Chapter Text
Airi isn't used to waking up with goosebumps running along her arms, unlike the sweat that would cover her from the heat sometimes rising to meet her as she slept. She opens her eyes dazedly only to shoot up in alarm when she sees smoke, thick and unrelenting. She brings her hands up to rub her eyes and clear her vision, but the sand scratches her as she does so.
It doesn't work, there's still smoke. Although, with the lack of smell, Airi realizes the environment isn't covered in smoke. A thick fog surrounds her instead, clouding her vision, and nearly making it impossible to see what's in front of her.
How in the world did she get here? Collapsed outside of all places.
Her face twists when her hand sinks into the mud as she attempts to stand. Airi doesn't usually mind being covered if she has to, but she would prefer it if she weren't.
Think. What's the best move here?
The fog is too thick to completely see her surroundings, and if she doesn't want to end up drowning somewhere, she'll have to keep watch on the ground too. Who knows what could be hiding underneath the mud?
Light. Airi needs a light if she wants to have any chance at navigating through the fog.
A glance upwards tells her nothing. It can't be completely night, she concludes. She can see her hand when she brings it up to her face. The sleeve of her jacket catches her attention as she does so. Was she at school before mysteriously arriving here? The fabric is thick and warm; a winter uniform when she can't remember the season changing.
Seriously, what happened?
The best plan would be to stay still and wait for someone to find her, but there’s no guarantee that the fog would lift long enough for anyone to see her. If anyone is even out here to look. She sighs to herself. It’s that picnic trip with Ena all over again.
There’s also the minor problem of the gap in her memory. Airi can’t remember what she had been doing last. Certainly not anything dealing with what looks to be a swamp of all places.
Well, Airi’s good at multitasking. She can think about it while figuring out how to get out of here.
She lifts her leg and cautiously toes the area in front of her. All she feels is more of the same muddy path with the way her toes sink in. With no water threatening to immediately sink her, Airi commits to her first step.
Think. What’s something she can do to try and keep track of her way?
She doesn’t know. Her footsteps? There’s only the overwhelming stillness of what should be one of the most liveliest places in nature. No wind rustling through the loose leaves. No frogs croaking, even though Airi’s heard them screeching outside her window at night. No splashes from some fish or bird near the water.
Only stillness and silence were her companions. Airi's almost loathe to break it by tramping around.
Airi can only hope the path she’s on leads somewhere. If it turns, she’ll simply readjust.
There’s no point in being an idol if she becomes stagnant.
Airi pauses. Where did that thought come from?
No matter. She shakes her head. Focus on the current situation. How did she get here and how does she get out?
Neither question has an immediate answer.
She commits to another step. And another. And another. Continuously toeing her way forward, ever cautious. Airi has to reach an end sometime right?
It’s when she reaches water that she hears it. A splash. After the silence, her breath hitches when she hears the noise. Drips abandon her shoe to return to where they came from. It’s a fish, she forces herself to relax. Swamps hold life. It’s only a fish. Airi's been hoping for a sign of life this whole time.
The fish had better stay in the water.
Keeping an ear on the water, she slowly pivots around, feeling for the next piece of stable ground. She tries to keep to her sides, not wanting to be turned back around.
Airi sighs when she realizes both sides are open.
With a lack of options and a declining patience, she heads straight. This time, keeping the water on her left.
Toe, step.
Toe, step.
Toe, step.
Toe, step.
Splash.
Airi freezes again. Useless eyes glance around, not being able to spot a thing. She waits, searching...
There— in the distance. She squints, a light?
With a new guide, Airi continues.
Toe, step.
Toe, step—
Airi shrieks when something hurdles itself into her side. Her arms wheel around trying to find balance, but nothing stops the force from pushing her into the water. Her lungs immediately start burning after having the air knocked out of her and blocked.
She immediately starts to struggle against the thing holding her. It must’ve not been expecting a fight. It releases her when she kicks her feet out, trying to propel herself against the unnatural strength that held her.
Airi breaks the surface, desperately filling her lungs when her ankle is grabbed. She’s forced back under the water again. It’s pitch black.
Airi wants to scream.
Airi can't.
