this to Kirino."

Ky: "Yeah but I can't do it myself, if I try to, she won't listen to anything I have to say, you think you guys can call her over and show her yourselves."

Yo: "Yes, I'm sure once she hears this she'll be convinced."

So mom called Kirino, I was hoping she'd bring Aiko but apparently she left her with someone. While I hid upstairs they met with her in the living room, dad informed her of the recording's authenticity and played it for her, though after listening to it her expression didn't change.

Yo: "See? They framed Kyousuke."

Yor: "They basically raped him."

Ki: "…You guys don't actually believe this, do you?"

Yo: "Well of course we do she says clear as day."

Dai: "And I already told you that we tested it."

Ki: "That may be so but how do you know he didn't just pay off some whore to act all that out?"

Dai: "…"

Ki: "I know you guys still care for Kyousuke but he's desperate and will try anything."

Yor: "Kirino I've talked to Kyousuke myself and I can tell you without a doubt that he isn't lying."

Ki: "Haah, grandma? No disrespect but have you ever thought that your "abilities" are fading with your age? Maybe you made a mistake with him."

Yor: "Hm."

Yo: "Kirino don't talk to your grandmother like that!"

Ki: "Sorry mom but I just think you're all in too much denial of Kyousuke's wrongdoings, you're deluding yourselves."

Dai: "Hm, what would it take to convince you?"

Ki: "Get Ayase and Manami to admit it themselves to me in person, if you can do that then I'll believe him."

Dai: "I see."

Ki: "Well if that's all I'll be leaving; I have things to do."

I peeked from upstairs as Kirino left, I could almost feel my heart cracking, she's completely lost trust in me. I felt like scum, I knew I was innocent but I still felt guilty. After the front door shut I went back downstairs to meet back up with everyone.

Ky: "So, it didn't work."

Dai: "Kyousuke, tell me the honest truth, was that really Manami that said that? And was she telling the truth?"

Ky: "Yes, to all of it."

Yo: "Mom?"

Yor: "He's telling the truth."

Dai: "Hm, that's good enough for me, what about Kirino? Did you pick anything from her?"

Yor: "It was subtle but there was definitely something wrong with Kirino, just can't tell what it is?"

Yo: "Should we talk to her about it?"

Yor: "From what I can tell Kirino isn't aware of what's wrong either, so we can't really talk it out if we don't know the cause of the problem and if we try to confront her she'll likely just deny everything."

Yo: "Haah what are we going to do?"

Yor: "I don't know, I guess we're just going to have to observe her for now until we know enough about what's going on."

Yo: "…I'm sorry Kyousuke."

Ky: "It's fine mom, agh, well guess I'll head back to Kouhei's, maybe when you get the chance you guys can talk to Kirino about letting me see Aiko."

Yo: "…"

Dai: "Kyousuke?"

Ky: "Yeah dad?"

Dai: "Don't do anything foolish."

Ky: "Yeah."

Aiko's POV One Month Earlier

Ai: "Mommy when's daddy going to come home? You said he'd be back yesterday."

Ki: "I know but…Aiko daddy can't come back."

Ai: "Why not?"

Ki: "Because he…did something really bad."

Ai: "What did he do?"

Ki: "You're too young to know about it but it was really bad, so he's not welcome here anymore."

Ai: "Can't he just say he's sorry?"

Ki: "No, 'sorry' won't be enough for this but it'll be fine maybe one day I'll find a new daddy for you to play with."

Ai: "Can I still see my daddy?"

Ki: "…Maybe but it won't be for a while, now how about you go and play, mommy has to do some things."

Ai: "Okay."

While mommy went upstairs I went outside where Tomoko and Rascal were playing. I know mommy said daddy did something really bad but I still wanted him to come back.

A Few Days Later

Ai: "Mommy when can I see daddy?"

Ki: "I already told you Aiko, it won't be for a while."

Ai: "But I wanna see daddy."

Ki: "I know Aiko but there's things I need to do before that."

