Chapter Text
Mizuki sifted through the photos scattered on the table, each one capturing moments with her brothers. Her eyes softened as memories of their laughter and playful days surfaced.
“Kenji, slow down!”
“Not my fault you’ve got tiny legs, haha!”
She sighed, the weight of the present crashing down on her.𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. ...She thought Leaning back on the couch, she placed a hand over her forehead. “I have to save them... or I’ll be forced back to that life,” she muttered, her gaze turning fierce. “I can’t let that happen. 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩.”
She gazed out the window, wondering if a walk might help clear her mind. She slipped on her jacket and wandered aimlessly, her feet leading her to the beach. Kicking off her shoes, she stepped into the cold water, the waves lapping at her ankles as she gazed at the moon.
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The silence was soothing until she felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder.
"Hi, Mizuki-chan!"
Mizuki jumped, then relaxed when she saw that it was just Hina. "Hina… what are you doing here?"
Hina grinned. "I always come here to watch the fireworks! It’s so peaceful, no crowds around."
Mizuki glanced up at the dark sky, a hint of a smile on her face. "Yeah? I guess that’s better than being in a noisy crowd."
Hina’s eyes softened as she turned to Mizuki. "But Mizuki… why are you here? Your brother’s going to scold you again for being out late, you know! You’re always making him worry."
"You mean Kaito? Well—"
Her words were cut off by the sudden burst of fireworks overhead, painting the sky with vibrant colors.
“Wow, they look so awesome! Look at all the colors!” Hina exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
Mizuki glanced at Hina, noticing the hopeful sparkle in her eyes, then looked up at the sky. “Yeah… they really are,” she murmured.
I d𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳e....< /p>
The thought crossed Mizuki’s mind as she looked at Hina, her eyes shining.
𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦… 𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵. 𝘈𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳e… Mizuki thought, a pang of regret hitting her. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳... 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥.
𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥… Mizuki thought, guilt twisting in her chest. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥..
Mizuki reached for Hina’s hand, her fingers brushing against hers as she tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. She stared at Hina, struggling to find a way to explain the weight on her heart.
“Hina, there’s something I need to tell yo—”
Mizuki was cut off when she turned around and saw Naoto instead.
“Naoto?” she called out in surprise, her voice trembling as she stared at him, caught off guard.
“Y-yeah, hi…” Naoto stammered, a bit flustered as he realized she had accidentally taken his hand.
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳.."Mizuki suddenly remembered Naoto's words, her eyes widening.
“Oh, Naoto! I thought you were with Mom?” Hina called out to her brother.
“Yeah, but I wanted to see the fireworks too,” he replied with a casual shrug.
Mizuki’s face fell ........... 𝘖𝘏, 𝘗𝘓𝘌𝘈𝘚𝘌—𝘠𝘖𝘜’𝘝𝘌 𝘎𝘖𝘛 𝘛𝘖 𝘉𝘌 𝘒𝘐𝘋𝘋𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘔𝘌! “ ”
.
.
boom
𝟏𝟐 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚..
“NOOOOOOO!” Mizuki screamed in frustration, jolting awake from her journey to the past.
“Mizuki!” Naoto called out, rushing over to her.
“Why were you there back then!?” she demanded, her voice a mix of anger and sadness.
Naoto’s eyes widened with a spark of hope. “Wait… it worked! You actually went to the past!” "Shaking hands really is the trigger!"
“Man, what were you doing up there!?” she said, pretending to wipe away tears.
“Huh? What are you talking about?” he asked, looking at her in confusion.
“But forget that—my theory was right!” he exclaimed excitedly.
“Yeah, good for you…” she muttered, giving him an annoyed glare.
“So… why’d you come back?” he asked, watching her closely.
“Eh?” was all she managed to reply.
“You must have changed or fixed something, right?” he pressed, his curiosity obvious.
“Ah… about that…” she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.
.
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.
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“You shook my hand by accident!?” Naoto exclaimed. “Take this more seriously!” he scolded, looking at her with frustration as her red eyes blinked back at him.
"I get it! It’s just… you appeared out of nowhere, and then boom—you were gone!" she protested, throwing her hands up.
Naoto stared at her, trying to make sense of her words.
“Wait a minute…” Mizuki thought, her mind racing. What happens to my body when I’m back in the past?
“About that…” Naoto said, his expression serious.
“You’re practically dead,” he explained.
“…Well, that’s some news…” Mizuki replied, her tone flat.
“That’s why we have to make sure that if you time-leap again, it happens here, in my apartment ” Naoto added.
Mizuki nodded, her voice blunt. “Understood.”
But then, she paused.
“But can I eat something before I go back?” she asked.
Naoto gave her a look that clearly said, Is this girl really going to save my sister?
He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Yeah, look for something in the fridge,” he waved his hand, half-amused.
“Thanks!” Mizuki said cheerfully as she made her way to the fridge. "Yes, there’s still some Rein left!"
Naoto frowned as he watched her. “Aren’t you gonna eat or drink something besides that stupid unhealthy drink again—” He turned around to find her already finishing it.
“I’m full. Let’s go back!” she said, clearly satisfied.
Naoto just stared, still surprised at how quickly she’d finished it.
.
.
“…If you’re not able to prevent my sister’s death easily, then the least you could do is come back with some useful information,” Naoto said, his tone more serious now.
“Yes, I will!” Mizuki said, reaching out to shake his hand.
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.
Boom.