Prologue: The Return
Haneda Airport (羽田空港)/Ōta, Tokyo (大田, 東京)/September 26, 2020 (2020年9月26日)/7:30 AM (JST)
Sitting alone in a three airline seat, a young brown-haired man, wearing a long-sleeve white shirt, black pants, and dark shoes, had all the space to himself. Though he was not claustrophobic, the young man preferred solitary space when around strangers. The man had an unkempt hairstyle with hair locks curving out and some hanging down his face. Some hair was parted for his red eyes to be seen.
Soothing and beautifully orchestrated music played in his earpods as he faced his window. The song encapsulated the feelings he generated, finding himself longing to see his friends and acquaintances he made during his previous stay in Tokyo.
His eyes stared at a window as many thoughts raced inside his head. It was a homecoming of sorts for him. Having previously lived in Tokyo and taking some university courses, he was due to return and meet with three friends. Naturally, he was excited to hang out with his three colleagues, but in the back of his mind, there was a nagging thought that told him there would be more to this return than seeing old acquaintances again.
He scanned a beautiful view of Tokyo from his window. He discerned Tokyo Tower standing in a sea of buildings and metropolitan venues. While he continued to scan, he also saw the Rainbow Bridge. He scanned for the isles across mainland Tokyo. His relaxed smile slowly faded with a slight frown when he spotted smokestacks near some factories. He was frequently reminded how much he hated Tokyo's pollution, but on the bright side, at least he wasn't going to Shanghai.
Then, he immediately thought. Are there others anticipating my arrival?
"We are about to approach Haneda Airport. Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts and remain seated. Please also turn off or put electronic devices to sleep as we make our landing. Thank you."
Once the airplane pilot announced the plane's landing, the young man took off his headphones. He fastened his seatbelt and closed his eyes. Although this wasn't the first time he's flown to Tokyo, he felt anxiety being unaware of what to expect for his return. He expected some things to stay the same, but he also anticipated changes for better and for worse.
He opened his eyes as the plane landed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed in Tokyo Haneda International Airport."
"Finally, I'm back in Tokyo," he said in a relaxed manner.
As every passenger started getting up, the man opened up his compartment and pulled out his carry-on bag. On his way off the plane, he greeted a stewardess with a polite bow. He made his way into the International Passenger Terminal's arrival lobby. He checked his phone for the time. It was currently 8:20 AM (JST).
"It'd already be 20 minutes past midnight where I came from," he noted the time zone differences.
On the way out of the terminal, he saw three familiar faces, who had been waiting over an hour. He coolly smiled when they noticed him.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, guys?" He addressed the three individuals.
He scanned the first of the three. Standing on the right is a young half-Caucasian/Japanese male with an even more unkempt hairstyle. He has dark brown hair; from a distance, one could mistake his hair for being black. Some locks of hair covered his right eye. The eye that wasn't covered was red. He wore a long-sleeved and buttoned white shirt with a black waistcoat over it. He is seen wearing gray slacks, black shoes, and a silver necklace.
"How's it been, Louis?" The traveler asked the young man with the barely visible right eye.
"We've been waiting for this day. Glad you made it safely, Sion." Louis replied collectively.
"Thanks, but c'mon, call me Skyler."
"No way, we like Sion better!" A young woman's voice called out, eliciting a small chuckle from Skyler.
"Heheh, yeah, I missed you, too, Mia."
"That's Mia Karnstein to you, Sion," A short-statured, green-eyed young woman with long blonde hair tied in pigtails sardonically lectured Skyler with a witty tongue.
"Then, you should call me Skyler Jones."
"Humph, right."
Mia didn't exactly come dressed to impress, only coming in a navy blue summer dress, purple-and-black knee-length stockings, and black boots.
"Sheesh, who woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Skyler shrugged off Mia's domineering attitude.
"Heh, don't mind her. She's really happy to see you again, Skyler," Louis said.
