I apologize for the late update. Was at the beach just this morning up until now. No internet over there cause we had to go on a sail boat just to get to the island.
It was nice
Hirano went straight back to the hospital the next day right after school ended, making sure to call his friends that he won't be hanging out with them that day. They didn't exactly question why he was doing so, since they were used to his behavior. But they did, however, express their concern about his well-being, as he seemed to be in a particularly bad mood.
He didn't ride on a bus. He was still feeling skeptical about it, what with Mugino's grandeur introduction of cutting the fucking bus in half just several days back. It left a sour taste in his mouth, so he decided to jog instead, having already known the path where he needed to go.
It ended up being a miscalculation on his part; he didn't take into consideration that his ankles and shins are gonna feel like a bitch after twenty minutes of straight jogging. Early September heat hadn't really bothered him, but his legs feeling like it's gonna snap any second definitely did.
When he finally reached the hospital, his uniform was drenched in sweat, his face red from the effort. Even his throat felt dry and scratchy, like sandpaper. He took a few moments to catch his breath, leaning against the wall of the hospital entrance before straightening up and walking inside.
He just walked past the receptionist. They knew him here, at least, most of them. He's been here a lot of time before. He didn't really have to think about where he needed to go - the place was seared into his memory. Every turn, every corridor, he knew it like the back of his hand.
Speaking of hands, the cut on his right hand has only gotten worse after his confrontation with Hishigata. They still throbbed, the pain a sharp, stinging reminder of what happened. This prompted Kikyou to force him to cut his nails off just last night. Last Order had fun doing it though, so it was fine.
He just finds it weird how different his fingers felt now, compared to how they used to feel. They're still the same fingers, just... shorter now. The difference is noticeable. He could probably count how many millimeters have been cut off. Hell, he could probably measure the exact length in millimeters with his bare eye.
He didn't really give a damn about that type of pointless information, though. He just wanted to see Aiho. He didn't get to see her last night. Last Order was pissed off because he went out without telling her. Kikyou just wanted him to cut his nails. And then there's Esther; she hadn't told him that much about the whole DA thing.
He got the woman's name and that she knows Hishigata. Not much else, though. She wanted to show him something in person, and that made him even more curious. What kind of information does she have? And why the hell is it so important that she needs to show him in person?
He finally reached her room, opening the door. Aiho's face lit up when she saw him, but her smile faded as she saw his disheveled state and the sweat-stained uniform clinging to him. The woman was sitting on her bed. "You look terrible. What happened?" The older woman spoke in a gentle but concerned manner, her hands already reaching for the remote to raise the head of her bed.
He nodded, entering the room and then sitting on a stool next to her bed. The choker around her neck still bothered him. He's used to seeing it, but still couldn't get over how it made her look like a prisoner. Even if it was made to help her motor and speech, it still made him feel guilty every time he saw it.
"Nothing happened. I just... jogged here." He grimaced, his legs still throbbing from the effort. "Stupid idea, in hindsight." She giggled. While she did so, he couldn't help but notice how empty the room was. "Where did those two go; Last Order and Kikyou?"
She waved off his question with a smile. "They went out for a bit, something about getting me a proper meal instead of the cafeteria food." Her face became serious as she leaned forward slightly. "There's this family restaurant nearby. They should be there at the moment. You should go as well."
He looked at her, confused. "Why? I just got here."
She shrugged, leaning a bit more onto her pillow. "Well, I don't know. Maybe it's because you're still the same weight as you were 5 years ago and I'm getting worried." She laughed softly at her own joke, but he could see the concern in her eyes.
She's always been such a worrywort, even before the accident. He's not complaining. It's nice to have someone that worries about you. But she can be quite the nagging person sometimes. Especially when it comes to his health.
He sighed, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "I'm fine, really. I just need to cool down a bit." He stood up, stretching his sore legs. "What about you, though? How have you been? Any changes? Any... side effects?" The last question comes out hesitantly, his concern evident in every word.
"It's the same as always. The choker feels tight, the muscles in my arms and legs feel like they're going to fall apart, and my head is pounding." She said this with a bit of dryness, her tone betraying a slight hint of frustration. "But other than that, I'm peachy."
Hirano winced slightly, guilt creeping into his mind at her words. He's seen her in this state so many times, yet he always felt like it was his fault. He hummed after a moment of silence. "Do you... want me to do something? I can get you something to drink or..." He trails off, at a loss for what to offer. The simple act of suggesting he could help seems inadequate given her condition.
Aiho shakes her head gently, a soft smile spreading across her face. "Sit." He listens and returns to his spot on the stool next to her bed, his legs protesting as he settles. The silence is heavy, interrupted only by the soft beeping of the heart monitor and Aiho's breathing even in spite of the slight hitches every once in a while.
"Have you been sleeping fine last night?" She asks, her words laced with genuine concern. "You look like you've been through the wringer, and I don't mean just from jogging here."
He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. "It's... been a rough night, to be honest. I was out, and I ran into someone I'd rather not have seen." He pauses, debating whether to continue. When he glanced up towards her, he saw something else that he'd rather not seen. He kicked himself mentally. He really shouldn't have said that. "It's no one I couldn't handle."
That last bit was a lie, and he knew it. Aiho's face showed she didn't quite believe him, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she reached out for his head, pushing back his hair in a motherly gesture, her hand stopping on his temple for a brief moment.
