Chapter V
Hajime's wounds eventually healed, leaving barely a scar. The months grew colder, and frost began to appear. Along with the frost came posters for the student body elections.
Vote for Akira Yagami!
Vote for Yoruichi Minamiya!
Posters popped up all over the place. Along with the posters came the Winter Festival, a tradition of Hikarisaka since Ushio was a child. Dancing, lively music, hot chocolate, happy couples, and games. Preparations had already begun by November 26th. The actual festival would not open until December 5th.
Along with these came something far more sinister. Ushio turned on the television, changing it to the news channel. Wrapping herself in a warm blanket, Ushio sat on the floor in front of the TV.
Reports have been pouring in from all over the east coast of Japan of massive flooding in various towns and cities from what people have aptly named "The Great Superstorm". No storm cell of this magnitude has been seen in over twenty years! The damage from the storm is estimated to be in excess of over ¥60 billion, with costs rising. We have no numbers of the death toll, but estimates suggest-
Ushio turned off the TV, shocked. She heard a pitter patter as freezing rain began to fall, steadily coming down harder, joined by hail stones. It wasn't long before it turned into a full-blown gale. Thunder crashed. Lightning lit up the sky like day. Ushio could hear the wind howling as if she were right outside. A tree toppled over, tearing a power line. Electricity arced through the air, sending a shower of sparks flying.
The power went out. Nagisa and Tomoya pulled her into the bedroom, frantic.
"Stay with us, Ushio," Tomoya said. Ushio nodded, shaking in terror in her father's arms. She had always been terrified of storms, and this was the mother of all of them. A siren blared in the distance.
The Great Superstorm was here.
The winter storm lasted for three days. Uhio grew very restless, itching to go outside again. When the storm finally passed, she regretted it. Cars were overturned or completely destroyed. Several houses were collapsed, while many others were ruined. Powerlines were torn apart, some still sparking weakly. The flood water had frozen solid in the night. Debris, wreckage. It was a miracle of God that their apartment had survived.
Immediately after that thought had passed through her mind, she heard a loud groaning and creaking, and the balcony gave way. She screamed and just barely grabbed a support beam in time.
"DADDY HELP!" she screamed. Tomoya was already there in an instant.
"USHIO!"
He darted over to the remainder of the balcony and grabbed his daughter's hand just as she slipped. He tugged with all his might and she fell into his embrace, sobbing hysterically and shaking. Tomoya pulled her into the apartment just as the rest of the overhang fell. Nagisa rushed into the room to see Ushio crying. Tomoya hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. He looked Nagisa's way and shook his head silently.
"It's okay, Ushio. I've got you," Tomoya crooned. Ushio shook violently in his arms.
"Daddy's got you."