Hospital — Saturday
The hospital was quiet.
White light reflected off the polished floors—cold, impersonal—while the distant sound of heart monitors echoed through the corridors, rhythmic… steady… almost hypnotic.
Inside one of the rooms, Reika sat upright in her bed, supported by pillows. There was still a trace of fatigue on her face, but her eyes…
Her eyes were alive.
There was light in them.
In the chair beside her, Mio held her bag on her lap, watching quietly.
Reika smiled softly.
"I was told that… if things keep going like this… I might be discharged next week."
Mio blinked.
For a moment, she didn't react.
As if she needed an extra second to believe it.
Then her eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
Reika nodded slowly.
"It looks like I'll finally be able to go home."
Mio's smile widened, genuine and warm.
"Ah… I've really missed you…"
At that moment, the door opened slowly.
A nurse peeked her head inside.
"Visiting hours are over."
Mio stood up quickly.
"Ah! Sorry!"
She grabbed her bag.
"I'll come back tomorrow, okay?"
Reika waved gently.
"It's fine."
"See you tomorrow, Mio."
"See you tomorrow, Masato."
At the door, Masato was already waiting.
He answered with a calm smile.
"See you tomorrow, dear."
Mio walked past him.
"Let's go?"
Masato blinked, a bit surprised by how quickly she was ready.
"Y-yeah… let's go."
In the car
The city drifted by outside the windows, painted in shades of orange by the late afternoon sun.
Light spilled across buildings and streets… slowly fading away.
Mio looked at her phone.
A notification appeared.
Tanaka Shun"Please reply. I've changed."
Her jaw tightened.
She turned off the screen.
"What's wrong, Mio?" Masato asked, eyes still on the road.
"Nothing…"
A few seconds of silence.
"I'm glad Reika will be coming home soon," he said.
Mio took a moment… then replied:
"And you… you're going back to Germany."
Masato let out a small sigh.
"Actually… I requested a transfer to Japan."
Mio turned to him immediately.
"What?"
"I wanted to settle everything there first… but I've already done what I needed."
He smiled faintly.
"So I asked to come back."
"And what did they say?"
"My boss wasn't too happy… said my salary would go down."
He chuckled lightly.
"But he'll find a position for me here."
Mio looked at him in silence.
"Really?"
Masato nodded.
"It's about time I came back."
His voice softened.
"I'm sorry, Mio."
She didn't respond right away.
Another notification.
Shun"Do you want to meet tomorrow?"
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
She typed quickly.
"Forget me. I don't want to see you anymore."
Send.
Block contact.
Black screen.
"You look angry," Masato commented.
"It's nothing."
"…Hm."
The car turned into their street.
At home
Masato turned off the engine.
"Doing anything tomorrow?"
Mio opened the door.
"It's Sunday… I think I'll go check out some shops."
Masato smiled.
"Want a ride?"
She closed the door.
"They're girls' stores."
A small smile.
"No need."
Masato laughed.
"Fair enough."
Mio gave a slight bow.
"Thanks for today, Dad."
He shook his head.
"You don't have to thank me."
He opened the house door.
"It's the least I can do."
Mio went upstairs.
"I'm going to look at some makeup shops tomorrow."
"Enjoy."
"Good night."
"Good night, Mio."
Sunday
The morning was bright.
Light.
Mio brushed her teeth, had a quick breakfast, and headed out.
The neighborhood was still quiet.
Few people.
Little noise.
She walked at an easy pace, passing by a few stores… until she stopped in front of an elegant display window.
The sign read:
Lumière Cosmétiques
She stepped inside.
The interior was softly lit, the light reflecting off shelves filled with color.
Eyeshadows.
Lipsticks.
Eyeliners.
Foundations.
Brushes arranged with precision.
Perfumes lined up like small jewels.
Mio picked up a palette.
"Wow…"
A clerk approached her with a smile.
"First time here?"
"Yes."
"This palette is new."
She opened it.
Vivid colors appeared.
"Warm tones. They look beautiful during the day."
Mio tilted her head.
"This one's nice…"
"It suits you."
The clerk picked up a brush.
"Want to try it?"
Mio laughed softly.
"Sure."
A few minutes later, Mio left the store with a small bag.
And a gentle smile on her face.
Park
The wind blew softly.
Leaves swayed.
The world felt calmer.
Mio sat on a bench.
Closed her eyes.
"What a nice breeze…"
A small smile.
"I could fall asleep here…"
Then—
"Hello, Mio."
Her eyes snapped open.
She turned.
And froze.
"S-Shun?!"
He stood there.
Smiling.
"I felt pretty down being ignored."
He stepped closer.
"You should make up for that, you know?"
Mio stood up.
"Forget me, Shun. I don't want anything to do with you anymore."
He grabbed her arm.
"Don't be like that—"
Before he could finish—
THUD
In one swift motion, Mio twisted her body, pulled his arm, and slammed him to the ground.
Pinned him.
"DON'T touch me!"
Shun laughed.
"Ah… I forgot you knew how to fight."
He forced his body.
"I've learned a few things too."
With brute force, he broke free.
Mio stepped back.
Breathing fast.
Damn…
He raised his hand.
Mio closed her eyes—
"Who are you, kid?"
She opened them.
Masato was holding Shun's wrist.
Firmly.
"D-Dad?!"
Shun tried to pull away.
"Oh… so this old guy is your dad."
He yanked his arm.
Nothing.
I can't move…
Masato spoke calmly.
"Who is he, Mio?"
"We used to date… but it's been months since we had anything."
Masato nodded slightly.
"I see."
He let go.
But then his expression hardened.
Completely.
He looked straight into Shun's eyes.
"If you touch my daughter again…"
His voice dropped.
Heavy.
"You'll regret it."
Shun swallowed.
Stepped back.
"You people are crazy…"
He turned.
"Both of you."
And walked away.
Mio looked down.
"Thank you…"
Masato slipped his hands into his pockets.
"No need to thank me."
A faint smile.
"My daughter."
Meanwhile — Aoi
In a room lit only by the monitor, Aoi sat focused.
Headphones on.
On the screen, Hiro ran across the map of Eternal Aegis Online.
The chat blinked.
Where are we going?
To the final mandatory boss's castle.
Aoi stopped.
Her chest tightened.
Is it… ending?
What's after that?
Nothing mandatory.
After that, it's just leveling up and having fun.
I think that's boring.
I'll look for another game.
That's where the fun actually starts.
Maybe I'll keep playing.
Aoi typed slowly:
"I don't know."
On the screen, Hiro stood still.
She looked at him…
And smiled.
But she didn't notice—
At the door…
Yukiko was standing there.
A hand covering her mouth.
Eyes wide.
A tear slowly fell.
On the screen… Hiro.
She whispered in her mind:
Why… does he look so much like Hiroshi…?
"Aoi… my dear…"
Yukiko gently closed the door.
Outside…
She sat on the floor.
Leaning against the wall.
And stayed there.
In silence.
Alone.
Feeling everything.