"Well, you're not wrong," Mia muttered as she hugged Skyler. "Welcome back, Skyler!"
After hugging Mia, Skyler turned to the third party member: a tall red-haired, brown-eyed young man wearing a green shirt, blue jeans, and brown shoes. His red hair was so long he wore it in a small ponytail. He has two large hair bangs hanging on both sides of his face.
"It's great to have you back, Skyler. We missed you," the tall red-haired man acknowledged his colleague's return.
Cordially greeting him with a smile, he responded kindly. "Thanks, Yakumo. It's great to see you again, my friend. Even better since we're all together again."
"Mind if I carry your luggage?" Yakumo offered Skyler.
"Sure," Skyler handed Yakumo his luggage.
"Is that all you brought?" queried Louis.
"Yeah, that doesn't seem a lot," Mia noted the luggage bag being carried by Yakumo.
"Nah, the rest of it is a suitcase. Let's go get it," Skyler said as they went to get his belongings.
Upon leaving Haneda Airport, Skyler and his three colleagues cruised into Tokyo. They rode in Louis's black and silver 2015 Lexus IS C. Enhancing the mood of their relaxing drive through Tokyo's streets, an uplifting trance song with strong beats played from Louis' internet radio. As the driver, Louis sat on the right side of the front. Mia sat on the left side of the front after calling first dibs. Both Skyler and Yakumo sat comfortably in the back; Yakumo leaned back on the right side of the back and Skyler sat on the left side.
With the relaxing trance song playing its powerful beats, the four enjoyed their peaceful cruise on the Rainbow Bridge. Skyler leaned back and relaxed as a light wind blew against his face. As they shot through the suspension bridge crossing, Louis purposefully slowed his driving pace, letting his friends enjoy the bright morning scenery. Over the bridge, Skyler caught a glimpse of Odaiba.
Mia stood and pointed toward the sun rising in the distance. As the sun rose, its light gleaned over the clear waters and cast its glowing image through the watery surface. Facing the beautiful morning sky, Skyler gleaned at the city he left behind, mulling in the back of his mind about what he can expect to see and new acquaintances he can find. After getting off Rainbow Bridge and past Tokyo Bay, the crew, who were closely knit, cruised into Minato.
When they drove deep into the heart of central Tokyo, the familiar Japanese scenery came back to Skyler. The homogeneous society with a strong sense of nationality. Skyler at once point felt like an outsider and again felt like one coming back.
Scanning through the areas they passed by, Skyler saw the congregations of citizens walking through the streets. The vendors and shops on the side streets. Some people wear masks for hygienic and allergy-related purposes. The urban hubs, which feel like small cities to themselves. It was the same Japan he left behind.
As Skyler relaxed, the crew drove through the various prefectures, including Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Harajuku, and Akihabara.
"So, how long are you staying in for, Skyler?" Yakumo asked his friend.
"Who knows? However long I need," Skyler answered.
Louis smirked as he briefly eyed the composed Skyler. "Things have gotten interesting since you left. We've met some intriguing group of people."
"Is that so?" Skyler's curiosity piqued with interest.
"Yeah, we can't wait to introduce them to you. I think you'll like them, Skyler," Louis said.
Turning around in her seat, Mia curiously asked Skyler. "Got any plans today or maybe tomorrow?"
"Well, today we're heading to the new apartment I've just rented," Skyler stated. "As for tomorrow, I might go for some sightseeing. It has been a while since I've lived here. But, enough about me. Let's talk about you guys." He stared toward the sun rising and beaming down its morning rays over Tokyo.
"Heh, we don't want to bore you with the details," Louis half-chuckled while keeping an eye on the road.
"Try me. You first, Louis."
"Well, even though we were in the same class level, you know I've graduated earlier than you, man," Louis said. "I graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology with an engineering degree. I've already talked to you about me wanting to be a researcher with leadership skills."
"Right, lucky you to graduate before me. And any lady friends I should know?"