Ai: "…Okay."

Two weeks later

Ai: "Mommy I wanna see daddy?"

Ki: "Aiko for the thousandth time you can't see him yet, I know you miss him but don't you remember? He did something really bad."

Ai: "But he just has to say he's sorry."

Ki: "No he can't."

Ai: "Yes he can."

Ki: "No Aiko."

Ai: "Yes, I want daddy to come back!"

Ki: "Aiko it's not that simple."

Ai: "Mmm, you just don't want daddy to come back because {sniff} you're being a big meanie head!"

Ki: "Come on Aiko don't cry."

Ai: "I want daddy!"

Ki: "Aiko don't yell at me."

Ai: "I want daddy!"

Ki: "Aiko-"

Ai: "I want daddy!"

Ki: "Aiko!"

Mommy yelled really loud at me and it scared me and I started crying even more.

Ki: "Haah Aiko I'm sorry-"

Ai: "No!"

I ran away to my room and hid under my bed to cry, after a while my tummy started to ache but Tomoko came and cuddled up to me and I went to sleep.

Kirino's POV 5/3/25

Haah what am I going to do.

It's been six weeks since I kicked Kyousuke out, Aiko has started to act up and she's been getting sick often and now that I'm 4 months pregnant my baby bump was becoming harder to hide so I had to inform my superiors. They told me they'd take care of everything and they'd keep it all confidential until I chose to reveal it, so I knew I'd have to make the announcement soon.

I need to find some way to get Aiko to behave until I can figure out a how Kyousuke's visits with her will work, though Ayase suggested that I just cut him off completely, obviously I can't do that. Kyousuke may be a dirty cheater but he's still Aiko's father, it wouldn't be good for her if I did that, even if I don't like it I have to do everything necessary to make sure Aiko has a good upbringing.

Ki: "Seriously Kyousuke…why'd you make me fall so hard for you if you were going to do this to me? …Bastard. Aiko lunch is ready!"

Ai: "…"

Ki: "Aiko?!"

Ai: "…"

Ki: "AIKO?!"

Ai: "Okay!"

Aiko put down the toy she was using to play with Rascal and she took her seat at the table though as we were eating I looked at her face and noticed something was off.

Ki: "Something wrong sweetie?"

Ai: "I don't feel so good."

Ki: "Sick again?"

I got up from my chair and placed my hand on her forehead and could feel she was a little warm.

Ki: "I'll get you some medicine."

Ai: "Medicine is yucky."

Ki: "Yeah but big girls take it every time they get sick, are you a big girl?"

Ai: "Yeah."

So I grabbed the bottle of childrens' medicine and poured her a spoon full and she reluctantly downed it.

Ki: "Now how about you go take a nap to help you feel better."

Ai: "Okay."

So Aiko went off to her room and I grabbed my phone to call Ran, Kanako and Ayase over so as to avoid having to talk about Kyousuke.

Ki: "Hey there ladies."

Ay: "Hey Kirino."

Ka: "Yo."

Ra: "Hey there girlfriend, I brought wine!"

Ki: "You sure seem cheery Ran."

Ra: "Well I do have some exciting news to tell you all, now let's sit down and pour some glasses."

Ki: "Ooh did Tashiro propose?!"

Ra: "No."

Ka: "Did you end up falling for his better-looking brother?"

Ra: "No."

Ka: "His dad then?"

Ra: "…He asked me to come live with him in America for the summer!"

Ay: "Ah, lucky!"

Ki: "Looks like you'll be having a lot of fun this summer though it's too bad we won't be able to hang out."

Ay: "Wait if you end up marrying him will you be staying in America?"

Ra: "Maybe but don't fret too much, there's still a good chance this won't work out but until then I'm gonna enjoy my time with him."

Ki: "So before all that you're going to have to spend as much time with us as possible to make up for it."

Ka: "Yeah and maybe pick up some more of the bills."

Ra: "Yeah, yeah."

