AN: Hope everyone's doing okay during this difficult time. I'm ticking by as best as I can, having finally finished The Royal. Luckily, I can still keep writing and will continue to do so. For this chapter, I'm doing something a little different, and finally featuring a character I've been planning for a long time. Please read, review, favourite, etc!
Chapter 38: Water Dance
|July 10th|Kansei High School – Class 3-1|8:15 am|
Today was another day for the third-year students of Kansei. Every week, the students inched closer to those fateful exams, aspiring to become top students of whatever University they had their heart set on. Whether that institution was based in Shinshuto, or further afield, each student had a huge amount of pressure on them to succeed, lest they face becoming a modern-day ronin.
While many in this particular class – run by Mr. Horiguchi - were already feeling the stress, Manami Inoue wasn't finding the volume of material difficult at all. From her early childhood, she excelled at memorisation, both when it came to knowledge and her dancing. Already, her classmates were asking for her help covering the myriad of new topics thrust upon them.
"Morning..."
Manami looked up, as a tall, messy-haired boy sat next to her. It was none other than Katashi, her boyfriend since their second year at Kansei. He had become a school hero as of last year, when he took charge of the track team, leading them to victory at nearly every event. He devoted his body and spirit to each race, as in his own words, dwelling on anything else weighed someone down more than anything else.
Last summer, the school participated in the Shinshuto School Sports Contest against the other five high schools in the city. The ill-fated Aoi Mirai of Ginumi, the drama-focused Nana Tensai of Tarumi, the jovial technological Senmu of Asakita, and the gardening-lovers of Heiwa Mori desperately tried to take the number 1 spot. As ever, of course, it became a contest between Chieki and Kansei, bitter rivals for over a century. The last event was the track race, and Chieki's star runner Toshiaki Yukimora was almost guaranteed to win. Out of the five rival schools, only Kansei had a chance of beating him.
"Damn, he's fast. How are we gonna keep up? He's unbeatable!" One of the track team's members had complained at the time.
"That's what they've said so far. But they won't be after today. Wait and see, everybody. Kansei is number one!" Katashi had said, rallying his teammates – and much of the school, too.
The race was a fierce one, neither of the runners willing to give in. Finally, however, Katashi inched forward, and crossed the finish line. The school celebrated with thunderous applause, and even Manami felt the urge to cheer. Chieki watched in horror as Kansei took first place, crushing all opposition. Before that day, Manami dismissed the whole event as a silly sports contest, but at least one with free food afterwards. Yet there she was, jumping up and down, screaming Katashi's name.
Then, when she saw him huddling with his exuberant teammates, she felt the urge to congratulate him personally.
"You were amazing, Katashi-kun!" Manami had said, red in the face.
"Thanks. I just knew I had to win. Say...you want to go out sometime? We've...liked each other for a while, haven't we? I wish I'd said something before now..."
She had been so surprised – she had to admit, she had something of a crush on him. Yet she hadn't expected he'd feel the same way about her. Yet it was a moment of euphoria, and another stunning victory for Kansei. Everything seemed perfect. She said yes, and spent most of the summer in his company. The rest of the school year passed, and they became Kansei's 'golden couple'.
It had nearly been a year since then, and the school was preparing for the next sports contest, to be held near the end of August. Manami had spent quite a lot of time with Katashi, yet he seemed far less cheerful than he had been that fateful day. He was still as cocky as ever, but rarely smiled, and seemed to have lost enthusiasm for most things besides his running. Even that seemed to interest him less than less.
Katashi, you were so lively last year, even if you were ridiculously over-confident. What's changed you so much?
"Good morning, Katashi-kun." Manami said, sweetly. She quickly kissed him, although he barely reacted. "Hmm? What's wrong? Don't even like my kisses any more?"
"It's...just been a really tough weekend," Katashi said, with a heavy sigh.
"Oh? What happened?"
"Long story. You don't wanna know, trust me."
"No, I do. You can tell me anything. You know that, don't you? I know things have been difficult this school year, but -"
"Look, forget it. I'm not in the mood for your fifty questions. Save them for today's lessons, okay?" Katashi said, with a dour look.
"Wow, it must have truly been an awful weekend. I'm sorry..."
He's been so different lately. Ever since Bythos first started appearing in the news. He used to be so much happier, especially around me. Maybe I was right all along. But if he knew I'd told Nakahara-san about what I fear most, he'd be even angrier.
She hadn't been near Shintaro Nakahara, or any of his other friends at school, since that time at the library. Yet she had spotted their 'secret' gatherings countless times. He and Kohaku Teruya had been best friends for years, but lately, they kept meeting up with the new transfer student from Yokohama.
Kei Kakusa. There's something different about her. I wish I knew what it was. Somehow, when I see her with the others from her class, and Komatsu from the first year, I get the feeling she's in charge. Of what, though, I don't know. If only I could find out. If I did, what would happen? Would I be in danger?