She bends her leg, pulling herself closer to the thing. Prodding with her hand, she follows the slime until her nails jab into something squishy. She's released, and she starts swimming upwards.
An unnatural shriek tears her ears sharply. Clearly.
Airi breaks the surface again, swimming straight and hoping it's the right way. She brings her arms up, feeling the blades of grass. Coughing, she propels herself onto the ground. Her legs tremble but she immediately kicks off.
Get out of here.
Airi no longer cares if the land in front of her is stable. She only cares about running away.
Get out of here.
Her sides cramp, begging for her to slow down. Rest. She can’t. She has to keep going. That thing wasn’t human.
She is Momoi Airi. Fairy of peaches.
Entertainer and provider of hope.
Idol of MORE MORE JUMP.
Some stupid swamp isn't going to get in her way.
She is Momoi Airi of MORE MORE JUMP. Airi propels herself further, ignoring her burning sides.
When she collapses, she can’t help herself. Gagging, Airi tries to reject the unwelcome water still inside of her while also trying to catch her breath.
Her whole body is shaking, she realizes. Trembling without a breeze to be felt.
How could she forget about her friends?
The question of what this place is jumps forward.
Airi isn’t going to find out anything by sitting around though. She has to keep going. The thing that pulled her into the water could still be around.
Lurking.
Waiting for its moment to strike.
She stumbles as she rights herself, legs almost unable to keep up her weight. Airi has to keep going. Back to her friends. The only footsteps are her own when she feels around. Abandoning her toeing method, Airi continues. Power walking.
A flicker.
Airi turns to see a floating ball of light, beckoning with whimsical glints. She crouches instead. The same light appeared right before that thing. When nothing happens, she cautiously rises. Can she follow the only light out of here?
She doesn't have very many choices.
Step. Step. Step. Airi forces her trembling down as best she can as she gets closer.
She nearly collapses in relief when she stubs her foot against wood, not caring about her suddenly aching toes.
A boathouse... Airi lights up when she spots the little shelter.
Finally, somewhere to hopefully rest. Maybe it would even contain a map of some sort for her to figure things out. Airi rushes up the stairs and twists the knob, finding the wooden door to be unlocked. She opens the door and freezes once again. She had been expecting a dark room from the boarded-up windows. Maybe a desk to act as a workstation. Maybe a bed to rest on.
Not the sun of perpetual twilight as the door opens to more outside. Not the lingering dust from a collapsed building and certainly not the wreckage in front of her.
Mafuyu wakes up to fingers against her scalp, and the strands of her thick hair part willingly to the not unwelcome intruders. She’s lying down, she realizes, even though she doesn’t quite remember when she went to bed. Did she go home after school? The pillow she’s lying on is a bit too firm to be the one she uses every night. If anything, her current resting place is uncomfortable.
Except…
Mafuyu doesn’t want to get up from her mother's lap.
When was the last time she was held like this? Even with the absence of it, Mafuyu could never forget being held by her.
The way the leg she’s lying on is a bit too bony to be a thigh. Something is stretching along her side— the other leg, perhaps. She’s half-boxed in, thoughts still reeling about how she came to be here in the first place...
In her confusion, she stays still, unwilling to have this moment of peace taken from her.
“Up already?” Her mother catches her ruse, humming in amusement.
Mafuyu squeezes her eyes tightly, unwilling to let the well fill up and pour out. Don’t let this dream end, she pleads. She'll continue being a good girl.
Her mother hums gently, “Why don’t we stay here a little longer?” She laughs, “It’s not like we have anything else to do.”
Mafuyu doesn’t think it is possible to become more statuesque than she already is. Nothing to do? She can’t be serious right now. There’s always something to do. Homework needs to be done before dinner is ready if she comes straight home. Studying comes afterwards. If Mafuyu is at school, she needs to spread her networking system. Teachers and students both rely on her.
Mafuyu never has time to sit around.
She does it all with a smile on her face.
There’s a breeze prodding her up.
The memories of being outside with her mother are a distant dream.
“Don’t overthink too much,” a finger pokes her nose.