We spent the next couple of hours together before Ran decided to head off.

Ka: "Well she's gone, so Kirino, how are things since breaking up with Kyousuke? Still holding up?"

So much for that.

Ki: "Yeah I'm fine, you really don't have to keep asking."

Ka: "What kind of friend would I be if didn't ask at least a few times when the wounds are still fresh."

Ay: "Yes but you really shouldn't bother yourself Kanako, Kirino knows better now that Kyousuke is nothing to her but low-down scum."

Ki: "Unfortunately Ayase is right."

Ka: "I know, it's just you two seemed so happy together, I thought even something like this wouldn't be enough to break it."

Ki: "Well love like that only exists in romance novels, in reality we all just act like a bunch of horny idiots."

Ka: "Ha, you've got that right, so you don't have any regrets?"

Ki: "Nope."

Ka: "Jeez why couldn't he have cheated on you before I got with Jiro? I could've been his rebound."

Ki: "Kanako I may have no regrets but I'd prefer if you don't talk like that, also I'm pretty sure you'd be at the bottom of his rebound list."

Ka: "Fucking bitch."

Ki: "B cups."

Ka: "Gah!"

Ki: "Bleh."

Ka: "Hmm you better enjoy that burn while you can cause soon enough these ladies will be blossoming into milky double Ds."

Ay: "Oh so you finally decided to get implants?"

Ka: "NO!"

Ki: "Then what are you blathering about?"

Ka: "Hmhmhm Jiro and I have decided to have kid of our own."

Ki: "Y-you too!?"

Ka: "Oh yeah!"

Ay: "But you two aren't even married."

Ki: "Actually Jiro doesn't believe in marriage and I don't either to be honest, Jiro just thought it was kind of unfair that you and Sena are the only mothers in our circle of friends."

Ay: "So how far along are you?"

Ka: "Oh we haven't actually…succeeded but we're working hard at it, maybe a little too hard, seems there is such a thing as too big."

Ki: "Come on Kanako, Aiko could be listening."

Ka: "So has Aiko gotten any better?"

Ki: "Yeah, she still misbehaves quite often but she's calming down."

Ay: "Then maybe you won't have to set up visits with Kyousuke."

Ka: "No Ayase, even I know a child needs to spend time with both of their parents for a proper upbringing."

Ki: "And just because her behavior is improving doesn't mean she's getting better, for all I know her getting sick all the time could be a sign of mental trauma from all this…haah sometimes I wonder why children have to be so complicated."

Ka: "Well enough with that subject, how's about we get to some fun with a game of cards?"

Ki: "I'm game."

Ay: "Sure."

The next few days went by but every day Aiko's seemed to get worse, I even had to keep her from school one day.

"Alright Ms. Kousaka you can go take a break."

Ki: "Okay."

My boss had told me about a deal they were making with a maternity magazine so they asked me to come in and do some practice shoots in clothes and poses that more emphasized my bloated stomach and as I sat down for a break I pulled out my phone and saw that I had a missed call from Aiko's school so I called them back.

"Hello Ms. Kousaka?"

"Yes?"

"…Something happened with Aiko."

The teacher told me about how she found Aiko after nap time, she was pale, cold and unresponsive, she was scared she had died but she had a pulse and the paramedics managed to stabilize her before transporting her to the hospital's ER. I left immediately to head there, I cried the whole way, I sat in the waiting room imagining every worst case scenario until my parents and grandma came.

Yo: "Are you going to be okay Kirino?"

Ki: "{Sniff} I don't know {Sniff} ihhhih, she was perfectly fine earlier."

Yor: "I'm sure she'll be fine, she's your daughter after all, she's tough."

Ki: "{Sniff} Thanks everyone."

Dai: "Do they know what's wrong with her?"

Ki: "No they didn't tell me yet."

After a while I got myself together enough to call my friends to tell them what happened and surprisingly, they all dropped everything to come and give their support including Kyousuke.

Ay: "What do you think you're doing here?"