"Maybe one or two," Louis chortled. "Well, two of them are the same graduate level as us."
"Wait, what?!"
Mia rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, Sion. Loverboy here has already garnered the attention of two girls. One's an heir to a company and the other is an officer. FYI, Sion, don't turn out like him."
Skyler shrugged. "Right, I'd barely handle one girl. Speaking of girls, what about you, Mia? You want to introduce me to your boyfriend?"
Mia scoffed and folded her arms. "Yeah, right. I'm still being the responsible big sister looking out for her little brother."
"Little brother? More like big brother these days," Louis poked fun at Mia's short height compared to her taller younger brother.
"Hey, stop that! I wasn't expecting Nicola to sprout so fast!"
Yakumo smiled genuinely. "He's about to finish his last year of middle school. I believe his entrance exams are coming up soon."
Folding her arms behind her head, Mia sighed. "Yeah, and I hope he does well. I did my best tutoring him."
Brushing away his forehead hair, Skyler smirked. "You're still that overprotective sister now, Mia. I'm glad you haven't changed in that regard."
"Yeah, but I often wonder if he needs me to look after him with the friends he's made."
"He appreciates you being there for him, Mia."
"Thanks, Skyler," she genuinely responded, referring to him by his real name and dropping his nickname.
"And as you know, I'm a mercenary for the Japan Self-Defense Forces as part of the Special Assault Team," Yakumo revealed his current occupation.
"Now that's cool. Have you met anyone, Yakumo?"
"Yeah, there's someone I met in the forces. I'd be happy to introduce you to her, Skyler."
Louis then spoke up. "And then there's my sister Karen. She works at a hospital and is a researcher. Oh, and remember Aurora? She and Karen are working together again."
"Wow, Aurora? Now, there's a name I haven't heard in a long time," Skyler chuckled modestly.
"They'll be happy to see you again, Skyler," Louis said.
"Looks like I've got a lot of new and old faces to meet. This will be exciting," Skyler said. However, he wondered if he'll possibly meet someone during his Japan stay.
Chiyoda, Tokyo (千代田区, 東京)/September 27, 2020 (2020年9月27日)/11:20 AM (JST)
The next morning, Hifumi went out for a relaxing walk on a semi-busy street. She drowned out the noise around her, but a few bystanders stopped and recognized her as the Female Shogi League Champion. She turned to meet their gaze, whipping back her long, loose hair. They also recognized her for her casual white dress with orange, navy blue, and white checkered designs, sans the sleeves that were free of such designs. She has long black stockings and dark shoes. Choosing not to remove her favorite accessory, she still wore her red hair accessory that resembled a three-leaf clover.
Passing along by, she heard one of the bystanders offhandedly refer to her as the 'beautiful Shogi player', causing her to coyly and proudly smile in private.
Even to this day, she recognized and accepted there were a few who valued her celebrity status.
As she pressed through Chiyoda's streets, Hifumi scanned the vicinity, recognizing it as the exact location where they fought Yaldabaoth's successor, Datenshi. Since resetting everything with Shin-Io's power, the Chiyoda ward returned to its normal setting, as if the entire battle never happened. Everything was back to daily and mundane life as it should be.
As she turned the other way, she noticed a tall, young handsome brown-haired man with noticeably distinguishing red eyes. It was the same man who arrived in Tokyo the other day after his friends picked him up at the airport. He is seen wearing a teal blue shirt, light gray pants, and black shoes. Upon facing this young man, Hifumi's eyes widened with shock.
Could it be him? She wondered, not just facing him but painstakingly gazing at his face and eyes. As she approached him, she closed her eyes, believing she had seen a ghost. She then opened them and he started walking by her. "Excuse me?"
He turned around and curiously faced Hifumi. For a moment, he faced her with some familiarity. "Hey there, do I know you from somewhere?" The young man asked, speaking fluent Japanese toward her.