The touch is what gets Mafuyu to finally move. She opens her eyes to see the smiling face of her mother, eyes sparkling. Looking around, she can see they are in some field. A thin spread of trees surrounds them, leaving a trail open for the torii gates further in. Mafuyu eyes them curiously. Whatever shrine they lead to can't be seen from here.
What was Mafuyu doing before?
“How…” Mafuyu has to clear her throat of the sleepy dryness still lodged within. “How did we get here?”
“You don’t remember?” Eyebrows are drawn together in concern. Her mother sighs, “This must mean you need an even longer break.” She braces her hands against Mafuyu’s back to help her as she sits up.
Break? Logically, Mafuyu knows the dictionary meaning of the word. She hadn’t realized her mother even knew what a break is.
The red gates tower in front of them, looming with their watchful presence. Sitting up, Mafuyu realizes there’s no one else around. A shrine with this many gates even though she can't see it? There should always be a crowd, whether it’s locals attempting to pray or tourists with their spotty behavior.
"Stop all of your thinking," her mother croons as her hands move to Mafuyu’s shoulders. "Come, why don’t we take a walk to clear your thoughts? You’ll feel better now that you’re awake to appreciate the fresh air."
Mafuyu gazes down at the nails digging into her shoulders, “Of course.” Her lips twitch upwards slightly in happy reluctance. A chance to walk with her mother. Mayufu would enjoy the opportunity very much. What benefit would this have for her studies though? Mafuyu is having a hard time trying to come up with a reason for all of this.
The sun is setting, bathing everything in semidarkness. Did she really sleep the day away? Her mother’s legs must be cramping from being so still. Mafuyu should be heading to bed soon.
What’s she doing in her school uniform?
Mafuyu is led to the red gates, though she makes sure to pause at the temizuya. She reaches out to pick up the ladle with her right hand, slowly pouring the water over her left before switching hands. With the absence of anyone else around, she’s wary of breaking the stillness by being too loud with the falling water. When she switches hands again to bring the water to her mouth, she glances over to her mother.
Her back is to the sun as she waits patiently for Mafuyu to finish up. The shadow in front of her is long.
“All ready to go?” Her mother smiles when they lock eyes.
Mafuyu nods slowly, “You’re not going to cleanse too?”
“You must still be feeling sleepy if you forgot,” she tuts. “Better get a move on Mafuyu.”
Mafuyu’s shoulders relax. This sounds more like her mother. The chiding rush. The pointing out of Mafuyu might be doing wrong. Mafuyu needs to wake up and remember what her mother is talking about. She can't be a bad girl by forgetting something important.
Mafuyu needs to wake up.
She eyes the hanging Shinto bells above them. They’re crystalline gray rather than the bronze or gold she’s used to seeing. Isn’t she already awake?
Mafuyu takes the spot on the side, closer to the posts. Her mother takes the center path. The only things to be heard are the crunch of grass under Mafuyu’s shoes as she purposefully steps on the cracks spreading the gravel, and the slight tap of her heel as it catches on the uneven surface.
“What will we do when we get to the shrine?” Mafuyu asks, observing the space between the posts. They’ve been walking for a while now, but have yet to step any closer to the shrine. How far do these gates go? Even Mafuyu can’t continue walking in a straight path forever.
Actually, she’s reminded of—
Her mother crosses her arms, frowning at her in concern, “We’ll take a look at it of course Mafuyu… goodness you just be more tired than I originally thought. I hope you’re not getting sick. I'll make sure we eat when we get there.”
“Ah-” Mafuyu bites her tongue to prevent herself from speaking any more. She pauses as she thinks. Is it for some educational purpose that she’d been brought here for? Though, if she’s been learning anything while here, it’s that she can’t trust her memory. It’s the only thing to completely belong to her though, for all that she doesn’t know how to use it. “Maybe, I’m not feeling too well…” she says as though she’s coming to a realization.
She's not.
“See?” Her mother titters knowingly, “Come, we’re nearly there.” How? Mafuyu thinks. How can they be nearly there when they’ve barely moved at all?
“Where’s father at?”
“Your father?” Her mother laughs. “He's on a work trip, of course, that's why we came here. To spend time together.” Spend time together? Mafuyu questions herself in disbelief.
