? | ? | Year 2024
"No... YUKIII!"Yu forces himself forward despite the heavy atmosphere between him and 'Shadow Rise'. Hearing her husband's scream, Yukiko opens her eyes wide in horror at the sight of her son clutched under Rise's arms.
"Yu...ki...?"is all she could mumble weakly. Yu feels like he is running at full speed but the air just keep deflecting him from getting closer to whatever is currently possessing his friend.
"Oh no..."Yosuke, standing beside Yukiko, finally realizes what is in Rise's arms. "Rise, what the hell?! Let Yuki go!"he shouts fully aware that it is useless.
"Rise!"Yu tries reaching his hand towards her but suddenly thrown back by a gust of thick wind. "Aaagh!". Both Yosuke and Yukiko also affected by it getting dragged behind a few steps.
"Now, my time here is nearly over."the Shadow Rise's static voice echoes inside the dome trapping them. "ALL. MUST. PERISH!"with every word emphasized, the dark aura engulfing her fills the whole room blinding their vision of her.
"Augh! No, Rise!"Yu covers his eyes with his hand from the prickles of dust flying around. He tries to wave away the smoke in front of him to no avail. Suddenly the smoke instantly dissipates and as soon as they can see clearly, Rise who is floating a few feet in the air falls limply to the ground.
"Rise!"Yosuke spontaneously rushes over her. "Rise... Rise!"he puts her on a sitting up position against him. Though Yu is also concerned about Rise's condition by looking at how Yosuke is shaking her shoulders softly, his mind was somewhere else.
"...Where's Yuki...?"
Amagi Inn | Evening | Year 2012
Yukiko is carrying a tray of dishes along the corridor when she feels her phone vibrates in her pocket.
"Oh!"she halts a bit then decides to haste her pace towards the kitchen. "Dishes incoming!"she says loudly while entering the busy kitchen.
"Yukiko-san, please, you've done enough. Have some rest."a kitchen worker says worriedly to her.
"I'm fine! In fact, I already had some rest with my friends earlier."
"But hanging out with friends can also be tiring."
"W-well not so much-"her phones suddenly vibrates longer this time. "Oh excuse me, I'll be taking this call..."
"Of course."the worker then turns around. Yukiko walks outside the kitchen looking for a good spot then presses 'answer'.
"Hello? Chie?"
"Yukiko, are you busy right now?"Chie's voice is heard beyond the line.
"Uhhhh not...really. What is it?"
"Actually we're all at Yu-kun's house right now. I thought you might want to come over."
"Huh? Why are you all there?"
"Something...happened."
"What? What happened?"her face starting to show worry.
"...Weelllll uhhhhh...how should I explain this? Yu-kun's...the kid... Ugh, anyway! We think you really should come though, to test out our 'theories'."
"What...theories?"
"Just come, okay? Be waiting."
"But, w- Chie-!"with that the call ends. Yukiko stares confused at the screen. "Yu-kun...kid...what actually happened?"she mumbles then decides to head over her boyfriend's house after changing clothes and telling Kasai-san that she'll be away for a while.
Author's thingy : A-hem. Hello to you all. Been a few years since the last time 'the author' updated. I know this mini chapter is not satisfying, but continuing a delayed story progress is also not very easy. Many elements are revised, not to mention characters, storyline, and the ''time-jumping' sequsnces. Well, I'll do my best, please leave your opinions on the review sections. Thanks.