Ky: "I-"

Ki: "It's fine Ayase…just leave him be."

Ay: "…"

Ky: "…"

After an hour the doctor finally came out to give me the news.

Ki: "So how is she?"

"…She's in a coma."

Ki: "No."

"But she's fine for now though she won't be able to leave."

Ki: "What's wrong with her?"

"Well…we don't know, there's no pathogens or internal damage, from what we've seen she should be perfectly healthy but for some reason most of her organs are only working at partial capacity. We'll have to examine her further to get any answers to her current condition."

Ky: "Is there anything any of us can do?"

"No, not for now, you'll just have to wait, I'm sorry."

Ki: "Can we see her?"

"Of course but only a few at a time."

So we go in to see Aiko, tears were still streaming from my eyes but fortunately she at least looked okay like she was just peacefully asleep as I held her little hand. Everyone took turns coming in to see Aiko though Kyousuke and I stayed with her the whole time, after visiting hours were over I let everyone know it was fine to leave and that I'd update them if anything happened. Kyousuke and I were able to get permission to stay indefinitely, Ayase tried too but but they only allowed immediate family, so I decided to be the mature one and tolerate his presence though I didn't feel like talking to him though I had to respect the fact that he was at least here for Aiko.

Ky: "…So how've you been?"

Ki: "Kyousuke, just don't."

Ky: "…"

…haah man I'm starving.

As I had that thought Kyousuke suddenly got up.

Ki: "Where are you going?"

Ky: "Just going to get something to eat…you want something?"

Ki: "…Do what you want."

So Kyousuke left and after a little while he came back with a couple of cartons of food and drinks.

Ky: "Here."

I reluctantly grabbed the carton from him and opened it up to see freshly cooked seafood curry and rice.

Ki: "Thanks."

Ky: "Yeah."

I quickly ate my meal before stowing away my garbage in a plastic bag though as I was doing that Kyousuke moved next to Aiko and held her hand.

Ky: "Hey Aiko, it's been a while, last time I saw you, you had a big smile when grandma tickled your neck. Heard you were giving mommy a hard time after I left, when you wake up I want to go easier on her, I know this whole thing is hard on you but it's hard for your mommy too and all she wants is to make you happy remember that."

At hearing that I couldn't help but tear up a little, I appreciated how touching the scene was but my feelings for Kyousuke didn't falter.

Ki: "What do you think you're doing?"

Ky: "What?"

Ki: "Trying to woo me like this? It's not going to work."

Ky: "Shut your damn mouth."

Ki: "Eh?"

Ky: "I've already come to terms with the fact that what we had is over but I'll still be there for Aiko when she needs me, no matter what and all this time that you've kept me from her was more painful than when our relationship ended."

Ki: "…I see."

Ky: "I still care about you too, even if you are constantly pushing me away."

Ki: "…I'm sorry about saying that, after what happened I can't help but see you as a jerk."

Ky: "Haah it's fine."

We sat there in silence for several minutes until Kyousuke stood up.

Ky: "Going to get some air."

As he walked out I noticed him reach into his pocket for something before the door shut though I put that out of my mind for the moment and scooted up next to Aiko to hold her hand and rub her head.

Ki: "Hmmmph, you hardly ever cry, even when you get hurt you always force back your tears and keep that happy smile but when I wouldn't let you see Kyousuke you cried more than I've ever seen you cry."

Haah I'm a terrible mother.

I let go of her hand and left the room, I walked around trying to find Kyousuke until I walked outside and smelled fresh cigarette smoke and saw Kyousuke down the sidewalk with a half burned cig in his mouth. I don't know what came over me but as soon as I saw that I got the uncontrollable urge to attack so I started to run at him and punched him in the cheek hard enough to knock him to the ground causing the cigarette to fall from his mouth.

Ky: "Augh! What the hell was that for?!"

Ki: "Eh? Uh I-I, s-sorry I didn't mean to."

