Chapter 6: Calm before the Storm

Month 1, Day 14. 9:23

Uzume was walking in darkness. She couldn't see past her nose. Small white lights danced in the distance.

"Histoire? Umio?" Uzume called out, "Elsy? Atsy? Anyone?"

Her voiced echoed. No response. She kept walking in the darkness. The rough stone floor feeling more and more uneven with each step.

She felt movement from her left. A small object glinting in the darkness. Uzume took too long to recognise the object as a knife. As it drew closer, she screamed in terror.

"Uzume, watch out!" Yelled a voice Uzume knew too well. Umio burst through the darkness, intercepting the knife with his body, "Ugh...!" Umio felt to the ground, blood pooling around him.

"Umio!" Yelled Uzume, "UMIO!"

UMIO!

Uzume woke with a start. Her heart knocking against her ribcage. She hugged her stomach. Sweat forming on her forehead. From the corner of her eye, she could see some red mist dissipating.

"Uzume, are you okay?" Histoire called from the door, "I'm coming in."

Histoire pushed the door open, letting the light of the Basilicom flood Uzume's room. Histoire looked at Uzume's worried expression before rushing to her side.

"Uzume. Are you okay?"

Uzume nodded weakly, "Just… Another nightmare."

Histoire nodded in sympathy. Ever since Uzume had developed that new ability - Illusion - more and more nightmares had started to haunt her.

"Uzume. Please, I beg you, take at least today off." Histoire said, "You need time to rest. Those nightmare can't be good on your health."

Uzume nodded, "Umio. He asked me to spend the day with him. I guess that's my break huh?" Uzume tried smiling.

"I see." Histoire replied, "Have fun with Umio."

Histoire floated out of the room, leaving Uzume to get ready. Meanwhile, she floated towards the desk. The paper the staff had given her yesterday still there.

Lack of consoles to fit demand.

10:34

"Ah, Lady Uzume." Umio greeted as she stepped out of NepTower, "Morning."

Uzume stared at Umio for a few seconds, some tears threatening to fall. She recalled that nightmare. The knife. The blood. Umio… Uzume rushed and gave Umio a hug, the tears rolling down her face, "Umio. Umio…!" She cried.

"L-Lady Uzume?" Umio lifted his hands in surprise as Uzume embraced him, "W-what's wrong?"

Uzume looked up at Umio's worried face, "Umio… I'm glad… you're safe." She said between sobs.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Realisation soon dawned on Umio, "You… Had a nightmare, didn't you?"

Uzume nodded, "You… You were..."

Umio stroked Uzume's head while hugging her with the other, "No need, Lady Uzume. There's no need for you to recall such terrible memories. I'll always be here, by your side."

"Umio…" Uzume started sobbing harder now.

"There, there." Umio hugged back, "There's no need for tears, Lady Uzume."

Uzume and Umio hugged each other for a few minutes until Uzume finally calmed down. They let go of each other. Umio handed Uzume a handkerchief to clean away the few tears that remained.

"Thank you… Umio." Uzume said.

"That's what friends are for, right?" Umio smiled warmly.

Uzume nodded.

"Now, shall we enjoy our day together, Lady Uzume?"

Uzume nodded again.

Umio and Uzume left the entrance to the tower. Umio lead Uzume to a recently opened amusement park and the moment he did, he sealed his fate. Uzume pulled Umio to every single attraction in the park, riding every roller coaster at least twice, much to Umio's dismay. When the park closed, Umio took Uzume to his home so he could pick something up. Uzume waited outside of Umio's house, humming to herself. This had been a very enjoyable day for her.

"Sorry for the delays." Umio said, closing his door.

Uzume looked at the box that Umio held by its handle, "What's in the box?"

"You'll see." Umio smiled.

"You're making me curious, Umio!~"

Umio smirked, "I'll tell you when we arrive."

"Arrive where?"

"Lady Uzume, could I be so bold as to ask you to fly us to the beach?" Umio replied, "It'll take too long otherwise."