Hifumi casually answered. "I apologize. You remind me of someone else, but you look similar to him." She blinked and realized he spoke to her in her native tongue. "Wait, you know Japanese?"
"Of course. I learned the language fluently in one of my many college courses. Though it's been a while since I've lived in Japan during my university years. I came back from my home county, Wales in the United Kingdom. My friends picked me up from Haneda Airport not too long ago. I'm staying here looking for a new job. I'm also considering citizenship if I'm working here for an extended term." The young man explained his situation and plans to her.
"I see. Yes, Japan is a great place to live, yet it is rather difficult to maintain a standard living, too," she reminded him of the country's living conditions and laws, which made it harder for foreigners without a scholarship or a working visa.
"It sure is. By the way, I didn't get your name, miss?"
"Where are my manners? My name is Togo Hifumi."
Hearing her name, a smile crossed the young man's face. His smile brought her comfort. "That's a beautiful name. I'm Skyler Jones, but my friends sometimes call me Sion. It's a cool nickname I've gotten used to."
The mention of Sion elicited a sincere smile from her. "I see."
"Say, do you mind if we walk around the area just to get to know each other?" Skyler asked before deflecting. "Unless you're busy? If so, I apologize."
At this moment, Hifumi was reminded of her previous experiences showing Sion around Tokyo and Osaka. She wondered if it was fate that brought them together again. Perhaps her wish was fulfilled while resetting the world with Shin-Io's power.
However, she knew this wasn't the same Sion who she knew. She sensed different vibes from him as if he was another person. One day, she hoped this young man might establish a similar connection to the previous Revenant and renew the bond with her. With that, Hifumi gave him an answer.
"No, I'd be happy to accompany you."
With that, Hifumi and Skyler walked across the streets together and explored Tokyo.
Unbeknownst to Hifumi and her new friend, Io's ghostly presence manifested through Hifumi. The pale Revenant's golden eyes flashed as she smiled serenely over them. Io then quickly disappeared inside Hifumi's body.
Not even noticing, Hifumi continued showing Skyler some of Chiyoda's landmarks.
Needless to say, life moved forward. However, there was a question of what new urban adventures awaited these two and the other ordinary civilians.
A/N: Hello again, readers. It's been a few months since Book I ended. It almost seemed like ages since I worked on this story. Well, fear not. The wait is almost near. Book II will kick into high gear very soon.
More importantly, I wanted to leave a note that I recently endured the Winterstorm in Texas. I was without power for a day (with intermittent blackouts) and had little water, but thankfully my family and I didn't take the worst of it. As of this writing, we've had our power, heat, and full water back for the past few days. Sadly, there are millions in the state that aren't so fortunate and are suffering. Please keep them in your thoughts during this post-disaster period.
This prologue best serves to open the curtains and as a sampler of what's to come. Book II also has an official title: Vestiges of Vein. 'Vestiges' and 'Vein' being derived from Code Vein's lore and the simple fact the first characters we see for Book II are Code Vein's main Revenants.
Then, we have the last scene with Hifumi and Skyler, which is taken directly from Book I's final chapter. In fact, Book I's epilogue seamlessly transitions into this prologue. Hifumi speculates if Shin-Io's power has anything to do with Skyler's appearance and being 'reincarnated' from the original Sion. Could that have happened with Louis, Mia, and Yakumo, too?
Well, looks like we're going to have to wait and see when Book II launches.
Just like Book I's prologue, this does not have a Chapter Soundtrack section. So, instead, the music that Sion listened to on the plane and the song while the crew cruised through Tokyo are:
Thomas Bergersen - Remember Me (Playing in Skyler's earpods)
SOOB - Beneath the Sky (Original Mix) (Playing on Louis's radio)
Both songs capture the calm and emotional mood for Skyler as he returns and reunites with his friends.
And I leave you with that. Book II is coming, my friends. And with that, Akane no Mai will make its grand return.