"Are you doing anything after school?" Manami asked, trying to put on a happy face. "We haven't been to the Bella Donna together for a while. I might look for that book about dancing in ancient Japan -"
"Can't. I've got something else I gotta take care of."
"Oh, really? That's a shame. Ever since Bythos showed up, it's getting so much harder to be with you..." Manami said, looking away from him.
"What...are you getting at?" Katashi asked, raising his shoulders defensively.
"You can't tell? I'm saying, we should spend more time together! As a couple! Especially with the summer break coming up. Father's arranging a trip to Okinawa, and he's inviting you!"
"Oh, he is?" Katashi said, curious.
"Don't say you can't come then either! Come on!" Manami said, pouting. "Please? It'd be great to go there, to such a beautiful island! Especially with you."
"I'll have to see if I can make it first. My parents were talking about going somewhere too. Don't want to double book. Leave it with me, okay?"
"Alright. But we should do something soon." Manami said. "You're at least going to opening night for Water Dance, right?"
"As if I'd miss a chance to see one of your famous dances!" Katashi said, now smiling. "I'll be there. I promise."
He's always loved watching me dance. I just hope nothing gets in the way of the show though. I've worked so hard on that.
|July 12th|Ginumi - Kujou Dance School|16:40 pm|
Located near the centre of Ginumi, the Kujou Dance School had high prestige, teaching students of all ages and levels, who would go on to marvellous performances. Originally created by a family hailing from Osaka, the school had established a branch in Shinshuto four years earlier, and already it was making a name for itself. Its latest performance was going to be an Irish-inspired show of spectacular talent, the Water Dance. While no one involved with this project hailed from the Emerald Isle, everything was intended to be as authentic as possible, down to the music, the outfits, and most importantly, the dance moves.
Today, the instructors Shigeo Nakatsuru & Mai Shintani were addressing the students of the recital. Manami, due to her high proficiency, was going to be the star of the show. It would be her first time performing in front of so many people, yet she wasn't nervous. Compared to everything else that was going on in her life, this was a welcome distraction.
"Okay, everyone, this is our final rehearsal. Please remember what the Water Dance calls for. Grace, beauty, and intellect. You cannot afford to miss out a single step. It must be drilled into your brain, and become all you can think about. All of you must work in perfect harmony in order to make this a success." Shigeo said. A balding man, he was of incredible athleticism, having performed all over Japan.
"This must be a first-rate production at any costs. Our musicians will perform beautifully, and you must match them in every beat. Let your body flow with the rhythm, a perfect fusion. If even one of you fails to match up, your future with the school is forfeit." Mai said. A perfectionist with brown hair tied in a prim braid, she insisted every student meet up to her high standards. So many novices had been chewed out by her harsh words, yet Manami had kept up with her, thus leading to her starring role.
And thus, the rehearsal began, attended by some of the family of the dancers. Of course, Manami's were there, holding hands in eager anticipation. The minute the music began, her feet went, and she performed the routine that had been drilled into her for weeks. Every twirl, every step, the position of her hands, were just as her instructors had demanded. Dancing had always come to her naturally, her greatest passion outside of school.
Finally, with one final movement, the rehearsal ended, and the small crowd went wild. Of course, most of them were friends and relatives of the cast, but to hear their applause cheered them regardless. Manami gazed at the people in the front row, her eyes directly meeting her proud, smiling father.
Dad, you look like you're on the verge of tears. I really hope those are tears of joy this time.
"That's my girl!" Koichi Inoue screamed, louder than anyone else. He was known for his booming voice and assertiveness, sometimes to his family's embarrassment. While his curly dark hair was already greying, he still had a certain youthful twinkle to his eye. Often at night, he would be laughing out loud with his family.
"I think she can hear you just fine from here, darling..." Mari, Manami's mother, said. Like her daughter, her hair was a blue hue, albeit much shorter. She was a lawyer of great prestige, having worked on some high-profile legal cases during her career.
After saying goodbye to her instructors and her fellow dancers, Manami changed out of her emerald green dance outfit and back into her Kansei clothes, and before long, was in the back seat of her father's car.
"Now that was an exceptional show. And it's still not opening night!" Koichi said, voice louder than his luxury sedan's engine.
"Indeed, the applause will be louder than even your voice," Mari said, pointedly speaking in a quiet register.
"Is that a challenge? Then I'll face it head-on!" Koichi said. "At least it's less daunting than work."
Manami looked up from her phone, concerned. "What happened, father? Are you still afraid of Bythos?"
"Those scumbags don't scare me one bit," Koichi said, as his car turned around a corner. "But look what happened to Aramis. They were going from strength-to-strength, but then thanks to Bythos, they lost everything overnight!"
Aramis was foolish enough to make sure of Bythos' evil powers. Thank goodness my father is no fool. He built the Inoue Banking Group from the ground up! And he'd never let such an evil group taint it.
"Still, if Bythos decide someone's an enemy..." Mari said, uncertain.
"Yes, that's exactly why we've tightened security so much. I can't be complacent, not until Bythos ceases to exist. They can lurk in the darkness as much as they like, but they won't win. Mayor Ashikaga will put a stop to that."