"You're my boy," Aiho says, and he can sense the unspoken 'and I know better.' He kept his head low so that she could keep playing with his hair, her fingers working their way through the damp strands. "I can't watch you grow like how I wanted to back when you were a little boy, but I can still do this much."
He doesn't respond, instead leaning into her touch. It's a simple gesture, but it feels like the most comforting thing in the world right now. He felt it dipping down until it landed on her lap. "See," she whispers, softly giggling just above his ears. "Look how tired you really are..."
Her fingers slow, the soft fabric of her hospital gown is cool against his cheek, a gentle contrast to the heat still clinging to his skin. Her fingers continue their soothing motion, occasionally brushing against his ear in a way that makes him want to purr. The beeping of the heart monitor provides a steady rhythm in the background, its regularity somehow soothing in its constancy.
He felt like a cat. Maybe he should just curl up here and take a nap. He's thought of this before, but never really did voice it because a part of him is just too shy to say anything about it.
Now that he thinks of it now. It was foolish. She is his mom. Not a guardian, not a foster parent. Not even a caretaker. She is his mother. His only mother, for that matter. It's okay for him to show affection, right? So it should be okay for him to nap here, right? He glances up at her, and she's smiling softly, her hand still gently stroking his hair. She seems to sense his unspoken question.
"Go on, sleep if you want to," she says softly, her words almost a whisper. "I'll be here when you wake up." He hesitates for a moment, then slowly nods, his eyelids growing heavy.
It was nice, feeling her touch again. The affection that he's craved for so long, the one he's never quite been able to fully express or receive.
"I'm tired," he murmurs, his words muffled against the fabric of her gown. He's said it. He's given up his resistance, his body finally succumbing to the overwhelming need for comfort. He's a child again, curling up in his mother's lap, safe and secure.
Aiho hummed in response, her hand never stopping its gentle motion. The room grew quieter, and all he heard was her breathing. She gently patted his back, her other hand still cradling his head.
"You know," she whispered, "when I first found you, you were just a tiny thing. I never thought that your stay would truly be permanent," she spoke with a hint of nostalgia and sadness. "I didn't think that I'd get to see my little boy get this big,"
He didn't think that something that sounded so cheesy could make his eyes well up. He buried his face deeper into her lap, trying to hide the tears. She didn't seem to mind.
"I'm glad I got to be here for you," she murmured, her words laced with emotion. "Even if it wasn't in the way I imagined, I'm glad I got to be here."
He didn't know what to say. All he could do was sniffle and nod. It was enough for her, though. For the minute that had just passed, that very minute, 1 single, very recently transpired minute, he felt like he was home. He felt like he belonged. He felt like he was loved. It was a feeling he'd been chasing for so long, and now, here it was, right in front of him. Or rather, right beneath him. He felt her hand pause for a moment, then resume its gentle stroking, this time with a bit more pressure, as if she was trying to soothe away the tears he was too proud to show.
He hadn't cried for her back when he first saw her in a coma back then. Hadn't shed anything when she first woke up. He kept it all, trying to act all calm and collected and that all stupid fucking feelings, all that bullshit he'd been holding in for years. He didn't know why he did it. He doesn't even know why he even had the need to do it; to hide these feelings. Maybe it was pride, or maybe it was just him being a dumbass.
He doesn't care anymore. She was showing him genuine affections, these genuine motherly touches that he doesn't even realize he's been craving for so long. And he is shoving all of those feelings down into the pit of his stomach. He's not crying, but he is. He's crying for her, for the years he'd lost, for the years they'd lost together, for the life he'd missed out on having a mother in his life, for the fact that he doesn't even know how to act around her because he's never had a real mother before.
It wasn't her fault. It was his. He never knew how to properly express his feelings, never knew how to act around her, never knew what to do in these situations. And now, here he was, a 15-year-old boy crying in his mother's lap like he was a toddler. It was embarrassing, sure, but it was also freeing. He felt her hand on his back, soothing and comforting, and he finally allowed himself to let go, to be vulnerable, to just feel.
The moment was broken by a quiet creak from the door behind. He regretted having instinctively gotten up from that comforting position, but the door was already opening. Last Order rushed inside with a green Gekota bag on her hands, Kikyou following after the little girl. The little girl stopped for a moment when she saw them wiping away tears, and her face fell. She looked at Aiho, then back at Hirano, then back at Aiho again, confusion and hurt etched on her face.
"You guys okay?" Kikyou asked, her head tilted to one side as she tried to read the situation. Hirano felt his face heating up, caught in an uncomfortable position. He quickly wiped away the last traces of tears from his face, trying to act nonchalant.
"Oh, yeah, we're fine," he said, his voice coming out a bit higher than usual. Which is very peculiar.
"You're crying! Says Misaka as she points at the traces on nii-san's face."
"I'm not," Hirano quickly retorts, even as he rubs his face in a failed attempt to erase any evidence of his emotional display.
Aiho gently pats his back, a soft smile on her face as she watches the little exchange. "It's okay, sweetie. Sometimes boys need to cry too." She turns to Last Order and Kikyou, her voice warm and inviting.
"I thought boys were too cool for that," Kikyou quips, her smirk visible even through her mask. "Looks like we got here just in time to catch you at your most embarrassing moment." She walks over to the bed, peering at Aiho with a mixture of amusement and concern. "You two seemed pretty cozy when we came in. Did we interrupt something?"
