Number 129

The little autumn doesn't remember when it specifically occurred. It just so happened that she began to develop an attitude and need to cling to others just for the sake of survival. After all, being experimented and tortured daily would eventually drive a person to insanity, right?

It's not like the little autumn is immune to that. If anything, she should have exhibited a lot more characteristics typical of a shattered and melancholy spirit.

Incidentally, there was a time when she had wished for death to end her miserable existence. She had wished and prayed for it every night, every after her session with that horrendous man. She would lay on her cardboard makeshift bed and embrace her shivering body while praying to some unnamed deity to terminate her pointless life.

But after a few years of residing in Krama's institution, that kind of perspective eventually shifted. And Yuzuru Aki was aware that the 'people' she encountered must have been the cause of her developing an inclination to survive to preserve their lives as well.

Until everything changed and she developed a fervent desire for them to live so that she wouldn't have to face the brutal and savage world alone.

It sounds selfish, but it was her only way to keep a part of her sanity intact. She must have caused Cassandra a lot of trouble, be it here or in the past, and yet after everything that has transpired, the blonde lady would simply smile and continue to walk her path alongside hers.

Something that the little autumn will forever be grateful for.

"Has she calmed down?" It came as a whisper, the little autumn noticed, just as she turned her gaze at the man who had aided in keeping her from attacking the old man. And in that split second, his amber-colored eyes connected with hers, prompting Aki to witness the change in his expression. "Miss Aki, are you all right?"

Unable to form a decent reply, the little autumn could only nod her head. Thankfully, Officer Ain accepted her wordless response. "Sitting on the ground must be freezing. Want me to help you in standing up?"

But instead of waiting for her to reply, Officer Ain turned his body and shouted. "Yo Neth! Get a grip and find an empty chair, will you?"

And just like that, the tension that has been formed due to her rampage was eventually been broken apart as the people began to move once more. While others were trying to move the tables back into position, particularly the ones that the police officers had been flung at by the little autumn, others were holstering back their firearms.

"Have you all lost your minds?" Except for one guy, that is.

Those words that came out of his mouth eventually gathered everyone's attention as they all watch him stand from his bruised and bloodied state. Additionally, Yuzuru Aki couldn't stop herself from gazing at the old man's figure, wondering just how much damage had she produced.

"She was going to murder me!" He screamed, pointing at the little autumn's numbed state. But after witnessing him respond that way, the grip Cassandra had on her strengthened, forcing Aki to shift her gaze and stare at the expression her companion was now wearing. "Why are you all acting like she is the victim in this situation?!"

"How shameless, mister." Cassandra furiously spoke as she started to stroke the little autumn's head. Both her words are actions deeply contrasted each other, a skill that she developed while living in that hellhole along with the other 'Numbered'. "You were the one who started this mess. If you had gotten your shit together, this wouldn't have happened!"

"Be quiet, bitch!" Unaware of how the others had begun to look at him in disdain, the old man continued to wipe his blood off of his mouth. "I just wanted to eat… I simply asked for some food! I even begged for it! And yet you had the gal to tell me off?! Master… my master was right…"

'Master?' Aki recalled their past conversation, relating that word to the song he mentioned that night. 'The Midnight Requiem…'

But before she could dwell more on that topic, something within the old man must have finally snapped, acquiring the little autumn's attention back.

"Humans really are selfish creatures." The old man stated while chuckling menacingly. It led a few officers to take their guns out once more, pointing them toward the old man. "And that will never change."

The rage in his eyes, even after being beaten senseless by the little autumn earlier, seemed to have intensified just as he moved toward the two women who were slouched on the ground. The police officers eventually told him to stop, while threatening to shoot him if he don't.

But instead of watching that scenario unfold, his action eventually made the little autumn look at his leg, which led her to discover something that she has been thinking of for the past few days.

'129…' Yuzuru Aki thought to herself, widening her eyes upon realizing what it meant.

"Cassandra," She quickly took her friend's attention, disregarding the curses that the old man continue to spit out. "He's in the higher hundreds."

"What?" Confused at her sudden declaration, the blonde lady frowned and urged Aki to expound her statement. "What do you mean?"