"I hope you're right, father. And mother, you probably don't need to worry so much. Everything will work out in the end. Bythos will be defeated soon enough, I think."
Mari and Koichi briefly looked at each other, then back at the road.
"You sound very sure of that, Manami-chan..." Koichi said.
I am. I don't know for sure, but I have a feeling a certain transfer student from Yokohama is working hard on that as we speak. Something about her tells me we can trust her.
|July 13th|Totsuka - Inoue Household – Manami's Room|20:43 pm|
As expected for the CEO of a major banking firm, the Inoue house was an impressively large one in Totsuka. Three stories tall, many bedrooms, and a private theatre in the basement. Complete with a swimming pool, and a garage for Koichi's car collection, it was very much an upper-class home. Manami's room, while not the master bedroom, was still quite big, much more than most of her fellow Kansei students.
Almost everything in her room was blue, from the bedsheets, the dark curtains, the carpet and rugs, and of course her study desk. She had helped her father paint some of the furniture herself, which had been a tough, yet enjoyable task. Now, she was hard at work at her studies, as expected for someone of her school year.
Principal Hashimoto's counting on us to get accepted into university. Of course, I want the same thing. My father and mother worked hard to get where they are today, as they've reminded me many times. I must put the same effort into my own path. Yet with what's happening in the city lately, is that going to be so simple? What exactly is this Nisa Liat planning? Who is she?
While she knew a clear answer would not be obtained by merely searching online, she decided to look it up anyway. The name appeared to be Hebrew in origin, 'Nisa' meaning 'to test' and' Liat' was 'You are mine'. It clearly wasn't their given name, however. Various sightings had been reported on a myriad of websites and social media feeds, yet all of these varied drastically. She had been referred to as the 'Pleroma Princess', so she commanded a great deal of respect from her followers.
"What is this nonsense? Bright Years for The Honest Ones of Shinshuto? If they actually meant that, they'd never commit such atrocious acts. Violent scumbags, every single one of them."
Manami said to herself, shaking her head in disgust. As she was about to close the website she was on, she felt a massive shiver down her spine. Her vision briefly went hazy, and for a moment, she could have sworn the date displayed on her laptop was something other than 2017.
What was that? Am I tired already? Maybe I need to stop looking at this laptop and do something else.
She quickly left the room, heading towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water. However, as she did, she felt a massive rush of pain in her head. She collapsed to her knees, gasping in agony. For a second, she thought she saw a butterfly fly by.
"What…?"
In an instant, however, the pain left her body, and she was able to get to her feet. There was no sign of any butterfly, and all seemed fine. Hesitantly, she continued on her way to the kitchen. All she needed to do was focus on her dance and her studies, and she'd be on top of her world.
|July 14th|Kansei High – Track Field|16:40 pm|
The track team was finishing up, standing by one of the bleachers and wiping the sweat off their brows.
"Yo, Katashi-kun! You gonna thrash Yukimora again?" One of the members, a boy with a buzz cut called Kenichi asked.
"I still got two working legs, you know. I ain't gonna lose to him." Katashi said, drinking from his water bottle.
"Man, last year was great. We thrashed everybody! Aoi Mirai, Nana Tensai, Senmu, Heiwa Mori...and we finally showed those Chieki sons of bitches who the fastest school is!" Another member, a boy with bushy brown hair named Junnosuke said. "Yukimora was such a showoff, trying to look cool in front of his kid brother. I almost feel sorry for him...not!"
Brother? That's right, Yukimora did have a younger brother. I feel like I'm forgetting something else, though. What could it be?
"Yeah, must have crushed him. And I'll get to do it again this year. My last chance to make this school proud of me." Katashi said, looking up at the school's walls solemnly. "With everything that's gone on this year, we need to restore some cheer."
"Just hope Chieki's old man Principal doesn't hire Bythos to kill us!" a dark-haired boy named Takuro said. They chuckled, but Katashi did not, remaining stony-faced.
"And look here!" A fourth boy in the team, a long-haired second-year named Taiichi said. "Manami-senpai!"
"Hi, everybody." She said happily. The boys smiled at her warmly, fondly recalling the long celebration party from last year. Katashi, however, still seemed somewhat annoyed.
"Well, we better head off and leave you lovebirds alone. See ya!"
With that, Manami was finally alone with Katashi. He no longer looked irritated, but instead, somewhat gloomy.
"Are you okay?" She asked, gripping his shoulders tenderly. "Tell me. What's wrong?"
"Manami-chan. I..." Katashi began. "Those guys, talking about Bythos so fucking casually...it makes me sick."
"Don't worry about them. It's not like they're actually involved." Manami said.
"...Can you really be sure?" Katashi said, seriously. "No one knows for sure who's in Bythos and who's not. Anyone you know could be part of them."
"Don't say that!" Manami said. "I don't want to be suspicious of everyone. You know I'm not part of that group. Nor are you. Right?"