Kikyou speaks with a playful tone, but there's an underlying curiosity in her words. She sits on the edge of the room, her carefree face turned towards Aiho and Hirano. Last Order, meanwhile, seems genuinely confused by the situation. Her head bobbles back and forth between them, her eyes wide and slightly teary herself. She walks over to where Hirano stands and tugs gently on his school jacket.
"Hey, tell me, why are you crying? Says Misaka with a gruff voice, trying to intimidate him." He just peers down on the girl with a frown on his face, and a sigh.
"I'm not crying, you idiot. I just got something in my eye, that's all." He rubs his face again, as if to emphasize his point. Last Order looks skeptical, knowing that his explanation couldn't have been the truth as it is impossible for something to get into her eyes, but she doesn't press the issue further. She's tried after all.
She once accidentally aimed and threw a chopstick into his eyes when he's laying down back in the apartment in the living room. It bounces off without even grazing his skin.
Instead, she holds up the green Gekota bag, her face lighting up with pride. "Look! We got you Pastel de nata! Says Misaka trying to pronounce the foreignname properly. It's a Portuguese dessert! I saw it on the menu and thought you might like it!"
She holds the bag out to him, her small hands shaking slightly with excitement. "Apparently, it's got eggs in it. You could use some egg. Misaka adds, looking at nii-san's no protein arms." Kikyou snorts at the comment, but quickly covers it up with a cough. The white haired boy reluctantly takes the bag, his face still flushed from the earlier emotional moment.
"Thanks, I guess," he mutters, trying to sound nonchalant despite his obvious appreciation for the gesture. Last Order beams up at him, clearly pleased with his reaction. Well, he was hungry, no reason to reject the food.
"Don't mention it! Says Misaka with a smile on her face."
"By the way," Kikyou got up from her seat, walking towards the boy. "We met this girl earlier. I don't remember her name, but she had this weird looking cloak. Quite the catch, too." The older woman had this playful smirk on her face, a mischievous glint in her eye as she looked at Hirano, clearly fishing for information.
"It's Esther from last night. Says Misaka clarifying who Aunty Yoshi's talking about while taking out a piece of the egg tart," She was eating it as if he wasn't paying attention. She hummed contentedly as the taste exploded on her tongue.
Seeing as how he didn't give off the sort of reaction she was looking for, Kikyou just shrugs and says, "She was looking for you, kid."
He just 's the reason why he came straight over here to begin with. Well, until he got caught up with Aiho. He hadn't expected to see her awake so soon, or to have such a heart-to-heart moment with her. It was... overwhelming, to say the least. He glances at Aiho, who gives him a reassuring smile, and then back to Kikyou.
"Where is she?" He'd asked, taking off his school jacket and hung it on the nearby coat rack. His movements were unhurried, but there was an underlying tension in his posture. Kikyou noticed this and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"She's outside, actually. She made quite the mess back at the diner." She then turned to Last Order, still with that same playful smirk. "Kiddy here thought that it would be inappropriate for you to see her while her clothes were still wet, so we brought her over here to change."
"Now get out of here and let her in! Shouts Misaka as Misaka stomps on the floor while pointing at the door."
Hirano rolled his eyes at the girl's antics, but did as she said. The sliding door closed behind him as he walked out. Outside, he found himself face-to-face with a different kind of woman - Esther.
She was wet. How she got this wet is honestly surprising. Did it rain while he was inside? The diner is a few blocks away, so that's not likely. Her long cloak was indeed wet, clinging to her body and revealing her curves in a way that was... distracting. She was carrying a bag with her, and she looked at him with an unreadable expression.
"Ah, Hirano-san. I was looking for you." Her voice was calm and actually sounding excited. The fact that she wasn't trying to cover herself up was... interesting. He cleared his throat, trying to focus on her face rather than the wet fabric.
"Yeah, I heard," he said, his words slightly husky. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, suddenly very aware of the fact that the person in front of him is a woman.
A woman with an affinity for wet, clinging fabrics. He could see the outlines of her thighs through the drenched material, and the curve of her hip was unmistakable. She took a step closer, her face upturned.
"Yes, I hope you don't mind me intruding. It was necessary."
"Yes. Sure. Whatever. Just get in and put something else on." He says this, gesturing vaguely towards the door, trying to seem casual despite his internal turmoil. The fact that she was practically naked beneath the wet cloth was... distracting. Very distracting.
And she clearly didn't mind that fact, given how she tilted her head, her attention focused on his face. "Ah, yes. I'm sorry. It's just uncomfortable for you to see me like this, isn't it?" She giggled softly, the sound almost musical. "Well then, if you'll excuse me."
She walked past him, her wet cloak brushing against his arm as she did so. The contact sent a jolt through him, and he found himself watching her as she disappeared inside. Once she was gone, he let out a shaky breath, his heart pounding in his chest.
What was that? He'd never felt like this before. Not to anyone. Ever. He felt... hot. Oddly so, he kept noticing that his eyes were drawn to certain places on her body, particularly her curves that the wet cloth seemed to emphasize.
"Boobs..." He muttered to himself, his face flushing red as he realized what he'd just said out loud, he frowned.
Subconsciously, he pulled at his tie, as if it were suddenly too tight. The cool air did little to calm his flushed skin or the racing of his heart. He stood there for a moment longer, trying to process what had just happened.
He's aroused.
God, he's becoming a teenager! Like one of those hormone-crazed fools he's always made fun of. It's embarrassing. It's disgusting. He doesn't want pimples and sweaty palms and an insatiable craving for a female body. No, no, no, this can't be happening. Not to him.
