Mochi's fourth day of classes began like any other. She attended the morning subjects, and when lunchtime came, she met up with Ami and Miyu. Sam was still suspended.
That same day, before entering the university, Miyu had informed Mochi about what they had discovered during their visit to the patient. That conversation had borne fruit, and they no longer had any doubts: Professor Shūen was the anomaly behind everything. Their mission at the university was about to conclude.
As they returned to their classroom, the three noticed a large crowd gathered in the inner courtyard. The agitation of the students drew too much attention, so they approached to find out what was happening.
—Can't see anything… —complained Miyu, standing on tiptoe and jumping to try to peek over the heads.
Snf, snf…
—Hmm… —Mochi sniffed the air suspiciously, her ears twitching restlessly—. It smells like… gasoline! Miyu!
—Yes, let's go, sempai!
Both reacted immediately, leaving behind a confused Ami, and began pushing their way through the crowd. With each step, the smell grew stronger, and a bad premonition tightened their chests.
When they finally managed to break through the wall of students, they froze at the sight before them. There was Sam, completely drenched in gasoline. His gaze was empty; though his eyes seemed fixed on them, it was clear he was staring through them into nothingness.
Mochi tried to run toward him, but stopped short when she saw Sam extend his arm. In his hand trembled a lighter. It was a warning: no one was to dare approach.
Instinct screamed at Mochi to jump and snatch it from him, but the distance was too great. She wasn't sure she could reach him before he pressed the wheel of the lighter. Worse still: if she failed, she herself would fall into the pool of gasoline spreading at her feet, engulfing her in the same fate.
—SAAAMM! —Ami screamed, desperate, trying to throw herself at him.
Miyu grabbed her firmly by the shoulders, stopping her just in time.
At that moment, Sam lit the lighter. Mochi barely caught a glimpse of the spark before a blinding light forced her to close her eyes. A scorching wave of heat slammed into her.
The memories of that moment remained fragmented in her mind: the hysterical screams of the crowd, Ami's heart-wrenching sobs, and, above all, the unbearable stench of burning flesh.
* * *
Two days had passed since that horrible incident. It was Saturday afternoon, and the group of three was meeting again. Zeke had summoned them through a text message, though he hadn't explained the reason behind the meeting.
After Sam's suicide, the university had permanently closed its doors. From that very day, Professor Shūen had also disappeared without a trace. According to Zeke, he had kept watch over the man's house, but he never returned. In addition, he visited the morgue and confirmed the worst: there were traces of ether in Sam's body, which eliminated any doubt about the presence of an anomaly.
As usual, Miyu and Mochi arrived first. Despite being the one who had summoned them, Zeke still hadn't appeared.
—You look really good, Miyu —commented Mochi, smiling.
She had arrived in an outfit that looked like it came straight out of a fashion magazine: a fine-knit white coat with wide sleeves, a tight black pencil skirt, and sandals tied with delicate ribbons. The ensemble gave her an elegant and eye-catching look. She also wore makeup that accentuated her features, false eyelashes, and several accessories: bracelets and necklaces that glittered in the sunset light.
—Thanks —replied Miyu with a nervous giggle—. Right when I got Zeke's message, I was with some friends from school and didn't have time to go home and change.
Twenty minutes after the agreed time, Zeke finally showed up, as if nothing had happened.
—Sorry for being late —he said with his usual calmness—. Amidst all the bad that happened, at least I have some good news: we've already found Professor Shūen's whereabouts.
—Then what are we waiting for?! We have to go after him! —exclaimed Mochi, raising her voice impatiently.
—Calm down, there's no point in rushing —he replied, raising a hand to steady her—. What I mean is, I know where he'll be in an hour and a half. Shūen himself called the university, asked for his salary in advance, and said he'd come by to pick it up soon. But it could be a trap. If the anomaly suspects we're after it, it might try to ambush us. We have to be prepared.
At that moment, Mochi's phone rang, interrupting the conversation. She looked at the screen, and her expression changed when she saw the name.
—One second… —she murmured, stepping aside—. Ami?
The voice she heard on the other end was weak, trembling.
—Mochi… I… can't take it anymore. Everything feels so… empty. Sam's gone, and I… I don't know if I want to go on.
Mochi's heart skipped a beat.
—Hey, hey… wait. Where are you? —she asked urgently.
—At home… but I don't know… maybe… maybe I want to end it all.
Mochi's hands began to tremble. In the distance, Zeke could tell something was wrong, and Miyu also stepped forward, worried.
—Ami, listen, I'm going to come… —said Mochi, but the words caught in her throat. They had to go after Shūen, they couldn't let him escape.
Mochi clenched her teeth, struggling against the impossible decision.
—Damn it…
Miyu, with unexpected determination, stepped forward.
—Mochi-sempai, I'll go with her.
—What? —Mochi looked at her in surprise.
—Listen —said Miyu firmly—, going with Ami isn't dangerous. I can stay with her and make sure she doesn't do anything… irreversible. —She forced a faint smile, though her eyes remained serious—. You and Zeke need to take care of the mission.
Zeke nodded, crossing his arms.
—She's right. If Miyu stays with your friend, she'll be safe.
Mochi hesitated, pressing the phone against her ear while listening to Ami's labored breathing on the other end.
—And what if… what if something happens?
—It won't. —Miyu stepped closer and gently touched her shoulder—. Trust me, sempai.
Mochi closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and finally nodded.
—All right… —she returned to the phone—. Ami, listen… Miyu is going to see you right now. Stay at home, okay? Don't do anything until she gets there.
On the other end, there was only a faint murmur, but it was enough to calm Mochi a little. She hung up the phone with a shaky sigh.
The decision was made, and the group split. Miyu headed toward the apartments where Ami lived, while Mochi and Zeke made their way to the university.
* * *
When they arrived, the place was empty, but the main door remained open.
—I had the remaining staff leave —explained Zeke as they moved forward—, but we left the entrance open so the anomaly wouldn't suspect.
The echo of their footsteps resonated inside the silent main building. They positioned themselves on the second floor, next to a window, from where they could watch without being seen.
A few minutes later, a car stopped in front of the university. From it stepped Professor Shūen, walking calmly toward the entrance as if nothing strange were happening.
Zeke smiled with unsettling serenity.
—Little Noa, this is the moment. We'll ambush him as soon as he crosses the main door.
As he spoke, he unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt and rolled up his right sleeve. Mochi observed what he was hiding: a thin red cord tightly wrapped around his forearm.
She kept staring at that strange object, wondering if that was Zeke's ether weapon…