There was a long silence, as the two of them stared deep into each other's eyes.
I'm right, aren't I? You've been with Bythos all along, and you're too afraid to tell anyone. Even me, Katashi-kun?
"I trust you, Manami. Just like you trust me." Katashi said, managing a smile. "Everything's going to be okay. You don't have to worry. As long as I'm around, you'll be safe."
"...I hope you're right."
"Of course I'm right. You're the only thing I love more than running. I'm gonna get changed, then we can head somewhere special. It's been nearly a year since our first date, after all."
"Oh yeah...I never thought I'd enjoy ice skating, but with you, I didn't mind falling over so much." Manami said, managing a chuckle. "Go on, I'll be right here."
Katashi nodded, smiling, and ran into the changing rooms. While he did so, the young Inoue stared behind.
I'll be safe as long as he's around. He might as well have confessed right then and there. Why can't he tell me? Is he too afraid of how I'd react? Just as I'm too afraid to ask him straight out? I can't risk it. Not now, not yet. I need to find my way through this. If Bythos truly has enslaved you, Katashi-kun, I have to save you. If only I knew how.
|July 15th|Library|15:39 pm|
Another day of school was at its end, and Manami was entering the library. Katashi had gone home early that day, apparently helping his family on an errand. He seemed in a better mood lately, but still hadn't divulged anything of his hidden life.
I still haven't found it in me to ask him about Bythos. Maybe he already knows I suspect him. If only he would tell me the truth, so we could talk through everything. But I don't want to lose
She saw the members of the reporting club animatedly discussing their next newsletter for the school, and also a girl she knew was part of the kendo club. Everyone seemed to be eagerly anticipating the next sports contest, even if some were dismissing it as another pointless chapter in the rivalry between Kansei and Chieki.
"Manami-senpai, hi!"
Greeting her enthusiastically was the dedicated Ayano Kajihara, a second-year member of the library committee. Known for her long pigtails and glasses, her polite demeanour had made her popular among those who attended the library.
"Hello, Ayano. Just coming to return a book before I forget."
Manami quickly handed over Celtic Gods and Goddesses, a somewhat lengthy tome. One of the deities that she had loved reading about was Li Ban, a woman-turned mermaid.
"Oh, you too, senpai? I thought it was only nerds like Nakahara who read this kind of stuff..."
"...Nakahara?" Manami asked.
"Oh, Shintaro-kun. He was in my class last year. Not a bad guy, but he's just so intense about reading. He asked me out, and while the curry and coffee place was really good...well, he thought a character study of Macbeth would be romantic."
"At least it wasn't Romeo and Juliet..." Manami said, managing a smirk.
"We've barely spoken this whole year. But he's busy hanging out with that new transfer student most of the time anyway. Him, Kohaku, Akari, and Noboru Komatsu. Not really sure what they do, but whatever keeps them going in these weird times, right?"
Manami politely nodded, but as her eyes wandered, she caught a glimpse of an old newspaper on a desk nearby.
"What's this old thing doing here?" She asked. Ayano shrugged and went to attend to another student. No one else around seemed to be particularly interested in the paper, so Manami took a look.
This goes back to March 15, 2017. Who'd keep a newspaper from this long ago lying around? We don't even keep newspapers in the library.
Flicking through it, she found an article involving a horrific murder that took place earlier that year. Specifically, the arrest of the murder victim's boyfriend, the only suspect. Reading the story, the victim, a 20-year-old nursing student of Shinshuto University named Houko Nakashima, was found dead by her room-mate, who had returned after a night out with friends.
The body had been found stabbed to death, and her throat cut open. The man arrested was her boyfriend at the time, also a student at the University. When Manami saw the picture of him, everything came rushing back.
This man! I knew him! How could I possibly have forgotten him?! He was all over the news not so long ago!
Manami had met this young man, who had been charming, kind, and funny. His compassion for others extended to every facet of his life, including his studies. His aim was to become a doctor, the best in Japan. So when he had been arrested for the violent murder of his lover, it was a massive shock to everyone.
"Ichiro Yamaguchi..."
Indeed, the man she saw was truly Katashi's older brother. They looked much alike, especially around the eyes, except Ichiro was more slender, and more prone to smiling. Only a week before the incident, Ichiro came over to pay his family a visit, and to introduce them to his girlfriend for the first time. Katashi had the same idea, and thus Manami was there too.
Now that Manami thought about it, she remembered Houko being a somewhat shy, but kind young woman. Her hair was nearly always tied in a long ponytail – it was the hairstyle she wore in the photo the police had released to the public. That
"So, it's meet the new girlfriend night, huh? Well, nice to finally meet ya, Manami-chan. I'm Ichiro. Someday, I'm gonna be the best doctor in Japan."
"Um...you're a dancer, I hear? I never was any good at dancing. Then again, that's how I met Ichiro. All the other girls dancing to catch his attention, and he went to ask me if I was okay..."