He slapped himself mentally, which somehow translates to him actually slapping himself, leaving a faint red mark on his cheek. He winces, but the sting does little to dispel his growing awareness of his own body. He's never noticed how tight his shirt feels before, or how the fabric of his pants seems to cling uncomfortably to his thighs.
He finds it hard to focus on anything but the strange, tingling feeling that has settled in his lower body. He's never felt like this before, and it is very much overwhelming.
Then it got worse. He starts thinking of his own friends! Kuroko, Ruiko, Uiharu, Misaka, Frenda... even Misaki! He shakes his head violently, trying to dispel the thoughts. No, no, no, this is wrong. He's not supposed to think about them like that. They're his friends, his allies, not... not potential partners. The very idea is absurd. He's not ready for that kind of relationship, and he certainly doesn't want to complicate his already complicated life with something as messy as... as... sex.
He slumps against the wall, feeling dizzy and disoriented. His body is betraying him, and he doesn't know how to handle it. The world seems to be spinning, and he's struggling to keep his balance. He can feel a bead of sweat trickle down his back, and his heart is still pounding uncontrollably.
Is this a panic attack?
Of course not! What's with these over the top reactions? He's just... he's just... he's just a guy who's never really thought about this stuff before. It's not like he's never seen a girl before, or never been around women. He's just never felt this way about them. He's always with people that actually know what decency and moral behavior is all about. Well, mostly with them.
His friends, specifically Uiharu, were super docile and innocent, so he never had to think about her like that. Everyone else is pretty much the same as her with the exception of Ruiko, who goes out of her way to basically flip Uiharu's skirt as some sort of greeting while screaming her name out loud.
And then there's Misaki; she's quite the looker, with big eyes, a full pouty mouth, and long, silky hair that she always let loose. She got them milk jugs. But somehow he couldn't think of her as something other than his friend, even though she's a hottie.
And then there's the curious case of Shirai Kuroko. She's not conventionally pretty or anything, nor does she have the body that turns heads. She is small, like to tie her hair in a cowlick twin tail with the hair-tie her mom gave her when she was 7, is generally quiet and easy-going, and has a tendency to get distracted by her own thoughts.
His best friend is nothing special when it comes to the quality of a woman. Yet somehow, the single person that dominated his mind just earlier when Esther walked past him, was Kuroko.
Hirano flinched when he heard his name being called. His head perked when he heard it the second time. Finally, he turned to find the doctor, Heaven Canceller, shaking his head at him.
"Boy," he said, his voice tinged with exasperation, "are you alright? You've been standing out here for a good ten minutes, staring off into space. And is that a... a handprint on your cheek?" He tilted his head, looking at Hirano with concern.
Hirano blinked, as if coming out of a trance. He quickly wiped the sweat from his brow and attempted to act casual. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Just... thinking about stuff."
"Well whatever it is, you're scaring that poor nurse there," he gestured towards the nurse station. A young woman in a crisp white uniform was indeed watching him with concern, her hand hovering near her phone as if ready to call for help.
"I'm... sorry...?" Hirano mumbled, feeling even more flustered. He glanced at the nurse, then back to the doctor, his face reddening. "I didn't mean to... I was just..."
He trailed off, at a loss for words. The old doctor just laughed in that old man fashion that is equal parts amused and exasperated. "Boy, you need to get a hold of yourself. Whatever's got you all worked up, it can't be that bad."
Hirano opened his mouth to respond, then closed it again. He couldn't very well explain that he was having his first ever sexual thoughts about his friends, could he? The very idea made him want to crawl into a hole and die. Instead, he just stood there, shifting from foot to foot and looking everywhere but at the doctor.
"Anyways, if you'll excuse me, I have some news for Yomikawa-san," again, Hirano perked at the mention of his... mom (calling her that is gonna take some time to get used to) and he nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. The white haired boy moved slightly, enough that the doctor could enter with no problem.
"Oh," the old man cleared his throat, "I almost forgot. I have something for you." He pulled something out of his pockets and headed to him a piece of paper.
He eyed with interest and noted the weird pattern it had; circles with layers upon layers and outlines, with the Star of David in the center of it.
"What is this?" He asked, a bit confused by the seemingly complicated pattern. It looked like some sort of a weird looking diagram with no apparent purpose. He turned it around, examining it from all angles, but it was still confusing.
Just then, Esther came out of the room. The clothes she wore were one of Kikyou's as it seems. To think she was still wearing her cloak. Does she ever wear a real dress or is she stuck with that weird, oversized cloak?
Anyway, she came out of the room, and noticed the thing on his hand. She looked like she recognized it. Immediately, he asked her what it was.
"It's likely a low level talisman,"
"A what now?"
"A talisman. A protective charm, usually made with paper and ink." She eyed the one on his hand, looking rather sad at the sight of it. "Do you... mind if I take that?"
He just gave her the thing. No use holding onto something he doesn't understand, especially if someone else seems to know about it. He looked at her curiously, as she stared at the talisman with a grim expression.
She walked away as soon as she took it from him. "Where are you going?" He'd called out and got answers just as quickly as she had suddenly left.
"The morgue," she called back, not turning to face him. The word hung in the air. He was surprised. Not feeling comfortable leaving her alone in a morgue, he followed her, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The atmosphere changed grim almost immediately the moment they entered the morgue; it reeks of decay and chemicals. There were bodies stored here, waiting for their turns for post-mortems. He stood in the entrance, not really wanting to step further, while she was already standing before the body from last night.
