Hotaru headed back to her classroom, remembering the final cuddle Youichi had given her before allowing the dormitory mother to take over.
She had been around his age when her Alice had first revealed itself. Her mother had held her and cried, and then it seemed, life had changed forever. They moved house... again and again, once every few years.
Hotaru had felt displaced.
She had not understood her parents' remorse when they spoke of her brother's fate, had not understood her parents' fear. Then she had come to the Academy and seen it for herself.
A school whose beautiful facade attracted many hopefuls who would never get in, and hid the many wretches who would never escape. To survive, one could only let go of everything.
It had struck her as horribly wrong from the beginning, but being practical she had prepared herself to do the same. That is, until Mikan had protested: 'Hotaru won't be like that!'
She had been glad then, that she had friends like Mikan who would keep her heart from turning cold. Her brother's attitude had chilled her to the bone.
At three years old, Youichi was even younger than her brother had been when he had come to the school.
Would he end up like her brother, too?
Hotaru sincerely wished not.
She stopped in her tracks when she noticed three figures coming in her direction.
"Oh, Hotaru-chan! We were just wondering where you were!"
"Hmm?"
"We're going to make the fruit tarts now, do you want to come along?"
Fruit tarts? Hotaru wouldn't miss that for sure. Good thing she had been in time.
The four friends happily headed for Anna's laboratory.
There were so many things happening at the same time. People screaming. Adults running around. Flames illuminating the night sky.
Ruka was frightened. His family was still in there, somewhere. So was Natsume's. The two boys stood side by side, staring at the confusion before them.
"Natsume?"
Natsume turned to look at Ruka, his face so pale that Ruka suddenly panicked.
"What's wrong, Natsume?"
"Ruka, I... I can't stop it."
"Stop what?" Ruka's voice became shrill.
"You won't understand. I don't... I don't understand it myself, either."
"What do you mean, what do you mean!"
"This is all my fault..."
"What do you mean! Please, Natsume..."
Natsume didn't seem to be listening. He took his hand from his pocket and slowly opened his palm.
Ruka took one look and screamed.
"Your hand's on fire!"
"No, it's not..."
Natsume's voice sounded unearthly.
"My hand started the fire."
"Natsume, I don't understand you!"
"I don't know how. But... I know that I started the fire. Ruka, I..."
Natsume suddenly swung out and pushed him away. "Stay away from me!"
"What are you doing? Natsume, you're frightening me!"
"This is all my fault! Don't come near me!"
"Natsume!"
"I killed them, Ruka, I killed them!"
"Please, Natsume, stop this!"
He reached out for Natsume but Natsume leapt back. "Stay away!"
"Natsume, you're dreaming! This isn't your fault..."
"It is, it is!"
A loud explosion diverted Ruka's attention.
Ruka shuddered.
Natsume lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Ruka was lying in the opposite direction, an arm's length away. Compared to just fifteen minutes ago, he was awfully quiet now.
Natsume wondered what Ruka was thinking about. It always made him feel bad whenever Ruka cried.
Especially when more often than not, he was the cause.
Natsume was scared. Scared of himself, scared for others.
"Don't come near me!"
The flames raged on.
"I killed them, Ruka, I killed them!"
"Natsume, you're dreaming! This isn't your fault..."
"It is, it is!"
A loud explosion. Ruka screamed again. "Mummy! Daddy!"
The house collapsed in on itself.
Ruka covered his face and burst into tears. Natsume stared helplessly.
Natsume touched his own forehead and found it wet with sweat.
"...Ruka."
Surprised, Ruka snapped out of his thoughts and sat up. "Huh?"
"If you won't smile..."
Natsume moved his gaze from the ceiling and looked seriously into Ruka's blue eyes. "...I won't smile, either. Got that?"
For a moment, Ruka's eyes filled with tears again.
"Natsume..."
Ruka's tearstained face broke into a smile.
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The story ends here. For those who want to know why I couldn't continue (not that I didn't want to!), please refer to my summary. Thanks :)