It had been a wonderful evening at Katashi's house. Everyone was in high spirits. Nothing suggested at all that Ichiro could hurt a fly, let alone the girl he clearly loved. He was always checking she was okay, holding her hand, kissing her at every opportunity. When he had been arrested, Manami had a tough time believing it had happened.
Katashi, in particular, was devastated. His brother was his hero, not a psychotic murderer. Yet his family was haunted by this crime wherever they went. The public vilified Ichiro, especially after he was sentenced to life imprisonment. And many took issue with being near his younger brother.
Yet somehow, all of that had been forgotten. Manami herself stopped thinking about Ichiro and Houko altogether. She did recall the furore over the murder, but not the identity of the killer. It seemed like the entire city had as well. Not only that, Katashi himself stopped talking about his brother entirely. It was as if he was an only child – in fact, he even described himself as such to people.
Does even Katashi remember his brother? Do his parents? My memories were altered until I read this newspaper. Why, though? I remember stories about Bythos were starting to circulate at that time -
It had finally hit her. Bythos certainly had an effect on the public consciousness, but she didn't anticipate it would be quite like this. If Manami's hunch was accurate, Bythos had someone made people forget that Katashi and his parents had anything to do with Ichiro. And thus, they could live out their days in peace without anyone throwing rocks through their car windows.
Shaken, she put away the paper in her bag and left the library, unsure what to do next. Katashi had to leave home early to help out his father with some sort of woodworking project – a story that Manami didn't believe for a second. All of the other times he'd been 'too busy' to meet up with her were sticking out in her head now. Now, she felt stupid for not having suspected him sooner.
What can I possibly do to convince him to quit Bythos? Or if he does that, will they kill him? I can't let that happen. What can I possibly do?
When she walked onto the path leading to the gates, she saw Kei Kakusa, walking out of the school grounds with Shintaro, Kohaku, Akari and Noboru. They seemed to be in a hurry, heading towards the bus stop. Why they were in so much of a rush, Manami did not know, but she wanted to find out.
Alas, Manami didn't reach the bus in time, and the No. 29 sped off. Annoyed, Manami looked up at the track to see when the next one was. Fifteen minutes, it said. Hopefully, by the time she got there, Kei's party would be around to answer some of her questions.
|Bella Donna|16:23 pm|
Manami wasted no time in getting inside the shopping centre after she got off the bus. So many other students were still hanging around here, but she couldn't see the Kansei crowd on the first floor. Neither of them was in any of the shops she observed. Clearly, they didn't come here for window shopping.
Finally, after much walking around, she headed to the food court. If they weren't there, she could at least get something to eat. Soon enough, however, she found her targets. And they had company, with four students of Chieki.
There's Toshiaki Yukimora. He hasn't changed a bit. And that's his best friend, Evelina, I think. Those other two are siblings, I think. One of them was on Chieki's baseball team. I wonder how these people all know each other. Time to investigate.
Quickly, she took a table nearby, her back to the group. Keeping her head down, she pretended to be studying quietly, while listening intently at everything that was being said.
"I still can't believe you were still holding onto that old paper, Akari..." Kohaku said.
"It was really my dad. He collects a lot of old newspapers as a hobby. But isn't it scary?" Akari asked, sounding quite frightened. "Bythos was able to alter our own memories!"
"How exactly could they pull that off via the Theio Kosmos?" Noburo asked.
Theio Kosmos? What are they talking about? Is that some kind of power that Bythos possess?
"If I had to guess, Bythos set up some kind of barrier around Shinshuto. Those within the city limits would forget that Ichiro ever existed. How exactly they did that, I'm not sure." Shintaro said, deep in thought. "Katashi must have been ashamed to find out what his older brother had done. Enough to want everyone forget he ever had a brother, so that he and his family could move on."
That sounds about right. Still, to think Katashi would go so far If I had a brother or sister, and they committed such a terrible crime, would I have done the same?
"Do you think even his parents remember he existed? Ichiro, I mean. Have they forgotten they even had another child?" Kohaku asked, frightened.
"That's a possibility. If our theory is correct, Katashi no doubt wanted to erase his brother's existence as thoroughly as possible. Even from his own parents. Apart from us, Katashi alone might be the only one in Shinshuto who remembers him." Kei said.
"Still, one thing's bothering me. Why'd he go crazy and kill his girlfriend?"
"I'm as confused as you are, Toshiaki." Noboru said, sadly. "I...I could never have hurt Teruko. No. I wouldn't even do that to any of the Aeon Admins."
What is an Aeon Admin? Are they part of Bythos too? And what exactly did happen to Teruko Yoshikawa?
"So now we have an idea why Katashi joined Bythos. Nisa Liat must have sought him out and turned him into an Admin...and then somehow, she made the city disassociate Katashi and his family from Ichiro." Shintaro said.
"In other words, Ichiro became a stranger to his family. His parents forgot they had two sons and acted as if Katashi was their only child. If Nisa Liat can do that, even without the Cognition Core..." Kohaku said, sounding terrified.