At seeing me turn into a stuttering mess Kyousuke's face softened and he got back up and rubbed his bruised cheek and I don't know if I was seeing things but I thought I saw a blush on his face.

Ky: "Seriously what was up with that?"

Ki: "I don't know must be mood swings."

Ky: "Mood swings?"

Ki: "I-I mean I thought you were a creeper."

Ky: "Heh of course I'd look like one to you."

Ki: "But really I'm sorry, you're not too hurt are you?"

Ky: "…It's fine."

Again we stood in silence as we looked up a the late afternoon sky.

Ki: "So you smoke?"

Ky: "Yeah but not a lot."

Ki: "If we were still together I would have beaten you to a pulp over that."

Ky: "You kind of did that anyway."

Ki: "Yeah well I'm in no position to be upset right now and I don't really care."

Ky: "Well that at least makes me feel less guilty about it."

Ki: "So Kyousuke…now that the ice is broken-"

Ky: "Along with my Jaw."

Ki: "-what do you think about visits?"

Ky: "Visits?"

Ki: "With Aiko, I've been reluctant to talk to you about it but it's unfair to Aiko if I try to cut you out completely, so what do you say?"

Ky: "Of course my answer is yes, how will it work?"

Ki: "Well since you don't have a place of your own she can stay with you at Kouhei's on weekends."

Ky: "If I find a place close to her school can I get every other week?"

Ki: "Hm maybe but until then it's just weekends."

Ky: "I guess I can live with that, haah and to think just a couple of months from now we'd be married."

Ki: "Let's not talk about that, I can still feel everyone's disappointment after announcing the cancellation."

Ky: "But still I can't tell you how much I looked forward to seeing how beautiful you'd look in a wedding dress."

Ki: "…You know I've been meaning to tell you…"

Ky: "Tell me what?"

Ki: "…I'm pregnant."

Ky: "…S-so…you've already found someone else."

Ki: "As much as I'd like to get back at you by saying yes, the truth is that's not the case."

Ky: "Really? Then does that mean…"

Ki: "Well I'm four months along at this point, you do the math."

I proceeded to press my blouse against my stomach to show him the full extent of the development.

Ky: "I see but I thought we used protection."

Ki: "It seems probability was against us, this was going to happen whether we liked it or not so we just ended up wasting a bunch of money."

Ky: "Heh,

Ki: "Don't get full of yourself but honestly I think the whole romantic part of my life ended with you, I'm just not interested in any other man so as much as I don't like it I need you to stick around to help me with the kids and be their official father figure for the paperwork."

Ky: "Yeah of course."

Ki: "Hmph it's good to know that at least you're not a deadbeat dad."

Ky: "I may have cheated on you, even though I was actually raped but you won't believe me, but I'm not a total monster."

Ki: "Hm guess you have a point there."

We spent a few more minutes just chit chatting before we decided to go back inside though as we approached Aiko's room we saw some nurses standing at the open door and looking inside and we rushed over.

"Sorry you can't go in."

Ki: "What happened?! Is she okay?!"

"…Her heart stopped."

Ki: "Oh no."

At hearing I immediately felt faint and stumbled backwards into Kyousuke as he caught me, he helped me over to the waiting room and I was once again shedding tears and he did what he could to comfort me. After about a half hour of crippling anxiety the doctor finally came in with a relieved expression on his face.

Ki: "Is she okay."

"Yeah, she's fine but…we still haven't figured out what's wrong with her and her organs are continuing to degrade but there's nothing causing it, I'm afraid if we don't figure things out soon…we might have to prepare for the worst."

At hearing that I couldn't help but cry again and press my face into Kyousuke's chest in anguish, he quickly proceeded to embrace me and rub my back.

Ky: "It's okay, I'm here for you."

"And unfortunately I have some more bad news…it seems her immune system has also been compromised so we had to move her to a sterilized room, so you won't be able to be with her directly but we set up some cameras connected to this tablet so you can watch over her."

Ki: "Thank you."

