Ryuichi entered with quiet steps, Erica behind him, and Miku's gaze traveling between them, as if trying to read between the lines. From afar, Natsumi was partially hiding behind the kitchen door, trying to pretend she was busy with something, the redness of her face still evident.
Erica (looking around):
"A cozy house... like you, Miku."
Miku (with a chuckle):
"Thanks... at least one of us doesn't live in a lab."
Erica smiles half-sarcastically, while Ryuichi sits on the couch.
Ryuichi (sighs):
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience..."
Miku:
"Don't say that, I already told you... this is your home too as long as you need it."
Natsumi enters with hesitant steps carrying two cups of tea.
Natsumi (in a low voice):
"I brought something... to drink."
Erica looked at her with a slight smile as she took her cup.
Erica (quietly):
"Thanks, Natsume, right?"
Natsume nodded, then sat on the edge of the chair, while Ryuichi remained silent for a moment, staring off into space.
Ryuichi (in a low voice):
"I feel like something is shattering inside of me... my body isn't holding up... and the past won't leave me."
Miku (places her hand on his shoulder):
"But you're still here, and that alone is enough."
Erica (looks at him):
"Keep your promise to the doctor... no fighting."
Ryuichi (with a sidelong glance):
"If circumstances permit..."
There was silence for a moment, before a faint voice from Aura echoed inside his mind.
Aura (inside his mind):
"Try to sleep tonight... you've exhausted me."
Ryuichi smiled lightly without comment, while Natsumi looked at him again, a look mixed between concern and suppressed admiration.
Miku (with her back to the chair, in a curious tone):
"So... are you going to tell me what happened today at the facility? Things seemed to have gotten out of hand."
Erica looks at Ryuichi, as if asking him if it's okay to talk, then turns to Miko and replies quietly:
Erica:
"There was an attack... or rather a summoning of a supernatural being. Someone initiated a ritual to summon a mana monster. It wasn't random."
Miko (surprised):
"A mana monster? Inside?! How did they let that happen?"
Erica (seriously):
"We believe there's a traitor or an entity infiltrating the system from within. More seriously... the monster was out of control."
She looked at Ryuichi, who remained silent, then smiled lightly:
Erica (in an almost admiring voice):
"But if it wasn't for Ryuichi, it would have been worse. He saved me... even though his mana center is in a fragile state."
Miku (looking at him, her eyes filled with concern):
"Saved you...?"
Erica (with a smile):
"With his quick reflexes, and his courage. He confronted the monster just as I was about to receive a fatal blow... He didn't back down, even though his body wasn't able to withstand the pressure."
Miku looked at Ryuichi for a long time, as if she was seeing a side of him that she had never seen before.
Miku (in a hushed voice):
"You always... overloading yourself."
Ryuichi (with a sigh as he looks down):
"I couldn't help it..."
Natsumi (in an unnoticed whisper):
"...stupid."
Erica (chuckles lightly):
"Regardless, it was impressive. Although I still think he should rest."
Miku (slightly sharply):
"And that's exactly what he's going to do."
Ryuichi (raises an eyebrow):
"Take it easy on me..."
A light laughter filled the room, as if the tension had begun to dissipate a bit, but in the background... Something was still hiding between the words, between Natsume's gaze, Erica's newfound interest, and Miku's growing concern.
Erica:
"Since things became clear today... I guess from now on, I'll be in charge of Ryuichi."
Ryuichi (blinks, then knits his eyebrows):
"Wow... It's like I'm in kindergarten."
Erica (confidently):
"Yes. I received direct instructions from Sigma, and since you're in a delicate situation, you must be monitored and evaluated daily. And since I am the most familiar with your fighting style and abilities..."
Miku (in a hesitant voice):
"That... makes sense, sort of."
But before everyone could process the sentence, Erica added, looking around with feigned innocence:
Erica:
"By the way... since I'll be responsible for him, and I'm still looking for an apartment nearby, do you mind if I stay here for a few days?"
