Why was she able to calmly ask Efnir for help? Even though she knew that what lay ahead was a battlefield where life and death were uncertain.
Yukina felt awful inside.
This indescribable feeling was as though she had made a choice between her brother and Efnir. In truth, Yukina neither wanted anything to happen to her brother nor wanted Efnir to ever return anything less than safe. In Yukina's heart, her brother was the one who had once given her warmth, while Miss Efnir was the one she admired, the person currently giving her warmth and hope.
Yet she had cowered behind Miss Efnir, standing somewhere safe as she asked Miss Efnir to step into danger. Wasn't that far too shameless of her?
"Um... Miss Shinomiyami Nami..."
Yukina trailed off.
She was absolutely not normally the sort of person to act like this, but sometimes there were things that simply made it impossible for her heart to settle.
"If there's something you want to say, Little Yukina, just tell me. If I can do it, I'll help you. Consider it compensation for that wonderful lunch getting ruined."
Shinomiyami Nami smiled as she spoke.
"No, it's not that... I just... suddenly wanted to ask..."
Yukina raised her eyes and looked at Shinomiyami Nami.
"Miss Efnir... what is she fighting for?"
"Why do you ask?"
Shinomiyami Nami seemed surprised, and Yukina hurriedly apologized.
"I-I'm very sorry... I just blurted it out without thinking... If I said something wrong, if it was an inappropriate question that troubled you, please pretend you didn't hear it..."
"Don't worry about it."
Shinomiyami Nami suddenly smiled and blinked meaningfully.
"Actually... I was just a little surprised. Even among her fans, hardly anyone asks that kind of question."
"Is that so...?"
"You're the first."
"The first..."
Yukina lowered her head slightly.
Pathetically enough, she somehow felt a little happy.
"Well, anyway, most people have one reason or another for becoming agents. Most of them do it because of hatred, though there are also those with other reasons. As for Efnir..."
Shinomiyami Nami glanced at Yukina.
"Perhaps it isn't appropriate for me to say this, but from what I can see, Efnir chose this path for the person she treasures. Would you believe that?"
"Huh? Miss Efnir...?"
Yukina blinked in surprise.
"Does she already have someone she's going to marry? Even though she's still so young..."
"No, she and that person aren't in that kind of relationship yet..."
Shinomiyami Nami gave a light cough and denied it.
"Then does that mean... they're almost...?"
"Well, who knows? If you're curious, why not ask her in person next time?"
Shinomiyami Nami placed a finger against her lips and smiled faintly, deliberately leaving her hanging.
"Will there even be a next time? I ruined everything today..."
"It's fine. Miss Efnir is a very gentle person. She won't care about things like that. I don't know if you've noticed, but Efnir actually likes you quite a bit."
Shinomiyami Nami teased her with ulterior motives, but the words immediately took on a different meaning in Yukina's ears.
Nothing particularly interesting had happened between Yukina and Efnir, yet Efnir had already become someone indispensable in Yukina's life. Shinomiyami Nami's words were like a poke straight into her heart, reminding her of what Efnir had said to her before.
Could it be... that Yukina wasn't the only one who remembered that kiss from that day? Did Efnir remember it too?
Just thinking that made Yukina's face grow hot.
"...What a cute reaction. Feeling a little better now?"
"Yeah..."
Yukina still had her face buried, but after chatting with Shinomiyami Nami for a short while, her expression had softened somewhat compared to before.
"Looks like everything's fine here."
Seeing Yukina's complexion improve, Shinomiyami Nami released her hand and stood up.
"Though I'd like to chat with Little Yukina some more, Efnir is waiting for me. I'm relieved to see that you're all right, so it's about time I returned to my post."
Yukina stood up as well.
"Th-then... I'm very sorry... Miss Shinomiyami, I've caused you trouble..."
"Don't worry about it. Efnir entrusted you to me, so you're my little sister."
Shinomiyami Nami smiled gently.
"So you don't need to be so polite with me."
Shinomiyami Nami left.
Yukina quietly held her phone and waited. She felt much better, even a little excited, and that only made her feel more guilty.
She put down her phone and prayed for her brother.
At that moment, gunfire could be heard faintly from somewhere.
It was probably an attack launched by the Special Disaster Action Force.
But weapons like guns had no effect whatsoever on Corruption. The bullets passed cleanly through Crow's wings as if they had struck an illusion. Rather than an "attack and defense," this futile offensive was more like "maintaining order" during a crisis and issuing a warning when Erosion Entities attacked.
Beep beep—
Her phone suddenly received a text message. Yukina flipped it open, but froze when she saw the lit screen.