It'd look paler now, compared to when he first saw it. The body was wrapped in a white sheet, with only the head exposed. The face was still recognizable, but the skin was now a sickly pale color, and the eyes were closed. The lips were slightly parted, as if in a final gasp for air. The body was lying on a cold metal table, surrounded by various medical instruments and equipment.
The one thing he couldn't get used to when seeing dead bodies was the smell. It made his stomach churn and his head feel light. The morgue was a cold, sterile place with harsh fluorescent lighting that cast eerie shadows on the walls.
Esther's back was faced to him, standing still with little to no movement. She stared at the body, her hand clutching the talisman tightly. After a long moment, she finally spoke, her words soft and subdued. "What do you think is lying in front of you right now?"
The question was delivered so calmly that Hirano couldn't help but shudder. He approached, trying to get a better look at the body, despite his revulsion. The body's features were slack, frozen in an eternal state of repose. It wasn't anyone Hirano knew, so there was some relief in that.
"It's a human being. That's the answer," She added after no response. Her words sound more like a sigh than a statement. He had his eyes set on the back of her head, before turning back to the body. He couldn't help but wonder if this person had a family, or friends who cared for them. Was there anyone waiting for them to come home, or was this just another faceless casualty in a world full of violence and danger?
He'd known people who died, of course. It wasn't something new to him. He's killed more people than he can count, most of them innocent and done forcefully that he can't get over. He never knew their name, never got the chance to get to know them as they're doomed to die the moment they met him.
This one was different, however. The Anti-Skills from last night had described to him who this person was; Hitokawa Hasami. A 16 year old student, a Level 2. Cause of death, suicide by drowning. She doesn't know that her body was gonna be used for something that it had been used for last night.
"Even if she was used for something awful..." Esther finally spoke, still facing the body. She exhaled, before sharply inhaling. He looked when she leaned into the body, whispering something that he couldn't quite catch before reaching for the white cloth that had been covering the body. She pulled it back, revealing a tiny portion of Hasami's upper body. The skin was almost as pale as the sheets, with a small bruise forming on the collarbone.
Esther extended her palm, inches away from the body's chest, her fingers quivering slightly when suddenly a crackle was heard. Hirano perked when he saw a tiny glimpse of light from where Esther placed her palm. When Esther didn't pull back, he knew that this girl was the one causing this effect.
The energy flow was clear; a soft glow emanating from where she had placed her hand, her fingertips hovering just above the surface. The pale light rippled outward in delicate waves but didn't escape the vicinity of her palm. This was something Hirano had never seen before; a magical phenomenon that he wasn't even sure was possible in this world.
"As I thought, the circuit is still open," He heard her say amongst the soft crackling of the energy. "If left like this, it'll invite wandering residual information."
He doesn't know whether she's talking to him or herself, but whatever it is that she spoke of does not make sense to him. The soft light continued to ripple, and as it did, faint images flickered into view. They were fleeting and hard to make out, but Hirano caught snippets of what looked like a classroom, a group of friends laughing, and what could have been Hasami's family. It was eerie and unsettling, like watching someone's life play out in fragmented pieces.
"We can't bury Hitokawa Hasami - her body will just crawl out of it." Hirano felt a shudder hearing her words, the eerie atmosphere of the morgue growing heavier. "Not only that, but as long as protocol exists for burial, her corpse being ignored or slighted means she won't be able to pass through the gates of heaven."
Esther removed her hands from where they were, yet the light remained, growing in intensity, pulsing faintly as though the body's essence was trapped within. "I will now reanimate Hitokawa Hasami," The moment those words escaped her lips, he knew immediately that that girl he'd made an acquaintance of is NOT a regular human.
Giving life to a dead body is beyond scientific boundaries, breaking the very law of nature. It wasn't just breaking the rules, but shattering the very fabric of what was deemed as possible, as acceptable. Necromancy. Even Espers looked like a child's play compared to this.
"... use my Houtou to take possession of her and properly close the spiritual circuit." She's pulled an entirely different talisman, with even more circles than the previous one. The intricate patterns glowed faintly as she held it, the air around her crackling with unseen energy. She pressed the talisman against Hasami's chest, and a bright flash of light erupted from the point of contact.
There were more circles on the floor, following the pattern that is on the paper, the glowing light casting an ethereal, pulsating glow around Hasami's lifeless body. As Esther's fingers moved across the talisman, a soft chant in an unknown language emerged, and the energy flow intensified, its radiance seeping into Hasami's body through every pore. The atmosphere in the morgue thickened with a presence that wasn't of this world.
Something was being pulled out of the air - something that should have never been - and it wasn't just an object, or a person. It was... everything. Every breath, every movement, every second of a life that never truly ended. As the energy built up, Hirano could sense an immense pressure growing around them.
A part of him wanted to touch it, the thing that resembled a brain and blood and flesh, all at once. But he held back. He knew better than to mess with something he didn't understand. The air was thick with tension, and the light from the talisman grew so bright it was almost blinding. Esther's face was set in a determined expression, her eyes closed as she focused entirely on the task at hand.
The energy that surrounded Hasami's body reached a crescendo, and with a final burst of light, the chanting ceased. Esther slumped slightly, exhaustion evident on her face, but she managed to stay upright.