Ryuichi (surprised):
"...Huh?!"
Natsumi (her eyes froze, and her face immediately reddened):
"W-what?"
Miku (trying to control her facial expression, putting her hand over her mouth):
"A... temporary... stay?"
Erica (laughs):
"Yeah, I promise I won't bother anyone, and I'll help around the house! Plus... it's better to be nearby in case of an emergency, right?"
Ryuichi (still in shock, looking left and right):
"My life has been turned upside down in 24 hours..."
Natsumi (in a barely audible whisper):
"...and that means she'll be in the same house...?"
Erica (putting her hands behind her back and smiling at Natsumi):
"I'm excited to spend time with you too, Natsumi-chan."
Natsumi (looking at the floor, her lips quivering):
"Damn..."
Kitchen - minutes later
The sound of water flows from the faucet, and Mikiko arranges the dishes, watching out of the corner of her eye as Erica begins to help her make tea. In the corner, Ryuichi sits at the wooden table, while Natsumi sits across from him, pretending to flip through her phone while stealing sideways glances at him.
Erica (energetically stirring the spoon in the teapot):
"I like this kind of routine... it's a relief after all the chaos we're going through."
Miku (with a smile):
"This kitchen hasn't been quiet for a long time."
Ryuichi (raises an eyebrow):
"What is this, an alliance against me?"
Natsumi (in a hushed voice without looking at him):
"No one said anything about you..."
Erica (laughs):
"He did, and I think you're the main reason for the mess."
Ryuichi (leaning back in the chair):
"Huh...save the world, get judged as the cause of chaos. Nice."
Miku (looking at Erica calmly):
"Honestly, I didn't realize you were the type to blend in so quickly."
Erica:
"I just don't like excessive barriers. When I decide to be a part of a place, I fit right in."
Natsumi (grabs her cup and whispers):
"Very immediately..."
Ryuichi (catching her whisper):
"You said something?"
Natsumi (confused):
"No! I was just... tasting the tea!"
Erica (notices Natsumi's look and smiles slyly):
"Natsumi-chan, are you used to living with them?"
Natsumi (looks at Miku quickly):
"I just sometimes help with studying! Nothing else!"
Ryuichi (surprisingly serious):
"And I'm really grateful for that... Without your and Miku's help, I wouldn't have gotten this far."
Natsumi (lowers her eyes):
"Oh... it's okay, it wasn't that big of a deal..."
Erica (contemplating Ryuichi):
"Strange, I didn't expect you to be someone who knows how to thank others."
Ryuichi:
"No one expects anything from me for the most part."
Mikiko (placing the tray on the table):
"That's why everything you do amazes us even more."
Erica (in a soft voice):
"Especially when you saved me today."
Natsumi (eyebrows slightly raised):
"...saved you?"
Erica (looks at her and then at Ryuichi):
"Amazingly. Like a scene from a movie."
Natsumi (drinks quickly to hide her expression):
"Huh, cool..."
Ryuichi (looks at Natsumi and then whispers to himself):
"What's going on here...?"
Miku (looking at Ryuichi calmly as she sips her tea):
"By the way, you didn't talk much about the last two exams... biochemistry and analytical techniques. How did you feel about them?"
Ryuichi (sighs and sets his cup down on the table):
"They were... difficult, but I was very focused. I felt like I needed to succeed in them more than ever."
Erica (curiously):
"Exams? Is this related to your studies?"
Miku (smiling):
"Yes, despite everything he's going through... he passed his Biochemistry and Analytical Techniques exams with excellent grades. None of the students who participated in field battles and survived would have been able to come back so quickly."
Erica (looking at him admiringly):
"That's... unexpected. You're progressing very quickly, Ryuichi."
Ryuichi (scratching his head and smiling):
"I had no choice, I had to succeed to prove to myself that I was worthy of this path, even if it was fraught with all these risks."
Natsumi (shyly without looking at him):
"...I... I saw the result too. It's good that you succeeded."