"Indeed. She may not have any of them in her grasp, but she's still a very real threat to our entire city. Even if we get all six Cores, we'll still need to defeat her..." Kei said.
"Not to mention those other Anomalies on the loose. I don't really like the idea of either one getting to roam free. Sure, Oceanus says he won't do anything to us, but how long's that gonna last?" Masato asked.
"Menoetius is the one that I'm scared of the most..." Akari said, shuddering.
Oceanus and Menoetius. Are those mythological beings? Then again, they called them 'anomalies'. What does that mean? And what are these cognition cores that Nisa Liat wants? Come on, Manami, just ask them already! They still haven't even noticed you're there!
"Relax. We're going to talk about what we've learned with Shigeru and everybody else, and come up with a plan to take out these Anomalies fast." Evelina said. "Kaii's meeting us at the Golden Laguna, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he said he was running behind, so he was gonna skip dinner and head straight there. Shame, he missed out on a great meal." Akari said. "Time we got going, huh?"
"Indeed. Here we go." Kei said. Manami stood up at that point, and turned around. Kei was tapping something on her black smartphone, but as he did, she finally sensed she was being watched.
"Manami-senpai?!" Shintaro shouted. "Kei, hurry!"
"Wait!" Manami cried. "What are you all doing? Answer me!"
However, to her shock, everyone in front of her disappeared in a flash of green light. She stood there, rubbing her eyes every few seconds, but neither of the group reappeared.
"...I didn't imagine that, did I?!" Manami said, stunned. She looked around, but none of the nine she had been eavesdropping on were still around. Nor were any of the other diners particularly shocked at the group's disappearance.
Slowly, she sat back down. What she had just witnessed must have been a supernatural ability. If they could teleport to another location, without anyone else noticing, they must be capable of much more.
I noticed, but no one else did. Does that mean I'm different from all of them? No, that can't be. I'm not some kind of extraordinary girl, like in my old manga. I'm just Manami Inoue. Wait. Someone's moved my bag!
Indeed, Manami's bag was in a different spot than it had been before. Panicking, she opened it – but nothing appeared to be missing. Instead, however, there was something new. A black box, reminding her of the one her phone came in. Slowly, she reached for it and opened it, revealing another smartphone altogether.
"...What? I never bought this!" Kei said, stunned. "If someone's trying to frame me for shoplifting, then – "
It was then she noticed a lilac envelope in her bag as well, hidden beneath the box for the phone. She took it in her head, and looked at it closely. The writing was very small, and the way the letters were written was very stylized, almost like calligraphy.
Dear Manami Inoue,
You'll be wondering why you've received this Gnosis. Indeed, on the surface, it appears as a smartphone of impressive performance. However, it's true power will enable you to perform feats one would never think possible. You've already witnessed one of its abilities today.
The Gnosis was not created of normal means. In order for it to have full power, it cannot be constructed from regular components. Perhaps one could say it is born of nothingness itself. It truly is alive, in many ways.
Use the Gnosis wisely. It is yours until the end, whenever that shall be. You would do well to remember this. Your life will never be the same from today onward. The same can be said of Shinshuto itself. Whether it thrives for all eternity, or reduced to dust and forgotten, that depends on all of you.
Farewell.
Manami read and re-read the letter many times. This phone was 'alive', according to the sender. Something in her told her this might just be true. And it was a gift. She looked around but saw no one standing particularly close by. Indeed, these people seemed to be utterly unaware of the strange goings-on near them.
Who wrote me this letter? Did they give Kakusa and everyone else the same device? Just what have they been doing since April? If I use this 'Gnosis', I may just find the answer.
She turned it on and gasped. The phone displayed her own name, and a lot of text she didn't quite recognise. There were a series of apps, some of which just seemed like standard ones – a calculator, weather forecaster, internet, various social media apps, etc.
What is it made out of? Doesn't feel like any material I'm familiar with. The only app with a normal name is the 'Aeon Pathway' one. Let me try it out.
When she opened it, it displayed a map of Shinshuto and two predetermined destinations. One was the Bella Donna she was in, complete with screenshots of the exterior and interiors. The second was the Kujou Dance School, whose columns Manami would recognise anywhere.
"If I use this, will it transport me somewhere else? I'll try it. If it can help me save Katashi-kun and father from Bythos...I'll do anything!"
She tapped the icon for the dance school, and waited, curiously. Suddenly, the phone went black, and green letters appeared in front of her – almost as if they were in 3D. Yet this felt far too real to be a mere effect.
Welcome to Gnosis.
The time has come to test how far you are willing to go.
To reach insight into the world, your friends, and yourself.
From this moment on, you have a duty you must uphold.
You must work hard, young one, for many humans will be depending on you.
Don't be afraid.
You will see the world in a different 'light' now.
But you will not be alone.
"Huh?!" Manami said, holding her bag close. "...What is going on?! And – ah!"
Her vision was getting cloudier. A blue mist seemed to be seeping in, and she was surrounded by a white light.