'What in the world is that...?'Hasami's body lay still, but something about it had changed. The pallor of her skin remained the same, her chest didn't rise and fall as if breathing, but there was an unmistakable shift in the energy surrounding her. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Hirano could feel it. The atmosphere had become suffused with an otherworldly quality, and he could sense a presence - or rather, multiple presences.
Esther slowly opened her eyes, still gripping the talisman tightly. "It's done," she said, her words laced with exhaustion. She stumbled back a little but didn't fall. She now stood beside Hirano, the talisman still floating above her chest, shining the brilliant light. "Now, all we need is for my Houtou to attach itself to this and I'll be able to close her circuit. This would take a moment, so please, if you don't mind, give it a moment."
He just hummed, not knowing how to answer something as complex as this. Whatever this is, is not science, making it something beyond the grasp of Hirano's understanding. He looked at Hasami's body, which now seems to be a vessel for something that shouldn't exist in this world.
"Is this... magic...?" He knew what he just said was ridiculous, and he immediately felt stupid for saying it. But then again, how would you explain Espers to the people who've never seen it? Natural Espers, known as a Gemstone, exist in this world and Hirano personally knows one of them. That would make Magic not so far-fetched.
Esther laughed, a small chuckle escaping her. "We necromancers don't like to call it that. It's... more complicated than that." She turned to face Hirano, her eyes meeting him with an intensity that made him take a small step back. "It's the manipulation of spiritual energy, the very essence of life itself. We harness it, we shape it, we... give it purpose." She gestured to Hasami's body, which now glowed faintly with an ethereal light.
"It's definitely not science." Hirano didn't know what to say. The air was heavy with the lingering energy, and the faint hum of spiritual power was almost tangible. He watched as Hasami's body began to emit a soft, pulsating light, like a heartbeat.
Esther was just about to add more to her explanations when the door behind them opened. Two people. They're armed. "Who the hell are you two?" One of the two armoured men barked. Esther flinched at the harsh words. "This place isn't a haunted house you can bring a date to, okay? Now get lost!"
Hirano's mind reeled, still processing what he'd just witnessed. The sudden intrusion shattered the eerie atmosphere of the morgue, and he could feel the shift in energy as Esther tensed beside him. He doesn't recognize these two, and he's been to the hospital more times than he'd like. He knows most of the people here, including the guards.
He doesn't know them.
He was just about to question them back when he felt a tug on his back. Turning over towards the blond woman, he finds her shaking her head, as if to tell him not to provoke these guys. The two men are clearly on edge, their hands hovering near their holstered weapons.
Finally, he relented and began walking towards the door, Esther following closely behind him. He could hear one of the guards shooting at them. "First things first, let's check her personal effects," One of them says.
"Yeah, doctors only look at the body anyways," The other person sneers, laughing at his own joke. Hirano's grip tightens on the door handle. That seems to have made some sort of noise, because the guy that cracked the joke turned to find them two. Again. "You're still here? I'll call your school if you don't move it! Now scream, brats!"
They did get out of the room after that, though they didn't plan on leaving the area whatsoever, just standing by the door as they slammed it on their faces. As they stepped away from the door, Hirano could sense something was wrong. The two men's presence was too forceful, too aggressive, for mere security guards. And they weren't wearing standard hospital uniforms. Something was definitely off about them.
"Weird," Hirano huffed, his brow furrowing as he turned to face Esther.
"Uh-oh... Hirano-san..." Esther whispered, her face pale with worry. She glanced nervously at the door, then back to Hirano. "My Houtou has already attached itself to Hitokawa Hasami. I'm worried that she might start moving while they're still in there," She whispered the words close to Hirano's ear.
He hummed in return, looking onto the closed door. They'd locked the metal door. He doesn't have a key nor does he want to look at the lock mechanism again. He's seen enough to know that trying to pick the lock would take far too long and draw even more attention. Esther is still clutching her cloak tightly, her knuckles white from the strain.
"Say no more." He walked closer towards the door. Something this sturdy wouldn't budge from the outside, not without a bomb or a lot of time. However, a light tap from the tip of his shoe and some simple calculations regarding Kinetic Energy and redirection were enough to blast the thing from its hinges.
The metal door clattered to the floor with a deafening crash, and the two men inside immediately drew their weapons and spun around, clearly startled by the sudden noise. One of them was kneeling, holding a vial of some sort and was ready to pour its contents onto the body. Hirano knew an acid container when he saw one. They were gonna dissolve her whole body.
Hirano frowned, nose scrunched up in disgust. This city never ceases to produce some of the worst people he's ever seen. "You DAs make me sick." The white haired boy stepped into the room, his eyes locked on the men who were now raising their weapons.
"Fuck." One of them trained his gun at him, specifically his head.
"Well, well," The other doesn't look so surprised. Hirano has his eyes on this one. "I was wondering who you kids were, didn't think it was gonna be Mr. Top-Ranker himself." Hirano's face darkened as the recognition in the man's voice. Why do people from the darkside always refer to him as that? He has a name for fucks sake.
"That big shot can only protect himself. We'll just have to take care of the girl and the body then we're done here." The same person from earlier sneered at him, getting up from his kneeling position. There was this shit eating smirk spreading across his face. "Lucky for us, we've got some leeway when it comes to this sort of situation."
The other person, the one who'd nearly panicked, began to show signs of steadying himself, his gun lowering further down. "You're right," He stomped his feet as he glared at Hirano with a maniacal grin. He reached for something on his back.