"Hm, have a good night."

The doctor left and Kyousuke and I sat there in silence as I stared mournfully into the tablet, changing cameras from time to time. The plastic tent, all the wires and tubes, the big flashing machines, seeing it all felt so unreal.

Just this morning Aiko was happy and smiling as she left for school, how did it get like this so quickly?

Ky: "Um, hey it's getting pretty late you want me to go get us some dinner."

Ki: "…Sure…"

Ky: "Be back in a bit."

So Kyousuke left and I sat there staring, my eyes transfixed to the screen hoping my baby girl would wake the next moment and we could go home to live happily ever after.

Kyousuke's POV

After quickly grabbing some burgers from the nearby McRonald's I strolled back to the hospital though I made a turn towards my car and quickly opened the truck to pull out one of my comfy emergency blankets to bring Kirino but then as I approached the hospital entrance I noticed a familiar figure standing there waiting for me.

Ay: "Hey there Kyousuke."

Ky: "Ayase…what are you doing here?"

Ay: "Hm, that's none of your business though I do have something to ask you."

Ky: "What?"

Ay: "I want you to go away, leave here and don't come back."

Ky: "Come on Ayase that's my daughter in there, I can't just-"

Ay: "Are you forgetting the leverage I have against you?"

Ky: "…"

Ay: "I still have those documents, just one call to the police and you never see her again."

Ky: "…Fine but can you at least let me bring this stuff to Kirino?"

I presented the bag of food and the blanket to her and she began to think.

Ay: "Hm, I'm still not allowed to visit with here at this time, okay then but I'll be waiting out here for you to come out, if I feel that you've been in there for even a minute too long then I immediately report to the police, got it?"

Ky: "Yeah, loud and clear."

With a somber cloud hanging over my emotions I headed back in.

Haah what's my life coming to? If things keep going this way…she might just take everything from me…and what if…when I'm not here, Aiko…

I held back tears as I entered the waiting area where Kirino was still watching the tablet.

Ky: "Hey, I'm back."

Ki: "Hm."

I walked over to her and placed the bag on the table next to her chair though she didn't move but as I draped the blanket over her she did wrap it around herself.

Ky: "Hey, um…so I have to leave now."

After saying that, for the first time since it was given to her Kirino looked up from the tablet.

Ki: "But why?"

Ky: "I have to get back to work tomorrow, we have a really important project coming up and they need me."

Ki: "You…really are just scum."

Ky: "…"

Ki: "Our daughter is probably dying and your pregnant ex-wife is stressed out of her mind over it and you're just going to leave us? You're putting your job before us? How can you call yourself her father?"

That hurt, I wanted to tell her about Ayase, wanted to defy her and just stay here with Kirino and Aiko but the cost was too heavy.

Ki: "Go if you want, just don't bother coming back…and here I was actually starting to like you again…just go die."

She went back to staring at the tablet and with a heavy pain in my chest and eyes warm with unshed tears I left the hospital, I drove back to Kouhei's in total disbelief of what was going on I even shut off my radio, not in the mood for any external stimuli. I felt like I was in a daze, almost drunk from the emotional pain I was experiencing, I was lucky I didn't get into an accident, after pulling into the driveway I just sat there, leaned back in my seat and let the tears finally flow and flow and flow.

Why was this happening to me? Is this my punishment for loving Kirino?

I continued to cry, heaving and sniffling for several minutes until I heard a knock at my window, there I saw Sena in her night gown looking at me worriedly. I opened the door and stood before her with my eyes red from crying though without saying anything she just embraced me in a hug.

Se: "Are you okay?"

Ky: "…No, pretty far from it actually."

Se: "Is Aiko…"

Ky: "She's fine for now though she's in worse shape than me."

Se: "Then what are you doing here?"

Ky: "…"

We walked back inside where Kouhei and Yukio were watching TV and Kouhei was pretty surprised to see me back though became worried at seeing my face so he joined me and Sena in the Kitchen where I told them most of everything that happened.