"The beach…" Uzume thought, "Sure. It is close enough."

Uzume transformed and lifted Umio into the air, taking them both to the closest beach to Planeptune.

The emerald sea shining in the distance while the setting sun painted the sky red. Sand in every direction they could see.

Umio inhaled the sea wind, opening his box and taking out a blanket. He spread the blanket over the sand and placing the box on top of it.

"Here, Lady Uzume." Umio gestured at the blanket, "Please sit with me."

"So that's what the box was. A picnic basket!" Uzume muttered.

Umio took out some plates and put the food he brought on them. Onigiri, cookies, some pudding and some sandwiches.

"Please help yourself, Lady Uzume." Umio said, sitting on the blanket.

Uzume sat on the opposite side of Umio. She picked up an onigiri and started to eat when…

"There's… something funny in this onigiri, Umio..." Uzume said, barely holding in the food.

"Something funny?" Umio wondered, "It's a regular onigiri with shiitake."

"Sh-Shiitake?" Uzume said, dropping the rice ball and running towards some bushes in the back.

Umio tutted when she returned, "Lady Uzume, you shouldn't be too picky with food, you know."

"I'm… sorry, Umio. It's just that shiitake... I can't stand its texture or flavour."

"I guess I won't add more shiitake for future outings." Umio muttered, "Lady Uzume, I have a question."

Uzume titled her head as she sat down on the blanket again, "What is it, Umio?"

"Your dream… it hasn't changed, has it?"

"No. Why should it?"

Umio shook his head, staring at the horizon, "I was worried. That your recent nightmares might've affected you."

Uzume smiled, "You worry too much."

"Lady Uzume..." Umio shook his head again, "No, Uzume!"

She moved back a bit, startled by Umio's sudden shout.

"Let's make this a wonderful nation!" Umio said, "Together."

Uzume nodded, "Of course. Thank you, Umio."

"La- Uzume. You've been saying 'thank you' quite a bit the past few times we've talked." Umio noted, "There's no need for that." He smiled.

"...Okay, Umio. I'll say that less." Uzume started to think, "Umio, why did you decide on the beach?"

"Well… To be honest, I love the beach. My parents used to take me here every month." Umio reminisced on his days as a young boy, "I love the calm of the beach. The sound of the waves. I feel so… relaxed."

Uzume nodded in agreement, "It is relaxing."

They spent the remaining hours of sunlight looking at the sea and eating the food Umio brought. When the sun set, Uzume flew them both back to Planeptune. They said their goodbyes as they both set out to their respective houses.

"Uzume." Histoire called as soon as Uzume had entered the Basilicom, "I have… Something to talk to you about."

Uzume noticed Histoire's serious expression, "Is… something wrong?"

"I… received this yesterday." Histoire handed the paper to Uzume, "It's a note. Regarding the console."

Uzume read through the paper, concern rising on her face, "There's… not enough?"

"Correct. The company that was supplying the consoles to the market has unfortunately ran out of materials to produce the console." Histoire said, "I apologise, Uzume. I tried my best while you were out to try and fix this issue, however…"

"It's okay, Histoire." Uzume reassured her, "I'll just apologise to the people. I'm sure they'll understand."

"Uzume..." Histoire looked at her with pride, "You're such a kind CPU."

"Uzume tries her best, Histoire." Uzume smiled at the fairy, "It'll be okay. I'll take care of it tomorrow."

Histoire nodded, "This is good night then, I would assume."

Uzume nodded, "Good night, Histoire."

"Good night, Uzume. Let's fix the problems during the week - together."

"Tha-" Uzume remember her promise to Umio, "Sure, Histoire." She smiled as she left for her room.

Uzume never got to fix the issue. She woke up the next day and managed to apologise to the people waiting for the new supply of consoles, before collapsing on the Basilicom's floor. Red mist swirling around her.

What followed… nearly destroyed Gamindustri.