The armour he has on had looked weird and unnecessarily large when Hirano first took note of it. There was this large patch of metal bag-thingy covering most of his back, reaching down onto his waist. He didn't think the manufacturer would add it unless it served some sort of purpose. And he was right to assume as such when he heard a click.
There was the sound of air hissing, mechanical gears whirring as the patch of metal covered his right arm was covered in complex mechanical parts. The man's grin grew wider as he activated the device, his arm now fully mechanized and ready for combat. "You're in for a world of hurt, kid."
Hirano's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. The man with the acid was still kneeling, but now had his weapon trained on Hirano. The other, with the mechanical arm, was advancing slowly, his movements deliberate and menacing. "Random Number UltraSonic blade," The guy said as if that isn't some of the most ridiculous shit Hirano has ever heard. "A prototype the DA has been working on for a while. I can't wait to see it go up against someone like you who uses specific calculations to reflect attacks!"
Hirano perked up at that. What he just explained was exactly what Hirano does, using physics and calculations to redirect and defend against attacks. If it's just like he said, it could theoretically throw off Hirano's ability to reflect as he had to calculate and adjust for each new variable. When the numbers were randomized, the physics and calculations Hirano typically relies on became far more difficult to predict. The man's grin grew even wider as he activated the blade, a high-pitched whine filling the air.
"Time for sweet justice!" Hirano's mind was racing, his muscles tensed as he prepared to face the onslaught. The man with the mechanical arm lunged forward, the whirring sound of the prototype blade filling the air.
Even with the metal enveloping the man's arm, it moved as if it were flesh and blood, the precision of the machine-like movements betraying its true nature. The blade itself was a marvel of engineering, its surface shimmering with a complex pattern of microscopic grooves that Hirano could only partially make out. Specifically made for Espers of high caliber, it was designed to disrupt their calculations and throw off their ability to predict and redirect attacks.
When it came so close to him, Hirano never felt more in danger - that this could actually, genuinely, fucking hurt him. It wasn't some half-assed weapon like those you'd find in the back room of a corner store, it was built specifically for Espers, to disorient them, to fuck them up.
And that's what it was meant to do as it came slicing towards his torso at a speed he hadn't expected, its randomized vibrations throwing off the calculations he normally used to deflect an attack.
Hirano was only planning on beating them enough to acquire information. And as it had seemed, letting them talk and talk was a major mistake, letting them get their bearings and set up their weapons. He doesn't want to go all out, because he was in a public place. But when push comes to shove, he has every right to defend himself.
And then there's something else that is even more unexpected than seeing a weapon solely designed to not only incapacitate, but to potentially kill an Esper. Everyone stopped moving and stared at the dead body. It looked like it came straight out of a horror movie, the way its body was contorted in an unnatural, twisted manner.
Until it fully stood, murmuring words that are unheard beneath the whirring of the blade. The girl wasn't lying about being a necromancer. The thing shouldn't be able to move, let alone stand, but it did. The body's movements were not jerky and uncoordinated, like a marionette being controlled by an amateur puppeteer, so it wasn't a zombie. The skin remained just as pale and lifeless, the eyes glassy and clouded over as before, giving it an ethereal yet unsettling presence.
It then disappeared from where it had stood. It moved faster than what any of them could see. In a blink of an eye, he could move on his peripherals, where less than a second ago, there was nothing but white floor tiles.
The level of destruction that comes next was equal to that of a Level 3. A kick from that corpse was capable of shattering the Random Number Ultrasonic Blade, reducing it to a heap of useless scrap metal. The energy wasn't properly dissipated, and the shockwave from the impact not only sent the man flying backwards, his body slamming into the wall with a sickening crunch, but the ground of the morgue dug itself a shallow crater, the tiles cracking and splintering from the sheer force.
"M-Monster!" The second man screamed on top of his lungs whilst pulling out his own gun. As fast as the corpse had been, bullets being shot at less than 5 metres didn't stand a chance. Even he was aware of that. Remembering what Esther had said, if the body was ignored or slighted, it would not pass the Gates of Heaven.
The girl had committed suicide. She hasn't had the best of lives. But, again, just like Esther had said, she's a human being. A person who's gone through a lot that it just breaks them.
Denying her of peace is the worst thing anyone could do to her. Her soul is now trapped in limbo, forever unable to find peace, to rest, to just be. And if that's not enough, you're going to desecrate her body too? What the fuck is wrong with you?
The bullets were already flying through the air, but Hirano was already standing before her. The bullets brushed against his clothes and immediately got flung in a manner that was impossible to predict. The man with the gun stared in disbelief as his own bullets were redirected back at him, embedding themselves in the wall behind him. The impact was so powerful that it left a spider web of cracks in the concrete.
The two stared in horror at Hirano and the animated corpse. One standing, gun now lowered in sheer terror, while the other lay with a clear look of shock on his face, his arm a twisted mess of broken metal and flesh. "Look, piss stains." Hirano doesn't feel like it anymore. "I was gonna ask you a bunch of questions. But you've just got to seriously fuck with me, don't you? I don't like that. I don't like that at all."
"If someone like her could respect the dead," He points at Esther with his thumb, who had done nothing but stand by, "Then a bunch of adults like you should've known to do the same. But no, you just want to cut her up or melt her down." He tapped his foot, the floor suddenly swallowed their limbs. The one laying down couldn't move, wailing like a pig as both his arms and legs were suddenly trapped. The two of them are now completely helpless, staring up at Hirano in fear as he towers over them.