“—yu!” Mafuyu looks up. Only the Shinto bells above.
Her mother is still talking, “—and besides.” Mafuyu’s hand is pulled into hers as she speeds up. Her hands are freezing, as though she stuck them in a freezer and forgot to take them out. Kanade’s are on the cooler side too— “We’ll be there soon, just as I said.”
Where did Mafuyu leave Kanade?
“—Fuyu!” Mafuyu frowns as she looks around, seeing no one near enough to be heard. No one at all. Maybe her mother can’t hear over the sound of clacking heels?
The gates are curved ahead of them and Mafuyu thinks she’s in a tunnel for a moment with the way the posts pass by. She can imagine herself on a subway, watching as the environment outside blurs because of the speed. Glancing at the open space between the pillars, she can see nothing but trees.
Trees, trees, and more trees.
She pauses when she notices the girl with black pigtails in the distance. Mafuyu thinks she would look better with gray. Or was it teal? Both? She doesn’t know anymore. Her mother urges her along, quicker now.
“Mafuyu, run!” Mafuyu frowns. She doesn’t want to leave her mother. Can’t leave her. What was Mizuki saying about her?
When did she last talk to Mizuki?
A warm hand holds hers. Pulling her away from the rising feeling of drowning. Pulling her to some sort of salvation.
The pigtailed girl is closer now. Inching with each pillar passed. Mafuyu can practically hear the fwoosh when the trains travel between tunnels.
“Mother—”
“NO!” Mafuyu jerks back at the wail, yanking her hand away, her blood skyrocketing. Her mother realizes her hand is empty and turns around to face her. “Oh my darling, I’m sorry, I never meant to scare you,” she coos. Mafuyu’s never seen her smile so strained before. She holds out her hand once more, “Come, we’re almost there. We need to stay by each other's sides don't we?”
Mafuyu brings her arm up, about to place her hand in hers when Miku shrieks, “Don’t!” Mafuyu recoils, looking around wildly.
Miku had gotten even closer to the gates, but she wasn’t recognizable with her dark hair. It wasn’t the comforting, cool gray Mafuyu had gotten used to. Her face is blank as she stands there.
This Miku can’t be the one calling out to Mafuyu. Even the Miku she knows looks at her with something.
Her mother’s eyes drift to where Mafuyu is looking, and her face hardens, her mouth twisting into a snarl. “I found her first.” The Miku doesn’t recoil the same way Mafuyu does.
Mafuyu doesn’t know this person. Yet, it’s upsetting her to watch as the face of her dear mother shifts into something unrecognizable.
“Mafuyu!” Mafuyu glances up to where Miku’s voice is coming from and focuses on the bells she’s been noticing.
Her heart shudders when she notices her Sekai reflected in the shine, Miku’s heterochromatic eyes pleading with her.
“Run!” Miku chimes through the bells.
Mafuyu takes a step back and the movement is enough to catch her mother’s attention— and she’s not her mother is she? “Mafuyu…” The face contorts, not quite able to lose the snarl to smile. “Come now, you promised to stay by my side didn't you?”
Mafuyu glances between the three figures in front of her, thoughts racing.
“Please?” Her Miku begs, unnatural with the amount of emotion.
Mafuyu turns around and propels herself forward, listening to her. Trusting her. The exit is right in front of her, as though they had been walking in place the whole time.
“Mafuyu!” Her mother wails, and Mafuyu stumbles before she quickly regains her footing. “Don’t leave me!”
When she reaches the exit, she has to throw herself back when a wall appears in front of her, hitting the ground hard. The outside is gone when she twists around. Mafuyu doesn’t know what’s going on anymore.
She did know one thing though. She knew the whole time but didn’t want to acknowledge it. Mother was never here in the first place.
Mother doesn't know the meaning of having a break.
Mafuyu only wanted another chance to be with her.
Shizuku is alone when she wakes up. Which shouldn’t be unusual considering she’s usually the only one in her room, but this is different. It’s too quiet. No wind brushing the leaves against the side of the house. No tiny thumps from the animals running across the roof. No music from the headphones she would accidentally fall asleep with.