"His number," Aki said, slowly lifting her hand to point at the man's leg. "There."

"Huh? What are you," But after finally noticing the spot where the little autumn was pointing, Cassandra gasped. "Oh shit."

"You dare ignore me?!" And with that, the old man charged, prompting the other police officers to hold him down.

"Restrain him!"

"How are they so strong?!"

"Ain you bastard, come and help us!"

"The lot of you are all useless, I fucking swear to god!" After being agitated by the previous statement, Officer Ain eventually joined in pining the old man down, which was unsuccessful - for the most part. After all, he's a 'Numbered' too - a number who now has been consumed by madness and rage, further amplifying his physical prowess.

However, just as little autumn was about to step forward and offer her assistance, a remarkable display of skill came from one specific person. Lieutenant Rainer performed an impressive maneuver to control and restrain the violent man. With great finesse, he swiftly handcuffed the old man's arms and employed his entire body weight to keep him subdued.

"Ah," Guess she doesn't need to offer her assistance after all.

"Get off of me!" The old man bellowed, just when Officer Ain came back to help the two women in standing up.

But even after being treated as such, the eyes of the little autumn have never left the old man's face. It was then that she surmised just how broken this person had become because of Krama, and his so-called 'master'. Just what have they…

What have they done to this man?

And Aki knew that simply wondering won't let her reach an answer to that question. As a fellow number, even if she doesn't want anything to do with this man, even if she had just tried to murder the shit out of him a few minutes ago,

She simply has to know.

"Number 129."

The old man winced, his eyes glancing at the little autumn's dull and lifeless appearance. She had to hold back any emotion that might have surfaced after seeing the abrupt change in his look, simply from hearing those words. She nevertheless went on to ask, "Who is this master you talk of? What does the 'Midnight Requiem' mean to you?"

A long and eerie silence then enveloped the room. But even if the old man's face was slightly contorted, probably thinking of what to reply, Lieutenant Rainer continued to hold him down, quite adamant in wanting no trouble to ensue.

But after scowling, he started laughing maniacally, which caused the other people to recoil in horror at the bizarreness of the situation.

"Are you seriously asking me that question? After basically trying to murder the hell out of me?" The old man spat out some blood before proceeding to laugh once more. "How amusing, lady! Or should I say… a fellow number?"

A flinch was all it took, making the old man snicker in response.

But taunting isn't the proper way to go. One look from Cassandra was the only thing that the little autumn needed as she says, "You also mentioned that you had a son."

Now it was his turn to flinch.

Sensing that he won't answer her question, the little autumn disappointedly sighed. She knew how sensitive that kind of topic is towards the 'Numbered', but if finding his son is the only way for him not to go mad every time he's feeling hungry, Yuzuru Aki had to try.

But before she could ask him the most important question of all, a random police officer interrupted, ruining the opportunity for the little autumn.

"Now that we've reached a more peaceful… atmosphere," The man donning a more sophisticated attire out of all the police officers in this room then slowly made his way toward the restrained man, all the while clapping out of amusement. Seeing such an obnoxious act, however, left a foul taste inside the little autumn's mouth. "Why don't we throw that man inside a cell, and begin to question these two about the uncommon terminologies they use? 'Numbered', was it? Care to expound more on that matter?"

Both alarmed and defensive, Cassandra and Aki immediately took a step back, not expecting someone to cover them against the approaching officer.

"They're victims, Keath." Officer Ain says as he lifts an arm to stop his advance. "Don't do anything unnecessary."

"Clyde," Chuckling at the sudden intrusion, Officer Keath simply shrugged his shoulders and said, "In my eyes, all three of them are suspicious. Are they all not? I mean, where would you find that kind of monstrous physical ability? And you're telling me not to do anything unnecessary? It seems that you really are a defect when it comes to criminal investigations."

"You-!"

"Okay, that's enough!" But before Lieutenant Rainer could intervene, the sound of a door opening gradually took everyone's attention, as most of the officers immediately saluted at the person who just took a step inside the room.

It only took a second before the little autumn and Cassandra both widened their eyes upon recognizing who it was.

After all, who would dare forget the face of their benefactor?