"Trashes like you are why the world is such a mess. You don't even deserve to be called human." Hirano's face twisted in disgust as he looked down at the two men, his eyes blazing with fury. He focused on the one half buried, the soles of his shoes pressed against his face, his foot crushing the man's nose with a sickening crunch. Blood spurted out, painting the floor in a crimson arc. The other man, still trapped but uninjured, screamed in horror as he watched his companion being brutally assaulted.
But instead of begging, the only one left standing, he just started laughing. A deranged, maniacal laugh that echoed through the morgue. "You think you're so fucking smart, don't you? You think we haven't been preparing extra for some fucking brat like you?! You're in over your head, stupid brat!" He just kept laughing and laughing.
Hirano just couldn't be bothered with listening to it all. A punch squared on his jaw knocked the light out of him. He was out cold before he even hit the ground. His feets being buried under the floor caused his unconscious body to slump forward, his head hitting the ground with a dull thud. The only one left standing was the necromancer and her animated corpse.
It was quiet, even though a minute ago it was absolute chaos. Hirano looked around, taking in the carnage. The walls were cracked and dented, bullet holes pockmarked the concrete, and the floor was a mess of crimson and broken tiles. The air still carried the acrid smell of gunpowder and the metallic tang of blood.
"That's..." Esther muttered as she took in the scene, her words faint and subdued. "That's not how I thought it would end."
The white haired boy doesn't feel like talking. He's been getting angry way too much these days, going over the board with the violence and the destruction. But he can't help it, not when the world keeps pushing him into this kind of corner. It was either do it, or risk getting hurt - or worse.
Hirano was now left in a predicament. Standing here, in this broken down morgue, surrounded by destruction and unconscious bodies of some agent of chaos, one of them had their face crushed, their nose a mangled mess of broken cartilage and blood. The other was out cold. And then there was the necromancer, still standing, her animated corpse by her side.
The girl stared at Hirano. "You know, I'm not sure what to make of you." The necromancer's words were laced with a mix of curiosity and wariness. "One moment you're defending the dead, the next you're destroying the living. You're not like the others. You're not a bad person, but you sure don't make things easy on anyone." Her fingers twitched, as if weighing her next action. The animated corpse, however, remained still, its dead eyes fixed unnervingly on Hirano. The room's silence was heavy with unspoken questions and lingering violence.
Hirano doesn't seem to care what others think. His face hardened at the girl's words. "I do what I have to do. That's it." He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What was it that you said earlier, fix the girl's spiritual circuit or whatever it is? Do whatever you've got to do. I need some fresh air."
With that, Hirano turned and strode out of the morgue. The necromancer watched him go, her face unreadable. She turned back to the animated corpse, speaking softly. He was out of the room, her words too soft for it to register in his throbbing head. Too many things happening in so little time, he just needed to get away.
Magic is real, Necromancy is real and apparently there's a community of them out there. There is an underground faction trying to create a weapon that could bypass his barrier, and there's something about a spiritual circuit that needs to be fixed.
Hirano needed to think, to process all this information. The world he knew was changing. Or it's just the same, and he's just barely learning about it. The hospital's air conditioner is no different than the morgue's. He needs to step outside. He wants fresh air. Its irritating, so very fucking irritating, Hirano can feel the suffocation, the tension in the air, and his chest constricted as if its about to give in.
Fresh air, fresh air, where is it? The corridors stretch endlessly, empty and quiet save for the faint echo of footsteps in the distance. Hirano turns a corner and spots the nearest exit.
Yet again, another chaos the moment he stepped outside.
Another one of those agents. Being tackled by several people. Last Order standing not too far, watching with worry while hugging Kikyou's legs. Misaka and several of the hospital staff, holding the man down.
Wait. Misaka? He didn't think she'd be here. Did someone tell her that he would be here? If she's here, then the others should also be here. That's gonna be a problem. Last Order isn't hiding. She's gonna know.
He noticed another thing, though. Why does she have goggles on her head? How come she looked so nonchalant whilst twisting the guy's hands behind his back? No. She doesn't look nonchalant. She doesn't wear any emotions on her face. Her expression is blank.
That's not the Misaka he knows.
And why is Last Order screaming at him? Why is she pointing at him? Was it his back? It's his back, isn't it?
He turned and saw a face.
Then a searing hot spread across the side of his abdomen. Searing hot, reaching all the way to the back. He stumbled as the breath from his lungs was knocked out, his hand reflexively going to the source of the pain. He felt his hands going wet, he looked at it and it was red. Red as the blood he's just spilled from those DA agents. Red as the blood that is pumping in his veins. Red as the blood that is now staining his shirt, spreading rapidly across the fabric.
He stumbled, his legs giving out beneath him. The world was spinning, and he could feel his consciousness slipping away. The last thing he saw before everything went black was Last Order's terrified face, her mouth moving as if she was screaming, but he couldn't hear anything over the pounding in his ears.
There were more of those agents. Lots of them. 6 in total.
But he couldn't focus. He couldn't when his mind is telling him that the pain on his side is more important than Kikyou being knocked down, Last Order and Misaka being taken and pulled into a familiar truck.
He couldn't focus when his mind was beginning to swim, his breath shallow and ragged. He couldn't focus when his body was screaming in agony, his blood spilling out onto the ground beneath him, forming a small pool that was growing larger with every passing second.
He couldn't... focus...
I was planning on writing this chapter until Scavenger was introduced, but seeing as how its already 10k words, i just think that its better off being on the next chapter.
Anyways, new chapter next week!