She blinks her eyes open dazedly, seeing only the leaks from the sun trying to break through the cracks it can find. Did she wake up right as the sun is rising? She readies herself to go back to sleep when she realizes there's no blanket over her. Every time she fell asleep without one, Shiho always made sure to cover her up when checking in on her.
Shizuku sits up in her confusion, pushing her glasses up from where they are digging into the bridge of her nose. And isn't that another indicator of something? Shizuku doesn’t need her glasses when in the comfort of her room. Her breath hitches when she realizes she isn't in her room. Her gaze drifts along the open doors to outside, her back stiff from lying directly on the tatami flooring.
Where is she? She turns her head to the doors behind her— and why does it feel too light? A weight is missing and she doesn't know what it can be.
Does she leave through the open doors leading to the outside or further into the mysterious house she’s found herself in? There's a set of stairs beckoning her outside, but does she have the heart to leave when she doesn't know where she is? Maybe she can find a map first... to give her an idea as to where she could be. It wouldn't do to get lost outside by not knowing where she is.
Plan established, Shizuku pushes herself up, stretching as she does so. The rice paper door slides open with minimal effort and Shizuku pauses at the long hallway before her.
Stretching.
Stretching.
How far does it go? She can't see the end. To her sides, the hallways continue, ever stretching.
Glancing back worriedly, Shizuku wonders if she can find something to help her out. A hanging charm. Some plants. A vase. Notebooks. She walks over, still searching the ground. And— there. A pen. Walking back over to the sliding door, Shizuku takes the pen and, as light as she can, marks the rice paper. An 'x' to mark her path, she thinks with mild amusement. Didn't Shiho use to play silly pirate games when she and her friends picked stars to follow for treasure?
Shizuku hopes Shiho is okay.
She stands in the threshold and can't bring herself to take another step forward. What if there is someone dangerous hiding in the corridor? Debating whether or not she should continue forward or go outside is taking too long. What if Shiho is here too? What if she's in danger?
And if she isn't here? Shizuku could be placing herself in even more danger.
Unconsciously, her hand moves to fiddle with her hair, but it doesn't help. She can't twirl the strands around her fingers due to it being so short.
Outside or in?
The hair along her arms raises when she hears a thud in the distance. She isn't alone? Relief fills her before it is yanked away with wariness. Is this person also lost? Are they the one who brought her here?
If someone's in trouble, wouldn't it be better to help out?
Shizuku takes her first step, almost anxious for something to happen when her foot reaches the wooden planks. She’s going to have to continue now isn’t she?
There’s another thud in the distance, as though someone were closing a door.
Maybe she should stay. Go outside—
A cry calls out to her. A child's. Shizuku takes her next step forward rather than back.
The child comes first. Shizuku can decide her next step afterward. Luckily, it sounded as though it came from in front of her.
She rushes across the open space of the sides with the irrational fear of something coming down one of them. Shizuku strains her ears, listening. Passing a few doors, she decides to start opening some. Only for a quick peek. Only to see if the child is okay.
The first door she tries is locked. And the one after. And the one next. Is Shizuku even going to be able to get into the room with the child?
Finally, one opens. Shizuku finds herself standing in front of what looks like a small dining room, a low table and bare walls. No hiding spots. She moves on.
The neighboring room is for bathing.
The odd room pairing is confusing, but Shizuku moves onward. Doubt crosses her mind briefly, wondering if this child is worth the potential danger, but she shakes it away.
She's meant to bring hope to them.
Meant to bring hope... the gap in her memory frustrates her.
When she opens the next door, she finds the child trying to climb into a wardrobe. Unless the little girl had a stool of some sort, she wasn't going to make it.
Shizuku relaxes when she realizes the scare is a little girl. "Hello, there," she calls out softly. "Are you lost too?"
Wide eyes turn to look up at her in amazement, "You're lost?" She has bobbed hair and is wearing a cute furisode.
Shizuku squats, taking care to keep the back of her skirt tucked between her thighs and calves. She holds the front to her knees. "I'm afraid I am," a model's smile is plastered across her face. Inviting. It wouldn't do to worry a child about the situation they both seem to have found themselves in.
