Prelude IV

Prelude IV — Accursed Fate IV

Sunlight filtered through the window casting a shade into my room.

For the first time in a while, I woke up early. My movements were almost mechanical as I sat up, rubbing my face.

"Hngh…."

Just then as I did and let put a sigh, the memories of yesterday finally hit me like a truck.

"Ahh—"

"Fuck."

I muttered that, running a hand through my hair.

My pulse quickened for a moment, but I forced it to calm.

Okay, maybe I had panicked a little too much..

Dropping my hands in resignation, I stared at the door for a moment, then opened my mouth—

"Screw it, it doesn't matter anyways."

I grumbled under my breath, as I got up from my bed.

I had shuffled into the bathroom, and freshened up. By the time I was walking downstairs——

"Oh my? To think you'd wake up first on your own? Is the world coming to an end?"

Kurumi looked like she was about to ascend the stairs but when she se me…

She looked at me with mock horror on her face.

She even placed a hand dramatically over her heart.

"Tsk."

I clicked my tongue.

"Your expression is over the top."

"Ufufu~ You think?"

She wasn't wrong to be surprised; I wasn't exactly known for being an early riser.

Usually, it was her job to drag me out of bed.

Still, her expression was more dramatic than necessary.

…..Looking at her, I couldn't help but think back to yesterday:

[Even though I had said such a thing, we had gone back to our usual self.]

Guess this is okay for now.

For a while, everything was okay.

That was, until my eyes drifted toward her face.

"By the way… never got to ask, what's up with that patch."

Her movements froze for a moment.

"...."

The silence stretched longer than it should have.

Her fingers twitched as if she didn't want to lie to me.

That's why..

"Don't tell me you're back in that phase?"

I teased, tapping under my own eye for emphasis.

"E-eh?"

She flinched, leaning back slightly as her voice wavered. "That's—"

I then sighed and got up from the place I'd sat, approaching her.

"W-wait, Brother…I—"

"Calm down, your Brother will not hurt you~"

"But—"

Even though she squirmed for a moment, she soon sighed and looking away.

She had stopped her resistance.

"Hm~?"

I flipped her eyepatch open, and what stared at me back was that golden one we're all too familiar with.

My expression turned sour for a moment, but I masked it with curiosity, taking a closer look.

"Oh, looks real… what's this, contact lens?"

I asked tilting my head feigning curiosity.

"E-eh? Yes… I think."

"Haah, just when I thought you've grown out of that phase…"

I had sighed dramatically, only to earn an irritated pout from her.

"Ah, but, wearing eyepatch like that is too conspicuous."

I said as I returned to my seat, grabbing a spoonful of cereal.

"What do you mean?"

"Rather than using an eyepatch, you can just use your hair to cover it, no?"

"The eyepatch stands out too much."

I said knowingly pointing to the left side of her eyes she had now covered with her eyepatch.

—Kurumi's POV.

He knows…

No doubt about it.

I can't explain it, but I feel he knows something.

He's trying to hide it, but I can see it in his expression and I can feel it.

That false expression and feigned curiosity in his voice.

But he's not questioning further. I can't help but have a bad feeling about this.

Yesterday—

He had gone to get groceries, something we usually did together.

But he went alone today.

Maybe he needed his space. Sawa and I both have been invading his space lately.

I'd stayed back with Sawa for a few minutes more to keep her company before we part.

It was getting late after all.

I took the usual route, crossing the pedestrian bridge over the expressway.

But as I stepped onto it, in attempts to cross it, the world around me changed.

Everything went silent.

—Like I had been tossed into an abandoned world.

"E-eh?"

Then, I saw it. This was something you'd only see in the likes of movies or films even.

"W-wha—"

ROAR!!!

It had features I could not describe.

Panic welled up within me as I had tried to run away.

However, my leg tangled against itself as I… fell down.

"Ack."

The monster had only moved closer.

I had never imagined a monster such as this would exist in our world.

And for the first time, I felt horror.

The moment it closed in, my breathing quickened.

"Brother—"

His name was what came out from my mouth, and then—

HYUN!

TZZZ!

I heard a loud buzzing sound in the air and before I knew it, that otherworldly monster in front of me was sliced into two.

"——Oh? I didn't expect it. Did yoy wander here through your own violation or did you get lost?"

"Hn. Either way it doesn't matter, it looks like you have an aptitude."

She muttered some incomprehensible words to me.

Anyone can tell at a glance she's anything but ordinary.

I couldn't see her features well, but I could sense that despondent feeling she was radiating.

Then all of a sudden.

Before I could say anything or even thank her—

"Hm? Someone is attempting to force their way into this place."

I heard her say that and then before I knew it, our scenery changed.

We were now atop a building overlooking the cityscape below.

She was standing at the edge, looking towards the horizon.

I got up from the ground, dusting my skirt.

'From the looks of it, it was our position that shifted.'

I noted before turning to her.

"T–thank you…. For saving me."

"But now… what in the world was…"

"——Spirits. A creature whose purpose is to destroy this world."

… If I had heard such a thing existed, I personally wouldn't have believed it myself.

Yet… to see if myself—

"A-anyways, my name is Kurumi Tokisaki, pleased to meet you."

Pushing my fears behind me, i had introduced myself.

Even though she wielded otherworldly powers, she still looked like a normal person to me.

—An extraordinary human being… or so I though.

"Say. Kurumi, do you desire power?"

But then, she says so to me.

"...Power….?"

"...That's right. A power like mine. Do you wish for it? You will without any doubt be harmonious with the nature of the Sephira Crystal, if you are willing—I hope that you can save the world with me."

Phrases beyond belief were being verbalised.

Such a thing...

My brother had always said so. There's no such thing as the power to truly save a world.

He had also said that no world was free of its struggles, that the idea of saving everyone was a fantasy.

But is that right…?

Especially lately, he's always had his guard up to the point of getting overly protective of me and Sawa.

However, I too… also have something to protect——Him.

And part of me also wanted to prove him wrong.

[The world is not that sunshine.]

That I know.

But I firmly believe, this world is worth saving.

"Yes."

I had accepted. I had been given power.

Of course, by the time I had returned home, Brother hadn't returned.

And by the time he had...…

He made the first move.

He was always shy about things like this and always held back in terms of things like this.

But he no longer held back.

And that was when I had began suspecting.

Ikari Tokisaki. My elder brother, knows something I don't know.

Present——

"Brother…."

The word slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

He glanced at me, his expression neutral.

"What's up?"

I opened my mouth to ask, but the words caught in my throat.

No.

"Nothing."

… I believe I have no right to ask if I'm also hiding something from him...