June 16, 2025 – EDEN: 0%
It was early morning. The outside of the house looked calm and quiet. A gray sedan was parked by the curb. Everything appeared normal—except for the faint steam rising from under the hood, a quiet sign of mechanical trouble.
Inside, Kozuki was still asleep. His black, slightly wavy hair spread across the pillow. His long mustache twitched gently with each breath.
The door creaked open. Yamato tiptoed in, wearing yellow pajamas and a mischievous grin only a child could pull off. Without hesitation, she climbed onto the bed and grabbed her father's mustache with a quick tug.
"What time is it?!"
Kozuki bolted upright, eyes wide with panic.
Yamato burst out laughing. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she looked up at him teasingly and said,
"Dad… your mustache is so funny."
From the hallway, Yurika's voice called out:
"Yamato! Stop bothering your father!"
Kozuki frowned and gave Yamato a serious look.
"How dare you make fun of my mustache?!"
Yamato froze for a second. Then, with a grin, she reached for his mustache again and tugged it once more.
Kozuki lunged forward to catch her, but his foot caught in the blanket. He lost his balance and fell backward off the bed, landing hard on the floor.
At that moment, Yurika stepped into the room, smirking. She leaned in and planted a kiss on Kozuki's forehead.
At breakfast, Yamato was stuffing her face, full of energy. Kozuki sat silently, staring at the clock on the wall. His voice came out tired:
"Did you use the car yesterday? It wouldn't start last night."
Yurika replied while focusing on her plate:
"Yeah. I had a meeting in the park. On the way back, the engine started steaming a bit."
Kozuki muttered, barely holding his spoon:
"Damn it…"
In the garage, the car's hood was open. White steam drifted into the air. Kozuki examined the engine for a moment, then slammed the hood shut in frustration.
From upstairs, Yamato called out through the window:
"Let's take the bus! It was so much fun last time!"
Yurika's voice followed:
"And don't forget—we were going to have a picnic today!"
Kozuki didn't respond right away. He simply looked up at the sky—still and silent.
"There's still time before school," he mumbled.
11:25 AM.
Yurika's voice rang out from another room:
"Heeey, sweetheart! We're heading out!"
Kozuki was still in bed, eyes closed, unmoving.
Yurika entered the room and, without warning, jabbed his sides with a quick, sharp motion.
Kozuki jumped and winced:
"OKAY, OKAY, I'M UP!"
Yurika raised an eyebrow, arms crossed.
"You deserved it, Kozuki."
At the bus stop, the family stood close together. The arriving bus was crowded, but they squeezed in, staying near each other and smiling as they rode.
Yamato looked up eagerly:
"What are we going to do at the picnic? Can we play ball?"
Kozuki answered dryly:
"You suggested it, which means we probably won't."
Yamato jumped playfully and nudged him. Kozuki lowered his head slightly and smiled.
Kozuki (inner thought):
Thank you… for helping me forget the past.
A new passenger stepped onto the bus. A man wearing a thick coat. His eyes looked empty. The summer heat didn't seem to bother him. He muttered something under his breath in a foreign language.
Yurika leaned closer and whispered:
"What did he say?"
Kozuki tilted his head slightly, confused:
"Huh?"
Yamato clung to Yurika's arm:
"He looks scary…"
Suddenly, the man removed his coat.
His entire chest was strapped with bombs. Wires ran across his torso like veins. Tiny lights blinked softly.
Kozuki froze. Instinct took over.
He wrapped his arms around Yurika and Yamato, shielding them with his body.
Just as he pulled them close—
A flash of white.
Kozuki was still in the same position—but now outside the bus.
He turned around.
The bus exploded.
Shards of glass, metal, a backpack, a severed arm—everything flew into the air. Fire consumed what was left.
And then—silence.
He couldn't hear anything. Only see.
From Yamato…
The six-year-old girl who just wanted to play…
There was nothing left.
Not even her hairpin.
Yurika too… gone.
Erased.
As if time itself had swallowed them.
Kozuki dropped to his knees. His hands trembled. His eyes widened—then filled—and overflowed.
Kozuki (inner thought):
"WHY AM I THE ONE STILL HERE?!"
His scream tore through the flames like a blade through fog.