Se: "That's horrible."

Ko: "Yeah that's a lot to go through in a day and it sounded like Kirino was warming up to you again."

Ky: "Well after that I doubt she'll ever want to see me again and just when I find out she's pregnant."

Ko: "Wait she's what?!"

Ky: "Yeah she just told me, she's four months along so it has to be mine but now I'll never be able to see it, I won't get to be there when it opens its eyes for the first time or for its first nursing."

Ko: "Dude stop, you're just making yourself feel worse."

Ky: "Sorry."

Ko: "But still that's at least some good news, babies are always good news."

Se: "So you're not upset about that? I thought you and Kirino agreedAnd I think I should be honest here, I actually knew about that for a while, Kirino told me just before you broke up and she made me promise not to tell anyone."

Ky: "I see, it makes sense she'd confide in you, it's fine that you didn't tell me."

Ko: "So is there anything we can do to help you?"

Se: "Yeah just ask and we'll do what we can."

Ky: "Thanks but all I can do right now is go take a bath, get to sleep and hope things get better tomorrow."

I got up and made my way to the stairs.

Se: "Okay but remember Kyousuke we're here for you."

Ko: "Yeah, you're part of our family too you know."

Ky: "Yeah."

Yukio's POV

I sat there listening to the grown-ups talking while I pretended to watch TV and from the corner of my eye I could see that Mr. Kousaka looked really sad.

Did something bad happen?

I kept listening though they used some words I didn't know and being only seven years old couldn't really understand the concepts of some of the things they were conversing about. Though I did know it had something to do with Mr. and Ms. Kousaka and Aiko being sick, hopefully nothing too bad.

It looks like he's been crying a lot, Mr. Kousaka taught me to never make fun of someone who's crying because they are probably hurting really bad.

After they finished talking Mr. Kousaka went upstairs and I heard the bath turn on so I continued watching TV until bed time though when I finished brushing my teeth I decided to go to Mr. Kousaka's room and peeked in.

Ky: "…"

There Mr. Kousaka was sitting on the bed, in his pajamas, looking down at the floor with tears dripping from his face and when I accidentally opened the door too much he looked up and noticed me.

Ky: "Oh, hey there Yukio {Sniff}."

Yu: "…"

I didn't know what to say and it didn't feel right to say anything so I just walked over and sat on the floor next to his leg.

Ky: "You worried about me?"

I didn't look at him but he patted me on the head before he slid down on the floor to sit with me.

Ky: "Well don't be…I'm going to be just fine."

His tears kept coming out, I almost wanted to cry too, so to try to make him feel better I scooted over and leaned up against and he put his arm over my shoulders, we sat there in silence for a few seconds before he started to cry a little harder but it looked like he was trying to keep it in but he was able to calm down.

Ky: "{Sniff} You're a good boy Yukio…a good, good boy, always do your best to be good even if everyone else around you is bad, okay?"

Yu: "Okay."

Ky: "Hm, I remember when you were smaller you used to be so shy, couldn't stand to be away from your mother for even a few seconds, now you're big and running around on your own like it was never a problem before. Haah, damn I need a smoke, well it's getting late big guy go on to bed."

Yu: "Okay."

So I got up and walked to the door, looked back one more time to see Mr. Kousaka getting under the blanket.

Mr. Kousaka really is hurting a lot, like a lot, a lot…I hope he'll be okay.

I walked out and closed the door but when I turned around I saw mom standing there looking down at me with a happy looking face and she patted me on the head and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

Se: "You really are a good boy, come on time for bed."

Yu: "Okay mom."

Kyousuke's POV The Next Day

I didn't know what to do with myself, I got calls from everyone asking where I was and I explained the situation with Ayase and how fragile it was, they updated me on how they tried to talk to Kirino about it but she still wouldn't listen. But then I heard a knock at the door downstairs, everyone else was at the hospital so I was the only one home so I headed down to see who it was.

Ky: "Hm? Grandma?"