Ryuichi (looking at her with a slight smile):
"Thank you, Natsumi... your support was important, believe me."
At that moment, his thinking is interrupted by a sudden internal voice...
Aura (in a sarcastic voice inside his mind):
"Huh?! Support?! And me?! Wasn't I the one who confused all the terms for you at the last minute? Wasn't I the one who yelled at you: "Don't forget enzyme #4!" in the practical question?"
Ryuichi (smiling lightly and thinking):
"Oh, no time for that now, Aura..."
Aura:
"Hmmm... just a simple confession, I'm not asking for much... just a plaque or even a cup of coffee!"
Miku (noticing his sudden smile):
"Hmm, why are you smiling like that all of a sudden?"
Ryuichi (slightly confused):
"Huh? Nothing... I just remembered something funny... about... enzymes."
Everyone gives him a strange look for a moment, then ignores his comment and continues talking.
Miku (in a rather firm voice):
"But you shouldn't neglect your health. The doctor wasn't happy with your condition today, and just because you passed your exams doesn't mean you should overwork yourself."
Erica:
"I agree with her... which is why I'll be here to make sure you don't self-destruct."
Ryuichi (with a smile):
"I feel like I'm in a supervised program... but that's okay, I think I need that kind of protection."
Quiet sunlight filtered through the window glass, while the breeze lightly moved the curtains. Ryuichi stepped out onto the small balcony with a warm cup of tea, followed moments later by Mikiko, clutching a small university file.
Ryuichi (looking at the horizon and sighing):
"It's been two days... I didn't go to college..."
Mikiko (standing next to him and smiling softly):
"You were in a serious health situation, no one can blame you for being absent."
Ryuichi (looking at her):
"But... Did something happen? Was the absence recorded against me? Will I be banned from the lectures?"
Miku (laughs lightly):
"Relax, relax. I spoke to the administration myself. I explained your health condition to them."
Ryuichi:
"And they understood the situation?"
Miku:
"Yes, fortunately. There was a small issue with the system, but it's now resolved. From tomorrow, you can go back to school without any trouble."
Ryuichi (looking at her with gratitude):
"You always take care of things quietly... Thank you, Miku."
Miku (turns away with a smile):
"No need for thanks. Just don't ignore your health again, or I'll talk to Sigma and get him to stop you from fighting."
Ryuichi (laughs lightly):
"I can easily imagine you doing that..."
There's a brief moment of silence between them, then Aura's voice enters Ryuichi's mind.
Aura (in a low, whisper-like voice):
"Hmmm... if you confessed to her now, you might get more than tea."
Ryuichi (whispering to himself in confusion):
"...shut up Aura..."
Night fell quietly, and daylight retreated behind the room's curtains. Natsumi had gone to bed after a quick and reserved greeting to Ryuichi, while he stretched out on the familiar bed against the wall, in her usual room where he had slept since his mother's absence.
He turned off the bedside lamp, and there was a soft darkness interrupted only by the distant lights of the city beyond the window. He stays awake for several minutes, rolling over on his side, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Ryuichi (in a whisper):
"...Aura, you're here?"
Aura (answering in her soft voice, springing directly into his mind):
"I'm always here, even when you don't call me."
Ryuichi:
"That tattoo... that Sigma saw on the necromancer's body... were you able to analyze it?"
There's a brief moment of silence, and then Aura's response comes in a softer tone, as if she's choosing her words carefully.
Aura:
"I recorded its details when Sigma copied it on his palm, and analyzed it later... It's not just a tattoo... it's a mana seal, engraved with a very ancient ritual."
Ryuichi (sniffles lightly):
"Ritual? What kind of ritual? Does it have anything to do with... mana?"
Aura (in a semi-mysterious whisper):
"I can't say for sure yet, but that inscription is associated with an extinct school of mana control... Something like genetically modified mana, artificially... It's like they were making the product, not creating it."
Ryuichi (in a whisper):
"...it was a tool then...a tool with the signature of its creator."
