Chapter Text

ECCLESIASTES 1:9

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun.

The world turns in endless cycles, history repeats itself anew.

The shadows lengthen, creeping into every corner of reality. The line between what is real and what is imagined grows thin.

Slowly, the bridge between worlds opens. And the branches grow restless with its pain.

There is only one solution to this…

.

.

.

What do you two think?

This story is a work of fiction.  

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental. This work is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be interpreted as reflecting real-world beliefs, ideologies, or practices.

I’ve always wondered what it felt like to die.

The buzzing behind your eyes, the itch crawling up your skin until you can no longer bear the feeling of flesh. Your soul, tearing its way out of your chest cavity reaching up to capture that light in the sky.

Only there was no light.

Below the roots I sink in an endless abyss too weak to swim my way up to the surface, that glowing eye staring back at me.

Perhaps I’ve always been here—in the dark. It makes me wonder; could I have done more? Or was this my fate from the beginning?

. . .

I suppose it’s too late to know now.

                                                                         - 全

ACT I

4/1/2018

The world punishes you for individuality, you’re only good if you cram yourself in a neat box.

If you bend or break from the pressure, you’re labeled as the one that needs fixing—down-sizing you to the perfect mold. How unfair is that? Hakuka didn’t think she asked for much in life, maybe she wasn’t the best scholar, perhaps she found more joy in clubs than she did arcades and it was possible she dabbled in substances that made your head spin.

But where's the harm in fun? She wasn’t hurting anyone! She was living for herself, self-care or whatever ‘respect yourself’ bullshit her teachers and parents constantly spewed when they told her she was showing too much skin or that her makeup was too heavy or that her tan was too much.

All of it grounds to be used when she made one tiny mistake, piled up into herself being one huge mistake. What happened with Yumesaki—it wasn’t supposed to happen, it’s not like she meant for it to go that far. 

So, her parents decided to take out the trash and dump it at her uncle’s doorstep. She didn’t bother to say goodbye when she left for the airport, she doubted they would have either. She was far too angry with them, the way they so carelessly tore her life away from her. 

Okinawa, Naha is where they chose. Her uncle Chojiro had lived there ever since he resigned from the army–stating the bloodshed he witnessed was too much to bear and settled himself as a recluse within the coastal city. Dad said the army changed him, like a switch flipped.

Chojiro’s words were measured, almost monk-like, his lectures on the human spirit being ones Hakuka had no patience for. To the point Hakuka could be easily convinced he had joined some sort of cult. He wasn’t emotional about it like most—if anything it’s like he lost half of the emotion he used to have.

Oh well, she didn’t have much interest in the guy. It’s not like she was planning to hang out with him. She’d just grit her teeth and sit this out until her parents felt satisfied in their over dramatic display of authority.

The sun beat down on her face once she stepped outside the building, the humidity of Okinawa's air clinging to her bronze skin like a wet blanket, her thick bleach blonde hair only adding to the weight of the heat. The busy street bustled around her, the sounds of people and cars paired with birds chirping filling her ears. She had been told her uncle would be waiting for her when she got out, the text message still opened in front of her as she looked around for any sign of him.

“Hakuka!”

She perked up, albeit reluctantly, at the cheerful sound of her name being called. Walking up to her with his hands cupped together was her uncle.

He was an imposing figure, standing taller than most, with a broad-shouldered frame that carried the weight of his years with grace. His skin was olive-toned, and wrinkled at the eyes and mouth. Long, brown hair, streaked with the occasional strand of silver, cascaded down his back in a neat ponytail, with loose, yet thick strands falling in front to frame his face.

“I’m delighted to see that you made it here safe..” he said pleasantly, taking her hands into his own with no regard. “You look exhausted.”

Hakuka glanced away, an obvious look of displeasure on her face. “Yyyeah.. Sooo happy to be here—can we just get this over with already so I can go to bed?” 

Chojiro smiled softly, unfazed by her coldness. “Very well—we’ll have plenty of time to catch up at home.”

Home. The word felt foreign now. Tokyo was home, not this place. 

As they drove through the city, Chojiro began to talk—about Okinawa, the local shrines, the food, sights and the people. Hakuka turned, staring out the window, her thoughts far from her uncle’s words. She was due to stay here for at least a year, her second year of highschool set to be experienced on the island.

“You'll be starting the year at Mugen, yes?” Her uncle commented, ripping her from her silent anger at the notion. He laughed, though it sounded more.. Sad rather than happy. “My... what a terrible time to start there.. A great tragedy befell the school not too long ago.”

Hakuka tilted her head. “Tragedy..? Like what, someone died or something?”

Chojiro nodded solemnly. “Yes, the school's founder has recently passed away. It's a shame too, he was a great man. To think something so tragic would befall him.” 