"You can't be out here then," the girl tells her frankly. "We have to get inside." Small hands wave towards the wardrobe.
"Inside? What for?"
Those sparkling eyes dim, "They'll get you otherwise." She returns to trying to get into the wardrobe.
A chill runs down Shizuku's spine at the ominous words. Standing, she walks over to pick the girl up and places her inside, "Better?"
"Yeah!" She pats the spot next to her. "You're turn!" The little girl tugs her hand to get her into the closet with her, and it's a tight fit. Shizuku’s too tall for any position to be comfortable, but if it makes the girl happy then Shizuku is alright with being mildly twisted for a few minutes. She pulls the doors shut.
“You have to be careful,” the girl whispers. “They’ll find you otherwise.”
Find? Is she playing a game of hide-and-seek with her friends? Shizuku amuses herself with the cute idea before her blood runs cold at hearing heavy footsteps.
The slight smile across her face immediately drops.
Footsteps too heavy to be another child’s.
Shizuku peeks through the gap between the doors of the closet. The entrance to the room is next to the closet, so she can only gaze upon the bed in front of them. Her socks slip down when the girl knots her fingers in them.
She nearly jumps out of her skin, when the door bursts open.
To not bring attention to them, she covers her mouth with her hand, feeling as though her breathing would get them caught.
The thing is red. Skin boiled red from spending too long in some sort of fire. Armor carved from the night sky and hair threaded from souls long passed. Shizuku freezes at the sight, darting her eyes away.
Maybe if she doesn’t look, it won't find them.
It's agonizing. Waiting. Shizuku doesn't think she's ever been more anxious to wait for some sort of movement before.
The crowds were so mobile.
It's statuesque as it analyzes the room in front of them.
Finally. Finally, the thing turns and the door is shut behind it. The two wait for a few more seconds in this cramped wardrobe before the girl bursts out the door. Shizuku wants to pull her back. Scold her. What if that thing returns?
"Thank you, miss!" The girl cheers and Shizuku realizes her ears are pointed. "They're gone for now."
Shizuku's muscles ache from how tightly she's been holding them. She smiles weakly, "You're welcome." She uncurls her legs to place them on the floor, still sitting inside. "What was that thing?"
The girl eyes her curiously, before shrugging. "I don't know, they kind of just showed up one day." She hums as she sways back and forth, "They've never been that quick before though."
"Oh really?" Shizuku responds faintly.
"Hehe, it's time to go back to exploring with them gone." She opens the door before her and the smile drops, "Oh... you left the doors open."
"Huh?"
"And here I was hoping you were good." The girl takes a step forward and Shizuku rushes to stand.
“Wait-” Shizuku reaches out to grab onto the girl before she leaves, but as she rounds the frame. Nothing. No open doors and no little girl.
Shizuku is all alone again, with no idea as to where she is. The hallway has changed.
Her only clue just left her.
Rui knows something is wrong due to the lack of humming machines, where he is fairly sure he fell asleep. He snaps his eyes open as he sits up, unnerved at the prospect of having a gap in his memory. With the sudden beam of light in his eyes, he has to blink away the dark spots.
He's on the ground in a town. While, admittedly, this isn’t the weirdest sleeping position he’s found himself in, Rui knows he only falls asleep in places he knows. This area is too traditional to be familiar with.
A narrow street surrounded by slatted, wooden fences. Maybe Rui can make his way to the swaying bridges above. Gain a vantage point and send a drone to investigate from the pagoda further beyond. Was this place getting ready for some sort of festival? There are plenty of lanterns hanging from the slanted roofs.
He ignores the part telling himself it would be easier to find a shop on the ground and see if they have a map available. He convinces himself it’s because there’s no one around.
Rui can only hear the slight ringing in his ears.
First step. What does he have on him?
As he searches through his pockets, he can only find his phone. He frowns at the cracked screen, but it turns on perfectly fine when he presses the home button. The app is stuck open on the music player with Untitled playing…
Where’s The World Hasn’t Even Started Yet?
The gap in his memory is partially filled with aquamarine hair and balloon-covered skies.