"Help! Someone!"
Alas, Manami fainted, collapsing somewhere far from the Bella Donna.
|Golden Laguna Hotel|16:45 pm|
Only Kaii was at the hotel waiting for Kei and company, sipping an energy drink. He waved at them, but when he saw his friend's concerned faces, his cheer faltered.
"Hey, guys, what's with the long faces?"
"Well..." Shintaro began, uncertain of what to say. "Remember Katashi?"
"I tend to remember most people who try to kill me. So yeah. Why, what's he done now?"
"Nothing, but..." Noboru said, nervous.
"...His girlfriend witnessed us going to the Theio Kosmos." Kei said.
"What? Like, she saw you using the Aeon Pathway?!" Kaii shouted.
"Exactly. We were busy talking amongst ourselves, we didn't even see her sitting behind us. But just as we were about to leave, she stood up, asking us what we were doing..." Kohaku said.
"Oh no..." Akari said. "I left that newspaper behind at the library!"
"Are you kidding me?!" Masato shouted. "Then she probably read about Katashi's brother! What if he found out she knows about Ichiro?!"
"Calm down, Masato!" Evelina said, sternly. "We don't know for sure what Manami knows. But we can't exactly go back now."
"Yeah, we've got to work on finding the two Anomalies, and also the damn Cores," Toshiaki said. "Other people don't notice when you teleport to the Kosmos in front of them do they?"
"Most of the time, But she had her attention on us the whole time. There's no way she wouldn't have noticed us disappear right in front of her eyes." Kei said, grimly.
"Well, maybe she'll just think she was hallucinating or something. Like, she was too tired from studying all the time." Kaii said.
"I wouldn't count on that. Manami is a clever girl. Quite honestly, even if she hadn't watched us vanish into the ether, I wouldn't be surprised if she'd figured out what we're up to."
"Look, it'll be alright. I'll go back and find her. I'm sure I can make her understand." Evelina said. She started to take out her Gnosis, however, Shigeru suddenly arrived. None of the other in his team seemed to have followed him, however.
Oh my god, of all the times to show up! If he finds out that Manami caught us coming here after the mall, he might just end up demolishing the entire hotel in a fit of rage.
"You're looking rather anxious. What's happened?" Shigeru asked, looking straight at Kei.
"We've stumbled across something quite bizarre, Komatsu-san. Do you remember the murder of Houko Nakashima?"
Curious, the Minister tilted his head. "Yes, very much so. Why?"
"...The man arrested was Ichiro Yamaguchi. The elder brother Katashi kept secret."
The group filled in Shigeru on the whole story, leaving out their eventful disappearance from the Akartharto Kosmos. After he heard their tale, he sighed, angry.
"Damn. They have the power to alter our memories even after failing to seize any Cores. If they can do this with Ichiro Yamaguchi, there may be plenty of others who have been forgotten. As if I didn't have enough stress to deal with..."
"What's wrong, dad?" Noboru asked.
"Mayor Ashikaga is demanding we hurry up and seal the Cores we have. However, it takes time to set up a system that even Nisa Liat can't bypass." Shigeru said, shaking his head. "Yuko, she...she's not been herself for a long time. Not since Noriko was..."
"Her daughter...right? Her death must have devastated her..." Natsumi said.
"Quite. Perhaps more than I assumed. I can only hope our new system will be able to protect the cores. Then perhaps she'll be satisfied. I just hope she won't demand anything else..." Shigeru said, sighing. "Regardless, it's time we began looking into the new Core. This time, I'm going to suggest all of you investigate the Ginumi area. Everyone else is busy with the defence system, but I'll accompany you."
"Awesome!" Kaii said. "A tough old bastard like you will scare those Shadows away!"
Shigeru, despite his scowl, did not dignify that with a response. He simply cleared his throat, and looked at the team.
"You must never grow complacent, even after our victories against Bythos to date. If we underestimate them, we lose. Are we clear?"
"Yes, Komatsu-san. Always." Kei said, calmly. "Where are we heading first?"
"Ginumi's quite a large area," Noboru said, looking out of the window, "so it could be anywhere."
"Indeed, so we must be prepared to search every inch of it," Shigeru said. " and I'd rather we didn't split up on this occasion either. This time, we'll start at the harbour. We must make sure no stone is left unturned."
"Got it. Then let's go." Toshiaki said. "If Katashi's there again...I'm gonna wipe the floor with him."
The team disappeared to the harbour, ready to search.
|Kujou Dance School – Class A|17:12 pm|
"...Huh?"
Manami opened her eyes, and saw a blaring light above her. She soon realised she was in a very familiar location – one of Kujou's dance classrooms. In this room alone, she had mastered many moves and styles, in particular tap.
"Is anyone there?!" She called out. Next to her was her schoolbag and her Gnosis. As soon as she grabbed the phone, however, her bag disappeared into thin air – and an image of it appeared on its screen.
That should surprise me more than it should. Now, where do I go from here?