Sender: Brother.
"Brother!?"
Yukina hurriedly picked up her phone and swiped it open.
("Save me")
The message was painfully simple and clear.
The phone slipped from her stiff hand and fell to the ground, its screen cracking badly. Yukina stood there blankly, leaning against the wall.
The people around her shouted and clamored, but not a single one looked her way.
Awakening
In Shiomi Yukina's memories, there was little trace of her parents.
From a very young age, she had lived in this home, and in the few precious memories she had kept, her brother was always by her side.
Her brother had always been a gentle, dependable person, until after that day... everything changed.
Indeed, perhaps as they grew older, distance had formed between the siblings and they had gradually drifted apart. Perhaps that truly had been unavoidable. But no matter what, he was her brother, her only brother. No matter what happened, Yukina could not completely let go of her familial affection for Yanase Naoto.
Trembling, Yukina picked up her phone. Her fingers clumsily swiped across the screen, which had cracked into several pieces. The screen was somewhat damaged, but at least it still worked.
At a time like this, she had nearly broken her phone by dropping it. She was always so clumsy. No wonder her brother had always laughed at her before.
But...
Holding back her tears had already taken all her strength. How was she supposed to remain calm? That wasn't something an ordinary person could do right away...
She suddenly understood just how great the distance between herself and Efnir was. If it were Efnir... even when facing an enemy capable of driving someone to despair, she would still walk straight ahead.
She and timid, cowardly Yukina really were people from entirely different worlds.
And she... whenever she was alone, she was terrified. As though she were about to be swallowed whole, everything was cold and quiet. Her stomach hurt from the tension, and she nearly wanted to throw up.
Back then, her brother had been by her side.
But her brother was no longer beside her. Who was there now...
"Hurry... hurry..."
When tears overflowed, she could see nothing. Her hair stuck to her cheeks, and her fingers trembled beyond her control. She entered the number wrong several times before finally managing to place the call.
Pick up!
Just this once, please... But after a stretch of busy signal, no one answered. All she could hear was the dead, gray world of ice and snow, blackened as though brushed over...
It felt as though her heart were being squeezed tightly, and she could barely breathe.
Why was it like this...? In this world, no matter whose life it was, it could vanish equally at any time. Every morning, she had been grateful... that the one who survived was herself. But this lucky fortune born from chance was something that could disappear at any moment without being strange at all.
"Brother..."
"The entrance and exit will be closing shortly. I repeat, the entrance and exit will be closing shortly. All personnel, please return to your posts. Please..."
Suddenly, the announcement flooded Yukina's ears.
She raised her gaze. At the blurry far end, shadows of people crowded together. The strobing lights were dazzling, and mechanical vibrations traveled up through the soles of her feet.
The entrance was about to close.
Was there no one else left on the nearby surface? Or could this place no longer accommodate any more evacuees? Was it for the sake of the people here?
If that was the case, then wouldn't her brother...
Biting her lower lip hard, Yukina wiped at the corners of her eyes with all her strength. Somehow finding the energy, she struggled through the crowd and ran toward the entrance.
"Hello, miss. Is there anything we can help you with?"
A soldier from the Special Disaster Emergency Force stopped Yukina.
"Y-yes, sorry... I-I want to go outside... Please let me out!"
"Outside?"
The soldiers exchanged looks, then gave her another careful once-over.
"I'm very sorry, miss, but before the danger alert has been lifted, we cannot irresponsibly allow you to leave like this."
"But! My brother, he..."
"Please trust in our work. Our soldiers will protect everyone's safety. Miss, for your own safety, please do not make any irrational decisions. If you have been separated from your family, please wait patiently for the final confirmation of the roster."
Expressionless, he coldly refused her.
"Just let me out by myself! I definitely won't lead those things over here, so please, you have to..."
"Please cooperate with our work."
The massive, heavy hydraulic valve pushed the door shut inch by inch. It was about to close completely, and Yukina stared despairingly at the narrowing gap.
Countless people died every second in this world. She was so afraid that her brother would become one of them.
The people outside carried their guns and cautiously retreated back through the door.
"How's the situation outside?"
"Nothing abnormal."
"I'll report to the higher-ups. Good work..."
Those soldiers had completely stopped paying attention to Yukina.
Could it really be...
"That's why, if you obediently follow the rules, you'll never be able to take a step forward."
A woman's voice suddenly sounded from directly behind her.
Yukina's shoulders jerked in fright. She turned around and met the eyes of a girl whose hood concealed half her face. She could not see the girl's features clearly, but... the other girl seemed to be watching her with great interest.
Before you continue