A bemused smile spreads across his face at the realization. How could he forget the Sekai of his beloved star? If Rui hadn’t looked at his phone, how long would he have gone without realizing he was in some sort of Sekai?
He still doesn’t know how he got here; can’t remember what he was doing last.
A quick tap on the pause button reveals nothing. Rui’s still sitting where he originally woke and it doesn't look like he will be leaving this place anytime soon. The battery’s green and it has the little wire symbol indicating it’s currently being charged.
Kaito told him the Sekai would kick him out if the battery ran out once. It had been one of few times where the man had actually been upfront about something other than shows.
Rui’s already long assumed Tsukasa can’t be the only one with a Sekai. Virtual Singers as a whole were too prevalent, even worldwide. And for all of Kaito seemingly being the one in charge, there were times when Miku was a bit too knowing. She never watched over them quite the same way she did with Tsukasa.
He should’ve followed Kaito’s advice sooner in asking Tsukasa more questions. He had gotten too used to Len being only somewhat honest with him. Rui resolves to change that after solving this mess.
Well, next step. Where is he and how does he get out?
Assuming he’s in a Sekai, his best bet is to find any of the Virtual Singers available. With Miku being the ‘main face’, the probability of finding her is higher than the others.
Rui gets the bonus of being able to explore this Sekai without any outside intervention until he finds her too.
At least, he hopes there aren’t going to be any interventions.
Research time.
Rui stands from where he’d been sitting, deciding to make his way to the pagoda first. It was the only piece of scenery that stood out from the rest, towering high. He often thought of the stage as being the main heart of the Wonderland Sekai, so maybe this Sekai works similarly.
There are too many assumptions for Rui’s liking. Too much is being left up to the probability of what he doesn’t know.
A rumbling starts in the distance, as though someone were trying to unsuccessfully start up a car. The engine would sputter before giving out. Maybe someone else is here? Rui looks at his phone again, but only the zeros of midnight return his stare.
How odd, twilight suggests an earlier time.
He finds his hair is shorter when he doesn’t see the longer side piece flopping over into his vision. He runs a hand through the shorter strands, remembering when he last cut his hair.
The scenery doesn’t change as he makes his way to the pagoda. Rui purposefully turns down a road away from the pagoda, but the fencing is too tall and smooth to grasp onto, preventing him from hopping over to the inside of any of the homes.
What nonexistent wind is making the lanterns sway?
The pagoda is in front of him.
Rui blinks. He knows he made the turn…
Walking forward, Rui finds another alley to turn down.
The pagoda is in front of him and the lanterns sway.
The sputtering engine has turned into a steady grinding of gears.
Rui turns another corner. And another. And another.
The pagoda is in front of him.
He sighs. How long has he been walking now? Turning around in circles is getting him nowhere. The definition of insanity still holds even in a virtual world created from the thoughts of others.
People are so boring sometimes.
Rui wonders how he would be able to incorporate a rotating stage for a never-ending loop.
He gets concerned when the ground starts vibrating. An earthquake? Do Sekai even get earthquakes or is it affected by the people in control? Rui’s only ever seen the sky change depending on the time of day. There aren’t really any decent places for cover around here if he can’t get into any of the buildings—
GAAAAaaaaaaachiiiiii….
The thud against a building near him is reminiscent of one of his explosions. A shower of dust rolls down a roof.
That isn't an earthquake, Rui realizes. Something’s here. The dust obscurs whatever it is, and Rui stands, frozen as he listens to the strange grinding crawl its way closer.
There's a creeping alarm in the back of his head, warning him away. He has to get out of here.
A hint of white.
A hint of red.
Rui takes off, sprinting. Where does he go? Not inside as the thing is roughly the height of a home and there’s no telling if it would be able to find him. Does he forget about the turns and continue on his way to his original destination?
Rui's never been caught before and isn't planning on breaking his streak anytime soon. It's only Phenny security, he tries to convince himself. They're slow. They'll never catch up. Is that thing getting faster?
Rui stumbles as the ground becomes unstable. Straight is faster for both of them.
Don't falter, he scolds himself, keep going. Rui wants to turn his head at the sudden galloping noise on the rooftops above but doesn't want to risk the distraction slowing him down.
Then, there's a white blur in front of him.
