Nikko hopped off the carriage onto the smoothened limestone platform of the Renault’s sky train station. She took a deep breathe and found that the surrounding air was a lot easier to breathe in. Thinking back through the countless of somewhat necessary information she had learnt in school, she concluded that the air here was much thinner than in the Mabaroshi district, and that they are currently at a higher altitude. Thanks a lot, high school science.

The others, who had left the carriage before her, paced forwards through the station gates. Nikko followed closely, admiring the heavenly atmosphere of what was just a tiny fraction of the Renault. “It’s really bright here.”

“When almost the whole damn place is made of limestone, of course it’s gonna appear brighter,” Yuuta responded. “But then again we live in the Mabaroshi. Buildings are mostly black.”

“They don’t call our SCS the Midknights for nothing,” Sekai grunted.

“Midnights?” Nikko looked at Sekai. “Wait… mid-knights?”

Sekai’s mouth twisted. It appeared she wasn’t too fond of the nickname.

“Wow, who’s the genius who came up with the name?” Nikko asked.

“Everyone else outside of Mabaroshi,” Daisuke said swiftly. He too, didn’t seem pleased by the nickname.

“I think it’s great!” Yuuta grinned.

“Nobody cares,” Sekai replied.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“No-one asked for yours either.”

Once again, Nikko was stuck in between another childish argument, but this time she was more interested in what she would have to do at the Spirit Chaser Academy. She darted to Daisuke’s side and walked next to him.

“So what’s it like in the SCA?”

“It’s supposedly fun,” Daisuke answered while facing forwards.

Good to know, Nikko thought. “I’ll be there for like… 2 years, was it?”

“Depending on how quickly you progress through the Academy, you could graduate after a single year actually,” Daisuke said. “But yes, generally students spend 2 years there.”

Nikko was curious of Daisuke’s past, ever since Sekai mentioned a bit of his hardships the other day, as well as Daisuke’s relationship with Hanabei Mina. She wanted to ask him, but was afraid of possibly getting to something too personal.

“So about Hanabei Mina…” Nikko blurted.

“She’s dangerous,” Daisuke replied immediately.

“Right,” Nikko said slowly. “I heard that you two were close.”

“We were.”

“Like… really close.”

“We were.”

There was a moment of silence.

“I heard she was your girlfriend,” Nikko finally said. Daisuke remained quiet. “S-Sorry, I was just wondering what went wrong.”

“I don’t know what went wrong,” Daisuke said softly. “But the Mina I once knew is gone. This is a different Mina… almost as if she’s a completely different person.”

Nikko glanced at Daisuke. So in other words, the old Mina was not a psychopathic murderer. I wonder what made her become who she is now.

“…says the kid who dyes his hair slime green!” Sekai voice carried over from behind them.

“It’s lime green!” Yuuta fought back. “And there’s a good reason for it!”

“Are they always like this?” Nikko asked.

“Unfortunately,” Daisuke managed a half-smile.

Nikko chuckled in response as they continued their walk through the quiet streets of the Renault.

****

“Hanabei,” a deep voice rang throughout a darkened room. “I almost thought you weren’t returning.”

Hanabei Mina emerged from the shadows, into the centre of the room. The dim, sepia toned light shone on the right side of her exhausted face. Sweat dripped from her temples as she crouched onto her knees, breathing heavily.

“What’s the matter, Hanabei?” the voice asked.

Mina felt a sharp pain through the back of her head. She grunted, and clutched onto both sides of her skull with her hands. She dropped on her side and shrivelled in pain for a few minutes before the pain vanished. Mina recollected herself, and sluggishly steadied herself back onto her feet, hunching on the spot.

“That’s not a good sign, it is?” the voice spoke. “Perhaps we’re running out of time, Hanabei?”

Mina stared into the darkness ahead of her, gritting her teeth. She took a deep breath, stood up straight and flicked her fringe aside. She remained silent.

“Oh?” the voice said. “Interesting…”

The sound of footsteps echoed through the dark room, softening gradually. Mina walked forwards into the shadows, following the sound of the footsteps, before she too disappeared into the dark.