He glanced out the window, their car passing by a grand office building of some kind, the words; ‘Hoshiko Space Corporations’ plastered on it. “And now his corporation has been left to his young son..” Her uncle's tone shifted in a way she couldn’t place, but she didn’t think to make any note of it. 

“That poor child, such responsibility so soon after losing his father.." Chojiro mused. “But, hardship is necessary for any person to go through.”

She made a noise of affirmation, leaning her head on her hand and turning her body to the window once more. The ride seemed to drag on for ages, even though in reality it was likely only 20 minutes max.

“Hakuka,” Chojiro said. “We’re here.”

She looked up, being met with a basic looking home. It was located a little ways from the other houses in the area, being placed in a way that allowed for more front and backyard area.

Likely for his gardening. Hakuka thought. Sometimes, he would send a small bouquet of flowers to her mother. Hakuka would come home from school or downstairs for breakfast to see a fresh one displayed on the dining room table every so often. 

He struck her as the type, too. With all his ‘kumbaya’ nonsense. 

“I’ll show you to your room,” He led her inside, where the coolness of the house provided a welcome relief from the heat outside. “You’re welcome to explore the place once you’re settled in.”

Hakuka nodded absentmindedly, looking around the area though not stopping to linger anywhere too long lest her uncle start on some long tangent about god knows what. The rooms were neat, adorned with plants and butterfly memorabilia—a little too much honestly. There were some family portraits, and pictures of people she didn’t recognize.

She stopped at one, hung up in a wooden frame. The photograph captured her uncle, looking not a day younger, standing beside a tall, dark skinned girl with green eyes.

She looked moody, her blue blazer with gold trim tied casually around her waist, covering the skirt in the same color and trim. The white button-up shirt she wore had its sleeves rolled up, showing off a mix of punk bracelets and accessories—leather bands, spiked cuffs, fingerless gloves and beaded wristlets—along with a black choker around her neck. 

Her legs were clad in slightly ripped, transparent black stockings, and she wore black sneakers that had seen better days. Large silver cross earrings dangled from her ears, while her long, brown flat-ironed hair, which reached her shoulders, was tied up in half up-half down pigtails.

There were a good amount of pictures of the girl, though few showed her smiling. She had stared at the photos for too long however—because her uncle's voice once again startled her when it came from behind. She yelped, whirling around to meet Chojiro’s smiling face. “I never told you about Tomoe, have I?”

“Don’t do that! You’re gonna give me a heart attack—!” she wailed, huffing then glancing at the photos again. “..No you didn’t. Who Is she anyway?”

Chojiro had a sad smile on his face, gazing at one of the photos. “Oh, well—someone entrusted in my care a few years back.”

Hakuka’s eyes lingered at the girl. She piqued her curiosity despite her usual disinterest in others' lives. The girl in the picture had an air of defiance, much like herself, but there was something in her eyes that Hakuka couldn't quite place.

“What, did something, like, happen to her?” she asked, trying to keep her voice nonchalant, careful not to give away her curiosity. Chojiro’s smile faded slightly in response.

“Life took her in a different direction.”

The conversation ended there, but the mystery lingered in Hakuka’s mind as she followed her uncle through the rest of the house. The (likely) older girl was already an enigma. A secret child her uncle took in yet never mentioned? Talk about suspicious. She doesn’t think her parents ever mentioned her either, not even in passing.

Hakuka had a thing for the dramatics, so some unearthed family drama was too good not to think about and perhaps look into. Anything to keep her from dying of boredom in this house. Okinawa wasn’t a bad city by any means. It was a popular vacation spot and Hakuka was already making plans to go to the beach for the summer–but it wasn’t the hustle she was used to in Tokyo.

She knew before long she’d get utterly bored of it all.

As they reached her new room, Chojiro opened the door and gestured inside. “This will be your space. Take your time settling in.” Hakuka stepped inside the simple room—just a bed, a desk, a dresser with a lamp and a window that overlooked the garden. Along with a closet. Dreadful, but nothing some good decoration couldn’t fix. She refused to live in a blank canvas for however long her parents kept her here.

She turned back to Chojiro. “Thanks,” she muttered, more out of obligation than genuine gratitude.

Chojiro nodded, a faint smile returning to his face. “Remember, you’re not alone here. If you ever need to talk..”

She cut him off before he could finish. “No no, It’s okay—I’ll be fine.”

He hesitated but eventually nodded and left her to her thoughts, the door’s soft click allowing her to finally breathe a sigh of relief. God, just being around him felt suffocating. Like a constant pressure on her back.

She glanced at the suitcase she had yet to unpack and sighed. This place was already testing her patience, and she hadn’t even started school yet. All her friends were back at her old school, the status and reputation she had built up for years—none of it existed here. She would have to work extra hard to get the respect she deserved…

Tomorrow was her first day, so she should make a good first impression. She pushed herself off the bed, and knelt down to unzip the luggage. She wasn’t going to look like a fool or troubled kid who needed help.

She’ll show them all who she really is.