A kitsune stands proudly in front of him, tails spread wide. Blocking his way.
Rui has to halt in front of the creature. He wants to take it apart. Wants to figure out what makes it tick.
It yips at him, and Rui is reminded of the current danger he's in. The fox yips again as he nears, forcing his legs to move once more, and starts running in front of him.
With the kitsune being faster than him, it reaches its destination first. Another alley. The creature points its nose in the direction and Rui decides to take his chances.
He turns—
And immediately trips over a school chair.
Everything is perfectly normal when Tsukasa wakes up. Complete silence. Just as it should be while the other inhabitants get their sleep. Or they're gone again. Either option is possible in the Tenma house, whether it's his parents on a business trip or Saki spending the night with her friends.
“Who are you?” Makes him spring up quickly. His vision blurs with the sudden shift in gravity as he sits.
He comes face to face with… Miku?
“You shouldn't be here,” It’s not any Miku he knows. Not the bright aquamarine of his wacky friend or the teal of her original design. Tsukasa doesn't think he’s ever seen Miku with black hair before. Her eyes are red too. Eerily so.
Tsukasa doesn't know her.
He registers her words. “Here?” He looks around to see he isn’t in his bed. He's lying at the top of some stairs, in front of a shrine. It's completely boarded up though, so he can't get a decent look at it.
Miku's crouching on the side opposite the stairs. “Here,” She confirms, and he thought he had gotten used to her voice. The sound of her speaking always had a touch of static, as though she were speaking through a radio, making it obvious there was something inhuman about her. All the Virtual Singers did. This Miku sounds like she swallowed a bit too much helium and locked it inside with the high pitch. He winces when she cocks her head, the jut of her neck sticking out as though she were merely a doll. “I only asked for the others.”
“Others?” Immediately, Rui prances his way through Tsukasa’s thoughts, considering he had been the last one around to know about the Sekai. Tsukasa wishes he isn’t here in that case. He wishes even more that no one else is here. Wherever here is.
He doesn't like it here.
This Miku... she doesn't feel like his Miku. Tsukasa doesn't like this either.
Red eyes narrow, “You brought someone with you. Someone else did too. Why are you here?”
"What?" Tsukasa narrows his own eyes in confusion. "What are you talking about? I woke up here." He gazes around him one more time, "Where is here anyway?"
Miku ignores him as she stands, twisting to face the shrine— and he hurriedly follows suit. Her head is tilted down, and Tsukasa isn't one to leave one troubled if he can help it, even if this version of Miku isn't the one he knows.
Miku is Miku and Tsukasa has come to care about her.
Think like Miles. Miles brought smiles to people no matter the situation.
He reaches up to place a hand on her shoulder before freezing. The smile that had been growing on his face slips. While her back is towards him, the palms of her hands are facing him. There are eyes watching his movements. Though the eyes looked to be inked with the stark black and white colors, they followed his movements. As he pulled his hand away, they focused on his face.
A chill runs down his spine.
Tsukasa's never been truly afraid of Miku before. Sure, he's worried about her antics when around Kaito. There were plenty of times when he grew concerned about her going overboard with something. Thoughts of being genuinely afraid of Miku potentially doing something had never crossed his mind.
Pigtails. Saki. His Miku is easily cheered whenever he performs for her. She had a special smile when it was the two of them. She would lower her eyes and gain a nostalgic look on her face. Miles can continue from here.
“Is something wrong?” he asks. “Maybe we can come up with an idea to fix it together.”
“Together?”
“That’s right!” He finishes brightly.
"I have an idea." Miku abruptly turns and pushes her arms forward. "I didn't ask for you."
Tsukasa, not expecting the movement, stumbles backward from her shove.
Then slips.
Tsukasa's an actor. He's learned how to fall, how to protect himself from being too hurt. Rui told him to spread himself wide for maximum impact. It decreases the amount of damage if the impact is spread across, he said. Keep his head tucked in and pay attention to the mat placement.
Tsukasa wasn't ready.
Back first down concrete stairs are not ideal falling conditions.
What's going to happen when he reaches the ground?
Tsukasa can only hope no one he cares for finds him.