Flux found himself drifting in a dreamlike haze, his mind lost somewhere between calm and confusion.
Mineko: Flux, how are you? 🤗
Flux: Better than ever.
Mineko (smiling softly): Ho ho~ Is it because of me?
Flux (grinning): Yep.
Mineko: Hehe… thank you ☺☺
Flux: Also… can you come to my house tomorrow?
Mineko: Huh? Why, is it something seri
Before she could finish, Flux gently grabbed her hand and pinned it against the rooftop wall.
Mineko (startled): W-w-what's going on? Did I do something wrong?
Flux leaned closer so close that she could feel his breath brushing against her cheek.
Mineko (thinking, flustered): W-what did I do? Why is he this close…? I can feel his breathing… he's too close… 😳😳
Mineko: F-Flux?
Flux: It's
Mineko (thinking): Huh?
Flux: It's something very important. Super important. So you definitely need to come, okay?
Mineko: O-okay, I understand but
Flux: But?
Mineko (thinking, blushing even more): He's making me lose control… calm down, Mineko… calm down…
She tried to look away but her eyes met his, and for a moment everything around her faded.
Mineko (thinking): No… don't think like that… he'll think I'm weird if he ever finds out…
Flux finally stepped back, realizing how close they were.
Flux: S-sorry. Forgot we're still at school. Let's head back before we accidentally skip class.
Mineko: O-okay…
---
Flashback – Mineko's Past
Unknown Girl: Shiori~ what are you doing?? 🤗
Mineko: Nothing, just finishing my homework.
Another Girl: Bruh, you can finish that at home! Do something fun!
First Girl: Yep, Pharsa's right! Come on, let's do something!
Mineko: B-but Kimmie
Kimmie (grabbing her hand): Let's gooo, no excuses!
Pharsa: Yep! You're coming with us, Shiori!
Author's Note: Haha, sorry if you're confused! Pharsa and Kimmie are talking to Mineko "Shiori" is just her nickname!
Why "Shiori"?
Because Mineko's both shy and caring. "Shi" from shy and "Ori" from caring together, Shiori!
Cute, right? 😃 (If not, sorry I'm awful at names 😅)
---
Kimmie and Pharsa dragged Mineko up to the rooftop.
Mineko: What are we doing here?
Kimmie: Shhh! He'll hear us!
Mineko: Who will??
She turned her head and froze.
Pharsa: See?
Kimmie & Pharsa: We're peeking at Flux~
Mineko: WHAT?! Why are you spying on him?!
Kimmie: Because he's your boyfriend! Don't you wanna know what he's up to?
Mineko: H-he's my boyfriend, yes, but I'm not a stalker! Let's go before he notices!
Pharsa (pouting): Fine, fine.
---
Next Day
The whole day passed normally… until after school.
Mineko, Pharsa, and Kimmie were walking toward the school gate when
Flux: Yo.
Pharsa & Kimmie: Oh hey, Flux 👋👋
Flux: Hey.
Pharsa: Waiting for someone?
Flux: Yep.
Pharsa leaned toward Kimmie and whispered.
Pharsa: Let's go.
Kimmie: Got it.
Pharsa & Kimmie (grinning): We'll leave you two alone~ bye!
Mineko tried to follow them, but Kimmie held her back.
Kimmie: Nope! Spend time with your man you both need it.
Mineko (blushing): O-okay…
Flux turned to her.
Flux: Did you forget what I told you yesterday?
Mineko (flustered): N-no! I just
Flux (smiling): It's okay. Let's go.
Mineko: Okay…
---
At Flux's Home
Mineko: B-by the way, Flux?
Flux: Yeah?
Mineko: C-can you tell me now… what was that important thing?
Flux: Not yet. Later.
Mineko: O-okay…
They reached Flux's door. He opened it, then turned to close it—
and froze.
Standing right there, leaning casually against the frame, was someone he never expected to see again.
Hikari: Yooooooooooooooooo!
Flux's entire mind went blank. His heart pounded as if his chest would burst. Light flashed then
BOOOOOM!!!
---
Flux gasped and sat upright, drenched in sweat.
Flux: Huff… huff… what… what was that dream?!
He looked around.
Flux: Where… am I?!
A soft, teasing voice echoed through the darkness.
Unknown Girl: Ho ho~ finally awake, huh?
Flux: W-who's there?! Why is it so dark here?!
Unknown Girl: Ohh, so you feel darkness? Fine then…
She raised her hand.
Unknown Girl: Lineage Kaganama!
In an instant, the darkness faded. The world around Flux bloomed into a vast field of green grass and towering trees under a bright blue sky.
Flux (awe-struck): Whoa…
Floating gently above the ground was a girl with short sky-blue hair that covered one of her eyes, like a character straight out of an anime. She wore a pure white cloak that shimmered in the light.
Flux (laughing): Whoa! A floating kid doing a Rem cosplay! 😂🤣
Girl: Oiii! I am not a kid!!
She landed on the grass, puffing her cheeks.
Flux: Bruh, where are your parents? You lost or something? 🤣
Girl: I'm not lost! I'm the guardian of this floor, you jackass! 😡😡
Flux: Guardian? What is this, Tower of God?
Girl: What's that supposed to mean?!
Flux (snickering): Never mind. But come on, what's your height?
Girl: 3.1 feet. So what?!
Flux: Bruh… really that small?
Girl: What, are you 10 feet tall or something?!
Flux: Not 10, but 6.6. Way better than yours, kiddo.
Girl: I'm not a kid! I'm over 100 trillion years old!
Flux: Oh yeah? Wanna know mine?
Girl: Fine! But I'm still not a kid!
Flux (grinning): For me, you are.
Girl: Ughhh! Do you want to clear this stage or not?!
Flux: Okay, okay! Chill, shorty. How do I pass?
Flux (thinking): I don't even know my real age, but since I'm their son… I bet it's way older than hers. 😏
Girl (crossing arms): My name is Kimsi. I'm going to test you now.
Flux: Okay, let's go.
Kimsi: So you're the one who chose Immortal Difficulty, huh?
Flux: Yep.
Kimsi: Alright then. Let's see what you've got.
A thunderous roar split the sky. A creature the size of a mansion appeared before them claws like steel, eyes glowing red.
Kimsi: That's the Granggalsor of the first floor. Let's see how long you can last!
Flux (grinning, cracking his knuckles): Perfect. I was getting bored anyway.
---