LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 14: I Won't Let it Happen Again…
Shu spat out the sour-tasting mouthwash, panting slightly, leaning over the sink. He looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He had dreamt a dream, a very vivid and terrifying one.
Wasn't it said that whether it was a nightmare or a sweet dream, people always forgot everything that happened when they woke up? Yet, Shu remembered every single detail of that dream.
The broken Homu, the destroyed train station, the train that could be started, the suitcases he'd opened one by one.
He remembered the warmth of the blood flowing over his hand and the lingering smell of it.
Shu raised his hand, looking at his water-soaked palm. A wave of nausea rose up again.
After completely emptying his stomach, Shu simply rinsed his mouth and went downstairs.
Bronya was sitting quietly at the table. Shu glanced at her and instinctively asked, "Where's Kiana?"
"Kiana is still sleeping," Bronya replied honestly, a hint of helplessness in her voice.
"You…" Shu picked up his apron, ready to tell Bronya to wake Kiana when he stopped.
Why does this scene feel so familiar?
"Does Bronya need to wake Kiana up?" Bronya got off her chair, looking up at Shu.
Shu silently nodded, and Bronya turned and headed upstairs.
Shu tied his apron, frowning. Although he was full of questions, he started preparing the ingredients.
For some reason, Shu didn't want to use all the ingredients. Even though he knew they couldn't be taken with him, Shu resisted using them all.
It was like something bad would happen if all the ingredients were used.
As Shu carefully placed the last dish, a white-haired blur suddenly rushed in, grabbing a large piece of meat with chopsticks while Shu was still spacing out.
She didn't brush her teeth for sure! Shu flinched, ready to call her out.
But he swallowed the words.
This is so strange. Why does everything feel so familiar today?
Shu felt that even if he did say something, Kiana wouldn't let go of the food in her mouth. Bronya, on the other hand, would go brush her teeth without a word.
Why was that?
"Bronya, go brush your teeth." Shu instructed and sat down at the table, not even touching his chopsticks.
His mouth was still sour from throwing up this morning, so everything tasted the same.
Bronya hesitated, then silently put down her chopsticks and left the kitchen.
Kiana also paused, peeked up at Shu, and saw his frown.
She chewed thoughtfully, swallowed the food in her mouth, and then tentatively asked, "Shu, are you okay?"
Shu blinked, then relaxed his frown. "Yeah, I just didn't sleep well last night... let's wait for Bronya. She should be done soon."
Shu changed the subject. Kiana could only give up, but her eyes kept drifting towards Shu.
Soon, Bronya returned to the table, but Shu still didn't touch his food.
The more he thought, the more anxious he felt, so much so that he became irritated.
"You guys continue eating. I'm going to prepare what we'll take with us," Shu finally said, leaving the table and heading to the shelves with the Homu backpack.
Shu's movements caused some sounds, prompting the other two to exchange puzzled glances.
"What's wrong with him? He wasn't like this yesterday..." Kiana stopped eating and moved closer to Bronya, whispering while looking at Shu.
"Perhaps... he is upset?" Bronya looked at the strangely agitated Shu, carefully choosing her words.
Kiana nodded in agreement, though she had no idea why Shu had suddenly become so irritable.
Could it really be because he didn't sleep well? Is Shu the type to become moody if he doesn't get enough sleep? But he doesn't seem to have any morning crankiness...
Could it be?!
Kiana suddenly understood, her gaze at Shu turning strange.
No wonder they say "men have their days" online… it's real…
"Achoo!" Shu suddenly sneezed, looking around suspiciously. He didn't see who was cursing him, but he felt like there should be a tail following him.
He looked back, his eyebrows tightening.
There was, in fact, a tail.
Bronya was looking up at him, silently. Shu understood, and handed her the Homu backpack.
"You like Homu, right? Here you go. If you want it, take it." Although Shu's inner turmoil hadn't subsided, he said this with conviction.
Bronya looked at the Homu bag, then back at Shu, hesitating for a moment, but she didn't let go.
This Homu had fallen right into her lap.
"And Kiana, come out. If you have something to say, just say it." Shu looked aside. Kiana walked out from the corner, whistling, her eyes darting around.
That's not right. My disguise is impeccable! How did he become so sensitive?
While Kiana was pondering this, Shu's eyebrows furrowed even tighter.
That's not right. How did I know Kiana was there? Why did I know that Bronya was after Homu?
Shu fell silent. Bronya hugged the Homu, not knowing what to do. Kiana was still wondering where she had messed up.
Finally, Bronya broke the awkward silence, "How do we leave this place?"
"Jump out of the window." Shu and Kiana answered simultaneously. Then, Shu froze, looking at Kiana with surprise.
Why does everything today feel so familiar?
Today…
"After we leave, do we go to the train station?" Bronya asked.
"Of course. Isn't that what we had planned…?" Kiana said casually, but was suddenly interrupted by Shu.
"No! We can't go to the station!"
The shout startled them.
"Why?" Kiana asked.
"Because…" Shu was about to say that there was a Honkai beast there, but when he looked at Kiana, her eyes were filled with concern and doubt. He suddenly choked up.
[She lay there, the stain of blood marring the pristine white. He reached out, the only way he could, tearing at himself to touch her cold hand.]
"I don't like it there..." Shu lowered his voice, but his tone was still firm. "There's nobody there. We won't find anything. It's better not to go."
"That..." Kiana looked at Shu helplessly. Was that supposed to be a reason? Anyone could tell that he was hiding something, "But…"
"No buts." Shu looked at Kiana. "I won't let you go there."
Kiana closed her mouth. After a long pause, she helplessly shrugged her shoulders.
"Fine, then let's head straight to Chiba Academy… you're impossible…"