Yor: "Hey there sonny, how you doing?"

I let her in and without explaining anything she grabbed some of Sena's tea bags, quickly boiled up some water and within minutes we were sitting at the table with steaming cups of tea.

Ky: "So now are you going to explain why you're here?"

Yor: "Can't a grandmother just enjoy a cup of tea with her grandson every once in a while?"

Ky: "So you won't tell me."

Yor: "…So did you figure it out too?"

Ky: "That Ayase somehow brainwashed Kirino and is using her influence over her to ruin my life?"

Yor: "Hm, yes."

Ky: "Yeah but I can't figure out how she did it, there's no way this is a result of a few whispers in her ear, what in the world could grant her that sort of power?"

Yor: "Well it's obvious it was hypnosis."

Ky: "Come on grandma, not you too."

Yor: "Well what else could it be then?"

Ky: "I don't know but there's no way it could be something as stupid as that."

Yor: "…The world you think you know is a much darker than you realize and the tools used within that darkness can make free will as fleeting as a dandelion seed on the wind.

Ky: "Eh?"

Yor: "She could've used illegal mind altering drugs and I'm talking about highly effective substances the general public knows nothing about, then there's specially designed hypnotic imagery videos exclusive to black markets capable of inducing hypnosis on even the most resistant individuals within seconds, all that combined with certain techniques of suggestion and you can make anyone do anything."

Ky: "…"

Yor: "Believe me if you want but that's what it is {sip} though refuting something just because it sounds ridiculous is honestly incredibly stupid."

Ky: "Well…even if all that was true, what am I going to do?"

Yor: "I don't know, depending on what that Ayase girl did…Kirino's current state of mind could be completely unchangeable."

Ky: "…"

Yor: "But we're going to have to find out."

Ky: "How?"

Yor: "I can't tell you right now but here."

Grandma reached into her bag and pulled out an orange medicine bottle with a few pills in it.

Yor: "Just take these tonight before you go to sleep and I'll explain everything the next morning."

Ky: "Um okay but what are these?"

Yor: "Don't worry about it but let's just say even if I did tell you, you'd still have no idea what they are and if this house happened to be bugged by the government then the two of us would be in serious trouble."

Ky: "Oh really?~"

Yor: "So whatever you don't go showing that to anyone and make sure you keep it hidden from any and all cameras."

Ky: "Okay then."

Yor: "Well I better get going, it was nice talking with you sonny."

Ky: "Yeah."

So grandma got up and gave me a hug and I hugged her back.

Yor: "Remember, take those before bed tonight and no snitching."

Ky: "Alright."

Then grandma left and I hid the bottle of pills in nightstand in the guest room and just spent the rest of the day just doing whatever until Sena, Kouhei and Yukio came back and we all had dinner before going to bed.

Hmm…I trust grandma but for all I know she could be losing her mind these pills could just be nothing but placebos some swindler made her pay a buttload for…but these are part of her plan and right now I don't have a lot of options…if there's even a remote chance this could change everything, make it all the way it was before then I'll put my trust in her.

I popped the pills and tucked myself in and quickly lulled myself to sleep but as I drifted I suddenly felt awake again, still a little drowsy but not enough to go back.

I was right, those were sugar pills, dammit.

So laid there trying to force myself to sleep though as I did my mind began to wander my thoughts got darker and bleaker as time passed and I hate to admit that some small moments they even got suicidal. After about two hours of crippling depression I finally started to drift off again and for a while I was unconscious but then I was suddenly awake again, wide awake, no fatigue at all, so I got up and opened my eyes but I was surprised to see instead of a bedroom I was in the middle of a grassy field.

Ky: "What the hell?"

"Greetings my son~"

Ky: "Eh?"

I looked up at the sky to see a golden, glowing figure looking down at me.

Ky: "Who are you?"

"I am your guardian angel."

Ky: "Really? But what's going on? Where am I?"

"You…are dead."

Ky: "…What?"