Aura:
"Exactly. And this signature... it doesn't resemble any recognizable pattern, as if whoever made it was not from this era."
There was a heavy silence for a moment, and then Ryuichi sighed as he covered himself, trying to suppress his rising anxiety.
Ryuichi (slowly):
"...Thank you, Aura..."
Aura (in a warm tone):
"Sleep now, your body needs real rest... and tomorrow, you'll need all your strength."
Ryuichi finally closed his eyes, but he didn't go to sleep easily... he took the image of that strange tattoo with him, etched into his memory, as if it too had become a tattoo on his destiny.
Outside, as the city sleeps peacefully and night covers the alleys and sidewalks, shadows move silently. The moonlight barely passed between the scattered clouds... but someone didn't care about the light.
A complete stranger was standing motionless in front of Miku's house. He wears a long, dark-colored coat and a shiny metal mask that completely hides his features. Only two eyes, glowing faintly under the mask, are visible, silently observing the upstairs window.
The window was slightly open, the curtains moving slowly in the night breeze... And there, behind the glass, Ryuichi sleeps peacefully, unaware that an invisible eye is watching him.
(Masked man - internal monologue):
"Finally... the frequency in mana... matched. And that boy's body... carries the imperfect pattern."
The masked man slowly extended his right hand, and strange lines appeared on his palm, glowing with a faint crimson light, much like the tattoo Sigma had seen, but much more intricate.
A moment of silence.
Then, the man whispered to himself in a low but sharp voice:
The Masked Man:
"Not long now, alleged heir..."
At those words, the man's shadow suddenly disappeared as if it had never existed. No sound, no trace, only the cold air that suddenly crept in through the open window made the room's curtain tremble for a moment... and then returned to its stillness.
A new morning at Miku's house
The sunlight creeps softly through the window of Natsume's room, quietly waking Ryuichi from his sleep. He lazily opens his eyes, blinks slowly, and then sits up in bed, rubbing his eyes.
Ryuichi (in a sleepy voice):
"What time is it...? Aura, why didn't you wake me up as usual?"
Aura (in her inner voice):
"I wanted you to sleep well for the first time in days, genius, you should thank me."
Ryuichi gets up and heads to the bathroom, washes his face, then goes down to the kitchen where he finds Miku has made breakfast, Natsumi sits silently looking at him out of the corner of her eye, and Erica is already awake and quietly sipping her coffee.
Erica (with a slight smile):
"Finally, Mr. Hero is awake."
Ryuichi (scratching his head):
"Um... good morning."
After breakfast and dressing in his usual clothes, he prepares to head out, but is surprised to find Erica heading for the door with him.
Ryuichi (wondering):
"Wait... are you... Are you going with me? To college?"
Erica (clutching her car keys):
"Yeah, I have to be close to you, remember? I'm responsible for you now. Don't worry, I won't embarrass you too much... at least I'll try."
Outside the house, time stops for a moment in front of Erica's glossy black luxury car, a rare model. Ryuichi gets into the front seat, his eyes darting back and forth.
Ryuichi (whispering nervously):
"Everyone... they'll see me get out of the car, great, I'm going to be gossip material today..."
Erica (laughs lightly sarcastically):
"Don't worry, I have a plan."
Inside the car, Erica places her hand on the car's center mirror. The mirror glows silver and reacts to her face, and in a few seconds, her appearance changes before Ryuichi's eyes.
Her features soften, her hair becomes more vibrant, and she now appears to be a twenty-year-old girl, dressed like a college student.
Ryuichi (amazed):
"What?! What is this technology?"
Aura (astonished):
"This isn't just an optical illusion... it's a virtual reconfiguration using mana mirrors... it's brilliant!"
Erica (proudly looking in the mirror):
"I call it Reflexio. It reflects the image I want, and it's based on analyzing the waves of visual perception. Simple, isn't it?"
Ryuichi sheepishly covers his face as the car approaches the college gate.
Ryuichi (whispers):
"I'm going to die of embarrassment..."