She walked out of the room, and into the hallway. Nothing looked different, but there was something about the lighting and the atmosphere around her that sent shivers down her spine. While no one was around, she felt like she was being watched at all times. Slowly, she walked down the stairs, onto the entrance hall. There, framed photographs of the studio's finest performances were hung, as was an advertisement for Water Dance.
"No one's here at all. Maybe I should -"
Suddenly, she felt her Gnosis vibrate. Looking at the screen closely, she saw several red dots appear on a map of the dance school's exterior. She went to the window, and gasped, hand over her mouth. Standing there was something clearly not human. It stood at an impressive height and had a dog-like head with purple eyes, and a thick white beard. Large wings protruded from its back. She watched closely, watching it tower over a yellow scorpion-like beast with a red human skull. It seemed to be 'bleeding' a black fluid from various wounds.
"Lord Pazuzu...why?! Haven't...I...been useful to you?!"
Pazuzu? I swear I've heard of that name, something to do with Mesopotamian mythology. He looks really strong. What's he going to do to that thing?
"Tammuz. Those miserable humans are trying to seize the Theio Kosmos for their own selfish purposes. I cannot allow that. Nisa Liat, that wretched ghost, must not be allowed to rule over this domain. If I have any hope of taking the throne, I'll need power. And while you have little strength of your own...it will enhance my power well enough."
A fierce green wind suddenly swept into the area, and engulfed the dying 'Tammuz'. Its body disintegrated into a strange black ooze, which flowed straight into Pazuzu. The king of the desert flapped his wings triumphantly, his body glowing bright red.
"Yes, perfect! Perhaps with this, I can strike down Oceanus. Then Nisa Liat will finally fear us, the beings she treats like mere tools. Mortal girl over there! Show yourself to me…!"
Manami gasped. Her body suddenly was levitated upwards, and the window in front of her shattered into pieces. She found herself flung onto the road, screaming.
"Argh! Oh my god!" She wailed. "Who – no, what are you?! What do you want from me?!"
"You're in the Theio Kosmos and don't even know what much? Look around you, you pathetic wretch. This world is a mirror of your own miserable Akartharto Kosmos. Except here, rather than meagre mortals, Shadows reign supreme. Or at least, they should have done."
"...What are you saying?!"
"Nisa Liat, fool. Surely you people have heard of her and her dark powers. Once, she was a regular human, living a meaningless life like most of your flock. Then she died, in circumstances I surmise most of you fools would deem 'tragic'. Somehow, her psyche manifested here. For a short time, she was calm. She left us alone. Then one day, everything changed. She amassed a great deal of power...and took control of our world!"
Nisa Liat is a ghost?! No, that can't be. This can't be real! I'm dreaming, aren't I?! If not, this demon's going to kill me!
"It's been a struggle to survive since then. Her army has grown, of other humans. They gained a means to travel here that even I do not understand. Yet they possess a power that wounds us greatly. It has slain hordes of us. Not long ago, a youth of your age arrogantly challenged Pabilsag, and dispatched him with ease. Even my power cannot rival the one they call the Pleroma Princess..."
"Are you talking about Katashi Yamaguchi?!"
"I care not for his name. I suspect he is the one you're talking of. But I grow tired of this, human. I shall tear you asunder! Begone!"
Another green hurricane manifested, but as it did, a blue whirlwind suddenly appeared around Manami. Her fear seemed to fade, as the fierce green winds of malice were diverted by the new force around here. She blinked – and in that brief moment of darkness, she saw a butterfly.
One who bears the burden of potential, heed my voice. My name is Philemon. Your existence will soon reveal its true complexity, yet this is nothing to fear. Once you truly know yourself, and why you continue to exist, life can begin anew, and you can wield your own identity as power. Answer me this question. What is your name?
"Manami. Manami Inoue!"
"What is this?!" Pazuzu demanded.
The time has come for you, and the one who will be your eternal friend for generations to come, to peer into yourselves. The side of you that no one has seen before - command it. Whether it be a goddess or a demon, it is you!
"Persona!"
Pazuzu, now enraged, tried to swipe at her with his claws – yet something burst out of Manami's body, something strong enough to hold the demon back.
Appearing before her was a silver-skinned mermaid, whose lower half was sapphire blue with a purple shimmer. Her long curly navy hair flowed through the air, and it almost looked like a wave of water. While most of her upper half seemed human, her hands had a strange turquoise colouring, with fin-like blades jutting from her wrists. The mermaid opened her purple eyes and smiled. With a click of her fingers, a blast of water hit the 'Shadow', sending him flying.
"Oh my god, Manami-senpai!" Someone cried from behind her. "Are you...alright?"
Smiling, Manami turned around. There, alongside Shintaro, were the rest of his friends, including an adult – who was just as shocked as the others.
I am thou. Thou art I. From thy sea of thy soul, I cometh. I art Li Ban, she whose soulful dance flows stronger than any river.
"I think I'm going to be just fine, Shintaro-kun. Let me dance for you all, to the beat of my own heart!"